Baba's gift A Persian father's love of family

Baba's Gift is a loving tribute by the authors to their father, Baba, that adds a welcome voice to picture books about immigrant experiences. At the heart of the narrative is the carpet that Baba brought with him when he left Iran as a young man. Unlike the flying Persian carpets in folklore, this one stays put while the six sisters and their father trace his memories in its designs. The reader, too, gets to travel back to Iran, where Baba had dreams inspired by U.S. movies, only to later arrive in an America where he knew no one. His journey is the bittersweet one of a successful immigrant who left part of his heart in a distant land. He left behind a loving mother and extended family and made a new one in America. Collaged illustrations in a crisp, vibrant palette add a cheeriness that embodies the love between father and daughters. A second parent is conspicuously absent and may raise questions among attentive young readers.

Gr 2--4--A rich, beautifully told story filled with jewel-toned illustrations and carrying a comforting message for children of immigrants. One of the children of the book's titular Baba tells of their father's journey from Iran to the United States. All his children ask questions about what it was like and why he left; the authors don't shy away from the stronger feelings associated with those big decisions. In between are bits about Iran's culture and language, which provide a welcome learning opportunity for any young reader. This book also introduces many children to a culture that may be different from their own but, in the process, masterfully shows them through Baba's journey to become American and through all the joys he experiences how similar we all are. The colorful illustrations throughout help bring to life the colorful Iranian culture for Baba's children. VERDICT This is an excellent addition to any children's library collection as a great exposure to this culture, but also in any community serving a significant Iranian population.--David Roberts

A father tells his six children about his journey from Iran to a new life in America. Baba gave each of his children a middle name from his homeland. As they look at the moon from their home in California, Baba remembers the moon that illuminated his nights as a boy in Iran. As he dances with his children on the beautiful floral Persian carpet--the one his mother packed in his big suitcase when he left for America--the young narrator asks him about his home in Iran. Tracing "the swirling indigo and pomegranate colors of the carpet," Baba tells them about the lush gardens, loving neighbors, warm summer nights, and family walks after dinner beneath the moon. Though he adored his home, he was curious about the rest of the world. When asked why he didn't teach them Farsi, Baba is honest, revealing, "It was too painful. The language reminded me of all I left behind." The authors deftly capture both the hardship of leaving home and the opportunities Baba gained as he became a doctor. The choice to focus on the Persian carpet is inspired; Taherian's vibrant cut-paper collages show the floral patterns from the carpet extending and surrounding the characters, complementing the text and conveying Baba's love for his children, Iran, and his family. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A poignant story woven with a reminder that no matter how far we journey, family is always with us. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.