The Library Bus

The Middle East Book Award winner and Governor General’sLiterary Award finalist inspired by Kabul, Afghanistan’s first library bus isnow in paperback!

It is stilldark in Kabul, Afghanistan when the library bus rumbles out of the city. Thereare no bus seats—instead there are chairs and tables and shelves of books. Andthere are no passengers—instead there is Pari, who is nervously starting herfirst day as Mama’s library helper. Pari stands tall to hand out notebooks andpencils at the villages and the refugee camp, but she feels intimidated. Thegirls they visit are learning to write English from Mama. Pari can’t even reador write in Farsi yet. But next year she will go to school and learn all thereis to know. And she is so lucky. Not long ago, Mama tells her, girls were notallowed to read at all.

Author BahramRahman grew up in Afghanistan during years of civil war and the restrictiveTaliban regime of 1996–2001. He wrote The Library Bus to tell newgenerations about the struggles of women who, like his own sisters,were forbidden to learn. Brought to life by the pensive and captivating art ofaward-winning illustrator Gabrielle Grimard, The Library Bus is acelebration of literacy, ingenuity, and the strength of women and girlsdemanding a future for themselves.

Don’t miss A Sky-Blue Bench, also by Bahram Rahman

• ALA Schneider Family Book Award Honor Winner

“A timely, eye-opening portrait of resilience, community, andhope.”—Kirkus Reviews ? Starred Review