Auckland Council Libraries: Refugee stories for young children

Refugee stories for young children

A list of selected picture books that tell the stories of young refugees.

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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. Then the Wisp arrives, floating in on the evening breeze. Everyone who holds it finds their memories reawakened, their hopes of freedom reborn.

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My name is not refugee

Kate Milner

Book

A touching, timely and tender exploration of refuge and migration for the youngest readers, this picture book offers a moving insight into the real journeys being made by children today.

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Oskar and the eight blessings

Richard Simon

Book

A refugee seeking sanctuary from the horrors of Kristallnacht, Oskar arrives by ship in New York City with only a photograph and an address for an aunt he has never met. It is both the seventh day of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve, 1938.

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Vanishing colors

Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen

Book

A girl and her mother take shelter in their war-torn city. Waking up in the night she finds a bird watching her. She describes her memories to the bird and slowly colours seep back into her life, bringing the courage to hope for a new beginning.

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Three balls of wool (can change the world)

Henriqueta Cristina

Book

Exiled from their homeland, a young girl and her entire family are unhappy about the monochrome sweaters all children wear until Mom decides to make a change. This story Includes facts about Portugal's history.

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Teacup

Rebecca Young

Book

Once there was a boy who had to leave home. In his bag, he carried a book, a bottle and a blanket. In his teacup, he had some earth from his home. This story tells of how he survived a long journey by sea and found a safe place to call home.

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Two white rabbits

Jairo Buitrago

Book

A young girl describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north. As many people in Central America are making this journey to the US border hoping for a better life, this important book shows a young migrant's perspective.

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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. Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr's stone images illustrate this moving story.

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Illegal

Eoin Colfer

Graphic novel

This is a powerful story about one boy's epic journey across Africa to Europe. Ebo's journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. With every step, he holds on to his hope for a new life.

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Zenobia

Morten Dürr

Graphic novel

Amina is a Syrian girl caught up in a war that reaches her village. To escape the war, she boards a boat crammed with other refugees. Told with great sensitivity in few words and almost exclusively with pictures, Zenobia is a story for everyone.

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