Adventures of a Caffeinated Children's Librarian: Remembering September 11, 2001 in books

Kids in school (elementary, middle, high school, and even some college students) had not even been born yet when the events of September 11, 2001 took place. If they had, they were not old enough to remember them. I myself had only just graduated from college that past May and turned 22 in July. It is unbelievable to think that it has been 19 years. I remember it like it was yesterday. It's the event of my generation that compares to that of my parents when JFK was assassinated. You remember exactly where you were and what you were doing. The feelings of that day can still be recalled easily and felt just as deeply. It was a life changing event.

Today, children in school, both in person and virtually are most likely talking about 9/11, Patriots Day. Like so many others in history, you learn about these events, but it's hard to connect to them and really understand them. The kids in your life may be asking you questions today. The events of 2020 are their life changing event that their kids will be asking them about 20 years from now.

Many books about September 11 have been written, as will books about 2020 events. These books are both fiction and nonfiction titles that span age levels. There is something here for everyone to help them learn and understand more about the events of this tragic day in our nation's history. There are also inspirational stories of heroes, both human and canine. I encourage you to read them and share them with your children to help foster conversation. I am also providing links to the memorials in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Somerset County, PA. Several years ago I visited the memorial site in Pennsylvania. It was very powerful to know that I was in the presence of heroes who fought back. Their spirits are definitely felt there. May we never forget.

FICTION

I survived the attacks of September 11, 2001 / by Lauren Tarshis; illustrated by Scott Dawson
Nine, ten: a September 11 story / by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Escape from the Twin Towers / by Kate Messner; illustrated by Kelley McMorris
Throwback / by Peter Lerangis
Towers falling / by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Somewhere among / by Annie Denwerth Chikamatsu
Just a drop of water / by Kerry O'Malley Cerra
September roses / by Jeanette Winter
Eleven / by Tom Rogers
14 cows for America / by Carmen Agra Deedy and Thomas Gonzalez
The usual rules / by Joyce Maynard
All we have left / by Wendy Mills
September 12: we knew everything would be all right / by H. Byron Masterson Elementary School; illustrated by M.O. Kennet
9-11: artists respond / by Dark Horse Comics
Time riders / by Alex Scarrow
Love is the higher law / by David Levithan
We all fall down / by Eric Walters
The red bandana (young readers adaptation) / by Tom Rinaldi
Extremely loud and incredibly close / by Jonathan Safran Foer

NONFICTION

The National September 11 Memorial / by Ellis M. Reed 974.71 R251n
The September 11 attacks transform America / by Whitney Sanderson 973.931 Sa56s
September 11 through the eyes of George W. Bush / by Emily O'Keefe 973.931 Ok2s
Seven and a half tons of steel / by Janet Nolan; illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez 623.8256 N711s
The 9/11 terror attacks / by Laura K. Murray 973.931 M964n
Heroes of 9/11 / by Allan Zullo 973.9310922 Z84h
Ground zero dogs / by Meish Goldish 636.70886 G569g
Hero dogs: courageous canines in action / by Donna M. Jackson 636.7 J133h
A nation challenged: a visual history of 9/11 and its aftermath / the New York Times; introduction by Howell Raines; photographs edited by Nancy Lee and Lonnie Schlein 973.931 N213
One World Trade Center / by Julie Murray 720.48309 M964o
America is under attack: September 11, 2001: the day the towers fell / by Don Brown 973.931 B812a
Fireboat: the heroic adventures of the John J. Harvey / by Maira Kalman 974.71044 K126f
Saved by the boats: the heroic sea evacuation of September 11 / by Julie Gassman; illustrated by Steve Moors 974.71044 G216s
September 11 / by Mary Englar; content adviser, Barbara Elias; reading adviser, Rosemary Palmer 973.931 En34s
September 11, 2001 / by Andrew Santella 973.931 Sa59s
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 / by Sabrina Crewe and Dale Anderson 973.931 C867t
Me and the sky : Captain Beverley Bass, pioneering pilot / by Beverley Bass with Cynthia Williams ; pictures by Joanie Stone B B2931m
What were the Twin Towers? / by Jim O'Connor ; illustrated by Ted Hammond 725.23097471 Oc5w