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A Knot Is Not a Tangle

Author Daniel Nayeri
Read by Daniel Nayeri
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On sale Nov 25, 2025 | 10 Minutes | 9798217156924
Preschool - 3
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Knots are necessary and imperfection is a gift in this poignant picture book about an Iranian boy learning to make a new family rug with his grandmother, from an award-winning duo.

Here’s something to remember: Even a rug can be a precious thing.

One morning, a young boy is woken up early by his grandmother. It’s time to make a new rug for the family. Together, they wash and dye the wool. When it’s time to knot the threads, the young boy grows nervous. He wants to make it perfect. But why aren’t the colors right? And why can’t he weave as swiftly as his grandmother?

In this lyrical picture book about imperfection, tradition, and togetherness, A Knot is Not a Tangle explores the memories woven into one family's Persian rug, and is a gentle reminder of imperfection's greatest gifts.
Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age eight with his family. He is the author of several books for young readers, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, and The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor Award. He lives in the US with his wife and son.

Vesper Stamper is the author and illustrator of several books. Her illustrated picture books include The Greatest (September 2024), The Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, and Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. Her YA debut, What the Night Sings was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and a Morris Award Finalist. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts. She teaches illustration at School of Visual Art.
Daniel Nayeri View titles by Daniel Nayeri
★ "Though told in present tense, the narration has the feel of family lore burnished by years of reflection." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A precious intergenerational story, steeped in art, culture, and the beautiful idea of a perfect memory." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A gift made of childhood recall, wrapped in the making of a Persian rug, an act of creating 'precious memories out of everyday chores.'" —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "A tender celebration of tradition, family bonds, and the beauty of imperfection." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A lovely storytime pick with plenty of room for discussion." —The Bulletin

"[A] tender story....an example of the beauty of the process and of the importance of family relationships." —The Horn Book

About

Knots are necessary and imperfection is a gift in this poignant picture book about an Iranian boy learning to make a new family rug with his grandmother, from an award-winning duo.

Here’s something to remember: Even a rug can be a precious thing.

One morning, a young boy is woken up early by his grandmother. It’s time to make a new rug for the family. Together, they wash and dye the wool. When it’s time to knot the threads, the young boy grows nervous. He wants to make it perfect. But why aren’t the colors right? And why can’t he weave as swiftly as his grandmother?

In this lyrical picture book about imperfection, tradition, and togetherness, A Knot is Not a Tangle explores the memories woven into one family's Persian rug, and is a gentle reminder of imperfection's greatest gifts.

Author

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age eight with his family. He is the author of several books for young readers, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, and The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor Award. He lives in the US with his wife and son.

Vesper Stamper is the author and illustrator of several books. Her illustrated picture books include The Greatest (September 2024), The Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, and Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. Her YA debut, What the Night Sings was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and a Morris Award Finalist. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts. She teaches illustration at School of Visual Art.
Daniel Nayeri View titles by Daniel Nayeri

Praise

★ "Though told in present tense, the narration has the feel of family lore burnished by years of reflection." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A precious intergenerational story, steeped in art, culture, and the beautiful idea of a perfect memory." —Booklist, starred review

★ "A gift made of childhood recall, wrapped in the making of a Persian rug, an act of creating 'precious memories out of everyday chores.'" —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "A tender celebration of tradition, family bonds, and the beauty of imperfection." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A lovely storytime pick with plenty of room for discussion." —The Bulletin

"[A] tender story....an example of the beauty of the process and of the importance of family relationships." —The Horn Book

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