An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live.

Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? In this relevant picture book for the youngest children, author-illustrator Elise Gravel explores what it means to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool to introduce an important and timely topic to children.
ELISE GRAVEL is an award-winning author-illustrator from Quebec. She has won a Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration in French, and is well known for her original, wacky picture books and graphic novels. After completing her studies in graphic design, Elise found herself quickly swept up into the glamorous world of illustration. Her old design habits drive her to work a little text here and there into her drawings, and she loves to handle the design of her assignments from start to finish. She is inspired by social causes and likes projects that can handle a good dose of eccentricity. View titles by Elise Gravel

Classroom Activities for What Is a Refugee?

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

  • AWARD | 2020
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies
Bold lines, saturated colors, and expressive faces serve to emphasize the human cost of displacement. Gravel's strength is her ability to humanize this topic.” —Booklist

Effective and compassionate…. With simple text and vibrant illustrations, this picture book introduces young readers to refugees as 'people, just like you and me.'” —School Library Journal

“Manages a rather titanic feat of humanizing an overwhelming humanitarian crisis for young audiences with a direct, no-frills text that avoids euphemisms but maintains accessibility. The illustrations are similarly kid appropriate.”  —Bulletin

About

An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live.

Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? In this relevant picture book for the youngest children, author-illustrator Elise Gravel explores what it means to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool to introduce an important and timely topic to children.

Author

ELISE GRAVEL is an award-winning author-illustrator from Quebec. She has won a Governor General's Award for Children's Illustration in French, and is well known for her original, wacky picture books and graphic novels. After completing her studies in graphic design, Elise found herself quickly swept up into the glamorous world of illustration. Her old design habits drive her to work a little text here and there into her drawings, and she loves to handle the design of her assignments from start to finish. She is inspired by social causes and likes projects that can handle a good dose of eccentricity. View titles by Elise Gravel

Guides

Classroom Activities for What Is a Refugee?

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Awards

  • AWARD | 2020
    NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies

Praise

Bold lines, saturated colors, and expressive faces serve to emphasize the human cost of displacement. Gravel's strength is her ability to humanize this topic.” —Booklist

Effective and compassionate…. With simple text and vibrant illustrations, this picture book introduces young readers to refugees as 'people, just like you and me.'” —School Library Journal

“Manages a rather titanic feat of humanizing an overwhelming humanitarian crisis for young audiences with a direct, no-frills text that avoids euphemisms but maintains accessibility. The illustrations are similarly kid appropriate.”  —Bulletin

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