The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

de Arias, Patricia

Marwan's Journey

32 pp. | Minedition | May, 2018 | Trade ISBN 978-988-8341-55-9 $17.99

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Laura Borràs. Although Marwan's Middle Eastern birth country is only hinted at in the beautifully expressive watercolor and ink paintings, the boy is unfortunately among the adult and child refugees fleeing war-torn countries worldwide. His mother, "with her flour-soft hands," is not beside him on the hard journey. The poetic first-person text, translated from the Spanish, addresses violence but still allows hope of Marwan one day returning to his homeland.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt