EP Reads ~ Picture Books that support

the themes of Outcasts United

Picture Books About Soccer
Mia Hamm: Winners never Quit! By Carol Thomson
A book about achieving excellence through hard work and perseverance.

For the Love of Soccer by Pele

The celebration of soccer by the world’s most famous soccer star!

Pele King of Soccer by Monica Brown

Celebrates the life of Pele, the world’s most famous soccer star.

Goal! By Mina Javaherbin

This story about outsmarting the neighborhood bullies takes place on a soccer
field in South Africa. The illustrations are beautiful!

Picture Books About Immigration

A Shelter in Our Car by Monica Gunning
The story of new immigrants to the US from Jamaica.

The Long Road by Luis Garay

War displaces a young boy in his family. The country of origin is not named.
The author is from El Salvador.

I Am Rene, The Boy by Rene Lainez

Rene has moved from El Salvador to the US and finds out that in the US that
Rene is often a girl’s name. Rene researches the meaning of his name and presents that
information to his new classmates.

Rene Has Two Last Names by Rene Lainez

Rene has moved from El Salvador to the US and explains to his classmates why
he has two last names.

My Shoes and I by Rene Lainez

Mario and his Dad begin the journey to the US from El Salvador to meet his
Mom.

The Tooth Fairy Meets El Raton Perez by Rene Lainez

 Miquel has just lost his first tooth and in the middle of the night the Tooth Fairy
(from the US) and El Raton Perez (from Mexico) come to claim his tooth. The Tooth
Fairy claims the tooth because Miquel lives in the US. El Raton Perez claims the tooth
because he has collected the teeth of Miquel’s family for years before they came to the
US. This is a beautiful book for children who have multiple identities regarding their
cultural identity.

From North to South by Rene Lainez

Jose’s Mother is deported to Mexico from the US because she does not have the
proper papers to legally live in the US. Jose crosses the border to visit his Mom with his
Dad as they wait for his Mom to receive her paperwork.

Halmoni’s Day by Edna Bercaw

Jennifer’s family has moved from Korea to the US and her grandmother is
visiting for the first time. Jennifer is excited to see her grandmother but she is nervous
about her Grandmother coming to school on Grandparent’s Day because she doesn’t
speak English.

The Butter Man by Elizabeth and Ali Alalou

Nora’s parents have moved to the US from Morocco and Nora was born in the
US. When Nora is impatient for dinner and tells her Dad she is starving, he tells her
about his childhood in Morocco, and what it feels like to be really hungry. It based on
the author’s childhood experience.

Brother’s In Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams
This story tells the amazing story of the boys who walked for hundreds of miles
to escape war and find safety.

My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed

Sangoel moves to the US from the Sudan and his new classmates struggle to
pronounce his name. This is a beautiful story about a little boy and how he helps his
classmates pronounce his name.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed
This about two little girls and their friendship as they live in a refugee camp
outside of the Sudan. The little girls are forced to say goodbye as one girl’s family
receives word that they will be leaving for the US.

Sofie and the City by Karima Grant

Sofie has just moved to New York City from Senegal and she’s not so sure she
likes her new home and she misses her home in Senegal terribly. Making a new friend
makes all the difference in the world.

The Color of Home by Mary Hoffman

Hassan and his family have just moved to the US from Somalia after spending
time in a refugee camp in Kenya. This story helps readers understand that some newly
arrived friends may have some difficult and sad memories because of the circumstances
that forced them to leave their home.

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits

This book is about a little girl who moves from Korea to the US and her first days
in school.

There is a unique series of books about immigration that have been published in England
to help newly arrived immigrant children share their powerful stories in the format of a
diary that shows their journey and why they have left their homeland. The books are
meant to help other children understand their newly arrived classmates and to build
empathy and compassion.

Gervelie’s Journey: A Refugee Diary is based on the story of a little girl

leaving the Congo and her journey to England.

Hamzat’s Journey: A Refugee Diary is based on the story of a little boy

leaving Chechnya and his journey to England.

Mohammed’s Journey: A Refugee Diary is based on the story of a little boy

leaving Iraq and his journey to England.

Picture Books about The Statue of Liberty (which represents the

welcoming and history of immigration in the US for some people)
Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty by Linda Glaser
It’s the story of Emma Lazarus and the poem that she wrote that has become
famous for welcoming newly arrived immigrants to the US.

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport

The history of the Statue of Liberty