PD: Book Review The Little Refugee

The Little Refugee by Anh Do and Suzanne Do

Illustrator. Bruce Whatley. Allen & Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742378329

(Age : 4-8 ) Highly recommended:

Honour Book, Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award - Eve Pownall Award for Information Books
Shortlisted, 2012 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award for Lower Primary
Notable book, 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Award - Picture Books
Winner in the Indie Awards 2012, Children's category
Shortlisted, 2012 WA Premier's Literary Award WC
Shortlisted, 2012 Australian Educational Publishing Awards Primary Student Resource: (Arts/Science/Humanities)
Shortlisted, 2012 NSW Premier's History Awards
Shortlisted, Red Dot Awards 2013 Younger Readers category. The Red Dot Awards is an initiative of the International School Libraries Network Singapore.

This is Anh Doh’s story, born in Vietnam, poor upbringing in the midst of the Vietnam War.  After the war ended his family decided to escape war torn Vietnam to another country and become refugees.  This terrifying ocean ordeal provided incredible challenges such as huge storms, pirates’ stealing their treasured possessions, crammed conditions with no food and water.  They were rescued by a passing by German cargo ship and ended up in Australia.   School proved difficult with limited English and the fact that Anh looked different and ate different foods. 

In spite of all the dangers and hardships they faced, Mum and Dad always told me to have hope, and believe that everything will turn out ok in the end.

This uplifting and inspiring story, wonderfully illustrated by Bruce Whatley, will encourage readers to read it over again, as they ponder about the circumstances that led to Anh Doh and his family becoming refugees in Australia.  This book puts a face on the boat people and migrant people of Australia considering that this subject is highly topical in contemporary Australia and is still being experienced by people coming to Australia today.

The background to this strong family, of Anh, although poor still being happy because he had lots of playmates, losing all their food and water on the journey but being grateful because they are still alive, of being robbed in Australia and saying there are people worse off than us! All point to a belief system of the eternal optimist.  This wonderful story provides a springboard for many discussions about Refugees, Racial and Ethnic differences or about Vietnam where the story begins, the descriptions and illustrations providing an unforgettable background to the story as it unfolds.

Final comments

I love this book. I bought Anh Doh’s the Happiest Refugee for my mum on mothers day few years ago because I wanted to read it! Then I bought The Little Refugee for my 3 year old last year for his birthday. We read it often, I love Anh’s outlook on life, and I believe it provides the platform for many teachable moments with my kids like compassion, resilience and embracing others, we are going as a family to Vietnam for my 40^th in two years so the kids will be sure to revisit this book often.