Summary
Pari’s mom owns a bus that serves as a mobile library. They travel to villages and refugee camps in Kabul to teach and provide reading and writing materials to girls. Pari helps her mom as they travel and meet new girls. Pari’s mom tells her that she used to have to learn to read in a dark basement because girls were not allowed to read when she was growing up. Pari is going to school next year and is driven to learn as much as she can. She is sad that the girls can’t attend school like her.
Theme(s):
Family, Learning, Opportunity
Personal Response
I enjoyed this book because it promoted learning and showed characters who did everything they could to help other people become educated. It made me feel hopeful to see a female character provide education to girls in a country where women do not have equal access to education and were not always allowed to learn. Pari has a strong, positive female role model, and she will ensure that her child is educated. The library bus reminded me of the little free library that we watched a Ted Talk about.
Teaching Ideas
I would have my students come up with ways that they could be kind and help others in their community. This would tie in with the community unit. Since they are young, the acts would be small, but I would focus on the fact that an act of kindness, no matter how small, is always appreciated. Depending on the age, students could write or illustrate their ideas. I would challenge students to help or be kind to others and, after a week, have them make another writing or drawing on what they did.
Recommended Reading Level
Birth-PreK, Grade 01, Grade 02
