One thing that I really love about the country that I live in is the diversity in cultures that can be found. Most of us have a heritage of immigration and the stories of how and why our ancestors came is a part of us. In addition to history and heritage, immigration is still a very important and relevant topic today. People are refugees, immigrants and migrants for many different reasons and understanding them as best as we can and hearing their stories helps us gain empathy and be more welcoming and loving. Below is a list of 20 outstanding picture books that highlight stories of immigrants, migrants and refugees. Each one is beautifully done and we love them all.
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Watercress by Andre Wang and Jason Chin- In this impactful story a young girl is embarrassed at first to be picking watercress with her family by the side of the road. Then, at home she learns its importance to her immigrant parents and her heritage and gains a whole new appreciation for something she didn’t understand before.
The Day Saida Arrived by Susana Gómez Redondo, Sonja Wimmer and Lawrence Schimel- by Susana Gómez Redondo, Sonja Wimmer and Lawrence Schimel- This book shares the story of two friends who make their friendship work despite having different backgrounds and a language barrier. They learn from each other and find their own way to communicate.
Story Boat by Kyo Maclear and Rashin Kheiriyeh- This story features a group of refugees who are leaving their home to cross the ocean with hopes for the new. It highlights the role that stories play in their journey and is beautifully done.
Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le- This book has two stories. One is of a young immigrant who is trying to adjust to her new home in America and the other is a Persian tale that she is told by her aunt that teaches how immigrants are a blessing and can be like “sugar in milk”.
Anita and the Dragons by Hannah Carmona and Anna Cunha- In this story we learn how a young girl named Anita loves her home and way of life and is nervous about boarding a plane and leaving her home for a new country. She imagines she is a princess and that the planes are dragons to help her with the transition.
The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros and Julie Morstad- This is the story of an immigrant girl and a story of heirlooms and story of legacy. It is absolutely beautiful inside and out and I am completely smitten.
Wishes by Muon Thi Van and Victo Ngai- This gorgeous book is told with few words that speak volumes about the hope that refugees and immigrants (this one features a Vietnamese family) carry when they travel to make somewhere new their home. It is stunning and impactful.
My Tree by Hope Lim and Il Sung Na- In this story a young boy who has recently moved from Korea helps make the transition to his new home by befriending a plum tree in his backyard that reminds him of home. A beautiful story of change and transition.
Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms by Robert Paul Weston and Misa Saburi- In this story a young girl’s world is turned upside down when her family moves to America away from her grandmother and then when they return to Asia to say goodbye again when her grandmother passes away. It is sweet and has strong themes of family, transition and friendship.
The Word for Friend by Aiden Cassie- In this story two new friends don’t let a language barrier come in the way of enjoying each other’s company or finding a way to communicate. I love this one for building empathy and developing new friendships as well as acceptance and inclusion.
Boundless Sky by Amanda Addison and Manuela Adreani- This one is a thought-provoking book that parallels a bird’s seasonal, nesting migration with them immigration of a refugee child. It’s deceptively simple plot is beautifully written and masterfully illustrated.
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki and Qin Leng- It is about a little girl named Hana who heard the violin for the first time when her grandfather played it for her on a visit to him in Japan. It tells of her growth mindset as she tries to learn to play it in honor of him.
Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim- Danbi is from Korea and is having a hard time making friends in her new school until they find that friendship knows no language barriers. Little Danbi is so expressive in this book and the message is so beautiful.
I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo- In this story a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan. The girl misses her Popo (grandmother) dearly, but still stays connected through their love, brief visits, and the memories they share.
Butterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies by Deborah Hopkinson and Meilo So- This beauty is a nonficiton books about how a young girl inspire change in her community as she helped create a butterfly garden for immigrating monarch butterflies. I love how through the story the young girl also realizes that she belongs as well and comes to appreciate immigration in a new way.
Me And My Fear by Francesca Sanna- This story beautiful!! It is about a young immigrant child who is faced with so many fears as she is transitioning to a whole new life and a whole new culture. Her fear is depicted as a large, white, friendly creature. However, it is keeping her back from trying new things. In the story she learns how to reduce her fears to enjoy trying new things as well as discovers that everyone else has a little bit of fear too and that she isn’t alone.
Islandborn by Junot Díaz and Leo Espinosa- It is all about a young girl who receives an assignment in class to share where she is from. She doesn’t remember anything about the island she was born on and that her family left so she turns to family and friends to learn. This journey helps her learn not only about her heritage, but a lithe bit more about the legacy she is a part of.
Her Right Foot (American History Books for Kids, American History for Kids)by Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris -This beautiful book tells the story of the Statue of liberty with a special little focus on the right foot of the statue that gives the illusion of the statue being “in motion”. It’s also a great tribute to a symbol of welcoming for any and all who wish to immigrate to America.
A Sweet Meeting on Mimouna Night by Allison Ofanansky and Rotem Teplow- This one features a Moroccan Jewish celebration that occurs at the end of passover and how a Jewish child and her family befriend a Muslim family through the celebration. In the end the Jewish child and her family move to a new country.
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim – This is a simple and lovely tribute to heritage and the fact that the places we are from are a part of us. It is sweet, sincere and fantastic.
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