Sky-Blue Bench

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 Bench2022 ALA Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book Winner2023 Indiana Young Hoosier Award Nominee2022 Middle East Book Award Honor Book2023 OLA Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award Nominee2023 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Honor Book2021 The New York Times “What to Read: Four Children’s Books” selection2021 Kirkus Reviews ‘Best Books of 2021 Celebrating Community’ selection2021 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist2021 Foreword Reviews Book of The Day (Nov 3rd)2022 Chicago Public Library "Disability Awareness Month Books for Kids" Feature 2023 IBBY Canada “IBBY Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities”selection2021 Harvard Book Store “New This Week: Kids & Young Adult” selection2021 Quill & Quire “2021 Best of Fall guide: Kids’ books” selection2022 49th Shelf Top Grade Winter List Selection2021 49th Shelf “Books for Back to School” selection2022 49th Shelf “Books that Inspire Students to Overcome Adversity” selection2022 CCBC Spring Best Books for Kids & Teens Starred Selection2023 Teachers on Call “Hooked on Books with Forest of Reading Nominee” Feature ★ 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★ STARRED REVIEW “This is a touching and timely book that portrays the hardships many children in Afghanistan and other war-torn countries face. The author illustrates this beautifully and adds an informative and heartfelt “Author’s Note” that’ll leave a notable impression on young readers.”—Seattle Book Review“[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“[A] poignant story recognizing the resilience and determination of young children, particularly girls, living in war-torn countries…. Aria’s courage, in the face of adversity, will resonate with children, no matter what their background, as will the significance of the colour blue, a symbol of hope.”—Canadian Children’s Book News“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“A Sky-Blue Bench shares a valuable lesson of resilience and that children, specifically girls, can do anything that they put their minds to.”—Metroland Toronto“[A] beautiful story of resilience and determination.”—My Journal-Courier“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“I genuinely enjoyed the illustrations and little Aria finding a way to make a bench so she could sit comfortably at school with her prosthetic leg.”—Kirin, Goodreads“I love her determination and ingenuity. The illustrations are colorful, and the text is easy for elementary students to read and understand.”—Israa, Goodreads“Readers will see the importance of accessible spaces for everyone….The story is an example of strength and self-advocating.”—Storytime with Stephanie“A Sky-Blue Bench may be a story from Afghanistan but its lessons about self-reliance and resourcefulness will speak to all children, especially those facing their own challenges, and encourage them to find solutions.”—CanLit for Little Canadians“[T]he challenges that Aria faces as an amputee are shown honestly, her emotions and struggles depicted realistically but not in a way that showed her as helpless… She had agency and voice. More of this representation please.”—@alissareadsabook“A heartbreaking and heartwarming story all at once.” — The International Educator“I love books where kids take charge…I loved the message of perseverance and hope.”—Mrs. Book Dragon“This book just clutched at my heart…Based partially on the experiences of the author, it inspires hope in the reader that children can come up with creative solutions, even when adults might not see any… A beautiful book and one that is definitely empowering and inspiring for all readers!”—@muslimmommyblog“It’s crucial to have books like [A Sky-Blue Bench] on every bookshelf…The message that girls can do it all was loud and proud in this beautiful story… The illustrations are also vibrant and easily show Aria’s determination, hope and resilience.”—@raisingreaderstobecomeleaders“Rahman has written a compelling narrative, accessible to children, which tackles difficult concepts…His writing is a gift to parents and educators…I appreciate Aria's determination, creativity, and grit as she overcomes the obstacles in her path. She is a role model for young girls.”—@kidsreadtheworld“There is a lot of joy to be found in this book….Together, Rahman and Collins take a heavy subject and not only make it age appropriate for the cohort, but weave a story that will be requested again and again.”—Mr. Alex’s Bookshelf