As Judith Kerr’s story of life in exile during WWII turns 50 and the world faces another spiralling refugee crisis, we spotlight the recent crop of books on lives that have been displaced
“It had embroidered black eyes – the original glass ones had fallen out years before – and an endearing habit of collapsing on its paws. How could she ever have chosen to pack that characterless woolly dog in its stead?”
Judith Kerr’s seminal children’s book When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit was published 50 years ago, in 1971. Based on her family’s experiences of fleeing Nazi Germany, it made her internationally famous. Perhaps it was the title that made the book so popular. Her husband, the writer Nigel Kneale, had come up with it, though the stuffed rabbit barely features in the book. But that choice – the pink rabbit or ‘that characterless woolly dog’ – spoke to generations of young children. Part of Judith’s genius was using the relationship between children and toys or animals (like the tiger who came to tea) to address questions about safety and menace that lie at the heart of her most popular books.
In 1971 there were few books for children on the experiences of refugees, but today that landscape has changed. Whether it is first-hand accounts of fleeing your country in books such as I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, or tales of magic, as with Jasbinder Bilan’s 2019 novel, Asha and the Spirit Bird, children’s writers are taking their readers to every part of the globe to uncover one of the most pressing contemporary issues.
We round up four recent releases exploring the plight of refugees today.
STORY BOAT BY KYO MACLEAR
Publisher: Tundra, £11.16
Age: 3-7 years
When a sister and brother are forced with their family to flee their home they must learn how to make a new home – wherever they are. Sometimes the smallest things – a cup, blanket, lamp or flower – can inspire stories that buoy them up as they travel. This sensitive tale introduces readers in a gentle and ultimately hopeful way to the current refugee crisis.
WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED BY VICTORIA JAMIESON & OMAR MOHAMED. ILLUSTRATED BY IMAN GEDDY & VICTORIA JAMIESON
Publisher: Faber & Faber, £9.99
Age: 8-11
This graphic novel is based on the true story of two brothers, Omar and Hassan, and their lives in a refugee camp in Kenya. Separated from their mother, they find life in the camp is hard and the hunger is constant. But one day Omar is offered the chance to go to school and a brighter future beckons – but if he goes it will mean leaving Hassan alone each day. Heartbreak, hope and a surprising, magical ending are all part of this compelling story that is brought to life with striking illustrations.
LISTEN LAYLA BY YASSMIN ABDEL-MAGIED
Publisher: Penguin, £7.99
Age: 12-14
Listen Layla is the sequel to You Must Be Layla, Abdel-Magied’s warm, funny introduction to Layla, a feisty Sudanese refugee negotiating life at a snobby Australian school. The humour continues aplenty in her latest book, where we meet Layla just as school finishes for the summer. But then her grandmother in Sudan falls very ill, and Layla’s summer takes a surprising turn.
WHEN THE WORLD WAS OURS BY LIZ KESSLER
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, £7.99
Age: 12-15
It is Vienna, 1936. Three friends, Leo, Elsa and Max, spend a perfect day together, unaware that all around them Europe is descending into a growing darkness, and events will soon rip them apart. Their lives take them across Europe but the bonds of their friendship remain strong. This powerful, captivating book is based on Kessler’s own family history. n
By David Herman and Rebecca Taylor
This article appears in the Summer 2021 issue of JR.