September Roses
Kindergarten-Grade 3–Based on a factual anecdote, this book recounts the story of two sisters from South Africa who are stranded in New York in the aftermath of September 11. The women, who are flying with 2400 roses for a flower show, land right after the Twin Towers are hit. A stranger offers them a place to stay. Wanting to repay this kindness, they take their flowers to Union Square and arrange them in the shape of the fallen towers amid the many other memorials. The pen-and-ink illustrations begin in color but dramatically turn to black and white when the events of 9/11 take over. Color gently returns through the appearance of the rose and candle memorials. The spare and poetic text, small-sized format, and simple drawings give these painful days a direct and personal resonance. Because of the script font and the format, this book works best one-on-one rather than for beginning readers or group sharing. While this story will not explain what happened on 9/11 to children too young to remember it, Winter's offering captures the intensity of emotion that was felt that day and the healing human connections that soon followed.–Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.