Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher

Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher
Buy Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: For Sharing
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: If you've had difficulty explaining the current refugee crisis to children this book, with its gentle retelling of the nativity story, might be the answer. It's also been produced at no profit by Nosy Crow and £5 from the sale of each £7.99 book goes to the War Child charity. Highly recommended.
Buy? Yes	Borrow? No
Pages: 32	Date: November 2015
Publisher: Nosy Crow
ISBN: 978-0857637413
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A donkey tells the story of how he was led by the man whilst he carried the woman, all the way to Bethlehem, where the baby was born. Soon after, the shepherds came and then the kings. But then the man had a dream - a dream of danger - and he knew that it was time for them all to leave. They left some gold for the innkeeper (they were not staying in the stable because they were poor) and went through the quiet streets hoping for the kindness of strangers, which they found. Finally they came to another land - to Egypt - and found refuge.

There can be few people who have not been horrified by the current refugee crisis. We've seen children, who could so easily have been our own children, in circumstances too difficult to contemplate and completely dependant on the kindness of strangers. It's difficult to explain what's happening to these children in words which our children can understand and this gentle, beautiful book helps to put the situation into context. The words are simple, elegant and completely appropriate and Sam Usher's illustrations bring them to life perfectly. It's one of the most moving retellings of the nativity story which I've read, particularly as it ends with so much hope.

The publishers will not make any money from the sale of Refuge. They've absorbed everything other than their print costs (and the book has all of Nosy Crow's high production values, so don't think that you're getting something cheap and rather shoddy, which sometimes happens when you buy something from which a charity benefits) and £5 from the sale of this £7.99 book goes to War Child to help care for Syrian refugee children.

Surely you have a child in your life who needs Refuge? Please remember that there's only one letter's difference between refuge and refugee. All the letters in this book could make so much difference. I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

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You can read more book reviews or buy Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Refuge by Anne Booth and Sam Usher at Amazon.com.

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