As part of my lesson plan research, I ran across several children’s books highlighting stories of people who are refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants. You’ll find some of them shared within my Heritage Packs, but there were additional stories that I wanted to read with my children. I especially curated this list for my oldest son who has shown a consistent interest in learning about people who are forced to build a life in a new country. Though we discussed all types of scenarios, the ones that spoke to him most involved children, and some of those introduced the topic of families being separated.

According to Amnesty International, 100 million people have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. These books about refugees and others represent true and fictional accounts of families impacted by various scenarios, and I hope that you’ll be able to use them to start important conversations within your home.

A refugee is a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there. The risks to their safety and life were so great that they felt they had no choice but to leave and seek safety outside their country because their own government cannot or will not protect them from those dangers. Refugees have a right to international protection.

Amnesty International

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using these links of books about refugees, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Though I often read picture books to my older children, these particular selections target a younger audience. My boys (six and nine years old) enjoyed these stories and responded with lots of questions and a high level of interest. The books are beautiful but also difficult, so I recommend pre-reading and using your intuition as a parent and teacher to determine when your child is ready to engage with this material.

Books about refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants

Marwan’s Journey by Patricia de Arias – In this book, a young boy relies on memories from home to help him make it through as his family flees from war.

The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman – This touching story tells of a young Somalian boy who comes to the U.S. with his family after his family is dislocated due to war. Before an interpreter helps him communicate his story to his teacher, he draws a picture that some young children may find disturbing. Be sure to pre-read.

A Different Pond by Bao Phi – A young boy’s father tells him of his life in Vietnam (before the war) as they fish together at a local pond early one morning.

Where Will I Live? by Rosemary McCarney – This simple book has few words but is full of photographs as it explores the many different places children may call home when they’re forced to leave what’s familiar.

Lost and Found Cat by Doug Kuntz – An Iraqi family loses their beloved cat in Greece when they’re forced to quickly flee their home. This true story has an amazing ending that animal lovers will especially enjoy.

Stepping Stones by Margriet Ruurs – Written in English and Arabic, this book is filled with unique artwork made of photographed stone art (pictures made by placed stones), and it tells a story of the Syrian refugee crisis.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams – This is probably my favorite book on this list. Two girls living at a refugee camp find a pair of sandals, and they decide to take turns wearing them as they wait for their names to show up on the list of people moving to the U.S.

The Journey by Francesca Sanna – The illustrations in this book are simply beautiful. The story follows a family that has to flee after the father is taken when war breaks out. It has a lyrical quality throughout and a hopeful ending.

I haven’t read the next three books yet, but a trusted friend recommended them to me so I’m including them here. I’m hoping that they’ll be part of our next library haul!

I’m looking forward to hearing about how your family engages with these stories, so please share in the comments when you can. In the meantime, you can find me on Instagram @heritagemomblog.