Ryan Bani Tahmaseb

An unforgettable collection of twenty dramatic tales of Persian deities and heroes, both mortal and immortal, fighting in the name of goodness, chaos, beauty, love, and evil. You've heard of mythological characters like Theseus, Medusa, and Thor, but have you heard about Anahita, Jamshid, and Rostam? In this engrossing anthology of twenty stories, middle grade readers will be introduced to the strongest heroes, most legendary creatures, and most vicious demons of Persian mythology. From Atar, the god of fire, going head-to-head with the three-headed demon-dragon Azhi Dahaka, to Anahita, the goddess of war and water, rescuing mortals from monstrous divs, Persian Mythology retells some of the most intense sagas that served as the foundation of early Persian religion, passed down from one generation to the next in the form of oral traditions. Persia is the area in West Asia known today as modern Iran. Author Ryan Bani Tahmaseb and award-winning illustrator Reza Dalvand celebrate the rich history and incredible tradition of Persian storytelling in this epic collection.

School libraries stand at the forefront of innovation in education. Yet many teachers and administrators do not know what to make of them, much less how to best utilize their varied and valuable resources. What if school librarians, whose field of practice has transformed in the past few decades, could show us excellent models for innovative teaching? What if the vital adaptations that school librarians have made could help other educators evolve? What if the lessons learned in the library could be scaled up to benefit all fields of practice and all students? The 21st Century School Library takes an in-depth look at the paradigm-shifting work that school libraries are doing to advance student learning, professional development, and school-wide engagement. It explains how library-led, forward-thinking initiatives can guide all educators – teachers and administrators alike – toward transformative educational practices. It is an inspiring survey of 21st century school libraries whose guiding principles also serve as a blueprint for innovation in K-12 education. School libraries – and all the educators associated with them – offer a compelling vision for the future of K-12 education. This book is a roadmap for how to make this vision a reality.