If you see a bluebird

A young Afghan boy misses his homeland. Ali and Nana wake early one morning to go berry picking. As they ride their bikes to the blackberry patch, Ali reminisces about their home in Kabul, where his family gathered in their backyard to listen to his mother playing the ghichak and laugh together as they picked mulberries. With the onset of war, soldiers came to their home, breaking his mother's musical instrument and shattering their peace. Fearing for their safety, Ali and his family made the arduous journey by foot, bus, and plane to get to a safe place. Here in the present, Nana spots a bluebird and tells Ali to make a wish before it flies away. While his grandmother is thankful to have the family together, Ali wishes he could go home. His grandmother's healing words help Ali process the idea that home is not a place but the love his family has for each other. The story thrums with the sadness of places left behind and the danger that forces people to leave. It also hints at the challenges Ali and his family face in their new home. The vivid illustrations demarcate the past and present by contrasting the bright blue skies and rolling green plains of Ali's new home with the rustic terracotta hues of his homeland. A sweetly sentimental story that places people at the heart of a home. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.