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Bahram Rahman was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and grew up during the civil war and the Taliban regime. He earned a medical degree at Kabul Medical University and a master's degree in public policy at the University of Erfurt, Germany, while also working as an activist in Afghanistan in the areas of gender equality and youth political participation. Bahram came to Canada as a refugee in 2012, and today he is a senior policy advisor at the Ministry of Health in Ontario. His first picture book, Governor General's Literary Award finalist The Library Bus, was praised by the New York Times for documenting the barriers to education experienced by girls in war-torn countries and their resilience and ingenuity in overcoming them. His Fall 2021 picture book A Sky-Blue Bench has received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, which calls it ""a timely, eye-opening portrait of resilience, community, and hope."" Gabrielle Grimard transformed her love of design into a career in illustration over the course of her studies at Concordia University and the University of Quebec. In 2018, Gabrielle's picture book Stolen Words won the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award and was a finalist for the TD Canadian Children's Book Award. Not My Girl was a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Her creativity has been applied to children's publishing, advertising, and educational contexts.
Praise for The Library Bus 2022 FLA Children's Book Award Finalist 2020 Northern Lights Book Award: Multicultural Category Winner 2021 South Asian Book Awards Highly Commended Books Pick STARRED REVIEW The conversational text is great for one-on-one sharing, but this will also come in handy at story times, for a celebration of reading, and for a glimpse of Afghani culture. -School Library Journal Starred Review In a story inspired by the first library bus in Kabul, Afghanistan, where Rahman grew up during the civil war, it brings books to girls in remote villages and refugee camps who have no other access to education. -The New York Times The girls' individualized faces and emotions will establish a bond with children everywhere as Rahman celebrates the brave and resourceful Afghani women teachers from his childhood who found creative ways to educate girls. -Booklist An inspiring story that conveys the power of education-paying it forward and meeting avid readers where they are. -Kirkus Reviews The reassuring watercolor and digital illustrations help convey Rahman's assertion that 'when you are born in war, you are truly unaware of the alternative, peace. War is your normal.' -The Horn Book Guide Bahram Rahman, who worked as a gender equality activist in Afghanistan, delicately portrays in his first picture book the continued effects of the Taliban's prohibition on female education....Closed with an author's note sharing his connection to the story, The Library Bus extols the soaring spirit of those who value learning. -Shelf Awareness Bahram Rahman's The Library Bus is inspired by growing up in Afghanistan and by the children he met during visits to orphanages and camps in Kabul....Gabrielle Grimard's characteristically warm style and her animated representation of Pari and the other children beautifully brings to life the vitality and potential of the girls in the book. -Quill & Quire Although the book deals with heavy and complex themes, there is still a lightness to the story that attracts and engages young readers....The illustrations by Gabrielle Grimard are equally appealing and capture Rahman's tone and the power of books and education, while celebrating the bond between mother and daughter. -Asian Review of Books The story is simple and heartwarming and underscores the importance of literacy and schooling for girls and gently points to the political challenges-repressive regimes, poverty, refugee camps-that preclude education for young girls. -The International Examiner The Library Bus reminds us what a luxury it is to learn to read....Award-winning illustrator Gabrielle Grimard brings this story to life with water-colour paintings of the refugee camps, villages, and the little children who live there. -Montreal Review of Books Drawing upon very real conditions confronting Afghanistan girls wanting an education, The Library Bus by the collaborative team of author/storyteller Bahram Rahman and artist/illustrator Gabrielle Grimard is an extraordinary, original, thoroughly 'kid friendly', and highly recommended addition to family, elementary school, and community library picture book collections. -Midwest Book Review The Library Bus is a gentle day-in-the-life book that introduces readers to a beautiful country. Highly Recommended. -CM Magazine Inspired by the first Library Bus to operate in Kabul, Bahram Rahman...has written The Library Bus to show how important it is for girls to be allowed to go to school....Gabrielle Grimard's pictures wrap around whole pages with watercolour and digital abandon. -Winnipeg Free Press This nicely illustrated picture book looks at the importance of education for everyone. At the end of the book the author writes about what it was like growing up in Afghanistan. -Postmedia The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman is a picture book, a gently told story of Pari and her mother who operates a library bus in Afghanistan....A great read to discuss the plight of refugees with young children. -The International Educator This book was so accessible for both my kids and gave them such a rich introduction to the country of Afghanistan. -Kids Read the World
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