Iran
(Persian)
245
Alhas, Hanibal
Gardiši dar baġ-i kudakan : 106 tarh az kudakan (A walk in the children’s garden : 106 children’s drawings)
Tihran : Našr-i Adarbihišt, 2003 (= 1382 h.š.). – 105 p.
ISBN 964-94456-9-2
Children’s drawing – Poet
Drawings created by children between the ages of three and twelve inspired the poet Hanibal Alkhas to write this book. The poems – one for each of the 106 drawings – deal with a great variety of topics, both ordinary events and fantastical adventures. While some are full of humour, others are more serious. It is astonishing how skilfully the author captures moments and moods in his short, almost fragmentary poems. Thus, he accompanies the picture of an everyday scene at home drawn by seven-year-old Kisawarz with the simple verse: »On my beautiful table, I arrange a pot of fragrant flowers, a big apple, and a jug of fresh water, in case you might come.« (6+)
246
Diyai, Muhammad Rafij (text/illus.)
Adam-i inguri (A person who is somehow different)
Tihran : Kitab-i Čarhfalak, 2003 (= 1382 h.š.). – 48 p.
(Magmu'a-i dastanhai kutah-i tanz; 1)
ISBN 964-94973-0-7
Everyday life
Caricaturist Muhammad Rafi Diyai tells a young man’s story from birth to
adulthood inspired by his own adventures and experiences. The 54 ultra-short
stories of these two volumes present miniature scenes from the first-person
narrator’s life. The texts stand out for their trenchant description of
everyday events that often reveal curiously bizarre things; such as when the
protagonist relates how a pot plant that he wanted to rid of lice eventually
dies because of his love of animals (not of lice, mind you, but of lice-eating
ladybirds). Diyai’s caricature-like black-and-white drawings perfectly
complement the sprightly, sketchy texts. (10+)
247
Guzdani, Udrâ (text)
Tahwili, Nazli (illus.)
Ism-i man Maniya ast (My name is Maniya)
Tihran : Haudi-Nuqra, 2004 (= 1383 h.š.). – 47 p.
ISBN 964-7961-17-0
Girl – Everyday life – Imaginary world
Maniya travels between two worlds. Again and again, the young girl escapes
from her real life into a carefree, comforting imaginary world. In her
day-dreams, Maniya uses her imagination to fight against the restrictions that
others impose on her. In the ten short stories of this small book, the line
between reality and the imagined world is blurred. For example, when Maniya
and her mother are sitting at the hairdresser’s, where she is given a haircut
against her will, the girl looks into the mirror and sees her hair quickly
grow again until it is even longer than before! The simple language of the
easily comprehensible tales is aptly translated into sketchy line drawings
that are sparsely coloured in delicate, mainly green water colours. (5+)
248
Kakawand, Kambiz (text/illus.)
Rubah (Fox)
Tihran : Šabawiz, 2006 (= 1385 h.š.). – 30 p.
'ISBN 978-964-505-210-0
Fox – Tail – Loss – Trust – Love
A fox who plans to feed his stomach in the chicken coop loses his tail in a
fight with the guard dog. Completely devastated, the animal withdraws from the
world until, one day, a beautiful vixen persuades him to accompany her on
another chicken hunt. The vixen’s presence comforts him and rekindles his
interest in life. Readers should allow for some extra time to study the
double-page illustrations of this fable-like animal tale. The illustrator has
composed two-dimensional pictures teeming with tiny figures and lots of
details on backgrounds in mostly green shades. From above and from a great
distance, readers will admire a world of almost abstract animals, plants,
buildings, and landscape and discover a truly original play with shapes and
colours. (6+)
249
Sipihri, Suhrab (text)
Nugumi, Nikzad (illus.)
Sida-i pa-i ab (The sound of the water’s course)
Tihran : Kanun-i Parwariš-i Fikri-i Kudakan
wa Nugawanan, 2005 (= 1384 h.š.). – 23 p.
ISBN 964-391-043-1
Poetry – Nature – Love of nature
The long poem »Sida-i pa-i ab« was originally published in the well-known Iranian poet’s work entitled »8 kitab« (Eight books). One feature typical for Sipihri’s style is the simplicity and clarity of the linguistic images that he creates. At the same time, however, his texts are complex, and their true depth may not be immediately understandable to readers because of their philosophical ideas. That is also true for this poem, in which the author’s love for nature is palpable. This edition for young readers contains symbolic pictures illustrated in warm watercolours that perfectly match the typo-graphy of the artistically designed verses. (12+)
250
Tuzandagani, Gajfar (text)
Safi Hani, Farhad (illus.)
Čira darya 'asabani šud? (Why is the sea furious?)
Tihran : Kanun-i Parwariš-i Fikri-i Kudakan
wa Nugawanan, 2006 (= 1385 h.ą.). – 77 p.
ISBN 964-391-082-2
Sea – Pollution – Environmental protection – Death
The protagonist of this tale is a writer in a coastal town that has lately been suffering under the destructive forces of the sea. By talking to the town people, who offer a multitude of possible explanations, the writer slowly cottons on to the real reason behind the events. The mayor, for example, feels responsible because he had authorised and arranged the building of a theme park at the beach whereas an old fisherman is convinced that the sea is furious and will only be placated by repentance. In the end, it becomes evident that the ocean is indeed hurt and revengeful because it is polluted by chemical industrial plants. In this unusual book, the topic of environmental pollution is intertwined with a realistic story and accompanied by pictures with a sinister touch. (7+)