Taraneh Matloob is an associate professor of children’s literature with a specialty in creative writing and multicultural children’s literature at the University of Northern Iowa. Matloob has published several picture books in Persian, and her first book in English, Dear New Friend, was also published by Red Comet Press. Her stories appeal to fans of social, cultural, and emotional representation in picture books. She also serves on the Outstanding International Books (OIB) committee of the United States Board on Books for Young Children. Matloob was born in Tehran, Iran, and now makes her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Kristen Balouch is a designer, author, and illustrator of more than a dozen award-winning books for children, including One Million Trees and If You Are the Dreamer. She won the Ezra Jack Keats award for Mystery Bottle, recounting an intergenerational relationship between a boy and his grandfather in Iran, inspired by her son. Balouch lives and works near Lake George in Upstate New York. You can visit her on Instagram at #kristenbalouch.

“The protagonist’s intense emotional experiences are given full expression in vivid, lyrical language and metaphor, paired with Balouch’s bright, childlike illustrations that resemble cut-paper collage. . . Readers unfamiliar with the challenges of learning a language will be enlightened, while those who have been in Afsi’s shoes will feel seen. All will find plenty to ponder and discuss on every spread. A dreamy and layered work that honors children’s complex emotional landscape.”

Taraneh Matloob is an associate professor of children’s literature with a specialty in creative writing and multicultural children’s literature at the University of Northern Iowa. Matloob has published several picture books in Persian, and her first book in English, Dear New Friend, was also published by Red Comet Press. Her stories appeal to fans of social, cultural, and emotional representation in picture books. She also serves on the Outstanding International Books (OIB) committee of the United States Board on Books for Young Children. Matloob was born in Tehran, Iran, and now makes her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Kristen Balouch is a designer, author, and illustrator of more than a dozen award-winning books for children, including One Million Trees and If You Are the Dreamer. She won the Ezra Jack Keats award for Mystery Bottle, recounting an intergenerational relationship between a boy and his grandfather in Iran, inspired by her son. Balouch lives and works near Lake George in Upstate New York. You can visit her on Instagram at #kristenbalouch.

“The protagonist’s intense emotional experiences are given full expression in vivid, lyrical language and metaphor, paired with Balouch’s bright, childlike illustrations that resemble cut-paper collage. . . Readers unfamiliar with the challenges of learning a language will be enlightened, while those who have been in Afsi’s shoes will feel seen. All will find plenty to ponder and discuss on every spread. A dreamy and layered work that honors children’s complex emotional landscape.”

Taraneh Matloob is an associate professor of children’s literature with a specialty in creative writing and multicultural children’s literature at the University of Northern Iowa. Matloob has published several picture books in Persian, and her first book in English, Dear New Friend, was also published by Red Comet Press. Her stories appeal to fans of social, cultural, and emotional representation in picture books. She also serves on the Outstanding International Books (OIB) committee of the United States Board on Books for Young Children. Matloob was born in Tehran, Iran, and now makes her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Kristen Balouch is a designer, author, and illustrator of more than a dozen award-winning books for children, including One Million Trees and If You Are the Dreamer. She won the Ezra Jack Keats award for Mystery Bottle, recounting an intergenerational relationship between a boy and his grandfather in Iran, inspired by her son. Balouch lives and works near Lake George in Upstate New York. You can visit her on Instagram at #kristenbalouch.

“The protagonist’s intense emotional experiences are given full expression in vivid, lyrical language and metaphor, paired with Balouch’s bright, childlike illustrations that resemble cut-paper collage. . . Readers unfamiliar with the challenges of learning a language will be enlightened, while those who have been in Afsi’s shoes will feel seen. All will find plenty to ponder and discuss on every spread. A dreamy and layered work that honors children’s complex emotional landscape.”