4 Children's Books for Understanding Deportation and Family Separation
Begin compassionate conversations through stories.
Family separation and deportation are difficult realities that many children encounter, whether in their own lives, their classrooms, or their communities. The books on this list offer gentle, age-appropriate ways to help kids understand these experiences and process big feelings.
4 Children's Books for Understanding Deportation and Family Separation
Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation by Edwidge Danticat
Mama records bedtime stories for Saya to help her cope while Mama is in an immigration detention center.
Mango Moon by Diane de Anda
A heartfelt story about Maricela and her brother as their father is taken into immigration detention and faces deportation. The book follows how their family’s life changes — from moving homes and missed soccer games to the fear and sadness of everyday routines without their dad — while Maricela clings to memories of their shared “mango moon” as a reminder of love that reaches across distance.
Something Happened to My Dad by Ann Hazzard and Vivianne Aponte Rivera
After a child’s father is detained, she has to figure out how to navigate her new reality bravely among friends at school. She experiences the power of community generosity when a church community helps her family raise the funds to hire an immigration lawyer. Clear language and expressive illustrations open space for empathy, conversation, and emotional understanding.
Until Someone Listens by Estela Juarez and Lissette Norman
A true story by 8-year old Estela Juarez, whose life changes when her mother is deported to Mexico. Estela refuses to stay silent — she writes letters to newspapers, lawmakers, and even the President to bring attention to her family’s separation and the many families like hers. Through her powerful voice and determination, children learn about the real impact of immigration policies and the strength in speaking up for what matters.
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