First published 2025
A young Iranian boy wakes early one morning to his grandmother calling him. Today they will create a new rug for their family. They begin by washing wool together, then dyeing it in rich colors. When the time comes to tie the knots, the boy feels anxious. He wants everything to be perfect. The colors don't look quite right to him. His fingers move slowly while his grandmother's hands work with practiced speed. She teaches him that rugs don't need to be perfect. Each knot carries meaning. Each imperfection tells a story. As they work side by side, the boy discovers that the memories they weave into their Persian rug matter more than flawless technique. The rug becomes a bridge between generations, holding their shared traditions and the love that connects them.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: found-family, intergenerational
Setting: Iran
Period: 20th-century
48 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Books for Young Readers