Celebrate Nowruz! A Persian New Year Holiday to Honor Spring

With a parent away, a child navigates preparations for the Persian New Year in this experiential picture book from mother-daughter collaborators the Ghahremanis. As the vernal equinox draws near, young Ariana collaborates with family members, portrayed with light brown skin, to assemble “an extra cool haft-seen” before Mom’s return. Ariana and Dad pick up an apple, garlic, and more at the store as text incorporates Farsi vocabulary, then paint eggs with blooms and stripes. In grandmother Nana’s kitchen, Ariana and Nana assemble baklava, and Nana tells the narrating protagonist more about the holiday’s significance and the celebrations of her own childhood. When Mom finally arrives, she is delighted by the haft-seen display, and the family shares in the joyousness of the special day. Dad’s encouragement and Nana’s anecdotes permeate dialogue-heavy pages, while gouache-on-vellum illustrations bring a fittingly handcrafted feel to this portrait of making a holiday. Back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)