Refugees and asylum-seekers are on my mind, of course, and therefore so is one of my five favorite books read in 2024– Mishka, by Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel, illustrated by Annet Schaap, translated from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier.

I thought when I requested it from the library that it would be a picture book, but it’s a chapter book. 160 pages.

I love it for the bizarre details of rabbit ownership. I love it for Roya’s family of six (plus Mishka) and how they share and compete over the rabbit and how they take care of each other. I love how the book reveals bit by bit, in little asides almost, what a long journey it was (it took years, pre-Mishka) to go from their home country, to transitional, temporary homes, to their new home-for-keeps. Weirdly, I love it for Roya’s breakdown at school, because her teacher loves her, and her class understands what’s important.

Highly recommend this book and a browse through other titles at Levine Querido, which is dedicated to diverse kidlit.