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47th out of 80 books
—
84 voters
Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey
by
Maira Kalman
The John J. Harvey fireboat was the largest, fastest, shiniest fireboatof its time, but by 1995, the city didn't need old fireboats anymore. So the Harvey retired, until a group of friends decided to save it from the scrap heap. Then, one sunny September day in 2001, something so horrible happened that the whole world shook. And a call came from the fire department, asking...more
Paperback, 48 pages
Published
August 4th 2005
by Puffin
(first published August 5th 2002)
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Leon loves Kalman's books about Pete, the dog who eats everything, so I tried this one too. It's a lovely tale, but I really wish that authors or publishers would think about putting some kind of warning on Picture books - which are aimed at little kids - when that book contains massive death (9/11 in this case), which can be hard to explain to those little kids. Yes, I could have read it myself before reading it to Leon, but it's a PICTURE BOOK for goodness sake. I shouldn't have to check it fo...more
HOT-CHA!!! In its prime the John J. Harvey fought fires up and down the Hudson River. Soon the city of New York hand no use for fireboats and planned to sell the John J. Harvey for scrap. But a group of friends decided to buy the John J. Harvey; they repaired the massive boat back to its original glory and were very happy. Until one fateful September day in 2001 when two planes crashed into the Twin Towers. The people of New York banned together even the John J. Harvey. The city of New York need...more
Genre: Junior book—Informational
Summary: This book tells a story about a little red fireboat. As people began to think this boat was worthless and not needed, it ended up saving many people during the tragic even that happened -on 9/11.
Critique:
a. I personally believe the greatest strength of this book is the story. The fact that a special type of boat was known to not be useful but it becomes very useful at a very, very important time in history.
b. This book does an amazing job at showing re...more
Summary: This book tells a story about a little red fireboat. As people began to think this boat was worthless and not needed, it ended up saving many people during the tragic even that happened -on 9/11.
Critique:
a. I personally believe the greatest strength of this book is the story. The fact that a special type of boat was known to not be useful but it becomes very useful at a very, very important time in history.
b. This book does an amazing job at showing re...more
FireBoat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maria Kalman tells a great story about New York through the eyes of a fireboat. John J. Harvey was an amazing fireboat in New York City, helping to put out many fires along the “bustling piers” and on the “great ocean liner NORMANDIE” (p. 13 & p. 15). Soon enough, fireboats were no longer needed along the waters of New York, until the morning of September 11, 2001. Read this wonderful story to see how the old, repaired John J. Harvey h...more
This is my informational book. I really enjoyed it. It is about the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers from the focus of a fire boat. It starts the book out by the year this boat was released. It told the many uses of the boat and different fires it has conquered. After many years the boat no longer was being used and it became old and rusty. Some friends fixed up the boat and used it for fun. Whenever 9/11 happened, the friends of the boat knew just what to do. They helped put out the fire with the...more
This outstanding picture book tells the true story of the John J. Harvey, the retired fireboat, rehabilitated by hobbyists, which was called back into service during the terrible crisis of September 11, 2001. The careful, well-written text gives the reader a sense of the boat's own history as a traditional fireboat and then a hobbyist's project. Then she sensitively introduces September 11's events, explaining how the Harvey's civilian crew volunteered for service when New York's damaged water l...more
We have a lot of transportation books around our house, and I thought this was just one more cute little book about a plucky little boat, kind of like Little Toot. It's not. It's prettily drawn and gives the history of fire boats in New York, and of the John J. Harvey in particular, which was restored to its original glory by a group of people who just took pleasure in owning it. I was reading along to the boys, and then came to a black page with simple white text describing September 2001: "som...more
"Fireboat" by Maira Kalman is a brightly illustrated book about a fireboat named the John J. Harvey. In 1931, the John J. Harvey was launched and was lauded as the biggest and best of New York City's fireboats. It served for nearly 60 years helping to fight fires on the city's piers. After having been docked for five years, a group of friends heard about the boat and decided to buy it and repair it just for fun. When September 11 happened, the John J. Harvey was put back into action. Because the...more
Picture Book 1)
This is a superb nonfiction picture book of how a New York City Fire boat that at one time was about to be sold for scrap was turned in a hero!
The story begins by introducing the amazing things happening in NYC in 1931: The Empire State Build was being built, Babe Ruth was slugging home runs, Snickers hit stores and more. The John J. Harvey was also lunched along with a fleet of 12 other Fire Boats. The fleet fought fires along the numerous city piers and docks. However by the mi...more
This is a superb nonfiction picture book of how a New York City Fire boat that at one time was about to be sold for scrap was turned in a hero!
The story begins by introducing the amazing things happening in NYC in 1931: The Empire State Build was being built, Babe Ruth was slugging home runs, Snickers hit stores and more. The John J. Harvey was also lunched along with a fleet of 12 other Fire Boats. The fleet fought fires along the numerous city piers and docks. However by the mi...more
Fireboat gave perhaps one of the best presentations of the events of 9/11 that I've yet seen in a children's book. It was presented carefully, factually, and with enough information to inform kids about the events and the emotions surrounding it, without making them feel frightened or unsafe. I was impressed at the way in which it opened the door for parents or teachers to discuss this event with kids.
Unfortunately, the kids were not so impressed. Sort of were not. My niece didn't engage with th...more
Unfortunately, the kids were not so impressed. Sort of were not. My niece didn't engage with th...more
1. Informational Junior book
2. This informational book tells the story of a great boat named John J Harvey (or the Harvey). The Harvey was build in the early 1900's as a fireboat during a time when the harbors of New York City were busy. The ship later was retired, but was bought in the 1990's and remodeled to be a fully-functioning boat. The boat was thought to be unneeded, but when September 11, 2001 occurred, the Harvey was very helpful by rescuing many people from flames.
3. The best part ab...more
2. This informational book tells the story of a great boat named John J Harvey (or the Harvey). The Harvey was build in the early 1900's as a fireboat during a time when the harbors of New York City were busy. The ship later was retired, but was bought in the 1990's and remodeled to be a fully-functioning boat. The boat was thought to be unneeded, but when September 11, 2001 occurred, the Harvey was very helpful by rescuing many people from flames.
3. The best part ab...more
Borrowed from the library....we LOVE it! Definetely adding to our own bookshelf!
This is the inspiring true story of the John J. Harvey-a retired New York City fireboat reinstated on September 11, 2001. Originally launched in 1931, the Harvey was the most powerful fireboat of her time. After the September 11 attacks, with fire hydrants at Ground Zero inoperable and the Hudson River's water supply critical to fighting the blaze, the fire department called on the Harvey for help. There were adjustm...more
This is the inspiring true story of the John J. Harvey-a retired New York City fireboat reinstated on September 11, 2001. Originally launched in 1931, the Harvey was the most powerful fireboat of her time. After the September 11 attacks, with fire hydrants at Ground Zero inoperable and the Hudson River's water supply critical to fighting the blaze, the fire department called on the Harvey for help. There were adjustm...more
I learned about this book by reading a blog on the New York Times website, which asked educators to share their ideas on how they planned to teach about 9/11. Ten years later after this tragedy, I have learned a true story about a little fireboat (think fire engine, but on the water) that was supposed to be turned into scrap metal, but instead was refurbished and used to combat the flames of 9/11. This book's illustrations are fanciful, and the story is beautifully told. I teared up when I reach...more
I really liked this—I love Maira Kalman's illustrations and the pacing of the story was very nice, but I couldn't agree more that there should be some sort of label that indicates the subject matter is as explicit about September 11 as it is in this book. I get that I should be checking content of books out, obviously, but when we often go with the random pull off the shelf method, there's a lot that gets by me until it comes up in the stack we're reading right then. I am not ready to explain th...more
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One of my favorite books EVER. Fireboat is about a fireboat that was salvaged by a group of people for recreational purposes. After 9/11, it was called back into action because the hydrants and pipes under the city were demolished. The Harvey pumped water from the Hudson to help put out the fires left when the buildings fell. It talks about 9/11 in a way children can understand it without getting into too much detail.
Sep 06, 2011
Matthew
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-picture-books
This book is pretty close to perfect. The illustrations, and reserach, the text. All of it is pretty well perfect. I've seen it used in lessons on teaching writing and I've certainly seen it read aloud when discussing 9/11 since it is such a proud reflection of a few of the heroes involved in that tragic event. It's tough to look at the book even today, but this is really an outstanding picture book that deserved to be read.
grades k-6
read aloud/shared reading
transitional/fluent
reality fiction/historical
onomatopoeia/punctuation/repetition/strong text&illustration interaction
old heroes never die
an old "hot cha" fire boat from 1937 was revived to help with the 911 world trade center catastrophe in 2001. ordinary people and boats can do extraordinary things.
Good tool for introducing the 911 world trade center catastrophe
read aloud/shared reading
transitional/fluent
reality fiction/historical
onomatopoeia/punctuation/repetition/strong text&illustration interaction
old heroes never die
an old "hot cha" fire boat from 1937 was revived to help with the 911 world trade center catastrophe in 2001. ordinary people and boats can do extraordinary things.
Good tool for introducing the 911 world trade center catastrophe
Age: 1st grade-4th grade
A group of New Yorkers decide to save a forgotten about fireboat. When September 11th strikes, the Fireboat is there to help deliver water to the work-heavy fireman on land.
A delightful blend of nonfiction factual detail (parts of the fireboat, history of the fireboat) with an uplifting story about a group of people that come together to save history and save the present.
A group of New Yorkers decide to save a forgotten about fireboat. When September 11th strikes, the Fireboat is there to help deliver water to the work-heavy fireman on land.
A delightful blend of nonfiction factual detail (parts of the fireboat, history of the fireboat) with an uplifting story about a group of people that come together to save history and save the present.
Feb 15, 2009
Jess
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
children, teacher/librarians working on September 11 units
Recommended to Jess by:
Betty
The story of the John J. Harvey fireboat from its '31 launch and use along the Hudson, to its rescue from the scrap yards and restoration, and finally to its return service on September 11.
Excellent. The book has both an interesting story and fitting illustrations; the ones before, during, and after the planes crashing into the towers are especially effective. It would work well for a September 11 unit seeing as it's appropriate for kids, effective, and a story you likely haven't heard.
Excellent. The book has both an interesting story and fitting illustrations; the ones before, during, and after the planes crashing into the towers are especially effective. It would work well for a September 11 unit seeing as it's appropriate for kids, effective, and a story you likely haven't heard.
I have fallen completely in love with Maira Kalman. I love the way she thinks. I love the things she notices. And, this book? This book is remarkable! I didn't know this true story, but I find it hopeful and encouraging. Of course - Maira always is. I am adding it to the Lawsonland shelf because I want to remember to use it on September 11th.
Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey is a true story about a little red fireboat in New York. The book begins with some New York history and great pictures. It eases into 9/11 and tells how the John J. Harvey came back to work to put out fires. It is a great way to share the events of 9/11 with young children.
Fireboat is a great book that recalls past events up to the event which happened on September 11th. It is a great informational book that informs the reader about the duties of the Harvey boat on 9-11. I would use this book when teaching a lesson over 9-11. I would include the heros and brave firefighters who helped rescue people.
Fireboats are cool, even for my kids who have never seen the ocean. They make a great hook for a story that's actually about the heroism and tragedy of 9/11. And the safety and bravery of the fireboat gives pre-school readers a narrative shelter.
Now if we ever visit NYC, we'll have to visit the John J Harvey.
Now if we ever visit NYC, we'll have to visit the John J Harvey.
A nice introduction to a tough topic and a piece of history. I love how the author tied back into the past at the end of the book and helps our youngest (and middle aged) to see that "old" is not useless. We borrowed this from the library and I think it'll make it into our permanent collection.
This is a great book to use during 9/11. It mentions the events of 9/11 accuratly. The pictures in this book are wonderful and children will be able to relate to it. It also has the text placed in funny places in the book. This is great book to use for young children to discuss 9/11!
We are going to use this book with our Kindergarten, first and second graders in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. This true story of an old-fashioned fireboat called into duty on that horrific day truly exemplifies that motto that "all can serve." An inspiring story.
(Picture book selection)
What a great way to generate discussions with young students about the events of 9/11. The book is about the whole story of the John J. Harvey fireboat, from being built in 1935 to its retirement in the 1990's and finally the role it took during September, 2001. The simple illustrations are very insightful and powerful.
What a great way to generate discussions with young students about the events of 9/11. The book is about the whole story of the John J. Harvey fireboat, from being built in 1935 to its retirement in the 1990's and finally the role it took during September, 2001. The simple illustrations are very insightful and powerful.
When it it is time to introduce/explain the history behind 9/11, this picture book is a good place to start. It tells the story of a retired fireboat that becomes a hero on 9/11. Be ready to answer some questions and have a tissue on hand.
May 02, 2011
Edward Sullivan
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-nonfiction
The best book about the September 11th terrorist attacks published for children has been reissued. Nearly scrapped by new York City in 1995, the fireboat John J. Harvey was called in to help put out the fires at the World Trade Center site.
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Maira Kalman was born in Tel Aviv and moved to New York with her family at the age of four. She has worked as a designer, author, illustrator and artist for more than thirty years without formal training. Her work is a narrative journal of her life and all its absurdities. She has written and illustrated twelve children's books including Ooh-la-la- Max in Love, What Pete Ate, and Swami on Rye . Sh...more
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Oct 24, 2012 05:44am