For children who are immigrants to the United States, seeing themselves reflected in stories can be a valuable experience. They may be able to relate to the titular character in Mustafa who finds it difficult to communicate and make new friends. Like the girl in Saffron Ice Cream who misses saffron ice cream and trips to Iranian beaches, they may long for things from their old countries. Some of these books like Dreamers and Marwan’s Journey focus on the voyage itself and the adjustment to new countries.

Despite the struggles the children face in these stories, readers can always find a hopeful message. Mustafa makes a new friend, the girl in Saffron Ice Cream discovers she loves American beaches and ice cream just as much as Iranian ones, and the mother in Dreamers finds solace and understanding in a library.

For children who have not personally experienced immigration, these books can be a great opportunity to develop empathy and learn about the experiences of others. They can be used to talk about the voyages of generations past and how to welcome new friends from other countries.