As adults, we struggle to grasp the magnitude, depth and complexities of the refugee crisis. Our children are not immune from the realities of this humanitarian crisis. There are some great books available in our bookstore to help them comprehend and relate to this issue:
The Journey by Francesca Sanna Age 3-7 years $18
With haunting echoes of the current refugee crisis this beautifully illustrated book explores the unimaginable decisions made as a family leave their home and everything they know to escape the turmoil and tragedy brought by war. This book will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
From the author: The Journey is actually a story about many journeys, and it began with the story of two girls I met in a refugee center in Italy. After meeting them I realized that behind their journey lay something very powerful. So I began collecting more stories of migration and interviewing many people from many different countries. This book is a collage of all those personal stories and the incredible strength of the people within them.
Teacup by Rebecca Young Age 4-8 years $18
In this moving, allegorical tale, a young boy searches for a new homeland, taking with him only a book, bottle, blanket, and teacup full of earth from where he used to play. “While the journey described and its inherent uncertainty is naturally a fitting metaphor for growing up, connections to actual sea travel and subtle hints about turmoil in the boy’s homeland suggest connections to immigration stories as well…This pleasantly minimalist and contemplative story is quietly thought-provoking and arrestingly beautiful.”—Booklist, starred review
My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo Age 6-10 $18
A gentle yet moving story of refugees of the Syrian civil war, My Beautiful Birds illuminates the ongoing crisis as it affects its children. It shows the reality of the refugee camps, where people attempt to pick up their lives and carry on. And it reveals the hope of generations of people as they struggle to redefine home.