The Day My Father Became A Bush

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The Day My Father Became a Bush Book CoverToda is forced to flee her village as war escalates in her unnamed country. When her father, a pastry chef, leaves to defend his country, she is sent to live with her mother across the border. Her journey is frightening and fascinating and filled with struggles, misunderstandings, and hope. Fear never overwhelms innocent and frank Toda as she tries to make sense of the war-torn world around her. The author uses Toda’s off-beat sense of humor to point out the absurdity of war. Gentle line drawings offer comic relief and further insight into what this young refugee goes through. mjw
Title: The Day My Father Became A Bush
Author: Joke van Leeuwen
Illustrator: Joke van Leeuwen
Publisher: Gecko Press USA
Copyright: 2013
Original language: Dutch
Translator: Bill Nagelkerke
Original title: Toen mijn vader een struik werd
Original publisher: Em. Querido’s Uitgeverij B.V.
Original copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-877579-48-6
Paperback pages: 104
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Author’s residence: The Netherlands
Awards:  2015 USBBY Outstanding International Books Grades 3-5
Subjects: Children of military personnel, Children’s stories, Europe, Families, Fishes, Humorous, Soldiers, Stealing, War, Western Europe

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