There are times in life when uncertainty hits, and people and families may be required to endure hardships. Sometimes because of war, natural disasters, or civil unrest, individuals or families have to leave the place they call home. The reasons behind becoming a refugee are often complicated, but deserve understanding and respect. Each of these books helped me learn more about an issue with a lot of nuance, and I hope you will find something meaningful from one or more of them.
Written by Chi Thai
Illustrated by Linh Dao
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture Book.
At the young age of three, Chi Thai's family decide that they need to flee Vietnam. The war has ended, but their family doesn't feel safe because they were on the "losing side." I cannot even imagine the stress of planning to load a young family into a boat, and hoping to traverse the seas safely. The family had to put their trust in strangers and plan their escape for the dark of night. Obviously they were very limited in what they could take with them. The illustrations did a good job of depicting dangerous scenes in a way that left me thoughtful, and admiring the family's courage. Told from the viewpoint of a young girl whose life was forever changed, this book contains elements of hope and familial love, while not downplaying the hardships and trauma the family faced.
Written by Rabiah York
Illustrated by Maneli Monouchehri
New York, New York : Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025. Picture Book.
This book contains hopeful images and words, as it introduces the reader to a Persian poet. Known as Muhammad when he was a young boy, he enjoys the music of nature and his father's flute, and lives a relatively peaceful life. Because of war, the peace doesn't last. While the family finds themselves in what could be considered a desperate situation, they are still able to focus on the joy of family connections, and the hope in words and music. The colors are deep and cheerful, and do a great job conveying that beauty can be found while enduring hard situations.
Written by Jordan Scott and Jamal Saeed
Illustrated by Zhara Marwan
New York : Random House Studio, 2025. Picture Book.
An only child tells his parents he wishes he had a sibling to play with. His mother tells him they planted an apple tree on the day he was born, and that is his sister. The young boy develops a particularly close bond with the apple tree as he spends time talking to her, feeding and watering her, and making sure she is properly cared for. They share secrets and comfort, and grow taller together. One day the village falls under attack. The family makes a tough decision that they must leave their home, but the young boy does not want to leave his sister behind. His father gives advice on how to best dig up the tree and not damage it. The tree is prepped to accompany the family on their arduous journey. Upon arrival in a new country, the young boy spends a lot of time with the apple tree, contemplating the hardships of leaving home behind without saying proper goodbyes. The illustrations are very touching and do a great job conveying both the loneliness and comfort the boy finds with his family.
Written by Eugenia Perrella
Illustrated by Angela Salerno
Edinburgh : Floris Books, 2025. Picture Book.
The moment I saw this book description in a journal, I knew I would want to read it. I was really drawn to the cover with the family staying so close together, their family pet, and the silhouettes of homes in the background. This book does an amazing job focusing on the stories people carry with them. I appreciated deeply how the individuals in the family still tried to find ways to connect with family, friend, former hobbies, and skills, as well as their attempt to find meaning and joy in their strenuous journey. This book was a good reminder to me to not use limiting terms (in this case, a "refugee"), when there are so many aspects that that make and shape people, and most people want to be considered as a whole person, rather than limiting them to specific and trying times of their lives.
Written by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babaker
Illustrated by Yas Imamura
New York, NY : Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublisher, 2024. Informational.
Some refugees leave their country, and are able to find a new home relatively quickly. The flip side is that there are also some who have to go to multiple countries before they are able to settle in and make a new life for themselves. That is the case with Babakar and her family. With each new place, Babakar feels more and more lonely. She remembers so fondly the town where she grew up, and the love of family that surrounded her. After so much time feeling forgotten and unimportant, there is a neighbor who reaches out and gives Babakar a gift. This act of kindness finally helps the young girl belief she is an important part of something again. I appreciated the focus on kindness, and contemplating more than many refugees spend years trying to find a place they belong.
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