Sister Sites
The
Colour of Home
by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Karin Littlewood
(Frances Lincoln)
Hassan has recently arrived in the UK from Somalia and despite the best
efforts of his teacher and classmates, he finds his first day at school
overwhelmingly alien. When his teacher gives him paper and paints, Hassan
creates a picture glowing with the colours of his family home. But then
his work takes on other colours and features – those of destruction
and death.
The next day, helped by an interpreter, Hassan uses his painting
to share with his teacher, something of the harrowing events leading up
to his arrival in the UK. He tells of his sadness at the loss of so much
that was dear to him – his cat, his Uncle Ahmed, his family home
and his belongings, and of the ordeal he and his parents underwent on
the long journey from war-torn Somalia. But, thereafter, Hassan begins
to see a little brightness in his new ‘home’.
For me at least, this powerfully moving tale (one that I know
from experience is all too true for a good number of children in our schools)
is all the more poignant in big book format. One hopes that it will help
to bring a measure of empathy and understanding to all children and adults
in UK schools. A ‘must have’ big book.
(reviewed by Jill Bennett)
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The Mango
Tree
by Jamila Gavin and Rhian Nest James
A story about a Pakistani family living in a British town. Grandma Moses
misses sitting under the mango tree in her old home so the children and
Grandpa set out to make her happy. Well told using 5/6 sentences per page
with some direct speech.
KS1
12 pages ISBN 0435138480
Gregory Cool
by Caroline Binch
(Frances Lincoln)
Gregory has always lived in Britain so, when he goes for a holiday with
his grandparents in Tobago, he has trouble adjusting to a new way of life.
A well-written story which leads naturally to work comparing different
lifestyles.
late KS1/early KS2
32 pages ISBN 0711215367
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from Amazon