 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Refugee Boy
by Benjamin Zephaniah
(Bloomsbury)
reviewed by Catherine Randle.
Alem (not Al or Alan) is Ethiopian and Eritrean. Both countries go to war and he isn’t safe in either place. So his father leaves
fourteen-year-old Alem alone in Britain and we travel with him
through the English immigration system.
Benjamin Zephaniah cleverly uses everyday British life to show us that in
war we can’t take education, food or shelter for granted. Alem finds it hard
to make friends. At high school he meets Robert who seems English but really
is a son of an immigrant. Alem discovers so is half his class.
In this story, England seems a strange exotic place, and you learn how it
feels to be a stranger living here.
The book doesn’t preach - it takes you
with Alem who is an ordinary hero in extra ordinary
circumstances. It also shows you what teenagers can do when they’ve got a
worthwhile goal to work for.
This book is a good step up from a quick read and has a lot of
surprises to keep an impatient reader interested. It won the Carnegie
award and is a very satisfying story.
Age Range 10+
(reviewed by Catherine Randle)
Buy from Amazon
Johnnie's Blitz
by Bernard Ashley
(Barn Owl Books)
London is being pounded by bombs, but that's only one of Johnnie's problems. With his mum dead and his dad away in the army, there's no one to help him when he's wrongly accused of theft. So Johnnie's on the run from the police when he meets 3 year old Shirley - a toddler lost and alone after her home has a direct hit - and he has to make some difficult decisions. This fast moving novel keeps you turning the pages and provides a vivid picture of life during the blitz. Gritty and realistic, it doesn't pull any punches about how tough life was then.
Ages 10+
Buy from Amazon
Petar's Song
by Pratima Mitchell, illustrated by Caroline Birch
(Frances Lincoln)
Petar loved to play his violin. He played for all the village celebrations and even when he was bringing the cows back from the fields. Then war breaks out and shatters his previously happy life. While his father stays to fight, the rest of the family flee to another country. Petar takes his violin with him but, even when they reach safety, he is too sad to play. Then, when Christmas comes, a new song comes into his mind - a song of peace - and he begins to play again. This picture book will appeal to older children too.
Buy from Amazon
Remembrance
Day
by Jane Bingham and Ruth Nason
(Evans)
Starting with an explanation of what 'remembrance' means, this book goes
on to look at the First World War, Armistice Day and the significance
of poppies. It talks briefly about the Second World War and the fact that
many smaller wars (unnamed) still happen today, before looking at today's
ceremonies. However, the clear, easy to read text doesn't just provide
information. It also asks questions that encourage children to think about
the accompanying photographs and the meaning of Remembrance Day. For example,
a photo of soldiers poised for battle in the trenches is accompanied the
question "What do you think it was like for them?"
This book is a good resource for talking about Remembrance Day with a
group or class where the questions could trigger interesting discussions.
Suitable for KS1, KS2 and older children with special needs.
Buy
from Amazon
What
is Peace?
by Emma Damon
(Tango Books)
This delightful lift-the-flap book looks at peace from a child's perspective.
Each page has a large picture with a definition of peace (Peace is playing
together, for example) illustrated by children putting it into action..
Lifting the flap reveals the opposite (not spoiling the game), also illustrated.
The last double page spread has a pop-up rainbow instead of flaps and
the final page has instructions (for adults) on making an Origami peace
crane. As an extra bonus, there's a large poster at the back of the book
that can be easily detached for wall display. A good choice for stimulating
discussion with young children of about 7 and under.
Buy
from Amazon
Talk
Peace
by Sam Williams, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi
(Hodder)
This book introducing the vital notion of peace to very young children
through a poetic text and bright cheery illustrations could not be more
timely. It puts forward the idea that peace, racial harmony and understanding
should permeate every word, action, place and time. The paint and collage
illustrations captioned by the large (red) lettered text would not look
out of place on display in a primary school classroom.
A book to read, think about, talk about and read over and over starting
with children as young as three or four.
(reviewed by Jill Bennett)
Buy
from Amazon
The
Conquerors
by David McKee
The army of a large country invades smaller ones. “It’s for
their own good. So they can be like us.” is the raison d’etre
of their leader. Soon there is just one very small country left unconquered
so in marches the General with his army. The inhabitants, instead of fighting,
welcome the invaders and invite the soldiers into their homes. This fraternisation
makes the General furious and he orders fresh troops. The same thing happens
with unexpected results for the General and his big country. So, who really
are the conquerors? - certainly not the General, despite what he thinks.
McKee’s almost child-like, crayoned in illustrations tell a good
deal more. This picture book is a perfectly understated demonstration
of the power of pacifism.
(reviewed by Jill Bennett)
Buy
from Amazon
Peace
Weavers
by Julia Jarman
(Andersen Press)
Set in the run up to the invasion of Iraq, this story weaves together
the story of Hilde, the daughter of a peace-campaigning mother, and Mathilde,
a sixth-century woman who wove peace between different tribes. At the
beginning of the book, a furious Hilde is sent to live on USAF base with
her American father but, when a stolen brooch links her life with Mathilde's,
she gradually discovers that some of her preconceptions were wrong and
that peace weaving really can make a difference. A timely novel for older
readers.
Buy
from Amazon
The
Colour of Home
by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Karin Littlewood
(Frances Lincoln)
Despite the best efforts of his teacher and classmates, Hassan, recently
arrived from Somalia, finds his first day at school overwhelmingly alien.
When his teacher gives him paints and paper, Hassan makes a picture glowing
with the colours of his family home. Then the picture takes on other colours
and features – those of destruction and death.
The following day, with the help of an interpreter, Hassan uses his picture
to tell his teacher of the events leading up to his arrival in the UK,
of his sadness at the loss of his beloved cat, his uncle Ahmed, the family
home and his belongings. From then on Hassan begins to see some brightness
in his new home.
Sadly, as I know from personal experience, this story
this is an all too familiar reality for a good many children in our schools
today . Perhaps sharing this book with a class may help to bring a measure
of understanding to reader and listeners alike.
(reviewed by Jill Bennett)
Buy
from Amazon
Lines in
the Sand
New Writing on War and Peace
edited by Mary Hoffman and Rhiannon Lassiter
(Frances Lincoln)
This anthology of poetry and prose emphasises the effects on individual
people: civilian and soldier, enemy and ally. It looks at the futility
and destruction of war, the humanity of those caught up in it and the
possibilities for peace. Containing more than 150 poems, stories and pictures,
the book covers many conflicts including Iraq, both World Wars, the Falklands,
Nigeria, Kosovo, the Spanish Civil War, Croatia and Cyprus.
This thought provoking collection is worthy of a place on any bookshelf.
All the royalties and profits are going to UNICEF's emergency appeal for
the children of Iraq.
More information on this book
Buy
Lines in the Sand from Amazon
Goodnight,
Mister Tom
by Michelle Magorian
(Puffin Books)
Tom Oakley is old and lonely - a man who keeps himself to himself. But
when Britain goes to war, he is forced take in an evacuee, a pale, frightened
boy called William Beech. This gives Willie a new beginning free from
abuse and Tom a new person to love after the loss of his own wife and
child. But then Willie's mentally ill mother summons him home and Tom
must make a decision that will change both of their lives forever. This
strong story is set against the background of World War Two and shows
vividly the pain and disruption this caused to ordinary people as well
as the impact of physicial abuse on a child.
Ages 10 upwards
Buy
from Amazon
Parvana's
Journey
by Deborah Ellis
(Oxford University Press)
Inspired by the accounts of real refugees, this book provides a child's
eye view of the impact of war and the desolation it causes. When Parvana's
father dies, she is left alone in war-torn Afghanistan trying to find
her mother and sisters. As she travels, she meets up with other solitary
children - a starving, orphaned baby, a hostile boy and a girl who darts
in and out of minefields feeding on the dead animals and supplies she
finds there. Together they reach the relative safety of a refugee camp
where Parvana finally finds her mother. This book is the sequel to The
Breadwinner (see review) but it does
not matter if you have not read the previous book.
Ages 10 upwards
Buy
from Amazon
When
Hitler stole Pink Rabbit
by Judith Kerr
(Collins)
It's 1933. Nine year old Anna is happy at home in Germany, enjoying school
and playing with friends. But Anna is Jewish and her father opposes Hitler.
When he suddenly disappears, Anna and her brother, Max, have to leave
their toys behind and flee to Switzerland with their mother. Eventually
their father meets them there and they move on to France and then to England.
Vividly written and full of details children love, this book provides
an insight into the confusion and disruption experienced by refugees and
asylum seekers.
Buy
from Amazon
[ Parents Corner ] [ Choosing Children's Books ] [ Reluctant Readers ] [ Numeracy ] [ Big Books ] [ Writing for Children ] [ Author Profiles ] [ Resources ] [ About Us ] [ About Us ] [ Full Contents List ] [ Home ]
