The best books for children about refugees

The Guardian

18 hours ago

Want your kids to have a better understanding of people seeking sanctuary? Ahead of Refugee Week this month the team behind A Day of Welcome, being celebrated in more than 550 schools across the UK on 13 June, have put together this reading list for children, along with the National Centre for Writing and the Unesco Cities of Literature network. These brilliant and entertaining books help to encourage conversation and understanding of refugees.
What is a Refugee? by Elsie Gravel This accessible picture book explains the term refugee and the experiences of displacement to young children.
Bobble by Helen May This fable, beautifully illustrated by Hannah Broadway, is designed to make big conversations about migration a little easier. An accessible way to connect with refugees and asylum seekers, and educate ourselves and those around us about the needs of those experiencing displacement.
Seeking Refuge series by Andy Glynne and various collaboratorsThis important series deploys the voices and words of refugee children living through different experiences of crossing borders and cultures, to offer new perspectives on the experience of displacement from a child's perspective.
A Is for Activist by Innosanto NagaraAn ABC board book to allow families to explain the importance of political engagement and activism to younger members. It shows the value of speaking out and of taking action around environmental justice, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, social issues, inequality and poverty. An indispensable guide for anyone wanting to teach their children social responsibility and good citizenship.
Counting on Community by Innosanto NagaraThis book shows the power in community organising and the value of the individual as part of a wider group or network, underlining the importance of community as a force for progressive social change.
Errol's Garden by Gillian HibbsA heartwarming tale of a community brought together by a love of gardening and plants. Errol longs for an outdoor space of his own but he realises the power of working with others and brings a diverse and inspiring community together on a shared project.
Kind by Axel SchefflerA beautiful series of illustrations by artists from across the word, including Axel Scheffler, showing how children can bring kindness into the world. Profits from book sales go to the Three Peas charity supporting displaced people.
The Moomins and the Great Flood by Tove JanssonWritten in 1945, this book first introduced readers to the Moomins and their magical world. Celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, the story still speaks to our troubled times and the experiences of displacement faced by thousands of families every year.
The Moomins Find a Home: A Pop-Up Adventure by Tove JanssonThis beautiful pop-up book helps bring the Moomins' Great Flood story together in a beautiful visual extravaganza. Imaginatively packaged and presented to celebrate 80 years since the story's first publication, this never-seen-before peek at the Moomin world is a must for aficionados and new fans alike.
People Need People by Benjamin ZephaniahThis powerful verse from one of Britain's best loved poets explores our need for connection and love in all shapes and forms. Beautifully illustrated by Nila Aye, showing people and cultures from across the globe.
Dear Street by Lindsay Zier-Vogel and Caroline Bonne-MüllerA delightful picture book which tells the story of how one person's small acts can affect a whole community. Alice is a little girl who helps her friends and neighbours to see and appreciate the wonder of the everyday.
It's Our Business to Make a Better World by Rebecca Hui and Anneli BrayThis nonfiction picture book foregrounds the voices of young people to explain the importance of activism and social responsibility – for the people and for the planet. Written with kids, for kids, it offers an inspiring guide to making a difference and taking steps toward a better world.
The Boy Who Grew a Tree by Polly Ho-YenNature-loving Timi is unsettled by the arrival of a new sibling and turns to tending a tree growing in his local library. But there is something magical about the tree and it is growing fast. Meanwhile the library is set to close. Can Timi save the library and his tree, and maybe bring his community closer together along the way?
The Power of Welcome by Ada Jusic and othersThis graphic novel features true stories of displacement from people across the world, including Ukraine, Somalia, Bosnia, Syria and Afghanistan. The accessible format offers a wide-ranging perspective on a truly global phenomenon.
You Don't Know What War Is: The diary of a young girl from Ukraine by Yeva Skalietska'Until you've been there, you don't know what war is,' declares 12-year-old Yeva Skalietska as she tells the story of her own experiences of conflict in the Ukrainian war. Set over just 12 days, this diarised tale makes compelling reading for children and adults.
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà LaiThis enticing and lyrical free-verse story follows a young girl caught up in the Vietnam war. It tells the story of leaving her father behind to travel with her mother and brothers to Alabama after the fall of Saigon and the experiences of loss, homesickness and nostalgia that characterise refugee experience.
On the Move by Michael RosenExplores migration and displacement through poems about Rosen's childhood, the Holocaust, war and global migration. The anthology combines charm and heartbreak with a powerful message: 'You can only do something now.'
Modrić (Ultimate Football Heroes series) by Matt and Tom Oldfield Real Madrid superstar Luka Modrić had to flee his home in Croatia during the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s, honing his football skills playing in carparks while living in a series of hotels in the city of Zadar. A story full of hope of a refugee who has played for some of the top clubs in the world, as well as his national team and won the Fifa award for best men's player.
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Who Are Refugees and Migrants? by Michael Rosen and Annemarie YoungWhy do refugees leave their homes to go elsewhere? What barriers might they face? This book seeks to frame the idea of the refugee historically for a young audience, making clear where the category of refugee comes from, without divesting it of its human impacts and origins. Also makes clear the distinction between refugees and migrants. Useful, informative reading for young people.
The Waiting Place by Dina NayeriThrough photographs and reflections, The Waiting Place tells the stories of 10 young refugees in Greece's Katsikas camp, capturing their resilience and dreams while urging a shift in how we understand community, home and safety.
Everyday Action, Everyday Change by Natalie and Naomi EvansThe founders of the Everyday Racism platform help young readers to understand some of the racism, sexism, homophobia and ableism they face daily and how to combat it with easy, achievable actions to influence and change minds.
101 Small Ways to Change the World by Aubre AndrusPractical, creative and fun routes to create change in your community, your family and even your friendship group. It offers simple tools to help make a difference, every day.
Front Desk series by Kelly Yang Brilliant (and, crucially, entertaining) stories for helping children understand experiences different from their own, and generating empathy for those who need to make a life in a new country. They follow Mia Tang, whose family has moved from China to California. What children perhaps may love most about the books is that Mia is such a strong character with real agency – she helps run the family hotel businesses, operating and succeeding in an adult world, innovating in her company and taking on big corporations.
The Crossing by Manjeet MannTold in verse form, intertwining the lives of two teenagers. A devastating book that doesn't shy away from the brutal experience of forced migration – but it is told through such beautiful and powerful language it's impossible to stop reading, or look away.
Wild East by Ashley Hickson-Lovence About a young writer finding their voice, it confronts the experience of being black in a predominantly white city while exploring social issues around class, race and deprivation.
The Jungle by Pooja PuriWhile its focus in on the now-defunct Jungle shanty at Calais, this story encapsulates the heady and unpredictable world of a refugee encampment, through a child's eyes. The hardships faced in the Jungle emphasise the struggles of those seeking a better life, and demonstrate that fleeing hardship is not a choice but often the last desperate option for refugees and their families.
You Think You Know Me by Ayaan MohamudHanan, a quiet Somali girl from a refugee background, stays silent to avoid conflict until a tragedy forces her to find the courage to speak out.
Persepolis by Marjane SatrapiA courageous girl grows up during the Iranian revolution whose story follows her experiences growing up in Vienna after her family is forced to leave.
Asylum Speakers collated by Jaz O'HaraAsylum Speakers is a collection of 31 migration stories from the voices behind the headlines. From Syria to Venezuela, it shares the experiences of those fleeing their homes and those helping them, transcending borders and connecting us all.
Hope Not Fear by Hassan Akkad Since seeking asylum in the UK, Akkad has used his experiences as a refugee, Covid ward cleaner and documentary film-maker to raise awareness. His advocacy bridges divides, and his story offers hope in challenging times.
Fight Back by AM DassuCan a young girl and her friends come together to fight prejudice and hatred in their community? Yes they can. The inspiring story of Aaliyah, who – alongside her friends – challenges racism, sexism and bullying and start to learn the value of friendship, honesty and courage in standing up for what you believe in.
A Day of Welcome will be marked this year on Friday 13 June. Teachers can sign up for the free resources and fully funded live events programme at Schools of Sanctuary