Children's Book Suggestions | Citizenship Status

In honor of the UN's International Day of Migrants, here are a few books for young readers about the experiences of immigrants and refugees.

Updated October 19, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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What you need to be warm
Gaiman, Neil
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! During the coldest season, when the world feels scary--what do you remember about being warm? Baked potatoes. Trust. A kettle on the stove. Blankets. A smile. And, most of all, the reassurance that you...

Newbery Award-winning author Neil Gaiman posed a question on social media (What do you need to be warm?) and used answers submitted by real-life refugees to write the poem that became this book. (Picture Books Age 4-8)

Saffron ice cream
Kheiriyeh, Rashin
Paper Book
A joyous celebration of a girl's first family outing in a new country"With her colorful, exuberant folk-art illustrations and upbeat, friendly tone, Rashin makes a daunting cross-cultural leap seem as easy as a summer breeze." -- New York Times Book ReviewRashin is excited about her...

A sweet (pun absolutely intended) about a young girl's first summer beach trip in America. (Picture Book Age 3-7)

To the other side
Meza, Erika
Paper Book
Author-illustrator Erika Meza delivers a stunning and emotionally rich book from the viewpoint of those most impacted by border walls: young refugee children. This powerfully told tale highlights the spirit and strength of those embarking on a dangerous trek, and what awaits them on the other...

A beautifully illustrated tale inspired by the real-life journeys of unaccompanied child migrants from central America. (Picture Book Age 4-8)

Wishes
Van, Muon
Paper Book
An arresting, poetic journey and a moving reflection on immigration, family, and home, from an acclaimed creative team. Wishes tells the powerful, honest story about one Vietnamese family's search for a new home on the other side of the world, and the long-lasting and powerful...
A story of a Vietnamese refugee family's escape, narrated as a series of wishes as they leave their home and brave a dangerous ocean voyage in search of safety. (Picture Book Age 4-8)
Save me a seat
Weeks, Sarah
Paper Book
A new friend could be sitting right next to you.Joe and Ravi might be from very different places, but they're both stuck in the same place: SCHOOL.Joe's lived in the same town all his life, and was doing just fine until his best friends moved away and left him on his own. Ravi's family just...

Two authors from different cultures explore friendship and belonging in this story about two boys who become friends after one immigrates to the US from India. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Front desk
Yang, Kelly
Paper Book
Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewWinner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their...

Another series based on the author's childhood experiences as an immigrant starring a Chinese girl whose parents take over the management of a hotel in 1990s LA. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Lost & found : based on a true story
Yu, Mei (Graphic novelist)
Paper Book
"This bright and bubbly early reader graphic novel, based on debut creator Yu's own immigration story, validates the sometimes overwhelming nature of learning an unfamiliar language as a child in a new country." --Publishers Weekly   Being the new kid in...

A graphic novel memoir for elementary age readers that explores one girl\'s immigration experience. (Children\'s Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

Refugee
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling novel from Alan Gratz tells the timely--and timeless--story of three different kids seeking refuge. A New York Times bestseller! JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration...

Three stories of refugees from different times and places that intertwine in present-day New York City. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

World in between : based on a true refugee story
Trebinc?evic?, Kenan
Paper Book
Co-written by a New York Times best-selling author, this moving story of a Muslim boy's exile from war-torn Bosnia to the United States offers a riveting refugee saga.​ Kenan loves drawing and playing soccer with his friends. He wants to be a famous athlete...
It's rare in the US to find children's books featuring Balkan characters. This novel, co-written by a child survivor of the Bosnian genocide, offers a window into a turbulent time. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)
Other words for home
Warga, Jasmine
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book! A gorgeously written, hopeful middle grade novel in verse about a young girl who must leave Syria to move to the United States, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Aisha Saeed. Jude never thought she'd be...

An award-winning novel in verse about a tween girl who immigrates to Ohio after war breaks out in her native Syria. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The new girl
Calin, Cassandra
Paper Book
Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change. Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family,...
A graphic novel exploring a middle schooler\'s experience moving from Romania to America, perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)
When stars are scattered
Jamieson, Victoria
Paper Book
A National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl. Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab,...

The Newbery Honor-winning comic artist Victoria Jamieson illustrates the moving story of two brothers in an African refugee camp. (Children's Graphic Novels Grades 3-5)

What is a refugee?
Gravel, Elise
Paper Book
An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they...

A colorful, straightforward guide to explaining this difficult topic to young children. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

The waiting place : when home is lost and a new one not yet found
Nayeri, Dina
Paper Book
An unflinching look at ten young lives suspended outside of time--and bravely proceeding anyway--inside the Katsikas refugee camp in Greece. Every war, famine, and flood spits out survivors. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cites an...

An award-winning nonfiction book for elementary school readers featuring photos and interviews with children in a Greek refugee camp. (Children's Nonfiction Ages 8-12)

Stepping stones : a refugee family's journey
Ruurs, Margriet
Paper Book
Rama and her family, are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home With only what they can carry on their backs, Rama and her mother, father, grandfather and brother, Sami, set out to walk to freedom in Europe. This...

A narrative story that recounts an all-too-common refugee experience, illustrated with stone collages. (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)


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