Amu Nowruz and His Violets
by Hadi Mohammadi (Author) Nooshin Safakhoo (Illustrator)
An enchanting story of the Persian New Year and moment when winter turns to spring, based on the Iranian folktale of Naneh Sarma and Amu Nowruz
In the land of Winter, queenly Naneh Sarma coats the mountains and valleys in ice and snow and when she is tired she rests in her spiky snow castle. But with no one to talk to, Naneh Sarma gets lonely. In this gentle story based on a household Iranian folktale, Naneh Sarma journeys to the far off land of Spring to seek Amu Nowruz, Spring's herald, who sows the meadows with the seeds and flowers that fill his enormous knapsack. At the border between Winter and Spring, Naneh Sarma waits patiently for Amu Nowruz but by the time he arrives, she has fallen fast asleep. Gently, in her outstretched hands, Amu Nowruz plants violets.
In the land of Winter, wide expanses of white snow and craggy mountains rise against backdrops of pale pink, blue, and gray while in the land of Spring, a profusion of green leaves and intricate flowers climb across the pages. Illustrated with Nooshin Safakhoo's precisely inked lines and enchanting colors, this tale of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, rejoices in each pale wintersweet flower, icy gust of snow, and fresh tulip blossom alike.
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School Library Journal
Gr 2-5--Nowruz, Persian New Year, has been celebrated for 3,000 years, and marks the first day of spring. In Persian folklore, Amu Nowruz (Uncle New Year) heralds in spring, while Naneh Sarma (Mother Forest) represents winter. With her wintersweet gown and snow white hair, Naneh Sarma lives in a snow castle atop the highest mountain, and is happy spreading snow, frost, and ice throughout the land. With no one to share her love of winter, she decides to seek out Amu Nowruz in the land of spring. He, in turn, is busy planting the seeds and flowers of spring, and while she waits tirelessly for him, she falls asleep. Upon finding her sleeping, he plants violets into her outstretched hands. The contrasting illustrations between the seasons is stunning. The chilly winter scenes resonate with bare trees, huge snow-capped mountains, and Naneh Sarma herself sporting a snow-capped cloud on her head. Amu Nowruz, living in the land of spring where color abounds, flowers bloom, and birds sing, has a giant hat upon his head bursting with flowers. Safakhoo's distinctive artwork is made up of precise inked lines, intricate flowers and leaves, and contrasting colors which highlight the opposing seasons perfectly. Translated from Persian, the text is gentle, flowing, and poetic. VERDICT This special folktale blooms to life upon the pages, and contains a sweet story of loneliness, friendship, and love.--Michele Shaw
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
Artistic and wistful, this is a sophisticated ode to the changing seasons.
Review quotes
"The pages explode in vibrant greens and reds as readers meet Amu Nowruz, who lives in the lush land of Spring . . . Detailing the origins of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, this is a lovely, vividly illustrated tale . . . Artistic and wistful, this is a sophisticated ode to the changing seasons." —Kirkus Reviews
"Delicate details and joyful colors vivify this Persian folktale. From a castle made of snow atop the highest mountain, Naneh Sarma spreads winter across the land; her icy isolation grows lonely. From beyond the edge of winter, she hears Amu Nowruz, the herald of spring, singing; she sets out to meet him at the boundary. She falls asleep before he arrives, however, and he plants violets in her sleeping hands; the two forever meet only "at the dusk of winter and the dawn of spring." —Danielle Ballantyne, Foreword Reviews, starred
JUV012020 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | Country & Ethnic - General
JUV030110 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Middle East
