Lubna and Pebble

How to Teach This Book

Lubna and Pebble addresses the refugee crisis and helps explain to young readers what it means to lose your home and friends, wonder about where you will live, and wait for change in an uncertain world. When sharing Lubna and Pebble, be prepared to help students understand what a refugee is and what their life is like. As they better understand, students will likely be ready to offer their help. Help them conduct research to learn what is needed to help in your community or globally. Get them to keep in mind that, like Lubna, one of the simplest things they can do is to be kind and compassionate to others. Students can also:

• welcome new students with introductions, invitations, and conversations
• choose a cause to support, fundraise as a class for the group, and write letters of support
• educate and advocate by sharing books like Lubna and Pebble with others.

Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing

1. Where is Lubna living? Why are she and her father living there?
2. What do you notice about Lubna and her thoughts and feelings? What does Lubna notice about Amir?
3. Should Lubna have given Pebble away? Why do you think Lubna gave Pebble to Amir? What do you think Amir will do with Pebble?
4. When you notice that someone is feeling bad, what do you do?
5. What does it mean to you to be a good friend?

Additional Resources for Teaching About the Refugee Crisis

• 8 educational resources to better understand the refugee crisis
• 9 Strategies for Cultivating Empathy and Compassion in Your Classroom from the Institute for Humane Education
• Simple Acts: Help change the way we see refugees, and ourselves from Refugee Week
• What You Can Do to Support Refugee Students from Colorín Colorado