Immigrant Stories Long Journeys Colorín Colorado

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 3:35 PM

immigrant stories long journeys colorín colorado

These books tell the stories of the long, arduous, and sometimes dangerous journeys that children and families make when setting out for a new land and home. For more great titles organized by age and topic, see the Colorín Colorado Book Finder! Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas. The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America’s "Northern Triangle": Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q'eqchi'; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. In 1994, Caldecott Honor artist and five-time Pura Belpré winner Yuyi Morales left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the U.S.

with her infant son. In this picture book which she wrote and illustrated, Yuyi tells the story of how she and her son made a home in a new place, finding refuge at the public library. A Spanish-language version is also available. Pura Belpré Author Award Winner. No one can make Mai laugh like her Papa! She loves playing their favorite game—the crocodile chomp chomp!

But then Papa leaves Vietnam in search of a new home for their family in America and Mai misses him very much. Until one day Mama and Mai pack a small bag and say goodbye to the only home Mai has ever known. And so begins Mai and Mama’s long, perilous journey by foot and by boat, through dangers and darkness, to find Papa. This site is made possible through grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by Colorado State Library. Omeka Accessibility Statement. When does a new home feel like "home"?

These stories give a poignant voice to children who are adjusting to a new country, culture, and language. This booklist also includes stories of Puerto Rican children and families who move to the mainland. A number of related stories are included in our ELL Stories booklist. As a young boy, Bao and his father awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family.

Between hope-filled casts, Bao's father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam. Thi Bui's striking, evocative art paired with Phi's expertly crafted prose has earned this powerful picture books numerous starred reviews and awards. When young Rosita moved from Puerto Rico to the mainland United States, she didn’t know what to expect — but she knew she loved to sing and dance. Working to overcome the language barrier and bullying she experienced in a strange new country, Rita eventually made her way to Hollywood with a dream to be a star. There, she fought to be seen and heard and eventually reached the pinnacle of success, landing her iconic role in West Side Story and, finally, winning her groundbreaking Oscar. Product Description: Young Jorgito lives in San Francisco's Mission District, but he hasn't forgotten his native El Salvador.

He recalls the volcanoes, the tasty cornmeal pupusas, and his grandmother's stories. As he changes from timid newcomer to seasoned city dweller, Jorgito's memories and new adventures form a patchwork of dreams — the movie in his pillow — that is perfectly suited to his new... These picture books tell the stories of mixed-status and undocumented families who are navigating immigration issues, as well as those who are making the long and dangerous journey to the U.S. Discretion in sharing these books is recommended due to their sensitive topics. For more great titles organized by age and topic, see the Colorín Colorado Book Finder! Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas.

The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America’s "Northern Triangle": Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q'eqchi'; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. When Areli was just a baby, her mama and papa moved from Mexico to New York with her brother, Alex, to make a better life for the family — and when she was in... Everything in New York was different. Gone were the Saturdays at Abuela’s house, filled with cousins and sunshine. Instead, things were busy and fast and noisy.

Areli’s limited English came out wrong, and schoolmates accused her of being illegal. But with time, America became her home. When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true — she's finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make...

From the harrowing trip across the border to teens whose parents are undocumented, these stories explore what the border means to families that have risked everything to reach the United States. For related stories, see our booklist Undocumented: Stories of Young Immigrants. To see related titles for younger readers, take a look at Immigrant Stories for Kids: Life Along the Border. From the time she was brought to this country by her hardworking parents as a child, Julissa Arce — the scholarship winner, the honors college graduate, the young woman who climbed the ladder to... Product Description: After a tragedy separates her from her mother, Juana García leaves her small town in Mexico to find her father, who left his family two years earlier to find work in America... Out of money and in need of someone to help her across the border, Juana meets Adelina Vasquez, a young woman who left her family in California to follow her lover to Mexico.

Product Description: Manuel Luis Martínez explores the American obsession with mobility, the irrepressible hope that there must be something better somewhere and the relentless desire to move on in search of this elusive goal. Inspired by a newspaper account of thirteen undocumented workers left to suffocate in a boxcar outside El Paso, Crossing tells the story of Luis, a boy who leaves his small town in Mexico to... These stories examine the lives of young people who have come to the U.S. under a wide variety of circumstances — some fleeing political persecution or civil war, others following family members who are chasing the American dream. For more great titles organized by age and topic, see the Colorín Colorado Book Finder! Product Description: After a tragedy separates her from her mother, Juana García leaves her small town in Mexico to find her father, who left his family two years earlier to find work in America...

Out of money and in need of someone to help her across the border, Juana meets Adelina Vasquez, a young woman who left her family in California to follow her lover to Mexico. Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the government's secret police terrorize her remaining family... Using the strength and courage of her family, Anita must overcome her fears and fly to freedom, leaving all that she once knew behind. In the final days of the Việt Nam War, Hằng takes her little brother, Linh, to the airport, determined to find a way to safety in America. In a split second, Linh is ripped from her arms — and Hằng is left behind in the war-torn country.

Six years later, Hằng has made the brutal journey from Việt Nam and is now in Texas as a refugee. She doesn't know how she will find the little brother who was taken from her until she meets LeeRoy, a city boy with big rodeo dreams, who decides to help her. Hằng is overjoyed when she reunites with Linh. These books tell the stories of family keepsakes that made the journey to a new life in America, often passed down from generation to generation. Inspired by true stories, these books remind us that even the most special possessions mean nothing if their stories are lost. Product Description: Neel loves listening to Chachaji's stories over steaming cups of tea.

Chachaji's tales of great Hindu gods and demons, and of his adventures in the Indian Army, leave Neel openmouthed. But it is the tale of his great-uncle's favorite teacup that teaches Neel the most, for Chachaji's cup holds far more than sweet, spicy masala chai. It holds the story of a family and a country split in two during the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan. When the precious cup and Chachaji's health both prove to be more fragile than they look, Neel knows what he must do. Many years ago, Walter's grandfather left Lithuania and his brother Herschel to come to America. It was a difficult decision, he explains to Walter, but one that he felt he had to make as a Jew.

Walter's questions allow his grandfather to share the story of that decision and his journey — as well as the wonderful ways he and Herschel keep in touch after so many years. Snapshots painted in watercolor lend a feeling of looking a family album, bridging the traditions of the old country with opportunities of the new. Out of print but used or library copies may be available. Lost and Found Cat follows an Iraqi family’s escape from Mosul — by car, by foot, and by boat — all with their beloved pet, Kunkush, in tow ... until Kunkush escapes his carrier. The family is heartbroken, but Kunkush fortunately ends up in the hands of Amy, a woman volunteering with refugees in Greece, who grows determined to reunite the cat with his original family.

This moving true story will inspire discussions with young readers about what it means to be a refugee, the unexpected consequences of being displaced, and the importance of kindness. When Miss Bridie left her homeland in 1856, she could have brought any number of things on her journey — but she chose a shovel. With the shovel, she creates a new life for herself filled with gardens, orchards, ice skating, and a family. The story provides an opportunity for students to think about what they would take if they were moving to a new country, as well as the ingenuity and hard work of our nation's immigrants. This week on February 22nd, The Immigrant Story published its 125th story! In celebration of this exciting milestone, we want to take a moment to share how much we’ve grown as a nonprofit over the past three years.

When The Immigrant Story began in 2017, we couldn’t have anticipated the diversity of experiences or the sheer number of awe-inspiring stories we would be privileged to document. Over the past two years, we have published stories about individuals from 54 different countries, the majority of whom were immigrants (42%) and refugees (31%) seeking new lives in the United States. We couldn’t have made it to 125 stories if not for the passion and hard work of our volunteers. Thirty-two writers and 8 editors reported and shaped these stories. Twelve photographers created the imagery that illustrates our web pages. Additionally, our most experienced writers and editors mentored 21 college students and one high school student in the science of journalism.

Thus, we have become a successful launching pad for a new generation of ambitious and hungry journalists and storytellers. The support we received was universal. Our readership, global. Several of our stories attracted more than 50,000 readers. Re: “Tell us your immigration stories,” Jan. 6 Chuck Plunkett column.

Immigrant Stories Long Journeys Colorín Colorado

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