Children's books about refugees & asylum seekers

Questions and Answers about Refugees

Katie Daynes, Ashe de Sousa, Oksana Drachkovska (illus.)

A powerful exploration of what it means to be a refugee. With simple, direct questions, thoughtful, compassionate answers and stunning illustrations by the Ukrainian artist Oksana Drachkovska, this book explores…

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The Bone Sparrow

Zana Fraillon

Subhi’s imagination is as big as the ocean and wide as the sky, but his world is much smaller: he’s spent his whole life in an immigration detention centre. The…

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When Michael Met Mina

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Michael has always believed that everything in life is black and white. But that was before he met Mina.

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Boy Overboard

Morris Gleitzman

A story of adventure, ball control and hope. Can Jamal and his family survive their incredible journey and get to Australia?

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Children in Our World: Refugees and Migrants

Ceri Roberts

A beautifully illustrated picture book that sensitively explains larger issues and crises that dominate the news in an appropriate manner for children

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The Year the Maps Changed

Danielle Binks

One extraordinary year will change them all…

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What Is A Refugee?

Elise Gravel

Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? In this simple, graphic and bold picture book for young children, author/illustrator Elise…

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Songs of a War Boy

Deng Thiak Adut,Ben Mckelvey

The true story of Deng Adut - Sudanese child soldier, refugee, man of hope

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I’m Australian Too

Mem Fox

I’m Australian! How about you?

Many people from many places have come across the seas to make Australia their home. How Australian is that? From countries near and far, many…

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The Boy At the Back of the Class

Onjali Q. Rauf

Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a…

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What You Need to Be Warm

Neil Gaiman

Sometimes it only takes a stranger in a dark place... to say we have the right to be here, to make us warm in the coldest season.

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Home and Away

John Marsden

A dramatic picture book for older readers that poses the question - what would happen if a typical Australian family found themselves refugees?

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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

Judith Kerr

This semi-autobiographical classic, written by the beloved Judith Kerr, tells the story of a Jewish family escaping Germany in the days before the Second World War.

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Aussie Stem Star: Munjed Al Muderis

Dianne Wolfer

‘Life is about making a difference,’ Munjed says. We all have a mission in life, to leave behind a legacy. His resilience, determination and view of the world as a…

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Songbird

Ingrid Laguna

A unique, tender and heart-warming novel following a young girl’s experience as an Iraqi refugee in Melbourne, her desire to belong, and the importance of friendship.

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Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey

Margriet Ruurs

In this dual-language picture book (English and Arabic), a young girl and her family are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the civil war and make their way…

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Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out

Muzoon Almellehan,Wendy Pearlman

When her family had to flee Syria, 14-year-old Muzoon was told to pack only the most essential things-and so she packed her schoolbooks.

This is the inspiring true story of…

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Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave their Homes? And Other Big Questions

Michael Rosen,Annemarie Young

A highly topical look at the current refugee crisis, encouraging readers to think for themselves about the issues involved

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Detention

Tristan Bancks

Sima and her family are pressed to the rough, cold ground among fifty others. They lie next to the tall fence designed to keep them in. The wires are cut…

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A Grain of Hope

Nicola Philp

A picture book about refugees and animals that will make you catch your breath on the last page.

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Zenobia

Morten Dürr,Lars Horneman

When the Syrian war reaches Amina’s village she’s forced to escape, and during her perilous journey she thinks of the brave warrior Zenobia to remind her to stay strong.

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Saving the Butterfly: A story about refugees

Helen Cooper

A poetic, powerful story about a little brother and a big sister finding a new home and new hope after being rescued from a boat lost in the dark sea…

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My Name is Tani

Tanitoluwa Adewumi

In My Name is Tani, we witness the crossfire between miracle and mayhem. A young boy with only a dream in his heart recounts his harrowing escape from Boko Haram’s…

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Refugee

Alan Gratz

A tour de force from the acclaimed author of Prisoner B-3087, this timely and powerful novel tells the story of three different children seeking refuge. Although they are separated by…

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Between Us

Clare Atkins

Winner of the CBCA Book of the Year Award for Older Readers 2019. Ana’s in a detention centre and Jono’s life is spiralling out of control. Can their growing romance…

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Hope in a Ballet Shoe

Michaela DePrince,Elaine DePrince

Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnesses atrocities that no child ever should. Her father is killed by rebels and her mother dies of famine. Sent to an orphanage…

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The Little Refugee

Anh Do,Suzanne Do

The Little Refugee tells of one family’s survival against the odds, and the transforming power of hope.

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The Arrival

Shaun Tan

A unique 128-page, textless graphic novel, in black, white and sepia, drawing inspiration from tales of migrants in past and recent times.

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When Stars are Scattered

Victoria Jamieson,Omar Mohamed

A heart-wrenching true story about life in a Kenyan refugee camp that will restore your faith in real-life happy endings.

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Beyond Belief

Dee White

Inspired by the true story of Muslims who saved the lives of Jewish children in the Second World War.

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The Mediterranean

Armin Greder

A lifeless body. One of many in the waters of the Mediterranean. Precarious boats navigate the waters of the sea, from south to north. And more often than not, it…

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My Two Blankets

Irena Kobald, Freya Blackwood (illus,)

A beautiful tale about friendship and culture, paired with award-winning Freya Blackwood’s stunning illustrations

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Suri’s Wall

Lucy Estela

Eva squeezed Suri’s hand. What’s there? What can you see? What can I see? Suri looked out over the wall. Oh, it’s beautiful, let me tell you all about it…

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The Journey

Francesca Sanna

With haunting echoes of current affairs this beautifully illustrated book explores the unimaginable decisions made as a family leave their home and everything they know to escape the turmoil and…

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Children's books about refugees & asylum seekers

Questions and Answers about Refugees

The Bone Sparrow

When Michael Met Mina

Boy Overboard

Children in Our World: Refugees and Migrants

The Year the Maps Changed

What Is A Refugee?

Songs of a War Boy

I’m Australian Too

The Boy At the Back of the Class

What You Need to Be Warm

Home and Away

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

Aussie Stem Star: Munjed Al Muderis

Songbird

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey

Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out

Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave their Homes? And Other Big Questions

Detention

A Grain of Hope

Zenobia

Saving the Butterfly: A story about refugees

My Name is Tani

Refugee

Between Us

Hope in a Ballet Shoe

The Little Refugee

The Arrival

When Stars are Scattered

Beyond Belief

The Mediterranean

My Two Blankets

Suri’s Wall

The Journey