Monsters in the Moonlight: A Yalda Night Adventure

K-Gr 2–Two round-face, adorable, yet evil-intending, monsters do all they can to ruin a Yalda Night celebration. The Persian celebration of the winter solstice features sweet fruits such as watermelon, along with poetry, reading, and gathering family in a warm space to mark the longest night of the year. Two divs, Choori and Shooli, are sent out by their mother to find a celebration and “stomp, steal, and rip apart to destroy their Yalda Night.” The rosy-cheeked, round-bodied yellow demons head off in search of such a gathering and, despite their best efforts, find the celebration is more fun than they could have imagined. Instead of ruining the evening, they join in on the festivities. Digital illustrations full of color and cheer capture the sweet divs, the family overcoming all the obstacles thrown their way, and a snowy winter night being thoroughly enjoyed by all.