Title

The Voyage

Author

Vescio, Robert

Illustrator

Edmonds, Andrea

Publisher

EK Books

Published Date

2019

Annotation

Only 14 words tell this complex yet simple picture book story about a refugee’s journey from their homeland to their new home. A brief phrase features on each double page spread. Beginning with the word ‘chaos’, the viewer witnesses explosions, buildings collapsing, people running and a family fleeing to ‘escape’ to a boat. The viewer-participant in this picture book becomes part of the story as the family travels by sea before beginning a new life. This is a simplified version of the very complicated reality of a refugee. Informative watercolour images convey the story and keep young viewers interested. Children too young to understand the hardships of a refugee can gain a limited understanding about a family leaving their happy home and creating a new one. The topic of refugees fleeing is a difficult one for young readers, yet it is the reality for some children. The simplicity of the presentation makes this a suitable story for the younger reader.

Key Concepts

Asylum seekers, Immigrants, Migrants, Loss, Refugees, War

Audience

Early childhood, Lower primary, Primary

AC Links/EYLF

EYLF1, EYLF2, EYLF3, EYLF4, EYLF5, ACELT1575, ACELT1783, ACELT1580, ACHASSK014, ACHASSK015, ACPPS003, ACPPS004, ACPPS005, ACPPS006, ACELA1453, ACELT1582, ACELT1584, ACHASSK030, ACPPS0015, ACPPS0017, ACPPS0018, ACPPS0019, ACPPS0020, ACPPS0024, ACELA1462, ACELT1587, ACELT1589, ACELT1591, ACELA1462, ACELT1587, ACELT1589, ACELT1591, ACHASSK050, ACELT1594, ACELT1596, ACELT1599, ACHASSK063, ACHASSK069, ACPPS033, ACPPS034, ACPPS035, ACPPS036, ACPPS037, ACPPS038, ACPPS042, ACELA1498, ACELT1602, ACELT1603, ACELT1605, ACELA1502, ACELT1608, ACELT1609, ACELT1610, ACELT1612, ACHASSK113, ACPPS051, ACPPS054, ACPPS055, ACPPS056, ACPPS060, ACELA1518, ACELT1613, ACELT1614, ACHASSK137, ACHASSK140