Picture Book Wednesday: Sad but Powerful Books

Just a couple books highlighting sad but powerful stories - immigration, dreamers, and hurricane damange.

A young boy and his family are forced to leave their house and return to Mexico in order to remain together.

This is a bilingual book - it's sad and heartbreaking and yet hopeful. There is an author's note at the end of the book. 

Carmen's father disappears on day - because he doesn't have any papers. Carmen doesn't understand. She isn't supposed to tell anyone their family secret, but she tells her friend. 

Another sad book about families being torn apart. This one doesn't have a happy ending, but it is hopeful. There is an extensive author's note in the back of the book with great information. 

Elena and her family live in Puerto Rico. When a hurricane hits the island, everything changes. They lose running water, electricity, and the mango tree in their yard. But their neighborhood pulls together and helps each other. They replant gardens and clean up. Months later, the mango tree spouts a green leaf and the coquies come back.

This book has a great message - home has changed forever, but we are still here. There's also a great author's note at the end of the book that talks about the hurricane and also about the differences between states and Puerto Rico.