Kathy is in her first year at boarding school in northern China when Japanese soldiers arrive to take the children and teachers to a prisoner of war camp, where they were to remain for several years. Kathy and her older brother face hardships, disease and discouragement, but their teachers remind them that “The soldiers cannot take God out of this camp” and encourage them to find joy in small things. During her imprisonment, Kathy befriends a Japanese guard, and they celebrate together when the war ends. Although it is not expressly stated, the girl in the story is almost certainly an MK. Her experience as a prisoner of war, of course, is not especially typical, and her friendship with the guard is not given much attention. The focus of the book is on Kathy’s courage in the midst of frightening circumstances. Questions at the end of the book can initiate discussions with elementary aged children about dealing with fear, how to live peaceably with others, and why countries have wars.
Reading level: age 8-11 years
Missionary kids John and Lisa are glad to get back to Japan after furlough in America. Although they are sad to leave their relatives, they enjoy moving into their new house, making friends with the neighbor kids, and eating familiar Japanese food. Later, their family travels from their home in Sapporo in the north all the way to the southern city of Nagasaki, visiting various cities along the way. This is basically a coloring book with a storyline about the life of two MKs. Activities are interspersed throughout the book (e.g. mazes, crosswords, word searches, Japanese character writing, dot-to-dot). There is also an accompanying Parent/Teacher Guide that gives more information on Japan and gives lesson plans for five lessons, suitable for a children’s missions conference or a similar event.
Reading level: age 6-9 years
The bear family plans to move to the Philippines to tell people about Jesus. Brothers Stanley and Harold feel differently about the move – Harold is excited, while Stanley is sad about leaving his home, friends and grandparents. Talking it over with him mom helps though and the brothers go through the important rituals of saying goodbyes. A good discussion starter for young children. This book is very difficult to find online but is available from the author. Find Roger Dyer, MK Merimna on LinkedIn to request it.
Reading level: age 6-9 years
When rebels try to take over the government in Ethiopia, where Charlie lives with his missionary parents, his family plans to evacuate the country. While his mother and baby sister leave for Kenya with another missionary family, Charlie and his father are separated when rebels arrest his father for having a short-wave radio. Completely dependent on the family of his best friend,
Wandaro, and Ethiopian Christians to help him and his father escape, Charlie prays, clinging to the promise, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him.” This easy chapter book is listed as being for ages 6-8 years old, but the story may be frightening for some younger children.
Reading level: age 6-8 years
This is a story about a young MK’s first days in American school after living in France. Colorful watercolor illustrations and simple sensitive writing make this book a good one for young children, especially those going through reentry.
Reading level: age 5-8 years
Peanut Butter Friends in a Chop Suey World is a fictional story about Amy Kramer’s first months in Taiwan. The sixth-grader has moved there with her family so her parents can begin missionary work, and she is eager to make some real Chinese friends. When the neighbor girls just giggle when she tries to greet them in her halting Mandarin, she turns instead to her “peanut butter” friends at the Taichung American School – American or international kids who are more like her. When she tries to be kind to the class outcast, though, she finds herself shunned even at school and has to make some hard choices and remind herself of what she came to Taiwan for in the first place.
Reading level: age 9 to 12 years
