Tag Archives: Migration

I’m An Immigrant Too!

Leave a reply

This book uses poetry to guide the reader though the journeys of several young people, as they immigrate from various countries around the world to Australia. Brightly colored computer graphics set the tone marvelously for this story of perseverance and hope. mm

Title: I’m An Immigrant Too! Author: Mem Fox Illustrator: Ronojoy Ghosh Publisher: Beach Lane Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5344-3602-2 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Adelaide, Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Sydney, Australia Subjects: Australia, Family, Immigrants

Marwan’s Journey

Leave a reply

Marwen is a young boy and refugee who flees from starvation, poverty, and war. Along with thousands of other refugees, he takes an incredible journey across the desert and away from his homeland and culture. Marwen hopes to return to his home in the future and create a place that is safe, happy, and filled with hope. Brown, black, blue, red, and yellow watercolors combine in variations to establish scenes that reflect the ups and downs of Marwen’s journey. mm

Title: Marwan’s Journey Author: Patricia de Arias Illustrator: Laura Borrás Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing ltd Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-988-8341-55-9 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Brazil Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Subjects: Family, Hope, Refugees

No Ballet Shoes In Syria

Leave a reply

Eleven-year-old Aya has just arrived in Manchester, England, from Syria, with her Mumma and her baby brother.  She is an “asylum seeker, a would–be refugee, a poor little girl from Syria, a fatherless child from a war zone.” Her passion is dance.  One day she comes across a ballet class and the teacher recognizes her talent and thinks she might earn a position at the prestigious Northern Ballet School.  Aya is a powerful, brave character.  Her story engages in a series of flashbacks about her life in Syria.  There is a parallel story about her ballet teacher who had to flee the holocaust.  This incredibly moving, well-written story shows how dance transcends borders.  A map of Aya’s journey from Syria is included. mjw

Title: No Ballet Shoes In Syria Author: Catherine Bruton Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd. U.K. Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-78800-4-503 Paperback pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria, Turkey, Greece, England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Subjects: Aleppo, Asylum seekers, Ballet, Dance, Prejudice and racism, Refugees

Pashmina

Leave a reply

Pryanka is a teenage girl whose mother emigrated from India years ago, leaving Pri’s father behind. After finding a magical pashmina, Pri travels to India to learn more about her family and her culture.  She is greeted by an elephant and a peacock, that show her around the country.  This story of self-discovery is heartwarming, inspiring, funny, and thought-provoking. Most of the artwork is black and white with thick lines, but whenever someone wears the pashmina, the pages become full-colored. mjw

Title: Pashmina Author: Nidhi Chanani Illustrator: Nidhi Chanani Publisher: First Second, an imprint of Roaring Book Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-62672-087-9 Paperback pages: 176 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Fiction, Graphic novel, Fantasy Book setting: U.S. Author’s ethnicity: born in Kolkata, India Author’s residence: San Francisco, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: born in Kolkata, India Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco, U.S. Awards: 2018 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Asia, Cashmere shawls, Comics, Culture, East Indian Americans, Heritage, Magic realism, Mothers and daughters, Self-discovery, Teenage girls

Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream

Leave a reply

National bestselling author Julissa Arce tells of her journey from Taxco, Mexico, to growing up undocumented in Texas.  As a young girl, she, her two sisters, her nanny, and her grandmother were left behind in Taxco for months at a time, while her parents worked in America, hoping to build a home for the family.  At age eleven, her parents brought her to Texas where she secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant.  She worked tirelessly, achieved academic excellence, overcame cultural barriers, and ultimately climbed to a successful career on Wall Street. Eight pages of black and white photographs complement this compelling story. mjw

Title: Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream Author: Julissa Arce Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-316-48174-8 Hardcover pages: 240 Age range: 11-14 Genre: Autobiography Book setting: Mexico, Texas Author’s ethnicity: Mexican Author’s residence: Los Angeles, U.S. Subjects: Biography, Illegal aliens, Immigrants, Mexican American women, Social justice, Texas

The Curiosity Cabinet

Leave a reply

Ian Wallace’s wordless tribute to Canada on her 150thbirthday includes graphite illustrations of treasures from his forty years of traveling the country.  He has made thousands of school and library visits inspiring young readers to become artists and he has received many gifts from the students.  His cabinet of curiosities includes these gifts and other discoveries he has made. Each illustration is devoted to a province or territory – tamarack geese made by Cree artists in Ontario, a snow globe illuminating the moment he stood on the Arctic Circle, the English heraldic lion from Prince Edward Island, and much more.  A table of contents and an introduction set the stage and detailed illustrator’s notes provide much information. mjw

Title: The Curiosity Cabinet Author: Ian Wallace Illustrator: Ian Wallace Publisher: Groundwood Books.  House of Anansi Press. Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-55498-922-5 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Brookline, MA Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Brookline, MA Subjects: Biography, Mystery and wonders, Pictorial works, Travel

Kakuma Girls: Sharing Stories Of Hardship And Hope From Kakuma Refugee Camp

Leave a reply

Clare Morneau is a 17-year-old author and speaker who lives in Toronto and is committed to working for real change.  As a student at Havergal College, she founded the Kakuma Toronto Girls Education Partnership. This illuminating book is a compilation of letters of hardship and hope from the girls in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya to girls at a high school in Canada.  The Kakuma girls have incredible hopes and dreams for their future.  They are fighting for their education and will do anything to go to university.  They dream of becoming doctors, engineers, pilots, or journalists and improving their families’ lives.  The book includes beautiful photographs, maps, a chronology, a glossary, and a list of ways to get involved. mjw

Title: Kakuma Girls: Sharing Stories Of Hardship And Hope From Kakuma Refugee Camp Author: Clare Morneau and contributors Publisher: Barlow Books, Toronto Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-988025-14-8 Hardcover pages: 184 Age range: 12 up Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: Kenya Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Refugee children. Refugees, Sudan, Women