Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review and to give my honest opinion.
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on Tuesday September 11, 2001? I still remember where I was and what I was doing 20 years later. I was working and my husband, Mike, called me on the phone and asked me, “Have you seen the news?” I responded “I have not.” I went into the break room, turned on the TV, and saw the second plane hit the second World Trade Center building. My heart sank! I could not believe what I was seeing! The Discovering Heroes Series written by Kristie Kiernan Bouryal and Illustrated by Gabe and Haruka Ostley helps our children understand what happen that day we will “Never Forget.”
Seventeen years after the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, Context Productions, a creator and publisher of children’s content, is released the first book in its Discovering Heroes™ series of early chapter books for young readers. “My Buddy’s a Hero – And I Didn’t Even Know It” shares a first-person account of 9/11 heroism and helps kids expose everyday heroes in their own lives.
“This is as unique as children’s books get. An authentic 9/11 story that takes readers right back to that day, with a smart approach that teaches kids how to uncover stories of heroism around them. America’s darkest day has been skillfully turned into a positive learning for kids,” said New York City Educator Kaitlin Carbonaro. “It tugs on heart strings while managing to spark intellectual curiosity and shine a light on everyday heroes,” said New York City Educator Victoria Heidel. “It’s a clever, authentic work of art,” Heidel continued.
In “My Buddy’s a Hero – And I Didn’t Even Know It,” the main characters, Tyler, Olivia and Sophia, discover that their Grandfather helped rescue the last man out alive from the ruins of the World Trade Center tragedy. It’s the first time the three ever heard that Grandpa, a more than twenty-year veteran and former lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York’s (FDNY) elite Rescue units, lost many people he loved that day and was part of the rescue and recovery efforts. Grandpa’s story unfolded because Tyler, Olivia and Sophia asked questions, were active listeners and sought deeper meaning. In this inaugural edition, kids learn what it was really like on America’s darkest day and open their minds to a world full of stories of everyday heroism just waiting to be told.
“Today’s kids were born later and know little about 9/11. Yet it’s a day that has profoundly affected countless lives and we continue to lose more and more people to 9/11-related illnesses,” said author Kristie Kiernan Bouryal. “Through this authentic story and others to come in the series, kids will become informed about 9/11 from different perspectives. They will learn about the courage and extraordinary efforts of everyday people in the face of our worst tragedy. They will learn that it takes active listening, asking questions and seeking context to uncover amazing, untold stories that surround them,” she continued.
In later books in this Discovering Heroes series, Tyler, Olivia and Sophia will learn about some of Grandpa’s brave friends that lost their lives on September 11, 2001, about their Grandmother’s role as mission command during the country’s greatest disaster and of the many victims still losing their lives to September 11 due to health-related issues and more.
The approach Tyler, Olivia and Sophia take, is an approach any child can take to learn more about the heroes closest to them. “I hope your child, family members and students join the main characters on their journeys, become more cognizant of 9/11 and uncover the untold stories of heroes in their lives,” said the author.
In “My Buddy’s a Hero – And I Didn’t Even Know it”, we get a first hand account through Grandpa of what happened, what everything looked like, and what he did that day. The beautiful illustrations by Gabe and Haruka Ostley help us to better visualize that day from an up close view. I love how this books helps our children to understand what happened that day on their level. It even has a Word List in the back in case they do not know the meaning of a word from the book.
“My Buddy’s a Hero – And I Didn’t Even Know It” starts off with the family sitting around the dinner table talking about a memorial service that they would be attending the next day. Grandpa continues to tell the children why they are having the memorial, events that took place that tragic day and what he did that day. I do not want to give too much away, but I will tell you that your children will be drawn in by Grandpa’s account of that day.
Here are some more of the beautiful illustrations by Gabe and Haruka Ostley:
“Today’s kids know little about September 11, 2001, but we’re going to change that,” said Author Kristie Kiernan Bouryal. “With this book and others in the series, I hope to give every teacher, parent, grandparent, or close relative of a child, a variety of ways to spark discussion about the extraordinarily heroic actions of everyday people during America’s darkest time,” Bouryal continued. “There’s never been a better time than now to give voice to stories of unity, bravery and love to educate kids about 9/11 and everyday heroes.”
Bouryal’s father is John Kiernan, a former lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), who along with his wife, Benita Kiernan, inspired the series. “The books focus on the people in the towers, the ones who ran in to help and the many amazing things people did,” John Kiernan said. “On 9/11, people lost parents, children, siblings, friends, mentors, coaches, construction workers, firefighters, police – people from all walks of life. Regular people who touched the lives of others in so many different ways and would have continued to throughout their lives. My family and I miss spending time with my closest FDNY brothers. There were so many who would have experienced life with us, but now they watch over their families and ours from heaven. Future generations should know their stories,” he said.
The main characters in “Remembering Heroes,” and Bouryal’s first book, “My Buddy’s a Hero – And I Didn’t Even Know It,” are grandparents, who lovingly inform their grandchildren about 9/11 and the people who gave their lives, as they respond to the natural curiosity of the kids. In “Remembering Heroes,” the family visits FDNY’s Rescue Company 1 in New York City to attend a memorial service for September 11, 2001. There, the kids learn about the 343 fallen members of the FDNY, including the 11 heroes from that firehouse. The family also explores the meaning of everyday heroes.
“Kristie Kiernan Bouryal strikes a delicate balance of being informative but not too detailed, of being emotive but not frightening. Her work is based on true events and her approach is refreshingly clever, yet gentle. Her books are a must read for kids of all ages,” said New York City Educator Victoria Heidel.
Book two in the Discovering Heroes Series, “Remembering Heroes“, picks up at the Memorial Service were book one ended. In “Remembering Heroes” Grandpa and Grandma start telling the grandkids stories about the fallen heroes from September 11, 2001. After they leave the memorial at Rescue 1 Fire House they head over to Rescue Company 2 Fire House. That is were Grandpa worked before he retired. On their way there they passed a group of people holding up supportive signs for first responders. Grandpa begins to tell the grandkids why they are holding signs. I do not want to give too much away, but I highly recommend this series for all children. It is recommended for ages 7-11. Again Gabe and Haruka Ostley do an amazing job with the illustrations.
“9/11 Courage and Tributes,” helps us to learn ore about September 11, 2001 through the story of a Grandma and Grandpa that take their grandkids on a weekend trip to help them to learn more about what happened that day that none of us who were alive that day will “Never Forget”. With the 18th Anniversary of September 11th fast approaching we need to share with our children what happened that day to ensure future generations also never forget. This book is a great way to do that. “We have a whole generation of kids who are largely uninformed about 9/11, yet we are on track to loose more people to 9/11 – related illnesses than we lost that day, ” said CEO and Author Kristie Kiernan Bouryal. “9/11 Courage and Tributes,” describes people that were there, events that took place that day and memorial and museums that honor all our heroes from that tragic day.
In the book we learn about, Angels’ Circle, FDNY Memorial Wall, 9/11 Tribute Museum, National September, 11 Memorial & Museum, Freedom Tower, New York City Fire Museum, The National Flight 93 Memorial, and The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Angels’ Circle in Staten Island, New York was started by Wendy Furtado Pellegrino. She painting a sign that says “God Bless Our Heroes,” and placed it with candles on an empty lot across from her house. Through donations, outpouring of support and photos of loved ones it has turned into what it is today. FDNY Memorial Wall is on the side of FDNY Ten House. It is right across from the World Trade Center Site. The 9/11 Tribute Museum displays many items that were found in the ruins like twisted metal from the World Trade Center, FDNY helmets and jackets, work ID cards and even a child’s stuffed animal. New York City Fire Museum has a remembrance to the 343 members of the FDNY that were lost that day.
We also get a first hand account about Marine 9 and America’s largest water evacuation. Michael MacDonald talks about his experience as a firefighter on Marine 9, the boat that supplied water to the north-west area of the site for 24 hours a day for several days. Most of the fire hydrants were damaged. We also learned that the subway system, bridges, and tunnels were closed so no one could get off of the island of Manhattan. The United States Coast Guard realized this and made a call on the radio that boaters used. They organized the largest water evacuation.
Author and Context Productions CEO Kristie Kiernan Bouryal’s new release for children, “9/11 Courage and Tributes,” was written to raise awareness to the events of the fateful day and is a tribute to the fallen and the courage of everyday heroes. It is the author’s intention that the three books in her Discovering Heroes Series, which are all based on true events, will help children to better understand that day, its aftermath and the bravery of the men and women who lost their lives and those who carried on .
According to the World Trade Center Health Program as of March 31, 2019, more than 95,000 people enrolled in the program and more than 49,000 have at least on disease certified as a 9/11 – related illness. Since 9/11, more than 2,350 member of the program have died, more than 2,100 were first responders.
“9/11 is a day that is still harming people – and this is going to continue for year to come. Many vowed to ‘Never Forget,’ but those words require action. I’m calling on every educator, parent, grandparent, close relative or friend of a child to use this book and others in the series to engage kids about 9/11, ” said Bouryal.
Bouryal’s books are all based on true events. Her parent, John Kiernan, a former lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), and Benita Kiernan, a former nurse, inspired the series. They are grandparent characters in the series, who lovingly inform their grandchildren about 9/11, the fallen and everyday heroes by responding to the kids’ many questions.
In “9/11 Courage and Tributes,” the family visits special tributes created to honor and remember those we lost. The grandkids learn about the courage of everyday heroes, including their role in American’s largest water evacuations, and that 9/11 is still harming people.
Kristie Kiernan Bouryal is an author and an accomplished communications and marking strategist with more than 25 years of experience building brand, demand and revenue generation across multiple industries. She has a proven tract record of success in executive roles spanning global corporate communications, marketing and all forms of media.
Kristie has received numerous awards and recognition throughout her distinguished career, including an International Business Award for Bran Renovation from the Stevie Awards, Gold Quill Excellence Awards from The international Association of Business Communicators; multiple Gold Hermes Creative Awards from the Association of marketing and Communication Professionals; the Chairman’s Prize of Innovation at The Associated Press; and the news industry’s prestigious Peabody Award.
Kristie in a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is a loving wife, sister, aunt and the oldest of found girls born to a now retired nurse and a former lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York’s elite rescue units. Kristie was born and raised in Staten Island, New York and currently resides in New Jersey with her husband.
After reading “9/11 Courage and Tributes, ” I have learned so much that I did not know about that day. I highly recommend this book for you and your family. I am now ready to read the rest of the books in the, Discovering Heroes Series.
For all of you homeschool moms out there I know you will be excited that this series comes with Teaching Tools. The Teaching Tools include lesson plans, reading comprehension worksheets, reading comprehension responses, reading comprehension quiz, and reading comprehension quiz answers. Please click here for them.
