The Last Pomegranate - by F Nakhaei (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"A sweetly satisfying holiday tale of generosity and compassion." - Kirkus Review

"This wintry tale will lead readers to develop an understanding of multicultural holiday traditions as well as to learn the practice of everyday philanthropy." - School Library Journal

"The Last Pomegranate is a heartwarming tale that celebrates Yalda and the spirit of nature's generosity." - Booklist

Included in CBC's Hot Off the Press reading list!

Little Pouya is looking for a pomegranate. He needs it for Yalda, a Persian festival. On the longest night of the year, families gather to read poems, eat special foods, and look forward to a beautiful spring together. Finally, Pouya finds one: the very last pomegranate! But on the way home, the wind whips his precious treasure away. Will he find it again, and will he and his family be able to celebrate Yalda Night after all?

In this enchanting, and beautifully illustrated picture book, children are treated to a mesmerizing tale where poetic language weaves a mystic and beautiful experience. Winner of the Silver Medal at the 2022 Key Colors Competition, this tale not only introduces young readers to the magical Yalda Festival but also explores themes of generosity and kindness.

Complete with informative back matter about the Yalda festival, this book serves as both an enchanting fairytale and an educational resource. Perfect for sparking discussions about tradition, culture, and the power of generosity.

A magical folktale about kindness and generosity. For children ages 5 years and up.

Review Quotes

"A young boy and his goat companion search the forest on Yalda Night, a Persian holiday observed on the longest night of the year.

"For a perfect Yalda Night," the unseen narrator tells us, "you need a pomegranate." Tan-skinned, rosy-cheeked Pouya is excited to see one last pomegranate on the tree. Before he gets far, though, a cold wind "snatches the pomegranate," and it rolls away. Meandering through the woods, Pouya asks Rabbit if she's seen the fruit. Rabbit explains that she took just a few seeds before passing the pomegranate on to Bear; when questioned, Bear said he did the same before giving the fruit to Fox. Rushing to find Fox, Pouya and his goat discover her sharing the seeds with her overjoyed little ones. Pouya decides that he and his family can wait until next year for another pomegranate, but the wind has one last trick: blowing in enough pomegranates for his whole family. In this tale published in Belgium and the Netherlands and translated from Dutch, Nakhaei offers a sweet spin on a familiar trope as Pouya questions each of the animals. Dreamy, watercolorlike images depict a fairy-tale landscape full of clouds, warm foliage, and winter snow. Despite Pouya's anxiety, this is a friendly forest; rather than being scary, lumbering Bear seems a bit of a goof, while Fox's children are darling.

A sweetly satisfying holiday tale of generosity and compassion. (information on Yalda) (Picture book. 3-6)" - Kirkus Reviews

"Pouya, a young, cherry-cheeked boy high on a tree, finds the last pomegranate. He takes it to celebrate the Yalda Night festival, a Persian winter solstice celebration, with his family. But Pouya is quickly faced with its loss. He is challenged by furry, red-coated, and red-eyed forest animals who also want to celebrate Yalda Night with their families as they playfully pass the lost pomegranate, along with its seeds, from one to another. Pouya desperately chases the pomegranate, then recognizes the joy of the animals that have it. When he sees Fox and his family, Pouya notices, "Oh, how they're enjoying the seeds! They look so happy." He decides that they can keep the rest of the pomegranate. Pouya doesn't realize that from his simple act of altruism, a miracle awaits him and his family to commemorate the special night as never before. This story demonstrates the virtuous trait of selflessness and the benefit of the spirit of giving even when faced with personal needs. Back matter shares more information about the festival. VERDICT This wintry tale will lead readers to develop an understanding of multicultural holiday traditions as well as to learn the practice of everyday philanthropy." - School Library Journal

"This charming and beautifully illustrated tale takes readers on a whimsical adventure through a

snowy forest, where a young Pouya tries to retrieve a pomegranate from a tree. When the fruit

falls and rolls away, Pouya follows its trail, finding scattered seeds along the way. He encounters

a rabbit, a bear, and a family of foxes, all happily enjoying the pomegranate seeds. Resigned to

having lost the fruit he intended to bring home for Yalda (the Iranian winter solstice festival),

Pouya is surprised when a sudden gust of wind and a flock of birds cause pomegranates to fall

all around him, providing more than enough to share. The illustrations in this book are

enchanting, set in snowy hues with reds and browns that delightfully capture the warmth of the

pomegranates against the cool backdrop. The hand-drawn, watercoloresque style adds a

delicate and dreamy quality to the scenery, making the story both visually and emotionally

engaging. The Last Pomegranate is a heartwarming tale that celebrates Yalda and the spirit of

nature's generosity." - Booklist

About the Author

F. Nakhaei is an award-winning author-illustrator of picture books. She enjoys writing and illustrating stories with an emphasis on wonder and atmosphere. Since becoming the Grand Prix winner of the CCBF illustration award in 2016, her work has been displayed and published in several countries.