April's Journey - (Egalitè) by Annamaria Piccione & Luis Amavisca (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

While fleeing the destruction and loneliness of bombs and war, April meets Julio, another child who has lost everything. They are accompanied only by their stuffed animals and their backpacks, full of memories.

April runs away from the ruins and loneliness left by the war in search of a new home. She carries with her only her stuffed animal, Coco, and her backpack, full of memories.
After walking through rain and snow, she meets another child, Julio. Together, they climb mountains and sleep in abandoned houses, until they reach the sea. Never giving up hope, they embark on a dangerous journey towards a new beginning.
An important book to help talk about the consequences of war and the experiences of refugees.

Review Quotes

Overall, this book is a thought-provoking look at the aftermath of war that can begin discussions with elementary-age children. - YA Books Central.

Rovira also utilizes a very interesting style in his art. Very spare, with the aid of colored pencils and watercolors. And while the premise is pretty bleak, this is a picture book, so at the end of the day they are rescued and they find a place to be safe. A worthwhile fantasy. - A Fuse8 Prod. - SLJ Blog.

A heartrending tale that approaches the topic of child refugees with a deft, subtle hand, this picture book dreams of a better world. - Foreword Reviews.

For caregivers of young children seeking a gentle exploration of the emotional impact of violent displacement, the book offers a starting point for meaningful conversation. A dialogue-sparking meditation on a global crisis. - Kirkus Reviews.

About the Author

Annamaria Piccione was born in Syracuse (Italy) in 1964 and has
been writing children's books and plays since the 1990s. She has
published over 100 books on various topics, including gastronomy and
popular traditions, but prefers social themes, such as the fight against
the mafia, immigration, and interculturalism. Her books have been
translated into several languages. She lives between Syracuse and
Palermo with five cats and two dogs. Children call her "the cat lady."

Luis Amavisca is
a well-known visual artist and children´s writer in Spain. He has
worked and written about equality, solidarity, environment and
non-violence. His Bang Bang I Hurt the Moon was runner-up for the Most
Inspirational Children's Picture Book in the International Latino Book
Awards.
He is the author, along with Alicia Acosta, of two highly
successful co-education books: I Love My Colorful Nails and Benji's
Doll.

Francesc Rovira began his professional career in
1982, illustrating what would become his first book. Since then he has
dedicated himself professionally to the world of illustration, primarily
for children and young people, creating drawings for magazines,
textbooks, and stories for various publishers.
In addition to his
work as an illustrator, with more than four hundred books published and
translated into several languages, he contributes to all types of
publications and holds regular exhibitions, both collective and solo, of
published and unpublished works.