Refugees and migration books for children and teens
Children’s, young adult and teen books about refugees, migration, asylum, community prejudice, xenophobia, oppression and the rights of the dispossessed. This list contains 40 titles by a diverse range of authors. There’s a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, true stories, picture books, graphic novels, poetry and diaries to encourage empathy and understanding. These books are suitable for home learning, school libraries, independent reading and teaching in KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4. This list features books by Erika Meza, Na’ima B. Robert, Brian Bilston, Eoin Colfer, Onjali Q. Raúf, Sita Brahmachari, Armin Greder, Michael Rosen, Ele Fountain and Malcolm Duffy.
Refugees and migration books for children and teens – our recommendations
Refugees and migration picture books for children aged 3-11
To The Other Side by Erika Meza. 
Escape by Ming & Wah, illustrated by Carmen Vela. 
The Silence Seeker by Ben Morley, illustrated by Carl Pearce. One-Button and the Sea by Sara Stanley, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz
This picture book tells the story of One-Button and his grandfather, who recount their community’s experience of being uprooted and taking to the sea. Suitable for children aged 4+, it explores themes of migration, resilience, and community, and offers excellent opportunities for discussion. One-Button and the Sea is highly recommended for reading with EYFS and KS1 children, and for discussing to encourage empathy. A beautifully written and illustrated modern fable.
Where Can We Go? A Tale of Four Bears by Dai Yun and Igor Oleynikov
When Papa Bear tells his family there is no longer enough food to eat and they have to move, the four bears begin a difficult journey to search for a new home. Struggling to adapt to very different new locations, they find new hope from books and television and head south. Where Can We Go? is ideal for reading and sharing with KS1 and LKS2 classes and discussing the themes of family unity, refugees and immigration and the effects of climate change.
A Child’s Garden by Michael Foreman. 
King of the Sky by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Laura Carlin. 
There’s Room for Everyone by Anahita Taymourian. Hello!: A Counting Book of Kindnesses by Hollis Kurman, illustrated by Barroux
A simple counting format is blended with a powerful message of hope as young readers follow a family escaping danger on a small boat and with the help of others, finding safety and security. Hello is an empathetic, humane and kind antidote to xenophobic rhetoric, suited both to ‘people who help us’ topics with younger children and discussions about refugees, migration and tolerance in KS2.
My Name is Not Refugee by Kate Milner. 
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. 
Here I Am by Patti Kim, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez. A Child Like You by Na’ima B. Robert, illustrated by Nadine Kaadan
Inspired by activists such as Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias and Iqbal Masih, ‘A Child Like You’ will encourage children in KS1 upwards to empathise with and speak out for those in the world who are oppressed and dispossessed. The four main characters will be both relatable and accessible to younger readers. Sensitively exploring issues such as climate change, refugees, free speech and child slavery, this powerfully illustrated picture book is highly recommended for primary school libraries. Endorsed by Amnesty International for upholding children’s rights.
The Journey by Francesca Sanna. 
Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper, illustrated by Gill Smith. 
Refugees by Brian Bilston, illustrated by José Sanabria. Refugees and migration books for children aged 9-12
Lift-The-Flap Questions and Answers: about Refugees by Katie De Souza Ashe Daynes & Ashe de Sousa, illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska. 
Illegal by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano. 
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf. Corey’s Rock by Sita Brahmachari illustrated by Jane Ray
When 10-year-old Isla and her family start life afresh in the Orkney Islands, she finds it hard to adjust to her new surroundings and a world without her brother. A unique and uplifting modern fable told through a combination of short chapters, dialogue and poetry, all adorned throughout by stunningly evocative illustrations by Jane Ray. A treasure to read and behold, Corey’s Rock explores themes of refugees, family and acceptance with great sensitivity. Highly recommended.
The Island by Armin Greder. 
Running on the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth. 
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr. Xanthe & the Ruby Crown by Jasbinder Bilan
Xanthe loves spending time with her grandmother in her cityscape paradise rooftop garden. But as she begins to lose her memory, Xanthe discovers a way to put together her grandmother’s remarkable life with the help of an enigmatic cat. This compelling novel spans continents and cultures to examine themes of home, family, and being a refugee. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
On the Move: Poems About Migration by Michael Rosen, with drawings by Quentin Blake. Read our full review.
Charlie’s Promise by Annemarie Allan. 
Do You Speak Chocolate? by Cas Lester. 
Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird. 
The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle by Victoria Williamson. 
No Ballet Shoes in Syria by Catherine Bruton. Refugees and migration books for secondary school children and teens
A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis. 
Boy 87 by Ele Fountain. 
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Seven Million Sunflowers by Malcolm Duffy
Inspired by real events, Seven Million Sunflowers follows 15-year-old Kateryno and her family as they flee war-torn Kharkiv in Ukraine for safety in England. But their new life is not without problems in this memorable contemporary YA novel that offers a relatable and empathetic glimpse into the struggles of teenage life amidst conflict, fear and dealing with the unknown. Perfect for KS3 and KS4 book clubs, Seven Million Sunflowers is highly recommended.
Who Are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? and Other Big Questions by Michael Rosen & Annemarie Young. 
Don’t Stop thinking about Tomorrow by Siobhan Curham. 
The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen. You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud
17-year-old Hanan Ali’s world changes in an instant when a dark and pervasive sense of fear, racism and prejudice leads some to blame Muslims for the murder of a local man. A high achiever working towards a career in medicine, Hanan is a model student. But how can she stay silent in the face of growing race hatred, family tension and injustice? Exploring the lives of teenage inner city refugees, gang life and Islamophobia, ‘You Think You Know Me’ tempers a visceral urban storyline with richly realised vignettes of Somali tradition, culture and the healing powers of family and community. Highly recommended for students in KS4.
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Refugees and migration resources for teachers
- Schools of Sanctuary is ‘a small refugee-sector charity that works to build a movement of welcome in the UK, standing in solidarity with people seeking safety‘. They offer a programme for schools, including CPD, and an award scheme to recognise ‘good practice in fostering a culture of welcome, belonging and solidarity for those seeking safety‘. Bradford Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary offers a comprehensive free teaching resource pack covering KS2, KS3 and KS4. Highly recommended.
- The Healing classrooms resource ‘aims to support schools and educators to develop inclusive and nurturing learning spaces for refugee and asylum-seeking students’.
- Refugee Week activities for schools to highlight the refugee crisis at a whole school level.
- British Council’s ‘Living Together‘ refugee resource provides activities and debate topics suitable for upper primary and lower secondary.
- There’s a free teachers’ toolkit resource from Barrington Stoke to support classrooms reading My Name is not Refugee by Kate Milner
- Hertfordshire Grid for Learning offers a comprehensive free pack for schools to help support refugee EAL learners in schools.
- Our Migration Story offers a compelling historical resource explaining migration through time in the British Isles.
- Migration Museum features a huge bank of free resources for schools, covering migration, immigration, emigration, multiculturalism and cultural diversity.
- UNHCR offers a collection of teaching resources about refugees, asylum and migration for primary and secondary teachers.
- Newsthink from the Red Cross offers a current affairs and humanitarian lens to explain migration and refugee crises in the news. A useful resource for secondary schools.
- Amnesty International offers a range of free resources explaining worldwide refugee, asylum and immigration issues from a human rights and legal protection standpoint.
- Unicef’s ‘In Search of Safety: Children and the Refugee Crisis in Europe‘ pack is a complete resource with over 20 activities to help 7-18-year-olds make ‘sense of the refugee crisis, with a focus on children and their rights.’ Highly recommended.
