(2) K-3 Illustrated by Yas Imamura. When her family must flee their beloved home in Kurdistan, young Mevan's status as a refugee makes her feel smaller and smaller until she makes herself invisible. The family travels from Azerbaijan to Russia to the Netherlands, where a kind man sees her, despite her ability to hide herself, and gives her the perfect gift -- a red bicycle -- making her feel "a hundred feet tall." This true story, gently told in the third person and coauthored by Babakar herself, is brought to life through evocative mixed-media illustrations, which capture the deep loneliness of leaving a home full of friends and family. The illustrations shift from the lush greenery of Kurdistan to the stark concrete of Soviet Bloc apartments to a colorful and joyous double-page spread when Mevan first rides her bicycle. An epilogue and author's note describe more of Babakar's experience as a young refugee and tell her story of returning to the Netherlands as an adult and reuniting with the kind apartment manager who gave her the bike. A reflective story about the isolation of life as a child refugee and about the enduring effects of an act of kindness.

Reviewer: Laura Koenig | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(4) 4-6 First Peoples series. Historically, Bedouins were nomadic Arab desert dwellers; the Kurds were early inhabitants of parts of Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Each of these series books gives a cursory introduction to one of these ethnic groups, discussing culture, traditions, history, and life today. The sketchy text is enhanced with color photographs and sidebars in a busy design. A list of additional resources, including websites, is appended. Glos., ind. [Review covers these First Peoples titles: The Kurds of Asia and The Bedouin of the Middle East.]

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) YA World in Conflict series. These books provide an expansive look at the complex problems faced by two different peoples whose lives and political independence are controlled by powerful countries. While the three-column format may prove daunting to some, the books include background information and balanced discussions of the recent situations in these regions. Detailed chronologies are included. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt