This book tells the story of a young boy from Iran who is encouraged to wear an article of traditional clothing called a Pusteen to picture day. He is worried that his classmates will make fun of him, so his mother tells him a story about the history and importance of the clothing. The next day he is very nervous about wearing it, but once he gets to school and his classmates ask him about it, he tells the story and everyone is excited about this special clothing. He gets his picture taken proudly and shares the photo with the family he misses overseas. I think this is a great way to introduce the concept that some people wear clothing that is special to them (whether it be cultural or otherwise) and that rather than making fun of someone we could ask questions to learn more or just appreciate their choice of style without commenting. I would recommend this book. I could definitely see myself reading this to my class, and this would make an excellent addition to my classroom library. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this important book.

Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb is a beautifully illustrated and delightful children’s book. The main character, Rostam, is new to the United States and his school, and he is worried about wearing a pusteen from Iran to school for picture day. The book captures scenes of Rostam and his mother talking with his father who is still in Iran as well as Rostam making new friends while playing soccer. He decides to be brave and wear the pusteen, and he gets a nice surprise on picture day when the pusteen is loved and admired by his classmates. This is an uplifting story about a student adjusting to a new school and home. The author’s note at the end about how this relates to his own father’s story of immigration was moving. Recommended. Thanks to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the eARC.

Rostam’s Picture-Day Pusteen is the story of Rostam, who recently moved to America from Iran. His parents want him to wear his pusteen for picture day, but he is worried his new classmates will make fun of him.

I loved the illustrations in this book! I especially loved the page where Rostam tells himself he is brave.

This is such a great book about embracing your culture and I love that it is based on the author’s father.

The book was beautifully written. The author made careful word choices that were very impactful. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it.

Rostam is a first-grader, new to the US, and he is nervous for his first picture day, especially once his mother tells him he needs to wear his father's pusteen for the photo.

However, Rostam discovers that sometimes kids can be cool.

This is a lovely book that I would love to add to my library.

Thank you to Net Galley and Charlesbridge for the eARC!

I received an electronic ARC from Charlesbridge through NetGalley.
Rostam and his mother have not been in the United States long. He is finding his way at school and shares with his father who is still in Iran. For picture day, his mother pulls out his dad's old pusteen for him to wear. Rostam is afraid others will tease him for looking different. Readers will connect with this fear. To his, and possibly their, surprise, people ask respectful questions which allows him the opportunity to share about this pusteen's importance to his family. By the end, Rostam is proud to wear the pusteen and be who he is.

Sweet, gorgeous story about a little boy who is worried about fitting in after moving to the US from Iran. It's such a great lesson that you don't have to give up who you are when you make new friends. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This was such a cute, heartfelt story about a little boy who has just recently immigrated to America with his mom from Iran, while his dad is still working there for another year. His dad has passed down his old pusteen, a wool vest, to him, but he's worried about wearing it to school for picture day. When he shows up to school, he finds acceptance instead of embarassment as initially expected, and I just loved this story and think it has such a good message for everyone who reads it.

This is so sweet and adorable, and gave my heart such warm-fuzzies. I love the art style and learning that the story was inspired by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb’s father’s experiences in elementary school just makes it even better. This is a really sweet story of Rostam finding the bravery to wear the pusteen that had been his father’s for picture day, even as he worried that the other kids would make fun of him because he’d just moved to the United States from Iran. I love that this was a happy story and also gave Rostam a chance to organically share his heritage and family history with his classmates.