On
January 15th of this year, I offered 3 picture books about various
refugee experiences. I just found a couple more jewels about this subject with
wonderful possibilities for ministry.
Four Feet, Two Sandals takes place entirely in a refugee camp. After
2 years with no shoes, 10-year-old Lina finds in a pile of donated items only 1
of a pair of perfect-fitting sandals. She is puzzled and disheartened, but then
she sees across the crowd Feroza, an unknown girl her age who is holding the
other sandal. They make eye contact, but Feroza walks away. Eventually they become
friends and take turns wearing the pair. Their friendship progresses as they share
what they have in common besides the sandals, particularly the loss of family
members.
When
Lina hears that she and her mother are to immigrate to America, she receives
new shoes so she gives her one sandal to Feroza. As Lina is leaving, Feroza
gives back the one sandal and suggests that the sandals serve as reminders of
their friendship and the hope that they will “share again in America.”
You’ll
find in the story this sentence: “As-salaam alaykum.” (Peace be with you.),
which is commonly heard among Muslims who also worship the God of Abraham. My
favorite scene is when the girls creep up to the school window where only the
boys are inside learning. They begin practicing writing their names in the
dirt. Lots to talk about here.
This
story is based on Khadra’s experiences with refugees in Pakistan near the
border of Afghanistan. An author’s note in the back is a must read for better
understanding of refugees and camps.
It would
be easy to just talk about the plot elements of this story and the next.
Instead pull your conversation towards more foundational issues such as lack of
basic needs in these camps, fear of violence, anxiety, and how vulnerability
builds relationships.
Picture Book: Four Feet, Two Sandals
Author: Karen Lynn Williams &
Khadra Mohammed
Illustrator: Doug Chayka
Original Publisher & Date: Erdman’s,
2007
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7
and up, 2nd and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Today’s
second PBT book about refugees is primarily about a later stage of immigration,
becoming acclimated to a new home and culture. The young girl in this book is
called Cartwheel. That was what she loved to do before she and her auntie left
their war-torn home.
Everything
is strange for Cartwheel, particularly the language, which seems like a
waterfall of strange sounds and shapes. Look for this in the illustrations. Cartwheel
often feels alone and not like herself. Kobald represents Cartwheel’s first
language as an “old blanket’ of her own words and sounds. Adorned with familiar
items, she wraps herself in the beautiful orange blanket when overwhelmed by
all the changes and new words & sounds.
A
friendship begins when Cartwheel sees a smile and a wave from a girl her age
who is playing at a distance in the park. At first Cartwheel shies away, but later
trips to the park have her looking for the girl. Eventually they meet.
Despite
the barriers of language, Cartwheel begins learning her new language a few
words at a time. These are visually represented by light-colored shapes that are later
incorporated into a growing white blanket that Cartwheel expands block by block
just as a language would grow concept by concept.
The girls
enjoy each other and soon Cartwheel’s new blanket becomes comfortable, allowing
her to feel like herself no matter which blanket she uses. Help your audience
see the first blanket as perhaps real but also symbolic. Then they will better
understand the growing size of the second blanket, symbolic of her new language
and how Cartwheel integrates it into her first blanket.
Also, look
for the umbrella and the boat in this story. These are powerful symbols that are not explained. Encourage
your audience to consider possibilities. Don’t shy away from these kinds of
abstractions. Much of spirituality is loaded with abstract and symbolic
content. These books offer good practice for children and adults that might be
inclined to take stories only at their surface level. Great picture books offer
much richer experiences if you are willing to look and listen a little deeper.
Picture Book: My Two
Blankets
Author: Irena Kobald
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Original Publisher & Date: HMH, 2014
Age & Grade Appropriateness:
Formats other than Book: Tablet
As described in my earlier post about refugees [here], these books remind us of our scriptural charge to “welcome the
stranger.” Understanding the struggles of immigrants helps in that process.
Another possibility for ministry is to connect these stories to Bible stories or
Bible characters.
I can see how one or both of
these books connects with the sharing of the loaves and fishes, Joseph, Mary,
and Jesus immigrating to Egypt, Ruth and Naomi, Jonathan and David’s
relationship, and even Jesus and the woman at the well. Don’t see the
connections? Let me know in a comment and I’ll explain.
No comments:
Post a Comment