Fireboat
The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey
$24.01
- Paperback
48 pages
- Release Date
4 August 2005
Summary
Meet the John J. Harvey-the fireboat that fought the fires after the events of September 11, 2001-in this remarkable picture book that eloquently pays tribute to one of America’s darkest days with sensitivity, heroism, and honor.★ “A hundred years from now, when people want to know what we told our children about 9⁄11, Kalman’s book should be among the first answers.”-Booklist (starred review)★ “Exciting, uplifting, and child-sensitive… . Revisits the tragedy without the terror and conveys pride without preachiness.”-The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)Learn about the inspiring true story of the John J. Harvey-a retired New York City fireboat that helped fight the fires at Ground Zero on September 11-in this picture book that compassionately uncovers the events surrounding that fateful day in 2001. Originally launched in 1931, the Harvey was the most powerful fireboat of her time. But after retiring due to inactivity, no one ever thought the ship would work again. That is, until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap.Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something horrible happened in New York City that shook the whole world. With fire hydrants at Ground Zero inoperable and the Hudson River’s water supply critical to fighting the blaze, the fire department called on the Harvey for help. The fireboat’s volunteer crew pumped much-needed water to the disaster site until the fires were extinguished, saving lives, preventing further destruction, and proving to be one of New York City’s bravest.Heroic, uplifting, and honest, Fireboat tells the true story of one ship’s vitality, the hope it provided for its people, and how its latest mission confirms that old heroes never die.
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780142403624 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0142403628 |
| Author: | Maira Kalman |
| Publisher: | Nancy Paulsen Books |
| Imprint: | Nancy Paulsen Books |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 48 |
| Release Date: | 4 August 2005 |
| Weight: | 215g |
| Dimensions: | 4mm x 254mm x 254mm |
| Series: | Picture Puffin Books (Paperback) |
| Audience Age: | 4-8 |
You Can Find This Book In
Critics Review
- “Kalman does some extraordinary things in this beautiful picture book. She takes the fireboat’s history and puts it within the context of a city that has endured, framing the enormity of 9⁄11 so young readers, and even small children, can begin to grasp what happened. At the same time, she makes the event part of life’s continuum of loss and endurance. Her artistry is as compassionate as it is brilliant. Wonderful, sweeping images of New York icons bring the city to life; detailed images of the Harvey do the same for the boat… . It is vivid, but the stark, sensitive rendering is also somehow easier to absorb than the horrible photographs burned into our hearts. By focusing on the boat and the people who worked on it, loved it, and placed it at the service of their city, Kalman casts a blessing far and wide… . A hundred years from now, when people want to know what we told our children about 9⁄11, Kalman’s book should be among the first answers.”—Booklist, starred review
* “Fireboat does many things. It sets forth an adventure, helps commemorate an anniversary, offers an interesting bit of history, celebrates the underdog, and honors the fire-fighting profession. Children and adults will respond to it in as many ways.”—School Library Journal, starred review
* “Kalman intelligently conveys those unfathomable events in a way that a picture book audience can comprehend… . With this inspiring book, Kalman sensitively handles a difficult subject in an age-appropriate manner.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
* “Among the many literary tributes to 9-11 heroism, Kalman’s is particularly exciting, uplifting, and child-sensitive… . Revisits the tragedy without the terror and conveys pride without preachiness.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
* “Quintessential New York artist Kalman gives us an idiosyncratic but informative look at a Big Apple institution… . Kalman’s use of the events of September 11 is honest and honorable, and rarely is she as straightforward as she is here.”—The Horn Book, starred review
Maira Kalman
In her own words: “born. bucolic childhood. culture-stuffed adolescence. played piano. stopped. danced. stopped. wrote. discarded writing. drew. reinstated writing. married Tibor Kalman and collaborated at iconoclastic yet successful design studio. wrote and painted children’s books. worried. took up Ping-Pong. relaxed. wrote and painted for many magazines. cofounded the Rubber Band Society. amused. children: two. dog: one.”
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.