The Upside Down Boy/El Nino De Cabeza
The Upside Down Boy/El Nino De Cabeza By Juan Felipe Herrera Illustrated by Elizabeth Gomez Published by Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN: 9780892392179 Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “In rhythmic, flowing language, Herrera uses startlingly apt images to tell the story of a young Hispanic boy’s adjustment to an Anglo school.” —School Library Journal Description The Upside Down Boy is award-winning poet Juan Felipe Herrera’s engaging memoir of the year his migrant family settled down so that he could go to school for the first...
Read MoreTournament Fugee
Tournament Fugee By Dirk McLean Published by James Lorimer & Company, Ltd., Publishers ISBN-13: 9781459412279 Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “The exceptional new series “Soccer United” explores the lives of soccer players who are refugees from around the world.” —School Library Journal Description A talented thirteen-year-old goalkeeper, Victor Bayazid, is asked to join and captain a soccer team, the GTA Gazelles, to compete in the “Thank You, Canada” tournament. The tournament brings together teams of Syrian...
Read MoreHot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji
Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-Ji By F. Zia Illustrated by Ken Min Published by Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN-13: 9781620143520 Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “…a winning story of family traditions…” —School Library Journal Description Overflowing with family, food, and a tall stack of fun, Hot, Hot Roti for Dada-ji is sure to warm the heart and tickle the tummy. A fun way for children to learn about the cultural traditions and foods of India to be enjoyed by the whole family. Reviews & Accolades “This debut for both author...
Read MoreTomorrow
Tomorrow By Nadine Kaadan Published by Lantana Publishing Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “…a Syrian boy, has not been able to go to the park to play recently nor to go to school sometimes, which upsets him.” —Kirkus Reviews Description Yazan no longer goes to the park to play, and he no longer sees his friend who lives next door. Everything around him is changing. His parents sit in front of the television with the news turned up LOUD and Yazan’s little red bike leans forgotten against the wall. Will he ever be able to go...
Read MoreChachaji’s Cup
Chachaji’s Cup By Uma Krishnaswami Illustrated by Soumya Sitaraman Published by Children’s Book Press Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “Doubly valuable for its overall theme, and as a surprisingly rare depiction of an Indian-American family…” —Kirkus Reviews Description Neel loves listening to Chachaji’s many stories over steaming cups of tea. Chachaji’s tales of great Hindu gods and demons and of his adventures in the Indian Army leave Neel openmouthed. But it is the tale of his great-uncle’s favorite...
Read MoreMama and Papa Have a Store
Mama and Papa Have a Store By Amelia Lau Carling Published by Children’s Book Press Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “…recounts a day in the life of her family’s general store in the heart of Guatemala City.” —Kirkus Reviews Description From the clip, clop of the milkman’s mule in the early morning to the clacking of her father’s abacus at night, a young girl brings us into her home, which is also her parents’ store. Located in Guatemala City, the store is filled with the colorful textures of cloth, threads, buttons, and...
Read MoreWho Belongs Here?: An American Story
Who Belongs Here?: An American Story By Margy Burns Knight Illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien Published by Tilbury House Publishers Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “An attractive and telling picture book that provokes a dynamic dialogue about one of the most fundamental questions before our country.” —Booklist Description Who Belongs Here? tells the story of a boy who, having been forced to flee his war-torn country, struggles to be accepted by his new classmates in the U.S. Some kids think he should go back where he belongs, but what...
Read MoreThe Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art
The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art By Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by Claire A. Nivola Published by Candlewick Press Age Range: 7+ Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “Rosenstock’s gratifying story conveys how art has the capacity to revitalize and restore.” —Publishers Weekly Description After the partition of India in 1947, Nek Chand Saini settled in the city of Chandigarh, with nothing but stories brought from his homeland. Dismayed at his stark new surroundings, Nek began collecting river rocks, broken glass, and...
Read MoreThe Secret Kingdom: Refugee’s Art Inspires Lessons Exploring Home
THE SECRET KINGDOM Art Lessons for Exploring Home Best Users: Art Educators, Classroom Teachers, ELL Educators, Librarians Best Audience: Children Grades 03-07 THE BACKGROUND Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor and author Barb Rosenstock presented her picture book The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art illustrated by Claire A. Nivola (Candlewick Press) to a group of MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) Teacher Candidates at Maine College of Art (MECA). Nek Chand, a refugee from the partition of India, recreated the village he left behind in a...
Read MoreSomos como las nubes / We Are Like the Clouds
Somos como las nubes / We Are Like the Clouds By Jorge Argueta Illustrated by Alfonso Ruano Published by Groundwood Books ISBN 9781554988495 Age Range: 7 and older Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N | Worldcat “Argueta and Ruano present a unique and much-needed perspective on the reasons driving young people to immigrate to the U.S. … extremely vital.” —Booklist, Starred Review Description Why are young people leaving their country to walk to the United States to seek a new, safe home? Over 100,000 such children have left Central America. This book of poetry...
Read MoreI’m Your Neighbor Creates Video on Welcoming
By Anne Sibley O’Brien While the book trailer remains a popular way to promote picture books, Kirsten Cappy and I wanted to create a video that might matter to the mission of my picture book, I’m New Here. Could we model conversations with elementary school children on the universality of “feeling new” and on simple ways to be “welcoming”? It was such a pleasure to do this project with Fred Okot Ben, a young videographer whose work is mostly in music videos. Fred’s qualifications for this project include his own history; his Sudanese family came to...
Read MoreThe Turtle of Oman
The Turtle of Oman By Naomi Shihab Nye Published by Greenwillow Books Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N “A warm and humorous peek at the profound and mundane details of moving from one country to another—a perfect pick for kids on the move.” — Kirkus Reviews Description This accessible, exquisite novel shines with gentle humor and explores themes of moving, family, nature, and immigration. It tells the story of Aref Al-Amri, who must say good-bye to everything and everyone he loves in his hometown of Muscat, Oman, as his family prepares to move to Ann Arbor,...
Read MoreAzzi In Between
Azzi In Between By Sarah Garland Illustrated by Sarah Garland Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books “A perfect choice for reluctant readers and students like Azzi, learning English as a second language, every school should have this book readily to hand for every child to read – and perhaps it should also become compulsory reading for all government employees who work with asylum seekers.” –Marjorie Coughlan, Paper Tigers Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description Azzi and her parents are in danger. They have to leave their home and escape to...
Read MoreStar in the Forest
Star in the Forest By Laura Resau Published by Yearling “This beautifully written story will lead to discussions among young readers and perhaps foster a better understanding of the plight of illegal Mexican workers in the United States today.” –Children’s Literature “Resau introduces preteens to the drama that thousands of children of immigrants face in the United States…A story of friendship that will speak to children of different cultures.” –Kirkus Reviews Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description Zitlally’s family is undocumented,...
Read MoreShooting Kabul
Shooting Kabul By N.H. Senzai Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers “For all of Fadi’s differences from his Fremont, California classmates, he will still seem very familiar to many middle schoolers. The novel allows readers a view of a different culture and provides background for events that still plague us today.”—Steven Kral, VOYA Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description In the summer of 2001, twelve year old Fadis parents make the difficult decision to illegally leave Afghanistan and move the family to the United States. When...
Read MoreA Song for Bijou
A Song for Bijou By Josh Farrar Published by Walker Children’s Farrar handles race and the complexities of interracial relationships by implication, through Alex’s discovery of the vibrant, new (to him) world just blocks away. A solid, timely effort.” –Kirkus Reviews Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description Life for Alex Schrader has never involved girls. He goes to an all-boys prep school and spends most of his time goofing around with his friends. But all that changes the first time he meets Bijou Doucet, a Haitian girl recently relocated to...
Read MoreAfter Peaches
After Peaches By Michelle Mulder Published by Orca Young Readers “Written in first person with clarity and understanding, this chapter book reflects the experiences and emotions of the many immigrant children who work to fit in despite sometimes feeling ill at ease in their new countries.” –Booklist Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description After being teased at school, Rosario vows not to speak English again until she can speak with an accent that’s one hundred percent Canadian. Since she and her parents plan to spend the whole summer working on BC fruit...
Read MoreMohammed’s Journey
Mohammed’s Journey: A Refugee Diary By Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young Illustrated by June Allan Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books “As students begin to study the reality of our world and the plight of refugees, this title is useful for its perspective.” –School Library Journal Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description Mohammed was born in Kirkuk – the Kurdish part of Iraq. He speaks Kurdish, and now English too. Saddam Hussein persecuted Mohammed’s people long before he was born but Mohammed’s journey started in...
Read MoreGervelie’s Journey
Gervelie’s Journey: A Refugee Story By Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young Illustrated by June Allan Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books “Gervelie’s Journey…will be invaluable tools both for refugees who may be seeking mirrors of their own experiences; and for helping to promote understanding among children who welcome refugees into their neighborhoods and schools.” –Marjorie Coughlan, Paper Tigers Find a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description When Nkoula Thesia Gervelie was born in 1995 in the Republic of Congo, her mother and father had a...
Read MoreHamzat’s Journey
Hamzat’s Journey: A Refugee Diary By Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young Illustrated by June Allan Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books”Photos of the real-life Hamzat and of his town are the most compelling element of the work.” –School Library JournalFind a copy at Amazon | IndieBound | B&N Description This third book in the Refugee Diary series follows the story of a boy from Chechnya. In 2001 when Chechens were at war with Russia, he was on his way to school in the capital of Grozny when he stepped on a landmine. His leg had to be amputated, and...
Read MoreWEAR YOUR WELCOME
