We Remember 9/11: Our Favorite Patriot Day Books and Resources
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,” Rogers said to his television neighbors, “my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. '” -Fred Rogers
We understand that it can be hard to re-live painful events, even through story, with our children. We’ve gathered these titles that focus on the light of humanity that shone brightly on, and following, the dark day of September 11th…
14 Cows For America by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
A beautiful telling of a gift cows from the Maasai of Africa to America in our time of grief. This takes place nine months after 9/11 when one of their own returned from school in NYC and shared our story with their elders.
30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag by Amanda Gilman Davis, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
A flag from Ground Zero goes on an incredible restoration journey that sees it patched up using flags from every state. This flag can now be seen at the National September 11 Museum.
America is Under Attack: September 11, 2001, The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown
A profusely illustrated short book on 9/11 sensitively told for young readers.
Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee, illustrated by Nicole Wong
A beautiful example of Hope from Ashes this book follows a young girl following her uncle’s footsteps after 9/11 and growing up to join the NYC Fire Department.
Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman
We discuss this title in episode 017 Favorite Autumn Books & 9/11 Stories That Make Ambre Cry of the Stories from the Ashes podcast. It’s one of Ambre’s favorite stories of items being restored to usefulness after being cast aside.
Saved By The Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman, illustrated by Steve Moors
This picture book was written by a woman who was evacuated from Manhattan by boat with her husband on 9/11. She was inspired to write this book after watching the documentary Boatlift which we have included at the bottom of this list.
September Roses by Jeanette Winter
A lovely telling of two African women who had just landed in New York City for a flower show when the first plane hit. They use their flowers in a memorial and a show of shared grief between peoples.
Seven and a Half Tons of Steel: A Post-9/11 Story of Hope and Transformation by Janet Nolan, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez
A fascinating look at the recycling of a beam from one of the Twin Towers into the bow of a US Navy Warship.
The Man in the Red Bandanna by Honor Crowther Fagan, illustrated by John Crowther
A book honoring the life and death of Welles Crowther, a volunteer firefighter who saved many lives and lost his own on 9/11.
Survivor Tree by Marcie Colleen, illustrated by Aaron Becker
We discuss this moving title in episode 017 Favorite Autumn Books & 9/11 Stories That Make Ambre Cry of the Stories from the Ashes podcast.
The Little Chapel That Stood by A. B. Curtiss, illustrated by Mirto Golino
We are so grateful to the author for making this book available for free online as
it’s out of printit’s only available to purchase through the 9/11 Museum gift shop. Click to Listen and Watch. Read aloud by the author and including further history of the chapel and information about 9/11, this is highly educational. The reading of the book begins at the 12:50 mark.
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
A story of the towers from another time. French aerialist Philippe Petit set his mind to do a trapeze walk between the towers in 1974 and this is the fantastic telling of that feat.
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin
A picture book that moves through time from the 1970s when the Callery pear tree was planted to it’s being buried when the towers fell, it’s miraculous survival and rehabilitation to present day.
This graphic novel alternates between the events on and following 9/11 in New York City and the resulting was in Afghanistan. It’s also the only children’s book I’ve come across to acknowledge building 7.
BOATLIFT - An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience, a documentary narrated by Tom Hanks
We discuss this documentary in episode 017 Favorite Autumn Books & 9/11 Stories That Make Ambre Cry of the Stories from the Ashes podcast.
Thank you for remembering with us. We intend to continue adding to this list as we read more books so please bookmark it for next year.
