Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave their Homes? And Other Big Questions

What Is... And Other Big Questions

by Michael Rosen, Annemarie Young

What does it mean for people to have to leave their homes, and what happens when they seek entry to another country? This book explores the history of refugees and migration around the world and the effects on people of never-ending war and conflict. It compares the effects on society of diversity and interculturalism with historical attempts to create a racially 'pure' culture. It takes an international perspective, and offers a range of views from people who have personal experience of migration, including the campaigners Meltem Avcil and Muzoon Almellehan, the comedian and actor Omid Djalili and the poet Benjamin Zephaniah. Aimed at young people aged 10 and upwards, the book encourages readers to think for themselves about the issues involved. There is also a role-play activity asking readers to imagine themselves in the situation of having to decide whether to leave their homes and seek refuge in a new country. Part of the groundbreaking and important 'And Other Big Questions' series, which offers balanced and considered views on the big issues we face in the world we live in today.Other titles in the series is Humanism? How do you live without a god?What is Feminism? Why do we need It?What is Gender? How does it Define us?What is Consent? Why is it Important?What is Right and Wrong? Who Decides? Where do Values come from?What is Race? Who are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter?What is Masculinity? Why Does it Matter?What is Politics? Why Should we Care?

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Childrens

51 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 24, 2017

About the author

Michael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an excellent little book! I saw this on the shelf of my local library and thought it would tie in excellently with one of our units at school. I was 100% correct - this is a great book for 10-12 yo students to understand some of the issues surrounding migration and refugees, difference and understanding. It is quite UK-centric, but until an Australian version is written, it should become required reading in our schools.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really hard to rate this book. On one hand it does have some interesting information that I think would be helpful for the target audience. On the flip side and, why this rates down for me, it opens by saying the book will provide information that will help the reader form their own opinions and then goes on to use inflammatory and emotive language describing those who have opposing views to immigration. These words then detract from the positive information provided in the book about migration, refugees and asylum seekers.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really a book aimed at school children but enjoyable and informative.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful resource, nicely laid out, for understanding more about refugees, migrants and asylum. I read it on Kindle but will be purchasing a print copy for my school.

[Kirsten Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic short nonfiction book which answers questions about what it means to be a refugee and a migrant.
An ideal way to help children understand these complex issues

[Claire Fern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for both adults and Children

[Paul Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

All children are born with a pure clean heart; it is us who sully those hearts with prejudice. This is definitely a book that all children should read and discuss in schools.