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Mishka
CCBC Review:
When it finally sinks in that they are no longer moving, that her family is finally settled in a home of their own, that the refugee center is in the past, nine-year-old Roya (Afghan) announces that her family needs a pet. “What?” her three older brothers and her mother and father exclaim. That is how Mishka, a white dwarf rabbit, becomes part of Roya’s family. Roya explains to Mishka how her family became citizens of the Netherlands after their long journey from Afghanistan when she was three years old. Talking to Mishka and seeking comfort in his soft white fur is something Roya does intuitively. Each family member has their own connection to the rabbit as well. Gentle Hamayun knows the best way to pet Mishka, while Papa feeds him lettuce leaves. He’s so comfortable with Mama that he pees on her. Brother Navid takes pictures of Mishka for Roya’s school presentation. Bashir, the biggest brother, helps to search the neighborhood when Mishka escapes from his hutch. Having Mishka helps the family share individual and collective memories from their long, difficult journey. Short chapters with fresh, lively dialogue are accentuated with warm, full-color illustrations. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by
Annet Schaap
Translated by
Nancy Forest-Flier.
Translated from Dutch. Originally published in the Netherlands.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 6-10
Age Range:
PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7)
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Afghan and Afghan Americans
Animals (Fiction)
Families
Immigration and Immigrants
Pets
School
Stories and Storytelling
Trauma
Diversity subject:
Asian
Muslim
On CCBC Booklists:
Global Reading: Selected Books for Children and Teens Set in Other Countries
Family Read-Alouds
Publisher:
Levine Querido
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 151
ISBN: 9781646144587
CCBC Location: Fiction, Van de Vendel