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Escape: One Day We Had to Run

 

Escape: One Day We Had to Run

By Ming and Wah

Illustrated by Carmen Vela

Lanta Publishing, 2021. Informational.

This collection of true stories highlights individuals throughout the ages who have had to flee their homes and sometimes their country to find safety.  Some flee because of war and political upheaval, others climate change, still others because of famine or intolerance.  Each of the twelve stories begins with a verb that describes the person's flight.

Although each story was very short (only a page), they really packed an emotional punch.  It made me very grateful for my living situation.  It also inspired me to look at ways I can support refugees today.  This would be a great book to share in a classroom or in the home, as the stories within facilitate discussions about people and places throughout the world that kids may not know about.  And any book that motivates it's readers to do good is a win in my eyes, and this one does just that.




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