Using both Arabic and English text, a fictional Syrian girl named Rama tells the story of how her family became refugees. Everything was fine in her Syrian village until the war started. Bombs fell from the sky, and that was when they decided to leave. The stones they carry are a visual metaphor for the weight on their backs.
The beauty of this picture book is in its simplicity. All of the illustrations are created with stones. The images with a dark background are the most interesting. This artwork proves that good images do not have to rely on color in order to be visually engaging.
Illustrator Nizar Ali Badr is from Syria. Author Margriet Ruurs of British Columbia includes a foreword that tells the story of how the book came to be. The last page has information on how to make a difference in this crisis; some of the proceeds from the sale of the book go toward a Syrian refugee resettlement fund.
The Bible makes so many references to our obligations to the poor. I would recommend it for anyone interested in ministry with refugees. (Orca Books)
About the Author
Dave Baker