When a little girl and her younger brother are forced along with their family to flee the home they've always known, they must learn to make a new home for themselves -- wherever they are. And sometimes the smallest things -- a cup, a blanket, a lamp, a flower, a story -- can become a port of hope in a terrible storm. As the refugees travel onward toward an uncertain future, they are buoyed up by their hopes, dreams and the stories they tell -- a story that will carry them perpetually forward.
This timely, sensitively told story, written by multiple award--winner Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Sendak Fellowship recipient Rashin Kheiriyeh, introduces very young readers in a gentle, non-frightening and ultimately hopeful way to the current refugee crisis.
RASHIN KHEIRIYEH is an internationally recognized, award-winning illustrator/author, animation director, and painter who has published over seventy children's books in countries such as the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, Spain, South Korea, China, Brazil, India, and Iran. She has received fifty national and international awards
for the books and animations including recently being winner of the 2017 Sendak Fellow Award. She was also the winner of the Bologna Book Fair six times and the winner of Golden Apple Award at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia. She has an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Illustration and an MFA in Graphic Design from Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. She also studied at School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York. She is a lecturer at Department of Art, University of Maryland and has contributed illustrations to the New York Times, Google, and many other publication houses around the world.
PRAISE FOR Story Boat:
"A timely and uplifting book about and for refugees." --STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews
"Elegantly composed and beautifully depicted, Story Boat is the perfect vehicle to spark sensitive discussions and foster compassion for newcomers." --STARRED REVIEW, Quill & Quire
"Luminous and thought-provoking, Story Boat contains deep layers of meaning that are sure to spark conversations from young readers." --STARRED REVIEW, BookPage
"Even among many excellent recent picture books about refugees, Maclear's story stands out . . . Kheiriyeh's gorgeously playful illustrations add to the human hopeful message." --New York Times
"An utter masterpiece, Story Boat tackles a very serious issue that affects many children today . . . . [A]n immensely enjoyable read." --CM Reviews
"The creators tell a refugee story in simple language with everyday objects, making it graspable for young readers." --Publishers Weekly
"A timely story that will allow parents and teachers to open a discussion with young readers about the experiences of refugees." --School Library Connection
"Maclear's poetic text and Kheiriyeh's mixed media illustrations explore the continuing refugee crisis in this gentle picture book." --Globe and Mail
"[A] beautifully illustrated picture book." --Tablet
"A lyrical picture book about the migrant experience through a child's eyes, dedicated to Syrian refugee children." --49th Shelf