Help Kids Remember 9/11 and Its HEROES With the Discovering Heroes Book Series!

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book from Ascot Media Group, free of charge, for blog review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own

America pledged to 'Never Forget' the events of September 11, 2001. But as the 18th anniversary of our nation's darkest day approaches, there's more to do to ensure future generations also never forget.

Author and Context Productions CEO Kristie Kiernan Bouryal's realized there was a need for young kids to understand the courage of the everyday heroes from that fateful day, and it led to her writing her Discovering Heroes™ series of books based on true events, to help children better understand that day, its aftermath and the bravery of the men and women who lost their lives and those who carried on. The heroes providing her inspiration included her own parents (her father, John Kiernan, is a former lieutenant in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) and her mother, Benita Kiernan, is a former nurse). 

"We have a whole generation of kids who are largely uninformed about 9/11, yet we are on track to lose more people to 9/11-related illnesses than we lost that day,” said CEO and Author Kristie Kiernan Bouryal.  In fact, according to the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program,  as of March 31, 2019, more than 95,000 people are enrolled in their program, and more than 49,000 have at least one disease certified as a 9/11-related illness. Since 9/11, more than 2,350 members of the program have died—over 2,100 were first responders. 

"9/11 is a day that is still harming people – and this is going to continue for years 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 the books in the series to engage kids about 9/11,” said Bouryal. 

Synopsis;

In this story, based on true events, the grandkids (Tyler, Olivia and Sophia), spend the weekend with their grandparents, to learn more about September 11, 2001. The family visits very special tributes, created to honor and remember people who lost their lives that day. By asking questions, and actively listening, the kids learn about 9/11’s lasting impact, and the courage of everyday heroes, including their role in our nation’s largest water evacuation. Join in their discoveries. Help the kids of today and tomorrow to never forget.

Review:

This series is aimed at kids of all ages, but especially those between the ages of seven through eleven.  Miss Grace read it easily in one day as it is only 58 pages (the previous books are shorter), and declared it to be a really interesting book. She had never heard of the water rescue for those escpaing the blasts, nor amount the 2 memorials, both Angels Circle and the Postcrds Statue on Staten Island. Both struck a chord with her, as she realized so many more people have been affected by the tragedy, than just those that died that day.She liked the use of illustrations and real life photos to bring the story to better understanding too.  By using her own parents as the central grandparent characters in the series, Kristie has found a really unique ay to get kids to relate to the series, and jump right into reading it!

This is a super series and I highly recommend getting the entire set for your own household, but also consider donating a set to your local librayr, or favorite elementary classroom! Help keep alive the memories of the fallen and everyday heroes of Sepetember 11, for the tounger generation!

Discovering Heroes Series:

In the first book of the series, My Buddy's a Hero – And I Didn't Even Know It, the grandkids learn for the first time that their grandfather was part of the rescue and recovery efforts, and helped rescue the last man out alive, from the ruins of the World Trade Center

In the second book in the series, Remembering Heroes, the family visits FDNY's Rescue Company 1 in New York City to attend a memorial service for 9/11. There, the kids learn about the nearly 3,000 people lost that day, including the 343 members of the FDNY and the 11 fallen heroes from that firehouse, all while they explore the meaning of everyday heroes and see them in action. 

Teaching Tools:

Besdies the vocabulary words included in the back of each book, there are also teaching tools for the books available at www.contextproductions.com, including activities that kids can complete and share with Bouryal, for publishing consideration online or in print. PLUS, she has reading comprehension and quizzes for each book, so you can make a unit study out of them!


About the Author:

Kristie Kiernan Bouryal is an author and an accomplished communications and marketing strategist with more than 25 years of experience building brands, demand and revenue generation across multiple industries. She has a proven track record of success in executive roles spanning global corporate communications, marketing and all forms of media.

Kristie is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. She is a loving wife, sister, aunt and the oldest of four 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.

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