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.” Peggy Collins is an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator with more than 35 titles to her name, including Hungry for Math: Poems to Munch On, In the Snow, and In the Garden. She has also written and illustrated for animated apps teaching math, indigenous history, and education. Peggy lives in Newburgh, Ontario with her two children.
Praise for A Sky-Blue Bench 2021 The New York Times What to Read: Four Children's Books selection 2021 Kirkus Reviews 'Best Books of 2021 Celebrating Community' selection 2021 Foreword Reviews Book of The Day (Nov 3rd) 2021 Harvard Book Store New This Week: Kids & Young Adult selection 2021 Quill & Quire 2021 Best of Fall guide: Kids' books selection 2021 49th Shelf Books for Back to School selection STARRED REVIEW A timely, eye-opening portrait of resilience, community, and hope. -Kirkus Reviews Together with her mother and brother, Aria decides to build a bench herself, painting it skyblue: the color of courage, peace and wisdom. -Foreword Reviews [A] heartwarming story about a resilient young girl who faces a barrier to her education. -Quill & Quire Illustrator Peggy Collins imbues Aria with an infectious spunkiness and grit that make her relatable even to readers with a very different school experience. An author's note gently introduces an age-appropriate discussion of landmines and their impact on the lives of children in many nations, especially Afghanistan... -CBC Books How beautiful and heart-breaking to read this lovely picture book about a young girl...who finds a way to be comfortable at school by building her own bench. The ingenuity and determination of Afghani women and girls is explored... -Youth Services Book Review The narrative was powerful and impactful and drew specifically on some experiences the author had growing up in Afghanistan. There is an authors note with terms that I think will be helpful to parents/caregivers if they read this will children. -Bookishrealm, Goodreads [An] inspiring story of resilience, determination, and grit. -Little Bookworm Club Peggy Collins fills her spreads...with digital artwork that reveals the emotions felt, the support of community, and the determination of a child to make a difference for herself and others... -Sal's Fiction Addiction Beautiful story, beautiful lessons and beautiful illustrations... -Book Time