To The Other Side by Erika Meza (author)

Winner of Best Picture Book at the Diverse Book Award 2024

‘A thoughtful, profound, important book’ Irish Independent
‘A realistic but hopeful look at two children’s emigration’ Publishers Weekly

Powerful and timely, To The Other Side explores the journey of two young refugee children in search of safety. Perfect for opening up conversations about conflict and war, encouraging empathy and understanding.

A young boy and his older sister have left home to play a game. To win, she tells him, they must travel across endless lands together and make it to the finish line.

Each child imagines what might be waiting for them across the border: A spotted dog? Ice cream! Or maybe a new school. But the journey is difficult, and the monsters are more real than they imagined.

And when it no longer feels like a game, the two children must still find a way to forge ahead, and reach the other side.

A stunning, symbolic and emotionally rich picture book about the spirit and strength it takes to leave your home behind. Beautifully brought to life by award-winning author-illustrator Erika Meza.

Shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal, the Jhalek Prize, the Diverse Book Awards, the Inclusive Books for Children Award and the Little Rebels Award, and selected by Empathy Lab for The 2024 Read for Empathy Collection.

Praise
‘One of the best picture books I’ve read in recent memory’ Steve Antony
‘Perceptive and exquisitely illustrated’ Flavia Z. Drago
‘Beautiful. Beautifully illustrated. Beautifully told’ Jarvis
‘An incredible book’ Mark Bradley
‘Simply impeccable’ Steven Lenton
‘An instant classic’ Celine Kiernan