Auckland Council Libraries: Refugee stories for kids

Refugee stories for kids

Browse our collection of picture books that tell refugee stories from children around the world.

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A child's garden

Michael Foreman

Picture book

In a ruined village, torn apart by war, a barbed wire fence cuts off a little boy from the hills he loved to walk in. But does a tiny green shoot spell hope?

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The colour of home

Mary Hoffman

Book

Hassan feels out of place in a new, cold, grey country. At school, he paints a picture showing his colourful Somalian home, covered with the harsh colours of war. But gradually, Hassan begins to see the new colours of home.

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Dreamers

Yuyi Morales

Picture book

An illustrated picture book autobiography in which award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story.

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Flight

Nadia Wheatley

Book

Set in biblical times, a small family sets off across a desert in search of refuge from persecution in their own country, and an ancient story becomes a fable for our times. For older children.

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Ice in the jungle

Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar

Picture book

When Ice's mother tells her that they're going to move to an exciting new place, Ice isn't so sure. She likes her home and her friends. The journey takes forever, and their new home is very strange. Will anything happen to help Ice feel more at home?

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The journey

Francesca Sanna

Picture book

What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey; one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope.

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Muktar and the camels

Janet Graber

Picture book

Muktar, an 11-year-old refugee living in a Kenyan orphanage, dreams of tending camels again, as he did with his nomadic family in Somalia, and has a chance to prove himself when a travelling librarian with an injured camel arrives at his school.

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Mustafa

Marie-Louise Gay

Book

After leaving his war-torn country with his family, Mustafa visits a park near his new home and finds beautiful flowers, ladybugs, fall leaves, and finally, a friend.

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My name is not refugee

Kate Milner

Book

A young boy discusses the journey he is about to make with his mother. They will leave their town, she explains, and it will be sad but also a little bit exciting. They will have to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, and that will be difficult.

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Spectacularly beautiful

Lisa Lucas

Picture book

A teacher helps one of her students, who is scarred from violence, see that she is spectacularly beautiful.

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Stepping stones

Margriet Ruurs

Book

Rama and her family are forced to leave behind everything they know and love. With only what they can carry on their backs, Rama's family sets out to find refuge in Europe.

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The treasure box

Margaret Wild

Picture book

As the library burns, Peter and his father flee their home, taking with them a book more precious than jewels - a book that tells the story of their people.

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Welcome

author Barroux

Picture book

When Polar Bear and his friends are swept away from their icy home, they hope to find refuge in a new land. But when they are turned away from one place after another, they start to doubt that they will ever find somewhere they will be made welcome.

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Wisp

Zana Fraillon

Book

Idris is a child refugee, born into a world of tents and fences. He has known no other life than this. Everyone who holds the Wisp finds their memories reawakened, their hopes of freedom reborn. What will happen when he holds the magical Wisp?

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Book list by:

Anne Coppell.

Annie

LibrarianHelensville Library

Auckland Council Libraries:Book list Recommended reading lists about different topics and genres to help you find new books to read.