If You See a Bluebird

A very sweet and heartfelt story of a young Afghan boy who was displaced along with his family to a new place due to ongoing war.

Title: If You See a Bluebird

Author: Bahram Rahman

Illustration: Gabrielle Grimard

Publisher: Pajama Press  

To learn more about this wonderful illustrator, please visit her website HERE.

One morning, Ali and his Nana wake up early to go for berry picking. They ride their bikes through the blackberry bushes and halt to pick the berries. During this time, Ali becomes nostalgic and emotional about his home in Kabul. He had to flee from his home with his family because of the onset of the war. Soldiers rushed into their homes in Kabul and destroyed everything they had. Since their safety was of utmost importance, they decided to go through a treacherous journey. Finally, they reach where they are now - their new abode.

Nana shows Ali a bluebird and asks him to make a wish fast before it flies away so that his wish comes true. Ali sincerely wishes the war to stop so that he can go back to Kabul where his home is. However, Nana conveys to him that home is not any particular place but the people you love and hold in your heart.

This book is very prominent in today's world because -

> It depicts the challenges of war and the resulting relocation people go through.

> It teaches kids in simple words and expressive pictures what they might not usually experience in life.

> It transcends a typical kid's book in that it considers home to be the love and belonging shared by the family members rather than being attributed to a particular place on earth.

> It develops feelings of empathy and togetherness among young children towards the people who experience such displacements from their homes.

Moreover, the vibrant illustrations accurately depict Ali's past in shades of yellow, and in contrast, his present life with blue and green colors, giving emotional depth to the story.

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