All Are Welcome
Illustrations and simple, rhyming text introduce a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared.
Here to Help: Books about Immigrant and Refugee Experiences
By sharing stories together and having conversations about the books you read, you can help young children understand the world around them. Seeing diverse experiences represented in books helps children to explore their own identities and develop empathy for others.
These books for young children explore a variety of immigrant and refugee experiences from around the world. If you’re looking for books on this topic for older children, check out this Staff Pick for more suggestions.
Not every book is available at all locations, but any title can be requested. The children’s librarian at your neighborhood library is also here to help, with suggestions for additional titles on topics of interest–or feel free to suggest some titles to us. New books are always being added to the collection. You can find more Here to Help booklists on different topics by clicking here.
Areli Is a Dreamer
Areli Morales tells her own powerful and vibrant immigration story of moving from a quiet town in Mexico to the bustling and noisy metropolis of New York City.
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story From the Border
When Maria, Juan, and their mother go to the border between California and Mexico to visit their grandmother at Christmas, Maria must devise a way to get Juan’s gift over the fence.
Bilal Cooks Daal
Bilal shows his friends how to make his favorite food. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
The Day War Came
Inspired by true events, this story follows the journey of a young refugee and shows the hope a simple act of kindness can bring in the wake of war’s devastation.
Gibberish
When Dat starts school in a country where he does not speak the language, everything around him sounds like gibberish until a new friend helps him make sense of his new world. You can also check out this title as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as an eBook on Hoopla or as eAudio on Hoopla.
Home Is in Between
Immigrating to America, a young girl navigates between her family’s Bengali traditions and her new country’s culture.
I Dream Of Popo
When a young girl and her family emigrate from Taiwan to America, she leaves behind her beloved popo, her grandmother. She misses her popo every day, but even if their visits are fleeting, their love is ever true and strong. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
Joseph's Big Ride
A refugee boy’s determination to ride a bicycle leads to an unexpected friendship.
Marwan's Journey
The story of a young boy forced to take a journey he never intended to take, bound for a place he doesn’t know.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Saffron Ice Cream
Rashin is excited about her first visit to the beach in her family’s new home. On the way there, she remembers what beach trips were like in Iran, the beautiful Caspian Sea, the Persian music, and most of all the saffron ice cream she shared with her best friend, Azadeh. But there are wonderful things in this new place as well — a subway train, exciting music…and maybe even a new friend!
Someone New
When three children, Jesse, Jason, and Emma, are confronted with new classmates from different ethnic backgrounds, they strive to overcome their initial reactions, and to understand, accept, and welcome Maria, Jin, and Fatima.
The Suitcase
When a weary stranger arrives one day with nothing but a suitcase, his new neighbors ask nervous questions about who he is and where he comes from before they are challenged to decide between trusting the newcomer or taking the risk of not believing him.
What Is a Refugee?
Introduces the term ‘refugee’ to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country?