21FA-LS-5653 - Inclusive Literature: Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs
"We have a new home now, a home with new sounds and smells, with smiles and people who help.
Will this always be home, or will we go back one day?"
Will this always be home, or will we go back one day?"
Bibliography:
Ruurs, Margriet. 2016. Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey. Illustrated by Nizar Ali Badr. British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers. ISBN: 9781459814905
Plot Summary:
Rama and her family share a bountiful life in their small village until their freedom wanes by their country's battle in civil war. Due to food shortages and bombings, the family is forced to leave. Across their long journey, they witness and experience the hardships of finding a new home. When they finally make it to America, they meet new welcoming friends and neighbors and begin making a life for themselves despite their challenges. As they settle into their new home, Rama wonders if they will ever return to their old country but looks forward to new beginnings filled with peace. Critical Analysis:
Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs is an authentic depiction of a refugee family's journey and survival to freedom. The picture book is illustrated entirely with stone formation artwork by artist Nizar Ali Badr who perfectly captures the essence of the story. The foreword at the beginning of the book explains how Ruurs wrote this story based on Badr's artwork, which took her some time, persistence, and resources to reach him to create the book together. Nizar Ali Badr is an artist from Latakia, Syria, who collects his rock art mediums from the beach shore and has seen several first accounts of families fleeing Syria.
The picture book is written in dual languages, English and Arabic. Readers who are not familiar with Middle Eastern languages will see the Arabic script translations of the English writing and vice versa. The story also provides in-depth cultural details of a refugee family fleeing their home due to war. The narrative includes practices and customs (sharing ancestral stories and drinking tea with neighbors), the damages of war (food shortages and bombings), and the hardships of traveling to a new country (labor and death). For instance:
We walked to the end of the earth.
And when we reached it, there was the sea.
We set sail on waves of hope and prayer.
I was frightened as the waves battered our little boat.
And not everyone made it safely across.
We said prayers for those whose journey ended at sea.
Rama and her family travel a long distance to get to the little boat that carries them to America, as it would take time in genuine real-life situations. In her experience, she's frightened at the risk they are taking to find a new home and simultaneously witnessing realistic events like new friends not making it to the other side, much like refugee families still experience today.
Overall, Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs and illustrated by Nazir Ali Badr is a must-read for all children. The story provides a unique perspective into a Syrian refugee family's life and mirrors these realistic and complex events with subtle imageries of stone art. The book offers an authentic account of Middle Eastern culture and struggles, which is important for children to see in representation. One of the best aspects of this picture book is the resource information page listed at the end, which provides multiple sources for various causes, like Doctors Without Borders, Canadian Red Cross, United Nations Refugee Agency, and more. The proceeds of the book are also donated to resettlement organizations across North America.
Awards & Reviews:
- 2016 Kirkus Reviews Best Books
- 2017 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year
- 2017 Bolen Books Children's Book Prize
- 2017 CCBC Best Books starred selection
- 2017 Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize Nominee
- 2017 CL/R SIG International Reading Association Notable Books for a Global Society
- 2017 Middle East Book Award
From ALA's Booklist, "Readers will be fascinated by the stone-collage illustrations created by Syrian artist Badr, who arranges expressive tableaux of people formed entirely of rocks and pebbles...A unique offering that will open eyes and soften hearts."
From Horn Book Magazine, "Ordinary beach stones were used to make the three-dimensional collages in this arresting picture book...Stone by stone, step by step, it all adds up to a memorable look at what it means to leave one's home in search of 'a bright new future.'"
From Kirkus Reviews, "An astonishing book that allows the humanity of refugees to speak louder than politics and introduces readers to one of Syria's incredible artists."
Connections:
Discussion: Invite patrons to openly discuss the events of the book. Ask children for their thoughts of why the family is leaving their country and their experience traveling to America. Encourage the children to discuss their similar experiences. For instance, has anyone traveled from another country? What was their journey like? Has anyone moved to a new home? What do they miss about their old homes?For patrons seeking more picture books about refugee families, suggest the following:
- Ruurs, Margriet. 2014. Families Around the World. Illustrated by Jessica Rae Gordon. ISBN: 9781894786577
- Văn, Mượn Thị. 2021. Wishes. Illustrated by Victo Ngai. ISBN: 9781338305890
- Williams, Karen and Khadra Mohammed. 2007. Four Feet, Two Sandals. Illustrated by Doug Chayka. ISBN: 9780802852960