Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Before 9/11, the Callery pear tree stood, mostly unnoticed, in the shadow of the Twin Towers.  “One September day, the perfect blue sky exploded,” and the tree was buried in the rubble.  Workers noticed a green sprout growing out of it, and the tree was taken to a nursery where it gradually came back to life and flourished for the next ten years.  Eventually, it was transplanted back to the 9/11 Memorial, where people now stop and marvel at the tree, now known as the Survivor Tree, the last living thing pulled from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.  Includes additional information about the tree, an author’s note, an artist’s note, and a photo.  48 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  This beautiful book tells the story of the Survivor Tree in sparse, poetic language, with watercolor illustrations by Caldecott honoree Aaron Becker.  The same tale is told from the tree’s perspective in another 2021 book, This Very Tree.  I’d be hard-pressed to choose one over the other; both offer stories and illustrations that will engage younger readers with enough back matter to make them excellent resources for older kids.

Cons:  I wish this book had been released prior to August 31 so I could have reviewed it in time for the twentieth anniversary of 9/11.