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Topic: Refugees & Immigration KS2

Refugees & Immigration KS2

Refugees and Immigration Booklist (KS2)

We’ve put together a list of recommended texts for primary school aged children on the topic of refugees and immigration. For this community booklist, we asked our community of primary teachers, TAs, children’s authors, librarians and book lovers to nominate their top recommended texts that explore the topic of immigration and the refugee experience.
NB: This booklist is aimed at KS2 (ages 7-11). If you are looking for KS1 books for this topic, we have a separate booklist here.

A Story Like The Wind

Gill Lewis & Jo Weaver

Chapter book

A very special and quite beautiful book from award-winning Gill Lewis, magnificently illustrated by Jo Weaver. It tells the moving tale of Rami, one of many refugees crowded into a boat sailing towards their dream of a safe refuge. As they travel, they tell their stories and Rami has his violin which when played, weaves the most lyrical story of freedom. A stunning, rich, emotive book.

When Jessie Came Across the Sea

Amy Hest & P.J. Lynch

Picturebook

This is the story of an immigrant to the US; a young Jewish girl sailing from Eastern Europe and leaving everything she knows to start a new life. Beautiful illustrations make this a sophisticated picture book to be appreciated by older children too.

The Unforgotten Coat

Frank Cottrell Boyce

Chapter book

A brilliant story about the realities of illegal immigration as experienced by two Mongolian brothers who arrive at a Bootle primary school in Liverpool.

Here I am

Patti Kim & Sonia Sanchez

Picturebook

In this wordless picture book Here I am, Patti Kim and Sonia Sánchez bring the awe, the unfamiliarity of a new city to a young immigrant. As there are no words, children who are in similar situations (sadly more of them nowadays), can fill it in with their own unique stories. It’s a great book to initiate questions and discussions, interpret feelings and importantly be empathetic – wear the shoes of an immigrant or a refugee as you walk through your own city – what do you see?

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

Michael Rosen & Annemarie Young

Non-fiction

A non-fiction text that explores refugees from a historical and global perspective. Suitable for KS2, this book includes case studies of different people’s experiences of immigration as well as raising questions to stir further thinking and discussion around the topic.

Home Ground

Alan Gibbons & Chris Chalik

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A football-themed short story by Blue Peter award winner and Carnegie Medal nominated author Alan Gibbons. This book is set in a dyslexia-friendly format and offers an engaging story that can be enjoyed by those 8 and upwards. Home Ground will engage those wanting a story about ‘the beautiful game’ but, more than that, is a story of friendship and overcoming prejudice.

This is a great book to introduce the importance of being tolerant and accepting others, irrespective of where they’re from. Home Ground is packed full of interesting information about the journeys refugees have undertaken and their reasons, which helps to give context to this story. Children also learn fascinating facts about former refugees who have been successful in top-flight teams both here and abroad.

Do You Speak Chocolate?

Cas Lester

Chapter book

When new girl Nadima arrives at school speaking very little English she struggles to make friends until Jas reaches out a hand of friendship by sharing her chocolate. Nadima’s experiences as a refugee are incredibly difficult for her friends to relate to, they can never truly understand what her life was like in Syria. This thoughtful story cleverly captures the fear and brutality she has experienced in a powerful and moving way.

Running On The Roof Of The World

Jess Butterworth & Rob Biddulph

Chapter book

So many children in our world live in conflict and war zones every day, and face perilous journeys to find somewhere they can live in peace, without fear. Books that tell their stories with empathy, compassion and understanding, as shown in Running On The Roof Of The World, deserve a place in every School Library and Class Library from Upper Key Stage 2 onwards.

A gripping adventure, filled with danger, sorrow and hope. Jess Butterworth brings the Himalayas within touching distance with her ability to conjure the sights and sounds with perfect clarity in the reader’s mind. It’s a must read for all our children. If they can’t imagine the lives that other children face in our world, they won’t have the compassion, empathy and understanding needed to help begin to make all of our world a friendlier place to live.

Azzi In Between

Sarah Garland

Graphic novel

This important and very topical text uses a comic-book style to portray some of the experiences of some refugee families. Azzi and her family flee their home and find themselves on a frightening and dangerous journey to a new country. In her new home, Azzi is faced with adapting to a foreign way of life, starting a new school and learning to speak English. This is an excellent, thought-provoking text that presents a difficult topic in a way that evokes empathy and understanding in young readers.

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