Know any good kids' books?

[notme]

My colleague is looking for recommendations for kids' books in Farsi, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. She is planning to use them in a public school in the United States, so they can't be overtly religious, though they can include historical or moral themes. I am asking here because I think there may be people here who speak/read Farsi with their children or had books read to them in Farsi as a child. 

Know any good kids books? Thanks. 

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

Salam 'Anecdotes of Pious Men" by Murtadha Mutahhari is a good example although just a selection of it's stories have been translated into english which it's Farsi version

"داستان راستان" has been published in two volumes which  75 stories in volume 1 & 50 stories  in volume 2 totally contain 125 stories have been published ; which it's not "overtly religious" anywayy you can receive many kids book Farsi/Persian in various digital formats in taaghche & ketabrah & Fidibo which contain Iranian stories & translation of foreign books .for kid & teenagers which their applications are available for android & ios & Mac & Windows .

Another classic Farsi kid's book is series of Good Stories for Good Children by Mehdi Azar Yazdi in 8 volumes which in similar fashion of  'Anecdotes of Pious Men" has been won UNESCO award in 1966 which contains simplified stories from multiple Farsi/Persian ancient sources which have been categorized in 8 volumes ; which are good for "public school in the United States," which also are not "overtly religious" but contains moral & religious stories for kids which volume 5 is stories from holy Quran & volume 8 is stories about 14 infalibles .

(قصه‌های خوب برای بچه‌های خوب مجموعه کتابی است به قلم مهدی آذر یزدی)

Mehdi Azaryazdi: The Father Iranian Child and Teenage Literature

Quote

Amazing prize winning stories written by Mehdi Azaryazdi (1921–2009) have won over the hearts of Iranians and non-Iranians for many years and as a result you can almost find no one in Iran who hasn’t heard of his works or truly enjoyed them in their childhood or even adulthood.

 

Quote

Mehdi Azaryazdi was one of the most famous Persian writers who achieved international fame through his numerous warm and loveable stories.

Mehdi Azaryazdi is known as the “Father of Iranian Children and Teenagers Literature”. In 2023, “Iranian Storytelling” was inscribed on the list of Iran’s intangible national heritage in the memory of Mehdi Azaryazdi, in a ceremony held at his home. Also, the day of his demise (July 8) in Iran is named the “National Day of Children and Teenagers Literature”.

Azaryazdi can be considered the first Iranian writer who tried to rewrite ancient Persian works for children and teenagers.

Quote

Personal life

[edit]

Noted author of children's books Mehdi Azar-Yazdi was born in 1921 in Yazd. His ancestors were among Zoroastrians who converted to Islam. He learned to read and write from his father and later continued his studies on his own. While a teenager, he spent his time reading books, including Quran, Mafatih-ul-Jinan, Masnavi, Saadi Shirazi's works, and Divan of Hafez.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehdi_Azar_Yazdi

Good Children (قصه‌های خوب برای بچه‌های خوب) written in eight volumes based on several works of Persian literature, including Kalila wa Dimna, Gulistan, Masnavi-e Ma'navi, Marzban-Nameh, Sinbad-Nameh, Qabus-Nameh, Maqalat of Shams Tabrizi, Jami'-ul-Hikayat, Siyasat-Nameh, and some stories from the Quran and the life of the Muhammad and The Fourteen Infallibles. The book won a UNESCO award in 1966.

Quote

Good Stories for Good Children has been translated into various languages, including Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, and Russian.

National and International Awards and Badges

Azaryazdi was honored by UNESCO in 1964 AD after writing the book “Good Stories for Good Children”. He was also awarded many times in recognition of his works, including three badges for the best book of the year by the “Children's Book Council”.

Quote

 The book “New Stories from Ancient Books” contains 10 series of stories derived from ancient Persian books presented in simple language for everyone to take pleasure in.

All the stories from this series have been derived from “Shams Tabrizi’s Writings”. In the translation process, I have made slight changes to the stories to help the English speaking audience feel closer to the events and characters. As our ancient books hold valuable and brilliant tales with a unique style of writing and storytelling, it is my pleasure to help present such a series to the world.

Besides English speaking readers, students studying English as a Second Language will also find this book interesting.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21303745-new-stories-from-ancient-books-the-main-subject---book-1

https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/مهدی_آذر_یزدی

https://ketabrah.com/author/13486-مهدی-آذر-یزدی

https://www.iranketab.ir/profile/7745-mehdi-azar-yazdi

https://koodaki.org/en/content/azar-yazdi-was-symbol-modesty-and-rebellion-childrens-culture-and-literature

https://artebox.org/arte-pedia/azaryazdi-01/

Books

https://azaryazdi.ir/دانلود-کتاب/
Books

https://artebox.org/azaryazdi-03/

(قصه‌های خوب برای بچه‌های خوب مجموعه کتابی است به قلم مهدی آذر یزدی)

https://shopipersia.com/product/good-stories-for-good-children-by-mehdi-azar-yazdi/

 

https://shopipersia.com/product/good-stories-for-good-children-by-mehdi-azar-yazdi/   (Deliver to United States (US) Handling: 7 days, ships sooner if possible )

Shipping Cost /

€100.00

Final Shipping Cost)

• Book Cover Type: Paperback
• Language(s): Persian (Farsi)
• ISBN: 9789643005450
• Persian Title: کتاب قصه های خوب برای بچه های خوب اثر مهدی آذریزدی

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/107696355-good-stories-for-good-kids-8-vols-set---

https://www.faraketab.ir/book/138971-مجموعه-قصه-های-خوب-برای-بچه-های-خوب

https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/قصه‌های_خوب_برای_بچه‌های_خوب

https://en.icro.ir/Celebrities/Mehdi-Azaryazdi:-The-Father-Iranian-Child-and-Teenage-Literature-

https://peoplepill.com/i/mahdi-azar-yazdi/

 

Children's Books in Persian

https://shopipersia.com/category/children/

https://taaghche.com/category/کتاب-داستان-کودک-و-نوجوانان   (Story books for kids & teenagers)

https://taaghche.com/blog/1402/04/12/کتاب-مذهبی-برای-نوجوانان/ 9   (Religious story books for  teenagers)

https://ketabrah.com/books/کتاب-کودک (Story books for kids )

https://fidibo.com/ebooks/kid  (Story books for kids )

https://fidibo.com/ebooks/teenager ( Story books for  teenagers)

Quote

Anecdotes of pious men won UNESCO Award, in 1965.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotes_of_pious_men

https://fa.wikishia.net/view/داستان_راستان_(کتاب)

https://noo.rs/obkYm

https://ketabrah.com/book/22949-کتاب-داستان-راستان-جلد-1

https://lib.eshia.ir/50002/1/2

https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://ketabesabz.com/go/b13408 دانلود کتاب داستان راستان

https://nbookcity.com/book/کتاب-داستان-راستان-pdf

https://ketabresan.net/book/داستان-راستان-2

https://book.iranseda.ir/detailsalbum/?g=32237

 

 

Edited October 22, 2025 by Ashvazdanghe

[Ashvazdanghe]

Addendum

During his visit to Yazd province in 2007, the Leader of the Revolution, when he realized that he was also present at the meeting, praised him and made some remarks about him. The text of the Leader of the Revolution’s statements is as follows: The second point is about Mr. Azar Yazdi, when now have been informed that he is sitting in this meeting and apparently has been also sick and had worked hard despite his illness and had come. I saw him being praised on a television program a while ago. Although I have little time, since I turned on the TV and saw that he has been being praised, I sat down for that program and listened to his own words. He said there that during those years before the revolution, no one had thanked or appreciated this hardworking and dedicated man in the slightest. That program that I saw had something on my mind and I wanted to tell him about it at some point, but I thought it was no longer possible and impractical; where can we go to visit Mr. Azar Yazdi now! Now, by chance, he is here tonight. The point is that I consider myself partly indebted to this man and this man's book for taking care of my children. When his book came out - at first I thought two volumes, three volumes, by the time I found out, it had been published; "Good Stories for Good Children" - I went and leafed through it. Our children were approaching adolescence - that is, approaching puberty - and it was also the era of the tyrant, and all factors were moving towards misleading the minds and hearts of the young. I wanted something that our young people could be guided by and that would also have appeal. Well, there were many good books. I used to write a list of suggested books and distribute them among young students and high school students, but for young children, we were left empty-handed, until I found his book. I looked and saw that this was, in many ways, in two or three ways, exactly what I was looking for. I think two or three volumes had been published at that time, and I bought them. Then I searched for them until I found the fifth or sixth volume, I don't know for sure, I don't remember. Gradually, it was published, and I went and bought it for my children. Not only my children, but also within the circle of family and friends, wherever I could reach them and they had children who were suitable for this matter, I introduced this book to them.

I wanted to express my gratitude in return. He filled a void in a period of time for the long cultural chain of this country. This work is valuable. May Allah accepts this service from you - Mr. Mehdi Azar Yazdi! - and may you be rewarded.

These verbal praises and such are not the reward for work done with sincerity; Allah must and will reward sincere work.

Statements of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution in a meeting with the elites of Yazd Province

https://farsi.khamenei.ir/book-content?id=19262

https://farsi.khamenei.ir/speech-content?id=7356

https://farsi.khamenei.ir/tag-content?id=2259

سخنان رهبر انقلاب درباره دینش به آقای نویسنده آقای مهدی آذر یزدی !!!

The words of the Leader of the Revolution about his  being indebted to the writer Mr. Mehdi Azar Yazdi!!!

https://www.aparat.com/v/c17e81a

The writer to whom the revolutionary leader has been indebted [to him], Mehdi/Mahdi Azar Yazdi

نویسنده‌ای که رهبر انقلاب مدیون او بود، مهدی آذر یزدی

https://www.aparat.com/v/t42jw5g

Edited October 22, 2025 by Ashvazdanghe

[notme]

@Ashvazdanghe this is excellent! I will send this information to my colleague. Thank you.  

[The Green Knight]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamzanama

This. Its not overtly Islamic since its fiction. It has our culture element. It has appreciable limits. Its expansive. It teaches what kids should know and it will block all the zionist rubbish they want to put into kids' heads. It is better than Tolkien's and different. If it can be revived and recirculated that will be a big thing.