Kids' Books About the Immigrant Experience

Last updated: May 1, 2026

Captivating stories of the immigrant and refugee experience can help kids understand what people go through when they move to a new country and start new lives. These novels and memoirs can help build empathy among readers, and kids from immigrant families can see reflections of their own struggles and triumphs. You can also check out our list of books about racism and social justice.

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Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border Poster Image

BOOK

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border

age 3+

Heartwarming Christmas story set at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Mitali Perkins Picture Book (2019)

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A Flicker of Hope book cover: Illustration of Mexican dad and daughter hold hands, monarch butterflies fly all around

BOOK

A Flicker of Hope: A Story of Migration

age 4+

Lovely, parallel stories of migration, monarch butterflies.

Cynthia Harmony Picture Book (2023)

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Carmela Full of Wishes Poster Image

BOOK

Carmela Full of Wishes

age 4+

Sweet, poignant story of young girl from immigrant family.

Matt de la Peña Picture Book (2018)

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Dreamers Poster Image

BOOK

Dreamers

age 4+

Gorgeous, joyous book about immigrant mom and child.

Yuyi Morales Picture Book (2018)

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I Am Golden Poster Image

BOOK

I Am Golden

age 4+

Girl learns to love being Chinese American in joyful tale.

Eva Chen Family Life (2022)

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Light for All Poster Image

BOOK

Light for All

age 4+

Inspiring tribute to Statue of Liberty and immigrants.

Margarita Engle Picture Book (2021)

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Mamá the Alien/Mamá la Extraterrestre Poster Image

BOOK

Mamá the Alien/Mamá la Extraterrestre

age 4+

A fun, bilingual take on being a documented immigrant.

René Colato Laínez Picture Book (2016)

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My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders / Mis Zapatos y Yo: Cruzando Tres Fronteras Poster Image

BOOK

My Shoes and I: Crossing Three Borders / Mis Zapatos y Yo: Cruzando Tres Fronteras

age 4+

Immigrant boy's inspiring journey, told in two languages.

René Colato Laínez Picture Book (2019)

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Navigating Night book cover: Against a blue background, a girl and her father look out the front window of their car and drive into the night

BOOK

Navigating Night

age 4+

Chinese take-out delivery makes for a tender tale.

Julie Leung Picture Book (2026)

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The Someone New Poster Image

BOOK

The Someone New

age 4+

Critters accept a snail looking for a new home in warm tale.

Jill Twiss Picture Book (2019)

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To the Other Side book cover: Illustration of big sister and little brother wearing colorful Mexican masks that look like a rabbit and a jaguar

BOOK

To The Other Side

age 4+

Powerful, resilient, often scary, tale of child migration.

Erika Meza Picture Book (2023)

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Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter Poster Image

BOOK

Yo Soy Muslim: A Father's Letter to His Daughter

age 4+

Poetic call to be proud of your heritage in a diverse world.

Mark Gonzales Picture Book (2017)

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¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge Poster Image

BOOK

¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge: World of ¡Vamos!

age 4+

Colorful tale of crossing border bridge has Spanish vocab.

Raul the Third Picture Book (2021)

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Asian boy reading book on "Gibberish" book cover

BOOK

Gibberish

age 5+

Fun look at an immigrant's experience of a new language.

Young Vo Picture Book (2022)

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Islandborn Poster Image

BOOK

Islandborn

age 5+

Vibrant memories of Caribbean island celebrate heritage.

Junot Díaz Picture Book (2018)

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The Interpreter book cover: Illustration of little brown haired girl in big green suit

BOOK

The Interpreter

age 5+

Heartfelt story of kid translator who needs more playtime.

Olivia Abtahi Picture Book (2025)

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This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From Poster Image

BOOK

This Is Me: A Story of Who We Are and Where We Came From

age 5+

Fun look at immigration celebrates bringing items from home.

Jamie Lee Curtis Picture Book (2016)

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Where Are You From? Poster Image

BOOK

Where Are You From?

age 5+

Lovely art frames lyrical answer to oft-asked question.

Yamile Saied Méndez Picture Book (2019)

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Where Will I Live? Poster Image

BOOK

Where Will I Live?

age 5+

Moving book about child refugees brought to life by photos.

Rosemary McCarney Picture Book (2017)

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A Different Pond Poster Image

BOOK

A Different Pond

age 6+

Exquisitely tender family story of Vietnamese refugees.

Bao Phi Picture Book (2017)

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