What Is a Refugee?

The opening spread of this explanatory resource for younger readers shows a crowd of people with varying skin tones and hair colors--refugees, the image implies, don't all look one way. "A refugee is a person, just like you and me," Gravel (The Worst Book Ever) writes. Simple, cartoon-style line drawings give the pages an easy, informal feel. Gravel lists reasons refugees may have had to leave their countries ("because they were in danger," "because powerful people didn't like what they thought") and outlines the process by which they find new homes ("refugees had to find another country to live in, and that's not easy"). She avoids scary images while making the gravity of circumstances clear: on one spread, a graphic-style explosion on the left drives away an adult and three children who look anxious but not distraught. The distinction between "refugees" and the "you and me" of Gravel's address seems to assume that the text's readers have no refugees among them, a potential obstacle to wider readership. An engaging spread at the book's conclusion, titled "Refugee Kids Speak," offers short quotes and drawings of interviewed refugee kids; another shares short biographies of famous refugees. Ages 3-7. Agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--Beginning with age-appropriate descriptions of the reasons refugees must leave home, including war and persecution, this narrative explores the difficulties of leaving loved ones and finding a new home. The book shows that being a refugee involves hardship and sometimes rejection from other countries or waiting in camps before hopefully finding a new life in a safe place. Digitally rendered illustrations depict refugees of various ages, races, and physical characteristics. The situations they face are shown in representative ways: neither the text nor illustrations identify any specific refugee groups or resettling countries. The end matter features quotes from modern-day refugee children and short biographies of famous refugees. Gravel introduces a globally important concept in a comprehensible way for young readers. A minor weakness is that many of the scenarios are presented in a past-tense narrative which can render the text a bit distant. The refugee experience would be more powerfully voiced in the present tense. Still, this book is an effective and compassionate introduction to this topic. VERDICT With simple text and vibrant illustrations, this picture book introduces young readers to refugees as "people, just like you and me." An excellent purchase for all libraries serving young children.--Kelly Jahng, South Park Elementary School, IL