9/11 to the Iraq War: Using Books to Help Children Understand Troubled Times

Association for Childhood Education International. 17904 Georgia Avenue Suite 215, Olney, MD 20832. Tel: 800-423-3563; Tel: 301-570-2111; Fax: 301-570-2212; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.acei.org

Y

8

Childrens Literature; Books; Bibliotherapy; Terrorism; War; Nonfiction; Fiction; Biographies; Islam; Patriotism; Teacher Surveys

Afghanistan; Iraq; United States

0009-4056

Four years after the 9/11 attack on the United States, the country continues to be in considerable turmoil. Children have lived through the devastation of the September 11th attacks, the panic over the anthrax mailings, the hunt for terrorists in Afghanistan, elevated homeland security threat levels, the war in Iraq, the tsunami disaster, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Not surprisingly, many children feel anxious and afraid, and some have personally experienced the death of a loved one due to these events. In her 1977 book, Bernstein stated that reading books as a form of therapy (bibliotherapy) gives children the opportunity to identify with others undergoing the same problems, helps them realize that they are not alone, provides catharsis, and facilitates the process of sharing their problems with others. In this article, which gives detailed descriptions of books written about the September 11th attacks, the Iraq War, and other disastrous events, the author shows how children's literature can be used effectively to help students understand and deal with world crises. (Contains 3 tables.)

ERIC

68

2007

EJ754760