This wonderfully illustrated book subtlety tells the story of refugee families, especially the impacts on children. Living in the World of Tents with her father, Lubna takes solace from her friend Pebble. Pebble is her confidant and Lubna shares her stories and feelings with Pebble. When Lubna befriends another refugee child, she realizes that Pebble may now offer comfort to him. This simple and quiet story leads to discussions of compassion and empathy. ( )

What was the one thing that brought you comfort as a child? The thing that as long as you had it, nothing else mattered? The thing that made you feel safe and secure, warm and welcomed?

For Lubna, it is a simple pebble. But it helps her as she finds herself in an unknown land. This pebble is more than a pebble. It is her friend, her confidante, her security. It helps her bridge the unknown. Later, there is a little boy named Amir who feels the same as Lubna. Lubna shares Pebble and it brings the same comfort to Amir.

This is a beautiful refugee story. Absolutely beautiful. I think it begs to be shared!! ( )

Lubna navigates the challenges of being a refugee: keeping happy—or rather, surviving—and passing the courage on.

She arrives with her dad as refugees to their temporary home, “a World of Tents,” with no visible toys and perhaps nothing at all. Lubna latches onto a pebble she finds on the beach after their crowded boat arrives at the shore. After this find, she “clutched Daddy’s hand and gripped her pebble. Somehow, she knew they’d keep her safe.” The larger-than-life, almost dreamy illustrations show readers what Lubna sees and feels, and the rawness of both text and images penetrates the heart. Lubna and Pebble become best friends, and she and her lovingly understanding father even create a nice home for it to face the cold winter, a shoebox with a tea towel. Then she meets another friend, Amir, a little boy who is alone. “This is my best friend, Pebble,” Lubna says. Amir smiles, and together they play under the stars, the illustrations taking on jewel tones that contrast their imaginary play with the drabness of the refugee camp. When Lubna hears the happy news about resettlement to a better place, she is first happy, then sad about leaving Amir behind. She makes a hard and selfless decision that night, to share her treasure with her young friend who needs to hang on. Lubna, her father, and Amir have olive skin and dark hair; their circumstances hint at Syrian origins, but no country is named.

A true celebration of the endless creativity and resilience of children. (Picture book. 5-12)

Lubna arrives with her family to a new place that is filled with unknowns. Feeling scared and alone Lubna picks up a pebble that is lying on the beach and makes that her new friend. Her and the pebble do everything together and all of the feelings Lubna had when she first arrived soon disappear. When a new little boy named Amir arrives Lubna and him quickly becomes friends. Lubna’s father finds a new home for them and while she is happy, she is sad to be leaving Amir, and he is sad as well. Lubna gifts pebble to Amir explaining that it will bring comfort to him like it did to her. This story is a touching tale of friendship and selfless ness in a situation that is full of unknowns. I loved this story. ( )

Lubna arrives on a beach with her father at night. She finds a smooth, gray pebble, and this pebble becomes her best friend. Now they live in a tent city, where she has Pebble to tell her tales to. Lubna has left behind family members and war. Though Lubna has survived a lot, her friend Pebble helps her process the changes and helps her to continue to live. I enjoy how this book subtly tells a refugee story through a child's eyes, demonstrating that through harrowing experiences, imagination, play, and friendship play a valuable role. Illustrations are bold and expressive. I love how the illustrator played with point of view to show the story from Lubna's point of view, an outsider's point of view, and Pebble's point of view. ( )