Civil Rights Stories: Refugees and Homelands by Louise Spilsbury (author) and Toby Newsome (illustrator)

This book explains civil rights and the reasons why refugees flee their homelands in an accessible way for younger readers.

Included is a foreword by award-winning journalist and television presenter, Nelufar Hedayat. Born in Afghanistan, she came to Britain as a refugee, which has shaped her work.

A chronological selection of key civil rights moments and movements regarding refugees is explained in a child-friendly way. This book examines some of the reasons why people flee their homelands and the ways they are treated when they arrive in new lands. It looks at historical examples, such as the Huguenots and World War refugees, along with modern crises, such as Syria, refugee camps in Africa and those fleeing violence in South and Central America.

Prominent civil rights campaigners and figures are featured and a timeline helps readers to see at a glance how the fight for refugee rights has evolved over time. Sensitive illustrations illuminate the text and help readers to understand some of the harder concepts. Death and violence are mentioned, but are wholly in context and are written about in a non-alarmist way with the age of the reader very much in mind.

The Civil Rights Stories series is a vital resource for younger readers aged 7+ who are being introduced to these topics or are studying them in school. Titles in this series: Human Rights LGBTQ+ Rights Racial Equality Refugees and Homelands Slavery Women’s Rights and Suffrage