My most recent discovery of a treasure trove is a bit out of character for me. Still, it’s a great resource that I am eager to share. It’s Bridging Refugee Youth & Children’s Services (http://www.brycs.org) , a product of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. (long story….) Their website is a unique source of links to events, resources, and more for anyone working with and for the challenged refugee community.
What caught my eye is the work that BRYCS has done to identify and share “books for refugee and immigrant children 0-5 years.” (http://www.brycs.org/clearinghouse/Books-for-Refugee-and-Immigrant-Children-0-5-Years.cfm) It’s not just a list of books but a collection of links to ongoing resources on books that share the background of refugees and the stories of newcomers and their families. Though I’m no expert on children’s books and am sure some experts on children’s literature will question the listings, for me it was an eye-opener to the range of possibilities – a starting point to meet the needs.
The parent site is well worth exploring. It includes information about a wide range of topics, ranging from trafficking to medical assistance to books by, for and about the experiences of refugees.
