8 Books About Refugees for Kids
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Refugees are being talked about all over the news and internet right now due to current events. Kids might be struggling to understand what it means to be a refugee. That is completely normal! It is hard for kids (and sometimes adults) to understand something that is so far removed from their own lives. I compiled this list of books about refugees for kids to help kids understand what is going on.
There are a few ways to use this list of books about refugees:
- Place the books in a conveniently placed book basket for kids to read whenever they want
- Read these stories aloud as a family
- Add the titles into a unit study
- Tie these books into history or geography lessons
If we have never needed to flee our country, potentially leaving behind family, friends, and all of our belongings, then we are incredibly lucky. We need to have compassion for those going through such a difficult transition. Reading books about refugees can help us understand better and hopefully be more compassionate for everyone who just wants to be able to live in safety.
Books About Refugees for Kids
I am including the publisher’s suggested age range, but please choose whatever is best for your kids.
What is a Refugee? by Elise Gravel
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 3 – 7
This book about refugees is perfect for little ones. It gently explains that refugees are people who needed to move in order to stay safe. It briefly touches on the fact that leaving is not always easy and sometimes requires a stay in a refugee camp. There is not much text on each page, so it will help keep the attention of busy young children.
Tani’s New Home by Tantoluwa Adewumi
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 5 – 9
Tani’s New Home tells the true story of a little boy from Nigeria. His family fled Nigeria when Boko Haram was making their lives dangerous. They came to New York City as refugees and lived in a homeless shelter. At first, he was sad and lonely. It isn’t easy to feel completely different from your classmates.
He turned to chess as a distraction. He worked hard and became a New York chess champion. Strangers rushed to help when they heard his story. They donated a car and an apartment to the family. This was life-changing and truly helped Tani feel like he finally had a new home.
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 8 – 12
Inside Out & Back Again is based on the author’s experience as a refugee. This book about refugees is different from others because it is written as poetry. Don’t let that scare you, though; it is easy to understand. Kids in the suggested age group will not have any problems understanding what is happening.
The author has put together an educational packet to help guide discussions about the book. I love when authors take the time to do that! The educational packet and the unique book format are great reasons to include this in a collection of books about refugees for kids. Literary Adventures for Kids offers an online book club for Inside Out and Back Again.
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 8 – 12
Ahmet is the new kid in class. At first, no one knows what to think of him. He is quiet and shy. Then a few of the kids learn that Ahmet is a Syrian refugee. They would be shy and sad if they had to escape a war-torn country too! Some of the kids decide that what he needs most is a friend, and they start on a mission to make that happen. Friends make everything easier.
There is a line in the book cover that stood out to me, ” . . .learns that standing up for others has the incredible potential to change an entire community for the better.” Can you imagine how great our communities would be if everyone felt this way?
First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 8 – 12
Do the names Madeleine Albright (former U.S. Secretary of State), Albert Einstein (scientific genius), or Sergey Brin (one of the founders of Google) sound familiar?
They have something in common. They were all refugees!
No list of books about refugees would be complete without a book highlighting some of their amazing accomplishments.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 9 – 12
This graphic novel exposes some of the harsh realities of life in a refugee camp. Sometimes families are separated. Food and medical care can be in short supply. People in the camps often have nightmares about their experiences. Fleeing your home for safety can cause trauma.
The main character, an adolescent boy, has the chance to go to school, but it will separate him from the only family he has left. This is a difficult choice for anyone, let alone a child.
I think kids will enjoy the graphic novel format, so I made sure to include it on my list of books about refugees for kids. The authors included a teacher’s guide with additional resources that can be accessed on their website.
Related: Favorite Middle School Graphic Novels
Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdale and Eleanor Shakespeare
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 10 – 12
This book tells the story of several refugees who escaped their home countries by boat. The stories in this book really drive home the idea that being a refugee in a new country isn’t about travel or wanting to live somewhere else. It is about survival.
Escaping by boat is not easy. The conditions are crowded, harsh, and I’m sure scary.
As a mother, some of these stories brought tears to my eyes. I can not imagine having to make the choice to smuggle my child out of the country, knowing that I would likely never see them again. That is incredibly brave. I do think that middle school will likely handle the stories better than I did because they think they are invincible.
Check out the author’s website for discussion questions and activities.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
- Ages 10 and up
- Grades 5 and up
Last update on 2026-09-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ages: 10 – 12
A Long Walk to Water is required reading in my house. Refugees escape in a variety of ways. Sometimes they leave by boat, like in the book about refugees above. Other times, they walk great distances.
The main character in ” A Long Walk to Water walks across Sudan in an attempt to find safety. He faces many difficulties, but eventually makes it to America, where he uses his experiences to help other people.
Related Post: A Long Walk to Water Lesson Plan and Activities
Researching books about refugees for kids made me stop and think about how lucky I am. Through no effort of my own or my family’s, I live in a country with a reasonable expectation of safety. I live in the same country as my extended family. These are seemingly simple luxuries, but not everyone is so lucky.
Keep reading . . .
- A Long Walk to Water Lesson Plan Ideas
- How to Start a Book Club for Kids
- Easy Ways to Determine a Book’s Reading Level
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