Refugees and Migrants

Refugees and Migrants
Series: Children in our World 
Written by Ceri Roberts
Illustrated by Hanane Kai
Published August 2017

Why we chose this book:
A book explaining who refugees and migrants are can only be helpful given today's news and events. B.E.S. Publishing provided a review copy.

Mom's Review

An ideal support for conversations about refugees and immigrants.

Refugees and Migrants covers migration from its causes to what we can do to aid refugees. The paragraphs are short and the language is age appropriate. Readers learn about life in refugee camps, about the application process for asylum, and about the integration of migrant children into new schools. The pictures are tied together in that they feature an image of the same cat on every page; he's not hidden, but T really enjoys pointing him out when we turn the page. Finding the cat became a game for him, which also served to balance the weight of a heavy topic.

The real strength of this book is how well it humanizes refugees, and the cat is actually key in this: Even though we see different people depicted throughout, the fact that they are all accompanied by the same cat helps readers imagine themselves as a companion to refugees and migrants — we're all in it together. This thin picture book of 32 pages grants us, if just for a moment, a glimpse of life for migrant and refugee children. The details in the text and especially in the illustrations help foster empathy in young readers.

The key here is age appropriateness, and Roberts and Kai hit their mark perfectly. Although the publisher recommends Refugees and Migrants for children ages 6-10, this was also appropriate to 3 and 1/2 year old T. His review below is only a part of the conversations we've had surrounding this book, and the focus of our conversations has been more about the people and their situations than the meanings of words. Older children could read it to themselves with little need for comprehension support. Perfect.

Son's Review
(Age: 3 and 1/2 years old)
While reading:
Son: Why would they enter the country by breaking rules?

Mom: They might want to get to safety immediately, but following the rules might take a lot more time. Would you rather get to safety sooner or follow the rules?

Son: Be safe sooner.

After reading:
Mom: What is something you learned about migrants and refugees?

Son: That it is very hard to do that - those things because they don't have houses and migrants and refugees are people who ask the government, can they stay?

Mom: What if you had to move to a new place and couldn't take anything?

Son: I'd pack it up so fast. Well, I would drag my suitcase or wear a backpack.
(We went back and forth on this with what-if's, and he was pretty insistent that he would somehow manage to bring at least a few things with him.)

Mom: How would you feel?

Son: I would feel safe because being in a safe home would make me feel safe...in the new place.

Mom: Do you have any questions after reading this book?

Son: I have two questions. Why do migrants have to struggle more and more? Why do refugees and migrants have to struggle more and more and more and more?
(We did discuss this further.)

Mom: Why is this book important?

Son: Because they are important people because moving is important.

Mom: Are you glad you read this book?

Son: Yeah. Because I like to learn about migrants.