Remembering September 11: Books for Young People

By Anne McLaughlin, Head of Children’s Services,

West Warwick Public Library

Since the tragedy of September 11, 2001 both libraries and bookstores reported a surge in requests for books to share with young people. Teachers sought books to share with their classes on tolerance and getting along, the meaning of patriotism, and books celebrating America in song, poetry and art. There was also a strong interest in learning about Islam. Parents looked for books on explaining why terrible things happen, dealing with loss and grief, and spiritual guidance. One of the simplest things parents and teachers can do to comfort children to help reassure them that they are safe and secure in times of turmoil is cuddle up and share a story. What’s better than ending the day with old favorites like Goodnight Moon or The Tale of Peter Rabbit to see if Peter will escape Mr. Macgregor yet again or laughing again at the antics of The Cat in the Hat. There are now books being published that directly or indirectly deal with the new realities of life in America after September 11, celebrating a resurgence in patriotism along with remembering the horrors of that day with the hope for a future of peace.

Some of the newest books for young people about September 11 include: Fireboat: the HeroicAdventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman a picture book about the retired fireboat pressed back into service on September 11; Even Firefighters Hug Their Moms by Christine Maclean; God Bless America by Irving Berlin, a picture book illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, which comes with a CD featuring Barbra Steisand and September 11, 2001: A Simple Account for Children by Nancy Poffenberger. For older children there is a young reader’s edition of the New York Times book A Nation Challenged: A Visual History of 9/11; the War on Terrorism series by Jill Wheeler with individual books on Ground Zero, George W. Bush and September 11; The Day That changed America; and Understanding September 11, 2001: Answering Questions About The Attacks On America by Mitch Frank. Many of these books promote positive things children can do to help their community and nation including learning about other cultures by reading books from the library, creating a memorial such as planting a tree, writing letters of appreciation to firefighters, police officers and other community helpers, and writing letters to government officials expressing feelings about being an America. Fictional responses to September 11 are scarce right now. A riveting book which can be read aloud to older children is The Breadwinner by Debrorah Ellis, a book of fiction for grades 5 to 8, published in 2000, about life in Afghanistan under the Taliban, from the perspective of an eleven year old girl.

Books for young adults are being published which reflect the ways teenagers are coping with September 11. In With Their Eyes, a teacher at Stuyvesant High School near Ground Zero collected emotion filled monologues from a performance they gave in response to the tragedy. Graphic artists have created an artisitic response to September 11 in 9-11 September 11, 2001: Artists Respond. Writers for young people like Avi, Walter Dean Myers and Katherine Paterson reflect on September 11 in 911: The Book of Help edited by Michael Cart.

For parents and teachers who need help in explaining violence and hate, death and loss to children there are books such as Talking With Children About Loss: Words, Strategies and Wisdom to Help Children Cope by Maria Trozzi and Hate Hurts: How Children Learn and Unlearn Prejudice: A Guide for Adults and Children by the Anti-Defamation League. Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman have written a book together for young people Bad Stuff in the News: A Guide To Handling The Headlines concerning spiritual issues and choices young people can make to live positively.

Helpful web sites created to deal with September 11, 2001 are still helpful a year later. The Association for Library Services to Children includes more book suggestions at

www.ala.org/alsc/dealing_with_tragedy.html and the Young Adult Library Services website at www.ala.org/yalsa/professional /traglist.html

There will be an exhibit of adult and children’s books related to September 11 at the West Warwick Public Library along with a booklist “Remembering September 11, 2001: A List Of Books For Young People At the West Warwick Public Library”.