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- My Beautiful Birds [hc]
My Beautiful Birds [hc]
By Suzanne Del Rizzo
Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbors in a long line, as they trudge through the sands and hills to escape the bombs that have destroyed their homes. But all Sami can think of is his pet pigeons- will they escape, too? When they reach a refugee camp and are safe at last, everyone settles into the tent city. But though the children start to play and go to school again, Sami can't join in. When he is given paper and paint, all he can do is smear his painting with black. He can't forget his birds and what his family has left behind.
One day a canary, a dove, and a rose finch fly into the camp. They flutter around Sami and settle on his outstretched arms. For Sami it is one step in a long healing process at last. 32 pages
"A stunning offering for libraries wishing to add to their collection of hopeful yet realistic refugee tales." -School Library Journal (Grades 1-3)
"Based on a real refugee child who keeps birds, this story isn't about war but its effect on those who experience it and survive. This story of one frightened little boy who finds strength in caring for animals and uses that strength to comfort other kids is an excellent means of explaining a difficult subject to young children." -Kirkus Reviews (Ages 4-10)
March 8, 2017
AR Level=3.0; Lexile Level=620 AD Adult-Directed Text
2017 New York Times Notable Children's Books selection
2017 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature Winner
2018 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Canada Winner
2017 One Book for Kids, One San Diego selection
2018 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award shortlist
2018 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award nominee
2017 Middle East Book Award: Picture Books Honor Book
2017 Cybils Award: Fiction Picture Book nominee
2017 New York Public Library's Best Books for Kids & Teens selection
2018 Notable Books for a Global Society selection
2018 Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection
2017 New England Children's Booksellers Advisory Council Windows & Mirrors Fall selection
2017 UNICEF USAVoice "The Perfect Gift for the Holidays: Books That Inspire" selection
2017 Quill & Quire "Books of the Year" selection
2017 Junior Library Guild selection
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