One of the most dramatic areas of geographic study is that of the movement of people escaping war, drought, and terrorism. This is not a new phenomena but goes back to the dawn of history. There so many gripping stories of refugees and today I’d like to share of of the most beautiful and emotionally stirring refugee accounts that I have read.
How I Learned Geography
by Uri Schulevitz (author and illustrator) published by Farrar Straus Giroux 2008
How I Learned Geography is a perfect example of how important and inspiring a child’s picture book can be. It is beautifully illustrated and the deceptively short and simple text tells a powerful story of love and hunger that bread alone can’t satisfy. It is the true story of a young boy who flees with his family from their war ravaged home. They end up in a far away country where they live in a small room with another couple. His father goes to town to buy bread, but returns with a map instead. The boy is angry and hungry but the map fills the dark room with color and the boy’s imagination takes flight.
How I Learned Geography is the author’s autobiographical account of his story fleeing Poland in 1939 and then living in Turkestan. The author’s note at the end tells how the family moved to Paris and finally settled in Israel. This is a map that he drew as a ten-year-old. It was labeled in Russian which was the language he spoke at the time.
Uri Schulevitz eventually moved to the United States where he became an award winning author and illustrator. How I Learned Geography was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2009.
The book ends with these lines:
“And so I spent enchanted hours far, far from our hunger and misery. I forgave my father. He was right, after all.”
That’s the power of a map.
Well, I made it through the first week of the A to Z April Blog Challenge where bloggers write about a theme in alphabetical order. This is my fourth year participating and every year I wonder why I’m doing it.
One reason is that the challenge leads me to many wonderful and interesting blogs. I’m always excited to see people that I’ve followed in the past also joining the challenge. Stop by these blogs – you’re guaranteed to learn about
words in other languages:
Author Evelyne Holingue who shares chronicles, stories, and books by a French-American writer is featuring from A to Z, Twenty-six Funny, Weird, Vivid, French Expressions
Ellen Jacobson who blogs at The Cynical Sailor and His Salty Sidekick is highlighting a Spanish word each day
Places:
Hilary Melton-Butcher of Positive Letters…inspirational stories… is writing about Aspects of a British “girl” in Canada
and history:
Sara Zama is writing on her author’s blog, The Old Shelter about 1920’s Weimar Germany
Thank you Claire Annette for highlighting my blog … re Aspects of Canada. I’m loving this series of yours on literary maps … and this post on Geography … my favourite subject at school – still is … but I’d others know.
Great to read about Evelyne and Ellen – I’ll be over to check in, while I totally agree re Sarah and her Weimar Republic series – so good to be informed more on that era …
Love the learning I get – cheers and enjoy the rest of the weekend – Hilary
Thanks! I hope your weekend has been wonderful, too.
This one seems a very interesting one… Even with the spoiler! 😉
I’m not participating in the challenge this year, because I knew I wouldn’t have the time during the first week. I did so last year and I discovered so many interesting blogs; some of them, I still read, like yours. Actually, I’m participating in a way: reading a lot of posts, if not writing them!
Your posts are always wonderful. Did you realize that your post on the Dormouse happened to be on day D? Thanks for reading!
Ha, ha… I hadn’t realised! Problably I could have organized some already schedule posts for the A to Z challenge. Just I didn’t have the time. I hope it will be next year!
Isn’t this fabulous! I am enchanted with your theme and presentation….again! Thank you.
Claire, what a fascinating story this is!
Thank you for making me aware of it.
I’ve admired Uri Shulevitz’s work for a long time. But never more than in this undertaking, which most editors might think too ambitious for a picture book. A real artist for all ages.
It is such a good book to share with children to help them understand what it means to be a refugee. So thankful that the author, editors and publishers made this book a reality.
This is an amzing book. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
THANK YOU, CLAIRE FOR HIGHLIGHTING MY BLOG! I DO THAT POST-CHALLENGE, AND YOURS IS ON MY LIST:)
I am always intrigued by your posts and ant others to also enjoy them.