Book Descriptions
for Mishka by Edward van de Vendel, Anoush Elman, and Annet Schaap
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
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 (Afghani) 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.
CCBC Choices 2025. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, 2025. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Winner of the national book award for children's literature in the Netherlands — a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home!
Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family's journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen.
Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman's arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family's experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.
Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member — Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved part of their new home and gradually, the rabbit — and also Roya — get to hear the story of the family's journey from Afghanistan to the Netherlands. Told from different perspectives every time: big Bashir, gentle Hamayun, tough Navid, and sometimes Mom and Dad. Mishka and Roya listen.
Anoush Elman and Edward van de Vendel became friends upon Elman's arrival in the Netherlands, and fifteen years later, they decided to write a story for younger readers about his family's experience. This gorgeous chapter book — illustrated throughout in full color — is a tender, lyrical story of a young girl processing a new country, new school, and new friends — and a bunny escape! — in a story readers and parents will treasure.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
