Age-Appropriate Books for 9/11

Every fall we acknowledge the anniversary of the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. A few years ago, I decided that our girls were ready to learn about the events of 9/11, so we started to intentionally talk to them about that day, guided mostly through three of the picture books listed below. Knowing how sensitive and scary this subject can be for kids, I searched long and hard for books that we could read with them to help them begin to understand, in an age-appropriate way, what happened to our country that day.

Below, I’ve recommended five picture books that I feel are excellent books about 9/11 to read with preschoolers and early elementary students, as well as a chapter book that is perfect for middle grade readers (ages 10 and up). I’ve also got a few titles that I couldn’t easily get my hands on, so please check those out too, and comment below if you’ve read them and would recommend them (or not!).

Age-Appropriate Picture Books About 9/11

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The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein — I bought this book during one of my very first Mock Caldecott units early in my teaching days, because it’s an excellent example of perspective in illustration. I kept it because my students, and now my children, love the story. It’s much more about a tightroper who actually tight-roped between the towers of the World Trade Center than it is about 9/11, but Gerstein does include a short tribute to the Towers that no longer exist in our world, except in our memories. This tribute has opened doors for our older daughter to ask questions about the Towers and why they’re no longer there. Though we read this year-round with our children, not just to start dialogue about 9/11, I love this as a conversation-starter this time of year. Recommended for ages 5-8, but can definitely be used older and is perfect for younger audiences, too.

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman — Fireboat is another example of a book that addresses 9/11, but the bulk of the story covers other concepts… specifically, fire-fighting and the history of using boats to fight fires. Fireboat opens in 1931 when the John J. Harvey Fireboat was launched in New York City. Readers learn how in 1995, the city decided it didn’t need so many fireboats any more and retired the Harvey, but citizens decided it needed to be saved. And readers read about how on the morning of September 11, 2001, two airplanes crashed into the Twin Towers, sending them falling to the ground. The John J. Harvey Fireboat was called into action, initially to transport people, but then answered a much more urgent call to help. Though Kalman does indeed show the airplanes hitting the Towers, the Towers falling, chaos and fire ensuing, the message and information is very age-appropriate and focused on the heroism of the John J. Harvey Fireboat and the people who helped. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Aaron Becker — How I wish I had this book when the girls were younger! A beautifully illustrated, hopefully told story of the tree that grew between the Twin Towers and somehow survived the events of 9/11. Colleen and Becker use the changing seasons and growing people (depicted in Polaroid “photographs” throughout the book) to walk us through the journey of the Survivor Tree, from when it was a sapling between the towers, to when it was found in the wreckage and transported to a nursery in the Bronx, to when it was replanted by the 9/11 Memorial in 2010. Despite the beautiful illustrations and uplifting message of hope, my favorite part is actually the dedication… “For us all. May peace and hope grow from the darkest of our days.” Ages 5-8, but great older, too.

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez — Wow, this story is oh so powerful. Once again, it’s a story less about the events of 9/11, and more about the hearts of people aching to help. Based on the true story of Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah (be sure to read his note at the back of the book… But beware, it may bring you to tears!), 14 Cows for America helps young readers understand how the events of 9/11 touched lives around the world, as well as how people around the world, even those who had little to give, sacrificed to help our country heal. The story will touch your heart, and the beautiful illustrations will make you want to slow down and absorb the information and emotion. This is a book to get your hands on and spend time with! Recommended for ages 6-10.

The Survivor Tree: Inspired by a True Story by Cheryl Somers Aubin, illustrated by Sheila Harrington — Based loosely on the true story of a Callery Pear Tree found buried, but surviving, underneath concrete, ash, and debris a month after the Twin Towers fell, The Survivor Tree is a story of hope, healing, and survival. Very little about 9/11 itself is mentioned, but Aubin gives enough tidbits for this to be a very age-appropriate conversation starter. And, The Survivor Tree is beautifully illustrated by Harrington, adding to the feeling of hope one gets through the story. Has age-appropriate content for younger children, but is lengthy, so ages 5 and up is probably best.

Other picture books about 9/11 I hope to check out:

• September Roses by Jeanette Winter
• The Little Chapel That Stood by A. B. Curtis
• The Man in the Red Bandana by Honor Crowther Fagan

eleven by Tom Rogers — Our school uses this book as required reading for students entering fifth grade, and I was thrilled to share this with my then 10-year-old daughter. eleven is the story of Alex Douglas, who happens to turn 11 on September 11, 2001. With a nurse mom and a dad who drives the PATH train to the Twin Towers, you can imagine the emotions running through Alex as he slowly realizes just what has happened in Manhattan that causes school to be let out early. Rogers also includes chapters narrated by an older man named Mac and “The Man in the White Shirt” at the Twin Towers wreckage. I loved having all the conversation starters about the varied experiences and emotions around New York City and its suburbs on 9/11, and we thoroughly enjoyed trying to predict who “The Man in the White Shirt” is. Ages 10 and up.

Have you read any of these books? Do you have picture books you’ve loved to encourage dialogue about the events of September 11, 2001?