Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land

With lyrical text and thought-provoking photography, Their Great Gift explores the experiences of immigrants in the twenty-first century, focusing on the lives of children. Images of families who came to the United States from many different parts of the world celebrate the diversity of our country and contain a vision of hope for the future.

“"Immigration has become a controversial topic in recent years, and this collection of striking photos and evocative words brings a warm, human face to an issue too often spoken about in abstract terms. Huie's moving photos capture immigrant families in a variety of contextsattending school, lounging at home, performing back-breaking labor, laughing with family, blending in with their new communities, and holding onto old traditionsand though there are no captions or explanations, each image carries significant emotional weight. Meanwhile, Coy's words link each page's photos together, emphasizing common experiences of newcomers to this country: 'They made mistakes and people laughed'; 'They kept going day after day so we'd have choices they didn't have.' It's a powerful message beautifully carried out in the marriage of words and pictures, one reminding readers that immigrants are not just brand-new transplants in their neighborhoods; in many cases, they are the progenitors of the majority of American families. A moving, affirming, and important addition to picture-book collections."Booklist”

"An attractive and inspiring look at immigration to the United States, sure to spark discussions at home or in the classroom. . . . [T]his offering puts a human face on a serious issue. . . . An ideal jumping-off place for teachers and parents interested in starting a conversation about a timely topic."—starred, School Library Journal

John Coy is the author of young adult novels, the 4 for 4 middle-grade series, and nonfiction and fiction picture books including Hoop Genius, Game Changer, Their Great Gift, Dads, If We Were Gone, and Where We Come From. He has received numerous awards for his work including a Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor, a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year, and the Burr/Warzalla Award for Distinguished Achievement in Children's Literature. John lives by the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Wing Young Huie photographs the dizzying socioeconomic and cultural realities of American society, much of it centered on the urban cores of his home state of Minnesota. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

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