Book Review Section – EAL Journal: Children’s Literature About Refugees: A catalyst in the classroom by Julia Hope Learning and Teaching British Values: Policies and Perspectives on British Identities by Sadia Habib

At the end of November 2017, Sadia Habib and Julia Hope held a joint book launch at Goldsmiths, University of London to celebrate and talk about their recent publications.

Sadia’s book Learning and Teaching British Values: Policies and Perspectives on British Identities engages with debates about multicultural British identities at a time when schools are expected to promote fundamental British values. Undertaking research while a Secondary school teacher in South East London, Sadia interrogates the complexities of teaching and learning Britishness in multicultural Britain.

Julia’s book is a powerful complement to this. Children’s Literature about Refugees: A catalyst in the classroom uses Beverley Naidoo's novel The Other Side of Truth along with Mary Hoffman's The Colour of Home to present concrete case studies from two Primary schools, also in South East London, on how children's literature about refugees can be used productively in the classroom to stimulate discussion, foster empathy and validate those who might have been part of the experience.