My Beautiful Birds

by Suzanne Del Rizzo

Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbours 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. A gentle yet moving story of refugees of the Syrian civil war, My Beautiful Birds illuminates the ongoing crisis as it affects its children. It shows the reality of the refugee camps, where people attempt to pick up their lives and carry on. And it reveals the hope of generations of people as they struggle to redefine home.

Genres: Picture Books, War, Family, Birds, Animals, Childrens, Cultural

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2017

Reviews

[Laura Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Beautiful Birds is both sad and touching, compelling and infuriating, heart-wrenching and hopeful. It is the story of a young, Syrian boy named Sami. He and his family flee their war-torn home in search of a place of refuge and Sami experiences a great deal of distress. However, Sami's distress is not directly associated with fear for his own life, or sadness of leaving his home—he suffers not knowing if his pet birds, who got left behind, are OK. Sami and his family find a refugee camp and are lucky enough to find shelter, build a garden, have neighbours to socialize and play with; but Sami's distress impedes his daily life. One day, three birds settle in the refugee camp and Sami finds comfort in these new friends and his healing process begins.

I highly, highly recommend this book. The whole idea for the story began when Suzanne Del Rizzo herself set out to research the Syrian refugee crisis so she could explain and discuss the news with her own children. There is no political overtone or explanation in this book, but the setting and the illustrations nod toward the realities Syrian people are subjected to, making it appropriate for the youngest of readers, but also relevant and engaging for an older audience.

This is a debut in storytelling for Del Rizzo, as well as delving into a new medium (polymer clay) for her illustrations. The development in her artistic skill is amazing: the detail in the feathers and wings of the birds is something I could just stare at while petting the page because I expect it to feel as soft as the feathers look.

This book belongs in every library and classroom (grades 1-6 especially) and on the family bookshelf, too. I cherish my advance copy and I can't wait to share it with friends and family. I'm so proud to see books like this being published.

[Masha Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote the following Book Club Discussion Questions (for adults) for this book:

1. Suzanne Del Rizzo wrote this book because she was looking for an age-appropriate way to teach her children about the Syrian Civil War. Do you feel she achieves this with “My Beautiful Birds”? Are there any parts you didn’t feel were age-appropriate?
2. Why did Del Rizzo choose to tell the story of Syrian refugees from a child’s point of view? Do you feel it was effective?
3. What is life like for the children in the refugee camp? How do adults help them? How do they help each other?
4. Discuss Sami’s emotional breakdown, when he paints his bird picture black. How do extreme situations like Sami’s affect children?
5. What do birds symbolize for Sami? How does finding new birds in the refugee camp help him?
6. Suzanne Del Rizzo uses polymer clay to create a unique illustration style; she told an interviewer at the blog “Let’s Talk Picture Books” that it often takes her 40 hours or more to complete the image for one page. How did you feel about the images in this book?
7. One of the criteria used in evaluating picture books is that the illustrations “take the story beyond its words.” Do you feel the illustrations in the book achieve this?
8. How much do you feel children should be taught about current events? What do they – and don’t they – need to know?

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and touching story of a Syrian child who must flee his home.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the first paragraph I can tell that this book will be suspenseful, and I'm impressed at how the author (also the illustrator) is conveying real-life urgency, scaled down to child size. Not easy to do, not easy to do at all.

Beautiful pacing, sensitive writing, never over-writing.

For instance, my eyes brim over as I read, "I tear my painting piece by piece. Black paint stains my hands and my clothes. My stained heart is torn to pieces too."

And wait until you see the illustration with all the kites. I'm not even a kid, yet I'm sure this gorgeous, evocative page will linger in my memory.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After bombs destroy their home, Sami's family is forced to flee Syria and leave his beloved pet birds behind. As Sami adjusts to life in a refugee camp, he finds solace and new friendship through his connections to nature. A sad and beautiful story paired with incredibly stunning sculpted-clay illustrations.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, sad story of a Syrian child who has fled his home with his family and is now living in a refugee camp. Lovely illustrations.

[Grecia Flaws · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork that accompanies a story that does not allow us to avert our eyes to what is happening to many children today.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning. Such a simply told story, yet so powerful in its message. Sami is a Syrian refugee living with his family in a refugee camp in Jordan. He lost his pet pigeons, of which he was very fond, when they had to flee, and it's obvious throughout the book that he's depressed and suffering from PTSD about the loss of them. No one seems to recognize this. Eventually some birds find him, and it makes him come alive again. It's then that he's able to reach out to someone else who's in need of a friend. The story just touched my heart. Animals can be such healers, no matter what kind they are.

Del Rizzo's clay artwork was gorgeous, and perfectly expressed the story. She was able to create a wonderful 3-D effect with it. I was confused by one illustration, however. Toward the back, there's a picture of someone sitting on a blanket on a rooftop with the four birds around him. I thought it was Sami, but the person has a beard, like Sami's father. I think it should be Sami, if you read the text. Oopsy!

An author's note at the back of the book talks bout refugees around the world. In Syria alone, about 6.5 million refugees have been forced to flee their homes. Can you imagine, in 2016, when the book was written, while we sit here watching our TVs and using our computers? Before people criticize and despise refugees, they need to hear where they've come from and what they've been through. This book's message is that children often suffer PTSD from the refugee experience that needs to be addressed, even if the child doesn't express it.

This has to be one of the best picture books I've read in a long, long time. I can't recommend it highly enough. Absolutely stunning!

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book, with unique clay illustrations that leave much to pour over on each page, tells the story of a family in Syria as they have to leave their home (and the boy's beloved pigeons) behind and find a way to move on in a refugee camp. Add this to your refugee stories text set with The Journey & Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a fine line to walk when writing for children about the horror and deprivation of war, especially when that story is about a child of the same age. The author needs to inspire empathy and understanding without causing anxiety for the young readers. In My Beautiful Birds, Del Rizzo has done a masterful job of straddling that line and in doing so has not only given a beautiful story, but also a teachable moment for kids ages 4-10.

In this story, young Sammi and his family are forced to flee their home in order to avoid falling bombs. While seeing the destruction going on around him he is concerned for the pet birds that had to be left behind. His story continues when his family reaches the refugee camp where they will be living. Like the rest of the residents of the camp, he and family find a way to make the best of this horrible situation. There is hope in the people he meets along the way and the birds that he befriends around the camp.

I am not even going to be shy about admitting that I had no idea what this book was about when I picked it up. I simply judged this book as “need to read” by the positively stunning artwork on the cover, art that has been perfectly described as dimensional illustrations. I am fond of using a euphemism for ‘leaping off the page’ when it comes to talking about art in children’s books, but that is such pale terminology for what this book offers. If there were no text to tell the reader what is happening in the story, the reader would still be pulled in to Sammi’s world; Birds fly, the smell of smoke fills the air, you can feel the grit of the sand and the hear the rasping of canvas tents. Sammi’s fears and hopes have been rendered in infinite detail with this beautifully textured sculpted art.

The war in Syria and other parts of the world are in the news almost nightly. In addition to being a wonderful story, this book can also be a tool to explain to little ones about the war and the people it affects. It is told in a way that is completely accessible to kids and adults alike. It would make an excellent addition to any classroom library shelf.

I am looking forward to Del Rizzo’s latest release, in the fall, A World of Kindness

Let's talk more about kid's books at I Read Kid's Books Journal

[Krysten Morgan]

Genre: Realistic Fiction
Grade Levels: K-4
Themes: Refugee, Syria, Birds, Refugee Camp
Major Award: Junior Library Guild selection, Malka Penn Award

Summary- Sami’s family is forced to leave Syria due to a raging civil war. While he is sad to leave his home, he worries more about his birds that he took care of. His family reassures his that they escaped too, but he is still having a hard time adjusting. They reach a refugee camp where they stay. At first, he is having trouble seeing the good in everything, he doesn’t want to eat or participate in any activities. One day, new birds approach him and things begin to turn around. He cares for these birds like he did his birds back home and begins to participate in all the activities. He even helps to welcome a girl who just arrived at a camp who had tears in her eyes.

Personal Response- I was amazed by this book the minute I opened it up and saw the illustrations. They look like they are made from clay and paint but they are so detailed and breathtaking. The fact they the illustrator could show so much emotion and such detailed scenes in this medium amazes me. I also thought the story felt very empowering. It shows that it is okay to be sad and miss something but it’s also okay to begin to heal from that. I love that Sami does find a way to heal and even begins to share that with another who is struggling with something similar.

Other Info- N/A

Reader response/Classroom Connection -
1) This would be a good story that students could do a graffiti board with. Each group of students would get a piece of paper on which they each get a corner. As the book is read, they could draw things of significance they hear in the story, important words, things it makes them thing about, or anything else they think of or feel. No wrong answers. After reading, students could share in small groups what they drew and why. They can also share with the class if they want and hang this work around the classroom.

2) Students could be asked to write a text to self connection. Students could write about something that brings them comfort, like the birds brought Sami comfort. They could write about where this item came from and why it is important to them. They could also write about how they would feel if they no longer had this item and relate it back to how Sami felt. They could even bring in the item and do a show and tell with it if it was something they were comfortable sharing.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. How do you talk about war and refugees and other tough topics with small children? How do you cover loss and grieving and cultures that are so very unfamiliar? Maybe read books that talk about everyday things like birds, and families, and love. Maybe if we all can show kindness to each other in small everyday ways, then what seems strange or unfamiliar won't be. Maybe we could learn to choose love instead more often then anger or fear. Just a thought.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic drawings of three dimensional clay and other textures gorgeously illustrate this child’s book. Sami flees with his family a burning Syrian city leaving behind his beloved pigeons. While they arrive safely at the refugee camp, he misses his avian friends. His heart is reopened when appear “[A] canary, a dove, a rose finch, and a pigeon. Like feathered brushes they paint the sky with promise of the hope of peace. Plumes of yellow, rose, shimmering turquoise, and white all in harmony.” A great book to help children understand the Syrian conflict.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to help children understand what other Syrian refugee children are going though. The story is gently told and gives an idea of what tent cities are like. The illustrations are amazing.

[Dna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. Beautiful clay illustrations that are evocative and dream-like. I cried reading it. I don't think I would be able to get through this in a storytime without sobbing.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful clay pictures, and a lovely story of healing after being displaced

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In gorgeous mixed media with polymer clay figures pushing out from the page, Suzanne del Rizzo tells the sad story of Sami who must leave his home as so many from Syria have had to do. Not only are they leaving home, but Sami must also leave his beloved pet pigeons. He is devasted, can only think of them as they finally reach the camp and safety. When other children play, not Sami. His sadness has overwhelmed him. The illustrations caused me to pause and admire the detail. One of the first pages shows Sami and his family climbing a hill, but the line of those trailing behind appears so many that the path disappears in the distance. It's both beautiful and shocking to visualize the many, many who have to leave. The village burns in the distance. One day a canary, a dove, and a rose finch fly into camp and flutter around Sami. His joy is shown on one page: "Like feathered brushes they paint the sky with promise and the hope of peace." The next pages show that he is finding happiness again, with his birds and flying kites with friends, and the end shows Sami welcoming a new child. It's a beautiful story that focuses on one thing to represent all that children lose as they are forced to leave their home. In an author's note, among other numbers, the author shares that when this book was published, 6.5 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes, half of those are children.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Syrian boy, named Sami, displaced with his family by the civil war taking place in that country, is the subject of Suzanne Del Rizzo's book, My Beautiful Birds. Written with the intent of explaining to children what is happening to the people of Syria who must flee their home and country during the unrest, we meet Sami as he, his family, and neighbors are escaping their war-torn community. The title of the book refers to the flock of birds that Sami has raised on the rooftop of the building in which they lived, but that are now released so as to also flee from harm. Sami loved his birds and worries about them now as he settles into a refugee camp - are they ok?, where are they?, would they be able to find him? In time, Sami becomes more settled, less aggravated about the birds he knew, and meets new people and new birds.
Del Rizzo has a unique illustration style that uses clay and Plasticine to develop dimensional depictions which are photographed for her book. For this story she has wisely avoided heavily graphic images of the effects of war and attacks on people and property. In telling her story, she has also softened the overall impact that the war has had on people's lives. At the story's conclusion we see people living in the refugee camp happily, smiling and with a sense of purpose, though in reality it must be a far different story. But for children, what they learn of the effects of war in this book is enough.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, indeed. The story. The illustrations.

Scarred at a young age by the atrocity of Chicken Run, I'm cautious of claymation in any form, but the vibrant mix of clay and acrylic at work here is captivating. I did a picture walk, soaking in the swells of emotion and intricacy of detail, before I even noticed words on the page.

Those words were well worth noticing, too. Though it shouldn't impress me as much as it does, there was actually a story around the larger issues of war and displacement of a family from their home in Syria. Some authors have forgotten this when it comes to the Syrian Civil War, instead giving an "every person" viewpoint that lacks narrative intent (as opposed to political). Travel, shelter, trauma, and rebuilding--difficulties that all refugees face--were addressed gracefully and with a dash of symbolism. Just the right amount.

Obviously, author Suzanne del Rizzo did her homework on the impact of war on children, particularly those currently forced with, and sometimes without, their parents from Syria into camps located in border countries. And then brought it all to vivid life. My Beautiful Birds is tremendous, right up there with Four Feet, Two Sandals for me.

[Zach Rusnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

My beautiful birds is a very good book. The genre of the book is realistic fiction because the book is about refugees, but contain fictional characters. The book is about a family leaving their home because it was turned into a war zone. The book is good for children because it is about refugees and it shows them what is going on in the world.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What beautiful art for such a sad story. Good resource for explaining refugee resettlement and the Syrian conflict.

[Lauren Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illistrations with vivid colors and interesting perspectives.

[Linda]

Sami and everyone he knows is fleeing from their town in Syria. When they get to the refugee camp, people try to live life as they know how - by planting gardens, cooking meals, opening small businesses, setting up a school for the children. But Sami can't move on; he's fixated on the pet pigeons he had to leave behind, wondering where they are and whether they were safe, too. While his own pigeons don't find him, he finds renewed interest in life when he finds new birds to take care of.

The images in this are stunning. It looks like Del Rizzo uses clay to "paint" the images. The added depth is stunning, as are the incredible texture she adds to textiles, hair, feathers, and the sky.


Description: When Sami and his family escape Syria as refugees they must leave their home behind, including Sami’s beloved pigeons. Though Sami’s father assures him that his birds escaped too, Sami can’t help but miss them… and remember.

Genre:
Picture books for children
Canadian fiction

Tone:
Serious

Illustration:
Inventive

Location:
Syria

Subject headings:
Refugees
Pigeons
Refugee camps
Birds

Author Characteristics:
Female
Canada
Canadian

Accelerated Reader: IL: LG, BL: 3, AR Pts: 0.5

Booklist:
Grades 1-3 Using intricate sculpted-clay artwork, Canadian author-illustrator Del Rizzo tells the story of a fictional family’s escape from war-torn Syria. While war isn’t mentioned specifically in the text, readers will get an immediate sense of danger as they observe the family fleeing from a burning city, while the young boy, Sami, worries about the pigeons he left behind. After walking a great distance, they reach the safety of a refugee camp, where the family settles in, but the boy’s thoughts remain with his beautiful birds. In one arresting double-page spread, Sami wistfully gazes into an amethyst and tangerine sky, where “fluffy cloudy-shaped pigeons take shape.” Then one day, a canary, dove, finch, and pigeon all descend near Sami, who cares for them and reclaims a bit of happiness amidst the upheaval. Del Rizzo’s depiction of life in the refugee camp seems a little too rosy, though an author’s note provides information on the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis. Nevertheless, this story draws attention to an important world issue without subjecting young readers to its harshest realities. -- Smith, Julia (Reviewed 1/1/2017) (Booklist, vol 113, number 9, p102)

School Library Journal:
Gr 1–3—Sami is a Syrian boy whose family are forced to leave all they hold dear as they flee their home for the safety of a refugee camp. While "days blur together in a gritty haze" at the camp and uncertainty about their future looms, Sami worries about the fate of the pet pigeons he left behind. These concerns overshadow anything good to come from the camp, from the garden his father grows to the flat bread his mother cooks to the painting Sami makes at the new camp school. While walking one day, Sami realizes that the sky he sees from camp is the same sky as in Syria and that if his pigeons were strong enough to fly, they might be strong enough to survive. Will this insight allow Sami to open up and accept the new friends that might come his way? Or will the refugee camp be nothing more than a segue between two pieces of his life? Exquisite dimensional illustrations using Plasticine, polymer clay, and other media bring a unique, lifelike quality to the page, enriching Sami's story to its fullest potential when paired with the often lyrical prose. VERDICT A stunning offering for libraries wishing to add to their collection of hopeful yet realistic refugee tales.—Brittany Drehobl, Eisenhower Public Library District, IL --Brittany Drehobl (Reviewed 03/01/2017) (School Library Journal, vol 63, issue 03, p102)

Kirkus:
Sami was feeding his pigeons when his home and his neighborhood were suddenly gone.Sami and his family, Muslims, escape, along with everyone he knows. He's frightened by smoke and noise, and his father squeezes his hand and assures him his beautiful birds have escaped, too. Days of walking get them to a refugee camp and safety, but while the other kids play and adults try to create a sense of normalcy, Sami cannot join in. Days pass, then he sees four different birds, which land on his outstretched arms. He collects some seeds to feed them, along with paper and wool for their nests, and for the first time since leaving Syria, Sami finds some peace. He then has the strength to welcome a frightened little girl who arrives with a new group. Del Rizzo uses her considerable talent with paint, Plasticine, and polymer clay to create the colorful, highly textured illustrations for this book , which she conceived while searching for a way to explain the Syrian civil war to her young children. 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. (author's note) (Picture book . 4-10)(Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2017)

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[Jolynn Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Suzanne Del Rizzo
Illustrator: Suzanne Del Rizzo
This children’s book helps the reader see the struggles that people have to deal with in Syria. A young boy named Sami, his family and all his neighbors all had to leave their smoky town. Their town has been destroyed by bombs. Because Sami is so young, all he can think about is his pet birds that he had to leave behind. After they trudged through the sand for two nights and a day, they were finally able to set up their make shift village that was full of tents. Eventually, the children were able to go back to school. Sami had a difficult time with this. One day, he was asked to paint a picture. He began painting his birds that he left, and before he knew it, the page was filled with black paint. As Sami is expressing how much he misses his home, he began to day dream. He opened his eyes because he heard birds, and that is when he realized that he wasn’t dreaming. The birds fluttered around him. Sami and extended his arms and the birds settled on his arms. This was the first step that Sami needed to start his healing process of the traumatic experiences that he had already faced at such a young age. After this experience, Sami was able to make new friends and actually enjoy being a kid again.
Grade Level: 1-3 grade
Guided Reading Level: K
Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection
Rating: 5/5- This is such a beautiful book that gives students information about such a difficult topic, while still being kid friendly!

The UnWanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees written and illustrated by Don Brown would be an excellent companion book. While the children’s book follows Sami on his journey as they are migrating. The young adult book, is going to follow a group of Syrian refugees to safety as they leave their country. My Beautiful Birds could be used as an introduction or as supplemental material in an older grade when discussing Syria. Both books show the hard reality of the refugee camps, where people had to attempt to pick up their lives and move on. Both books show at the end, never to give up hope. Things are going to happen for a reason.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Beautiful Birds is a GORGEOUS children’s book! What initially grabbed my attention was the artwork which was created with polymer clay and acrylic. Pictures are the first thing young children learn to read in books, so I never underestimate the impact of beautiful artwork. But this book also has an important message about families escaping from Syria. The story follows a young boy named Sami after his homeland is bombed. His pet birds escape and memories of them follow him throughout the story. After a long journey by foot, Sami’s family starts a new life with gardens and games and shops and even a school for the camp’s children. But some fears and terrible memories remain with him as he fights his emotions to feel safe. In the end, a new batch of refugees make their way to the camp and Sami reaches out to welcome and befriend another child who is feeling sad and scared. This story is more optimistic than what many refugee families face (not nearly as distressing as Aylan Kurdi’s little body washing ashore after his family’s boat capsized during their attempted escape), but it still offers a deep sense of loss for children who cannot even fathom what people from other nations are currently experiencing. Don’t miss the author’s note at the end as it provides valuable information on displaced families around the world. For example, as of July 2016, 65.3 million people are displaced. Wow!

[Patricia Tilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a timely and compassionate story of a Syrian child refugee who flees his beloved home with his family and leaves behind his pet pigeons. Sami’s story is a journey of hardship, sorrow, and hope for a better future. Conditions are cramped in the tent city, but Sami and his family are safe. But he has trouble adjusting to his new life. He continues to worry about his pigeons, until three birds appear one day and he finds his joy again. This is a turning point for Sami.

Del Rizzo’s exquisite polymer clay illustrations add depth and a life-like dimension to Sami’s story . Her stunning  sunset with vibrant colors of pink, purple and golden hues remind Sami of his sky at home.

This is an important book about the refugee crisis that is affecting the most innocent and vulnerable, children. It is by no means, political. Her focus is on the humanity of the situation for children displaced from their homes in Syria. This is an excellent addition to any school library. It is age-appropriate and an introductory story about children who are displaced because of war or natural disasters.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memories of a child refugee is often full of fear, confusion, uncertainty, and sadness. When Sami escapes from his Syrian village, those feelings are there, as well as concern for his beautiful pigeons that he kept as pets. The birds couldn’t flee with them, but Sami holds onto the belief that they got out safely. The worry keeps Sami from adapting to his new surroundings, until some new birds arrive one day and bring the most important need for refugees: hope. Suzanne Del Rizzo, a Canadian author and artist, does a remarkable job of capturing the thoughts of Sami in limited text and bringing the visuals to life with amazing clay, acrylic, and mixed media scenes. The details of the artwork along with the heartfelt topic make this a beautiful story that you won’t soon forget.

THOUGHTS: the afterword by the author reminded me that there aren’t many books to explain the life of a refugee for younger readers. There is much to their lives that kids can connect and empathize. Plus, an art teacher would have to be captivated by this conceptual creation!

[Alex Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sami walks from a burning city through sand hills and dunes. He is followed by all of the people that lived in the city as well. Through out the book, Sami is curious about the pigeons he owned and if they were able to escape in time from the fires that scorched the city. Sami is shown to be depressed from this because he is unable to do things with the other kids. He paints a picture of a beautiful bird, but splashes in black paint, showing his thoughts of what happened to his birds. Then, some new random birds come to Sami, bringing his happiness back. His people also meet a new group of refugees that were in the same situation as them. The story ends with Sami making a friend.

The art in the book was amazing and unique. I enjoyed how the colors of the different clay's made the picture pop. The setting created with the different hues to make the sky was truly spectacular.

I don't think i will use this in a lesson plan, but i will have it on my shelve for students and kids to read. I think it still brings a powerful message to its audience.

[Dulce R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sami is a young boy who is forced to leave his home, thanks to the Syrian civil war. As Sami and his family are forced to journey to a refugee camp, he suddenly remembers the pigeons he kept as pets. Sami wonders if his pigeons escaped, as he did, and worried about them daily in the refugee camp. Sami has a hard time living in the refugee camp—while he is safe, he misses everything about his home. One day, three different types of birds fly in to camp and give Sami the motivation to find the good in his situation.

My favorite part of the book includes illustrations, which is a vibrant mix of delicate clay and mixed-media art. Del Rizzo focuses on the skylines that Sami travels through: greys, blacks, and reds are used to show the smoke of the war, and white, purple, and creams show the pretty sky over the refugee camp. This book is suitable for children in 1st through 6th grade, as it is an age-appropriate introduction to the Syrian refugee crisis.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Published by Pajama Press on March 8, 2017
My Beautiful Birds is a realistic fiction book about the life of a child displaced by the war living in a Syrian refugee camp. The little boy finds a sense of home by connecting with the birds and learning to enjoy his new school. He helps a scared girl who misses home and shows her the birds and the school. At the end it has an excerpt which explain the Syrian refugee crisis in greater detail. I think this excerpt is a really important part of the story and should be read along side the book. I think that a lot of the times these stories can glorify a way of life which is very difficult for people it’s actually happening to so it’s important for children to get the full picture. This would be a great book to read during a current issues unit. For sure should be read alongside more context.