1. Art techniques
2. Environment
3. Habitat loss
4. Homelessness
5. Migration
6. Paper sculpture
7. Refugees

Animals and other non-human beings are often chosen as main characters in children’s picture books, especially when there is a message, as here. Two wild ducks sleep safely on a small island until their habitat is suddenly destroyed by machines. Finding a new home is not easy. They are chased away from the sea by grumpy seagulls and fired upon by hunters at a swamp. They are captured and ‘pushed into a dark box’ but in a happy ending, they are set free on a lake which suits them well.

The initial dark, foreboding endpapers suggest this story will be one of struggle while the final red and gold glowing endpapers promise a happy ending. The outstanding feature in ‘Refugees’ is the paper sculpture artwork created by David Miller, a technique he frequently uses in his books. Here backgrounds are highly textured, offsetting the sharply chiselled paper cuts which feature in this painstaking technique. The paper sculptures are especially striking when duck and seagull feathers and dog fur feature in minute detail. Miller’s backgrounds are often large blocks of colour reflecting the mood of the text or capturing highly textured land and seascapes. The tactile look of the paper sculpture invites fingers to touch and eyes to peer closely. Miller uses coloured paper with paint, pencils and oil pastels. Using scissors and scalpel, he shapes the paper—bending, folding and gluing for effect. The art’s final effect is arresting and as used here, offers a story that gently removes readers from experiencing the plight of human refugees. David Miller offers a way to discuss refugees more generally and, depending on the young person, in greater depth.

1. Copyright Agency Reading Australia, teaching resource with Australian Curriculum links https://readingaustralia.com.au/lesson/refugees/
2. Curriculum Corporation ‘Reading Enriches Learning’ concentrates on values and links to material on refugees https://www1.curriculum.edu.au/rel/values/book.php?catrelid=1495
3. ‘A picture’s worth a thousand words – Revisiting – Refugees’, 14 Mar 2011 https://winsongreen.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/refugees-by-david-miller/
4. Kids’ Book Review, ‘Author/Illustrator: David Miller’, 9 Jul 2010 http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/07/authorillustrator-interview-david.html
5. Refugee Council of Australia. ‘Teachers’ Resource Kit for Refugee Week 10-25 June 2022’, Detailed teaching activities and events guide including a bibliography of related children’s books, useful beyond 2022 https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RCOA-Teachers-Resource-Kit-Refugee-Week-2022-WEB.pdf