Books About Immigration and Refugees

It’s Christmastime in California, but Marta and Juan cannot visit their grandmother because she lives on the other side of the fence that separates San Diego from Mexico. They have created wonderful gifts for Abuela. Marta knit a scarf (with Mama’s help) and Juan drew a picture of Las Posadas on cardboard. But when they get to the fence there are too many people before them in the line and the fence doesn’t have spaces big enough to slide the gifts through. The children are sad (so is Abuela) but then – a wonderful idea – the cardboard with the picture can be a kite! And the extra yarn from the scarf can be the string to fly the kite!! And the scarf can be the kite’s tail. A joyful story about a painful separation, creative children, and a loving family.

Charlie and Carlito are cousins and pen pals. Charlie lives in a city in the U.S. Carlito lives in a small town in Mexico. They write to each other about what they like to play and eat and what their daily lives are like. Two boys: so much the same – so much different.

An exquisite book about a father and son fishing early, early, in the morning so there will be fish for dinner that night. It is also a story of an immigrant family, both parents working long hours, older siblings caring for the younger boy. And it is a story of a child feeling strong and capable and deeply loved. A loving Vietnamese family, a gentle caring boy, a working class family holding each other with care. This is a book that should become a classic.

Written in Spanish and English: Jose’s Mama has been taken away to Tijuana because she does not have papers to stay in the United States. Jose misses her every day, but today, Papa is taking him across the border to see her. Their visit means so much! They work together in the garden at the Centro Madre Assunta, and then all the children who are waiting there plant seeds in tin cans with hopes they can give them to their mothers when they are reunited. A beautifully told story that recognizes the pain of separation and celebrates the hope of reunion.

An extremely touching book. It sensitively portrays the sacrifices Mexican immigrants have made by moving to America for their children to have a better life. Well done themes of parental love, long car trips, the sadness of leaving one’s home country, sibling relationships, and a child’s growing understanding of the complexities of life. Although they came to the United States for better opportunities for their children, for the loving Mama and Papa in the story Mexico is still their home. A treasure!

A Lebanese American family sends messages by email, fax, phone, and letter – telling some very good news.  Relatives from Lebanon are coming to visit! Wonderful photographs! Designed as an K – 1 easy reader – this book also works with three and four year olds.

It’s the Hindu holiday of Diwali, the festival of lights. Gita’s family is new to the United States and it doesn’t seem like Diwali to Gita. With stormy weather outside and the power going out at home, there won’t be any of the fireworks she’d told her friends about. Still, Gita lights the diyas (oil lamps) for the festival and goes outside to meet her friend, where she sees the glow of the candles on the grounds and trees outside – and then welcomes her friend into her new home.

Kunkush is a beloved cat. When his family must flee the war in Iraq, the mother and her four children do everything they can to keep Kunkush with them. They carry him over mountains, through forests, and across the sea – but when they arrive at the refugee camp in Greece, Kunkush is left behind. Volunteers rescue him and – amazingly – reunite him with his family. A beautiful, true story about refugees that doesn’t sweet talk the danger or losses but focuses on determination, love, and strangers helping because it’s the right thing to do.

It’s Carnival time – and Malaika’s mother, working in faraway Canada to support her mother and daughter, hasn’t sent money to Malaika and Grandmother for a dance costume. It takes imagination and hard work – and help from the community – but Malaika is determined to be dressed as a beautiful peacock when she dances in Carnivale.

Every day, Cecile watches the sea from her Caribbean island, watching and waiting for her mother to return from the United States where she has gone to earn money for the family. A gentle, touching story in which the mother is the immigrant and the child stays home.

A sari isn’t a costume – it’s Grandmother’s clothing. Two young sisters raised in America learn about the beauty and art of wearing a traditional sari from their wise and loving Indian grandmother.

Grannie Vero is from Trinidad. Granny Rose is from England. They are very different – but Alvira loves them both. How can she help them like each other???

Farah is a Muslim girl attending her first day of school in the United States. She goes with her classmates on a field trip to pick apples, not understanding what is expected of her or what the others are saying – and makes a wonderful discovery: Everyone laughs in the same language.

Mona lives in America and her Sitti (grandmother) lives in Palestine. Mona and her father travel to visit Sitti. where Mona spends time with her cousins and Sitti, getting a glimpse into Palestinian culture with references to the effect of on-going war. Mona’s secret is getting to brush Sitti’s hair which is usually covered with a scarf and only uncovered in private. A gentle, loving story with a final message about ending wars.

Tonio is dearly missing his dog, left behind in Mexico when his family moved to California, and is also missing having friends to play with. Near his school he meets a skinny old yellow cat with a torn ear. He brings food for the cat, who will only eat it when Tonio is gone. When Tonio stops two children from teasing the cat, a friendship begins. A very sweet story of love between a lonely boy and a streetwise cat. Various phrases in Spanish.

A gorgeous book of photos of refugees across the globe wondering where they will live, how they will get there, what will it be like? The book ends with a refugee child’s deepest question when they finally arrive, “I hope someone smiles and says ‘Welcome home’ …  I hope that someone is you.” Truly age-appropriate for 4- to 8-year-olds. The extraordinary photos tell a terrible story in a way that shows everyone’s humanity and hopefulness.

A visually exquisite and lyrical telling of a refugee family leaving behind their homeland and their elders in the dark of night, carrying what little they could take in bags on their back, and bravely, dangerously, crossing the sea in an open boat. Told in the voice of the author as a young girl – we see that the night wishes it was quieter, the path wishes it was shorter, the boat wishes  it was bigger, the sea wishes it was calmer and when the boat refugees are rescued, the child narrator’s voice says, “I wished – I wouldn’t have to wish…anymore”. Read this tender true story one-on-one with little ones, and to everyone you know.