The Sweetest of Lemons by Daniel Nayeri ill. Rahele Jomepour Bell

ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Jul 2026

Publisher: Levine Querido ISBN: 9781646145041

“Nayeri’s prose style has a timeless feel that is especially noticeable in his characters, which makes this new fairy tale seem like one that’s been told for generations upon generations. Notes from both the author and the illustrator, both as beautifully written and as intriguing as the story itself, wrap up this wonderfully woven picture book. Nayeri touches on well-known storytellers and fairy tale traditions around the world, while Jomepour Bell shines light on the Persian art and culture that inspired his colors, textures and designs. If you need more literary rabbit holes to follow, The Sweetest of Lemons contains innumerable curiosities.” BookPage “Eloquently written text set in striped blocks distinguishes Abbas’ narrative from the boy’s own journey, as do Bell’s elegant illustrative shifts between gouache and collage, all in resonant jewel tones and incorporating Persian motifs. Notes from both the author and illustrator detail their deep personal connections to this work, which will have immediate appeal to road-tripping families… Impeccably woven.” KIRKUS “Endpapers show the boy’s grandfather, the boy, and a flock of sheep, pointing to another story, yet to be told. Nayeri and Bell experiment with narrative form, presenting visually rich interwoven tales that will surely captivate readers. Author and illustrator notes provide information about Iranian approaches to storytelling and art.” HornBook “A smartly braided story that’s fully invested in its own expansive telling.” PublishersWeekly

Founded in 2019 by Arthur A. Levine, Levine Querido is a dedicated independent publisher committed to discovering and nurturing diverse, underrepresented voices in children’s literature. Levine Querido offers a diverse range of children’s and adult books, publishing approximately 30 new titles annually.

See more Levine Querido titles here : https://www.levinequerido.com/

This recent title from the imprint is a beautiful paean to storytelling and the bonds of family.

Based on powerful memories Nayeri has of visiting his grandfather, this story-within-a-story features 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?

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.

Award-winning author Daniel Nayeri, who was born in Iran and immigrated to Oklahoma as a refugee, captivated readers with his poignant memoir Everything Sad Is Untrue (Printz Award Winner), the epic adventure The Many Assassinations of Samir, The Seller of Dreams (Newbery Award Honor), and the World War II novel The Teacher of Nomad Land (National Book Award). A former publisher, editor, and pastry chef, he now lives on the East Coast. Rahele Jomepour Bell is a picture book illustrator who grew up in Iran, listening to her Grandma’s fairy tales (which she has never been able to find in a book) and experiencing the devastation of war. She holds an MFA in integrated visual arts and is an assistant professor at the Kansas City Art Institute. She is happiest creating illustrations that make the imagination travel, take a new look at old ideas, and reaffirm the viewer of their natural place in this world.

Follow Daniel Nayeri on Instagram:

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Follow the illustrator there too: https://www.instagram.com/rahele_studio/

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Originally published at https://www.achuka.co.uk on July 1, 2026.