Jemmy Button

Jemmy Button offers a sensitive, fictionalized account of a real historical figure, Orundellico, a Yahgan boy from Tierra del Fuego. In the 1830s, he was brought to London by Captain FitzRoy of the HMS Beagle to be 'educated' and then returned home. This picture book explores Jemmy's journey, his awe and confusion in a foreign land, and his eventual return to his native culture. It's an excellent conversation starter for parents and children about cultural differences, historical encounters, and the meaning of 'home' and identity. While it touches on the complex history of colonialism, it does so through Jemmy's personal experience, making it accessible for young readers.