Selections by Children's Librarians Eileen Corbett & Sarah Rodriguez
March 2019
Picture Books
Two White Rabbits
By Buitrago, Jairo
In this moving and timely story, a young child describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north toward the U.S. border.They travel mostly on the roof of a train known as The Beast, but the little girl doesn't know where they are going. She counts the animals by the road, the clouds in the sky, the stars. Sometimes she sees soldiers. She sleeps, dreaming that she is always on the move, although sometimes they are forced to stop and her father has to earn more money before they can continue their journey.As many thousands of people, especially children, in Mexico and Central America continue to make the arduous journey to the U.S. border in search of a better life, this is an important book that shows a young migrant's perspective.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781554987412
|
Print book
One Green Apple
By Bunting, Eve
Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesnt speak. Its hard being the new kid in school, especially when youre from another country and dont know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.. Ted Lewins gorgeous sun-drenched paintings and Eve Buntings sensitive text immediately put the reader into another childs shoes in this timely story of a young Muslim immigrant.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780618434770
|
Hardcover
The Name Jar
By Choi, Yangsook
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it - Yoon-Hey.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780440417996
|
Print book
Islandborn
By Díaz, Junot
From New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Daz comes a debut picture book about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination. Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places. So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island - she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories - joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening - Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: "Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you." Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us - to our families, to our past and to ourselves.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780735229860
|
Hardcover
Mustafa
By Gay, Marie-louise
Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon -- the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees -- they are the same, too. He encounters a "girl-with-a-cat," who says something in a language that he can't understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world. Marie-Louise Gay's remarkable ability to write and illustrate from the perspective of a young child is movingly exhibited in this gentle, thoughtful story about coming to feel at home in a new country.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781773061382
|
Hardcover
A Different Pond
By Phi, Bao
Acclaimed poet Bao Phi delivers a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son -- and between cultures, old and new. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event -- a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. The New York Times has said that Bao Phi's poetry "rhymes with the truth." Together with graphic novelist Thi Bui's striking, evocative art, Phi's expertly crafted prose reflects an immigrant family making its way in a new home while honoring its bonds to the past.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781623708030
|
Hardcover
We Came to America
By Ringgold, Faith
Acclaimed artist and Caldecott-winning picture book creator Faith Ringgold shares an inspiring look at Americas lineage in this stunning ode to our country--past, present, and future. . America is a land of diversity. Whether driven by dreams and hope, or escaping poverty or persecution, our ancestors--and the faces of America today--represent people from every reach of the globe. And each person brought with them a unique gift--of art and music; of determination and grit; of ideas and strength--that forever shaped the country we all call home. Vividly evoked in Faith Ringgolds sumptuous colors and patterns, WE CAME TO AMERICA is an ode to every American who came before us, and a tribute to the children who will carry its message into our future.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780517709474
|
Hardcover
Saffron Ice Cream
By Kheiriyeh, Rashin
Rashin is excited about her first visit to the beach in her family's new home. On the way there, she remembers what beach trips were like in Iran, the beautiful Caspian Sea, the Persian music, and most of all the saffron ice cream she shared with her best friend, Azadeh. But there are wonderful things in this new place as well -- a subway train, exciting music... and maybe even a new friend...!
Publisher: n/a
|
9781338150520
|
Hardcover
Dreamers
By Morales, Yuyi
In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams...and her stories. Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpr winner Yuyi Morales's gorgeous new picture book Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly's passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English whatsoever at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this strange new land, and learned to make their home within it.Dreamers is a celebration of what migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own gifts wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.The lyrical text is followed by a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of book that inspired her (and still do) , and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book. A parallel Spanish-language edition, Soadores, is also available.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780823440559
|
Hardcover
The quiet place
By Stewart, Sarah
A little girl moves to the United States from Mexico with her family and writes letters to her aunt in Mexico about her new life.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780374325657
|
Print book
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote
By Tonatiuh, Duncan
In this allegorical picture book, a young rabbit named Pancho eagerly awaits his papa s return. Papa Rabbit traveled north two years ago to find work in the great carrot and lettuce fields to earn money for his family. When Papa does not return, Pancho sets out to find him. He packs Papa s favorite meal mole, rice and beans, a heap of warm tortillas, and a jug of aguamiel and heads north. He meets a coyote, who offers to help Pancho in exchange for some of Papa s food. They travel together until the food is gone and the coyote decides he is still hungry . . . for Pancho Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the hardship and struggles faced by thousands of families who seek to make better lives for themselves and their children by illegally crossing the border. Praise for "Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote"STARRED REVIEWS"Tonatiuh s great strength is in the text. No word is wasted, as each emotion is clearly and poignantly expressed. The rabbits future is unknown, but their love and faith in each other sustains them through it all. Accessible for young readers, who may be drawn to it as they would a classic fable; perfect for mature readers and the classroom, where its layers of truth and meaning can be peeled back to be examined and discussed. An incandescent, humane and terribly necessary addition to the immigrant-story shelf. " "Kirkus Reviews, " starred review "In both prose and art, Tonatiuh expertly balances folkloric elements with stark, modern realities; Pancho Rabbit s trip has the feel of a classic fable or fairy tale, with the untrustworthy coyote demanding more and more of him. " "Publishers Weekly, " starred review "The book shows the fragility of making a living, the desperation that many migrants experience, and the deep family ties that bind the characters. Classrooms studying the migrant experience will find plenty to discuss here. " "School Library Journal" This will spark strong responses and needed discussion. "BOOKLIST " "Tonatiuh is so careful in weaving his allegory that his empathetic contemporary tale feels like age-old folklore, with simple but compelling text and a step-by-step escalation of the story through gripping, kid-understandable challenges. " "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books " AwardsPura Belpre Author and Illustrator Honor book 2014New York Public Library s annual Children s Books list: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013Kirkus Best Books of 2013Best Multicultural Children's Books 2013 (Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature) Notable Children's Books from ALSC 2014Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award 2014 "
Publisher: n/a
|
9781419705830
|
Book
Four Feet, Two Sandals
By Williams, Karen Lynn
When relief workers bring used clothing to a refugee camp in Pakistan, ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly - until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. As they go about their rountines - washing clothes in the river, waiting in line for water, and watching for their names to appear on the list to go to America - the girls discover the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice. This book honors the experiences of refugee children around the world, whose daily existence is marked by uncertainty and fear. Warm colors and bold brush strokes are the perfect complement to this story of courage and hope.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780802852960
|
Hardcover
All the Way to America
By Yaccarino, Dan
“This immigration story is universal.” —School Library Journal, Starred Dan Yaccarino’s great-grandfather arrived at Ellis Island with a small shovel and his parents’ good advice: “Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family.” With simple text and warm, colorful illustrations, Yaccarino recounts how the little shovel was passed down through four generations of this Italian-American family—along with the good advice. It’s a story that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents: Where did we come from? How did our family make the journey all the way to America? “A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino’s hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780375866425
|
Hardcover
Chapter Books
Home of the Brave
By Applegate, Katherine
Kek comes from Africa. In America he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. Hes never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter - cold and unkind. In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now shes missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care; an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means "family" in Keks native language. As Kek awaits word of his mothers fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country. Bestselling author Katherine Applegate presents a beautifully wrought novel about an immigrants journey from hardship to hope.Home of the Brave is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Childrens Book of the Year.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780312367657
|
Audiobook
Lucky Broken Girl
By Behar, Ruth
Suffering a severe broken leg after a car crash, Ruthie Mizrahi a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant, spends a whole year in a body cast and must learn hwo to walk again.
Grades 5+
Publisher: n/a
|
9780399546440
|
Book
It Ain't So Awful, Falafel
By Dumas, Firoozeh
While living in sourhtern California in the late 1970s, Zomorod Yousefzadeh and her family newly, arrived from Iran, face difficulties when American hostages are taken in Iran.
Grades 5+
Publisher: n/a
|
9780544612310
|
Book
Refugee
By Gratz, Alan
JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780545880831
|
Hardcover
My Family Divided
By Guerrero, Diane
Before landing a spot on the megahit Netflix show Orange is the New Black; before wow-ing audiences as Lina on Jane the Virgin; and before her incredible activism and work on immigration reform, Diane Guerrero was a young girl living in Boston. One day, while Guerrero was at school, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken from their home, detained, and deported. Guerrero's life, which had been full of the support of a loving family, was turned upside down.Reflective of the experiences of millions of undocumented immigrant families in the United States, Guerrero's story is at once heartbreaking and hopeful.
Publisher: n/a
|
9781250134868
|
Hardcover
Amina's Voice
By Khan, Hena
Amina, a Pakistani-American girl starting Middle School, worries about losing her best friend and singing in public, but when a tragedy strikes the Milwaukee Muslim communiity she comes to appreciate her many talents and gifts.
Grades 5+
Publisher: n/a
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9781481492065
|
Book
A Story Like the Wind
By Lewis, Gill
A masterful story about the power of hope Rami is in a small dinghy filled with strangers, all of them refugees seeking a safe harbor. But with no motor, no oars, and a rising tide, their situation looks bleak. So Rami pulls out the only thing he brought with him - a violin - and begins to tell his fellow refugees a story through his music. And his story, about an indomitable white stallion and its struggle for freedom, gives them all the strength to remember the past and hope for the future.A Story Like the Wind is a beautifully illustrated fable that shows how music and stories can bring people together. Readers of all ages will be entranced by this sweeping story that feels both new and timeless.
Publisher: n/a
|
9780802855145
|
Hardcover
A Long Walk to Water
By Park, Linda Sue
A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours' walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya's in an astonishing and moving way.Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 11/15/2010Pages: 128Reading Level: Age 10 and Up
Publisher: n/a
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9780547251271
|
Hardcover
Front Desk
By Yang, Kelly
Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?
Picture Books
Two White Rabbits
By Buitrago, Jairo
In this moving and timely story, a young child describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north toward the U.S. border.They travel mostly on the roof of a train known as The Beast, but the little girl doesn't know where they are going. She counts the animals by the road, the clouds in the sky, the stars. Sometimes she sees soldiers. She sleeps, dreaming that she is always on the move, although sometimes they are forced to stop and her father has to earn more money before they can continue their journey.As many thousands of people, especially children, in Mexico and Central America continue to make the arduous journey to the U.S. border in search of a better life, this is an important book that shows a young migrant's perspective.
One Green Apple
By Bunting, Eve
Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesnt speak. Its hard being the new kid in school, especially when youre from another country and dont know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs.. Ted Lewins gorgeous sun-drenched paintings and Eve Buntings sensitive text immediately put the reader into another childs shoes in this timely story of a young Muslim immigrant.
The Name Jar
By Choi, Yangsook
The new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it - Yoon-Hey.
Islandborn
By Díaz, Junot
From New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Daz comes a debut picture book about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination. Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places. So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island - she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories - joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening - Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: "Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you." Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us - to our families, to our past and to ourselves.
Mustafa
By Gay, Marie-louise
Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon -- the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees -- they are the same, too. He encounters a "girl-with-a-cat," who says something in a language that he can't understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world. Marie-Louise Gay's remarkable ability to write and illustrate from the perspective of a young child is movingly exhibited in this gentle, thoughtful story about coming to feel at home in a new country.
A Different Pond
By Phi, Bao
Acclaimed poet Bao Phi delivers a powerful, honest glimpse into a relationship between father and son -- and between cultures, old and new. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event -- a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. The New York Times has said that Bao Phi's poetry "rhymes with the truth." Together with graphic novelist Thi Bui's striking, evocative art, Phi's expertly crafted prose reflects an immigrant family making its way in a new home while honoring its bonds to the past.
We Came to America
By Ringgold, Faith
Acclaimed artist and Caldecott-winning picture book creator Faith Ringgold shares an inspiring look at Americas lineage in this stunning ode to our country--past, present, and future. . America is a land of diversity. Whether driven by dreams and hope, or escaping poverty or persecution, our ancestors--and the faces of America today--represent people from every reach of the globe. And each person brought with them a unique gift--of art and music; of determination and grit; of ideas and strength--that forever shaped the country we all call home. Vividly evoked in Faith Ringgolds sumptuous colors and patterns, WE CAME TO AMERICA is an ode to every American who came before us, and a tribute to the children who will carry its message into our future.
Saffron Ice Cream
By Kheiriyeh, Rashin
Rashin is excited about her first visit to the beach in her family's new home. On the way there, she remembers what beach trips were like in Iran, the beautiful Caspian Sea, the Persian music, and most of all the saffron ice cream she shared with her best friend, Azadeh. But there are wonderful things in this new place as well -- a subway train, exciting music... and maybe even a new friend...!
Dreamers
By Morales, Yuyi
In 1994, Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.She brought her strength, her work, her passion, her hopes and dreams...and her stories. Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpr winner Yuyi Morales's gorgeous new picture book Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly's passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English whatsoever at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this strange new land, and learned to make their home within it.Dreamers is a celebration of what migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own gifts wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.The lyrical text is followed by a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of book that inspired her (and still do) , and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book. A parallel Spanish-language edition, Soadores, is also available.
The quiet place
By Stewart, Sarah
A little girl moves to the United States from Mexico with her family and writes letters to her aunt in Mexico about her new life.
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote
By Tonatiuh, Duncan
In this allegorical picture book, a young rabbit named Pancho eagerly awaits his papa s return. Papa Rabbit traveled north two years ago to find work in the great carrot and lettuce fields to earn money for his family. When Papa does not return, Pancho sets out to find him. He packs Papa s favorite meal mole, rice and beans, a heap of warm tortillas, and a jug of aguamiel and heads north. He meets a coyote, who offers to help Pancho in exchange for some of Papa s food. They travel together until the food is gone and the coyote decides he is still hungry . . . for Pancho Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the hardship and struggles faced by thousands of families who seek to make better lives for themselves and their children by illegally crossing the border. Praise for "Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote"STARRED REVIEWS"Tonatiuh s great strength is in the text. No word is wasted, as each emotion is clearly and poignantly expressed. The rabbits future is unknown, but their love and faith in each other sustains them through it all. Accessible for young readers, who may be drawn to it as they would a classic fable; perfect for mature readers and the classroom, where its layers of truth and meaning can be peeled back to be examined and discussed. An incandescent, humane and terribly necessary addition to the immigrant-story shelf. " "Kirkus Reviews, " starred review "In both prose and art, Tonatiuh expertly balances folkloric elements with stark, modern realities; Pancho Rabbit s trip has the feel of a classic fable or fairy tale, with the untrustworthy coyote demanding more and more of him. " "Publishers Weekly, " starred review "The book shows the fragility of making a living, the desperation that many migrants experience, and the deep family ties that bind the characters. Classrooms studying the migrant experience will find plenty to discuss here. " "School Library Journal" This will spark strong responses and needed discussion. "BOOKLIST " "Tonatiuh is so careful in weaving his allegory that his empathetic contemporary tale feels like age-old folklore, with simple but compelling text and a step-by-step escalation of the story through gripping, kid-understandable challenges. " "The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books " AwardsPura Belpre Author and Illustrator Honor book 2014New York Public Library s annual Children s Books list: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2013Kirkus Best Books of 2013Best Multicultural Children's Books 2013 (Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature) Notable Children's Books from ALSC 2014Notable Books for a Global Society Book Award 2014 "
Four Feet, Two Sandals
By Williams, Karen Lynn
When relief workers bring used clothing to a refugee camp in Pakistan, ten-year-old Lina is thrilled when she finds a sandal that fits her foot perfectly - until she sees that another girl has the matching shoe. But soon Lina and Feroza meet and decide that it is better to share the sandals than for each to wear only one. As they go about their rountines - washing clothes in the river, waiting in line for water, and watching for their names to appear on the list to go to America - the girls discover the true meaning of friendship and sacrifice. This book honors the experiences of refugee children around the world, whose daily existence is marked by uncertainty and fear. Warm colors and bold brush strokes are the perfect complement to this story of courage and hope.
All the Way to America
By Yaccarino, Dan
“This immigration story is universal.” —School Library Journal, Starred Dan Yaccarino’s great-grandfather arrived at Ellis Island with a small shovel and his parents’ good advice: “Work hard, but remember to enjoy life, and never forget your family.” With simple text and warm, colorful illustrations, Yaccarino recounts how the little shovel was passed down through four generations of this Italian-American family—along with the good advice. It’s a story that will have kids asking their parents and grandparents: Where did we come from? How did our family make the journey all the way to America? “A shovel is just a shovel, but in Dan Yaccarino’s hands it becomes a way to dig deep into the past and honor all those who helped make us who we are.
Home of the Brave
By Applegate, Katherine
Kek comes from Africa. In America he sees snow for the first time, and feels its sting. Hes never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter - cold and unkind. In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now shes missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care; an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means "family" in Keks native language. As Kek awaits word of his mothers fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country. Bestselling author Katherine Applegate presents a beautifully wrought novel about an immigrants journey from hardship to hope.Home of the Brave is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Childrens Book of the Year.
Lucky Broken Girl
By Behar, Ruth
Suffering a severe broken leg after a car crash, Ruthie Mizrahi a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant, spends a whole year in a body cast and must learn hwo to walk again. Grades 5+
It Ain't So Awful, Falafel
By Dumas, Firoozeh
While living in sourhtern California in the late 1970s, Zomorod Yousefzadeh and her family newly, arrived from Iran, face difficulties when American hostages are taken in Iran. Grades 5+
Refugee
By Gratz, Alan
JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .All three kids go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. All will face unimaginable dangers -- from drownings to bombings to betrayals. But there is always the hope of tomorrow. And although Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud are separated by continents and decades, shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.This action-packed novel tackles topics both timely and timeless: courage, survival, and the quest for home.
My Family Divided
By Guerrero, Diane
Before landing a spot on the megahit Netflix show Orange is the New Black; before wow-ing audiences as Lina on Jane the Virgin; and before her incredible activism and work on immigration reform, Diane Guerrero was a young girl living in Boston. One day, while Guerrero was at school, her undocumented immigrant parents were taken from their home, detained, and deported. Guerrero's life, which had been full of the support of a loving family, was turned upside down.Reflective of the experiences of millions of undocumented immigrant families in the United States, Guerrero's story is at once heartbreaking and hopeful.
Amina's Voice
By Khan, Hena
Amina, a Pakistani-American girl starting Middle School, worries about losing her best friend and singing in public, but when a tragedy strikes the Milwaukee Muslim communiity she comes to appreciate her many talents and gifts. Grades 5+
A Story Like the Wind
By Lewis, Gill
A masterful story about the power of hope Rami is in a small dinghy filled with strangers, all of them refugees seeking a safe harbor. But with no motor, no oars, and a rising tide, their situation looks bleak. So Rami pulls out the only thing he brought with him - a violin - and begins to tell his fellow refugees a story through his music. And his story, about an indomitable white stallion and its struggle for freedom, gives them all the strength to remember the past and hope for the future. A Story Like the Wind is a beautifully illustrated fable that shows how music and stories can bring people together. Readers of all ages will be entranced by this sweeping story that feels both new and timeless.
A Long Walk to Water
By Park, Linda Sue
A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours' walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya's in an astonishing and moving way.Book Details:Format: HardcoverPublication Date: 11/15/2010Pages: 128Reading Level: Age 10 and Up
Front Desk
By Yang, Kelly
Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?