Iranian American author-illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh brings vivacity and vitality to this beautiful picture book biography of the Persian poet, Rumi. Thrumming with color and warmth, the story of Rumi’s life blossoms from a garden of pages filled with flowers, trees, and birds: “On September 30, 1207—that is a long time ago—a child was born on a crisp and colorful day in Iran. They called him Rumi.” Cheerful, folkloric illustrations show Rumi’s childhood, capturing his curiosity and love of nature. His adult life as an Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic is explored in an accessible account for young readers that also celebrates his life’s masterpiece, “The Masnavi,” an extensive poem filled with stories of animals and people, recognized worldwide in Rumi’s time and today.