Wherever I Go: African Immigrant Arts Activities + Read Aloud

WHEREVER I GO: ARTS ACTIVITY KIT

Best Users: Librarians, Educators, Home Learners, Immigrant Organizations
Best Audience: Children Grades 03-06

This book was named a “Conversation Starter” in NPR’s Round-up of the 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers.

READ ALOUD & INTERVIEW WITH ILLUSTRATOR MUNIR D. MUHAMMED

This video was produced for the Beautiful Blackbird Festival. Visit the project for other videos and engagement materials featuring children’s books across the African Diaspora.

ABOUT THE ARTS ACTIVITIES

This debut picture book team creates a stunning portrait of a resilient girl in an Ethiopian refugee camp. Not only did her parents protect her from an attack on their village, but they have raised her in the camp with the love and dignity of a queen. Wearing the crown her father wove her from the acacia tree, Abia goes about her chores and play with her royal strength intact.

I’m Your Neighbor Books and Curious City shared the book with several African-born and African American artists and educators. Together, we created:

Ephemeral Art Activity to honor Muir D. Muhammed’s Ghanaian childhood drawing pictures in the sand.

Cooking Lessons with Immigrant Kitchens that include the memories of three generations of Congolese women preparing Fou Fou.

African Drumming Exploration with a recommended videos and memories of village drumming from Congolese American and Guinean American drummers.

Paper Crown Weaving Activity with step-by-step instructions from a multidisciplinary artist with roots in Sierra Leone.

DOWNLOAD Wherever I Go: Art Engagement (PDF)

“We need more reminders, timely reminders, that the plight of refugees still exists, not just in Ethiopia, but worldwide. Thus, this amazing picture book is an excellent jumping off point for exploring this poignant topic. And to those who think this is too adult a topic, please consider this statement from the United Nations:
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The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world have been forced from home by conflict and persecution at the end of 2018. Among them are nearly 30 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.
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“…Almost 30 million children – the population we serve. The likelihood that we will serve patrons and students who have been directly affected or have parents/grandparents who are survivors of war-torn and ecological disaster affected areas will only increase. Thus, this is one more population we need to prepare ourselves to be sensitive towards, to support and to educate those more fortunate about.”
—Jonathan Dolce, Astor Public Library

ABOUT THE BOOK

Wherever I Go
By Mary Wagley Copp
Illustrated by Munir D. Mohammed
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Hardcover ISBN-13: 9781534419193
Age Range: 4 – 12 Years

A hopeful and timely picture book about a spirited little girl living in a refugee camp.

Of all her friends, Abia has been at the Shimelba Refugee Camp the longest—seven years, four months, and sixteen days. Papa says that’s too long and they need a forever home. Until then, though, Abia has something important to do. Be a queen.

Sometimes she’s a noisy queen, banging on her drum as she and Mama wait in the long line for rice to cook for dinner. Sometimes she’s a quiet queen, cuddling her baby cousin to sleep while Auntie is away collecting firewood. And sometimes, when Papa talks hopefully of their future, forever home, Abia is a little nervous. Forever homes are in strange and faraway places—will she still be a queen?

Filled with hope, love, and respect, Wherever I Go is a timely tribute to the strength and courage of refugees around the world.

“Mohammed’s documentary-style paintings sweep across the landscape and close in on interior scenes with equal care. His portraits of Abia and her family have classic, sculptural dimensions. At the time of the full moon, Mama retells the story of their escape: “Mama says gunfire crackled all night, but I just cooed at the moon.” Papa looks to the future, saying that they’ll find a new home, a forever home. Queen Abia is wary; in the end, though, Mohammed shows her sitting in an airplane, flying away from the rows of tents with a story of her own to tell—a story of resilience and strength.”
—Publishers Weekly
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“Beautiful, realistic paintings portray the challenging everyday lives of refugees in the northern Ethiopian camp and, notably, show refugee children and adults working, playing, sharing, and making the best out of what they have. Their life is difficult but not pitiable, and although Abia’s father longs to move on, Abia is dubious about leaving the only life she’s known. Queen Abia listens to her mother narrating how they ran away from their village when she was a baby, escaping fighters and then lions and hyenas. She is proud of her story and takes it with her as her family gets resettled in a developed country and adjusts to life there after over seven years of living as a refugee. She is Queen Abia wherever she goes. The book is enriched with an informative note by the author about refugees and lists of additional children’s books about the topic.”
—Kirkus Reviews
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“This story captures the unequivocal joy of childhood even in the midst of refugee status and resettlement. Acrylic paint illustrations eloquently capture the warm earth tones of East Africa with great attention paid to defining features of the people.”
—Booklist

THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

20 individual copies of Wherever I Go were be given away to teachers, librarians, or immigrant service organizations in September 2020. Our thanks to Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the generous donation!