Books About Immigration · 190 titles considered

The Best Immigration Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about immigration? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Refugee
Efrén Divided
Red, White, and Whole
The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Immigration

Sale price
$1697
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2017

Refugee

By Alan Gratz

Three children flee their war-torn homes, facing perilous journeys for a chance at refuge and hope.

338 pages· 65,632 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.4/5 Goodreads · 86,160 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2018

The Eleventh Trade

A boy must trade up from a keychain to reclaim his grandfather's stolen instrument.

304 pages· 53,985 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 376 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2020

Everything Sad Is Untrue

A refugee boy spins tales to claim his truth in a skeptical classroom.

356 pages· 85,022 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 45,689 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2020

Efrén Divided

Efrén's mother is deported, and he must reunite his family.

Pura Belpré Award (2021)
272 pages· 44,601 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.3/5 Goodreads · 6,178 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1899
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2019

They Called Us Enemy

A boy's childhood unfolds in WWII American camps, questioning identity and resilience.

204 pages· 12,726 words· Est. 1.5 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 56,895 ratings
$19.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2021

Red, White, and Whole

An Indian American girl faces her mother's illness, torn between cultural worlds and expectations.

224 pages· 21,311 words· Est. 2.5 hour read
4.4/5 Goodreads · 8,221 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2016

Save Me a Seat

Two boys unite against a school bully, discovering unexpected friendship.

256 pages· 31,016 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 19,709 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2013

Gaby, Lost and Found

A young girl seeks a forever home while her family falls apart.

224 pages· 41,106 words· Est. 5.5 hour read
4.1/5 Goodreads · 1,498 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2000

Esperanza Rising

A privileged girl must adapt to harsh labor camp life during the Great Depression.

262 pages· 41,873 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 117,490 ratings
$7.99Save 5%
Chapter Book · Ages 12–15 · 2004

Kira-Kira

A sister's illness challenges Katie to find hope in a world that seems to dim without her light.

291 pages· 44,276 words· Est. 4 hour read
4.0/5 Goodreads · 28,460 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
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Browse by age

Immigration Picture Books

Illustrated read-alouds about immigration for preschool and elementary-age readers.

Christmas Tapestry

Ages 6–9 · 2002

A tapestry hides a secret that could bring a Christmas Eve miracle.

The Matchbox Diary

Ages 6–10 · 2013

A girl uncovers her great-grandfather's immigration story through matchbox mementos.

Watercress

Ages 4–7 · 2021

A roadside discovery reveals a family's hidden heritage and unites past and present.

Molly's Pilgrim

Ages 6–10 · 1983

An immigrant girl finds her place in America through a unique Thanksgiving project.

The Name Jar

Ages 3–7 · 2001

A young girl navigates her first day of school in a new country, struggling to fit in and find her place.

Paddington

Ages 3–6 · 1972

A bear from Peru causes delightful chaos in a new home.

Mango, Abuela, and Me

Ages 5–8 · 2015

A girl finds a creative way to bridge the language gap with her grandmother.

The Arabic Quilt

Ages 4–7 · 2020

A new school, a forgotten lunch, and a path to acceptance.

Areli Is a Dreamer

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A young immigrant navigates two worlds, seeking her American dream.

With Lots of Love

Ages 4–8 · 2022

A girl navigates a new life in the U.S., longing for her Abuela's love.

My Two Border Towns

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A boy's journey across the border reveals the heart of community care.

Mango Moon

Ages 4–8 · 2021

A family grapples with life after a father's deportation.

View all immigration picture books
Browse by age

Immigration Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Longer stories about immigration for developing and independent readers.

American Born Chinese

Ages 12–18 · 2006

Three lives collide in a surprising twist, challenging identity and stereotypes.

Soccer Sam

Ages 7–9 · 1987

A cousin bridges language gaps through soccer.

The Elephant in the Room

Ages 9–12 · 2021

A girl, a lottery winner, and a circus elephant find hope in unexpected friendships.

Pie in the Sky

Ages 8–11 · 2019

An immigrant boy secretly bakes cakes to cope with loss and language barriers.

What Was Ellis Island?

Ages 8–11 · 2014

This book tells the story of Ellis Island, the gateway to America for millions of immigrants from 1892 to 1954

Illegal

Ages 10–14 · 2017

A boy's perilous journey across continents for hope and family.

New from Here
Sale price
$1899

New from Here

Ages 8–12 · 2022

A boy battles racism and family separation during the pandemic.

Three Keys

Ages 8–12 · 2020

Mia faces school struggles, motel troubles, and a looming law threatening her world.

The Lotus Seed

Ages 6–9 · 1993

A girl flees Vietnam, carrying a lotus seed as a symbol of her lost homeland.

Land of the Cranes

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A young girl clings to hope and poetry in a detention camp, seeking family unity.

Measuring Up

Ages 8–12 · 2020

A young girl must win a cooking contest to reunite with her grandmother.

Nowhere Boy

Ages 10–14 · 2018

A Syrian refugee and an American boy forge an unlikely friendship in Brussels, defying the odds together.

Keep exploring
Books about immigration and emigrationBooks about prejudice and racismBooks about Mexican cultureBooks about refugeesBooks about animal rescueBooks about bullyingBooks about cancerBooks about death, grief, and bereavement

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