This is a very beautiful book that matches images and poetry. It's a good introduction to a great poet like Rumi but can be appreciated by anyone who loves poetry
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Art is absolutely beautiful, so if I had to rate the book based on illustrations alone, then it would be five stars all the way. But to me, the story needed a little more heart—it is about Rumi, after all—and a bit of that magic that appeals to child readers (which looks like this book's main target).

This was a very informative and quick story for a young reader to pick up. I thought it was and the illustrations were so creative. The story was also fun to follow, highly recommend it for a young reader.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with access to read this book!

I loved this picture book! The story was so lovely and the pictures!
The colors were bright and beautiful!

A few years ago, my mom told me that Rumi was one of her favorite poets in high school. So I got her a book of his poems for Christmas and we both sat down and read some poems to each other. And now I appreciate his words too.

This beautifully Persian illustrated picture book of how Rumi became Rumi the poet was very story-like and magical (without any actual magic). Although a few parts felt stiff, I loved the author's storytelling and the reminder that "unity is strength." Now I want to read more of his poems and about his life!

What a beautifully illustrated story about the beauty that can be found in our world in poetry, love, and friendship! Children will delight in the illustrations and the simple but poignant message while learning about the Persian poet, Rumi.

ARC provided by NerGalley

A beautifully illustrated and atmospheric children’s biography of the poet Rumi. Simple and stunningly stylized.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL book! Not only were the words lovely and easy to digest but the illustrations were outstanding. This would be a lovely book to carry in an Elementary/Middle School. I can even see other adults enjoying this book if they wanted to learn about the great Rumi or are already familiar.

What s beautiful book! The pictures! The words! All of it. I've loved Rumi's poetry for years now but never knew his story. This book is an instant classic.

A charming story about the life of Rumi. The illustrations are stunning and beautifully capture the mood of Rumi's poetry. A great pace and tone for children with an appropriate amount of text on each page to tell the story at hand without over whelming young children with long paragraphs of text.

The colors are beautiful and I was pleased to see they match the spirit of the cover and create a unique scene on each page. They really are so beautifully done. I will be adding this to my list of books to gift the little ones in my life.

A short read depicting the famous poet Rumi’s life and what inspired him to become a poet and share his stories.

The book has easy-to-understand language with amazing illustrations which I enjoyed far more than the text. An interesting look at his life and teaching young readers about him. I didn’t enjoy reading a translated version of his poems a while back but this book was a good choice.

Rumi is a great children’s book. The illustrations were beautiful and captivating. The message is what makes it such a great story for children

Rumi—Poet of Joy and Love is probably one of the most beautiful children's books I've ever read. The illustrations were so incredible, the colors drew you in and the story was fantastic.

I loved this book. I don't know anything about Rumi, aside from "ye olde poet", and so it was a delight to read about his life and get a glimpse of his work

Along with beautiful illustrations, this is an easy and simple read and a nice introduction to the man and his work

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

Such a lovely book! I think this one would be enjoyable for children, for a coffee table book, or a gift. A good conversation piece.

I would like to thank NorthSouth Books Inc., NorthSouth Books for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

Expected publication: March 5, 2024.

<b>The Story</b>
Told as per elements of oral traditional story, alongside as memoir. In celebration response to Rumi’s, what would be his 750th birthday, having been born in 1207 A.D.

Attributed to dedicated figure, his life journey with some layered features to the story itself are reflective of a semi-mystic quality combined with a moral aspect, highlighting pursuit, endurance, loyalty, and passion, that is accessible to anyone reading.

Family and building friendship. The spiritual viewpoint and tone are allocated delicately, representative, wise, and deep. I think everyone would find value and meaning in it.

Native language teaching.

The book does not really contain any direct inclusion of his poetry, perhaps that will be reserved for a subsequent book, which would be lovely.

However, mentionable poems by name for reference include:
-The Masnavi
-The Tale of the Merchant and the Parrots
-The Cunning Tailor
-The Man Who Learned the Language of Animals
-The Young Man and the Bear

<b>The Writing</b>
A good mix of narration and dialogue.

It had single line telling in some of the format and some were combined in paragraph form. Possibly to show or mimic a glimpse into poetic stance accordingly, which is a detail I appreciate. Either way it flowed well.

The author’s note and additional biographical information at the end was also a nice touch.

<b>Illustrations</b>
The style of illustrations are absolutely beautiful!

Love the bright varietal color palette. Vibrant colors. A mix of color blocking and shading. Some whimsical in design. Texture.

Pictures of traditional Persian motif, housing structures, and tiles. Vases, flowers, and pomegranate fruits. Characters in their respective clothing. Brushed text in scripted Arabic. At least the word “dance” appeared more close to Arabic compared to Persian translation, though they do look much similar to me.

Incorporating nature in both foliage and animals. One where you can play “find the cat” type interactive experience with.

I will look forward to more from this author.

<a href="https://ericarobbin.com/rumi-poet-of-joy-and-love-by-rashin-kheiriyeh/">Blog post</a>

Loveee the illustrations in the book! The details are so captivating and I ended up paying more attention to them than the words in the story at times. The book itself is a sweet feel good children's book that provides inside into the life of Rumi, the illustrations really take it up a notch.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this book. This book allows the reader to learn a bit about Rumi and aspects of his life. The bright, vivid, and beautiful illustrations enhance the reader's experience.

Thank you to Negally and NorthSouth Books for an ARC of this book!

Wow! The colors and illustrations in this book are gorgeous! I was not very familiar with information about Rumi but I was able to learn a lot from this book. This book would be great for classrooms, especially for students who are working on research or learning more about real people. I loved at the end the author;s note mentioning the significance of Rumi to them. I also appreciated at the end the blurb with some more information about Rumi,

A glorious picture book bio of beloved poet Rumi, with spectacular illustrations and text that will enthrall readers young and old. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this picture book biography of the mystic and poet Rumi. The illustrations and colors are beautiful and really help accentuate the story. I think this story would resonate with children, especially those from the Middle East, who may not have heard of this accomplished writer. It would be great narrative nonfiction to add to my library collection