Last year I published a unit on the fantastic novel, Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. September 11th is a monumental piece of modern history, one I think is important to teach. In this post I wanted to share a few more books that you can use in your classroom or at home to touch on the subject of 9/11 with your kiddos.
Though many are picture books, don’t let that deter you from checking them out. Some of these picture books will captivate your youngest readers all the way up to your middle and high school students. What I love about picture books for all ages is that they are a quick way to spark interest and ignite a conversation about the topic, not to mention the added bonus of the pictures!
I have included a few novels for those with older students. These can be used as literature circle novels, read aloud books, or just to recommend. With Their Eyes is one that I’ve wanted to read for a while and is geared for the high school level.
September 11th Books & Novels
Towers Falling
Towers Falling is perfect for your middle school age group as it is told from the perspective of a girl around that age. What I love about this book is that it will (hopefully) resonate with a lot of students because they weren’t alive for 9/11 and may not fully understand just how much the events of 9/11 impacted family, friends, New York, and this country. If you are interested in the unit for this book you can check it out here.
Picture Books (Elementary and up)
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001
Chapter Books/ Novels (Upper Middle School and up)
A topic as sensitive as 9/11 should be handled with care, but should also not be left unspoken. The key is finding great literature to help teach about that tragic day. I truly hope you enjoy these books and the resource that goes with them.
I’d love to hear how you teach or discuss 9/11 with your students/ kiddos. What other books have you found beneficial?
Until next time,
Kimi says
September 5, 2017 at 1:35 amI will never forget the day the towers fell, where I was, what my dad told me as we watched it unfold on the news. These books are a wonderful way to teach our kids about the history, and to honor the memory of those who lost it all that day. Thank you for sharing!
Dani Wagner says
September 10, 2017 at 3:26 pmI will never forget either Kimi! Thank you!
Valerie says
September 10, 2017 at 11:24 amVery interesting books! Particularly the book for middle schoolers, very interesting way to help them understand such a sad event in our country’s history!
Dani Wagner says
September 10, 2017 at 3:27 pmThanks Valerie! I think they are a great intro to a significant piece of history!