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47 of the Best Immigration Books for the Classroom

47 of the Best Immigration Books for the Classroom

Discuss the complex issue of immigration with children's books. The following collection of immigration books focus on people fleeing their homes, arriving in new countries and their hopes and fears for the future.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I will get a small referral fee and you will be supporting me and my blog at no extra cost to you, so thank you! You can find more information here.

Immigration Books for Elementary Students

Settling on a way to talk to children about immigration is a decision that needs some thought. Immigration involves moving to a new country and is an emotionally, physically and mentally challenging experience.

Immigration is a difficult issue for young children to understand because of the complex factors involved. Sharing picture books builds empathy and understanding for the lives of other people. They are also great discussion starters to answer children’s questions and promote empathy and open-mindedness.

As well as this great list of immigration books you can also browse immigration teaching resources in the post 7 Useful Tips for Teaching Immigration to Elementary Students.

Immigration Books for the Classroom

These immigration books focus on people fleeing their homes, arriving in new countries and their hopes and fears. Some of the books share a more discreet message about accepting others.

Anya's Secret Society by Yevgenia Nayberg

Anya's Secret Society by Yevgenia Nayberg

In Russia, Anya hides the fact that she draws with her left hand, as right-handedness is demanded. It is only when her family emigrated to America that her creativity can be unleashed. Covers themes of identity, creativity and confidence.
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The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

This wordless picture book tells the story of an immigrant who moves with his family to a strange and bewildering city. He is helped along the way by kind and empathetic strangers.
AMAZON
Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña

Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña

Carmela finds a dandelion growing through the pavement, and her brother tells her to make a wish. She imagines all the wishes she could make to help her family. When she drops and breaks the dandelion, her brother takes an upset Carmela to a field full of dandelions.
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The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman

The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman

When Hassan and his family are forced to move to England because of war he feels lonely and out of place. He finds his new environment cold and grey compared to his colourful life in Somalia. Hassan feels more settled as he makes new friends and begins to appreciate the colours of his new home. Pomotes a sense of community, creativity and resilience.
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The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

A girl returns home to find is a bombed-out hole. Alone, she follows a stream of refugees to an immigration camp. She visits a school but is turned away because there is no chair for her. That evening she is visited by a boy who brings a chair with him - a chair to sit on and learn. Reinforces themes of courage, fears, immigration, perseverance and tolerance.
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A Different Pond by Bao Phi

A Different Pond by Bao Phi

A tender glimpse of the relationship between a father and son and two unique cultures. Based on the author’s own childhood in Minneapolis, the reader learns about the difficulties of building a new life in an unfamiliar country.
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Dreamers by Yuyi Morales Activities and Comprehension Questions

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Yuyi Morales recalls her own experiences of migrating from Mexico to America with her young son. They face many cultural challenges, including learning a new language and new customs. Her local library offers an opportunity to learn about this strange, new country and find a new career.
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The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros

The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros

On a beautiful Greek island, a little girl and her favourite dress are inseparable. After arriving in America, she is separated from the trunk carrying her favourite dress. She thought she lost the dress forever, until many years later she sees the dress hanging in a charity shop window. She buys the dress, but this time for her daughter.
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Dumpling Dreams by Carrie Clickard

Dumpling Dreams by Carrie Clickard

Read how Joyce Chen brought Chinese food to America. As a child growing up in Communist China, she became obsessed with cooking. After emigrating to the US she built a food empire through her restaurants, cookbooks, and TV show.
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Everybody's Welcome by Patricia Hegarty

Everybody's Welcome by Patricia Hegarty

A mouse wants to build a home where everyone is welcome. A community come together to help the mouse achieve his dream. Reinforces themes of relationship skills, kindness, inclusion and a sense of community.
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Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams

In a Peshawar refugee camp, Lina and Feroza find matching sandals. They share the sandals, wearing them on alternate days. Lina and her mother emigrate to America and gives her sandal to Feroza. Feroza hands it back telling Lina they will share the sandals again one day. Promotes a sense of belonging, compassion and social awareness.
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Gina From Siberia by Jane Bernstein

Gina From Siberia by Jane Bernstein

Based on a true story. A terrier called Gina was smuggled out of Siberia by her family at the end of the Cold War. They travel to the USA by bus, train, car, plane and minivan. Gina is not happy in America until she befriends Victor, a large boxer.
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Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting

Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting

During the civil war, a Bosnian family are forced to flee from their home. They left their two pet goldfish, Gleam and Glow, in the pond, in the hopes they might survive. After months living in a refugee camp, the family return home to find everything destroyed, except for the pond full of shimmering goldfish. Use to teach about war, immigration, voice, persistence, inferring, and synthesizing.
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Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say

Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say

Allen Say's grandfather journeys across the Pacific Ocean to America. He returns to Japan to marry his childhood sweetheart and takes her to America to have a family. He longs to return to Japan and once back his daughter marries and Allen Say was born. As the grandfather grows older, he reminisces about his old life in California. Highlights immigration, belonging, family and perspectives.
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Hedgehog by Ashlyn Anstee

Hedgehog by Ashlyn Anstee

Winter is on its way and animals are looking for somewhere to live, but Hedgehog is unwilling to let anyone into his hedge. He makes signs, puts locks on the door and even builds a fence. Will it be too late before he learns his lesson?
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Hedy's Journey by Michelle Bisson

Hedy's Journey: The True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaus by Michelle Bisson

In 1941, Hedy and her Jewish family no longer feel safe in Hungary. They flee to America, but circumstances mean Hedy must travel part of the dangerous journey alone. She suffers through trials and tribulations on an unpredictable journey to reunite with her family. This true story prompts discussions on World War II, the Holocaust and immigration.
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Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers

Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers

This non-fiction picture book explores the right foot of the Statue of Liberty. The authors, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris, find the purpose of her right foot pushing off the ground is to walk toward those who are emigrating to America.
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Here I Am by Patti Kim and Sonia Sánchez

Here I Am by Patti Kim

A boy moves from South Korea to New York but everything is different and confusing. He loses a Korean seed he kept to give him comfort. As he travels round the city looking for the seed he begins to interact with people from his neighbourhood, including a girl who found his seed. This wordless book reinforces themes of diversity, fears, friendship, immigration and moving.
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I'm an Immigrant Too! by Mem Fox

I'm an Immigrant Too! by Mem Fox

Mem Fox writes about how cultural diversity has enriched the countries where immigrants have made their new home.
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Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing by Nancy Churnin

Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing by Nancy Churnin

Irving Berlin escaped from Tsarist Russia and emigrated to the United States as a 5 year old. The rhythms of jazz and blue in New York inspired the creation of his first big hit, Alexander's Ragtime Band.
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Islandborn by Junot Díaz

Island Born by Junot Diaz

Lola collects memories of the Caribbean island where she was born. She finds out about music, beaches, sweet mangoes, a colourful environment and destructive forces. These tales help Lola’s feel pride in her heritage. Reinforces themes of belonging, immigration and inquiry.
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The Journey by Francesca Sanna

The Journey by Francesca Sanna

A mother makes the unimaginable decision to escape a war with her two children. They travel by car, truck, foot and boat for their gruelling journey to safety. Reinforces themes of conflict, immigration, compassion, independence and courage.
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King of the Sky by Nicola Davis

King of the Sky by Nicola Davies

A lonely, Italian boy moves to the Welsh countryside. An unexpected friendship with an old man who races pigeons helps him feel like he is no longer a stranger and that he belongs in his new home. Reinforces themes of belonging, friendship, immigration, loneliness, and patience.
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La Frontera / The Border: El Viaje Con Papá/ My Journey With Papa by Deborah Mills

La Frontera / The Border: El Viaje Con Papá/ My Journey With Papa by Deborah Mills

A young boy and his father take a dangerous journey from Mexico to Texas. They want to find a new life but need resilience and courage to cross the border safely.
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Lost and Found Cat by Doug Kuntz

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey by Doug Kuntz

An Iraqi family fleeing their home carry their cat, Kunkush, with them. On a boat to Greece, the frightened cat escapes leaving the family brokenhearted. When aid workers in Greece finds the cat, they put out a world wide appeal to find its family. This true story has a happy ending when they are all reunited.
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The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland

The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland

A girl takes a lotus seed from the Chinese Imperial garden to America. She plants the seed in the garden of her new home. Years later, she removes the seeds, handing one to each of her grandchildren, starting a new tradition. Highlights immigration, being reflective and the importance of family.
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Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour

Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour

In a refugee camp, Lubna has an unusual best friend, a pebble. The pebble listens to her stories and smiles when she is scared. Lubna's compassion leads her to give the pebble to someone in the World of Tents who needs it more.
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Mango Abuela and Me by Meg Medina

Mango Abuela and Me by Meg Medina

Mia's Abuela comes to live with her family but she is sad about leaving her sunny, colourful home. Though they speak a different language they learn to communicate and develop a touching relationship.
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Mango Moon by Diane de Anda

Mango Moon by Diane de Anda

A daughter recalls what it is like when her father is deported. The family has to move home and she feels an emptiness without her father, but she learns that her love for him is everlasting.
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Marianthe's Story: Painted Words by Aliki

Marianthe's Story: Painted Words by Aliki

Marianthe doesn't understand any English after moving from Greece to America. As she struggles to communicate with her peers, her teacher suggests she paints her ideas. Reinforce themes of immigration, storytelling, visualising, relationship skills and self-awareness.
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Marwan's Journey by Patricia de Arias

Marwan's Journey by Patricia de Arias

Hundreds and thousands travel to a new place, one they don't know. We follow a young boy, Marwan, fleeing war for safety. He uses all his courage to move forward to safety while longing for his home.
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Migrant by Maxine Trottier

Migrant by Maxine Trottier

Anna, a Mennonite, travels from Mexico to Canada for seasonal work harvesting fruit and vegetables. Anna uses similes to describe her life, comparing herself to migratory birds and busy bees working in the fields. Anna longs to be like a tree with permanent roots.
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Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay

Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay

Mustafa struggles to fit into his new home in a new country. Looking for things that are the same, like the moon, gives him comfort. When a girl with a cat, who speaks a language he doesn't understand, becomes a friend he starts to feel more at home.
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My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo

My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo

Sami, a Syrian boy, follows his family out of the city to escape the bombs. In a refugee camp, he draws the pigeons he left behind in the devastated city. Sami starts the healing process when a canary, a dove, and a rose finch settled onto his outstretched arms.
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My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner

My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner

A boy travels with his mother to somewhere safe to live. They can only pack what they can carry. The book asks “What would you take? Reinforces themes of immigration, resilience and a sense of community.
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My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits

My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvits

Yoon tries to settle into her new home in America after leaving South Korea. Her name means ‘Shining wisdom’ and she loves the way it looks written in Korean. She doesn’t like how it looks when written in English. She wonders if she should change her name to help her fit in.
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My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald

Cartwheel’s new home is an immigration camp where she struggles to settle. With the help of a new friend she makes a smooth transition and is no longer lonely. Reinforces themes of acceptance, belonging, friendship and immigration.
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My Wounded Island by Jacques Goldstyn

My Wounded Island by Jacques Pasquet

An Iñupiat community are forced to leave their home near the Arctic Circle because of the effects of climate change. They must decide whether to hold on to their old traditions or accept a more modern way of life.
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The Name Jar Activities and Comprehension Questions

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

When Unhei moves from Korea to America her classmates can’t pronounce her name. She wants to choose a new name that is easier to pronounce but decides she likes her name just the way it is. Reinforces themes of acceptance, identity, integrity, open-minded, principled and tolerance.
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Pea Pod Lullaby by Glenda Millard

Pea Pod Lullaby by Glenda Millard

Fleeing from danger, a mother, her children and a dog escape on a boat. They are joined by a polar bear floating on an iceberg. With courage they travel into the unknown with the hope of finding a new home.
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Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung

A biography of the Disney animator, Tyrus Wong, who emigrated from China to America. He took every opportunity to create art in his new country, eventually making the iconic backgrounds of the Disney classic, Bambi.
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The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart

The Quiet Place by Sarah Stewart

After moving to America, Isabel describes her new life in letters to her aunt. She writes about her new school, seeing snow for the first time and her difficulties learning English. She describe her “quiet place’, a space that comforts her as she gradually adjusts to her new life. A book to discuss adaptability, a sense of belonging, perspectives and wellbeing.
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The Silence Seeker by Ben Morley

The Silence Seeker by Ben Morley

Joe's mum tells him the new neighbours are asylum seekers, but he mishears this as 'silence seekers'. In an act of kindness, Joe helps his new neighbour find a quiet place to be and a new bonds grows despite the language barrier. Reinforces themes of immigration, thoughtfulness, social awareness and persistence.
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Suri’s Wall by Lucy Estela

Suri’s Wall by Lucy Estela

Read about the impact of war and the separation of families. This story is very relevant today, but also reflect on the effects of past conflicts. Reinforces themes of immigration, loneliness and conflicts.
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Teacup by Rebecca Young

Teacup by Rebecca Young

A boy has to leave his home and takes with him a teacup full of earth from his home. Some days his journey is peaceful and other days are stormy. When he finds land another traveller, carrying a seed, makes him feel complete.
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Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora

Tomás, the son of migrant workers, grows up listening to his grandfather's stories. His grandfather advises him to visit the library where he discovers a whole new world. Tomás' special bond with his grandfather and the librarian motives him to advance his own education.
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Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez

When someone asks a girl where she’s from she doesn’t have a simple answer. Her Abuelo gives her an answer, but not one she expects. Promotes acceptance, identity and a sense of belonging.
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What Next?

The immigration books above are just a small selection of books now available on the subject of migration. If you have parents who are unsure how to talk about immigration with their child, you can of course share this page and the wonderful list of immigration books.

This TIME article also goes into a lot of detail about how to talk to children about immigration. It could be a useful resource to give to parents if they are not sure how to approach the topic with their child. In the article, journalist Carey Wallace talks to Professor William Perez for tips on starting a conversation with children on this complex issue.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I will get a small referral fee and you will be supporting me and my blog at no extra cost to you, so thank you! You can find more information here.

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