Tag Archives: Migration

Amrita Sher-gil: Rebel With A Paintbrush

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This beautiful, well-researched book tells the story of modern Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil’s short, but fascinating life. She was born in Hungary in 1913. Her mother was a Hungarian pianist and her father was an Indian Sikh. Amrita was raised in Hungary and trained in France. She was inspired by writers, musicians, artists, and the time she lived – world wars, the Indian freedom movement, and major changes in the art world. The set-up of the book is amazing. The text that tells Amrita’s story is woven around pictures and boxes of information. Political events and artistic movements that shaped her life are found in other boxes. Real photographs, sometimes taken by her father, are included in the margins, and reproductions of Amrita’s gorgeous paintings are also spread throughout the book. Back matter provides a section called Why Was Amritas’s Art Important? and another section of interesting references. mjw

Title: Amrita Sher-gil: Rebel With A Paintbrush Author: Anita Vachharajani Illustrator: Kalyani Ganapathy Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books Copyright: 2018 Original Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books. India Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-93-5277-473-9 Hardcover pages: 184 Age range: 10 up Genre: Information book, Biography, Nonfiction Book setting: Hungary, India, France, Pakistan Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Mumbai Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Nilgiris Awards: 2020 USBBY Honor List Subjects: Art Biography, India, Indian freedom, Hungary, Painting

Lemon Butterfly

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This abstract and artsy picture book is an amazing picture book because both the author and the illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award. A lemon butterfly searches for a field of flowers. To a butterfly, a field of flowers is the most beautiful thing in the world. The butterfly searches through real and imagined landscapes until it finally finds the water where it becomes a lemon butterfly fish.  There are many lessons along the way. Most of the illustrations are rendered in vivid colors, with a few being only black and white graphic forms. mjw

Title: Lemon Butterfly Author: Cao Wenxuan Illustrator: Roger Mello Publisher: Reycraft Books. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Chinese Original Publisher: China Children’s Press and Publication Group. China Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4788-6975-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: China Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Brazil Awards: Both author and illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Butterflies, Fish, Flowers, Horses, Insects, Mountains, Rivers

Mexique: A Refugee Story From The Spanish Civil War

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On May 27,1937, 456 children sailed on the Mexique from Spain to Morelia, Mexico, to escape the violence of the Spanish Civil War. It was supposed to be a short trip, but they stayed for a long time and many never returned to Spain because of Francisco Franco’s dangerous dictatorship after the war. The haunting, dark, images in the book are based on photographs of the “Children of Morelia” and the ship that brought them to Mexico. mjw

Title: Mexique: A Refugee Story From The Spanish Civil War Author: Maria Jose Ferrada Illustrator: Ana Penyas Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Elisa Amado Original Title: Mexique: El nombre del barco Original Publisher: Alboroto Ediciones, Mexico Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5545-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Historical Fiction, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Spain, Mexico Author’s ethnicity: Chilean Author’s residence: Chile Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Madrid Subjects: Displaced people, Francisco Franco, Mexico, Refugees, Ships, Spain, Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

Freedom

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Twelve-year-old Nathaniel is a slave on a Jamaican plantation. His mother and sister have been sold, so he is alone. Old Thomas tells him that once a slave sets foot on English soil, he is free. Nathaniel thinks he can earn his fortune and buy his family’s freedom. He is put on a ship sailing to England with his master, but once he gets there he discovers that slavery exists in England, too. Being a slave in London isn’t much better than being a slave in Jamaica. He jumps at his first chance to escape. Real historical characters are integrated into this action-packed story. A historical note on the slave trade, information about the characters, a timeline, and a glossary are included. mjw

Title: Freedom Author: Catherine Johnson Publisher: Scholastic Children’s Books. London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1407-18548-4 Paperback pages: 150 Age range: 10 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Jamaica, England Author’s ethnicity: Born in London, Father is Jamaican, Mother is Welsh Author’s residence: London Awards: 2020 IBBY Honor List Subjects: Action, Freedom, Plantations, Slavery, Slave ships

The Suitcase

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A strange, tired, sad, and frightened animal arrives one day pulling a big suitcase. When a bird asks what’s in the suitcase, the animal replies that there is a teacup, a chair, and a kitchen in a wooden cabin. The animal takes a rest and the other animals, who don’t believe him, break open the suitcase and find a broken teacup and an old photograph. When the animal wakes up, he can’t believe what the other animals have done.  They then fix his suitcase the best they can. The strange animal exclaims that it is perfect, but that they don’t have enough teacups for everyone. This powerful story about migration, hope, kindness, and trust, with a lovely ending, is illustrated in pen, ink, pencil, and watercolor. mjw

Title: The Suitcase Author: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros Illustrator: Chris Naylor-Ballesteros Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Nosy Crow. Great Britain Original Copyright: 2019 ISBN: 978-0-358-32960-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Emotions, Friendship, Kindness, Suitcase, Teacups, Trust

Brother’s Keeper

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Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live in Communist North Korea in 1950. War is coming and they need to escape.  The family plans to walk the 300 miles from their village to the South Korean city of Busan.  There is a bombing and Sora and her eight-year-old brother Youngsoo are left to get there on their own. It’s winter, and they have to face enemy soldiers, starvation, frostbite, deprivation, and other hardships as they struggle to complete their journey.  This highly engrossing story is loosely based on the author’s mother’s experiences. An author’s note, photographs of the author’s family, a glossary of Korean words, a timeline of the Korean War, and a map of Sora’s journey are included. mjw

Title: Brother’s Keeper Author: Julie Lee Publisher: Holiday House. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0823444946 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Korea Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Asia, Communism, History, Korean War, Military action, North Korea, Refugees,  Siblings, South Korea, War zone, Winter

Welcome To Nowhere

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Twelve-year-old Omar lives in Bosra, Syria with his family.  He dreams of being a businessman and his sister wants to be a teacher. Their hopes are shattered when  war breaks out. The family is forced to flee Syria by foot to get to Jordan. This is a moving and sensitive novel with lovable characters. A Letter from the Author provides more information about the war in Syria. Also included is a section What Can You DoTo Help? that tells about the Hope School in Jordan. mjw

Title: Welcome To Nowhere Author: Elizabeth Laird Illustrator: Lucy Eldridge Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books Copyright: 22017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5098-44047-2 Paperback pages: 329 Age range: 9-11 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria, Jordan Author’s ethnicity: Born in new Zealand of Scottish parents Author’s residence: Britain Awards: Winner of the UKLA Book Award Subjects: Cerebral Palsy, Homelessness, Middle East, Poverty, Refugees, Syria

Letters From Bear

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Bird migrates south for the winter and Bear takes a long journey to find her. Bear writes letters to record her adventures. The letters recount a trip into the scary woods, being rescued by a mermaid, escaping a battle between two human armies, a squirrel’s birthday party, and much more.  Bear finally reaches her destination only to find that Bird never received the letters.  Bird didn’t want to be separated from Bear, so she headed back north.  Bird’s friends devise a plan for the friends to be reunited. Rich paintings illustrate Bear’s adventure. mjw

Title: Letters from Bear Author: Gauthier David Illustrator: Marie Caudry Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Translator: Sarah Ardizzone Original Title: Les lettres de L’ourse Original Publisher: Autrement, Belgium Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5536-7 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Drome, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Drome, France Subjects: Birds, Bears, Desert, Forest, Letter writing, Mountains, Oceans, Seas, Seasons, Volcanoes

Child Of St. Kilda

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Norman John Gilles was one of the last children born on St. Kilda, a group of islands with high cliffs off the Scottish coast.   People lived there for over four thousand years, thriving in one of the most inhospitable places on Earth. They survived on sea birds, eggs, and potatoes. There was no crime or need for money.  They had no automobiles.  They trusted and cared for each other. The community came to an abrupt end in 1930 when the remaining St. Kildans begged the British government to evacuate them to the mainland. No one knows what happened. Today, the islands have become a World Heritage Site, recognized for their unique wildlife and vanished culture. The book concludes with a St. Kilda Sketchbook that provides more information and a map.  The stunning images were created by hand using monoprinting techniques. mjw

Title: Child Of St. Kilda Author: Beth Waters Illustrator: Beth Waters Publisher: Child’s Play. Auburn, Maine. USA Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-78628-188-3 Hardcover pages: 64  Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Cambridge, U.K. Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Cambridge, U.K. Subjects: Birds, History, Immigration, Mystery, Storms, Survival

A Grain Of Rice

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Thirteen-year-old Yen and her family live in rural Vietnam. A flood destroys their village.  Famine and persecution because they are of Chinese ancestry lead the family to flee from their war-torn homeland after the fall of Saigon.  They become boat people and are eventually rescued by the Malaysian Coast Guard. There is a glossary of Vietnamese words. The story is based on events from the author’s childhood. mjw

Title: A Grain Of Rice Author: Nhung N. Tran-Davies Publisher: Tradewind Books. Vancouver Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-926890-25-8 Paperback pages: 154 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Vietnam Author’s ethnicity: Vietnamese Author’s residence: Edmonton, Alberta. Canada  Subjects: Famine Food, Persecution, Poverty, Prejudice, Refugees

Crossing The Farak River

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Fourteen-year-old Hasina, her younger brother Araf, and her thirteen-year-old cousin Ghadiya are forced out of their home in the Rakhine province of Myanmar when the Sit Tat Myanmar Army invades one night.  They become separated from their parents.  They know to flee because they are persecuted Muslim Rohingyas. They run deep into the Rakhine forest to hide, but when they return to their village, it has been burned and mostly destroyed.  Their house is still standing, but their family is gone. Hasina is a strong, courageous character who fights for her family in this captivating account of the crisis in Myanmar. mjw

Title: Crossing The Farak River Author: Michelle Aung Thin Publisher: Annick Press. Toronto Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English Original Title: Hasina Original Publisher: Allen and Unwin. Australia Original Copyright: 2019 ISBN: 978-1-77321-396-5 Paperback pages: 224 Age range: 11 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Myanmar Author’s ethnicity: Born in Burma, now Myanmar Author’s residence: Australia Subjects: Arakan, Buddhists, Burmese, Human trafficking, Muslims, Persecution, Rakhine State,Refugees, Rohingyas, Soldiers

Lubna And Pebble

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Lubna lives with her father and brothers in a world of tents.  Her best friend is a shiny, smooth, gray pebble.  She draws a happy face on it and keeps it warm wrapped in a tea towel in a shoebox.  She tells the pebble about home, the war, and that she loves it.  Soon, a little boy arrives.  At first, he has no words.  He coughs, sneezes, smiles, and says his name is Amir.  Lubna and Amir become friends.  One day, Lubna’s daddy announces that they are leaving because they have found a home.  Lubna feels happy, then sad.  Amir cries. Lubna gives Amir her pebble.  He needs it more than she does.  Larger-than-life, stunning illustrations complement this powerful story. mjw

Title: Lubna And Pebble Author: Wendy Meddour Illustrator: Daniel Egneus Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-052-5554-165 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Middle East Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish Illustrator’s residence: Athens, Greece Awards; 2020 USBBY Outstanding International Books List Subjects: Refugees