According to the United Nations, “[e]very minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror” and among these people are refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced person, stateless persons, and returnees (https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day). On Saturday, June 20, 2020 we are celebrating them by highlighting children’s books for World Refugee Day. As we keep pushing for more inclusivity and equality, reading books focusing on characters with different backgrounds and experiences can truly broaden a child’s knowledge and awareness of what is going on in the world. With these books, there are difficult topics that some readers may not fathom and/or understand. Thus, it is important for adults to guide younger readers’ questions with honesty and transparency. I hope these books make find a place in your bookshelves for generations to enjoy.

-Miss Cristina

The Journey by Francesca Sanna
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3016408

From Far Away by Robert Munsch and Saoussan Askar
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3084092

I’m New Here by Anne Sibley O’Brien
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3250677
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3090830 (streaming video)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3088254 (DVD)

Marwan’s Journey by Patricia de Arias
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3143460

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2443086

Oskar and the Eight Blessings by Richard and Tanya Simon
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2939862

My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2941112

Lubna and Pebble by Wendy Meddour
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3188208

Far From Home: A Story of Loss, Refuge, and Hope by Sarah Parker Rubio
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3254761

Teacup by Rebecca Young
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3016351

Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3154415

Two White Rabbits by Jairo Buitrago
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2936541

Vanishing Colors by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3205882

Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2285023
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3276965
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3285375 (eBook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3285459 (downloadable audiobook)

Seeking Refuge: A Graphic Novel by Irene N. Watts
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3065242

The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3013633
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3063295 (eBook)

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3247978

Escape From Aleppo by N.H. Senzai
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3113292
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3112303 (eBook)

A Long Walk to Water: A Novel by Linda Sue Park
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2598862
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2680263 (eBook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2857714 (downloadable audiobook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3010980 (self-playing audiobook)

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3241149
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3241529 (eBook)

How I Became A Ghost: A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story by Tim Tingle
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2795868

Other Words For Home by Jasmine Warga
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3202413
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3230894 (eBook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3230905 (downloadable audiobook)

Stolen Girl: A Novel by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3194040
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3202867 (eBook)

Serafina’s Promise: A Novel in Verse by Ann E. Burg
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2782153

Refugee by Alan Gratz
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3067874
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3095802 (eBook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3090150 (downloadable audiobook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3253319 (self-playing audiobook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3097142 (book-on-CD)

Escape From Syria by Samya Kullab
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3115871

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2619358
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3224151 (large print)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3286848 (eBook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2961084 (downloadable audiobook)
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2698807 (book-on-CD)

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2859351
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2983122 (downloadable audiobook)
Escaping the Nazis on the Kindertransport by Emma Carlson Berne
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3029913

Who Are Refugees? by Joyce Jeffries
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3198311

Kunkush: The True Story of a Refugee Cat by Marne Ventura
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3098455

What is a Refugee? by Elise Gravel
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3238230

Rachel’s Story: A Real-Life Account of Her Journey from Eurasia by Andy Glynne
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3083060

Ali’s Story: A Real-Life Account of His Journey from Afghanistan by Andy Glynne
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3193502

First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3157124

Refugees by Harriet Brundle and Blaine Wiseman
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3198338

Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdale
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3066608

Rebekkah’s Journey: A WWII Refugee Story by Ann Burg
https://encore.bham.lib.al.us/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2384093