Khaled Hosseini's new book a tribute to Alan Kurdi

Bestselling writer Khaled Hosseini's new book "Sea Prayer" is a tribute to Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed upon the beach in Turkey in September 2015, and will release on August 30.

The Afghan-born American novelist was impelled to write "Sea Prayer" by the haunting image of young Alan.

Written in the form of a letter, "Sea Prayer" is a father's reflection as he watches over his sleeping son, on the dangerous journey across the sea that lies before them.

It is also an account of their life in Homs, Syria, before the war, and of that city's swift transformation from a home into a deadly war zone.

Originally produced in collaboration with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, "Sea Prayer" was first released as a Guardian virtual film on September 1, 2017.

Published by Bloomsbury, "Sea Prayer" has illustrations by Dan Williams.

"We are living in the midst of a displacement crisis of enormous proportions. 'Sea Prayer' is an attempt to pay tribute to the millions of families, like Alan Kurdi's, who have been splintered and forced from home by war and persecution," says Hosseini.

Alexandra Pringle, group editor-in-chief at Bloomsbury, said the publishing house is "very proud to be working with Khaled Hosseini to create a beautiful book from his lyrical and intensely moving story, a book to be cherished by people of all ages all over the world".

"My dear Marwan, I look at your profile in the glow of this moon, my boy, your eyelashes like calligraphy, closed in guileless sleep. And I say to you, 'Hold my hand. Nothing bad will happen'."