"The world can be looked at another way"
Brian Bilston’s poem talks about refugees opening with the lines, ‘They have no need of our help/So do not tell me/ These haggard faces could belong to you or me.’ But at the lines, ‘Do not be so stupid to think that/The world can be looked at another way’, we read the poem again, this time from bottom back to the top, and an opposite meaning appears, ‘These haggard faces could belong to you or me/ So do not tell me/ They have no need of our help.’
Bilston uses the palindrome or reverse poem to make readers and listeners question the cruel, fearful discourse around refugees – heard too often – and to emphasise the kinder view.
José Sanabria’s striking painterly illustrations are very powerful too. In the first half, scenes around the refugees are nightmarish with threatening, scary shapes and figures on all sides. In the second half, the palette is much brighter, here people are depicted welcoming refugees with flowers, food, toys for the children. The illustrations make clear the choice the poem is offering, and which option is the happier for us all.
Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here? Why my country? It is a feeling many people share. It is one of fear and suspicion. But when you read the text the opposite way, a new voice emerges. It says, 'Why not make them welcome? Why not share the things we have?'
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Refugees is a book of two voices. The first one sees the people fleeing from war and persecution and asks, Why here?
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Refugees and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-12 years old
Refugees features in the following genres: Featured Books for 7+ readers, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Poetry Books for Children, Gift Books, Children’s / Teenage stationery and miscellaneous items, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage poetry, anthologies, annuals, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Body and health, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE)
Hardback, Paperback. Not Available.
Refugees was written by Brian Bilston and published by Palazzo Editions an imprint of Palazzo
Refugees has 32 pages
