Nana and granddaughter enjoy an afternoon together in the garden, laughing, discovering and connecting. Written and illustrated by a mother daughter duo, Memory Garden invites readers to enjoy the beauty of Iranian gardens and cultures, while reminding us to cherish the moments we must leave behind, but that we will always remember.
Grandparents
The Same Sun Was In The Sky
A boy and his grandfather go hiking in the Arizona desert, where they observe the many rock carvings and imagine the lives of the Hohokam people who lived there in ancient times.
Babajoon’s Treasure
Every summer, Miriam spends a week at her Babajoon and Mamanjoon’s house. It’s her favorite part of summer because every day with her grandparents is an adventure. But when coins fall out of Babajoon’s pocket as he’s getting ice cream, Miriam finds one coin that doesn’t look like the rest a gold one unlike Miriam has ever seen before. Suddenly, she starts to notice certain things about her Babajoon. He can talk to parrots. He speaks with codewords. He trades crystal treasures with his friends. Could her Babajoon be a pirate?
I Remember
A recognition of Muslim loyalty and sacrifice during WW1 portrayed through a letter between a Muslim grandchild to his/her war hero great-grandpa to reassure him that his story and bravery will never be forgotten.
Lolas Nana-Bibi Comes To Visit
Lola’s grandmother is coming to visit, and Lola can’t wait for all the family fun. Nana-Bibi will stay in Lola’s room, so Lola gets to sleep on a special blow-up bed. The family spends the week doing different activities, like shopping for presents for family back in Tanzania, having dance parties, and making special mandazi doughnuts. Nana-Bibi and Lola share a special time as Nana-Bibi remembers all the things she used to do with her nana. This multigenerational celebration of grandmas, moms, and grandaughters will reassure all children preparing for a visit from a faraway relative.
Love Makes A Garden Grow
A young girl observes the bugs and blooms and the rich smell of the soil of her grandfather’s garden. Her grandfather hums as he waters his treasured plants. And when he gives the girl a flower of her own, caring for it teaches her to feel her grandfather’s love. Even as time passes and her grandfather’s garden grows smaller and the girl grows up, she never forgets what she learned or loses her closeness with her nurturing grandfather.
Grandad’s Pink Trousers
The grandfather of our story isn’t like other grandparents. He wears pink trousers! And that’s not all that’s strange about him. People say that he’s a strange old codger altogether. Some even think that he’s grumpy. But as his grandson grows up, he comes to understand why Grandad does strange things like refusing to give up his silly trousers. The child reader of this thought-provoking story will learn that quiet heroism can be more effective than a thousand grand gestures.
The Longest, Strongest Thread
“A little girl is moving far away and worries her grandmother won’t be able to find her- but her grandmother explains that they are united by a strong thread of love”–Provided by publisher.
Abuelita And I Make Flan
Anita helps her grandmother make flan for her grandfather’s birthday.
I’ll Go And Come Back
When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. They form a bond-looking at books together, making designs with colored sand, shopping at the market, playing games, eating chapatis, and sipping warm milk with saffron to bring sweet dreams. When it’s time to part, Jyoti doesn’t want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don’t say goodbye, they say “I’ll go and come back.” Sure enough, the two reunite the next summer when Pati visits Jyoti in America, and it’s Jyoti’s turn to make her grandmother feel welcome. Can they create some special memories that will last until the next time they see each other?
Featured in WOW Review Volume XV, Issue 2.