Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"In a city so old, they call it ancient," seven-year-old Rose's grandfather, Baba joon, is an expert rug weaver, working mornings in a large factory and afternoons on his home loom: "Baba joon knots brightly colored strands of wool, not once, not twice, but a thousand times every day." When Rose proposes turning one of her garden drawings into a rug, Baba joon teaches her how to dye and dry yarn, then how to knot it: "Rose's hands move slowly, slowly." After Rose's grandfather becomes ill, she continues to work on the project, gaining further experience while meditating on Baba joon's wellbeing. Kheiriyeh's saturated oil and acrylic illustrations are rendered with a crispness and care that, per a note, employ Persian and Oriental rug motifs. A small black and white cat is Rose's sidekick as her garden grows knot by knot in this work that spotlights intergenerational affection and the power of persistence. Opening text cites the story's personal roots in Iran. Ages 4--8. (Apr.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Rose's grandfather is a rug weaver, working mornings in a factory and weaving in the afternoon for friends and family on his at-home loom. Rose loves watching Baba joon's deft hands tie thousands of knots that become a beautiful garden of wool. Taking inspiration from their own garden, Rose draws a design for a rug, which Baba joon cheerfully agrees to teach her to weave. The two make colorful dyes from the garden -- using poppies for red, saffron for yellow, roses for pink, and indigo for blue. Then they dry the dyed yarn in their sunny courtyard. They work side by side, day after day, Baba joon knotting "quickly, quickly" and Rose "slowly, slowly," until one day he falls ill. Rose decides to finish the half-done rug, envisioning the two of them having tea in the garden together, sitting on the rug after it is completed. When Baba joon gets better, roles reverse as Rose now ties quickly and Baba joon more slowly. Kheiriyeh's affectionate narrative of intergenerational love, learning, and appreciation of beauty is based on her own experience with her beloved grandfather in Iran and the artistry of his craft. Textured illustrations in oil and acrylics lean into the natural color palette, while details such as furnishings and architectural elements add atmosphere. Ariana HussainMarch/April 2025 p.49 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Seven-year-old Rose and her beloved grandfather make a Persian rug. Brown-skinned Rose and Baba joon live in a "city so old, they call it ancient," marked by gilded minarets. Each morning, Baba joon makes rugs at a factory; in the afternoon, he makes rugs for friends and family. Rose wants to learn, too, so Baba joon shows her how. After they dye yarn using poppies, saffron, roses, and indigo, Baba joon teaches Rose to weave on the loom, tying one of the many thousands of knots that make up a rug. Like the rugs that he makes using a machine at the factory, the ones he creates at home by hand have elegant, intricate floral patterns--but these are even more kaleidoscopic. When Baba joon falls ill, Rose continues working on their rug on her own, channeling his expertise as her own skills develop. When they dance together on their finished rug, which features an image of them both in a garden, it's a triumph of intergenerational connection. This tribute to an ancient craft that continues into the present demonstrates that a handmade object is truly irreplaceable. Inspired by Kheiriyeh's childhood in Iran, the art is saturated with both pigment and feeling. Rose's family brims with warmth and creativity; readers will revel in the opportunity to spend time with them. A loving familial tale with deep roots. (author's note)(Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
