Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth illustrated by Nicolo Carozzi

Opening sentence: "You might have come from a highland home, where clouds dance with snowy peaks, and shed tears as you hugged your grandmother, gathering her warmth in your fists."

This is the child with the red scarf on the book cover. 

We follow three difference families - from Tibet, Syria and Ukraine - as they pack their bags and leave behind all that they have known in search of safety and a place to call home. 

"Maybe you left your beloved city with sparkling, domed-roof churches. And when you grabbed your doll and fled, it was to the loud BOOMs of war, and a flock of pigeons taking flight."

The three children don't immediately reach their new home. The arrive hungry, exhausted and worn-out and even though they are safe a tent in a Refugee Camp is not a home. But what of the new land? It is so hard there too. The language is strange, and the sights and sounds and smells are all so strange. And then the three kids head to their first day at a new school?

I would use the illustration on the final page of worn-out shoes as a to introduce this book to your group of library students in grades 4 to 6. I have a Pinterest collection entitled The Refugee Experience through Picture Books.

Thinking about shoes - try to find this book:

Grandma's Treasured Shoes

Here was my dilemma - in Canada we visited several fabulous book shops (there's list in this previous blog post) but I cannot carry a heavy bag so I could only buy one or two picture books and one or two novels.

I wanted to find fairly new book, perhaps by a Canadian author or illustrator, with (in the case of a picture book) fabulous illustrations and also a book that I couldn't very easily find in Australia.  My friend and I had around ten titles on our wish list but then I spied Taking Fight. It is not by a Canadian author or illustrator but it covers an important topic in a gentle and heartfelt way with especially beautiful illustrations. I didn't hesitate to buy this book.

Writing in second person, directly addressing the displaced children, Sheth compassionately acknowledges the heartbreak they’ve endured and underscores their resilience. Carozzi’s soft and detailed digitally enhanced graphite illustrations evoke the tenderness of Sheth’s text. Shifting perspectives through wide shots and close-ups reinforce an idea of shared and personal experiences. The final spread of a child swinging against a blue sky (with the help of another, as shown on the previous page) emphasizes the hope and community support that are so crucial as young refugees build new lives. Kirkus

As a story standing on its own, this is powerful and engaging, deeply moving and hopeful. As an example of universal experiences and needs, it is priceless.  Unpacking the Power of Picture Books

This book is written, as I said, in prose, but the precision of the emotion and pace makes it feel like a poem. This is the human side of the refugee experience. It aches and evokes. It's a Picture Book World

Here in Australia this book costs around AUS$45. My copy was CAN$25. Kashmira Sheth was born in India and came to the US when she was seventeen to attend Iowa State University, where she received a BS in microbiology. She is the author of several award-winning picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels.  Here are some other books by Kashmira Sheth:

You can see more art by Nicolo Carozzi here.

The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar illustrated by Yas Imamura

"When Mevan was a little girl she lived in a land where figs fell from the trees and the air smelled like honeysuckle."

Mevan lived in Kurdistan in the north of Iraq. 

"But the ruler of Iraq had always made the people in Kurdistan feel like they didn't belong. ... Then he sent soldiers to force them out of their homes."

Mevan and her family have to leave. Mevan tries to stay small and invisible. After trying to find a home in many different countries and after two years of dangerous travel the family arrive in the Netherlands. Looking out of the window Mevan sees kids and grown-up riding their bikes with big smiles. What she doesn't know is that someone has been watching her. It is Egbert, the building maintenance man. 

"He bought blankets to one family, a lamp to another, a coat to one family, a flowerpot to another."

Have you guessed his gift for Mevan? You will be in tears when you read the epilogue to this story. As an adult Mevan is able to go back to the Netherlands and through social media she finds Egbert. 

The author asks you to think - "in a world where there are many people running from war, from hunger, from hatred ... what's one kind thing I can do?"

As an adult reader, when you pick up this book, do not skip past the author's note on the first page. Kirkus say this too: An important, stirring tale—just be sure to read the backmatter.

"Millions of children all over the world are refugees like I was. As I write, there are more than 43 million children who have had to leave their homes because it isn't safe for them to stay there. ... Our family went from Kurdistan to Türkiye, Azerbaijan to Russia, the Netherlands and finally the United Kingdom. Over the course of four years we travelled by car, by boat, by foot, by ferry, by plane and by train. In Russia we were robbed by people who pretended to help us and left us stranded, we told the police but instead of helping us, they ripped up our refugee papers. Being a refugee will always be a part of who I am ...But it's also taught me about the miraculous power of kindness."  Mevan Babakar

Read more about this true story here. And the author talks to the UNHCR in the UK.

My friend alerted me to this book which she discovered because she keeps an eye on titles listed for the Read with Empathy Collection. If you work in a school or public library these lists contain a wealth of fantastic books. The other bonus is that exploring these lists you might discover publishers that produce other great books. The publisher of The Bicycle is Farshore (imprint of Harper Collins).

Welcome to Farshore! We are dedicated to our mission of making every child a proud reader, with books that will delight children of all ages – from early years to primary, secondary, and beyond. Whether they are a seasoned bookworm, reluctant reader, or somewhere in the middle, we’ve got titles that will inspire, challenge, and make them laugh out loud.

With our Australian children it would be good to pair this book with The Wobbly Bike - and then have a discussion with your older students about the different life experiences of the two children in these books - a refugee child and a child living in rural Australia. 

The Wobbly Bike

You might also have this book in your library:

I previously shared these books illustrated by Yas Imamura who lives in the US.

Love in the Library

Do Something for Someone else

This is a book you really should add to your library collection. 

The Sunbird by Sara Haddad illustrated by Baraa Awoor

Begin with this text quote:

"Before they left, Nabila went to the olive grove one last time. She wandered among the trees that were never just trees. They fed her, sheltered her, kept her company. She loved to climb them so much that, in the warmer months, Nabila spent more time above the ground than on it. She even had a job to climb to the very top of the olive trees and pick the best olives, the sweetest fruit. The people in the village called her the sunbird."

Now you also need to know that the Palestine sunbird is the national bird of Palestine. It is a symbol of  beauty, resilience and freedom. These THREE words are very important.

Now go back to the quote - Who is Nabila? Why are they leaving? Where does she live? Are her family with her? Where will she go? Are there no olive trees in the new place? Will she be safe? Will she be happy?

How would you feel if all you had of your home was the front door key? 

 I just had to show you a Palestine Sunbird and how spectacular they look

This book is told in three parts - we begin in Australia in October 2025. People are gathering for a protest march just as they have every week for the last two years. Then the time shifts back to December 1947 as Nabila recounts the story of her childhood and her Nakba story. In the final chapter the focus switches back to that first day in 2025 where Nabila is sharing her story with her new young friend Zane. I was so moved when Nabila, now aged in her 80s, gives Zane that small stone she picked up near her home on that terrible day when the bombs began to fall.

1947 "As she squatted to pick up a stone to throw into the water, she heard it and felt it and saw it all at once, the first of the bombs."

2025 "This stone is for you. Take care of it. Every day, hold it between your fingers, raise it to your nose, close your eyes and breathe in deep. If you clear your mind and concentrate hard, you will smell the autumn rains."

From the cover and title you might think this is a simple book for a young reader but reading this book you will discover it is so much more. This is one of those important books that I would love to put into the hands of readers aged 10+ as a way to give a small understanding of the history of Palestine as told through the eyes of a young child. Older readers will want to discover more about UN Resolution 181 and Resolution 194. Huge thanks to UQP for my advance reader copy of The Sunbird. I especially appreciated the Author's Notes and glossary. This book will be released on 3rd February 2025. Gleebooks Kids will hold a launch event on 7th February.

The Sunbird (my copy) is an adaption of an adult novel which was published in 2024. The adult version is 128 pages so it is a slim novel - the young reader version has 73 pages. Hopefully this book will be shared with lots of readers but I also hope it 'lands' in the right section of a bookstore - with the middle grade novels and not shelved with very junior beginning chapter books. Booksellers need to read this book both because it is important and then because they can then match it with the 'right' reader. Similarly if you are in a school library make sure you read this book - it is fabulous and most certainly deserves your attention. There is something truly powerful about reading a book set during a terrible world event which is told through the eyes of a child. 

Adapted for young readers from her critically acclaimed adult novel, Sara Haddad's middle-grade story about a child's experience of the Nakba is a lyrical ode to sovereignty, freedom and homecoming.⁠ How could a new country be put inside a country that was already there? Where would the new country go? Where did it come from? What would happen to the people who were already there?⁠ It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?⁠ Embellished with beautiful line illustrations by renowned Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor, 'The Sunbird' is the poignant story of a little girl who just wants to go home.⁠ Instagram

Publisher blurb: It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?

Here is the original adult edition:

The adult book The Sunbird was originally self-published and then 'discovered' by UQP

Read more here and here is a review and there are more details here too.

The Sunbird discusses themes of migration, post-colonial dispossession 

and displacement, truth-telling, protest, community, identity, belonging and culture.

I had not heard of the Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor. I really like the cover of The Sunbird but I do hope this book, as I have said, reaches older readers even though the cover gives the impression of a book for a younger audience and the publisher suggests 8+. I think this book will better suit readers aged 10+. The small black and white drawings scattered throughout the book are also perfect.

You can read an extract from The Sunbird (young readers edition) here

Baraa Awoor is a self-taught, award-winning illustrator from Gaza, Palestine, currently based in Cairo and holding a UAE Golden Residency. With a background in education and years of artistic practice, she brings stories to life through acrylics, oil pastels, colored pencils, and mixed media and collage. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with recognition at prestigious events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Sharjah Reading Festival, and exhibitions in Geneva. Baraa has led international workshops on illustrating children’s books in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, sharing her creative process with young artists. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish, and English. Mama's Scent is her first book to be published in the United States. Simon and Schuster

Companion books:

Oranges in no Man's Land

The Kites are Flying

The Key from Spain

I plan to look for these books - two picture books and one YA novel which link with The Sunbird.

These Olive Trees Kirkus Review; Homeland Kirkus Review

Where the Streets had a name Kirkus Review

Stars of the Night by Caren Stelson illustrated by Selina Alko

Save one life, save the world

This book begins in Czechoslovakia 1938. The children are enjoying life in their city of Prague - skating and drinking hot cocoa with whipped cream. 

"All through the year, we played with our friends, went to school with them, laughed and told our secrets to them. We were Jewish. They were often not. It didn't matter to us."

But in November of 1938 life changed. In Germany dreadful things were happening to Jewish citizens and so many refugees arrived in Prague. The children in Prague, kids who had lived there their whole lives were subjected to name calling and bullying. The parents had to make the heart wrenching decision to send their children away to England. 

"There will be times when you'll feel lonely and homesick. Let the stars of the night and the sun of the day be the messenger of our thoughts and love."

These children were rescued by Nicholas Winton. He saved 669 children but he never talked about this until decades after the war his wife found a suitcase filled with documents about these children. In 1988 Nicholas Winton was invited to appear on a television show. If you watch this you will see all adults in the audience - these are the children he saved. 

Stars of the Night has extensive back notes, a timeline, source list, bibliography, author and illustrator notes and a list of books for further reading.

Walker Books blurb: The incredible true story of the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II.

"When we were seven or eight or nine or ten, our home was the old city of Prague."

So begins this powerful story of the children who were rescued from Czechoslovakia on the eve of World War II as Hitler's campaign of hatred toward Jews and political dissidents took hold. Told from the collective perspective of the children, the narrative starts in 1938 and follows them as they journey to foster families in England for the duration of the war, return to Prague afterward in an unsuccessful search for their parents, and eventually connect with Nicholas Winton, a British former stockbroker who was instrumental in bringing them to safety.

A not-to-be-missed, inspirational book about courage, heart, and the necessity of caring for others. Kirkus Star review

This searing account is all the more heart-rending because it is collectively narrated by the young people saved by Winton, delivered in the innocent, matter-of-fact voice of a child. Kirkus Star review

A necessary and inspirational book about a little-known light amid a dark period of history, this book should find a home in all libraries. School Library Journal

For younger readers ... I hope they realize, besides their parents, there are good people in the world who, even as strangers, will take care of children as if they were their own — particularly under difficult circumstances. There are people in the world like Nicholas Winton who see the necessity to act to help children, even in the face of danger. The Dalai Lama said of Nicholas Winton, “We must carry [Nicholas Winton’s] spirit from generation to generation … Then humanity’s future will be brighter.” Bookology Magazine

Here are some very detailed teachers notes with excellent background reading ideas. 

This video will give you a look at the illustrations in this book. 

Awards for Stars of the Night:

• ALA Notable Children’s Book
• Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year, Outstanding Merit
• ILA Honor Award for Social Justice
• National Jewish Book Award Finalist
• New York Public Library Best Books for Kids
• Notable Books for a Global Society List Selection
• Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
• School Library Journal Best Book
• Texas Bluebonnet Master list

Photo of Nicholas Winton who died in 2015

Kindertransport Memorial at Liverpool Street Station, London

Here is a fascinating interview of the author and illustrator with Roger Sutton at The Horn Book. And another with The Lerner Blog. And on the author webpage. 

Check out my two previous books which explore the topic of the Kindertransport:

Saving Hanno

Anna at war

Companion book:

Listen to a four minute podcast about this book

Read this detailed blog post from Reading Opens Doors

And just today I picked up this book - the cover looked interesting then I read the blurb - and saw the word Kindertransport. 

Kirkus review

Escape from Aleppo by NH Senzai

Nadia is living through the Arab Spring. She has memories of happier times - shopping, visits to hair salons, new clothes and her large extended family enjoying everyday life. Then the civil war begins. Nadia herself is hit with shrapnel and her family decide to flee but Nadia is left behind. She knows where her father and mother are heading. It is not a great distance in normal circumstances but now there is danger everywhere and Nadia must travel on foot through the dangerous city. She meets a mysterious stranger - Ammo Mazen. He has a cart and a donkey and a puzzling network of connections all over Aleppo. Should Nadia trust this man? Why is he offering to help her? Two other young boys join their tiny group. Nadia now needs to protect them too. But time is running out. Will her family still be waiting at the border? 

I have listed Escape from Aleppo as a Young Adult title. I would recommend it (highly) for readers aged 12+. 

Here are a couple of text quotes from this first person narrative which takes place over just five days:

"A surge of relief flooded through Nadia as she eyed the old man. She knew better than to assume he was no threat, but at least he didn't look like a soldier or a cold-blooded assassin."

"They emerged onto one of the main arteries that ran through the bazaar, lit by skylights embedded in the vaulted ceiling, revealing the extent of the destruction. Nothing much of the souq's rich glory remained, except for hints of the past, strewn on the floor: turquoise shards of pottery, a muddied rug, and torn wisps of bright silk."

Through Nadia’s conversations with other characters and through extensive exposition, readers learn about the impressively vast and complex history of Aleppo and of Syria. The Arab Spring is also treated in detail. Nadia’s flashbacks give insight to life under dictatorship and the drastic changes introduced by war. Kirkus

Escape from Aleppo is a must-read middle grade novel for understanding the evolution of the current political environment in the troubled country of Syria. Ms Yingling

Here is an interview with the author. And here are some teaching ideas and link from the School Library Journal. 

In 2013 I talked about a previous book by NH Senzai - Shooting Kabul. I loved Shooting Kabul - such a haunting story - which is why I ordered Escape from Aleppo.

In some high school English classes students are encouraged to read widely on a topic.  Escape from Aleppo should be included with these other wonderful books about the war in Syria:

No Ballet shoes in Syria

Fox girl and the White Gazelle

A House without Walls

I would also pair this book with Orange's in No Man's Land which has a similar harrowing journey across a war zone and through dangerous check points. 

Oranges in No Man's Land

Let me whisper you my story by Moya Simons

"I must be quiet. I could hear the thud of boots, Nazi boots, and voices laughing. Why did they laugh? I heard a soldier say 'There's one person missing from this list, a child called Rachel Schwarz. She wasn't with her parents. Her father said she'd gone to visit a friend down the road. Not likely. Search under the beds.'... Someone came into the kitchen. The cupboard door opened with a creak. ... The solider looking sideways at me, stared. 

(Then) suddenly the young man ... walked away. He had left me there."

Publisher blurb: Rachel is German, Jewish and lives in Leipzig just before the outbreak of WWII, with her doctor father, mother and older sister Annie. Life is comfortable, revolving around Sabbath meals shared with uncles, aunts and cousins. When the Nazis arrive, the family is 'relocated' elsewhere in the city, and then taken away to a labour camp. Rachel's father saves her by making her hide in a kitchen cupboard, forbidding her to speak. The damage is done. Rachel remains mute - for years - as a result. Rachel is discovered by a neighbour, Gertrude, who conceals her in her own home until Rachel is taken into care by the Red Cross and sent to an orphanage in England. But where are Rachel's family?

Let me Whisper you my story is a powerful novel written with a gripping immediacy as Rachel navigates the frightening times of World War II witnessing the power of Hitler.  Rachel has no voice that others can hear but we can hear her.  This book was published in 2010 and it is Australian but somehow I missed it. I am amazed to discover it is still in print. You might also find a copy in a school library. I do keep an eye out for books about World War II especially books which offer different perspectives. 

You can read a chapter sample from this book here. 

The publisher list this book for ages 9-13 but I would suggest a older reader aged 10+. Let me Whisper you my Story is the perfect next read for students in Year 6 or junior high school who have read any of the book series by Morris Gleitzman which begins with Once, or they have read or are curious about books like The Story of Anne Frank or perhaps they have read Hitlers Daughter by Jackie French or better yet, if they have read and enjoyed any of these:

 

Girl 38 Finding a Friend

Beyond Belief

Anna at War

We are Wolves

When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit

Vinnie's War

Saving Hanno: The story of a refugee dog by Miriam Halahmy illustrated by Karin Littlewood

Rudi is nine years old. He is living in Frankfurt. The year is 1938. Hitler is on the rise and daily life is changing for Rudi and his Jewish family. Things are becoming very dangerous. His parents make the heartbreaking decision to send Rudi and his sister Lotte on the Kindertransport to England. 

Rudi has no English. Rudi has witnessed terrible violence. And now Rudi is told he cannot take his best friend Hando to England. 

"He's my little dachshund, and he's the best dog in the whole wide world. I've had him since he was a puppy. He's two years and one month old now. He goes everywhere with me ... Hanno's coat is very smooth and a sort of chocolate brown. His ears feel like the velvet on Mutti's best dress. His legs are quite short, but he can walk and run long distances."

Luckily there is a solution. Someone offers to take the little dog to England. It will be a while until the friends are reunited because Hanno will need to stay in quarantine but eventually Rudi will have his special friend by his side. Rudi is sent to live with a very kind older couple. His sister is not so lucky. She is forced to work as a servant but this will only be for a short time Lotte has plans to leave as soon as she turns seventeen but the war intervenes and as this story ends Lotte and Rudi are evacuated again so they can be safe away from the bombs that are about to drop on London.

Publisher blurb: Nine-year-old Rudi and his beloved dog Hanno escape from Nazi Germany, but Rudi soon learns he’ll have to protect Hanno from an entirely new threat in this thrilling reimagining of a little known World War II event. What if you had to leave your dog behind when you fled? Nine-year-old Rudi has a chance to leave the dangers of Nazi Germany on a Kindertransport to England. However, he cannot bring Hanno, his wonderful dachshund. Luckily, his family finds a way to smuggle Hanno to London. But with England on the brink of war, Hanno is still not safe. As a German invasion of England becomes imminent, many British people decide their pets will suffer as well as drain limited resources, and thousands of pets are euthanized. To save Hanno, Rudi joins a group of scrappy London children who hide their pets away in a vacant lot. Just as London’s children are about to be evacuated to the countryside, the group finds a wealthy animal lover willing to care for the menagerie on her country estate. This fast-paced and accessible novel is full of courage and excitement.

Chil­dren who are bond­ed to their pets, as well as oth­er sym­pa­thet­ic ani­mal lovers, will appre­ci­ate Rudi’s love of Han­no and the efforts he makes to save him, and will under­stand that war is a painful and com­pli­cat­ed time. Jewish Book Council

Rudi’s direct, child-centred narrative voice compellingly portrays the feelings of a child refugee facing the loss of everything familiar. It has a modern resonance for the plight of child refugees all over the world. Books for Keeps

Here is a video with the author Miriam Halahmy where she talks about her book. Here are some teachers notes to use with this  book.

Companion reads:

Anna at war

What about me?

The little Riders

Vinnie's War

Honey Cake