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“Argueta and Ruano present a unique and much-needed perspective on the reasons driving young people to immigrate to the U.S. extremely vital.” –Booklist

Somos como las nubes / We Are Like the Clouds

Written by Jorge Argueta
Illustrated by Alfonso Ruano
Published by Groundwood Books

Why are young people leaving their country to walk to the United States to seek a new, safe home? Over 100,000 such children have left Central America. This book of poetry helps us to understand why and what it is like to be them. This powerful book by award-winning Salvadoran poet Jorge Argueta describes the terrible process that leads young people to undertake the extreme hardships and risks involved in the journey to what they hope will be a new life of safety and opportunity. A refugee from El Salvador’s war in the eighties, Argueta was born to explain the tragic choice confronting young Central Americans today who are saying goodbye to everything they know because they fear for their lives. This book brings home their situation and will help young people who are living in safety to understand those who are not. Compelling, timely and eloquent, this book is beautifully illustrated by master artist Alfonso Ruano who also illustrated The Composition, considered one of the 100 Greatest Books for Kids by Scholastic’s Parent and Child Magazine.

Primary ISBN: 9781554988495
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 07 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , ,

Setting: Unspecified (South/Central America), Mexico, United States

Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Refugee, Immigrant

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.

Lesson Plan for Grades 3-5
Source: The Refugee Doll Project

Cultural Representation Reflection Worksheet Multi-Level Lesson
Source: Teaching Books

Story Map Multi-Level Lesson
Source: Teaching Books

 

This book is part of the Welcoming Library. The Welcoming Library is a traveling collection of picture books set in our New Arrival and 
New American communities. From small towns to big cities, these immigration stories are helping readers 
(of all ages) Welcome and Belong. WelcomingLibrary.org