Review Detail

Kids Indie 471
Love of Literacy
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
‘The Library Bus’ by Bahram Rahman, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, tells the story of a young girl’s trip with her mother as her library helper while living in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pari is so fascinated by all of the books that take up the entirety of the library bus that she can’t even count them all. She and her mother travel to villages, meet girls under trees, travel to camps, and invite friends to join them inside of the bus so they can enjoy the books, practice their reading skills, and learn some English.

The story tells of how Pari’s grandfather taught her mother to read in secret, and her mother’s wish is for Pari to know that she should never stop learning, as it is the only way for her to be truly free to be whatever she wants in life.

The book does a wonderful job encouraging the beauty of reading and learning in general. Even though the book is geared toward telling the story of girls who are finding their imaginations and voices through books, the morals it shares—about finding the power to believe in oneself, sharing with those less fortunate, and promoting literacy—are all of vital importance in today’s society, especially in countries where children are born into war, much like the author, Bahram Rahman, states in his author’s note at the back of the book.

This is a beautiful testimony to ensuring a love of literacy and instilling it in all who desire it. The illustrations further engage readers as the land and people being described are vividly depicted throughout the story.
Good Points
This is a beautiful testimony to ensuring a love of literacy and instilling it in all who desire it. The illustrations further engage readers as the land and people being described are vividly depicted throughout the story.
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