The Teacher of Nomad Land

Daniel Nayeri's award-winning historical fiction transports readers to Iran in 1941, during World War II. After losing their father, young Babak and his little sister Sana embark on a courageous journey to find nomadic tribes, with Babak determined to follow in his father's footsteps as a teacher. Their trek becomes a race for survival when they encounter a Jewish boy hiding from a Nazi spy. This page-turning adventure masterfully weaves together themes of grief, resilience, empathy, and the power of education against a backdrop of global conflict and cultural discovery. It's a compelling story for children aged 4-11, offering a unique perspective on a lesser-known aspect of WWII.

Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature Page-turning WW2 hidden history masterfully told by award winner Daniel Nayeri 1941. The German armies are storming across Europe. Iran is a neutral country occupied by British forces on one side, Soviet forces on another. Soldiers fill the teahouses of Isfahan. Nazi spies roam the alleyways Babak and his little sister have just lost their father. Now orphans, fearing they will be separated, the two devise a plan. Babak will take up his father's old job as a teacher to the nomads. With a chalkboard strapped to Babak's back, and a satchel full of textbooks, the siblings set off to find the nomad tribes as they make their yearly trek across the mountains. On the treacherous journey they meet a Jewish boy, hiding from a Nazi spy. And suddenly, they are all in a race for survival. Against the backdrop of World War II comes an epic adventure in the faraway places. Through the cacophony of soldiers, tanks, and planes, can young hearts of different creeds and nations learn to find a common language? Master storyteller Daniel Nayeri keeps you on the edge of your seat, uncertain to the very end.