A 9-11 Picture Book Read-Aloud Not to be Missed!

Just a quick PSA to tell you about my favorite read-aloud for September 11th (9/11): Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey. I first came across Fireboat in our downtown public library. It was standing alone on a shelf and (being a total sucker for splashy watercolors) the sunset hues of the bright and beautiful cover instantly summoned me forth. What luck! I couldn’t believe someone hadn’t already snatched up such a good-looking book!

Fireboat opens by listing big things happening in the year 1931—the Empire State Building was erected, Babe Ruth hit his 611th homerun in Yankee Stadium, Snickers bars hit the stores—and the John J. Harvey fireboat was launched. It was a large, fast, and shiny fireboat, with a brave crew of twelve, ready to fight fires on the bustling New York City piers. Fast-forward to 1995, where the Harvey sits abandoned and useless in the harbor, waiting to be sold for scrap metal. A group of folks decide to buy the Harvey and fix her up, restoring her to her full glory.

“Everyone said, ‘The Harvey is a nice old boat, but she could NEVER be used to fight a fire. NEVER.’”

Here I was, standing in a corner of the library, ingesting some lighthearted New York City history whilst admiring the vibrant illustrations when BAM. The color drains, leaving a page swathed entirely in black with a few simple lines of white lettering. A change of tone so sudden and so severe that you know something truly terrible has taken place.

“But then on September 11, 2001 something so huge and horrible happened that the whole world shook.”

Enter the John J. Harvey, brought out of retirement to help the citizens of its beloved city. After the attack, the city’s water pipes were broken and buried and the fire trucks that had raced to the scene could not pump water. And although the Harvey could no longer pump its own water, the firefighters attached hoses to the Harvey so it could help fight the fires until they were under control.

Not scrapped. Not useless. Not forgotten. A hero.

It’s important to share pivotal events in our nation’s history with children; we can’t just gloss over them, or worse, neglect to speak of them entirely. Students need a chance to listen, absorb, and discuss. They need a chance to remember heroes.

What’s brilliant about Fireboat is that Maira Kalman portrays the 9-11 tragedy in a straightforward and honest way, but also in a manner that children can grasp and appreciate without becoming too sad or overwhelmed. It’s quite a delicate balance, but she masterfully achieves it.

I’ve read aloud Fireboat to grades K-5 (and even a few middle schoolers!) and the discussion that ensues is always curious and thoughtful, never upsetting and scary.

We always return to this question:

If Harvey can be a hero, how can a regular person like me be a hero too?

(*This also makes a terrific journal prompt.)

Heroes don’t always have to be big, strong, and courageous. Sure, like the John. J. Harvey, they rise to the occasion when they are needed. Heroes also do small, simple things that don’t require a lot of time, money, muscles, or bravery. Things that help make other people’s lives easier or brighter, or simply make them feel seen and special.

*Be sure to download the free I Can be a Hero! brainstorming activity to accompany this September 11th picture book read aloud and discussion.

Also, any discussion about heroes requires you to share this classic Kid President video with your students. 😊

Are there any must-read 9-11 picture books that you share with students? I’d love to hear about them!

yours in reading,
rawley