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A 2024 Middle East Book Award Winner

“This [book] follows parallel stories centering on families in vastly different situations … [with] compelling art, shining bright and conveying hope … This tender, cleverly told tale reminds readers that we’re all on the same ride, no matter how different our lives may seem…The disparities may seem stark, but the similarities resonate the deepest.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“[The book] spread by spread and with nearly identical dialogue, juxtaposes the two different journeys of the boy and his mother and the girl and her father. One is safe and comfortable while the other is steeped in danger. In one striking spread, the boy leans over a bridge to point at a swan. ‘Don’t get too close to the edge,’ says his mother. On the recto, the father says the same to the girl, now a war refugee, as they navigate a small raft in the water, leaving the country they knew as home … This sensitive story should prompt readers to consider that idea along with the importance of empathy when encountering strangers.”

—Horn Book Magazine

The Ferris Wheel

Written by Tülin Kozikoğlu and Julie Albright (Translator)
Illustrated by Hüseyin Sönmezay
Published by Interlink Publishing Group Inc.

This is the story of two parallel journeys in cities far apart. A mother and a son leave their home for a better day, while a father and a daughter leave their home for a safer day. The concerns of the parents are almost the same as they watch over their kids, but their experiences are sadly very different. The father and daughter are fleeing a city devastated by war, leaving their home—and beloved goldfish—behind. All through their journey the goldfish follows them as a symbol of longing and hope. The two families’ paths finally cross on a Ferris wheel and, as they go round and round, trading places with each other, we understand that we are all connected.

With beautiful illustrations full of symbolism, this simple and powerful story of displacement encourages us all to welcome newcomers with compassion and curiosity.

Primary ISBN: 9781623717216
Publication Date: November 2023
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , ,

Setting: Unspecified

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Refugee

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