A disjointed ramble but this time with some books at least…
Hello.
If you read my last blog you’ll know I’m struggling at the moment to do these. My brain is struggling to write as it feels like it shouldn’t do such a normal thing I think, when things are not normal.
I follow Sho Shibuya on Instagram. Initially he began painting daily images of sunrises over the front page of the New York Times newspaper to contrast “the anxiety of the news with the serenity of the sky” during lockdown. However this has evolved, and while he continues to paint over the front covers daily - they are no longer serene. Instead they visually depict a news story that day. Reveal his feelings. His reactions. Three days ago he posted this. And I can’t get it out of my head. To drop these leaflets, ordering those on the ground to evacuate, while knowing there is nowhere to evacuate to is just another layer of cruelty, of evilness, in this genocide. The visual and the horror have not left my thoughts.
Then the news of Charlie Kirk. Sometimes this strange thing happens to me when I read/hear certain news stories. I have this image of a future history textbook, asking questions like Describe the events that led to the outbreak of Civil War in 2025. Maybe that’s a way to distance myself from the news. To distance myself from a reality that is becoming increasingly difficult to cope with. I’m never sure if this history book I see is surrounded by any positive future place or not. I was shocked the next day to hear how many of my students were oh so very knowledgeable about Charlie Kirk. Some of them would struggle to name our First Minister or the Prime Minister but they knew who Charlie Kirk was. The media I consume as an elderly millennial and the media teens consume are at such odds. I had no idea the reach he had on this side of the Atlantic. I was born in the USA, my dad was from Chicago, I lived there till I was 5. I love that city. I have close family still living there. And I weep because I don’t want to return to this city I love right now. I don’t want to take my kids to this city I love right now. Or when? My Dad, growing up in the south side of Chicago before moving out to the leafy suburbs would be turning in his grave. I hear from my family, they tell me the human stories of Trump’s “clean up”. His declaration that Chicago would find out why he had rebranded the Pentagon to the Department of War. What is this world?
To top off this week, areas near me seem to have all of a sudden become very patriotic! I feel full of rage as well as sadness that far right racists are trying to claim this flag as theirs. To represent an anti immigration rhetoric. To represent a fearful, angry, isolated nation that doesn’t welcome anyone that has been “othered” or blamed for our society’s ills by a group of wealthy, narcissistic, not-going-to-be-impacted-by-any-of-the-fire-they’re-igniting-believe-me individuals. Don’t they know our flag represents a football team we continue to love and support like masochists with short term memory problems? (I make light at times of emotional overwhelm!) Thankfully Refuweegee is there to give me a wee dose of hope.
“Refuweegee is a community-led charity that gives people a way to welcome and embrace those newest to arrive. We strive to ensure that people who have been forced to flee their homes arrive in Scotland to a warm welcome and some of the things that will help them to feel more at home here”
If you are able please visit their site and donate money or your time or share their posts or follow their page. They do amazing work.
So to finish this fairly disjointed ramble of my current headspace here’s a wee list of books that seem pertinent for today. All up on our site. Read and learn with your children. It’s somehow become almost a radical act of defiance!!
We Are Not Strangers by Josh Tuininga (12+)
The Home we Make by Maham Khwaja and illustrated by Daby Zainab Faidhi (6+)
This is Not a Small Voice: Poems by Black Poets selected by Traci N Todd and illustrated by Jade Orlando (7+)
We Are Palestinian: A Celebration of Culture and Tradition by Reem Kassis & illustrated by Noha Eilouti (7+)
Illegal by Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano (9+)
The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick, Mevan Babakar and illustrated by Yas Imamura (5+)
We Are Here by Kate Rafiq (6+)
This is the story of a young boy and his mother, as they make a long and difficult journey over land and sea in search of safety. As they travel in a boat, the little boy reflects back over their journey, which his mother has tried to make into an adventure. Will they make it to safety and will anyone help them?
Full colour illustrations accompany meaningful prose poetry text in this call to empathy and humanity in these increasingly hostile times.
10% of the profits will be donated to Refugee Rescue.
The true story of how a simple act of kindness changed a young refugee’s life – from award-winning author Patricia McCormick with Mevan Babakar. For generations, Mevan and her family lived in their beloved Kurdistan. But when they are forced to flee by the Iraqi government, Mevan must leave everything behind.
Her family travels from country to country in search of safety; and with each stop, Mevan feels more and more alone. Until … a stranger’s gift changes everything. Based on Mevan Babakar’s own childhood, this is a moving reminder of how powerful just one act of kindness can be.
This is a powerful and timely story about one boy's epic journey across Africa to Europe, a graphic novel for all children with glorious colour artwork throughout. From Eoin Colfer, previously Irish Children's Laureate, and the team behind his bestselling Artemis Fowl graphic novels. Ebo: alone.
His sister left months ago. Now his brother has disappeared too, and Ebo knows it can only be to make the hazardous journey to Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea.
But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his sister.
Recommended age 9+
A stunning children's book celebrating everything Palestinian! From culture and food, to music and literature, We Are Palestinian is a celebration of Palestinian heritage. Brought to life by award-winning writer Reem Kassis, every spread is filled with wonderful anecdotes, fascinating facts, memorable quotes and beautiful illustrations by Noha Eilouti, an emerging Palestinian-Canadian illustrator. Discover ALL about the history of iconic Palestinian symbols like tatreez embroidery, or the inspiration behind Mahmoud Darwish's poetry.
As you turn every page, you'll find yourself lost in the world of Dabke (the folk dance of Palestine) and amazed by its famous old cities, you'll try traditional food like knafeh, explore the different religions, and find out much more. Each spread of We Are Palestinian is accessible, richly inspiring and visually stunning. Young readers are going to love discovering more about Palestine.
This is the perfect book for parents and caregivers wishing to explore new worlds of culture and custom with children!
Key Themes: Refugee; Belonging;
One day someone asks me, Where is home? And I don't know what to say. Is home here or there? Told from the perspective of a young refugee girl, debut children's book author and New Voices winner Maham Khwaja tells the story of a family forced to flee their home due to violence. Emotive illustrations by Daby Zainab Faidhi balance the family's love for one another and hope for the future with the harrowing journey to escape on foot, travel by boat, and then finally resettle in a safe place. Through it all, the young girl tries to hold on to all the pieces of her life before and find a way to rebuild a sense of home.
Inspired by a true story, this graphic novel follows a Jewish immigrant’s efforts to help his Japanese neighbors while they're incarcerated during World War II. Winner, Best in Young Adult Non-Fictionfrom the Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards“A powerful book about advocating for friends and neighbors during times of great division.” —Kazu Kibuishi, #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of the Amulet series An evocative and beautiful graphic novel revealing the truth of one man’s extraordinary efforts, We Are Not Strangers converges two perspectives into a single portrait of a community’s struggle with race, responsibility, and what it truly means to be an American. Marco Calvo always knew his grandfather, affectionately called Papoo, was a good man.
After all, he was named for him. A first-generation Jewish immigrant, Papoo was hardworking, smart, and caring. When Papoo peacefully passes away, Marco expects the funeral to be simple.
But he' caught off guard by something unusual. Among his close family and friends are mourners he doesn’t recognize—Japanese American families—and no one is quite sure who they are or why they are at the service. How did these strangers know his grandfather so well? Set in the multicultural Central District of Seattle during World War II and inspired by author Josh Tuininga’s family experiences, We Are Not Strangers explores a unique situation of Japanese and Jewish Americans living side by side in a country at war.
Following Papoo’s perspective, we learn of his life as a Sephardic Jewish immigrant and his friendship with Sam Akiyama, a Japanese man whose life is upended by Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of nearly all Japanese Americans and residents of Japanese ancestry. Determined to keep Sam’s business afloat while he and his family are unjustly imprisoned, he and Papoo create a plan that will change the Akiyama’s lives forever. "At its core, a relatable tale of friendship, shared experiences of discrimination, and the power of individuals to make a difference." — The BeatIntroduction by award-winning author Ken Mochizuki Afterword by Devin Naar, author of Jewish Salonica