Persian Heritage Month And More!

This is a lovely picture book biography about the famous Persian poet Rumi. It opens with Rumi’s birth in 1207 Iran and his childhood dancing in the garden and asking many questions. Rumi was inspired to write after reading “The Conference of the Birds” and meeting the epic poem’s author Attar, as well as by the religious leader Shams and his mother, who appears to him in a dream. The ending mirrors the beginning, with an older Rumi dancing in the garden with the children he’s inspired. It’s a beautifully illustrated picture book biography.

This is a beautiful bilingual picture book written in both English and Persian, originally published in Iran. When a young girl’s mother dies, Empty appears to take her place. Empty follows the girl everywhere — to bed, at breakfast, to school. Empty is the girl’s only companion. As time passes, the girl finds ways to fill her life with other feelings. The plant she potted with her mother begins to bloom, she and Empty rescue a kitten, and she finds a friend on the playground. Sepia-toned illustrations perfectly mirror the girl’s inner life. It’s a lovely, metaphoric depiction of grief.

This is a super fun middle grade fantasy based on The Arabian Nights. It alternates between two perspectives. Sahara is visiting Egypt with her dad to celebrate her maternal uncle’s marriage. This is her first time in Egypt, and on the eve of the trip, her mother’s friend and her aunt gift her a necklace of her mother’s. When in Egypt, the necklace disappears, and she believes the bride-to-be might have stolen it. She also learns of Ali Baba’s treasure and how the necklace might’ve been part of it. Morgana’s story is set in the distant past and is about how Ali Baba tasks her with guarding the treasure. It’s a magical read.

This adventure-filled middle grade historical fantasy set in the 11th century on the Silk Road opens with a bang, with the orphan Monkey being stoned by monks after being accused of blasphemy. The charismatic merchant Samir arrives just in time and saves Monkey, and now Monkey is a member of Samir’s caravan. He feels indebted to Samir and aims to pay off his debt by saving Samir’s life six times. Samir has made a lot of people angry with his smooth talking and frequent scams, so Monkey has plenty of opportunities to pay back his debt. There are illustrations throughout.