By Francesca Sanna
This beautifully illustrated book is based on the stories of real people who had to leave their homes to find safety in other countries.
The story is told by a young child. Their country has been affected by war. After their father is killed, the family are frightened. They have to make a very difficult decision. The child’s mother has to take the family to live in a safer place so they pack up all their things, say goodbye to their friends and begin the long journey.
This book is useful for introducing young readers to the concept of refugees and why they have been forced to leave their homes. The author’s illustrations show the fear and danger that refugees face without showing more realistic scenes which could be too scary for little children.
Just like the migrating birds that Francesca Sanna has drawn, the family have had to leave the harsh conditions at home so that they can survive. I like the colourful illustrations of birds and animals which show the hope that the family have as they search for a safe place and a new life.
My score: 4/5
There is a really useful Amnesty International resource available for you to use when discussing this book here: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/exploring_the_journey_together.pdf
The Library Mouse Tales 