Amu Nowruz and His Violets

“The pages explode in vibrant greens and reds as readers meet Amu Nowruz, who lives in the lush land of Spring … Detailing the origins of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, this is a lovely, vividly illustrated tale … Artistic and wistful, this is a sophisticated ode to the changing seasons.” —Kirkus Reviews“Delicate details and joyful colors vivify this Persian folktale. From a castle made of snow atop the highest mountain, Naneh Sarma spreads winter across the land; her icy isolation grows lonely. From beyond the edge of winter, she hears Amu Nowruz, the herald of spring, singing; she sets out to meet him at the boundary. She falls asleep before he arrives, however, and he plants violets in her sleeping hands; the two forever meet only “at the dusk of winter and the dawn of spring.” —Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Reviews, starred“Safakhoo’s distinctive artwork is made up of precise inked lines, intricate flowers and leaves, and contrasting colors which highlight the opposing seasons perfectly. Translated from Persian, the text is gentle, flowing, and poetic … This special folktale blooms to life upon the pages, and contains a sweet story of loneliness, friendship, and love.” —Michele Shaw, School Library Journal“Amu Nowruz and His Violets by Hadi Mohammadi is a beautifully woven tapestry of Persian folklore, brought to life with the enchanting illustrations of Nooshin Safakhoo. This heartwarming story, translated by Sara Khalili, invites readers of all ages to experience the magic and cultural richness of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.” —Momma Braga“Nooshin Safakhoo’s chosen hues in the book range from purples, blues, reds, and whites in winter to greens, oranges, and pinks in spring. The depictions of Nowruz, Sarma, and the flora are done in a unique style, with beautiful illustrations … This picture book will enthrall readers who want to discover new translations, especially folktales from other countries. Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes.” —Maria Touet, Youth Services Book Review

Hadi Mohammadi is a celebrated Iranian children’s book writer, researcher, and critic who has published more than forty novels and picture books for children and young adults. He was nominated for a Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006. His children’s book In the Meadow of Fantasies was selected for IBBY’s Collection for Young People with Disabilities in 2021 and was a 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book.

Sara Khalili is an editor and translator of contemporary Iranian literature. Her translations include Moon Brow and Censoring an Iranian Love Story by Shahriar Mandanipour, The Pomegranate Lady and Her Sons by Goli Taraghi, The Book of Fate by Parinoush Saniee, Kissing the Sword by Shahrnush Parsipur, and Tali Girls by Siamak Herawi. She also translated Hadi Mohammadi’s In the Meadow of Fantasies for Elsewhere Editions.

Nooshin Safakhoo was born in Tehran in 1980. After teaching, she began a long career of painting precise, lyrical images for children’s books, including The Owl & the Jaybird and Shahname. Her illustrations for In the Meadow of Fantasies have earned her numerous awards, including a NAMI Concours Prize. Nooshin has been selected three times to show her work at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.