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Friday, January 14, 2011

Arizona Tragedy Renews Attention on Book of 9/11 Babies

A terrible coincidence of history.

The death of nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green in the Arizona shootings has brought national attention to a previously-overlooked 2002 book, Faces of Hope.

The editor and compiler of this inspirational collection, Christine Pisera Naman, gave birth to a son, Trevor, during the terrible events of September 11, 2001.  Inspired, she gathered black and white photos of her child and 49 others who were born on 9/11, one from each state of the union, and gathered little message of hope to accompany the images. 

As the blurb of the 2002 release says, 'these shining faces give hope to our nation as its citizens reflect on the anniversary of September 11."

Christina Taylor Green, felled by an assassin's bullet, was the face for Arizona.

President Obama cited the book in last night's nationally-televised speech, saying: "As has already been mentioned, Christina was given to us on September 11th, 2001, one of 50 babies born that day to be pictured in a book called Faces of Hope. On either side of her photo in that book were simple wishes for a child's life. "I hope you help those in need," read one. "I hope you know all the words to the National Anthem and sing it with your hand over your heart." "I hope you jump in rain puddles." If there are rain puddles in Heaven, Christina is jumping in them today."


Kim Weiss, director of communications of the publisher, Florida-based HCI, reported that they were already receiving reorders for the book--including a sizable order from Ingram--prior to last night's speech, and demand has only increased. The company, which prints its own books, will be back on press later today for "a significant number" of new copies.  The content will not be revised.

From Publisher's Lunch, with additional material from Michael Santo.

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