LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
July 2024 Debut of the Month
Inspired by the true stories of families who have had to leave their homes to seek safety in another country, Adnan is a moving, powerful and ultimately hopeful representation of their experiences.
A little boy is desperate to make his mum remember what they’ve been through on their journey to safety, and what they’ve left behind. He understands why she’s pushed the memories away but also how important it is that she remembers. So he makes models of their hometown and their journey, and writes their stories in a book.
We see all of this through Diala Brisly’s detailed, atmospheric illustrations and even the youngest reader will understand the terror they’ve endured, the urgency of Adnan’s attempt to reawaken his mum’s memories, and underneath it all his determination and hope.
He is successful: one day when he comes home, his mummy is singing. Sometimes, says the text, ‘when you love someone enough you can reach down into their sadness and pull them back’.
There’s so much for us all to learn not least about the power of love and art and the strength of the human spirit. The refugee charity Choose Love will receive 2% of the book’s recommended retail price on every copy sold.
Andrea Reece
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About
Adnan Synopsis
Adnan is the heartwarming story of a refugee boy’s attempts to heal his mother’s mental health issues with the power of his creativity as they rebuild their lives in their new home.
Sometimes, when something sad happens, people can push it so far down because it hurts too much. That’s why Mummy doesn’t remember.
This touching and sensitively told children's book is a story about a boy and his mother, about trauma and recovery, and how to deal with the challenges of mental health. It tells the story of an imaginative ten-year-old Syrian refugee boy who flees his home country with his mother.
Now settled in the UK, he must use all his creativity to break through his mother’s PTSD or risk losing her forever. The book is based on a short film of the same name, which has collected multiple awards and made Official Selection at its first Oscar qualifying festival.
Inspired by her own experiences as a refugee, Syrian artist Diala Brisly’s illustrations are powerful and evocative, highlighting the contrast between Adnan’s hope and the helplessness of the mother.
The charity Choose Love will receive 2% of the book’s recommended retail price on every copy sold. Choose Love (formerly Help Refugees) goes where the need is greatest. They fill the gaps and act where others won’t. Sometimes that means search and rescue boats. Sometimes it means providing food or safe, secure long-term housing for refugees. Since 2015, they’ve supported over 120 incredible projects and reached over one million people.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780711267077 |
| Publication date: |
9th May 2024 |
| Author: |
Mark Arrigo, Steven Chatterton |
| Illustrator: |
Diala Brisly |
| Publisher: |
Frances Lincoln Children's Books an imprint of Quarto Publishing PLC |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
40 pages |
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Author
About Mark Arrigo, Steven Chatterton
Mark Arrigo is a professional photographer/director with an eye for visually poetic narratives. Mark set up the charity A Home for Winter in 2016, building shelters for refugees in the Calais Jungle.
Steven Chatterton is a writer/director with a strong appetite for world-building and telling stories from children’s perspectives. He has worked for the last five years with the children’s literacy charity The Ministry of Stories, encouraging creativity in kids from disadvantaged backgrounds.
More About Mark Arrigo, Steven Chatterton
