Fireboat - (Picture Puffin Books) by Maira Kalman (Paperback)

About the Book

The inspiring true story of the "John J. Harvey"--the retired NYC fireboat that was reinstated into emergency service on September 11, 2001--is told, bringing a New York City icon to life and celebrating the energy and hope of a place and its people. Full color.

Book Synopsis

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 if the Harvey could battle the roaring flames. In this inspiring true story, Maira Kalman brings a New York City icon to life and proves that old heroes never die.

Review Quotes

"A hundred years from now, when people want to know what we told our children about September 11th in New York City, Kalman's book should be among the first answers."

"Exciting, uplifting, and child-sensitive....Revisits the tragedy without the terror and conveys pride without preachiness; consider purchasing an extra copy."

"Sets forth an adventure, commemorates an anniversary, offers an interesting bit of history, celebrates the underdog, and honors the firefighting profession."

About the Author

In her own words: "born. bucolic childhood. culture-stuffed adolescence. played piano. stopped. danced. stopped. wrote. discarded writing. drew. reinstated writing. married Tibor Kalman and collaborated at iconoclastic yet successful design studio. wrote and painted children's books. worried. took up Ping-Pong. relaxed. wrote and painted for many magazines. cofounded the Rubber Band Society. amused. children: two. dog: one."