I am a firm believer in the power of education to advance empathy and understanding between people of different ethnicities, religions, and cultural backgrounds. This week, I've assembled a list of children's picture books that tell immigrant stories. Most of these books talk about the immigrant experience through the eyes of a child; they speak to the physical, emotional, and psychological experiences of immigrants. Some of the books address what life was like in their homelands, some focus on the journey itself, and many of these stories focus on the everyday struggles faced by immigrants as they start their new lives in America (or Australia and Canada, in the case of a few of these stories.)
Immigration is a huge part of the collective, but still deeply personal, American-family history. No matter where your ancestors came from and no matter when they came to America, chances are they all experienced the SAME feelings and challenges in their new adopted homeland. Speaking with children about those similarities can help them develop compassion and understanding for present-day immigrant families.
This list is by no means comprehensive, and there are also many wonderful immigrant-story chapter books for more advanced readers. Each title is linked to its WorldCat entry, so hopefully you will be able to find a copy at your local library. I've also found free discussion and teacher guides for some of these books, so I've included links to those as well. Happy reading!
Immigration is a huge part of the collective, but still deeply personal, American-family history. No matter where your ancestors came from and no matter when they came to America, chances are they all experienced the SAME feelings and challenges in their new adopted homeland. Speaking with children about those similarities can help them develop compassion and understanding for present-day immigrant families.
This list is by no means comprehensive, and there are also many wonderful immigrant-story chapter books for more advanced readers. Each title is linked to its WorldCat entry, so hopefully you will be able to find a copy at your local library. I've also found free discussion and teacher guides for some of these books, so I've included links to those as well. Happy reading!
40 Picture Books About the Immigrant Experience
Marianthe's Story: Painted Words and Spoken Memories by Aliki Teacher Guide
Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting
How Many Days to America: A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting
One Green Apple by Eve Bunting Lesson Plan
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi Discussion Guide
Good-bye Havana! Hola, New York! by Edie Colon
Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox
Kai's Journey to Gold Mountain by Katrina Saltonstall Currier
This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From by Jamie Lee Curtis Educator's Guide
The Little Refugee by Ahn Do Teacher's Guide
Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi Educator's Guide
The Seeds of Friendship by Michael Foreman
How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman
The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland Teacher's Guide
Sofie and the City by Karima Grant
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest Sample Lesson
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman
I'm New Here by Bud Howlett
Paper Son: Lee's Journey to America by Helen Foster James and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
Waiting for Papá by René Colato Laínez
I Hate English! by Ellen Levine Book Guide and Lesson Plans
Watch the Stars Come Out by Riki Levinson
Coming to America: The Story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro
From Far Away by Robert Munsch Lesson Plan
I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien YouTube Discussion Author Interview
My Diary From Here to There by Amada Irma Pérez Teacher's Guide Lesson Plan
The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco Teacher Guide
Fiona's Lace by Patricia Polacco
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
Anna & Solomon by Elaine Snyder
Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat
Mary's First Thanksgiving: An Inspirational Story of Gratefulness by Kathy-jo Wargin
A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts
My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed Teacher's Guide
The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff Lesson Plan Family Program Guide
All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino
Hannah Is My Name: A Young Immigrant's Story by Belle Yang Lesson Plan
Coolies by Yin Lesson Guide
Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story by Eve Bunting
How Many Days to America: A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting
One Green Apple by Eve Bunting Lesson Plan
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi Discussion Guide
Good-bye Havana! Hola, New York! by Edie Colon
Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox
Kai's Journey to Gold Mountain by Katrina Saltonstall Currier
This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From by Jamie Lee Curtis Educator's Guide
The Little Refugee by Ahn Do Teacher's Guide
Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi Educator's Guide
The Seeds of Friendship by Michael Foreman
How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman
The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland Teacher's Guide
Sofie and the City by Karima Grant
When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest Sample Lesson
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman
I'm New Here by Bud Howlett
Paper Son: Lee's Journey to America by Helen Foster James and Virginia Shin-Mui Loh
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
Waiting for Papá by René Colato Laínez
I Hate English! by Ellen Levine Book Guide and Lesson Plans
Watch the Stars Come Out by Riki Levinson
Coming to America: The Story of Immigration by Betsy Maestro
From Far Away by Robert Munsch Lesson Plan
I'm New Here by Anne Sibley O'Brien YouTube Discussion Author Interview
My Diary From Here to There by Amada Irma Pérez Teacher's Guide Lesson Plan
The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco Teacher Guide
Fiona's Lace by Patricia Polacco
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
Anna & Solomon by Elaine Snyder
Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat
Mary's First Thanksgiving: An Inspirational Story of Gratefulness by Kathy-jo Wargin
A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts
My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed Teacher's Guide
The Memory Coat by Elvira Woodruff Lesson Plan Family Program Guide
All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino
Hannah Is My Name: A Young Immigrant's Story by Belle Yang Lesson Plan
Coolies by Yin Lesson Guide
©2016 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
