The Unexpected Friend

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PARENT-TEACHER GUIDE

The Unexpected Friend

Average Rating: 5.0

Country: Bangladesh

Author: Raya Rahman

Illustrator: Inshra Sakhawat Russell

Ages: 8-10

Publisher: Asia Foundation

About The Story

According to UNHCR data, more than 43 million children worldwide have been displaced from their home countries due to conflict, persecution, and violence. They bear the burden of decisions and disasters far beyond their control. Living in crowded refugee camps can harm their emotional and physical well-being. This story gives us a glimpse of a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, where Rohingya families who fled persecution in Myanmar live. Faisal rescues an injured bird and, with his sisters, nurses it back to health. When the bird is ready to fly, despite their attachment, they decide to let it go. Why do you think they make this choice?

Themes

Displacement

Family & Friends

Social & Emotional Learning

Sub Themes

Refugee experience

Empathy and caregiving

Loss and resilience

Letting go

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

Understand the emotional and physical challenges faced by refugee children.
Develop empathy for animals and people in distress.
Recognize that love can mean letting go.
Appreciate the strength of community and emotional support.

Activities

1. Children act out key scenes from The Unexpected Friend, focusing on the rescue, care, and release of the bird. Afterwards, discuss how the characters felt and what choices they made.
2. Children create posters illustrating what “home” means to them—safety, love, family, friends. They share their posters and discuss similarities and differences, connecting to the story’s exploration of displacement and belonging.
3.Assign small groups to research real-life stories of refugee children from around the world. They present their findings, highlighting resilience, creativity, and the importance of community.
4. If possible, organise a symbolic “bird release” using paper birds. Children write messages of hope or farewell on the birds and release them together, reflecting on the meaning of letting go and wishing well for others.

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

What does the word “refugee” mean? Can people have to leave their homes?

During reading

Why does Faisal pick up the injured bird?
How does he and his family take care of it?
What are some signs that Faisal and the bird are both healing?

After reading

Why do you think Faisal didn’t want to let the bird go?
What helped him make that decision?
Have you ever had to say goodbye to something or someone special?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-being

SDG 3 is reflected in the family’s care for Faisal and the bird, highlighting health support in vulnerable settings.

SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10 is connected to the refugee context and the story’s emphasis on dignity and equality.

SDG 16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

SDG 16 appears in the values of kindness, empathy, and peaceful coexistence expressed throughout the story.

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