Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!

Early yesterday morning, when I took the dogs out, I noticed that overnight (in the middle of a heavy rainstorm no less) my little apple tree had suddenly gone from bare to misted with brand new leaves. How amazing that such a thing can happen overnight – or at least appear to. It’s like magic!

I’m still waiting on the two baby pink trees I got for my birthday last year. One is a magnolia and one is a dogwood, but both are supposed to have pink blossoms. I will keep you posted 😊

So I picked this lovely book to share with you today. It has the word “garden” in the title which makes it feel fitting for spring 😊 but it’s also just a really beautiful book about the relationship between a granddaughter and her grandpa. I attended a webinar last night about marketing entry points for picture books, and this one has about 10! 😊

Title: Rose Weaves A Garden

Written & Illustrated By: Rashin Kheiriyeh

Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books, April 22, 2025

ISBN#: 978-0593705100

Suitable For Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: granddaughter/grandfather relationship, weaving, Iranian cultural heritage, grandparent illness, patience, perseverance, love

text and illustration copyright Rashin Kheiriyeh, 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Opening:

“In a city so old they call it ancient, lives Rose.
Not old, not ancient.
She’s only seven!
Her grandfather lives there, too. Old, yes.
Rose teases Baba joon that he is ancient.
He smiles.”

text and illustration copyright Rashin Kheiriyeh, 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Rose’s Baba joon (her grandfather) loves three things most in the world: His loom, where he weaves fine rugs for family and friends; his garden; and most of all, Rose!

When Rose decides she wants to weave her own rug — its design inspired by a drawing she made of their garden–Baba is thrilled to teach her. Working side-by-side at the loom, grandfather and granddaughter tie colorful strands of yarn into thousands of knots. But just as the rug slowly begins to take shape, Baba falls ill.

Rose knows one thing that will make him feel better: a beautiful — and finished! — garden rug. But will she be able to weave the rest of the rug on her own?”

text and illustration copyright Rashin Kheiriyeh, 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Links To Resources: 8 Beginnger Weaving Projects for Kids; Weaving Projects for Kids – Books and Crafts

text and illustration copyright Rashin Kheiriyeh, 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

text and illustration copyright Rashin Kheiriyeh, 2025, Anne Schwartz Books

Why I Like This Book: This is such a warm and heartfelt book. The gentle, loving relationship that Rose has with her Baba joon gives such a feeling of comfort and security. Baba joon is a weaver of beautiful rugs, and Rose decides she wants to make one, too. So Baba joon teaches her, showing her how to dye the bright yarns, and make the knots “not once, not twice, but a thousand times,” passing his knowledge on to her. It is not easy at first. Rose’s inexperienced fingers are slow and clumsy, while Baba joon’s fly quickly with the skill of practice. Rose has to learn patience. Then Baba joon falls ill, and Rose has to persevere, doing her best to apply the knowledge he gave her on her own. Certain that seeing her finished rug will make him feel better, she works and works, and slowly, slowly, Baba joon regains his health. When at last she shows him her nearly finished rug, he is well enough to sit with her and show her how to bind the edges, and this time it is Baba joon’s fingers that move slowly, slowly, and Rose’s that fly. A beautiful, generational story that incorporates aspects of Iranian culture and rug-making, and themes of patience, perseverance, and love, this is a book that will appeal to lots of readers – kids and grown-ups alike! 😊

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊

For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.

PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊