Flight; Nadia Wheatley, illustrated by Armin Greder

Flight tells a story that is all too familiar. A family fleeing from the authorities in the middle of the night in the search for a better place to call home. They are just one of the many thousands of families that embark on the most perilous of journeys to escape countries ravaged by war and oppressive regimes.

In the middle of the night a family flee their home. The darkness is illuminated by the burning fires of fallen bombs and the rumbling of tanks breaks the silence. Walking with only the stars to guide them and their faith to keep their hopes up, the family face the most difficult of journeys. Will they make it before their limited resources and energy run out…

This is another moving, powerful and poignant picture book that portrays the terrible reality that many refugees face. The book mimics the biblical story of Mary and Joseph. The couple in Flight flee on a donkey and have a baby, although in this case the baby has already been born. They use the stars to guide them and faith is an important part of their journey.

Despite their bleak surroundings and the huge challenges that they face the family never lose hope and the relationship between them remains strong. As a reader you root for the family and hope that they do make it to a better place and the closing words of the child are extremely powerful as he promises to his mother that, “One day, we will reach our new home.”

The stark black and white illustrations really emphasise the challenge faced by the family. The family are small and the horizon seems never ending, the journey will be long and arduous.

This book of few words will leave a lasting impression on all those who read it.

Recommended for 10+.