(3) K-3 CitizenKid series. Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Young Deo flees his village in Burundi and ends up at a refugee camp, malnourished, without his family, and up against bullies and gangs. Through the power of play and banana-leaf soccer balls, Deo finds friendship and a sense of community. Striking mixed-media illustrations enhance this powerful story (inspired by real events) of survival and resurgence. An author's note is included. Websites.

Reviewer: Alia Jones

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. In Kenya, Mimi's sister almost dies after drinking dirty water, and upon Mimi's suggestion, her village builds a clinic to provide care and teach illness prevention. The worthy if message-heavy story includes warm acrylic art full of cultural details. Lengthy sections of activism-inspiring information highlighting real international organizations, the importance of basic health care, and how kids can help concludes the book. Glos.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. In Honduras, when María Luz's father goes in search of work, he leaves her in charge of the floundering family farm. A new teacher gets María Luz to try some techniques that revive the garden, which in turn inspires other villagers. The well-meaning text is wordy. Each spread contains a full-page colored-pencil illustration, sometimes with surreal elements. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes. This story tells of a Ghanaian boy who starts out with one hen and builds up to a large poultry farm while always helping others. Microcredit is a major topic in contemporary international relations, and this accessible picture book based on real events will help young children understand the concept. Gold-hued acrylic illustrations depict the West African setting. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt