SEVEN AND A HALF TONS OF STEEL by Janet Nolan

Nolan, Janet. Seven and a half Tons of Steel. Illus. by Thomas Gonzalez. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers, 2016. Print.

Publication date: 8/1/16

Narrative nonfiction picture books communicate facts woven within a well-told story, and we are fortunate to have so many authors writing such books for young readers. Jen Bryant, Barb Rosenstock, Matt Tavares, Loree Griffin Burns, and Sy Montgomery (and more!) research little known (and sometimes well-known) stories to present to young readers in books, and when this story is paired with vivid and powerful illustrations, the stories become compelling all over again -- to a new group of readers.

Seven and a half Tons of Steel (Peachtree, 2016) presents just one of the many stories that emerged from the devastating events of September 11th, 2001. A steel beam from one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center was sent to a foundry where it was melted down and incorporated into the bow of the USS NewYork. Author Janet Nolan begins the story on Sept. 11th, then recounts the timeline of the journey from beam to bow. Thomas Gonzalez gives life to these facts with impressive use of scale -  in illustrating the Statue of Liberty's torch or the bow of the ship as it goes out into the Atlantic Ocean. When you read this book, make sure to flip it backwards: the front and back cover join together to create the bow of the ship, divided by the spine. When you look at it, it's as if the ship is headed straight towards you. Steer clear of the ship but dig into the book.

Speaking as a librarian with a makerspace, when I first read this book I thought about how, in part, it  was a story about making, constructing, and rebuilding. Many workers (shipbuilders, engineers, grinders, painters, and plumbers) toiled for months to add the steel beam to the ship.

But more significantly, speaking as a reader who seeks meaning in stories, I also noted that the book becomes a story of new beginnings. Artifacts from our past might also live on in our future if imagined in creative, productive ways. When the work is complete, the ship sails into New York on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy,  showing that when we are constructive, the impact is meaningful and long-lasting.

I also noticed the book's horizontal shape and length resembling a ship. Backmatter includes a fact sheet on the USS New York and detailed information on the ship's crest (with elements and symbols representing the 9/11 tragedy).

For teachers curating a list of books on the topic of Sept. 11th,  this picture book is a must-read.

Read more about this book here.