Customer Reviews

FIREBOAT: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey (Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards (Awards))

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been an educator for 30 years, and mother for 12. I have a doctoral degree in special education. I was so touched by this book that I have donated copies to libraries, in addition to buying them for friends with and without young children.

As a native New Yorker now living in another state, I struggled daily to explain 9/11 to my students and my own children. Not until I saw "Fireboat" did I have a children's book to help my explanations. None of us can ignore what happened in 2001. I have seen parents and teachers try, and their children became more confused and scared by the secrecy than they would have been by an open discussion of the events.

I applaud the sensitive story, the beautiful artwork, and the idea that, out of the terror and horror of 9/11, we can find positive acts and hope.

I recommend this book to parents everywhere.

I guess I'm somewhat taken aback by some of the reviewers who apparently read the book to their children, or got partway through it, without having looked it over themselves first. Sorry, that's just irresponsible. The book is a fabulous treatment of a terrible subject that your children ARE aware of, and this helps explain how ordinary people became heroes that awful day.

My 6-year old first fell in love with this book when he was 4, and he knows enough about 9/11 to know it was a horrible event. His dad (me) was next door to the WTC that morning, so he and his brother lived through waiting to hear from me with his mom.

The book is sensitive and touching. It's a great book and I highly recommend it. If you think your child might have a problem with ANY book, you should always read it yourself first.

Fireboat. By Maira Kalman. 2002. 38 pages. $ 16.99

Maira has done it again. She has written an extraordinary book about New York. Fireboat is a book about the tragedy of 9/11. The book focuses more on the Heroes than the tragedy. This book will be a good tool for teachers and parents to use to help explain the event. Fireboat is about a fireboat named Harvey. She starts with the history of the boat back in 1931. She also tells about other events that happened in 1931, "Snickers hit the stores... the word HOT-CHA was invented." Then it moves forward to 1995. Harvey was going to be scrapped, but a group of friends save the boat and restore it. Then there is a gray page that moves to 9/11. The book then illustrates two planes flying toward the twin towers. She then has a vivid illustration of the towers exploding. Maira then does a great job with describing the heroes and the crew of Harvey and then how Harvey had a great part in putting out the fires in New York after the attacks. The book then goes on to tell that Harvey was a hero and that heroes are "not forgotten". This book has great description, vivid and bold illustrations and great context. She does a great job writing a book that is so difficult to talk about. This book can be used with children to grade 4. However, with younger children a parent or teacher should be there to help explain the context since the illustrations are so vivid.

With dynamic illustrations and words, Maira Kalman offers a remarkable story about the role of a fireboat in NYC on September 11. As a school librarian/media specialist, I have been sharing this book with 2nd grade and up... When I have shown the book to coworkers and friends, each person has been impressed with Kalman's book. Without a doubt, Fireboat is on its way to being a classic.

This is a book about heroes, an interesting tale that takes an obscure little boat and makes it the centerpiece for a story of the September 11 attacks.

My son was just 3 in September 2001, and he saw our tears and knew we were frightened. When we reached the section of this book where the planes hit the buildings, he turned to me and said, "So THAT'S what happened." He was relieved to have the upsetting topic finally explained. Even years later, he has trouble understanding the heroes who died; many of the nuances and realities of that time simply elude him. Fireboat helped me broach the subject in a way that he seemed OK with.

Like other reviewers, I'm surprised at those who felt blindsided mid-read to their children. I can't understand not taking a second to flip through a book before reading any book to a child. To blame the book for a parental oversight seems very unfair. And also, avoiding the 9-11 topic with small children seems like whistling past the graveyard. Better to read a book like this, with some historical perspective and optimism, then to have a child like mine who felt in the dark and frightened of the unknown.

This is a cheery, well-written book about a terrible topic. The author walks a fine line between being too glib and too severe, but in the end, it's a successful effort.

"New York City. 1931. Amazing things were happening big and small..." The Empire State Building was built, Babe Ruth hit his 611th home run, the Snickers candy bar was invented, the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River was opened, and "on a sunny fresh day, the John J. Harvey fireboat was launched." "There were 12 fireboats in New York City. The Harvey was the largest, fastest and shiniest fireboat of them all." It traveled up and down the river fighting fires on boats and liners and at the busy piers. Fast forward to 1995. New York no longer needed fireboats, and The Harvey was retired and sat rusting, waiting to be sold for scrap. But then an amazing thing happened. A group of friends decided to buy and save The Harvey. They took her to a shipyard and fixed her up until she was bright and shiny and good as new. "And once again the Harvey was on the water." "But then on September 11, 2001 something so huge and horrible happened that the whole world shook..." The John J. Harvey and her new crew knew they had to help. "The water pipes were broken and buried. And the fire trucks that had raced to the scene could not pump water. The firefighters attached hoses to the Harvey..." The Harvey worked around the clock for four days, until the fires were under control. When it was finally time to go home, the crew had never seen anything so terrible, or felt so proud. "The Harvey was a hero. And everyone knew it." Maira Kalman's marvelous tribute to the John J. Harvey and all the brave people who sprang into action on 9/11 is inspiring, and filled with history, drama, courage, determination, and triumph. Her simple and straightforward text is complemented by her evocative, bold and busy illustrations that bring The Harvey's amazing story to life. Together, word and art paint a vivid and uplifting portrait that is poignant and touching, but won't overwhelm children with frightening and lurid details. Perfect for youngsters 5-9, Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures Of The John J. Harvey is Ms Kalman at her best. This is a book the entire family should read and share together, and is sure open important discussions and dialogue.

I picked this book up at the library without looking through it. I intended it for my 3 year old son. I was as surprised as another reviewer that it was about September 11th. However, once I realized it, I read it privately and showed it to my husband. He and I both agreed that it was a beautiful book that dealt with a enormous, important event sensitively. I decided to buy it for our own collection. The illustrations are very colorful, and the text simple. My son loves the book. Clearly, he doesn't understand the whole story. But I remember holding my son tightly on that day and think this story memorializes the day and the heroes of the John. J. Harvey well. I recommend it.

In keeping with such children's classics such as "Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel" & "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge" this story tells about the usefullness of an old NYC fireboat, called out of retirement to fight the fires on 9/11. I see that others were bothered that a book for young children mentions such a difficult day in history. Perhaps the cover should have some sort of warning. However, the illustrations are not scary or morbid. My 5yo son absolutely loved the book and begged to hear it again when we brought it home from the library so we'll be adding it to our own collection.

I like history stories because I like when my mom happy-cries. My mom happy-cried at this book. The book made me glad that the people saved New York and other people worked the fireboat. I gave it four stars instead of five because lots of people think it's scary, it might scare little children. But I didn't think this story was scary, not one bit.

My 6 year old son brought this home from his school library yesterday. I was eager to sit and read a book about a fireboat to my first grader!
I was so shocked by the abruptness of the content switching from almost a sing-songy storyline, to airplanes crashing in to the towers. My son said they were bombs and smiled at the big explosion on the following pages. My eyes teared up as I remembered being pregnant with him while frantically driving home afraid that the Boston skyline behind me was about to be assaulted and changed forever.
Back on the couch in our living room, I realized that a discussion about 9/11 was going to have to take place before my first grader understands this tragedy and this book. I put the book away, and will return it to his school's library. I have chosen to let my 6 year old be a first grader, to live in a world that is at peace. For now.
He will soon enough learn that there are evil individuals in the world who could strike down innocent people by the thousands. Soon, enough. But not at 6 years old.
This book is an important book, particularly for children who experienced a direct impact from those terrifying days.
Note to publisher: Please republish with a tag line referring to 9/11 on the cover.