The little refugee

HONOUR BOOK: CBCA Book of the Year, Eve Pownell Award for Information Books, 2012Giant waves crashed down on our little boat.

I was terrified but my mum hugged me tight and told me, 'Everything will be okay.

Don't worry, it will be okay.'Anh Do nearly didn't make it to Australia.

His entire family came close to losing their lives as they escaped from war-torn Vietnam in an overcrowded boat.

It was a dangerous journey, with murderous pirates and terrifying storms, but they managed to survive.

Life in suburban Australia was also hard for a small boy with no English and funny lunches.

But there was a loving extended family, lots of friends, and always something to laugh about for Anh, his brother Khoa and their sister Tram. And eventually for a young Anh, who tried hard to see the bright side of life no matter what the difficulty, there was triumph.

Awarded an Honour Book in the 2012 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards, The Little Refugee tells the uplifting and inspiring childhood story of one of Australia's favourite personalities.'Awesome.

I sort of liked how it was sad in the beginning but it was happy in the end.' - Sinead, aged 7