Nowruz is the Persian New Year and is celebrated on the vernal equinox. It is a time for family, friends, and feasting. Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and its traditions are rich and varied.
Nowruz is a time to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the coming one. It is a time of forgiveness and new beginnings. Families gather together to feast on traditional foods and exchange gifts. Homes are cleaned from top to bottom to mark the occasion.
The first day of Nowruz is spent with family, but the celebration continues for 13 days. On each of these days, special activities are enjoyed. For example, on the second day families visit relatives and on the third day they go out into nature.
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The picture books on this list teach children about the holiday of Nowruz and its customs. They are a great choice for kids who celebrate Nowruz, and for kids who are learning about it for the first time.
5 Nowruz Children’s Books
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The Meaning of Nowruz by Anahita Tamaddon
This picture book is a lovely introduction to the celebration of Nowruz. It introduces the customs of the holiday, as well as the beauty of Persian art, dance, and music. It also shares that Nowruz is about forgiving the past and starting fresh, something we can all embrace.
I recommend reading this book with kids ages 4 and up.
Seven Special Somethings by Adib Khorram
Kian is so excited to celebrate the new year, and he wants to add something that starts with the letter “S” to the haft-seen to make it extra special. He decides on the family’s cat, Sonny…but when Sonny knocks over the table, Kian must figure out how to put together a new haft-seen with seven special somethings on it.
This sweet story is pefect for sharing with kids ages 4 and up.
Our Haft Sin by Anahita Tamaddon
In this picture book, told in both English and Persian, a young girl named Dina introduces readers to her family’s haft sin. A haft sin is a table arranged with seven special items that all start with the letter S in the Persian alphabet. Dina takes readers along as she paints eggs, shops for flowers, and prepares to celebrate the new year.
This book is recommended for kids ages 5 and up.
Norooz: A Celebration of Spring! by Gail Hejazi
This picture book is a simple but robust introduction to the celebration of Nowruz/Norooz, with an accompanying online resource that dives deeper into the holiday’s customs and traditions. It also talks about why Norooz is celebrated in the spring, when nature begins to renew and grow again.
This book is a great choice for children ages 6 and up.
Soraya’s Nowruz Dance by Anahita Tamaddon
Soraya falls in love with the dance she sees at a Nowruz dance show, and she believes she can learn the dance in just a day. However, with the help of her grandmother, she is able to realize that this special dance takes a high level of skill to perform, and lots of time to master. Soraya begins to practice, in the hopes that she can perform the dance at the Sizdah Bedar picnic on Nowruz.
I really loved this adorable story, and recommend it for children ages 4 and up.
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