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2020 USBBY Outstanding International Books List

“On the eve of losing everything and with danger still ahead, a mother and daughter exhibit the perseverance of the human spirit in wartime…Mama comforts her daughter, the narrator, with the story of a large bird that descends from the mountains as night falls and spreads its wings over their house to protect them from danger…When the girl wakes up, the bird is there, its head enormous next to her slim body. “Have you forgotten everything? it asks. / … / All the wonderful things that were here before.” Then, one by one, it reminds the girl of the warm, happy memories that are still inside her, and as they manifest on the page, they gradually lift up her spirit and add color to the book.”

– Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

Vanishing Colors

Written by Constance Ørbeck-Nilssen and Kari Dickson (Translator)
Illustrated by Akin Duzakin
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

A haunting, poignant story about refugees

As a young girl and her mother take shelter for the night in their war-torn city, the whole world appears muted and dark. When the girl wakes in the middle of the night to find a bird watching her, she knows it’s the one from her mother’s stories, who flies down from the mountains to protect people from harm. She tells the bird what her life used to be like, before the war and destruction—she describes her favorite dress, the open market stalls, her dad playing music on the roof. As she continues to remember, colors slowly seep back into her life, and with them comes the courage to hope for a new beginning.

This evocative story is a wonderful conversation starter about an important and timely topic.

Primary ISBN: 9780802855183
Publication Date: March 2019
Available As: Hardcover, eBook
Picture Book, Age 05 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , , , , , ,

Setting: Unspecified (Europe)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Home Country

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