A Knot Is Not a Tangle Hardcover by Daniel Nayeri; illustrated by Vesper Stamper

Product Details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (2025-11-25)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 48 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780593809709
• Item Weight: 453.6 grams
• Dimensions: 9.31 x 11.25 x 0.41 cm

Knots are necessary and imperfection is a gift in this poignant picture book about an Iranian boy learning to make a new family rug with his grandmother, from an award-winning duo.

Here’s something to remember: Even a rug can be a precious thing.

One morning, a young boy is woken up early by his grandmother. It’s time to make a new rug for the family. Together, they wash and dye the wool. When it’s time to knot the threads, the young boy grows nervous. He wants to make it perfect. But why aren’t the colors right? And why can’t he weave as swiftly as his grandmother?

In this lyrical picture book about imperfection, tradition, and togetherness, A Knot is Not a Tangle explores the memories woven into one family's Persian rug, and is a gentle reminder of imperfection's greatest gifts.

About the Author

Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age eight with his family. He is the author of several books for young readers, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, and The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor Award. He lives in the US with his wife and son.

Vesper Stamper is the author and illustrator of several books. Her illustrated picture books include The Greatest (September 2024), The Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, and Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. Her YA debut, What the Night Sings was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and a Morris Award Finalist. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts. She teaches illustration at School of Visual Art.