Kids Book Index
Rashin Kheiriyeh
This picture-book biography introduces the life and teachings of the Persian poet Rumi. It follows his childhood in Iran, including his curiosity and affection for nature, before exploring his adult work as an Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic. The book also considers The Masnavi, Rumi’s extensive poem containing stories about animals and people.
This book appears on 3 reading lists across 2 editions from 3 organizations.
The Smell of Wet Dog: And Other Dog Poems and DrawingsBarney Saltzberg, illustrated by Barney SaltzbergThis illustrated collection contains twenty-eight poems about dogs, followed by an appearance from a cat. The poems explore everyday canine life and what it may feel like to be a dog, including the challenge of sitting still or staying on command. Their forms vary in rhyme, rhythm, and style, moving between playful moments and more bittersweet ones. Spot illustrations depict a range of slightly comic dogs throughout the book.Five to NineOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
CONTINENTAL DRIFTERKathy MacleodKathy attends an international school in Bangkok and feels caught between parts of her life. For Culture Day, the American outfit her mother makes for her feels incomplete. Kathy is biracial and speaks only English, which creates distance from her Thai-speaking mother. She eagerly anticipates summer in coastal Maine with her white father’s family, but there she feels self-conscious in a mostly white town, learns more about her parents, and faces racist, intrusive questions from other children at camp.Nine to TwelveOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
Sashiko’s StitchesSanae Ishida, illustrated by Sanae IshidaA child turns to sashiko, a Japanese embroidery practice, while working through difficult emotions. The book explains that Japanese fishing communities transformed clothing repair into an art form called sashiko. As the child stitches, the practice offers a way to cope with feelings. Illustrations show the girl at work, connecting a traditional textile craft with emotional experience and cultural history.Five to NineOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details