Tag Archives: Displaced Persons

May21

Downtown Sewertown – Tull Suwannakit

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Ford St Publishing

March 2023

ISBN: 978192296250

RRP: $17.99

What to do when your home is destroyed? There is nothing, except to take what belongings you can,and try to find a new place to live. The woodland creatures are forced to flee when their homes and woods are flattened for new urban housing. They try to find refuge in the city but it is all so very different and unpleasant. Then they discover the underbelly of the metropolis – a smelly, dirty, awful place indeed. But what choices do they have?

Mouse is the one who rallies their spirits, and encourages them to clean, scrub, repair and build to make this their new home, and one of which to be proud. And so, they create Sewertown and all is well. Until, that is, they are discovered by the city dwellers who do not make them welcome at all.

Fortunately, there is a voice of compassion. One small girl with kindness and generosity in her heart implores the city folk to open their hearts and minds. So side-by-side ‘the furries and the smoothskins have chosen to unite‘ and both now have two beautiful and happy environments to enjoy. This is a beautiful modern day fable which will inspire educators and families alike to choose kindness and encourage empathy.

Even those of us who have relatively little often have more than many others. It is up to all of us to show humanity and fellow feeling, wherever and whenever we can. The world could really use some kindness right now, and we must help our children to see that their future will depend on their actions.

Some very comprehensive teaching notes will be useful to those who wish to incorporate this into their classroom or library teaching. Tull’s text and illustrations are perfect with subtle references and tiny details to explore for the keenly observant (a visual reference to ‘Nighthawks’ and a Pride flag among these).

Highly recommended for littles from around 4 years upwards, who will easily grasp many of the big concepts contained within.

downtown-sewertown-teacher-notesDownload
Feb20

You Don’t Know What War Is -Yeva Skalietska

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The Diary of a Young Girl From Ukraine

Bloomsbury

November 2022

ISBN9781526659934
ImprintBloomsbury Children’s Books
$19.99

It is almost exactly a year ago that the Russia-Ukrainian war, which first started simmering in 2014, abruptly escalated with a full-scale invasion by Russia, in an unprecedented show of force against the smaller nation. The hostilities erupted into a crisis which has caused tens of thousands of deaths and the largest refugee crisis since World War II, with 8 million Ukrainians becoming displaced within their own country before June of that year, and by the reckoning this month, 8 million have now fled the country.

While the majority of us has rallied with support and watched with horror as events unfolded, we also admired the courage and dignity of the Ukrainian people and their indomitable leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We have also been continually moved by the plight of the Ukrainian people as they struggle to regain some of the life they have lost, both within and outside their homeland.

One such is Yeva Skalietska, now 13 and living in Ireland, who poured her emotions, observations and fears into an intense memoir that follows the fortnight following the Russian invasion in February 2022. Yeva formerly lived in Kharkiv with her Granny but they were forced to flee when the bombing became too dangerous. Writing down her thoughts and observations, and comparing information with her friends on social media and via texts, Yeva incorporates all into this diary which was by chance picked up by journalists, who in turn became friends and rescuers.

For those of us who have never experienced the terror of such circumstances, this eyewitness account from a young and pragmatic observer offers us true insight into exactly what is happening in Ukraine. For Yeva and her Granny, there was a safe and happy solution when they were given sanctuary in Dublin but, even so, to be torn away from your homeland through such violence is a terrifying experience. When the evil that is responsible for this act of ruthless and callous violation of international peace is scourged, the world will, I have no doubt, rejoice. In the meantime, we continue to show our solidarity with Ukraine and her people, and support as much as we are able.

I would highly recommend this to your upper primary and early secondary readers as a very accessible to gain some understanding of this conflict and how it impacts onto ordinary citizens, as well as the global community.

Jul1

Salih – Inda Ahmad Zahri. Anne Ryan

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Ford St Publishing

March 2021

ISBN: 9781925804645

RRP: $16.99

Click to access Salih-Teachers-Notes.pdf

Click to access Teaching-Notes-Salih.pdf

The global issue of the plight of refugees, and in particular, child refugees is the focus of this sensitively written and beautifully illustrated book. Even your youngest readers will be able to comprehend the circumstance of those who must flee their homes, with only what they can carry – like turtles carrying their homes on their backs – and the ensuing discussions which will arise will help your little people develop empathy and an appreciation of diversity.

The first person narrative is almost poetic as it describes the flight from danger, the happy memories and the terrible ones and the therapeutic release through art is a beautiful way to tie a healing process to the visual metaphors used in Anne Ryan’s illustrations.

This is an emotional journey as well as a political and cultural one and is an important addition for any classroom unit of work or library collection. It is certainly a theme which has resonance in today’s global circumstance and one that deserves to fully examined in just such a sympathetic and compassionate way.

Recommended with my fullest endorsement for your readers from around five years upwards.

Jun3

Goodbye Mr Hitler – Jackie French

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Harper Collins – AU

May 2017

      ISBN: 9781460751299

RRP: 16.99 AUD

In a modern world that often seems to be filled with hate and prejudices and refusal to acknowledge basic human rights, we could easily fall into a despondency that could be soul-destroying. Many of us in daily contact with children will have observed that they too feel fearful about outcomes of some of the huge issues the world is facing. How can we as educators help them to overcome their fears and even perhaps hatred born of influence from media and other sources?

I believe that it is with great literature such as this that we can examine the horrors of the past and show the path to a place of peace, love and forgiveness.  We have a real duty to impart to these children that we cannot stand by and let evil happen and that if we all do that, it cannot survive.

Jackie French has continued her “Hitler” series with the story of Johannes and his doctor parents sent to concentration camps when the Nazis took over Poland, as well as following the threads from the previous two books with the fate of Heidi, believed to be Hitler’s daughter, as well as Georg, now firmly an Australian and his mother who has also survived the horror camps.

Their stories are vivid and told with Jackie’s usual painstaking historical accuracy and each resonates with the pain and suffering endured by so many. It is heart-wrenching and poignant and not for the first time we are inspired by the indomitable human spirit of truly good people. How could someone who has survived such vileness heal their hearts we might ask? And yet so many have done just that. Having witnessed truly despicable and terrible events and actions, these are the people who know that the one true way to freedom, not just of body but of mind and spirit, is through letting go of hate.

As these memorable characters find renewed hope and begin to build new lives in Australia, their various secrets, fears and sorrows begin to soften and ebb into a past.

The contemporary situation with asylum seekers and the denial of their rights should be compared to the spirit of generosity with which nations, especially Australia, welcomed displaced persons following the war.

This series is one of the most important and significant within my experience. Students particularly of Modern History and indeed Philosophy should be firmly pointed in their direction.

Find superb teaching notes here.

Highest recommendation for readers in Upper Primary onwards.