A Girl Named Mithra by Adl, Moujan

A little girl named Mithra, named after the Iranian god of light, recalls a Yalda celebration with her mother and describes the sights, sounds, and tastes of a magical winter solstice night. Mithra's story gives readers a joyful reminder of her namesake and what it represents--the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness. The story is about the power of hope, love, light, and poetry. The book includes a beautiful translation to Persian that can be enjoyed by those who can read or understand the language that so naturally lends itself to poetry. The book also includes an introduction that explains the history and customs of the Iranian celebration of the winter solstice, including a reference to the ancient poet Hafez. 
 

After the introduction, the story, written in rhyming couplets, begins with the following lines:
I was born on the longest and darkest night of the year.

In the velvety sky, stars sparkled with cheer.

My mother looked up to smile back at the moon.

She knew now that light would come soon.

The pines were draped in sequined gowns, 

Casting dots of light on the ground.
 

The story continues with Mithra's mother wrapping her in soft cloth, warming her by a glowing hearth, and giving her the traditional fruit of pomegranate. The goodness of the pomegranate enters her heart. They stay awake until the "sun's first blush" and her mother whispers in Mithra's ear "the words of an ancient poet whose love's felt far and near." The words give Mithra hope that goodness prevails and that she can set her heart asail. With hope in her heart, she walks through the world "with the light of the sun," spreading joy and love to everyone.

Moujan Adl is a Persian-American writer, teacher, and mother who loves sharing stories that connect cultures and generations. Her debut children's book introduces families to Yalda, the Persian celebration of the winter solstice. As a child of immigrants who wanted their children to embrace American values and also cherish their Persian heritage and culture, Moujan grew up celebrating traditions from both. Now, as a teacher in Corona del Mar, California, she sees every day how stories help children understand themselves and others. She hopes her writing inspires families to celebrate traditions--both old and new--that bring people closer together.