"Story Boat" - a bookwrap

Unwrapping

"Story Boat"

Written by Kyo Maclear

Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh

* Ages:  3-7
* Grade Level:  PS-2
* Hardcover:  40 pages
* Publisher:  Tundra Books 
* Pub. Date:  February 4, 2020
* Language:  English



Praise

“A timely and uplifting book about and for refugees.” --Kirkus, starred

“An utter masterpiece, Story Boat tackles a very serious issue that affects many children today. . . . [A]n immensely enjoyable read.” --CM Reviews

“The creators tell a refugee story in simple language with everyday objects, making it graspable for young readers.” --Publishers Weekly

Unwrapping Some Illustrations for You to Enjoy

About the Book

A family, which includes a girl and her little brother, join in a caravan of immigrants leaving all that is familiar behind.  Where are they going they wonder?  They must locate a place to settle and find a home.  It's winter and the trek is long and difficult for everyone as they must carry what little belongings they have in backpacks and bags ever in search of a new life. 

"Here is a cup. 
Old and fine, warm as a hug.

Every morning,
As things keep changing,
We sit wherever we are 
And sip, sip, sip,
Sippy, sip, sip
Ahhhh
From this cup."

Every night the children snuggle together under a blanket to keep warm and protected from the cold.  They dream the blanket is a sail that attaches to their cup and it takes them far away places.  Their imaginations turn their lamp into a lighthouse, a beacon of light to guide them to a better place.  They always move along claiming wherever they stop is "here"!  The children find comfort in the familiar things they are carrying with them, the nomadic community they are travelling with,  and in their imaginations, which bring them hope.  

The children do child-like things along the way like write, read, and draw pictures to pass the time when they are stationary and not moving forward.   Finally they reach their destination and they now know that dreams do come true.  They found their ultimate "here!"

This warm, imaginative, lyrical tale affirms to the reader that home is simply...here... right where you are at the present time.   This heartfelt story introduces young readers to the refugee crisis that seems to be escalating worldwide as families set off on a journey to find a new safe home... a difficult journey that is fuelled by hope and the dream of a better life for all. 

The illustrations are vivid and very affective enriching the thoughtful text.  I highly recommend this book. 

Storywraps Rating - 5 +++ HUGS!!!!!

Meet the Author

KYO MACLEAR is an essayist, novelist, and children's author. Her books have been translated into fifteen languages and published in over twenty countries. She has earned multiple awards, including a Governor General's Award, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award, a USBBY Outstanding International Book (Virginia Wolf), the IODE Ontario Jean Throop Award (Yak and Dove), the Trillium Book Award (Birds Art Life), and the White Raven Award (Virginia Wolf and The Liszts). She has received nominations for the Kate Greenaway Medal (The Liszts), several Forest of Reading nominations, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award (The Good Little Book), and the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize (Birds Art Life). Kyo holds a doctorate in environmental humanities and is on faculty at the University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA and the Humber School for Writers.

About the Illustrator

  RASHIN KHEIRIYEH is an internationally recognized, award-winning illustrator/author, animation director, and painter who has published over seventy children's books in countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain, South Korea, China, Brazil, India, and Iran. She has received fifty national and international awards

for the books and animations including recently being winner of the 2017 Sendak Fellow Award. She was also the winner of the Bologna Book Fair six times and the winner of Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia. She has an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Illustration and an MFA in Graphic Design from Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. She also studied at School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York. She is a lecturer at Department of Art, University of Maryland and has contributed illustrations to the New York Times, Google, and many other publication houses around the world.

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