Difficult Topics for Kids: Incarceration and Deportation

Sometimes we have to learn about difficult things like losing family members to incarceration and deportation. This list of books can help us start the conversation.

Updated October 28, 2025
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Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
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My brother is away
Greenwood, Sara
Paper Book
In this moving picture book, a young girl reflects on the emotions and challenges of growing up with a brother who is incarcerated. This touching story is filled with vivid illustrations and is based on the author's childhood experiences. An NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor Book .<...
Milo imagines the world
de la Pen?a, Matt
Paper Book
The team behind the Newbery Medal winner and Caldecott Honor book Last Stop on Market Street and the award-winning New York Times bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes once again delivers a poignant and timely picture book that's sure to become an instant classic.
Visiting day
Woodson, Jacqueline.
Paper Book
In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day--the one day a month they get to visit the girl's father in prison. "Only on visiting day is there chicken frying in the kitchen at 6 a.m, and Grandma...

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