Refugees by Brian Bilston
Refugee is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here? Why my country? It is a feeling many people share. It is one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges. It says, ‘Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?’ The world is undergoing a period of mass human migration. Whether this is caused by war, persecution or economics, the people we see on the news in those camps are waiting – waiting to live their lives. There are two sides to every debate. There are two sides to a wall. This story shows both sides of the issue with skill and the illustrations depict the issue in a magic realism style, powerful but never frightening, and will promote a deeper discussion on this topic with an older child."Stunning and incredibly affecting and emotiveJosé Sanabria's artwork is superb."
* Library Mice *"Superbly illustrated, Refugees offers a powerful and pertinent message for readers of all ages from KS1 upwards...the book ought to be shared, discussed and pondered upon by all."
* Red Reading Hub *"A celebration of Brian Bilston's clever poem which shows us that there are two sides to everything. In this book, both readings are illustrated, bringing to life the evocative words through colour and imagery. The book is designed to help children, aged six plus, explore this emotive issue, and discuss the different ways in which the world can be seen."
* Books for Children *"A beautifully illustrated and clever picture book...will challenge perceptions and is ideal as an impetus for discursive writing and also PSHE discussion in upper KS2."
* School Reading List - Picture Book of the Month *"A delightful presentation of Brian Bilston's poem. A powerful message for our children and a delightful way to explore the complexity which the poem asks us to consider."
* Refugees at Home *“This clever and important poem is a powerful reminder of the need to challenge misconceptions and hostility. It shows the importance of seeing the full story and challenging negative narratives. Sadly refugees often face difficulties in their search for safety but clearly there is also much compassion to be found, and real support for people who have faced unimaginable hardship to find safety. This beautiful picture book is a good way of introducing children to this complex issue.”
"Both the Brian Bilston poem 'Refugees' and his consequent children's book with artist José Sanabria offer empathy, simplicity and genius. If words and minds can be so brilliantly reversed, why not the systems and policies inflicting such cruelty in our world?"
Brian Bilston is a secretive figure. His true identity is hidden in a cloud of pipe smoke from his supposed author photograph. From fragments of information pulled together from various twitter feeds, we know he likes cycling, Vimto and dislikes Jeremy Clarkson. He is a published writer in anthologies. This is his first picture book.
José Sanabria was born in Columbia and lives in Argentina. He is a highly accomplished artist, illustrator and writer and his books are published around the world. This is his first English Language book.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781786750723 |
| ISBN 10 | 1786750724 |
| Title | Refugees |
| Author | Brian Bilston |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Gemini Books Group Ltd |
| Year published | 2019-10-03 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Prizes | Short-listed for English 4-11 Picture Book Awards 2020 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |