Rose Weaves a Garden

PreS-Gr 2–Young Rose lives with her mother and grandfather in a lovely home outside an ancient Iranian city. Rose’s grandfather, Baba joon, works in a mechanized rug factory in the mornings and crafts rugs on a loom at home in the afternoons. Inspired to create her own design, Rose embarks on a shared project with her grandfather, who teaches her to dye yarn and knot it into a rug. When Baba joon falls ill and removes to his bedroom to convalesce, Rose continues to work independently. Together, they joyfully finish the rug as Baba joon regains his strength. This is a rare protagonist—a Persian brown-skinned girl—and setting in U.S. picture books, and will fill an important gap in collections that do not have Kheiriyeh’s other volumes. Highlighting the beauty of intergenerational learning and the skilled craft of rug-making, it may also be of interest to school libraries wishing to expand their holdings in these areas. An author’s note on the frontispiece provides context and intention, complementing Kheiriyeh’s dedication. She is a masterful and prolific illustrator, and her consistently gorgeous scenes encourage readers to slow down and appreciate the quiet beauty of this tale and its visual representation. The story also subtly normalizes periods of illness and gently suggests hope for recovery through rest and isolation.