readingwith refugees

Reading Guide
100 reads for ages 0–18

c h i l d re n’ s
books
i re l a n devery child a reader

childrensbooksireland.ie | unhcr.ie

c hi ld re n’sbo ok si re l an devery child a reader
Overall Editor: Ruth Concannon
Production: Jenny Murray
Design: f intanwall.com

l e a b h air
phá is t í
é i reannChildren’s Books Ireland/Leabhair Pháistí Éireannreceives f inancial assistance fromThe Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon,
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Dublin 2, Ireland

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Children’s Books Ireland wish to acknowledge thework of our Inis magazine and reading guide reviewers.
This list was originally published in 2018, and was updated in 2024.

About Children’s Books Ireland
At Children’s Books Ireland, we believe that ever ychild should have access to the joy of reading ,regardless of their circumstances. Our mission
is to make books central to ever y child ’s lifeon the island of Ireland. We work with families,
teachers, libraries, publishers and communities
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Rogha an Eagarthóra

Each review in this guide comes witha sug gested age range. T hese arebase d on the information provided
by the publisher as well as our own
judgement of the level for which
the language and content is mostsuitable. In some cases you may see
t wo or more age ranges e. g. 12–14 ,15+. In these cases , we feel thatthe book is suitable for a wider age
span. T hese age ranges are a guide
only – it is impossible to accurately
predict the correct level for ever ychild. If in doubt , parent s/carer s
and teacher s are advised to read thebook themselves b efore deciding
whether it is suitable for the child or
young per son.

About UNHCR, the UN Refugee A gency
UNHCR, the UN Refugee A gency, is a globalorganisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting
rights and building a better future for refugees,
forcibly displaced communities and statelesspeople.

unhcr.ie@unhcrireland
About this reading list
Refugee week is a festival where we celebratecompassion and connection, and ever yone iswelcome. To mark Refugee Week, Children’s
Books Ireland and UNHCR, the UN Refugee
A gency, par tner with libraries and bookshops
across the countr y to encourage young people
to buy or borrow a book about refugees. Reading
allows us to dive into dif ferent worlds, learn
about new perspectives and show compassion forothers. This specially curated book list has a wide
selection of stories from around the world tochoose from.

PATRICIA HEGARTY illustrated by GREG ABBOTTEVERYBODY’S WELCOME

CATERPILLAR BOOKS 2019 (BOARD) 26PP £7.99 ISBN 9781848578920

Written in rhyme, this is a warm and timely tale about opening a door to those in need,with clever peek-through holes and panoramic pages that beckon young readers inside.
In this sweet forest setting with its sense of community and busy, productive animals,children will learn how important it is to extend a generous hand to those in need,
whether neighbours in crisis, a friend with a problem, or a family immigrating to a new
country. It’s a timely, vital, and comforting story that will inspire useful conversations
about caring, charity, and empathy. (Age 0–4)

CHRIS NAYLOR-BALLESTEROSTHE SUITCASENOSY CROW 2019 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 2018 (PBK) ISBN 9781788004480

The Suitcase is a simple tale with a huge idea. When a stranger arrives in a new landwith his suitcase, the doubtful locals have questions. When the answers fail to satisfy,
the locals break open the suitcase while the stranger sleeps. After a spell of guilt, thelocals understand just what they can do to make the stranger welcome. This is a story ofacceptance and understanding. (Age 0–4)

MARIE-LOUISE FITZPATRICKOWL BAT, BAT OWLWALKER BOOKS 2018 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406373448

A stunning wordless picturebook that celebrates family, friendship and the power oftogetherness. Mummy Owl and her three little owls live happily on their spacious branch.
That is, until the bat family move in. And the new neighbours (the owls up-top, the batshanging below) can’t help but feel a little wary of one another. Owls just don’t mix withbats and bats don’t mix with owls. But babies are curious little creatures and this curiosity,and a wild, stormy night, might just bring these two families together. (Age 1–3)

JON AGEE

THE WALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BOOKSCALLYWAG PRESS 2019 (PBK) 48PP £7.99 ISBN 9781912650057

The sensible knight introduces us to the wall, which protects the safe side from the unsafe
side – or so it seems. Suddenly, danger begins to mount on his side and he is forced toventure to the other. He quickly realises that things aren’t as bad as he thought. In fact,
things are much more wonderful! A powerful book which calls into question divisions
in society and introduces young readers to the danger of preconceived ideas throughhumorous dialogue and delightful illustrations. (Age 2–4)

HELEN DOCHERTY illustrated by DAVID ROBERTS

SOMEONE JUST LIKE YOUSIMON & SCHUSTER 2023 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781471145711

The children of many countries and cultures of the world are represented in this bookreflecting the children of our world today. The writer and illustrator highlight theunique differences of the children but show us that regardless of our differences we are
all connected by our feelings. The story helps to draw parallels between the different
children’s lives fostering empathy and kindness and encouraging children to care for eachother. This is a beautifully illustrated storybook highlighting diversity, acceptance, andinclusion for young children. (Age 2–4)

HOLLIS KURMAN illustrated by BARROUXHELLO! A COUNTING BOOK OF KINDNESSOTTER-BARRY BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 32PP £8.99 ISBN 9781913074234

A beautiful story about a mother and her three children who are forced to flee from a
war-torn country. Along the way, they are met with many people on their journey whoshow them great kindness, such as providing them with food and shelter, education for thechildren and friendship. This story speaks to the importance of empathy and generosity
towards refugees. The central meaning is clear: we are all part of the same global
community with a responsibility to help each other in times of need. (Age 2–4)

WENDY MEDDOUR illustrated by NABILA ADANISUNNY AND THE BIRDSOXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2023 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9780192784407

Their love of birdwatching brings Sunny and his father together, however, as much as
Sunny enjoys this pastime, it serves as a reminder to his father of the home they had toleave. Meddour’s use of birdwatching as the focal point of the story is a clever device thatacts as a metaphor for migration. Dealing with themes of migration, displacement, andtrauma, this book manages to combine the harsh realities of starting a new life in a foreigncountry, with a lovely gentle story about a bond between a father and son. (Age 2–4, 5–8)

GLENDA MILLARD illustrated by STEPHEN MICHAEL KINGPEA POD LULLABY

OLD BARN BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781910646458

Fleeing from war, a mother, a child, a baby, and their dog set out on a long and arduous
journey with only a small boat to protect them from the dangerous waves and soon comeupon a polar bear who has also lost their home and finds shelter on the fragile raft. This
book explains to young readers the risks refugees take to find shelter for their loved ones
and also conveys a strong message of empathy and humanity. Illustrating values such as
endurance and hope, this picturebook gently deals with the complex themes of wartime,
migration and refuge seeking. (Age 2–4, 5–8)

MARGARET ANNE SUGGS

THE DANDELION’S TALE: AN ALLEGORY OF MIGRATION
GRAFFEG JULY 2024 (PBK) 36PP £7.99 ISBN 9781802587050

The dandelions are living peacefully amongst the other flora and fauna in the meadow
until one day they are forced to uproot. As men arrive with tools and poison the message
is clear – the dandelions are not welcome. Pushed out of their home, the dandelions findthemselves travelling on the breeze across many different terrains in search of safety andsecurity. The simplicity of this allegorical story of immigration is a great way to introduce
or begin to explain issues that affect so many in our world today. (Age 2–4, 5–8)

MÚÓN THI VĂN illustrated by VICTO NGAIWISHESSCHOLASTIC 2021 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781338305890

The limited text in this story means that the illustrations carry the bulk of the emotion –the pairing of the two is a very thoughtful and moving depiction of the migrantexperience, of leaving one life and moving forward into an unknown new life. It shows
those who get left behind, the journey and the new people in new places. The ‘wishes’ startsmall and gradually grow throughout the journey. This book does a very quietly powerful
job of showing the full cycle of an immigrant’s journey. (Age 2–4, 5–8)

ZANA FRAILLON and GRAHAME BAKER-SMITH

WISP: A STORY OF HOPE

ORCHARD BOOKS 2019 (PBK) 32PP £6.99 ISBN 9781408350119

Idris is a child refugee, born into a world of tents and fences. He has known no other life
than this. He has no memories of the world outside. Then the Wisp arrives, floating in on
the evening breeze. Everyone who holds it finds their memories reawakened, their hopes of
freedom reborn. But what about Idris, who has no memories? What will happen when heholds the magical Wisp? A picturebook that shows that storytelling and imagination havethe power to offer hope. (Age 3–5)

BARROUXWELCOME: STORIES FOR A BETTER WORLDFARSHORE 2023 (PBK) 32PP £9.99 ISBN 9781405280525

When Polar Bear and his friends are swept away from their icy home, they hope to findrefuge in a new land. But when they are turned away from one new place after another,
they start to doubt that they will ever find somewhere they will be made welcome. In thisexceptional book, author-illustrator Barroux has crafted a powerful story with a twist
ending about hugely important and current issues. A great opportunity for adults todiscuss with children the plight of migrants and refugees, as well as global warming, in agentle, open-ended way. (Age 3–6)

ELISE GRAVELWHAT IS A REFUGEE?
PUFFIN 2021 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9780241423233

An accessible picturebook that very simply and graphically introduces the term ‘refugee’ tocurious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. Who
are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country?
Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? The artist explores what itmeans to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool
to introduce an important and timely topic to children. (Non-fiction, Age 3–7)

FRANCESCA SANNAME AND MY FEARFLYING EYE BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 40PP £8.99 ISBN 9781838741204

When a young girl has to travel to a new country and start at a new school, her Fear tells
her to be alone and afraid. How can she hope to make friends if she doesn’t understandtheir language? A heartwarming and relevant tale, this book shows us the importance ofsharing your Fear with others – after all, everyone carries a Fear with them, even if it’ssmall enough to fit into their pocket! (Age 3–7)

KATE MILNER

MY NAME IS NOT REFUGEEBARRINGTON STOKE 2017 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781911370062

A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave
their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have tosay goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult. They will have to walk
and walk and walk, and although they will see many new and interesting things, it will bedifficult at times too. A powerful and moving exploration that draws the young reader into
each stage of the journey, inviting the chance to imagine the decisions he or she would
make. (Age 3–8)

WENDY MEDDOUR illustrated by DANIEL EGNÉUS

LUBNA AND PEBBLEOXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2020 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9780192767257

Lubna’s best friend is a pebble. She found it on the beach when they arrived in the night,
then she fell asleep in Daddy’s salty arms. Lubna tells Pebble everything. About home.
About her brothers. About the war. Pebble always listens to her stories and smiles when she
feels afraid. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna understands
that he needs Pebble even more than she does. An unforgettable story that subtly addresses
the refugee crisis. (Age 4–8)

NICOLA DAVIES illustrated by REBECCA COBB

THE DAY WAR CAMEWALKER BOOKS 2019 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406382938

Imagine if, on an ordinary day, war came. Imagine it turned your town to rubble. Imagine
going on a long and difficult journey – all alone. Imagine finding no welcome at the endof it. Then imagine a child who gives you something small but very, very precious ... This
book started as a campaign to which artists contributed drawings of chairs, symbolisinga seat in a classroom, education, kindness, the hope of a future. The poem became thisbook, movingly illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. It is a powerful aid for explaining theongoing refugee crisis to younger readers. (Age 5–7)

FRANCESCA SANNATHE JOURNEY

FLYING EYE BOOKS 2017 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781909263994

What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere
unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey; onefilled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope. With haunting echoes of the current
refugee crisis this beautifully illustrated book explores the unimaginable decisions madeas 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. (Age 5–7)

KATIE DAYNES and ASHE De SOUSA
illustrated by OKSANA DRACHKOVSKA

LIFT-THE-FLAP:QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT REFUGEES
USBORNE 2023 (HBK) 14PP £10.99 ISBN 9781803709987

What is a refugee? What is life like in a refugee camp? Is everyone allowed to stay? Thisillustrated lift-the-flap book answers all of the above and more. Bringing young readerson the journey of those forced to flee from the forces pushing them from their homes, andshows the ways we can make people feel most welcome. While the text is more suitable forcapable readers, children of all ages can read this together, gaining an understanding of
their new neighbours, classmates and friends. (Non-fiction, Age 5–7, 8–10)

ERIKA MEZA

TO THE OTHER SIDE
HODDER CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 40PP £8.99 ISBN 9781444971781

A story of two refugee children which is both timely and appropriate. The first line reads:‘The rules of the game are simple. Avoid the monsters, don’t get caught, and keep moving.’
The young boy soon declares he is tired of the game, but his older sister urges him on until
he realises … this is not a game. Stunningly illustrated, Meza shows us the exhausting andterrifying realities for children fleeing home yet offers hope when the children cross theinvisible line to safety. (Age 5–7, 8–10)

MARK ARRIGO and STEPHEN CHATTERTON illustrated by DIALA BRISLYADNAN: THE BOY WHO HELPED HIS MUMMY REMEMBERFRANCES LINCOLN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2024 (PBK) 40PP £7.99
ISBN 9780711267077

Adnan’s mum does not remember: in this new place they now live in, she has retreated into ashell where the memories of the life they had to flee, too painful, are best pushed aside. Fullof resourcefulness and creativity, the little boy sets on his own mission to bring his motherback to him. Cardboard boxes become a model of the grandparents’ house they visited every
Sunday and cut-out paper stars remind them of the perilous journey they had to make toreach their new home. Bit by bit, memory by memory, Adnan builds up hope for the pair’s
future in their new surroundings. (Age 5–8)

BRIAN BILSTON illustrated by JOSÉ SANABRIAREFUGEES

PALAZZO EDITIONS 2022 (PBK) 32PP £8.99 ISBN 9781786751294

Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war andpersecution and asks, ‘Why here? Why my country?’ It is a feeling many people share. It is
one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges.
It says, ‘Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?’ The world isundergoing a period of mass human migration caused by war, persecution or economics.
There are two sides to every debate. This story shows both. (Age 5–8)

NICOLA DAVIES illustrated by CATHY FISHER

THE NEW GIRL

GRAFFEG 2021 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781913634223

From the perspective of both the new girl in school and the classmates who are unkind
towards her, this is an excellent introduction to the importance of accepting those different
to us. When a new girl joins their classroom, her difference is striking to the other children.
Rather than losing some of her culture or identity to fit in, the new girl never compromises
on who she is, rather the rest of the children learn to accept her as a wonderful addition
to their lives, brought together by the origami flowers she creates which capture their
imagination. (Age 5­– 8)

NICOLA DAVIES illustrated by MARC MARTINEVERY CHILD A SONG: A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
WREN & ROOK 2020 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781526361431

Written as a ‘Happy 30th Birthday’ to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
the Child, this book is a rallying cry for adults everywhere to remember these 54 articles
and to recognise what we have yet to achieve for children worldwide. The UNCRC is a
proclamation of what every adult needs to provide for every child to become a good, healthy
and happy citizen of the world. The aim of the book is simple. It calls on us all to collectively
ensure that, within the next 30 years, we do all we can so that children everywhere will
enjoy these basic rights. (Non-fiction, Age 5–8)

MALACHY DOYLE aistrithe ag MÁIRE ZEPF
maisithe ag ANDREW WHITSONMUIREANN AGUS AN LONGBHRISEADH
AN tSNÁTHAID MHÓR 2021 (BOG) 36LCH £7.99 ISBN 9781912929221

Seo an cúigiú leabhar le Muireann agus an uair seo tá sí ar thóir páistí eile leis an scoiláitiúil a choimeád ar oscailt. Nuair a fheiceann sí bád i ndroch-chaoi, cuireann sí fáilte
rompu siúd atá ar bord. Scéal álainn faoi fháilte a chur roimh imircigh agus faoin
mbealach ar féidir leo cabhrú le bánú na tuaithe a laghdú. Tá léaráidí iontacha tríd anleabhar, ó na híomhánna den bhaile ag éirí agus luí na gréine chuig na patrúin ildaite aréadaí na gcarachtar. (Aois 5–8)

IRENE LATHAM and KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA
illustrated by YUKO SHIMIZUTHE CAT MAN OF ALEPPOROCK THE BOAT 2021 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781786077509

This vividly illustrated picturebook tells the true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, thereal-life ‘Cat man of Aleppo’. Alaa, who lives in Aleppo, Syria, is an ambulance driver,
who sets up a shelter for stray cats, left behind in Aleppo when their owners flee the war.
When word spreads of Alaa’s kind act, help and donations arrive, allowing him to rescue
more animals, build a children’s playground, dig a well and share food with those left in
Aleppo. Ultimately, Alaa’s kindness helps to heal his own heart which was left broken by
the war in his beloved city. (Non-fiction, Age 5–8)
ISLA McGUCKIN illustrated by CATALINA ECHEVERRIAPRIL’S GARDEN

GRAFFEG 2023 (PBK) 36PP £7.99 ISBN 9781802583410

April and her mamma have found themselves living in a new house – a safe haven but
not a home. April struggles in her new living circumstances and as mamma saves their
pennies for a new place of their own, the reader can appreciate the struggles that too
many encounter as they are forced leave their homes, become displaced or experience
homelessness. Though it may be portraying a difficult situation, this is a story of hope andresilience. The symbol of planting and growth and the time it takes for a little seedling tosprout, is a wonderful metaphor for hope. (Age 5–8)

UMA MENON illustrated by RAHELE JOMEPOUR BELL

MY MOTHER’S TONGUES: A WEAVING OF LANGUAGESWALKER BOOKS 2024 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9781529517880

Enamoured by the way her mother weaves together Malayalam and English, young
Sumi develops a love for languages and celebrates the people in her life who speak manyof them. This book is a lyrical love letter to mixed cultural identities, demonstrating
how languages can both deepen and expand people’s abilities to connect to each other,and to their own heritage. The author celebrates plurilingualism while acknowledging
the challenges of migrant identities, noting the hard work, frustration, but also theachievement of integrating into a new culture while retaining your own identity.
(Age 5–8)

CERI ROBERTS illustrated by HANANE KAICHILDREN IN OUR WORLD: REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS
WAYLAND 2018 (PBK) 32PP £8.99 ISBN 9781526300218

This title is part of a series which helps children make sense of the larger issues andcrises that dominate the news in a sensitive and appropriate manner. With relatablecomparisons, carefully researched text and striking illustrations, children can begin tounderstand who refugees and migrants are, why they’ve left their homes, where they live
and what readers can do to help those in need. Where issues aren’t appropriate to describe
in words, sensitive illustrations help children visualise who refugees and migrants are.
(Non-fiction, Age 5–8)

SYDNEY SMITH

DO YOU REMEMBER?
WALKER BOOKS 2023 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781529519914

In the small hours of the first morning in their new home, a boy and his mother taketurns sharing memories of the past. The intertwined themes of homesickness and hopeare dealt with originality and sensitivity. Separation is subtly hinted at, but the undefined
nature of the boy and his mother’s journey leaves room for many different interpretations.
Bittersweet and heartwarming, this picturebook is a masterful interpretation of the themeof great change told through a child’s point of view. (Age 5–8)

ROBERT VESICO and ANDREA EDMONDS

THE VOYAGEEK BOOKS 2019 (HBK) 32PP $24.99 ISBN 9781925820034

Told through few words, but expansive imagery, this book is the definition of ‘a picture
paints a thousand words’. Exploring the harrowing journey of a family who have lost theirhome to war, this story paints the picture of an almost idyllic life in a new home when
their travel ends. While this may not be the only challenge a family like this faces, itshows the reader that hope can be found even in moments of darkness. A powerful read,especially in current times. (Age 5–8)

K ATHRYN WHITE illustrated by RACHAEL DEAN

HOME FOR GRACE

ANDERSEN PRESS 2023 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781839131769

Jess, and her mother meet Grace, a refugee experiencing homelessness, and a friendshipbetween them develops as Grace shares her story with them. The text and pictures workin tandem to tell a difficult tale in a child-friendly way enabling readers to learn about
the sadness and hardship facing refugees, both in the country they are fleeing and in the
country in which they arrive. Through Jess and her mother’s response of both practical
help and friendship, the story demonstrates the importance of understanding andkindness, without preachiness. (Age 5–8)

V YARA BOYADJIEVAWORD TROUBLEWALKER BOOKS 2024 (PBK) 40PP £7.99 ISBN 9781529516562

Opening with a family arriving in a new country, Dad helps Ronnie practice saying‘hello’ in a different language. While events don’t go well on the first day at school, there
is a strong message that although new experiences might be difficult, it is possible toovercome these challenges, and that loving support helps a child to build resilience. Thisis an excellent story for a child going through a transition of any kind, but particularly forchildren who are learning to get to grips with a new language. (Age 5­– 8, 8–10)

NEIL GAIMAN illustrated by VARIOUS

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE WARM
BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2023 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9781526660619

This book communicates an important message ‘you have a right to be here’ and reminds
those of us with the ability to get warm that we can create warmth for those who arelacking it through support and kindness. Gaiman drew inspiration for this poem frommemories of being warm submitted to him from followers on social media. The poem
combines those memories with echoes of the journeys of people who have been forcibly
displaced and is accompanied by stunning works of art from thirteen accomplishedillustrators. (Age 5­– 8, 8–10)

JOANNA HO illustrated by KHOA LE

SAY MY NAMEHARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2023 (HBK) 40PP £15.99
ISBN 9780063205338

A poetic story introducing us to six children and their names from China, Tonga, Persia,
the Diné people, the Nahua people of Mexico, and the Akan people of Ghana. Throughthe text we gain small insights into the cultures of the children and the importance ofmaking the effort to learn to pronounce each other’s names correctly. Readers learn what
can be contained in a name: meaning, history, connection to ancestors. This book would
be particularly relevant for both migrant children and for those welcoming migrantchildren into their communities. (Age 5–8, 8–10)

WAFA’ TARNOWSKA illustrated by VALI MINTZINOUR’S SECRET LIBRARY

BAREFOOT BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781646862924

In a beautiful city torn apart by the ugliness of war, Nour and her cousin dream of a safe
space where they can feed their imaginations. This evocative picturebook is inspired by thetrue Syrian story of Daraya’s secret library that brought hope to its citizens. Emotive words
and striking illustrations synchronise perfectly to tell an incredible story about the magicof reading. Detailed author’s notes, a glossary and factoids are included at the back.
(Age 5–8, 8–10)

HELEN COOPER illustrated by GILL SMITH

SAVING THE BUTTERFLY: A STORY ABOUT REFUGEESWALKER BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 32PP £7.99 ISBN 9781406397666

This is a simplified story of two displaced siblings, newly arrived on their own by boat.
The younger brother embraces their new life more readily, his older sister struggling withthe challenges they have overcome. Depicting clearly how different people overcome
trauma – the little boy makes friends, explores their new world and one day brings theoutside in to his sister, in the form of a butterfly. To rescue it she must help it find its way
back outside, helping open up her own world again in the process. (Age 5–10)

LOUISE SPILSBURY and TOBY NEWSOME

CIVIL RIGHTS STORIES: REFUGEES AND HOMELANDSFRANKLIN WATTS 2022 (PBK) 32PP £8.99 ISBN 9781445171425

Beginning with the sobering fact that every minute, around twenty-five people are forced
to flee their homeland to escape war, violence or other threats, this illustrated non-fiction
book examines how the treatment of refugees has evolved from the ancient Greeks to themodern day. Focusing on both the challenges and the achievements of refugees and those
who have fought to improve the rights of refugees, this is a great introduction for younger
readers seeking to broaden their understanding of the plight of refugee people.
(Non-fiction, Age 5–8, 9–11)

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and VARIOUS

DREAMS OF FREEDOMFRANCES LINCOLN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2015 (HBK) 48PP £12.99 ISBN 9781847804532

This book contains seventeen quotations about many different aspects of freedom, fromthe freedom to have an education to the freedom, to have a home and the freedom tobe yourself. All the chosen quotations are in simple words that can be understood byyoung children. Authors of the quotations include: Nelson Mandela, Martin LutherKing, Harriet Tubman, Anne Frank, the Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai. The book is
illustrated by internationally acclaimed and award-winning illustrators, including Alexis
Deacon, Chris Riddell and Oliver Jeffers. (Non-fiction, Age 6–9)

VARIOUSMIGRATIONS: OPEN HEARTS, OPEN BORDERSOTTER-BARRY BOOKS 2019 (HBK) 112PP £11.99 ISBN 9781910959800

This is a capsule collection of illustrated postcards from artists who wished to express
support for migrants and refugees. The original idea was that artists would send a postcard
illustrated with a bird and a few words of encouragement to a central address, thus
physically creating a ‘migration’. The 300+ postcards from this murmuration were thenexhibited, fifty of these postcards are showcased here, reflecting welcoming sentiments andan extraordinary variety of illustration. Although there is no plot or story included here,
it will spark conversations about the need for assistance, acceptance and inclusion for all.
(Non-fiction, Age 7+)

ANNE HOLMI AM DAVIDFARSHORE 2018 (PBK) 208PP £10.99 ISBN 9781405288736

This is the remarkable story of David who escapes from the concentration camp where
he has spent his entire life and flees across Europe. The sea, mountains and flowers, thecolours of Italy, the taste of fruit, people laughing and smiling, all are new to David.
David learns that his polite manner, his haunted eyes and his thin features are strange toother people. He must learn to fend for himself in this strange new world. An incredible
story of survival against all odds and self-discovery. (Age 7–12)

CATHERINE BRUTONNO BALLET SHOES IN SYRIANOSY CROW 2019 (PBK) 272PP £7.99 ISBN 9781788004503

Aya has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war
in Syria. When Aya stumbles across a local ballet class, her exceptional talent is spotted.
But at the same time, her family must fight to be allowed to remain in the country and tofind Aya’s father. With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail,and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling,
filled with warmth, hope and humanity. (Age 8–12)

PATRICIA FORDE maisithe ag JOHN WHITEAR STRAE

FUTA FATA 2019 (BOG) 64LCH €7.95 ISBN 9781910945513

Tagann Nizar go hÉirinn ón tSiria lena mham agus a bheirt deirfiúr, Sada agus Rasha, ar
cúpla iad. Tá a mham ag iompar clainne agus ar ndóigh tá teaghlach mór ag Nizar, ach
níl a athair leo agus tá Nizar mar fhear an tí anois go dtí go dtagann sé ar ais. Tá siad ina
gcónaí in óstán agus tá a lán rialacha ann, dar le Nizar. Tugann an scéal fíor-spléachadh ar
an gcineál saoil a bhíonn acu. Tugann sé léargas dúinn ar a dtaobhsa den scéal. Más rud é
go bhfuil tú ag iarraidh léargas ar shaol na dteifeach nach bhfuil ródhomhain ná dorcha, isleabhar iontach é seo. (Aois 8–12)

SARAH GARLAND aistrithe ag FIDELMA Ní GHALLCHOBHAIRAZZI IDIR DHÁ STÓLAN GÚM 2012 (CRUA) 36LCH €6.95 ISBN 9871857911565

Scéal álainn ó chroí í seo ina bhfeicimid an gcruatan agus an fhulaingt a bhíonn ag
dídeanaithe i saol an lae inniu. Cailín cróga diongbháilte í Azzi a fheicimid ar a turas óna
tír dhúchais chontúirteach fhoréigneach go hÉirinn, áit ina mbíonn idir maith agus olc
roimpi. B’ábhar aoibhneas é í a fheiceáil ag dul i ngleic le cultúr na hÉireann agus san am
céanna ag malairt a cultúr saibhir féin leo siúd timpeall uirthi. Leabhar mhachnamhach í
seo lán de léaráidí saibhre. (Aois 8–10)

JACOB SAGER WEINSTEIN illustrated by ELIZA WHEELER

WHAT ROSA BROUGHT

KATHERINE TEGEN BOOKS 2024 (HBK) 32PP £12.99 ISBN 9780063056480

A gentle and poignant introduction to studies on World War II, this book is a heartfelt
and tragic story from Nazi occupied Vienna at the outset of the war. It is the story of ayoung child, whose perfect life is turned upside down as she will have to flee her home.
Dealing with themes of loss and freedom, this story is a perfect link to younger curious
minds questioning how families can still be torn apart and children forced to leave theirchildhood behind in present day war zones. (Age 8–10)

CATHERINE BRUTONBIRD BOYNOSY CROW 2024 (PBK) 304PP £7.99 ISBN 9781839946493

Following his mother’s sudden death Will is brought from the city to the remotecountryside to live with his uncle. Learning to cope with his feelings, Will meets Omar, ayoung refugee, and we adventure with them as they rescue an osprey chick and, ultimately,
rescue each other. Nature and its power to heal and connect are at the core of thissensitively told and hopeful story. Without preaching, it gives food for thought on serious
and topical issues, including loss, mental health, and displacement. (Age 8–10, 10–12)

NICOLA DAVIES illustrated by PETR HORÁČEK

CHOOSE LOVEGRAFFEG 2022 (HBK) 48PP £14.99 ISBN 9781802583779

Through Davies’ poignant verses and Horáček’s vivid and inspired artworks, the bookinvites readers to empathise with the struggles and resilience of those seeking refuge and asense of belonging, including refugees, immigrants and individuals impacted by manmade
borders and conflict. A timely reminder of our shared humanity and the importance ofcompassion in a world marked by displacement and division. This collection could be agreat place to start a discussion with young people about the need for compassion in aworld marked by division. (Poetry, Age 8–10, 10–12)

MICHAEL MORPURGO illustrated by MICHAEL FORMAN

BOY GIANTHARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2020 (PBK) 288PP £9.99
ISBN 9780008355180

Omar is a hero readers will root for as he loses his family while escaping from his war-tornhome country finding himself in the land of Lilliput from the story of Gulliver’s Travels.
The greyscale illustrations show the stark horror of the war Omar is fleeing, but equally
the whimsy of the tiny people of Lilliput. Heartfelt without being sentimental, Omar’s
story of being welcomed by the Lilliputians works well as an adventure story and as an
introduction for younger readers to the dangers asylum seekers face. (Age 8–12)

ONJALI Q RAÚFTHE BOY AT THE BACK OF THE CLASSORION BOOKS 2018 (PBK) 320PP £7.99 ISBN 9781510105010

There’s an empty chair at the back of the class. Nobody pays it any attention until
one day a new boy sits there. This book presents issues around refugees – their plight,
attitudes towards them, ways of helping them – through a warm, charming story about agood-hearted nine-year-old who just wants to help a friend. It doesn’t shy away from thehorrors and losses faced by refugees, or the bigotry, racism and ignorance they face, albeit
presented in a way that doesn’t overwhelm a positive story about friendship and love.
(Age 8–12)

EOIN COLFER and ANDREW DONKIN illustrated by GIOVANNI RIGANOILLEGAL

HODDER CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2018 (PBK) 144PP £10.99 ISBN 9781444931686

This is a powerful and timely story about one boy’s epic journey across Africa to Europe,a graphic novel with glorious colour artwork throughout. Ebo is all alone. His sister leftmonths ago. Now his brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only be to makethe hazardous journey to Europe. So he follows. His epic journey takes him across the
Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But
with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his sister.
(Age 9–11)

JUDI CURTINSALLY IN THE CITY OF DREAMSTHE O’BRIEN PRESS 2023 (PBK) 288PP €12.99 ISBN 9781788494519

Sally and her sister Bridget have moved to New York, leaving behind everyone they know
and love. They have to overcome obstacles and learn about themselves and others, as wellas this new, exciting city. This sweet story centres on the importance of bravery, kindness,
self-determination, sisterhood and friendship, reminding us not to judge a book by its
cover. The book features letters written back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, sharing
the strength of those who emigrate. (Age 9–11)

DEBORAH ELLISPARVANA’S JOURNEYOXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2023 (PBK) 176PP £7.99 ISBN 9780192787361

Part of a series, this book tells the story of Parvana, whom we first met in The Breadwinner.
Parvana is alone. Her father is dead. A refugee in a land full of dangers, she must travel
across Afghanistan to find her mother and sisters. As she travels, Parvana finds friends – astarving, orphaned baby, a strange, hostile boy, and a solitary girl who darts in and out of
the minefields to find food. Perhaps, with their help, she may one day be reunited with herfamily. (Age 9–11)

REMY LAIPIE IN THE SKY
WALKER BOOKS 2019 (PBK) 384PP £8.99 ISBN 9781529500745

Jingwen has moved with his brother and his mother to Australia and doesn’t speak a wordof English. Initially feeling like he is surrounded by aliens, Jingwen struggles to fit in andis still grieving the loss of his father just a few years earlier. This brilliant graphic novel
is a mix of words and cleverly expressive drawings, that draw you quickly into Jingwen’s
story. Tackling difficult themes of immigration and grief with a touch as light as a genoise
sponge. (Age 9–11)

ELIZABETH LAIRDA HOUSE WITHOUT WALLS
MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2020 (PBK) 320PP £7.99 ISBN 9781509828241

This is a powerful story of family, hope and redemption amidst the refugee crisis in Syria.
Thirteen-year-old Safiya and her family have been driven out of Syria by civil war. Safiya
knows how lucky she is – lucky not to be living in a refugee camp, lucky to be alive. But
it’s hard to feel grateful when she’s forced to look after her father and brother rather thango back to school, and now that she’s lost her home, she’s lonelier than ever. (Age 9–11)

GILL LEWIS illustrated by JO WEAVERA STORY LIKE THE WINDOXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2017 (HBK) 80PP £9.99 ISBN 9780192758958

A beautifully illustrated story of freedom, music, and seeking refuge. A small group of
refugees is crowded on to a boat on the sea. They share their stories as the boat travels
towards the dream of safety and freedom. One boy, Rami, has brought his violin, andhis story of how the violin was invented, and of a stallion that could run like the wind.
Weaving together their stories brings the group together into a celebration of hope and of
the power of music and story. (Age 9–11)

EDUARD ALTARRIBAMIGRANTS

BUTTON BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 44PP £9.99 ISBN 9781787081291

Why do people migrate? What are borders? Where can migrants go? This graphic nonfiction book explores the concept of migration and the many causes that can lead tosomeone becoming a migrant. Covering topics such as European colonisation, migrantroutes, the rights of refugees and dangers of trafficking, the author uses accessible
languages and diagrams to convey a multitude of information. With a useful glossary
at the back, this is a guide for better understanding the wider political, historical, andgeographic aspects of migration. (Non-fiction, Age 9–11, 12–14)

NATALIE and NAOMI EVANS illustrated by KELLY MALKA

EVERYDAY ACTION, EVERYDAY CHANGE: STAY POSITIVE AND
MOTIVATED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM AND PREJUDICE
WREN & ROOK 2023 (PBK) 208PP £9.99 ISBN 9781526365095

Making changes that help make the world a fairer place can feel overwhelming, where do youeven begin? The founders of Everyday Racism have written an invigorating book, showing
the small actions that we can take to help stay positive and motivated in the fight against
racism without leaving young activists feeling overwhelmed. A book that is suitable for awide audience, this is an essential read for those who unfortunately, may be experiencing
prejudice and inequality and for those who want to stand up for what is right and be part of thesolution. (Non-fiction, Age 9­–11, 12–14)

VICTORIA JAMIESON and OMAR MOHAMED
illustrated by VICTORIA JAMIESON

WHEN STARS ARE SCATTEREDFABER & FABER 2020 (PBK) 264PP £9.99 ISBN 9780571363858

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel memoir tells the story of Omar, his younger brother
Hassan and his friends as they progress through school in a refugee camp in Kenya. Balancing
realism and optimism, the tone is warm but fiercely observant, as the boys hope that theseemingly impenetrable system of UN resettlement will allow them to escape the monotony
and hunger of camp life. The authors’ notes at the end add closure that the text doesn’t need,
but with such unforgettable characters, the reader might. (Age 9–11, 12–14)

MING & WAH illustrated by CARMEN VELAESCAPE: ONE DAY WE HAD TO RUNLANTANA PUBLISHING 2021 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781911373810

Escape is a beautifully haunting picturebook illustrating the plight of individuals forced to flee
their homes and families because of socio-cultural upheaval. Ming and Wah Chen tell twelve
stories that document the movement of people, spanning Syria to Greece, Austria to China,
Scotland to France, Kiribati to New Zealand, and more. These stories allow for historical andgeographical perspectives but reinforce positive outcomes. Factual narratives are accompanied
by beautiful illustrations, providing a platform for discussions on social-cultural issues and thepersonal impact of global evils. (Non-fiction, Age 9–11, 12–14)

CHIBUNDU ONUZO

MAYOWA AND THE SEA OF WORDSBLOOMSBURY 2024 (HBK) 304PP £12.99 ISBN 9781526660992

Mayowa discovers a family secret: she is a logosalter. By jumping barefoot on books, she canrelease emotions stored in stories and radiate them to people around her. Determined to use
her new-found power to save the lives of refugees, Mayowa soon discovers someone is intent
on stopping her from standing up for what is right. An impressive first installment, Onuzo
demonstrates the importance of children’s voices in political spaces and provides a timely
commentary on anti-refugee legislation in a way that is accessible to children.
(Age 9–11, 12–14)

MICHAEL ROSEN

THE MISSING: THE TRUE STORY OF MY FAMILYIN WORLD WAR II
WALKER BOOKS 2021 (PBK) 144PP £6.99 ISBN 9781406395594

Michael Rosen grew up with many questions about his Jewish ancestors, particularly,
his grandfather’s brothers, Oscar and Martin. They were there before World War II, butthen they weren’t. When the Nazis knew they were losing the war, they tried to destroy
evidence of the existence of the millions of people they had killed. The author draws
parallels between the plight of refugees today and the Jewish families fleeing for theirsafety making this book part of a bigger conversation about the refugee crisis.
(Non-fiction, Age 9–11, 12–14)
YEVA SKALIETSKA translated by CINDY JOSEPH-PEARSONYOU DON’T KNOW WHAT WAR IS

BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 240PP £9.99 ISBN 9781526659934

Yeva was an ordinary girl living in Kharkiv with her grandmother when her story openswith her twelfth birthday party, ten days before the Russian army invaded Ukraine in
February 2022. Consisting of Yeva’s diary entries, this first-hand account allows younger
readers to make sense of what a modern European war is like for ordinary citizens, andasks older readers to pull back from news headlines and see the human toll the conflict istaking. Yeva embodies the resilience Ukrainians have become known for worldwide.
(Non-fiction, Age 9–11, 12–14)

BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH

WINDRUSH CHILDSCHOLASTIC 2020 (PBK) 208PP £7.99 ISBN 9780702302725

Leonard leaves Jamaica and the only life he has ever known to travel with his mother toManchester to reconnect with a father he has never met. The story spans his life – fromarrival when he is met with racism and bullying and going through to his later years, when
the full effects of the devasting and far-reaching consequences of Britain’s colonial legacy
in modern society come to fruition. Issues of immigration, the Windrush generation, andrace relations in Britain are put into simple terms for children to digest. (Age 9–12)

JESS BUTTERWORTHRUNNING ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLDORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 288PP £7.99 ISBN 9781510102088

Tash has to follow many rules to survive in Tibet, a country occupied by Chinese soldiers.
But when a man sets himself on fire in protest and soldiers seize Tash’s parents, she andher best friend Sam must break the rules. They are determined to escape Tibet and seek
the help of the Dalai Lama himself in India. And so, with a backpack of Tash’s father’s
mysterious papers and two trusty yaks by their side, their extraordinary journey across themountains begins. Filled with friendship, love and courage, this is a young girl’s thrilling
journey to save her parents. (Age 9–12)

JUDITH KERR

WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBITHARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 304PP £7.99 ISBN 9780007274772

Suppose your country began to change. Suppose that without your noticing, it became
dangerous for some people to live in Germany any longer. Suppose you found, to yourcomplete surprise, that your own father was one of those people. That is what happened
to Anna who was nine-years-old when it began. One day, Anna’s father was missing. Then
she herself and her brother Max were being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy,
away from everything they knew – home and schoolmates and well-loved toys – right outof Germany. (Age 9–12)

STEVE TASANECHILD IFABER & FABER 2018 (PBK) 192PP £7.99 ISBN 9780571337835

A group of undocumented children with letters for names, are living in a refugee camp,with stories to tell but no papers to prove them. They have lost their ‘life books’ (passports)
and as such are stuck in the limbo of the camp with no way out. No parents, no adults,
they have only each other. As they try to forge a new family amongst themselves. This
book tells the story of five refugee children, told from the perspective of child ‘I’ and isfilled with the simple, yet still poetic language of a young person in a tragic setting.
(Non-fiction, Age 9–12)

MORRIS GLEITZMAN

ONCEPUFFIN 2006 (PBK) 160PP £7.99 ISBN 9780141320632

The start of a series, Once by Morris Gleitzman is the story of a young Jewish boy. It
begins with Felix escaping from the orphanage he has been living in for the past three
years and setting off through Nazi-occupied Poland in search of the parents he believes
to be still alive. Aimed at young readers ages nine and up, the series is suprisingly
unflinching in its portrayal of the Holocaust, but this is counteracted well by the naivetyof the young narrator. (Age 9–13)

SINÉAD MORIARTY

THE NEW GIRL

GILL BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 272PP €9.99 ISBN 9780717195053

Ruby’s family life centres around her brother Robbie’s disabilities. Her parents areat breaking point and she is trying to hold it together – so when she is charged withlooking after Safa, a refugee who has come from Syria with her mother, Ruby is lessthan enthusiastic. Though their burdens appear very different at first, both families
face prejudice, including an uncomfortable slur used against Robbie, and ignorance.
Ultimately, compassion, resilience and courage shine through in this story about theimportance of friendship and family. (Age 9–13)

BEVERLY NAIDOOTHE OTHER SIDE OF TRUTH
PUFFIN BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 368PP £8.99 ISBN 9780141377353

This is the story of twelve-year-old Sade and her brother Femi who flee to Britain from
Nigeria. Their father is a political journalist who refuses to stop criticising the militaryrulers in Nigeria. Their mother is killed and they are sent to London, with their father
promising to follow. Abandoned at Victoria Station by the woman paid to smuggle themto England, they find themselves alone in a new, often hostile, environment. The novel
explores what it means to be classified as ‘illegal’ and the difficulties which come withbeing a refugee. (Age 9–13)
MICHAEL ROSEN and ANNEMARIE YOUNG

WHO ARE REFUGEES AND MIGRANTS? WHAT MAKESPEOPLE LEAVE THEIR HOMES? AND OTHER BIG
QUESTIONSWAYLAND 2019 (PBK) 48PP £9.99 ISBN 9780750299862

This book explores the history of refugees and migration around the world and the effects
on people of never-ending war and conflict. It compares the effects on society of diversity
and interculturalism with historical attempts to create a racially ‘pure’ culture. It takes
an international perspective, and offers a range of views from people who have personal
experience of migration. This book encourages readers to think for themselves about theissues involved. (Non-fiction, Age 10+)ELE FOUNTAIN

BOY 87PUSHKIN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2018 (PBK) 224PP £7.99 ISBN 9781782691976

Set in an unnamed East African country, the story of one boy gives a voice to the millionsof refugees that make the journey across the Sahara and Mediterranean Sea. The courseof Shif’s life is irrevocably altered one night when he is abducted from his home by armed
soldiers. Imprisoned in a metal shipping container, an escape plan will lead Shif on aperilous journey across land and sea. Shif’s gripping, first-person narration conveys thereality of forced displacement, witnessing the extremes of human cruelty and kindness.
(Age 10–12)

ZANA FRAILLON

THE BONE SPARROWORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 240PP £8.99 ISBN 9781510101555

Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he’s at least nineteen fence
diamonds high, the nice ‘Jackets’ never stay long, and at night he dreams that the sea finds
its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures. And one day it brings him Jimmie,
she strikes up an unlikely friendship with him beyond the fence. This novel reminds us allof the importance of freedom, hope, and the power of a story to speak for anyone who’s
ever struggled to find a safe home. (Age 10–12)

JANE MITCHELLRUN FOR YOUR LIFE
LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 256PP €9.99 ISBN 9781912417858

Since Azari and her mother had to run for their lives from their home country, their new
lives are as different from their old ones as lemons and mangoes. Navigating the Irish
system of Direct Provision, in a new language and without her older sister or younger
brothers, Azari finds that she’s still running – from the secrets of their past as much as the
prejudice in their new community. A timely reminder of the welcome so often given to
those who leave everything behind for a life in Ireland. (Age 10–12)

VICTORIA WILLIAMSONTHE FOX GIRL AND THE WHITE GAZELLEKELPIES 2018 (PBK) 256PP £7.99 ISBN 9781782504900

Reema runs to remember the life she left behind in Syria. Caylin runs to find what she’s
lost. Under the grey Glasgow skies, twelve-year-old refugee Reema is struggling to findher place in a new country, with a new language and without her brother. But she isn’t
the only one feeling lost. Her Glasgwegian neighbour Caylin is lonely and lashing out.
Heartfelt and full of hope, an uplifting story about the power of friendship and belonging.
Inspired by the author’s work with young asylum seekers. (Age 10–12)

ESTELLE NADEL illustrated by SAMMY SAVOSTHE GIRL WHO SANG:A HOLOCAUST MEMOIR OF HOPE AND SURVIVALHODDER CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2024 (PBK) 272PP £19.99 ISBN 9781444975819

A first-hand graphic novel account about a young Jewish girl called Estelle who loved
to sing about every single occasion; that was until she had to face the consequences ofbeing Jewish during World War II. Readers follow Estelle on her journey of love and loss
to finding her singing voice again. This is a wonderful story of truth, setbacks, journeys,
knocking down barriers while steeped in emotion. A must read for all and to introduce
children to the realities of the Holocaust. (Non-fiction, Age 10–12, 12–14)

THIERRY ROBBERECHT

FAOI CHEILTAN GÚM FORAS NA GAEILGE 2022 (BOG) 77LCH €8.00 ISBN 9781857919783

Seo scéal Elsa, cailín ceithre bliana déag d’aois sa bhFrainc. Tá campa teifeach tógtha sacheantar, agus tá gach duine fiosrach faoi na teifigh féin. Tá Elsa fiosrach freisin, ach thar
aon rud eile ba mhian léi cuidiú leo. Taispeántar tuairimí an phobail faoi theifigh, agus
macalla ann dá mbeidh cloiste ag an léitheoir maidir le teifigh ó chúlraí éagsúla. Tá nóta
láidir ó pheann an údair ar deireadh a thugann cead don duine óg a bheith lán mothúchán
mar gheall ar thubaistí daonna. (Aois 10–12, 12–14)

MICHAEL ROSEN illustrated by QUENTIN BLAKE

ON THE MOVE: POEMS ABOUT MIGRATIONWALKER BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 144PP £7.99 ISBN 9781529504361

In his introduction Michael Rosen explains the differences between ‘migrant’ and ‘refugee’
and talks about the importance of understanding these terms and how they affect thepeople involved. Divided into four parts, in the first three parts we are given fragments ofpast lives; lives lost, and lives changed. While the fourth part is a more generalised viewof migration. Throughout the book Rosen expertly blends the difficult themes of war anddisplacement with the innocent curiosity of a child’s mind without being patronising.
(Poetry, Age 10–12, 12–14)

ARMIN GREDER

THE MEDITERRANEAN
ALLEN & UNWIN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (HBK) 40PP £12.99 ISBN 9781760634018

With eloquent and devastating imagery, we are asked to examine our responses to theplight of refugees. How long will we remain silent witnesses? Seventeen double-page
spreads visually depict scenes typical of many migrants’ stories, and a couple reflect moreon those who instigate or benefit from the conditions that cause migration. There will be
a great deal for readers to interrogate and reflect on in this quietly stunning reminder thatmany hundreds of thousands of people have died on the Mediterranean, many crammed
into small boats like the one shown here. (Age 11+)MARIE BAMYANI, ADA JUSIC, NADINE KAADAN,RAMZEE and SONYA ZHURENKO illustrated by ADA JUSICTHE POWER OF WELCOME:
REAL-LIFE REFUGEE AND MIGRANT STORIESSCHOLASTIC 2023 (PBK) 144PP £10.99 ISBN 9780702319167

This non-fiction book tells the histories of Ukraine, Somalia, Bosnia, Syria andAfghanistan and what led to their people fleeing from their homelands. Formatted asa graphic novel, it also tells the stories of five young refugees and migrants and theirexperiences escaping war and conflict. Each section describes the difficulties of theirdisplacement, and also highlights the ongoing challenges they face as refugees in a new
country. A striking book that highlights important, true stories. (Non-fiction, Age 11–14)

MANJEET MANNTHE CROSSINGPENGUIN 2021 (PBK) 320PP £7.99 ISBN 9780241411445

In Dover, Natalie’s life is falling apart after her mum dies; her brother is involved witha hate group, and her dad is despondent. In Eritrea, Sammy flees his home to escape thehorrors he faces every day, and dreams of a new life in the UK. Both drawn to the sea,
they are bound together as they both fight for the rights of refugees and their lives. A
flawless verse novel that tells a heart-breaking story, this is a crucial read for all.
(Age 12–14)

ANNE FRANKTHE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRLPENGUIN 2007 (PBK) 352PP £7.99 ISBN 9780141315195

A deeply moving and unforgettable portrait of an ordinary and yet an extraordinary
teenage girl. First published over sixty years ago, it has reached millions of young people
throughout the world. In July 1942, thirteen-year-old Anne Frank and her family, fleeing
occupation, went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse. Over the next two years Annevividly describes in her diary the frustrations of living in such close quarters, and herthoughts, feelings and longings as she grows up. Her diary ends abruptly when, in August
1944, they were all betrayed. (Non-fiction, Age 12–14)

ELIZABETH LAIRDWELCOME TO NOWHERE
MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 352PP £7.99 ISBN 9781509840472

Twelve-year-old Omar and his brothers and sisters were born and raised in the beautiful
and bustling city of Bosra, Syria. Omar doesn’t care about politics – all he wants is to growup to become a successful businessman. But when his clever older brother, Musa, gets
mixed up with some young political activists, everything changes … Before long, bombs
are falling, people are dying, and Omar and his family have to flee. Yet no matter how
far they run, the shadow of war follows them – until they have no other choice than toattempt the dangerous journey to escape their homeland altogether. (Age 12–14)
DINA NAYERI photography by ANNA BOSCH MIRALPEIX

THE WAITING PLACEWALKER BOOKS 2022 (HBK) 64PP £12.99 ISBN 9781536213621

The Waiting Place documents the stories of a number of children who were living in
Katsikas, a refugee camp outside Ioannina, Greece, in 2018. Their stories are not of thetraumas they have seen, nor the terrors they flee but of the oppressive act of waiting.
Documented in photographs we see the children of this camp running under a sapphiresky among barren rows of nondescript container homes, all tightly packed with families,
all waiting. We have been invited into their world and they are asking us to open the gatesin return. (Non-fiction, Age 12–14)

NICOLA PIERCEIN BETWEEN WORLDS:THE JOURNEY OF THE FAMINE GIRLS
THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2023 (PBK) 288PP €9.99 ISBN 9781788493468

We meet Maggie on her hundredth birthday as she recounts her experience of the Famineand her voyage from Ireland to Australia. Maggie travels as part of the Earl Grey Scheme,
where over 4,000 teenage girls were sent from Irish workhouses to the other side of theworld, hoping for a chance at a new life. Maggie’s retelling of the tragic story of 1840s
Ireland helps us to understand the fear, pain and suffering of the time, though she herself
remains hopeful of a brighter future. (Age 12–14)

JASMINE WARGAOTHER WORDS FOR HOMEBALZER & BRAY, HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 368PP £7.99
ISBN 9780062747815

Written in free verse, this novel is a sensitive portrayal of one girl’s flight from Syria to
America. Jude’s story explores the challenges of adapting to life in a new country, hercomplex and often conflicting emotions give an immersive impression of what it’s like to
be a refugee, feeling betwixt and between two places, belonging to neither and both at thesame time. Despite its engagement with difficult themes, the novel successfully maintains
an uplifting tone by championing Jude’s bravery and celebrating her victories throughout.
(Age 12–14)

PATRICE AGGS and JOE BRADYNO COUNTRYDAVID FICKLING BOOKS 2021 (PBK) 240PP £8.99 ISBN 9781788451833

This graphic novel depicts a dystopian Britain in which its ‘experiment in democracy’
has failed, civil war rages and questioning authority is not allowed. Life for Bea and herfamily is getting harder and more dangerous, and she knows that they will have to flee thecountry soon, even though that brings its own risks. This is a powerful reminder of the
struggles of refugees and invites empathy and compassion with anyone living in an unsafe
place. (Age 12–14, 15+)

GEORGE BUTLERDRAWN ACROSS BORDERS: TRUE STORIES OF MIGRATIONWALKER BOOKS 2022 (PBK) 56PP £9.99 ISBN 9781406393736

George Butler is an award-winning artist who has travelled to many borders and war zones
across the world to document the migrants trapped between nations. In these personalaccounts Butler tells us the stories of those he has met in sensitive prose, which provide
context for his beautiful pen and ink illustrations. This book is a powerful testament to
the real lives that get lost behind the headlines of war and global crisis.
(Non-fiction, Age 12–14, 15+)

MALCOLM DUFFY

SEVEN MILLION SUNFLOWERSZEPHYR 2024 (PBK) 320PP £8.99 ISBN 9781800241732

Kateryno is a regular teenager in many ways. She gets crushes on boys, fights with her
brother and dreams about her future career. Kat also has shrapnel scars, has travelled
through six countries in two months and distinctly remembers the day her house camecrashing down around her. Kat is a Ukrainian refugee. Highlighting a human side to thewar, readers will empathise with Kat, leading to the realisation that the people displacedand harmed in terrible wars are no different to them. (Age 12–14, 15+)

DEBORAH ELLISONE MORE MOUNTAINOXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2023 192PP £7.99 ISBN 9780192786937

The fifth instalment of the Breadwinner series, this is the story of ordinary people
coping with the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in 2021. Two intertwined tales, oneof a teenage boy trying to escape to America to become a ballet dancer, and the othera girl fleeing from a forced marriage, give different insights into the impact of living in
intolerance. Fast-paced and gripping, the sympathetic characters show us the possibility ofhuman kindness and bravery in even the most inhumane situations. (Age 12–14, 15+)DAN SMITH illustrated by MATTHEW LANDNISHA’S WAR

CHICKEN HOUSE 2022 (PBK) 368PP £7.99 ISBN 9781912626755

It’s 1942 and Nisha has travelled a long way. Her first journey takes her from a privileged
and happy childhood in Malaya to the stark, grey, frightening home of her grandmotheron England’s Barrow Island. Her other journey is from a child refugee suffering from
PTSD, barely able to speak, to a blossoming young girl who has found courage, hope, andhonesty. Both journeys are cleverly and intricately woven together. Nisha is a beautifully
realised character and will undoubtedly evoke empathy from the reader. (Age 12–14, 15+)

ALAN TITLEY

GLUAISEACHTAN GÚM 2009 (BOG) 134LCH €7.50 ISBN 9781857917550

Seo scéal coscrach cumhachtach, á insint sa chéad phearsa. Scéal ógánaigh a thosaíonn
i ndúiche atá faoi bhagairt cogaidh san Afraic agus a chríochnaíonn ar shráideanna
doicheallacha thuaisceart na hEorpa. Scéal é a bhfuil an t-uafás agus an daonnacht taobh
le taobh ann agus a théann go croí cheist na hinimirce nua-aimseartha.
(Aois 12–14, 15+)

edited by LUCY HANNAY and ZARGHUNA KARGAR
illustrated by SARA RAHMANIRISING AFTER THE FALL:
AFGHAN WOMEN SHARE THEIR STORIESSCHOLASTIC 2023 (PBK) 144PP £12.99 ISBN 9780702323126

Based on extracts from a collective diary kept by Afghan women writers, this uniquebook traces the stories of seven women as their lives changed when the Taliban took holdof Afghanistan in 2021. An accessible and informative introduction to the history ofAfghanistan helping the reader understand the background to these events. Throughout
the book the stereotype of Afghan women as victims is challenged, and we see a group ofstrong, educated, articulate women using their agency in any way they can. A vital read.
(Non-fiction, Age 12–14, 15+)

A .M. DASSUKICKED OUT
OLD BARN BOOKS 2023 (PBK) 288PP £7.99 ISBN 9781910646892

The follow-on story from Boy Everywhere, Ali and Sami are settled in their new life when
their friend Aadam is accused of theft. In danger of being sent back to Syria, the friends
must work together to prove his innocence. A powerful story about friendship, notbacking down in the face of injustice and finding your own place in the world. With acentral message that if we all step up and do something about the injustices we see in ourworld we can make a difference, this is an enjoyable, fast-paced read. (Age 15+)

CLARE FURNISSTHE THINGS WE LEAVE BEHINDSIMON & SCHUSTER 2024 (PBK) 320PP £8.99 ISBN 9781471169816

A carefully crafted dystopian novel that challenges common perceptions of refugees.
Furniss chooses a first-world nation, Britain, as the setting for her tale on abject
discrimination and civil unrest as Clem and her family experience bigotry at the hands ofpower-hungry extremists. Deprived of parental protection, Clem flees London with her
half-sister, Billie. Tension and suspense are woven skilfully throughout the novel that takes
a subject matter that may be alien to some young readers and renders it relatable.
(Age 15+)

ALAN GRATZREFUGEESCHOLASTIC 2017 352PP (PBK) £7.99 ISBN 9781407184326

Refugee is a gripping novel following three young people and their families on theirjourney to the ‘Promised Land’. Each story is set in a different time and a different
country, but they all share the same narrative: being forced to leave behind their homeland
in search of a safer place to live. A heart wrenching tale of the bravery of young people
who never give up the fight. Dealing with violence and death, this novel is more suited toyoung adult readers. (Age 15+)

KHALED HOSSEINI

THE KITE RUNNERBLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING 2018 (PBK) 368PP £8.99 ISBN 9781526604743

In Afghanistan in 1975, we meet twelve-year-old Amir who is desperate to win the local
kite-fighting tournament and his loyal friend Hassan promises to help him. But neither ofthe boys can foresee what will happen to Hassan that afternoon, an event that is to shatter
their lives. After the Russians invade and the family is forced to flee to America, Amir
realises that one day he must return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule to find the one
thing that his new world cannot grant him: redemption. (Age 15+)ZOULFA KATOUH illustrated by SARAH BALDWIN

AS LONG AS THE LEMON TREES GROWBLOOMSBURY YA 2022 (PBK) 464PP £8.99 ISBN 9781526648549

Eighteen-year-old Salama volunteers as a nurse at her local hospital in Syria. For fifty
years, the country has been under dictatorship, and the Free Syrian Army has taken to
the streets to protect civilians. As the violence against Syrians escalates, Salama faces
an impossible choice; leave and hope she survives the journey to Europe or stay andsave others before she dies in her homeland. An incredibly difficult but essential read, aprofound story of love, loss and the courage to hope. (Age 15+)

GLENDA MILLARD

THE STARS AT OKTOBER BEND
OLD BARN BOOKS 2016 (PBK) 288PP £7.99 ISBN 9781910646151

Fifteen-year-old Alice expresses herself through poetry that she leaves around her town.
Sixteen-year-old Manny has fled violent persecution in his homeland and is coming toterms with his new life when he finds one of Alice’s poems and sets out to find the author.
Relevant to discussions taking place all over the world on integration and immigration,
the author portrays the resilience and bravery of two young people who have survived
horrific events with their humanity and compassion intact. We need more stories like this.
(Age 15+)

JANNE TELLER

WAR: WHAT IF IT WERE HERE?
SIMON & SCHUSTER 2016 (HBK) 64PP £5.99 ISBN 9781471161476

Imagine if war broke out – not in Iraq or Afghanistan or somewhere far, far away, buthere, in our country. This book is a thought-provoking experiment: by simply turning
the current crisis on its head, she reveals what it is like to flee your home country, to be
exiled, and to fight for survival in a foreign country. In this illustrated short story, Europe
has fallen apart and the only place at peace within reach is the Middle East. You follow anormal family as they flee to the Middle East and see what they go through as refugees,
through the eyes of their fourteen-year-old son. (Age 15+)BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAHREFUGEE BOY

BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 304PP £7.99 ISBN 9781408894996

This wry and poignant story of a young refugee left in London is of even more power andpertinence today than when it was first published in 2001. Life is not safe for Alem. His
father is Ethopian, his mother Eritrean. Their countries are at war, and Alem is welcome
in neither place. So Alem is excited to spend a holiday in London with his father – until
he wakes up to find him gone. What seems like a betrayal is in fact an act of love, but now
Alem is alone in a strange country, and he must forge his own path. (Age 15+)

readingwith refugees
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