The Stories You Carry: A Suitcase Full of Family, Culture, and Courage

A Suitcase Full is a heartfelt picture book about the love of family, the power of one's story, and the beauty of embracing change while leaving and finding home. When a young girl's family is forced to flee Iran, there isn't time to make a plan. With only one suitcase, Kimia is forced to leave behind many cherished possessions as well as say goodbye to her beloved grandmother, Nana-joon. As years pass, the family lives in vibrant cities like London and Paris, but are never able to stay for long. After traveling halfway around the world, they finally find a new place to call home on the island of O'ahu. When Kimia's new teacher assigns the class a special project—bringing a suitcase filled with meaningful objects—Kimia finds a way to weave her past into her present, celebrating both her roots and her growth.

Through stunning illustrations and poignant storytelling, A Suitcase Full invites readers to explore their own life stories and identities, to embrace changes as opportunities to learn and grow, and to appreciate travel and cultures around world.

With A Suitcase Full, readers can:

• Share in the joys and challenges of starting fresh in a new place
• Explore themes of resilience, belonging, and what it means to carry your story with you
• Find comfort and hope when adjusting to new homes or schools

Based on the author's childhood, A Suitcase Full encourages shared storytelling and conversations about family history, migration, language, culture, and resilience. A Leader's Guide is available for this book.