If You See a Bluebird

Ali and his family flee Kabul in Afghanistan after war breaks out and threatens their safety. Leaving their homeland behind is heart-wrenching, and when they reach the United States and nestle into their surroundings, Ali begins to long for home. He aches for the familiar. Nana wakes him early in the morning, and they pick blackberries together, chat, and picnic. The two spot a beautiful bluebird. His grandmother suggests he make a wish before it flies away out of view. He closes his eyes and dreams of life as it once was, and eventually comes to see things, as a result of her wisdom, from a new perspective.

If You See a Bluebird is a story of tragedy, resilience, and hope. It’s also about family, closeness, and love. The lessons Nana teaches Ali transform him. She aids him in learning to cope with his circumstances and lends her support and guidance. Her influence is monumental, like that of many grandparents’ in the lives of their grandchildren. For that reason, as well as the poignancy of the message and the illustrations, children ages five to ten will find this book enlightening, relatable, and noteworthy. It may also help broaden their understanding of refugees and their experiences.