Mina and the Whole Wide World by Sherryl Clark illustrated by Briony Stewart

I have to be kind

to someone else

a stranger

who's taking my room

Mina has been looking forward to moving into a room of her own and at last the day has come but mum and dad need her to be brave and generous and patient. 

Azzami and his mum

are refugees,

they've just moved to 

a new house but now his mum

is very sick in hospital

and Azzami needs

people to care for him

This may be the first time Mina has really heard or thought about the plight of refugees. Mina loves her new globe of the world and when the teacher shows the class the location of Afghanistan she begins to understand this young, very frighten boy, has travelled far and his silence and confusion need her kindness and understanding. Mina is young and her initial reactions to Azzami are immature and selfish but when she sees his life story, depicted in graphic form through his art, she finds a way to reach out to him and more importantly a way to show her whole class what Azzami has experienced. In turn this helps Azzami, we hope, as he makes his first tiny steps towards his new life here in Australia. 

The power of this book comes from the way Sherryl Clark gives Mina such an authentic and honest voice. Here are a set of very detailed and worthwhile teachers notes from UQP - I wonder why the author of the notes has not shared his or her name?

After you read Mina and the Whole Wide World please try to find a copy of The Colour of Home. It is the perfect book to explore themes of displacement, war, and the way art can help to tell a story - even a sad and distressing story. I also have a Pinterest of other picture books about the refugee experience. 

I read one reviewer who said this is a book for a "first time chapter book reader".  I disagree. This is a fairly simple book to read on one level, assisted by the verse novel format, but this book has quite deep emotional themes. I would recommend this book readers aged 8+. 

Mina and the Whole Wide World is a story with hefty overtones yet is told with a gentle poetic hand that allows space for readers to stop, reflect and imagine. .... A gem of a novel encompassing friendship, inter-racial harmony and compassion. Dim's Write Stuff

The use of verse and format of the text allows readers to digest the words, visualise what is happening, imagine and make connections. This endearing verse novel will tug at your heart and no doubt encourage conversations about attitude towards refugees in Australia. Reading Opens Doors

Read an interview with Sherryl where she talks about writing this book - in Finland!

Here are some companion reads which are also verse novels for younger readers.

Little Dog Lost

Little Cat's Luck

Applesauce Weather

Where I live

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie

The Little Wave

Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus

Pearl verses the World