Sami was feeding his pigeons when his home and his neighborhood were suddenly gone.Sami and his family, Muslims, escape, along with everyone he knows. He's frightened by smoke and noise, and his father squeezes his hand and assures him his beautiful birds have escaped, too. Days of walking get them to a refugee camp and safety, but while the other kids play and adults try to create a sense of normalcy, Sami cannot join in. Days pass, then he sees four different birds, which land on his outstretched arms. He collects some seeds to feed them, along with paper and wool for their nests, and for the first time since leaving Syria, Sami finds some peace. He then has the strength to welcome a frightened little girl who arrives with a new group. Del Rizzo uses her considerable talent with paint, Plasticine, and polymer clay to create the colorful, highly textured illustrations for this book, which she conceived while searching for a way to explain the Syrian civil war to her young children. Based on a real refugee child who keeps birds, this story isn't about war but its effect on those who experience it and survive. This story of one frightened little boy who finds strength in caring for animals and uses that strength to comfort other kids is an excellent means of explaining a difficult subject to young children. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-10)

Gr 1-3Sami is a Syrian boy whose family are forced to leave all they hold dear as they flee their home for the safety of a refugee camp. While "days blur together in a gritty haze" at the camp and uncertainty about their future looms, Sami worries about the fate of the pet pigeons he left behind. These concerns overshadow anything good to come from the camp, from the garden his father grows to the flat bread his mother cooks to the painting Sami makes at the new camp school. While walking one day, Sami realizes that the sky he sees from camp is the same sky as in Syria and that if his pigeons were strong enough to fly, they might be strong enough to survive. Will this insight allow Sami to open up and accept the new friends that might come his way? Or will the refugee camp be nothing more than a segue between two pieces of his life? Exquisite dimensional illustrations using Plasticine, polymer clay, and other media bring a unique, lifelike quality to the page, enriching Sami's story to its fullest potential when paired with the often lyrical prose. VERDICT A stunning offering for libraries wishing to add to their collection of hopeful yet realistic refugee tales.Brittany Drehobl, Eisenhower Public Library District, IL

Using intricate sculpted-clay artwork, Canadian author-illustrator Del Rizzo tells the story of a fictional family's escape from war-torn Syria. While war isn't mentioned specifically in the text, readers will get an immediate sense of danger as they observe the family fleeing from a burning city, while the young boy, Sami, worries about the pigeons he left behind. After walking a great distance, they reach the safety of a refugee camp, where the family settles in, but the boy's thoughts remain with his beautiful birds. In one arresting double-page spread, Sami wistfully gazes into an amethyst and tangerine sky, where "fluffy cloudy-shaped pigeons take shape." Then one day, a canary, dove, finch, and pigeon all descend near Sami, who cares for them and reclaims a bit of happiness amidst the upheaval. Del Rizzo's depiction of life in the refugee camp seems a little too rosy, though an author's note provides information on the Syrian civil war and refugee crisis. Nevertheless, this story draws attention to an important world issue without subjecting young readers to its harshest realities.

While their Syrian village burns, Sami's family walks until they reach a refugee camp: "We are safe." But Sami is heartbroken over the loss of his beloved pet pigeons until a quartet of birds arrives. Del Rizzo uses polymer clay and acrylic paint to create vibrant pictures. Beauty and sorrow sit side by side in this compassionate and age-appropriate depiction of contemporary refugee life.