What is a Refugee?
Welcome back to Bibliotherapy Thursday! This week’s pick is What is a Refugee? by Elise Gravel. This timely picture book gives kids aged 3-7 years a developmentally appropriate introduction to an important topic.
In the coming weeks and months, communities across the United States will be welcoming thousands of refugees from Afghanistan. As such, many of our children will find themselves socializing with kids who have experienced events far beyond their comprehension. This book is a great tool to help equip them with the understanding and empathy that will foster compassionate friendships. Each page of the main story has just one or two sentences and clear illustrations, and at the end, the author includes pages dedicated to quotes from real refugee kids and short bios of famous refugees.
After reading the book together, you may want to use it as a foundation for further discussion, using questions like:
How can we make a new kid at school feel welcome and included?
What are some fun games you and your new friend can play even if you don’t speak the same language?
What should we do if our new friend seems sad or homesick? What makes you feel better when you feel sad?
What should we do if we see other kids being mean to our new classmate?
You can find What is a Refugee? in print and e-book at these retailers:
Morning Light doesn’t receive compensation for sharing book recommendations, nor do we receive a commission if you choose to buy the book. We just love them and think some of our clients may find them useful!