Rostam's picture-day pusteen

In a videochat with his father, who's still living in Iran, first grader Rostam and his maman share details of their life three months after moving to the U.S. But though his baba's praise makes Rostam proud, he shrinks at his mother's suggestion that he wear his father's pusteen for picture day. As Maman explains that Iranian shepherds once wore the wool-lined vest ("Baba's was handmade... to honor our heritage"), Rostam worries about his peers' reactions. At school, when classmates show interest in the vest, Rostam reminds himself of his bravery and explains the pusteen's familial and cultural significance. Mokhles's soft-edged digital images and Tahmaseb's sensory-oriented text gently underline the child's feelings of interpersonal courage and intergenerational connection. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A Farsi glossary and author's note conclude. Ages 3--7. (July)

A first grader worries that his friends will make fun of his outfit. Rostam and his mother recently moved to the United States; his father (Baba) still lives in Iran. Though Rostam's been in America only three months, he's already made friends, and on a video call, Baba praises the boy for his bravery. But Rostam is nervous about his picture-day outfit: Baba's pusteen, a traditional vest once worn by Iranian shepherds. At school, it seems as though Rostam's fears are justified. His classmates pepper him with questions: "What'sthat?" "Why's the inside so fluffy?" Rostam remembers to be brave and explains the garment's significance; enthralled, his classmates beg to try it on. Their admiration banishes his worries, and in a text message to his father, he says, "I'm going to wear my pusteen forever." Mokhles' expressive cartoon illustrations capture Rostam's emotional trajectory. Her depictions of his family's bright, simple home exude a relatable warmth; their "yummy rice" dinner looks especially mouthwatering. Tahmaseb offers an encouraging--and refreshing--reversal of expectations; here, the new kid isn't bullied for his differences, but embraced for them. While many immigrant kids face discrimination, Tahmaseb mentions in an author's note that in his own father's case, "sharing a part of his Persian heritage ultimately led to self-acceptance and joy. It's important to remember that stories like this exist, too." An affirming tale that will inspire many kids to open up about their own cultural identities. (glossary)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.