September Roses

Prolific picture-book author and artist Jeanette Winter, perhaps best known for her many biographies in the form, from The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq to The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps, here turns to the story of the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11th, 2001. This tiny book - 6x7 inches - follows the story of two rose growers from South Africa who arrive in the city on that fateful day, bringing 2400 flowers with them for a show. Stranded at La Guardia Airport before being offered shelter by a Methodist church in Queens, the sisters decide to use their roses to create a temporary memorial to the fallen towers, in New York City's Union Square...

Although I am familiar with a number of show more stories about the city in the aftermath of 9/11, and although I worked for many years quite close to Union Square - I can still recall the military patrols passing me, as I would sit on the train platform there almost a year later, and I have vivid memories of walking by the citizen-made memorial within the subway station, with the victims' names attached to the white tiles along one corridor - I wasn't familiar with the story in September Roses. I've read and greatly enjoyed many of Winter's other books, and this being the anniversary of the attack - hard to believe it's been nineteen years! - I picked it up today. It is a poignant tale, one made more powerful by familiarity with the events of that terrible day. I don't know that it would make for the best introduction to the topic for children, as it doesn't really explain everything that was happening, but it certainly represents one way of entering into a discussion with them, about the impact 9/11 had on the people of the city, the nation and the world. It could be paired with 14 Cows for America, which offers another powerful story of a reaction to 9/11. show less

In this compact book, Winters writes about how she went to Union Square a few days after September 11, 2001 and saw tons of roses. She later learned how two sisters from South Africa had flown in to New York City that morning with thousands of roses for a flower expo. Instead they got stranded in the airport and ended up generously donating their roses to the city's vigils.

This book is quite tiny but quite beautiful. The illustrations are largely grays but then with pops of colors for the roses and other items as relevant. The font set looks like script, adding to the feeling of this book being a work of art. The text is not in verse but it is quite poetic. The content is bittersweet, highlighting both trauma and hope. The language is show more not gratuitous, but the topic is obviously upsetting, perhaps for some kids and families more than others. show less

This book is definitely one of my favorites so far. I love that the illustrations keep you guessing on what will happen, it was so intense waiting to see if the planes landed. I think this book would be great to show kids that good things can happen after bad things happen. This book could also teach children how much it means to give a helping hand.

This book would be the perfect introduction into a lesson about 9/11/01. Small children cannot understand the violence and terrorist attacks at a young age, but they can see how one nation came together to support each other in a time of need.

September Roses tells the story of two sisters from South Africa who grew roses. They were flying to New York City to showcase their rose display at a flower show, when the air filled with dark smoke. Two planes had struck the twin towers. They were stranded at the airport, until a man offered them a place to stay. To repay the man for his kindness, they offered him their roses and he knew a place where they belonged. They went to Union Square and the sisters displayed the roses in the shape of the Twin Towers. The theme of the story is a community coming together during difficult times. The story is about honoring and remembering the victims. We see how flowers are used during grieving periods because they are bright cheerful. The show more sisters used the flowers to pay homage to the lives lost as well as to put a smile on the people's faces. The setting of the story is New York City during September 11. The setting is crucial to the story. Had the attacks never happened, the sisters would have never displayed their flowers in Union Square and used them for grievances instead of a display at a flower show. This is a beautiful book that is perfect for introducing the attacks on September 11 to younger readers. The books shows a terrible, tragic event occur, but then how the people from all over the world came together and bonded through difficult times. show less

This book describes how 2 women from South Africa had a huge supply of roses and were bringing them to America for a flower show, but the show was canceled because of the twin towers falling. It shows how even how the smallest shred of kindness can shed light on a bad situation. The illustrations in this book were wonderful. Jeanette drew the illustrations to match the words she was writing. The only bad thing I can say is that most of the book isn't actually about 9/11, but with a children's book, there can't be a huge amount of information on it otherwise it might traumatize young children. However, I think having the book touch on 9/11 a little bit more wouldn't be too much for young children to handle. In fact, it is important for show more children to know and understand the importance of 9/11. show less

This story is told of a Memorial at the 9-11 sight that was created by thousands of roses. It is the story of two South African women who planned to show their roses at an Expo in New York and found themselves stranded in Laguardia Airport when all air travel stopped. Unable to find a hotel because of the tragedy, they were sheltered by complete strangers from the First United Methodist Church. Stranded with 2400 fresh roses the church members took them to the site of the Twin Towers where they created a Memorial by laying the roses out in the shape of the Towers. This is a simply told story that highlights the kindness of strangers, the compassion of people, and tells in a simple fashion the mourning of a world.