The Moon of Kyiv by Gianni Rodari & Beatrice Alemagna
Picture Book – Walker Books
Originally written over 70 years ago, The Moon of Kyiv is a powerful poem about connections. No matter who we are or where we are in the world, we are all under the same moon. This can be a comforting thought when we’re far away from loved ones. It reminds us of how small we are and how much we all have in common.
With the outbreak of war in Ukraine and thousands of people forced to leave their homes in search of safety, this same poem has become a unifying bond. Beatrice Alemagna’s beautiful illustrations bring the words to life in a way that will capture young readers’ attention and help them to really understand the poem.
100% of the net profit of sales of this book will be donated to Save The Children fund for children impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Waiting Place by Dina Nayeri & Anna Bosch Miralpeix
Non-fiction – Candlewick Press (Walker Books)
Full of large, colourful photographs of real children in a real refugee camp in Greece, The Waiting Place is an incredibly honest portrayal of the lives of Iranian and Afghan children whose lives have been paused. They are waiting – waiting for papers, waiting for a new country, waiting for a new life to begin. Each family has its own story. They have already been through so much and have many struggles yet to come.
The children are bright and hopeful. They want to be friends, to play, to go to school. They want to learn and discover new things. They don’t want to be penned in. This optimistic spirit radiates from the pages. They are determined to have a future.
The Waiting Place – the camp – takes on a personality of its own. It stirs up trouble, causes anxiety and wants to break their spirit. It is stripping them of what is most precious – their childhood.
The Waiting Place is a call to everyone to protect these children and their families. It encourages us to question our own lives and how we react to the refugee crisis our world is facing. This will be an incredibly powerful book to share in the classroom. Young readers will get to know the children featured in the photos and realise they are real people, just like them.
Wishes by Muon Thi Van & Victo Ngai
Picture Book – Scholastic
Wishes is an absolutely captivating picture book that explores the realities of being forced to search for a new home on the other side of the world. For young children, home is everything and having to say good-bye is heart-breaking, especially when they don’t understand the answer to that all important question – why?
The simplicity of the child’s perspective is real and heart-felt. The emotions, pain, confusion and tired little legs are clearly communicated through the child’s face at each stage of the journey. There is so much change for someone so small – just a little glimpse of what refugees might experience.
The empathy building of this powerful book will speak to readers of all ages. From tiny children who see the reality in the characters’ faces to older children who are beginning to understand the truth of the circumstances to adults who understand the full implications of what is happening to the family. There is so much scope for discussion and opportunity to understand someone else’s point of view.
The end of the story provides a challenge for readers – a challenge to create a global community where no one has to wish for a safer, kinder, fairer and more beautiful world.
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Middle Grade Graphic Novel – Faber Children’s
When I first read this book, I hadn’t had a lot of experience of graphic novels and really wanted to broaden my reading experiences. I was blown away by how clearly and boldly the message and emotion of the story was conveyed through the words and pictures. I was pulled into the story with Omar and Hassan, living every hope, triumph and disappointment with them.
Set in a Kenyan refugee camp, Omar and Hassan are brothers living with the hope of one day finding their mother and returning to their farm in Somalia. Many years ago, violence and fear invaded their home forcing them to flee. Now only nightmares and their new reality remain. Everyday life in the camp is revealed through the boys’ experiences and relationships with those around them. Lessons about priorities become clear as we realise that things we often take for granted are everything to the boys. Queuing for hours for water, limited education for girls, running out of food and sleeping on the ground are normal in the camp. Hope for a better future is all they have to hang on to.
Readers will come away from this book changed. They are sure to develop understanding and empathy for those who are struggling to survive in refugee camps or trying to build a new life after being lucky enough to move on. They will gain appreciation and gratitude for what they have and be challenged to think about how they can help those who go without. When Stars are Scattered is an honest and enlightening story that needs to be told. It will grow compassion in the world and encourage readers to reach out to those who have similar stories to tell.
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Scope for Imagination 