Daniel Nayeri

A groundbreaking hero's journey from National Book Award and Newbery Honor winner, Daniel Nayeri! A young boy, a mouse, and a dog set out to find their purpose in this fairy tale adventure told in an innovative visual format that offers a one-of-a-kind reading experience. This is the tale of a boy named Nothing the Younger, who lives in a city on the mountaintop of a far-off and long-lost country. Everyone calls him Ing, and while he has no parents, he does have two friends: a dog, Pöppy, and a mouse, mOmO. When King Cyrus calls for a hero to find and defeat the Giantess ravaging the countryside, the king's son, the Wander Prince, answers the call and Ing decides to follow. Along the journey, Ing (and his friends) must traverse the Land of the Dead, survive an encounter with the terrifying wimmelworm, and discover the truth of his mother and father . . . so that he may find what he's been seeking all along—his best purpose. The text on each page snakes, climbs, jumps, and explodes into shapes and forms that unravel the story. This Is a Door is full of fun surprises and poignant musings that flip the classic hero's journey on its head—all in an artistic and inventive package that is a wonder to behold.

In this emotionally impactful pantoum picture book from Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy’s father helps him navigate his larger-than-life feelings by engaging his five senses. A fury of feelings. A boy lost in hurt. A father always there for him. When a young boy is asked to clean his room, fear, sadness, shame, confusion, and anger overwhelm him, transforming his house into an unfamiliar maze where monsters lurk. To find his way, he’ll need to engage his five senses. Thankfully, his father is there to guide him. Beautifully illustrated and masterfully written as a cyclical poetic form called a pantoum, Drawn Inward explores the complexities of anxiety and how—through the love and support of those around us—we can find the strength to move forward with hope, clarity, and peace.

Printz Medalist and Newbery Honor winner Daniel Nayeri crafts this beautiful paean to storytelling and the bonds of family. Based on powerful memories of Nayeri visiting his grandfather, this story-within-a-story brings a young boy in a hot car ride across the desert. The destination is an oasis, where gardens perfume the air, and tales are lovingly told. Here is the gate to a magical world full of princesses, valiant brothers, dangerous giants, and one perfect, enchanted lemon. Will any of the brothers be able to foil the giant, retrieve the lemon, and free the princess? In the warm embrace of Nayeri's storytelling, readers will lean into the enchantment until the story's end. Rahele Jhompeur Bell creates the two gorgeous visual strands of the tale-one inspired by the frames and jewel-like colors of Persian miniatures, the other a tender, richly textured rendering of a contemporary family. Together, the author and artist cast a delicious spell that, like the singular lemon at the heart of the story, is so sweet it can cure sadness itself.

Enter the Bizarre Bazaar, a phantasmagorical graphic novel series sure to enchant or entrap its curious customers! In this spine-tingling mystery, there's evil lurking in the shadows just outside the Buford family farm!Lucy and Frida Buford have never stepped foot outside their family farm in the Carolina Inner Banks. It's the dead of July, and in the midst of yet another boring summer making jam for the family business, the girls are clamoring to be taken to the elusive town they've never been allowed to visit. Their father has always said that the outside world is a dangerous place, but danger is closer to home than they even know.There's something in the nearby woods uprooting trees, scaring fish from the water, and scratching at Lucy's window in the middle of the night. Lucy can't shake the feeling that there's a monster out and about-one with two pointy fangs who only comes out at night.It's up to these two sisters to discover what this monster wants. But the further they stray from home, the weirder things become. What's really going on beyond the Buford family farm?Uncover the bizarre (and more!) in this sinister graphic novel series sure to bring chills and thrills!

Enter the Bizarre Bazaar, a phantasmagorical graphic novel series sure to enchant or entrap its curious customers In this spine-tingling mystery, there's evil lurking in the shadows just outside the Buford family farm Lucy and Frida Buford have never stepped foot outside their family farm in the Carolina Inner Banks. It's the dead of July, and in the midst of yet another boring summer making jam for the family business, the girls are clamoring to be taken to the elusive town they've never been allowed to visit. Their father has always said that the outside world is a dangerous place, but danger is closer to home than they even know. There's something in the nearby woods uprooting trees, scaring fish from the water, and scratching at Lucy's window in the middle of the night. Lucy can't shake the feeling that there's a monster out and about--one with two pointy fangs who only comes out at night. It's up to these two sisters to discover what this monster wants. But the further they stray from home, the weirder things become. What's really going on beyond the Buford family farm? Uncover the bizarre (and more ) in this sinister graphic novel series sure to bring chills and thrills READ MORE IN THE BIZARRE BAZAAR SERIES: Mirror Town Down a Dark Path

In these hilarious stories by some of the top authors of middle grade fiction today, each young character is coping with a minor superpower—while also discovering their power to change themselves and their community, find their voice, and celebrate what makes them unique.Everyone knows that superheroes are supposed to have awesome powers like strength or invisibility or flight. But what happens when you’re a mostly regular kid . . . who’s just a little bit super?In these hilarious and thought-provoking stories from today’s top middle grade authors, a group of kids are each coping with a recently discovered minor superpower. One can shape-shift—but only part of her body, and only on Mondays. Another can always tell when an avocado is perfectly ripe. One can even hear the thoughts of animals in the pet store—which can be about as heart-tugging as you might imagine. It’s hard enough to be in middle school even without some weird ability, but these kids not only find their way to owning their unique powers and potential, they use them to change things for the better . . . and getting there with them is half the fun!These playful tales prompt readers to consider what their own superpower might be, and how they can use it."Award-winning contributors keep delightfully inclusive and accomplished company in this emotionally grounded, compassionate collection. . . . These are not your run-of-the-mill, cape-and-tights-clad superheroes. These are kids with relatable struggles learning to embrace that quirky bit of themselves that makes them unique." —ALA Booklist (starred review)Written by Pablo Cartaya, Nikki Grimes, Leah Henderson, Jarrett Krosoczka, Remy Lai, Kyle Lukoff, Meg Medina, Daniel Nayeri, Linda Sue Park, Mitali Perkins, Pam Muñoz Ryan, Gary D. Schmidt, Brian Young, and Ibi Zoboi; coedited by Leah Henderson and Gary D. Schmidt.

Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri 1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways. Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains. On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival. Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language? Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.

Enter the Bizarre Bazaar, a phantasmagorical new graphic novel series sure to enchant or entrap its curious customers! In this first twisted tale, a boy stumbles-literally-into Mirror Town, a world where he gets everything he's ever wanted...or so he thinks.No one ever pays attention to twelve-year-old Abel Azari: not his parents, not the cool kids at school, and certainly not his crush, Ginny Mendoza. To them, he's always been practically invisible.That all changes the day he discovers a peculiar mirror in his neighbor's garage. But this isn't any old mirror, as Abel finds out soon enough when he accidentally falls through it.What waits for him on the other side is a world just like his, except something is...off. Suddenly, his busy parents are spending every minute with him, his classmates treat him like a king, and now the girl he's been crushing on wants to hang out? It's the life Abel's always dreamed of; how could he possibly go back to the way things were before?But not everything-or everyone-is as it seems. Mirror Town hides evil secrets, and Abel will have to unravel them fast before he ends up trapped there forever.

Enter the Bizarre Bazaar, a phantasmagorical graphic novel series sure to enchant or entrap its curious customers In this first twisted tale, a boy stumbles--literally--into Mirror Town, a world where he gets everything he's ever wanted...or so he thinks. No one ever pays attention to twelve-year-old Abel Azari: not his parents, not the cool kids at school, and certainly not his crush, Ginny Mendoza. To them, he's always been practically invisible. That all changes the day he discovers a peculiar mirror in his neighbor's garage. But this isn't any old mirror, as Abel finds out soon enough when he accidentally falls through it. What waits for him on the other side is a world just like his, except something is...off. Suddenly, his busy parents are spending every minute with him, his classmates treat him like a king, and now the girl he's been crushing on wants to hang out? It's the life Abel's always dreamed of; how could he possibly go back to the way things were before? But not everything--or everyone--is as it seems. Mirror Town hides evil secrets, and Abel will have to unravel them fast before he ends up trapped there forever. READ MORE IN THE BIZARRE BAZAAR SERIES: Mirror Town Down a Dark Path

In this enthralling and emotional palindrome picture book by Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller, a young boy grieving the loss of his mother embarks on a lushly fantastical adventure that illuminates what remains when our loved ones are gone.All aloneHe was not so brave…His heart needed to knowThe answer.In this lyrical, heartfelt story, a young boy who’s lost all hope braves the dark forest to ask, “Mom, were you glad you were Mom?” Gorgeously illustrated, Drawn Onward gently guides readers through the depths of grief and provides comfort and hope to those who seek answers when it feels like all is lost.PRAISE FOR DRAWN ONWARD:An Indie Next PickA Junior Library Guild SelectionAn NPR Best Books of the Year pickA Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2024

WINNER, MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARDWINNER, CHRISTOPHER AWARDWINNER, MIDDLE EAST BOOK AWARDWALTER AWARD HONORNational BestsellerNPR Best of the YearNew York Times Best of the YearAmazon Best of the YearBooklist Editors' ChoiceBookPage Best of the YearPublishers Weekly Best of the YearWall Street Journal Best of the YearToday.com Best of the YearNECBA Windows & Mirrors Selection "A modern masterpiece."-New York Times "Supple, sparkling and original."-Wall Street Journal "Mesmerizing."-TODAY.com "This book could change the world."-BookPage "Like nothing else you've read or ever will read."-Linda Sue Park "It hooks you right from the opening line."-NPR ? "A modern epic."-Kirkus Reviews, starred review ? "A rare treasure of a book."-Publishers Weekly (starred) ? "A story that soars."-The Bulletin (starred) ? "At once beautiful and painful."-School Library Journal (starred) ? "Raises the literary bar in children's lit."-Booklist (starred) ? "Poignant and powerful."-Foreword Reviews (starred) ? "One of the most extraordinary books of the year."-BookPage (starred)A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it? "A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee," Nayeri writes early in the novel. In an Oklahoman middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family's history, stretching back years, decades, and centuries. At the core is Daniel's story of how they became refugees-starting with his mother's vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense,and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police, bribing their way onto a plane-to-anywhere. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S. Implementing a distinct literary style and challenging western narrative structures, Nayeri deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. A tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.- Daniel is a major force and one of the youngest publishers in the industry. - He's an #OwnVoices author, public speaker, and storyteller. - A pulled-from-the headlines immigrant story. - Thematically relevant as immigration stories take center stage in politics, news, and media in 2020. - Daniel challenges how we tell stories by using traditional Persian folk tales - A fantastic literary whirlwind that questions western narrative structures.

NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER BEST OF THE YEAR: NPR - Booklist - School Library Journal - Chicago Public Library - Evanston Public Library - Kirkus - Wall Street Journal The Silk Road comes to life in this picaresque epic adventure with twists and turns and a wonderful surprise ending from Printz Medalist Daniel Nayeri This is the tale of an exciting journey along the Silk Road with a young Monk and his newfound guardian, Samir, a larger than life character and the so-called "Seller of Dreams". The man is a scammer; his biggest skill being the ability to talk his way into getting what he wants. While that talking did save Monkey's life, it has left a lot of people furious with Samir-- furious enough to hire assassins. Monkey decides to try and save Samir from the attempts on his life--as a way to pay off his debt If he can save Samir six times, he'll be a free man...but will they all survive that long? Fans of Salman Rushdie's Haroun and The Sea of Stories and The Little Prince will fall in love with the bond between Monkey and Samir--in this swashbuckling all-ages page-turner from national bestseller Daniel Nayeri and featuring full-color illustrations from Daniel Miyares. P R A I S E "Adventurous, funny and nimble. Daniel Nayeri understands this relationship between storytelling and magic, and finds every opportunity to celebrate it. " --TheNew York Times "Daniel Nayeri and artist Daniel Miyares conjure a richly colored 11th-century realm of merchants and swindlers, camels and donkeys, caravanserai and spice bazaars, and the gaudiest array of mercenaries ever assembled in a book for young readers." --The Wall Street Journal 4 STARRED REVIEWS ★"An epic ­adventure with an enduring message about love and family." -- School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Filled with the multicultural hustle and bustle of the Silk Road, enlivened by the unpredictable nature of unreliable storytellers, and adorned with whimsical, colorful illustrations, this is a strange, wondrous, and creative tale. Can family be found along the Silk Road, or will everyone ultimately betray you? An enticing taste of a rich historical world." --Kirkus (starred) ★ "Readers will find more than expected, including tender philosophies, complex characterizations, heaps of humor, a masterful twist, and most importantly, just a great story, beautifully told." --Booklist (starred) ★ "Blends playful humor, solid pacing, and fully realized characters into a witty, assassin-studded traveler's yarn that also serves as a memorable, lively portrait of the 11th-century Silk Road." --Publishers Weekly (starred) "Nayeri's immersive writing style brings a you-are-there energy to the depiction of the harsh but gorgeous environment of the Silk Road, and an informative author's note further details the geography of the trail, its economic and social value, and the many people who traversed it. The book ends with a simple but profound reminder that love comes in many forms, it is almost always messy and unpredictable, and it is almost always worth every effort toward it." --BCCB "Daniel Nayeri has a gift. The child that reads this will not forget it, and how many books that come out for this age range can say the same? Is there anything else out there like it? I will simply say this: If you hand this book to someone, they will definitely have an opinion of it. You may, in fact, end up loving it in the end, or cursing it to the heavens. A tome with a soul tied inextricably to that of its titular character. Better read it." --Betsy Bird, SLJ's Fuse 8 Blog

Written entirely on an iPhone, this quartet of YA novellas by Another Pan and Another Faust author Daniel Nayeri showcases four different genres. This bold collection of novellas by Another series author Daniel Nayeri features four riveting tales. These modern riffs on classic genres will introduce young adult readers to a broad range of writing styles that explore universally compelling themes such as identity and belonging, betrayal and friendship, love and mortality. Straw House: A Western sizzling with suspense, set in a land where a rancher grows soulless humans and a farmer grows living toys. Wood House: This science-fiction tale plunges the reader into a future where reality and technology blend imperceptibly, and a teenage girl must race to save the world from a nano-revolution that a corporation calls "ReCreation Day." Brick House: This detective story set in modern NYC features a squad of "wish police" and a team of unlikely detectives. Blow: A comedic love story told by none other than Death himself, portrayed here as a handsome and charismatic hero who may steal your heart in more ways than one. With humor, suspense, and relatable prose, this hip and cutting-edge collection dazzles.

A National Indie BestsellerAn NPR Best Book of the YearA New York Times Best Book of the YearAn Amazon Best Book of the YearA Booklist Editors' ChoiceA BookPage Best Book of the YearA NECBA Windows & Mirrors SelectionA Publishers Weekly Best Book of the YearA Wall Street Journal Best Book of the YearA Today.com Best of the Year PRAISE A modern masterpiece.--The New York Times Book Review Supple, sparkling and original. --The Wall Street Journal Mesmerizing.--TODAY.com This book could change the world.--BookPage Like nothing else you've read or ever will read.--Linda Sue Park It hooks you right from the opening line.--NPR SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS ★ A modern epic.--Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ A rare treasure of a book. --Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ A story that soars. --The Bulletin, starred review ★ At once beautiful and painful.--School Library Journal, starred review ★ Raises the literary bar in children's lit. --Booklist, starred review ★ Poignant and powerful. --Foreword Reviews, starred review ★ One of the most extraordinary books of the year. --BookPage, starred review A sprawling, evocative, and groundbreaking autobiographical novel told in the unforgettable and hilarious voice of a young Iranian refugee. It is a powerfully layered novel that poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it? A patchwork story is the shame of the refugee, Nayeri writes early in the novel. In an Oklahoman middle school, Khosrou (whom everyone calls Daniel) stands in front of a skeptical audience of classmates, telling the tales of his family's history, stretching back years, decades, and centuries. At the core is Daniel's story of how they became refugees--starting with his mother's vocal embrace of Christianity in a country that made such a thing a capital offense, and continuing through their midnight flight from the secret police, bribing their way onto a plane-to-anywhere. Anywhere becomes the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy, and then finally asylum in the U.S. Implementing a distinct literary style and challenging western narrative structures, Nayeri deftly weaves through stories of the long and beautiful history of his family in Iran, adding a richness of ancient tales and Persian folklore. Like Scheherazade of One Thousand and One Nights in a hostile classroom, Daniel spins a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (a true story) is a tale of heartbreak and resilience and urges readers to speak their truth and be heard.

At the front of a middle school classroom in Oklahoma, a boy named Khosrou (whom everyone calls "Daniel") stands, trying to tell a story. His story. But no one believes a word he says. To them he is a dark-skinned, hairy-armed boy with a big butt whose lunch smells funny; who makes things up and talks about poop too much.But Khosrou's stories, stretching back years, and decades, and centuries, are beautiful, and terrifying, from the moment his family fled Iran in the middle of the night with the secret police moments behind them, back to the sad, cement refugee camps of Italy.and further back to the fields near the river Aras, where rain-soaked flowers bled red like the yolk of sunset burst over everything, and further back still to the Jasmine-scented city of Isfahan.We bounce between a school bus of kids armed with paper clip missiles and spitballs to the heroines and heroes of Khosrou's family's past, who ate pastries that made people weep and cry "Akh, Tamar!" and touched carpets woven with precious gems.Like Scheherazade in a hostile classroom, Daniel weaves a tale to save his own life: to stake his claim to the truth. And it is (a true story).It is Daniel's.

Sasha's father sells magic potions. There's only one problem: his potions don't work. In order to keep the family shop open, Sasha has to take magic into her own hands. When greedy Vadim Gentry orders a potion of persuasion from the Juicy Gizzard, Sasha is suspicious. But it's not until he slips it into Papa's drink and orders him to sell the shop that Sasha realizes the problem: If Papa says no, Vadim will know their potions don't work, but if Papa says yes, they'll lose the shop forever Either way, Sasha has a big problem to fix.

Sasha's father sells magic potions. There's only one problem: his potions don't work. In order to keep the family shop open, Sasha has to take magic into her own hands. When greedy Vadim Gentry orders a potion of persuasion from the Juicy Gizzard, Sasha is suspicious. But it's not until he slips it into Papa's drink and orders him to sell the shop that Sasha realizes the problem: If Papa says no, Vadim will know their potions don't work, but if Papa says yes, they'll lose the shop forever Either way, Sasha has a big problem to fix.