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The Library Bus
The Middle East Book Award winner and Governor General’s Literary Award finalist inspired by Kabul, Afghanistan’s first library bus is now in paperback! It is still dark in Kabul, Afghanistan when the library bus rumbles out of the city. There are no bus seats—instead there are chairs and tables and shelves of books. And there are no passengers—instead there is Pari, who is nervously starting her first day as Mama’s library helper. Pari stands tall to hand out notebooks and pencils at the villages and the refugee camp, but she feels intimidated. The girls they visit are learning to write English from Mama. Pari can’t even read or write in Farsi yet. But next year she will go to school and learn all there is to know. And she is so lucky. Not long ago, Mama tells her, girls were not allowed to read at all. Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during years of civil war and the restrictive Taliban regime of 1996–2001. He wrote The Library Bus to tell new generations about the struggles of women who, like his own sisters, were forbidden to learn. Brought to life by the pensive and captivating art of award-winning illustrator Gabrielle Grimard , The Library Bus is a celebration of literacy, ingenuity, and the strength of women and girls demanding a future for themselves.
Don’t miss A Sky-Blue Bench, also by Bahram Rahman “A timely, eye-opening portrait of resilience, community, and hope.” —Kirkus Reviews ★ Starred Review
Don’t miss A Sky-Blue Bench, also by Bahram Rahman “A timely, eye-opening portrait of resilience, community, and hope.” —Kirkus Reviews ★ Starred Review
32 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2020
327 people want to read
About the author
Bahram Rahman
5 books11 followersBahram 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
March 15, 2022
“This is no ordinary library - this one is on wheels! And it’s the only library bus in all the Kabul. Instead of seats, it has so many books that Pari can barely count them all.”
——
“When I was young, girls were not allowed to go to school, to learn, to read or write. I have to hide in the basement to study.
(…)
Pari, when you go to school next year I want you to study hard. Never stop learning. Then you will be free.”
- Mama
——
“When I was young, girls were not allowed to go to school, to learn, to read or write. I have to hide in the basement to study.
(…)
Pari, when you go to school next year I want you to study hard. Never stop learning. Then you will be free.”
- Mama
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October 21, 2020This inspiring, realistic picture book gives a glimpse into the efforts of female educators to provide knowledge to young girls in Afghanistan. Hand this to young library lovers who want to see what schools and libraries are like in other parts of the world.
November 29, 2021
Un bel album qui fait l’éloge de l’éducation. C’est magnifique, mais encore une fois trop enfantin pour mon projet!
January 5, 2021
I grew up in a small town without a library and was a happy child when the bookmobile came with so many new books. I did own some, but could not possibly have owned all that I read during my elementary years. We moved to a city when I was in middle school where there was a marvelous library, yet I still missed my bookmobile.
I imagine I could have made do unlike the children shown in this wonderful story of Afghanistan by Bahram Rahman who grew up there. He now lives in Canada, has written a story from his first country, letting young girl Pari go with her mother to help as they journey on Kabul's first library bus. They visit remote villages and one refugee camp in the story, yet I imagine the bus goes to many other places day by day. When they stop, girls come to exchange books read with new ones. And Mama gives a brief English lesson. Many layers inform this story as shown in the quiet and beautiful illustrations with a desert background and happy girls so excited that the "library bus" has arrived. There is a brief passage about refugee camps and an author's note at the back. It will be a good introduction to life in another land for young readers or a companion book with others who tell of the world of getting books to those who have no other way to get them.
Note: Only girls are shown in the illustrations that appear to demonstrate that in the past, they were forbidden to learn to read and write and this book celebrates their new-found freedom. You can find online articles about this special bus if you search.
I imagine I could have made do unlike the children shown in this wonderful story of Afghanistan by Bahram Rahman who grew up there. He now lives in Canada, has written a story from his first country, letting young girl Pari go with her mother to help as they journey on Kabul's first library bus. They visit remote villages and one refugee camp in the story, yet I imagine the bus goes to many other places day by day. When they stop, girls come to exchange books read with new ones. And Mama gives a brief English lesson. Many layers inform this story as shown in the quiet and beautiful illustrations with a desert background and happy girls so excited that the "library bus" has arrived. There is a brief passage about refugee camps and an author's note at the back. It will be a good introduction to life in another land for young readers or a companion book with others who tell of the world of getting books to those who have no other way to get them.
Note: Only girls are shown in the illustrations that appear to demonstrate that in the past, they were forbidden to learn to read and write and this book celebrates their new-found freedom. You can find online articles about this special bus if you search.
April 15, 2021
It seems this polarizing 32 page picture book has instagram reviewers torn, perhaps along racial/cultural lines, as to whether the book is wonderful or simply victim to perpetuating the same old tropes and stereotypes. Maybe being half brown, I shouldn’t be surprised to find myself in the middle. I think if you are tired of feeling like the only strong Muslim female from the subcontinent acknowledged by the West is Malala Yousafzai, and seeing her single narrative and experience being repackaged in a new book every other week, then yes, this book is going to grate on a similar nerve and OWN voice or not, you will write it off as Afghanistan being close enough to Pakistan and the story of a girl and education being unoriginal. I think the flip side is that if you find a female lead taking education in the form of a library bus to the places where formal education is not available and you love the empowerment that women educating women can have in changing a society, then you are going to probably love a female driving a bus, a female teaching, a girl planning to go to school, a grandfather making sure in a previous generation when women couldn’t be educated, that he taught his daughter, and being thankful that it is a person from the society and not a “white savior” coming to help the people in Afghanistan. Both as far as I can tell have merit. I think that you see in the book what your paradigm and perspective is before you even start. I have read it and re read it and then read it again over the span of many weeks. I was alerted to it by @muslimkidsbooknook who sensed that we might disagree before she even posted her review (haha it’s like she knows me!), so my review is going to try really hard to focus on the text, and what it says, not on the 30 books before it that had a similar message or on my views on publishers only accepting manuscripts with reassuring easily palatable narratives, there is enough of that already about this book out there. I’m going to try and offer my perspective on what the book contains and while it has problems for me, I definitely liked it more than I disliked it. Oh and one more thing: the illustrations, swoon, are gorgeous, like really, really beautiful. Bismillah…
Pari and her mother are getting ready to set off in their library on wheels. It is Pari’s first day as her mother’s helper and she is a little nervous. It is dark when Pari’s mom drives the bus to their first stop- a small village tucked in a valley between two gray mountains. There are a group of girls waiting for the bus and call it over to return books and pick new ones. This reminds me of my time in New England and hearing about the Book Mobiles and Mobile Book Fairs that would visit the small seaside towns that didn’t have proper libraries. Even my mom used to tell me stories about waiting for the Book Mobile to stop on her street in Davis County, Utah to get books once a month. The concept is universal and that it takes place in Afghanistan and is driven by a woman who is educated and independent, is intentional with the hopes of being inspiring.
The girls then gather for a lesson, it is hard to know how impromptu it is or if it is a regular organized class. It is also not made clear if they always practice English or it is something unique to the day, but they sing the alphabet song and count to ten. After class a girl tries to chat with Pari and see how much she knows. Pari lies and says she can print, but in reality can’t even read or write in Farsi yet. This shows a gap in the story as earlier Pari said she could barely count all the books in the library, and in the pictures there are a lot of books, but she is trying to keep up as the girls count to ten. As the mom and daughter team pack up to head to their next location they discuss how Pari’s mama learned.
Pari’s grandpa taught her mom a long time ago, at a time when girls were not allowed to go to school and she had to hide in the basement to learn. Pari wonders if her mom was afraid of the basement. It is always dark down there. It is really one paragraph on one page that mentions that girls could not learn. It is presented in the past tense, and as the story progresses we learn that next year when Pari is older she will be going to school.
There is a two page spread about the mom seemingly going off on her mantra that learning makes you free. And I’m ok with it. It says when you go to school study hard, period, then the next line says, “Never stop learning. Then you will be free.” Yes! I agree, how many of us pursued a skill or a hobby during this pandemic to feel free from the confines of staying at home. Learning in any capacity is liberating. It may not keep you safe in a war, but the freedom of the mind to find peace and pursue passions is critical to mental health and survival. Am I reading too much in to these basic lines? Absolutely, well probably anyway.
When the bus gets to a refugee camp with tents everywhere, Pari and her mom start handing out pencils and notebooks before settling in to what seems an organized English lesson of ABC. I am torn on my thoughts about them stressing English over their own language. A sense of pride in who they are by learning Farsi or Dari or Pashtu would show readers that Afghan culture is rich and worth learning and valuing. I worry that by stressing the English, it presents the culture and language erroneously as the opposite. At the same time, as a child and teen, I went to Pakistan over a dozen times and would beg my (middle class) cousins to teach me Urdu. I’d make them take me to Urdu Bazaar for dictionaries and text books, and preschool grammar books so that I could learn my father’s language. And it never happened. I’d beg in letters before I got there, and they would agree, but when I arrived they all wanted to work on their English. They wanted to practice it in conversation, they wanted me to read over their assignments, they would introduce me to their coaching center teachers, their principals, the tutors, and I’d find myself teaching them colloquialisms and explaining idioms, and I’d watch my “textbooks” gather dust. This was before social media, and YouTube and Netflix and I was their link from their studies to the larger world that rewarded knowledge of the English language. Is it correct or even logical? No. But it was my experience that they desperately wanted to learn English over Urdu or the required provincial language Sindhi. Would readers of this book know that? No. Do critics of them learning English wish that it wasn’t the case more than wishing that the book simply didn’t highlight it? I don’t know.
As they leave the camp, Pari reads the letters of the refugee organizations off the tents. I find it off that earlier she called it ACDs instead of ABCs and yet now she knows the alphabet. Again I’ve read the critiques questioning why the refugee camps are named and have over thought it. In some ways I think it is a reminder that the country has been at war and that individual organizations are helping care for those displaced by countries that tore the country apart. The text says that, “there are no schools for the girls in the village or the camps.” If anything I took this to show that while we stereotype Afghan society as not making education of females important, that international relief groups don’t either. The great saviors aren’t teaching the girls in the camps, a mom and her daughter come once a week. There is a subtle yet powerful critique of foreign policy there, if you want to really be honest, I think this should be made more clear. At the end of the day the strong Afghan people are putting their country back together after a never ending illegal conflict has ravaged them further.
The author says in his note at the end that this book is based on real people he met in refugee camps when he returned to his homeland and that this book is a tribute to the strong Afghan people, particularly the women. Imagine where any war torn nation would be without the bravery and determination of mothers and teachers, and women who will risk it all for their children and ultimately an entire generation, when politics and power have found other things to value.
The book on its own I think is fine, allbeit written plainly for western readers. Do I wish stories about life in this part of the world didn’t feature war and refugees and education, absolutely. We can argue my experience compared to your experience, to the author’s purpose and intent, to the publisher’s vision. That is the beauty of books, we don’t have to agree and we can discuss and we can all be better for it. There is nothing Islamic in the book other than some of the characters wearing a scarf or chador or hijab.
December 1, 2024
This was a very inspiring and eye-opening story! In this book, a mom and a young girl ride the “library bus” all around town to teach girls how to read or provide books for them to read. The bus is filled with many books, and Pari and her mom pick up as many young girls as possible to give them the opportunity to read and learn! The major themes in the book were the oppression of women and empowerment because in Afghanistan it is normal for girls and women not to receive any education or have the same opportunities as men; they are deprived of an education. This book's next main theme, empowerment, is evident because the main character Pari and her mother take the library bus around town and help young girls learn to read and provide them with many books. These young girls in Afghanistan are seeking an education, regardless of the norm in their culture. The main genre of this book is historical fiction. Children reading this book could learn that other countries are not as fortunate as America due to wars, oppression of women, and lack of education. Children reading this book could also realize what a gift it is to have access to books and receive a good education, especially as a young girl. This book was a WOW book for me because it really made me realize how fortunate I have been to receive a good education, as a female especially, and not have to grow up in a country undergoing a war. The story was also very powerful to me because it had helped young girls receive access to education and books despite all of the challenges faced in Afghanistan, making it difficult to get an education or learn to read. Two of the literary devices the author used in writing this book were symbolism and contrast. These literary devices added to the quality of the writing in this book by presenting the library bus as a powerful symbol in the book, which represents more than just a bus; it represents knowledge, opportunity, and access to books! The literary device, contrast, added to the quality of the writing because the contrast between the environment of the bus and the environment the young girls were living in, which was experiencing war, was a big difference because of the way the library bus provided a vibrant and hopeful environment. I would consider this book an anti-bias book because of the informed perspectives on how growing up in Afghanistan can be challenging for young girls, particularly because it is a country experiencing war, and this story revealed how it is difficult for young women to receive an education or learn how to read.
September 10, 2021
Quelle belle découverte
J’ai découvert ce petit bijou par hasard en "bookinant" à la librairie. J’ai d’abord été attirée par le titre, mais ensuite par le propos.
« Jusqu’à peu de temps avant la naissance de Pari, une fillette d’Afghanistan, les filles de son pays n’avaient pas le droit d’apprendre à lire et à écrire. À présent, c’est le premier jour de Pari comme assistante de sa maman dans le bibliobus. Pari se demande pourquoi les jeunes filles qu’elle rencontre ne pourront pas, comme elle, se rendre à l’école l’année prochaine. Sa mère lui explique qu’il n’y a pas d’école dans le village où elles se trouvent ni dans le camp de réfugiés. C’est d’ailleurs la raison pour laquelle sa maman les aide et la raison pour laquelle Pari doit aider, elle aussi. »
Un album jeunesse inspiré de faits réels qui aborde avec sensibilité le droit et l’accès à l’éducation pour les jeunes filles en Afghanistan, ainsi que les camps de réfugiés.
Je referme ce livre avec un sentiment de reconnaissance et aussi d’espoir, car il existe heureusement des gens qui, comme la maman de Pari, parcourent les villages et les camps de réfugiés à bord de bibliobus pour propager la connaissance et le plaisir de la lecture.
Les illustrations empreintes de douceur et de chaleur accompagnent bien le récit et contribuent à ce sentiment.
Un livre touchant et nécessaire qui peut assurément susciter de belles discussions avec les enfants.
J’ai découvert ce petit bijou par hasard en "bookinant" à la librairie. J’ai d’abord été attirée par le titre, mais ensuite par le propos.
« Jusqu’à peu de temps avant la naissance de Pari, une fillette d’Afghanistan, les filles de son pays n’avaient pas le droit d’apprendre à lire et à écrire. À présent, c’est le premier jour de Pari comme assistante de sa maman dans le bibliobus. Pari se demande pourquoi les jeunes filles qu’elle rencontre ne pourront pas, comme elle, se rendre à l’école l’année prochaine. Sa mère lui explique qu’il n’y a pas d’école dans le village où elles se trouvent ni dans le camp de réfugiés. C’est d’ailleurs la raison pour laquelle sa maman les aide et la raison pour laquelle Pari doit aider, elle aussi. »
Un album jeunesse inspiré de faits réels qui aborde avec sensibilité le droit et l’accès à l’éducation pour les jeunes filles en Afghanistan, ainsi que les camps de réfugiés.
Je referme ce livre avec un sentiment de reconnaissance et aussi d’espoir, car il existe heureusement des gens qui, comme la maman de Pari, parcourent les villages et les camps de réfugiés à bord de bibliobus pour propager la connaissance et le plaisir de la lecture.
Les illustrations empreintes de douceur et de chaleur accompagnent bien le récit et contribuent à ce sentiment.
Un livre touchant et nécessaire qui peut assurément susciter de belles discussions avec les enfants.
July 13, 2022
A beautiful book on the importance of learning.
Genre: Picture book
Ages: 4-6
Pari is the young girl in Afghanistan, whose mother runs a library bus. Her mother drives from place to place hosting story times and providing books to young children who otherwise might not have had a chance to learn reading. Pari loves to help her mom and asks her about the origin of the library bus and how it came to be, and is inspired to continue to help learning thrive in her country.
The soft illustrations complimented the sweet words and I felt it was a book that describes the hardships of a place that is going through a war but also shows the hope and resilience of people who seek learning. As Pari’s mom tells her, learning makes you feel free!
I liked how this book was about a young girl and how her mother is really the true hero of the story, because she was taught by her granddad to read at a time when reading wasn’t allowed, and then took her privilege and used it to help other young girls in villages all over Afghanistan.
I also really liked reading the authors note and how the story is based on personal experience is the author had in Afghanistan. I am a huge fan of authenticity.
#gifted from @pubspotlight
Genre: Picture book
Ages: 4-6
Pari is the young girl in Afghanistan, whose mother runs a library bus. Her mother drives from place to place hosting story times and providing books to young children who otherwise might not have had a chance to learn reading. Pari loves to help her mom and asks her about the origin of the library bus and how it came to be, and is inspired to continue to help learning thrive in her country.
The soft illustrations complimented the sweet words and I felt it was a book that describes the hardships of a place that is going through a war but also shows the hope and resilience of people who seek learning. As Pari’s mom tells her, learning makes you feel free!
I liked how this book was about a young girl and how her mother is really the true hero of the story, because she was taught by her granddad to read at a time when reading wasn’t allowed, and then took her privilege and used it to help other young girls in villages all over Afghanistan.
I also really liked reading the authors note and how the story is based on personal experience is the author had in Afghanistan. I am a huge fan of authenticity.
#gifted from @pubspotlight
January 14, 2021
This is an up-close and inspiring story of one Afghanistan family's effort to expand literacy, especially for girls. The language and images are lovely and uplifting, while exploring aspects of hardship and struggles.
The commitment and engagement of both the mother and daughter who bring library and instruction services are remarkable.
The commitment and engagement of both the mother and daughter who bring library and instruction services are remarkable.
December 9, 2024
To be clear - I am a proponent of the World Food Program & the UNHCR: this book was a not-at-all veiled advertisement for both programs.
The illustrations were lovely - and the reason I gave this title the two stars I did. The text was so blatantly propaganda (even if a cause with which I agree) that it reads like something produced solely for sale in the UN gift shop.
No, thank you. This title would best be used to teach kids to evaluate bias and motive in text.
The illustrations were lovely - and the reason I gave this title the two stars I did. The text was so blatantly propaganda (even if a cause with which I agree) that it reads like something produced solely for sale in the UN gift shop.
No, thank you. This title would best be used to teach kids to evaluate bias and motive in text.
September 3, 2021
A young girl accompanies her mother as she drives the Library Bus to an Afghanistan village and refugee camp where it is the only access girls in an have to any education.
Rounded up to highlight Afghanistan and the plight of education for girls.
Rounded up to highlight Afghanistan and the plight of education for girls.
June 16, 2021
This is touching and beautiful, especially when you know the history.
January 12, 2023
A beautifully written and illustrated picture book depicting how libraries and education might look a little differently in another part of the world. Pari helps her mother on the library bus, bringing books, supplies and short, meaningful English lessons to the girls in outskirt villages and refugee camps outside of Kabul, Afghanistan.
February 4, 2022
beautiful and inspiring look into another culture and their children's way of life
December 31, 2022
What a lovely story about Afghani children learning to read! I can't wait to show it to my students.
February 25, 2021
This one was fascinating. Particularly the illustrations.
April 22, 2022
A very special book that I'm honored to add to my public bookmobile's collection. It introduces difficult concepts like refugee camps in a gentle way and builds empathy and perspective -- while also showing children how awesome and important bookmobiles are! I think every library and school should own this book.
November 25, 2024
In this historical fiction book by Bahram Rahman, we are introduced to Pari and her quest for knowledge. This book is a fantastic book for all ages, not only does the book talk about important concepts such as equality and education, but it is also culturally significant. The main themes of this book are resilience and education; this can be seen as Pari’s mom explains to her about not being able to go to school because of the Taliban. The library book symbolizes hope and opportunity. This book teaches us about dreaming big no matter what circumstance one is in. Seeing the struggles of these young Afghan girls will inspire children to be grateful and not take their education for granted. The author's use of personification when describing the sun as well as the detailed description of the mountains and the environment of the refugee camp helps the reader to visualize the story. The use of the Farsi language in the story is also very powerful because it makes the story original and introduces a new language to the readers. Also, the repetition of the alphabet in the beginning and in the end subconsciously tells the reader that if the foundation of learning is wrong in the beginning for children then it will be wrong as the children grow older.
This book was free of bias because of its lack of tokenism as well as the use of different characters. I consider this a WOW book because it is a very inspiring story and I closely relate with the main character. My grandmother grew up in Afghanistan and she used to tell me about the lack of education and discrimination girls faced. This story reminded me of her struggles and how a sacrifice for one generation caused future generations to be able to have an education. This story encourages change in society and shows a different perspective on education.
This book was free of bias because of its lack of tokenism as well as the use of different characters. I consider this a WOW book because it is a very inspiring story and I closely relate with the main character. My grandmother grew up in Afghanistan and she used to tell me about the lack of education and discrimination girls faced. This story reminded me of her struggles and how a sacrifice for one generation caused future generations to be able to have an education. This story encourages change in society and shows a different perspective on education.
May 5, 2025
Education privilege is not all right, and maybe you’ll get it if you’re lucky, or maybe you won’t, but I hope you do. I hope that the library bus comes to your village.In the book The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman, which is a realistic historical fiction book. The story follows a young Afghan girl named Pari who travels with her mom on a bus, bringing books and learning to girls in remote villages. These villages' education for girls is not always accepted or safe, so the library bus brings these girls hope, courage, and opportunity to be able to learn. As Pari travels with her mother, she watches as her mother teaches the girls how to read and write. Since Pari watches her mom do this when she gets older, she does the same because she wants to provide this opportunity to all the people that she could get to. I thought this book was very emotional because I think about how many girls in other countries are not able to learn or even go to elementary school, so it’s truly a blessing that they did this, that they traveled around and taught these girls how to read and write, especially the mother, knowing the danger that she was putting herself in because there are certain countries where you cannot teach females at all.
This book is very powerful and very educational, but I like how this book touches on some deep thoughts, but it’s still kid-friendly, where the kids could still learn and see it as a powerful message instead of seeing the dark reality. Which follows to why I chose this book as a WOW book. This book is very powerful and meaningful. It shows me that I have to be strong and brave, just like the mother and Pari. They were strong and brave to go to those villages and teach those girls how to read and write. This is something that not everybody can do, so those who can are very praised, and I praise these women because something very powerful and very beneficial for everybody is 100% a really great book and very informative and still really kid-friendly, and the illustrations are just amazing. Just WOW!!!
A theme in the book that I think is quite important is gender equality, just like Pari’s mother. I believe girls should be able to learn just like boys and have the right to do everything that the boys might do because we are all humans, and we should be able to be equal with one another. Another theme is hope that could be shown by the library bus and how your travels to different villages to give girls a chance to read and write. It’s also shown in the way that the girls light up when they receive books and learn something new.Kids that read this book could learn, unfortunately, education is a privilege for some when it should be a right for everyone.
Kids can also learn about other people’s backgrounds from this book and what other people may face. So this book is a great way to learn and understand other people and their backgrounds, but to remember every child, no matter where they live or what challenge they face, they deserve a chance to learn, but unfortunately, it is still a privilege in some places, and I think this book could teach kids to want to change that for other kids as they get older, of course, where they fight for kids that are not able to have that right to learn.Two literary devices the author used in the book are imagery and foreshadowing. The author uses vivid imagery to help me feel what it’s like to be in Pari’s shoes. He describes how the girls sit early on the cushion, ready to learn, and how the roads are dusty.
The illustration help make the setting come more vivid and help me understand the harsh conditions of these children’s space and also how excited they were to learn, also the way the author uses subtle foreshadowing when Pari watches her mother teach and how she quietly practices reading alongside the other girls. It hints that one day she might become a teacher or take over the library bus herself.
This book is an antibias book because it challenges the idea that only boys are certain children should have access to education. It shows girls from the big backgrounds can learn and dream and grow and accomplish. Anything they want, just like anybody else, this book pushes against injustice and fights for equality and education rights.
This book is very powerful and very educational, but I like how this book touches on some deep thoughts, but it’s still kid-friendly, where the kids could still learn and see it as a powerful message instead of seeing the dark reality. Which follows to why I chose this book as a WOW book. This book is very powerful and meaningful. It shows me that I have to be strong and brave, just like the mother and Pari. They were strong and brave to go to those villages and teach those girls how to read and write. This is something that not everybody can do, so those who can are very praised, and I praise these women because something very powerful and very beneficial for everybody is 100% a really great book and very informative and still really kid-friendly, and the illustrations are just amazing. Just WOW!!!
A theme in the book that I think is quite important is gender equality, just like Pari’s mother. I believe girls should be able to learn just like boys and have the right to do everything that the boys might do because we are all humans, and we should be able to be equal with one another. Another theme is hope that could be shown by the library bus and how your travels to different villages to give girls a chance to read and write. It’s also shown in the way that the girls light up when they receive books and learn something new.Kids that read this book could learn, unfortunately, education is a privilege for some when it should be a right for everyone.
Kids can also learn about other people’s backgrounds from this book and what other people may face. So this book is a great way to learn and understand other people and their backgrounds, but to remember every child, no matter where they live or what challenge they face, they deserve a chance to learn, but unfortunately, it is still a privilege in some places, and I think this book could teach kids to want to change that for other kids as they get older, of course, where they fight for kids that are not able to have that right to learn.Two literary devices the author used in the book are imagery and foreshadowing. The author uses vivid imagery to help me feel what it’s like to be in Pari’s shoes. He describes how the girls sit early on the cushion, ready to learn, and how the roads are dusty.
The illustration help make the setting come more vivid and help me understand the harsh conditions of these children’s space and also how excited they were to learn, also the way the author uses subtle foreshadowing when Pari watches her mother teach and how she quietly practices reading alongside the other girls. It hints that one day she might become a teacher or take over the library bus herself.
This book is an antibias book because it challenges the idea that only boys are certain children should have access to education. It shows girls from the big backgrounds can learn and dream and grow and accomplish. Anything they want, just like anybody else, this book pushes against injustice and fights for equality and education rights.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2025
The Library Bus is an inspiring story that reminds us to be thankful for our education and for what we have. Though everyone has a chance to go to school and have an equal right to education to learn, read and write. However, many girls in places like Afghanistan still struggle to go to school even though every child deserves the chance to read, write, and achieve their dreams. In this book, there is a girl named Pari who joins and helps her mother on a library bus to bring books to town for girls who don’t have access to go to school in Afghanistan, Kabul. Whenever the library bus arrives in the town, they take the old books and provide new books to the young girls, and all the girls wait for the bus to come and get extremely excited when they see it. All the girls learn how to read and write from Pari’s mom while sitting in a circle, and they are excited about their education and learning. This story made me realize how lucky we are that we can easily access education and have equal rights just like men, while in many places such as Afghanistan, there are not many chances for girls to go to school.The major themes in the book were the importance of education and the power of women. The story shows the importance of education for girls who are not allowed to go to school. Also, the power of females for helping those young girls by bringing the library bus to town so that girls can have the chance to learn, read, write, and follow their dreams.The main genre of this book is historical fiction because it is based on real events that happened in Afghanistan, Kabul, where girls are not allowed to access education or go to school.Through reading this book, I learned that not all children can access equal education in the world. I also learned that we should be thankful that we live in a place where we have the freedom to go to school and have equal rights to education as men.This book was a WOW book for me because it shows the importance of education for children, especially for young girls who can’t go to school. I am thankful that I don’t live in my own country Afghanistan because I would face the same issues by not having the chance to go to school and follow my dreams and achieve my goals.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing crafts in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author describes all the young little girls sitting together in a circle to learn how to read, and they were excited. Also when the girls were waiting for the library bus to arrive, they were getting really excited to see the bus come to the town because the girls can change their books for a new book. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by helping me picture the happiness of the girls when they get the chance to receive new books and be able to read and learn. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of symbolism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the library bus shows freedom and hope for the young girls who are not allowed to go to school. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by showing that the bus is not just a vehicle, but a symbol that gives girls the chance to learn, follow their dreams, and have a better future. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it showed that all children deserve to have equal rights and access to education, and girls should be allowed to go to school so that they can learn how to read, write, etc which can help the girls to achieve their goals and dreams. In this book, it showed that even though girls were not allowed to go to school, they were smart and strong and found a way to still learn and be educated. Also, this book showed the culture and rules of different countries, which helps us understand the value of our freedom in the country we live in. I believe that all children should deserve to have equal access to education and have the chance to learn and follow their dreams.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing crafts in this book. First, the author used the writing craft technique of imagery. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the author describes all the young little girls sitting together in a circle to learn how to read, and they were excited. Also when the girls were waiting for the library bus to arrive, they were getting really excited to see the bus come to the town because the girls can change their books for a new book. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by helping me picture the happiness of the girls when they get the chance to receive new books and be able to read and learn. Second, the author used the writing craft technique of symbolism. An example of this writing craft from this book is when the library bus shows freedom and hope for the young girls who are not allowed to go to school. This writing craft technique enhanced the quality of the book by showing that the bus is not just a vehicle, but a symbol that gives girls the chance to learn, follow their dreams, and have a better future. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it showed that all children deserve to have equal rights and access to education, and girls should be allowed to go to school so that they can learn how to read, write, etc which can help the girls to achieve their goals and dreams. In this book, it showed that even though girls were not allowed to go to school, they were smart and strong and found a way to still learn and be educated. Also, this book showed the culture and rules of different countries, which helps us understand the value of our freedom in the country we live in. I believe that all children should deserve to have equal access to education and have the chance to learn and follow their dreams.
December 8, 2025
In this book, Pari, a young Afghan girl, explores the library bus with her mother. Pari’s mother drives the library bus once a week. The library bus is a bus filled with books, where Pari’s mother teaches girls who can’t go to school. She teaches them English, reads them books, and helps them get an education. Pari’s mother, inspired by her grandfather teaching her when girls weren’t allowed to learn, does this to help girls in their community who are unable to attend school due to living in the villages. The Library Bus is an inspiring book that shows how determination can make anything possible.
The major themes of this book are the importance of education and equality/empowerment for girls. The importance of education is shown through the lengths girls in the story go to to get their education. Girls in the village are unable to get a traditional education, but they still want to learn how to read and write. Through the library bus, their lives are changed. This shows that getting an education and learning to read and write are worth bringing to people who don’t have easy access to it. The other theme is that girls deserve the same opportunities as boys. Pari joins her mother to bring the library bus to girls who are not allowed to seek formal education. By bringing them access to books, the book shows that girls are capable and deserving of an education as well.
The main genre of this book is historical fiction. The Library Bus is based on real events from Afghanistan, but is told with fictional characters.
Through reading this book, I learned how important determination is. Even though many girls are not allowed to get an education, they are determined to make it happen, and they find ways to do so. Another lesson I took from this book is that we should be grateful for things that seem so small for us, for example public schools. Many struggle without access to school, so we should make best use of our opportunities.
This book was a wow book for me because it reminded me of the hardships those in different places around the world face for things we take for granted in the United States. As a child of Indian immigrants, I know my parents came to the United States to give my brother and I better opportunities in education, and this book reminded me to make best use of it. In a lighthearted, enjoyable way, this book conveys heavy topics.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this book. The first writing craft technique the author uses is imagery. The author includes imagery by describing the bright books, dusty roads, and the beautiful morning sky when Pari and her mother start their trip. This enhances the quality of the book because these vivid descriptions help readers imagine the scenes better and even feel like they are part of them. The second literary device used by the author is dialogue. One example of this is when Pari asks her mom why she drives the Library Bus and her mom explains why it is important for the girls they visit. This enhances the quality of the book by making the characters feel realistic and by helping readers feel their emotions, goals, and thoughts. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it challenges unfair stereotypes about girls receiving an education. In the story, many girls are not allowed to go to school, but the Library Bus finds a way to teach them anyway. This shows that the author believes that all children deserve equal access to education, no matter what.
The major themes of this book are the importance of education and equality/empowerment for girls. The importance of education is shown through the lengths girls in the story go to to get their education. Girls in the village are unable to get a traditional education, but they still want to learn how to read and write. Through the library bus, their lives are changed. This shows that getting an education and learning to read and write are worth bringing to people who don’t have easy access to it. The other theme is that girls deserve the same opportunities as boys. Pari joins her mother to bring the library bus to girls who are not allowed to seek formal education. By bringing them access to books, the book shows that girls are capable and deserving of an education as well.
The main genre of this book is historical fiction. The Library Bus is based on real events from Afghanistan, but is told with fictional characters.
Through reading this book, I learned how important determination is. Even though many girls are not allowed to get an education, they are determined to make it happen, and they find ways to do so. Another lesson I took from this book is that we should be grateful for things that seem so small for us, for example public schools. Many struggle without access to school, so we should make best use of our opportunities.
This book was a wow book for me because it reminded me of the hardships those in different places around the world face for things we take for granted in the United States. As a child of Indian immigrants, I know my parents came to the United States to give my brother and I better opportunities in education, and this book reminded me to make best use of it. In a lighthearted, enjoyable way, this book conveys heavy topics.
The author used multiple literary devices and other forms of writing craft in this book. The first writing craft technique the author uses is imagery. The author includes imagery by describing the bright books, dusty roads, and the beautiful morning sky when Pari and her mother start their trip. This enhances the quality of the book because these vivid descriptions help readers imagine the scenes better and even feel like they are part of them. The second literary device used by the author is dialogue. One example of this is when Pari asks her mom why she drives the Library Bus and her mom explains why it is important for the girls they visit. This enhances the quality of the book by making the characters feel realistic and by helping readers feel their emotions, goals, and thoughts. I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because it challenges unfair stereotypes about girls receiving an education. In the story, many girls are not allowed to go to school, but the Library Bus finds a way to teach them anyway. This shows that the author believes that all children deserve equal access to education, no matter what.
December 8, 2024
What if your right to education was taken away from you? Or what if you were not allowed to go to school? Absurd questions, right? Well, this is the sad reality for many girls in rural Afghanistan. In this book, The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman, the author takes us into the lives of girls in a small Afghan village who wait for a special bus that visits their community once a week. The story follows Pari as it is her first time being her mother’s library helper on the library bus. We experience a day in Pari and her mother’s journey as they travel to villages and refugee camps to deliver books, school supplies, and the opportunity to learn. The story highlights the excitement of the girls as they receive these resources and the life-changing power of education.
I think the major themes in this book are compassion and freedom. At the beginning of the story, Pari repeats what her mom taught her: “Arrange the books, clean up, and be nice to the other girls.” Pari and her mother do everything they can to provide the girls in refugee camps and the village with an opportunity to learn. Their actions reflect their compassion, as they show up with books and supplies every week, giving the girls something to look forward to and support when they need it the most. Another major theme is freedom. Pari’s mother tells her, “Never stop learning, and you will be free.” When she asks Pari, “How does learning make you feel?” Pari replies, “Free!” This moment shows how her mother teaches her that education is the key to freedom. It makes me think maybe this is why Pari’s mother works so hard to bring books and learning opportunities to the girls in the village and refugee camps. It is so she can give them the experience of freedom that comes with the education.
Through reading this book, I realized that being able to go to school or university is truly an overlooked privilege. The illustrations in the book, especially the excitement on the girls' faces when the library bus visits them just once a week, really made me reflect on how blessed I am. This is one of the reasons it became a WOW book for me. I also loved how Pari’s grandfather gave her the gift of education and knowledge, and now she is continuing that legacy by making a difference in so many girls’ lives. It was such a heartwarming story for me 😊. The author used beautiful illustrations and symbols throughout the story, which made the book even more engaging. The illustrations showed girls of all ages carrying books and the library bus filled with a variety of books, and all of them gathered together and learning. Symbols like the girls’ hijabs and the words written on the tents added depth to the story’s message, highlighting cultural details and their excitement to learn.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives by emphasizing that education and knowledge are important for everyone, regardless of gender. This is powerfully expressed through the message, “Never stop learning, and then you will be free,” which reinforces the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and grow.
I think the major themes in this book are compassion and freedom. At the beginning of the story, Pari repeats what her mom taught her: “Arrange the books, clean up, and be nice to the other girls.” Pari and her mother do everything they can to provide the girls in refugee camps and the village with an opportunity to learn. Their actions reflect their compassion, as they show up with books and supplies every week, giving the girls something to look forward to and support when they need it the most. Another major theme is freedom. Pari’s mother tells her, “Never stop learning, and you will be free.” When she asks Pari, “How does learning make you feel?” Pari replies, “Free!” This moment shows how her mother teaches her that education is the key to freedom. It makes me think maybe this is why Pari’s mother works so hard to bring books and learning opportunities to the girls in the village and refugee camps. It is so she can give them the experience of freedom that comes with the education.
Through reading this book, I realized that being able to go to school or university is truly an overlooked privilege. The illustrations in the book, especially the excitement on the girls' faces when the library bus visits them just once a week, really made me reflect on how blessed I am. This is one of the reasons it became a WOW book for me. I also loved how Pari’s grandfather gave her the gift of education and knowledge, and now she is continuing that legacy by making a difference in so many girls’ lives. It was such a heartwarming story for me 😊. The author used beautiful illustrations and symbols throughout the story, which made the book even more engaging. The illustrations showed girls of all ages carrying books and the library bus filled with a variety of books, and all of them gathered together and learning. Symbols like the girls’ hijabs and the words written on the tents added depth to the story’s message, highlighting cultural details and their excitement to learn.
The author portrayed anti-bias perspectives by emphasizing that education and knowledge are important for everyone, regardless of gender. This is powerfully expressed through the message, “Never stop learning, and then you will be free,” which reinforces the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and grow.
March 26, 2025
Summary:
The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman is a touching picture book set in Afghanistan, inspired by real events. It follows Pari, a young girl who joins her mother on a special journey—driving a library bus that brings books and education to children in rural villages and refugee camps.Pari, who is learning to read and write herself, watches as her mother teaches other girls, emphasizing the importance of education, especially for those who may not have access to schools. Throughout the story, Pari begins to understand the value of learning and the opportunities it can provide, planting the seed of hope for her future. (ChatGPT, March 25, 2025)
Commentary:
The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman is a beautiful read that captured my attention due to the determination to learn that the girls have. It also introduced me to a different aspect of the challenges the girls have to face in other cultures. While reading the book one particular thing that made me reflect was when the mother was telling Pari to never stop learning and she asked Pari “how does learning make you feel?” And Pari yells, “FREE!” That part made me gain empathy and reflect the education I have had compared to the education other girls have had in other countries. The themes for this book are gender equality, cultural awareness, and diversity (ChatGPT, 2025)
Application:
In the classroom this book would help students appreciate the education that we have. I would read-aloud the book and have a class discussion about education in other parts of the world. Another activity that the class can do to help them with a deeper sense of empathy is for them to write a letter to Pari. The letter could be the students providing emotional support or can include new material that Pari can learn. The suggestive grade group for this book is kindergarten- 3rd (Amazon, 2025), but I think this book is not suited for kindergarten because of the themes the book conveys.
The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman is a touching picture book set in Afghanistan, inspired by real events. It follows Pari, a young girl who joins her mother on a special journey—driving a library bus that brings books and education to children in rural villages and refugee camps.Pari, who is learning to read and write herself, watches as her mother teaches other girls, emphasizing the importance of education, especially for those who may not have access to schools. Throughout the story, Pari begins to understand the value of learning and the opportunities it can provide, planting the seed of hope for her future. (ChatGPT, March 25, 2025)
Commentary:
The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman is a beautiful read that captured my attention due to the determination to learn that the girls have. It also introduced me to a different aspect of the challenges the girls have to face in other cultures. While reading the book one particular thing that made me reflect was when the mother was telling Pari to never stop learning and she asked Pari “how does learning make you feel?” And Pari yells, “FREE!” That part made me gain empathy and reflect the education I have had compared to the education other girls have had in other countries. The themes for this book are gender equality, cultural awareness, and diversity (ChatGPT, 2025)
Application:
In the classroom this book would help students appreciate the education that we have. I would read-aloud the book and have a class discussion about education in other parts of the world. Another activity that the class can do to help them with a deeper sense of empathy is for them to write a letter to Pari. The letter could be the students providing emotional support or can include new material that Pari can learn. The suggestive grade group for this book is kindergarten- 3rd (Amazon, 2025), but I think this book is not suited for kindergarten because of the themes the book conveys.
January 28, 2021
I'm always looking for books about unique libraries or book delivery, and this one will be a good addition to that particular collection while highlighting individual heroism. Watercolor and digital illustrations filled with light and movement complement this inspiring story of one woman taking action to make a difference in the world while also serving as a good example for her daughter. Told from the perspective of Pari, a young girl in Afghanistan, the picture book follows Pari and her mother as they travel in a moveable library from Kabul to various small communities outside the city, including a refugee camp. The narrative makes it clear that Pari is excited about her first day accompanying her mother on her rounds but also a tiny bit nervous. But it quickly becomes clear that Pari's mother isn't just bringing books to various customers. She's also teaching some of the girls to read English and that her own father taught her how to read. Pari is eager to learn her ABCs too, something her mother assures her will happen when she attends school next year. But for the other girls they've met on their journey, the library bus is their lifeline to literacy, education, and a brighter future. All of the images are impressive, but the most impactful one for me shows Pari's mother as she drives the bus confidently, her hands firmly on the wheel so the vehicle stays on the road, just as she herself is in control of her own destiny, partly because of her father's foresight in making sure that she could read when girls were not allowed to do so. A brief note on refugee camps and some notes from the author about the inspiration for this story are necessary reading to appreciate the story even more.
November 30, 2024
I will be reviewing this book called the Library Bus. I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about places getting education other than the United States. This book is mostly about the time of a war that was happening in Afghanistan and while the war was happening girls were not allowed to do pretty much anything. The girls were not allowed to have education, they were also not allowed to learn or to learn how to read or write. The major themes in the book were how girls were struggling in Afghanistan because girls were not allowed to get education and learn. The main genre of this book is historical fiction. Children can learn from reading this book is that in some countries girls are faced with challenges of not getting education. Children can also learn that some places does not allowed education especially places that has a war going on in their country.
The two literary devices that the author used is the setting of the story. The author was able to imagery. This is important to the book because I was able to understand how girls were feeling when they can not get the education they need.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because this author did research on the topic and also making it understandable that there still some places that are not allowing certain gender to get an education.
The two literary devices that the author used is the setting of the story. The author was able to imagery. This is important to the book because I was able to understand how girls were feeling when they can not get the education they need.
I would consider this book to be an anti-bias book because this author did research on the topic and also making it understandable that there still some places that are not allowing certain gender to get an education.
April 12, 2021
Pari is excited and a little bit nervous to go out with her Mom on the library bus for the first time. They leave Kabul, traveling to villages and refugee camps where there are no schools for girls. She sits with her Mom as she leads small groups in singing the ABC Song, and by the end of the day Pari can recognize the letters UNHCR on the camp tents. Her Mom tells her that she will be one of the lucky ones to go to a real school in the city next year.
This is a lovely realistic look at girls and education in current day Afghanistan, inspired by children whom the author met as an activist/doctor for children in refugee camps. Although the focus is on Pari and her mother, readers are gently introduced to conditions for girls in the villages and refugee camps of the countryside. The lovely watercolor and digital art gives a soft, ethereal feel to the characters and setting, and adds dignity to the girls’ determination to read. Images of their chadors softly waving in the breeze adds a poignant touch. An author’s note and information about refugee camps at the end provide additional insight into why people are in the refugee camps. This is an excellent book to share to broaden kids’ minds about education in other parts of the world.
This is a lovely realistic look at girls and education in current day Afghanistan, inspired by children whom the author met as an activist/doctor for children in refugee camps. Although the focus is on Pari and her mother, readers are gently introduced to conditions for girls in the villages and refugee camps of the countryside. The lovely watercolor and digital art gives a soft, ethereal feel to the characters and setting, and adds dignity to the girls’ determination to read. Images of their chadors softly waving in the breeze adds a poignant touch. An author’s note and information about refugee camps at the end provide additional insight into why people are in the refugee camps. This is an excellent book to share to broaden kids’ minds about education in other parts of the world.
April 27, 2024
The Library Bus written by Bahram Rahman is a wonderful story written about a library bus in Kabul, Afghanistan. The story follows Pari who is helping her mom who works on the library bus. Pari’s mom teaches young girls from a nearby refugee camp how to read in English and supplies them with school supplies. The story shares that her mom was not allowed to read as a young girl and had to do it in secret in her father’s basement. She instills in Pari that education is freedom, “Pari, when you go to school next year, I want you to study hard. Never stop learning. Then you will be free. Tell me now,” she adds with a wink, “how does learning make you feel?” “Free!” Pari screams, raising her arms in the air,” (Rahman, 2020, pp. 15-16). This story does a great job of giving readers a glimpse into life in Kabul and shows the importance of education. The illustrations are beautifully done. I will definitely be adding this book to my 3rd grade classroom library!
I found this book to read for our course after seeing it had won the Middle East Book Award using the Database of Award Winning Children's Literature. I also found that this book is available on Epic! as well. I would recommend this book for kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms.
I found this book to read for our course after seeing it had won the Middle East Book Award using the Database of Award Winning Children's Literature. I also found that this book is available on Epic! as well. I would recommend this book for kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2025
This was both a heartwarming and informative read. I think a lot of readers, myself included, take for granted the access that we have to so many wonderful books at the public library. Book bans and challenges to the First Amendment are a big point of contention that public libraries in the United States face today. However, the fact that we are even able to have these conversations is still a privilege when you compare it to underserved communities around the world. Research has shown that higher literacy rates are linked to improvements in healthcare, education, and civic engagement. The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman reminds us that so many girls deserve to have reliable access to educational materials, and that even our youngest members of society can have a big impact on the world.
Reviewed by Eori, library page
Find it at the library here.
Reviewed by Eori, library page
Find it at the library here.
September 20, 2023
"The Library Bus" by Bahram Rahman is an inspiring story about a little girl named Pari assisting her mother in a library. However, this is not just any library, but a library on a bus that travels to neighboring towns and refugee camps. Pari's mother teaches Pari the importance and power that learning can give a person. Pari and the other children are learning the English alphabet as Parsi is presumably their first language. One page in the story that stood out to me in particular is when Pari's mother asks how learning makes Pari feel. Pari responds excitedly by telling her mother that it makes her feel "free". This unique story highlights the beautiful privilege that is learning how to read and write that kids in America may not realize they are given. I enjoyed not only the characters and setting, but the message this story conveys.
August 3, 2024
This didn't have quite the emotional impact that I was expecting, but I think that's okay. Even though it's about big, difficult subjects like refugee camps and women being excluded from education, it's not too heavy for most young readers. Without sugar-coating, there is an overall hopefulness to it, and even a joy in some of the illustrations. is an overall hopefulness to it, and even a joy in some of the illustrations. I love the emphasis on building community and compassion, and how education (and books) can allow a freedom and an opportunity to dream, even if you can't yet act to make those dreams a reality. The author grew up in Afghanistan during the civil war and Taliban regime and become an activist in the areas of gender equality and youth political participation and moved to Canada as a refugee in 2012.
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