by Mary Hoffman (2002)
Karin Littlewood's vibrant watercolor illustrations work phenomenally with the text, and even the title of the book itself. I do wish, however, that some subdued tones were used at the beginning of the book since young Somalian refugee Hassan thinks that America is washed in shades of gray. The structure of the story follows Hassan's losses, memories, fears, and final release as he realizes that telling his story lifts some of the weight from his shoulders. After 'spoiling' a painting of his native home by adding blood, fire, and bullets Hassan repaints his home in a way that can bring the important parts of Somalia home to his wall in America. It is a very melancholy story following tragic real-world events, but the tone of the book -- bolstered by the beautiful illustrations -- becomes a positive story of remembering and redefining home.
This book would be a beautiful text to share about loss of family members and loss of home. I believe this shows some ways that art and storytelling can become part of the healing process, especially for children. In a class I might also use this stories to share about the realities of war and its lingering terrors, or to share about struggles that displaced people face in their new homes. It is for this reason that I included this book in a text set about modern immigrant families.
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