Story Boat
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Published by Tundra Books
When a little girl and her younger brother are forced along with their family to flee the home they’ve always known, they must learn to make a new home for themselves — wherever they are. And sometimes the smallest things — a cup, a blanket, a lamp, a flower, a story — can become a port of hope in a terrible storm. As the refugees travel onward toward an uncertain future, they are buoyed up by their hopes, dreams and the stories they tell — a story that will carry them perpetually forward. This timely, sensitively told story, written by multiple award–winner Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Sendak Fellowship recipient Rashin Kheiriyeh, introduces very young readers in a gentle, non-frightening and ultimately hopeful way to the current refugee crisis.
NOTE: While the brilliance of this book is how universal the migration story is, I’m Your Neighbor Books uses this book to represent migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and Ukraine. In fact, we have produced a read aloud in Ukrainian. Read more.
Primary ISBN: 9780735263598
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 03 or older
Community Represented: Afghan/Afghan American, Iranian/Iranian American, Syrian/Syrian American, Unspecified
Themes: Bilingual Book: Ukrainian/English, Engagement Tool: Discussion, Engagement Tool: I'm Your Neighbor Books Created, Family Relationship: Siblings, Refugee Journey, Welcoming by Community, Welcoming Library: Core Picture Books (Current)
Setting: Unspecified
Character’s New Arrival/New American Status: Refugee
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.
Create Your Own Ukrainian Edition
EXPLORE how to print and insert an invitation to listen to a read aloud in Ukrainian.
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Art Project
EXPLORE Story Boat Paper Craft / Refugee Reflection
Source: I’m Your Neighbor Books
Educator’s Guide
EXPLORE Educator’s Guide
Source: Publisher
Welcoming Library
This book is part of the Welcoming Library. This I’m Your Neighbor Books project is a traveling collection of picture books set in our New Arrival and New Generation communities. From small towns to big cities, these immigration stories are helping readers (of all ages) Welcome and Belong.