By:Ryan Bani Tahmaseb/ Illustrated by:Fateme MokhlesBeing the new kid is hard. And wearing something that might seem odd to other kids is even harder.Rostam and Maman recently movedto the United States, and Baba is still working in Iran. Now it's picture d
By:Ryan Bani Tahmaseb/ Illustrated by:Fateme Mokhles
Rostam and Maman recently movedto the United States, and Baba is still working in Iran. Now it’s picture day at school, and Rostam doesn’t want to wear his pusteen. Even though Baba wore it when he was little, and it’s beautiful and soft, Rostam worries that the other kids will think it’s weird.
But sometimes being brave means sharing your whole self with others.
“It was important to me to write an intersectional character because this book is based on the true story of my father, a young Iranian-American immigrant, whose parents insisted he wear a pusteena traditional Persian vestto school for Picture Day. His ethnicity and nationality were central to the story. Books with intersectional characters are important because children and teens are naturally curious about the complexities of personal identity. Growing up, I would have loved seeing more intersectional characters, as it would have helped me better understand my own heritage and the unique challenges and strengths that come with intersectionality.”
Author Ryan Bani Tahmaseb
Distinctive in the way it models children who easily accept and celebrate cultural difference, this is a reassuring tale about sharing the things that make us unique.
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, award-winning childrens book author of Mommys Khimar and Your Name Is a Song
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Ryan Bani Tahmaseb, author
Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is a tutor and consultant, as well as a former librarian and English teacher. Hes also a writer. Ryan is a first-generation Iranian American on his fathers side. His father immigrated from Iran in the 1960s and wore his pusteen in elementary school, which inspired this story. Rostams Picture-Day Pusteen is Ryans debut book. Ryan and his family live in Maine.
Read more about Ryan.
Fateme Mokhles, illustrator
Fateme Mokhles is an illustrator whose passion is teaching art to children through illustrations or in a classroom. She grew up in Iran and speaks Persian. When she’s not drawing, she can be found dancing or spending time with her husband and her dog, Lily.
Read more about Fateme.
School Library Journal, starred review
Rostam is very happily living in the United States with his mom and is in the first grade. He misses his baba (father) who is still in Iran working. As much as he has adjusted to life in the U.S., there is an upcoming event at school that has him full of worry: Picture Day. His family hopes he will wear his pusteen, a sheepskin vest with fluffy wool and beautiful embroidery that his father also wore as a boy. Rostam is dreading the teasing he imagines will come from the other kids when he wears it to school. The struggle to avoid the situation and to face his fears develops at a perfectly pitched, agonizing pace with digitally created illustrations that capture the complete emotional journey. Readers who have themselves grappled with an awkward face your fears moment will connect with Rostams struggle and celebrate with the resolution. Despite Rostams concerns, his classmates are exuberantly curious and exceedingly respectful; Rostam is delighted when everyone wants to try it on. Emotive illustrations capture Rostams anxiety and pride in his family and culture. Readers will connect with the emotional journey that he goes through on multiple levels. VERDICT Highly recommended for empathy building as well as a cultural window into a small piece of Iranian culture.
Children’s Literature
Rostam is new at school after moving to the United States from Iran with his mother. Picture day is approaching and Rostam’s mother as well as his father, who is still in Iran working, want Rostam to wear his pusteen when taking the picture. His mother explains how the pusteen is extremely special as it was passed down to him by his dad, handmade by an artist, and honors their heritage. Still, Rostam prefers to wear jeans and a sweater like the other kids and stuffs his pusteen in his backpack. After arriving at school, Rostam’s mother encourages him to put on the pusteen. He does what his mother asks and enters his classroom lacking confidence. Rostam tries not to draw attention to himself but soon his classmates approach and ask about his pusteen. He explains how special it is to him and to his surprise, his classmates do not tease him, instead, they all beg to try it on. Rostam feels like royalty and proudly wears his pusteen for his picture. He leaves school feeling brave and tells his parents he plans to wear his pusteen forever. Inspired by Bani Tahmaseb’s own childhood, this story encourages children to be brave and share who they are with others. Being different can feel scary, but it is what makes you special. This is an amazing book for any classroom. Children will find confidence in celebrating their uniqueness and appreciate others for their differences.
Publishers Weekly
In a videochat with his father, whos still living in Iran, first grader Rostam and his maman share details of their life three months after moving to the U.S. But though his babas praise makes Rostam proud, he shrinks at his mothers suggestion that he wear his fathers pusteen for picture day. As Maman explains that Iranian shepherds once wore the wool-lined vest (Babas was handmade… to honor our heritage), Rostam worries about his peers reactions. At school, when classmates show interest in the vest, Rostam reminds himself of his bravery and explains the pusteens familial and cultural significance. Mokhless soft-edged digital images and Tahmasebs sensory-oriented text gently underline the childs feelings of interpersonal courage and intergenerational connection. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A Farsi glossary and authors note conclude.
Kirkus Reviews
A first grader worries that his friends will make fun of his outfit.
Rostam and his mother recently moved to the United States; his father (Baba) still lives in Iran. Though Rostams been in America only three months, hes already made friends, and on a video call, Baba praises the boy for his bravery. But Rostam is nervous about his picture-day outfit: Babas pusteen, a traditional vest once worn by Iranian shepherds. At school, it seems as though Rostams fears are justified. His classmates pepper him with questions: Whats that? Whys the inside so fluffy? Rostam remembers to be brave and explains the garments significance; enthralled, his classmates beg to try it on. Their admiration banishes his worries, and in a text message to his father, he says, Im going to wear my pusteen forever. Mokhles expressive cartoon illustrations capture Rostams emotional trajectory. Her depictions of his familys bright, simple home exude a relatable warmth; their yummy rice dinner looks especially mouthwatering. Tahmaseb offers an encouragingand refreshingreversal of expectations; here, the new kid isnt bullied for his differences, but embraced for them. While many immigrant kids face discrimination, Tahmaseb mentions in an authors note that in his own fathers case, sharing a part of his Persian heritage ultimately led to self-acceptance and joy. Its important to remember that stories like this exist, too.
An affirming tale that will inspire many kids to open up about their own cultural identities.
Hardcover
ISBN:978-1-62354-381-5
Ages:3-7
Page count:32
8 x 10
Publication date: July 16, 2024
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