Published by Dial Books

Summary:  When Lubna arrives by boat with her father on a strange beach, she finds a pebble.  The next morning, she and her father have arrived at a city of tents. They stay there for awhile, and Lubna’s best friend becomes Pebble.  She draws a face on it, and tells it about her home, her brothers, and the war. When Amir arrives, he and Lubna become friends. One day, Lubna’s father tells her he’s found them a new home.  It’s time for Lubna to leave, and after much consideration, she gives Pebble to Amir. The final pages show Lubna leaving on a boat, whispering goodbye to Pebble while Amir whispers hello. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  While this describes the experience of refugees, any child will be able to connect to the story’s ideas of friendship, having an imaginary friend, and missing home.  The illustrations are beautiful and capture the desolate surroundings from a child’s imaginative viewpoint.

Cons:  I can’t decide if an author’s note about refugees would have been a useful addition, or if it’s better to let this story be more universal.

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