Very recent events in Ukraine have prompted me to cover this topic, although it is an important one in any case. Of course, it is a difficult issue and many of the books below pull no punches in term of political reality or emotional trauma. They need careful handling and open discussion from teachers fully attuned to the potential sensitivities of children in their class. Nevertheless, understanding and compassion for refugees is vital to our world and these books will help considerably. I would not wish children to leave primary school without experiencing one or more of the brave and responsible children’s novels on this subject. Here is just a sample for starters.
Leaf by Sandra Dieckmann provides young children with a fairly ‘safe’ way into discussion of this issue with a beaitifully illustrated story, not about humans, but animals. Bear arrives in a new environment where others initially fear and avoid it, but later come to understand its feelings better.
Smriti Prasadam-Halls’ Rain Before Rainbows is not specifically about refugees, but there could be no more hopeful book about moving from a dark place to a brighter future. It is important to be positive with young children, and this book is as supportive as it gets. Feelings are brought to glowing life in illustrations by the wonderful David Lichfield.
The New Girl by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Cathy Fisher, is superficially about a new arrival at a particular school, but the way the author demonstrates the response to someone new and different is very special. Its message, beautifully conveyed in both words and pictures, is universal.
Coming to England by Floella Benjamin (illustrated Diane Ewen) and Windrush Child by poet, John Agard (illustrated Sophie Bass) each in very different ways make this important aspect of our recent history accessible to young children. I would read them both, in this order, as I think they complement each other. The more straightforward recount of the first book will help children appreciate the deceptive simplicity of John Agard’s beautiful, lyrical language.
Year Three / Year Four
Picture books:
Picture books can be a valuable way of introducing difficult topics in KS2. Despite their short text and integral illustrations, many contain complex ideas and express emotions tellingly. These outstanding examples should provoke much thought and discussion.
Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush by Patrice Lawrence (illustrated Camilla Sucre) is an inspirational tale of the Windrush experience endearingly retold in the context of an inter- generational story. A significant move on from the two versions above, it contextualises these events as an important element of black British heritage as well as part of the history of us all.
Nicola Davies’ The Day War Came (illustrated Rebecca Cobb) is a very strongly emotive poem, protesting inhospitable treatment of refugees. Again, much more than ‘just’ a picture book, it aroused supportive, viral social media responses a few years back (the ‘empty chair’ protest), and is still a must-read today.
Teacup by Rebecca Young and Matt Ottley is, in contrast, a far more lyrical, almost poetic response to the situation of a child refugee. It is nonetheless very poignant and thought-provoking, but ultimately hopeful and reassuring.
Stretch Level Fiction:
The Abominables is the last novel from cherished children’s author Eva Ibbotson and was published posthumously. It is a charming, often funny tale of an endearing family of Yeti forced to leave their Himalayan home and travel to seek a new one. It provides an easy, entertaining route into some of the issues faced by refugees, but nevertheless will stimulate thought and discussion. It could well act as a prelude to some of the more harrowing books below, if you are looking for a gentler introduction.
I almost didn’t include Onjali Q. Raúf’s The Boy at the Back of the Class, not because it isn’t a good book (it is an exceptionally good one) but simply because it is already so popular that it doesn’t really need my recommendation. However I know of no book for children that deals with refugees in this county anywhere near as successfully as this one. It combines honesty with accessibility and just has to be here.
(Note: Either or both of these titles would also work well as an engaging way into this topic for older classes.)
Year Five / Year Six
Stretch Level Fiction:
Two highly engaging, but also very demanding books are beyond what many children could read independently, but are outstanding for reading aloud, if accompanied by sensitive discussion:
Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird is wonderfully written and gives a devastating, fictional (but realistic) account of a young boy caught up in war-torn Syria and displaced as a consequence.
Another fictionalised story based on real lives and events, Alan Gratz’ Refugee recounts the nightmare journeys of children from three different conflicts/persecutions, 1930s Germany, 1994 Cuba and 2015 Syria. In consequence, it draws out close parallels and makes it troublingly clear that some things in our world sadly do not change.
The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo, about a young girl who finds herself in England as an illegal immigrant, is as hard-hitting (and as relevant) as they come. But it is such an important and compassionate read for older Juniors who can take it, with sensitive teacher support.
(Note: Boy 87 by Ele Fountain or Boy, Everywhere by A.M.Dassu, both also truly excellent books, would be equally strong, and equally demanding, alternatives. But I have chosen the two above as possibly less well known or used.)
Non-fiction:
A Place For Me: Stories About the Windrush Generation is a very interesting collection of material, attractively presented. Not for reading aloud cover-to-cover, this one, but some of the personal recounts of those involved could well make valuable short reads and help engender awareness and empathy for this significant event in our history.
Much the same applies to Who are Refugees and Migrants? Etc. by Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young, However this excellent book covers a far wider range of times, peoples and circumstance. Many of the personal reminiscences provide an outstanding complement to fictional accounts. They will help to tie the whole topic into the deeply concerning reality that it has been - and still is
Extra:
Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin is a graphic novel and so not suitable for reading aloud. However, it is an outstanding example of the genre and a major contribution to this topic, so would make an excellent follow-on for independent reading. Graphic novels can be too readily dismissed by some teachers. They often offer a rich reading experience and can provide a very valuable element of reading for pleasure for some children.
