If You See a Bluebird

Another beautiful and profound story from Bahram Rahman, If You See a Bluebird illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard is a story that honours refugees and internally displaced peoples all over the world.

Nana wakes Ali early one morning. They are going blackberry picking so that his parents have enough berries to make the jam they sell at the market. On their journey, Ali thinks about all the things he loves about his homeland Kabul, Afghanistan and the delicious, sweet mulberry trees in his backyard. Nana reminds him that home is not a physical place but the love we share with our family, no matter where in the world we find ourselves.

Bahram Rahman shares stories from his birthplace of Afghanistan with young readers so that they can feel a connection and feel seen and understood. There are many displaced peoples throughout Canada, in classrooms all over the country, especially now with the unrest in places all over the world. By showing readers that their experiences matter and by giving readers who are unfamiliar with displacement, context for their classmates experiences, Bahram Rahman is working to make the world a kinder, more empathetic place.

We have many mulberry trees in our neighbourhood in Toronto. I knew that the mulberry tree was not a native species to Ontario but never knew they are so prevalent in Afghanistan. Through this story, I have also learned something new and what a wonderful thought to know that anyone who arrives in our community from there could also feel a connection to home through the trees that grow wild throughout our neighbourhood.

Gabrielle Grimard’s illustrations are a dream. They have a veiled, dreamy quality that keeps the mood light and contemplative, perfect for the words Bahram Rahman has placed on the page. I love how throughout most of the book, the illustrations sweep across both pages and are filled with beautiful colours. On a cold fall day, this book reminds me of spring, which is a lovely thought indeed.