kids books set in Iran
When I was growing up, whenever our country was at war with another country, we were almost taught that the people of that country were our enemies. We rarely saw how the war affected the women and children who lived there. That was true of the wars in my own lifetime, and it was true of World War II.
As a kid, I was really into World War II. I loved the story of Anne Frank. I read the book, watched the movies, and felt deep empathy for the Jewish people, especially the women and children. But it wasn't until last year, when I watched Studio Ghibli's Grave of the Fireflies, that I realized I had never seen a movie about how the war affected Japanese children. Growing up, I only thought of Japan as the enemy. I never thought about the kids there who lost their homes and their families, or the ones who were just trying to survive.
In America, it's easy to miss this. No foreign army has fought on our mainland since the War of 1812. Our children haven't felt the fear and pain that war brings into a home. So when we hear that we are in conflict with another country, it's easy to picture the people there as "bad" or as "the enemy."
But the people of a country are not the same as its government, and they are not the same as a war. Most of them had no say in it. They are living in a situation they never asked for. They want peace. Their kids want normal lives: to go to school, play with their friends, and be with their families. They are kids just like ours.
I want my children to understand that. The kids in other countries are not their enemies, and they are not bad people. The best way I know to teach this is to let kids hear from those countries in their own voices, through their books, poetry, and movies.
Right now, that country is Iran. Iran is not only a country. It is a civilization that goes back thousands of years, with its own art, poetry, food, and traditions. Here are some books and movies that can help your kids get to know Iran and the children who live there.
Book List
Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Written and illustrated by an Iranian American artist, this picture book tells the life of Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet. As a boy, he loved birds and books. He grew up to be a scholar, and the loss of his best friend, Shams, led him to his greatest idea: that love is inside us and all around us. The illustrations are full of color, gold, flowers, and birds.
Baba's Gift: A Persian Father's Love of Family by Ariana Shaheen Amini and Christina Maheen Amini
Two sisters tell the story of their father, Baba ("father" in Farsi), who came to the United States from Iran. He shares stories of his childhood in Iran with his six daughters while they play on the Persian carpet in their California home. The book shows both how hard it was to leave home and the opportunities he found as he became a doctor.
Yasi and Mina's Pomegranate Tree by Nikoo Yahyazadeh
Two best friends play under a pomegranate tree in their apartment courtyard in Tehran. When the air raid sirens go off, they run home to safety. Yasi doesn't understand the war with Iraq, but she knows it isn't good. The author based it on her own family's life in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War. This is the book on the list that speaks most directly to how war affects children, and it handles it gently.
My Grandma and Me by Mina Javaherbin
A little girl in Iran spends her days with her grandmother: praying together, visiting neighbors, and playing with her best friend, whose family is Christian. It is a warm, simple picture of everyday family life.
The Girl with a Brave Heart: A Tale from Tehran by Rita Jahanforuz
A traditional Persian folktale, similar to Cinderella. A kind girl who is treated badly by her stepmother is rewarded for her good heart.
The Secret Message by Mina Javaherbin
A retelling of one of Rumi's tales. A merchant keeps a parrot in a cage, and the parrot finds a clever way to win back its freedom.
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