Welcome, Uncle Nowruz: A Persian New Year's Story - Rashin Kheiriyeh - ★★★★.½

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Rashin Kheiriyeh

GENRE: Children's Picture Book

PUBLICATION DATE: February 24, 2026

RATING: 4.5 stars.

In a Nutshell: A cute little picture book about the celebration of the Persian New Year in Iran. Lovely folktale-style story, wonderful characters, nice touch of humour, amazing illustrations. Loved the authenticity of the portrayal. Recommended.

Plot Preview:

Nane Sarma, the grandmother of winter, lives in a small village in Iran. Every year, at the end of the cold season, she awaits her old friend Uncle Nowruz, the harbinger of spring. But somehow, she always seems to miss his arrival. This year, she's determined to be better prepared, so she calls her three grandchildren over and starts making Nowruz preparations well in advance.

Do we get to meet Uncle Nowruz? We certainly do, and he's everything Grandma Nane was waiting for.

Does she get to meet him? You need to read the book for that!

A fun fact first: Several indigenous cultures across the world have new year celebrations in spring, a tradition that was sidelined in 46 BCE by Julius Caesar's decision to honour Janus and making January the new year's first month. But the custom of celebrating a new year on the spring equinox still continues in several countries, including India and Iran.

OwnVoices picture books are a great way of learning about other cultures without feeling overwhelmed at the information. This book is one fabulous addition to the set.

Irani culture isn't often represented in children's books, so I love how beautifully this story represented an interesting tradition from the country: the celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year heralding the beginning of spring. It is a modified version of the folktale of Amu Nowruz.

All the characters in this story are wonderful. Nane Sarma is the perfect grandmother. Her determination to meet Uncle Nowruz is amusing, and their actual meeting, hilarious. Her grandchildren are also adorable, offering the perfect support to her in chores and boosting her morale when she frets over the preparation. Their combined efforts in making everything ready for the special day show how work becomes easier with many hands and how even children can contribute to chores.

The book stays true to the original traditions, so there are several Persian words in the text. But every word comes with its meaning written next to it and so there's no comprehension issue. The overall text is easy for little ones to read, and the engaging plotline is sure to hold their attention well.

Don’t miss reading the author’s note at the end.

The illustrations are everything I'd expect from a book set in Asia. All Asian cultures are truly vibrant colour explosions, and this comes out excellently in the graphics. The artwork resembles that of classic storybooks with bright colour pops, making every page a visual delight.

Overall, I enjoyed this beautiful story in every way. Its plot, its characters, and its art ensure that this is a must-read. It would be a great option for anyone looking for a culturally-authentic book. So it works for classroom discussions on diverse equinox/spring new year celebrations around the world, and also for a tiny glimpse into a tradition not often seen in the Western world.

Definitely recommended. This ought to work well for readers aged 6-8. Younger children will enjoy the story but might be a bit bogged down by the cultural details.

My thanks to North South Books Inc. for providing the DRC of “Welcome, Uncle Nowruz!” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.