Benny the Bananasaurus Rex
Written by Bahram Rahman
Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard
Published by Pajama Press
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Although his family is safe in their new country, Ali finds himself wishing he could go back to Afghanistan. A day spent picking blackberries with Nana reminds him of their old house with the mulberry tree he loved, and the day the soldiers came. He recalls their nighttime flight and the crowded buses and airplane that took him to this beautiful but unfamiliar place. When Ali and Nana spot a bluebird, she tells him to make a wish. Ali wishes to go home, but, as he comes to learn, home is not a place. Home is the love his family has for each other.
BAHRAM RAHMAN
Bahram Rahman was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and grew up during the civil war and the first Taliban regime. He came to Canada as a refugee in 2012, and today is a senior policy advisor at the Ministry of Health in Ontario. Bahram’s 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 2021 picture book A Sky-Blue Bench was an honor book for the ALA Schneider Family Book Award, among many other honors.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Website: https://pajamapress.ca/creator/rahman-bahram/
Instagram: @bahram_rahman
Email: rahman.bahram@gmail.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY
If You See a Bluebird (2023)
A Sky-Blue Bench (2021)
The Library Bus (2020)
GABRIELLE GRIMARD
After studying Fine Arts at Concordia University, Art Education at the University of Quebec in Montreal, and a few years as a painter and muralist on the island of Montreal, I took a more solid direction towards youth-illustration with the birth of my son in 2001. In recent years, I have mainly been involved with publishing that is geared towards a youth audience, educational publishing and a bit of advertising as well. I have worked with several Quebec publishers, including Dominiqueet Cie., Imagine, la Bagnole and HMH. I have also worked with such Canadian publishers as Orca Book and AnnickPress. Since 2007, I have worked with Painted-Words which is a New York-based agency for Illustrators. This opportunity has given me access to the U.S. and British markets within the children’s publishing industry. I have been able to make both albums and games.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Website: https://www.gabriellegrimard.com/index.php/en/
Instagram: @gabriellegrimard_illustratrice
Email: illustration@gabriellegrimard.com
