In the chaos of war, a family decides to leave to find a safe place to live. A voyage across the ocean is the only option and they set off, leaving everyone and everything they know behind. The ocean is unkind too, and once again they lose everything they have, but thankfully, the family is still together.

Rescue comes and a new life beckons then embraces them.

The steps of a refugee’s life are portrayed in full colour, double-page spreads with one word to explain this stage of the refugee’s journey. Chaos, Escape and Memories begin this story that takes the family through Calm, then Wild, and Threat and more.

This would be a great conversation starter for young readers to pore over the pages and understand what the family is going through at each stage of the journey. What do the faces show? What do you think might happen to the family next?

These questions invoke empathy and compassion for people who we don’t know, but are mirrored in real life every day, around the world.

Author – Robert Vescio

Illustrator – Andrea Edmonds

Picture Book

(Refugee, Flee, Escape, Terror, Fear, War, Acceptance, Empathy, Journey, Sea Journey, Ocean, Courage, New Country, New Life, Compassion, Chaos)