Overview

Best of the Year: Publishers Weekly - NYPL - Booklist Winner of the national book award for children's literature in the Netherlands — a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home! Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family's journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen. Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman's arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family's experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.

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9781646144587

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Reviews

[STAR] ""This tender novel, narrated in a simple, affecting voice by nine-year-old Roya, gently illuminates the disorienting effects of the refugee experience on a child... sensitively written and poignant."" - Publishers Weekly (starred) ""In this moving novel about home and belonging, a beloved bunny helps a refugee family tap into their collective stories."" - Foreword [STAR] ""Deftly weaving in moments of humor, joy, and sadness, the authors offer a gentle, child's-eye view of the dangers the family faces... Profoundly and charmingly moving."" - Kirkus (starred) [STAR] ""Van de Vendel and Elman's touching narrative (inspired by Elman's own experiences fleeing Afghanistan as a child) gets to the emotional heart of Roya's circumstances... This is a story with deftly drawn characters and clearly demonstrated familial love. Schaap's full-page color portraits of various characters with Mishka add elegance to this evocative and memorable presentation."" - Booklist (starred)

Author Information

Edward van de Vendel has been a school principal, founder, and teacher. He has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and received the German Jugendliteratur Prize; in 2023, he received the highest honor for children's books in the Netherlands: the Gouden Griffel, forMishka. Edward lives in Amersfoort, and travels widely. Author residence: Netherlands Anoush Elman was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. When he was twelve he came to live in the Netherlands with his parents, brothers and sister, where the family had to wait seven years before receiving their residence permit. After high school he studied applied psychology, took a job as senior researcher at Pharos, the Dutch Center of Expertise On Health Disparities, and obtained his doctorate in 2022. Author residence: Netherlands Annet Schaap is a children's book illustrator and in 2017 made her debut as both writer and illustrator forLampje, which won the Gouden Griffel, the British Carnegie Medal, and the Premio Strega Ragazze e Ragazzi, and has been translated into 22 languages. Illustratorresidence: Netherlands Nancy Forest-Flier is an American-born translator and editor living and working in the Netherlands. She has translated several adult and children's novels from Dutch to English as well as books of historical non-fiction. She has also translated for numerous Dutch museums and institutes including the Anne Frank House. She has six children and ten grandchildren. Translator residence: Netherlands

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