Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey

Stepping Stones tells the story of a Syrian family forced to leave their home due to war. The bilingual text appears in both English and Arabic on each page. Stone artist Nizar Ali Badr created the illustrations using beach pebbles arranged into scenes, which were then photographed. These images depict the family's life before conflict, their difficult journey, and their search for safety in a new land. The dual-language picture book combines simple narrative with visual art to convey themes of displacement, hope, and human resilience. The format makes the refugee experience accessible to young readers while highlighting connections between all people regardless of language or culture.

Readers appreciate the dual-language format (English and Arabic) and emphasize how the stone artwork by Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr adds emotional depth to the refugee narrative. Parents and teachers report the book helps children understand the refugee experience at an age-appropriate level. Liked: - Stone art illustrations convey complex emotions - Accessible way to discuss displacement with children - Arabic translation makes it inclusive for Syrian readers - Proceeds support refugee organizations Disliked: - Some found the English text too simple - A few noted the stones can appear dark/unclear in certain scenes - Price point higher than typical picture books Ratings: Goodreads: 4.29/5 (1,024 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (156 ratings) "The stone artwork is incredibly powerful - each scene tells its own story," notes one teacher on Goodreads. An Amazon reviewer writes, "My 6-year-old asked thoughtful questions about refugees after we read this together."

The Journey by Francesca Sanna A mother and her two children flee their war-torn homeland through dark forests, across seas, and past guards to reach safety in a new country.

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey by Doug Kuntz, Amy Shrodes An Iraqi family brings their beloved cat on their refugee journey from Iraq to Greece, loses him in the chaos, and reunites with him through the help of aid workers.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed Two young girls in a Pakistani refugee camp share a pair of sandals and form a friendship while waiting for their new homes.

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies A child's life transforms when war arrives in her town, forcing her to leave everything behind and make a long journey to find refuge.

How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz A young refugee boy discovers how imagination and learning can transport him beyond the hardships of his new life after his family flees Poland during wartime.

🗿 The illustrations in this book were created entirely from stones by Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr, who arranges and photographs the pieces before disassembling them for new artwork. 🌍 The book is written in both English and Arabic, making it accessible to readers from multiple cultures and helping bridge understanding between communities. ✌️ Author Margriet Ruurs discovered the artist's work on Facebook and tracked him down in Syria during the height of the civil war to collaborate on this project. 💝 A portion of the sales from each book goes directly to refugee organizations helping Syrian families. 🎨 Artist Nizar Ali Badr creates his stone artwork on a window ledge in Latakia, Syria, and has produced over 30,000 scenes despite having no permanent way to preserve them.