A Knot is not a Tangle

This quiet, thoughtful picture book is told from the point of view of an unnamed Iranian child learning to weave a rug with his grandmother. The soft watercolour illustrations, rich in colour and emotion, beautifully capture their time together.

As they weave the new rug, the boy is eager and proud, often saying their new rug will be “perfect” or “the best ever.” Each time, his grandmother gently guides him to see things differently. She explains that every rug has value, that each one serves a purpose, and that there is beauty in what isn’t flawless. To make her point, she even teaches him how to add a small “Persian flaw,” reminding him, “Nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be. Our job is to make knots out of the tangles.”

What stays with you is the heart of the book: imperfection is all around us, and that’s okay. Nothing and no one needs to be perfect. What matters is trying your best, appreciating the effort, and treasuring the memories made along the way. What a lovely book!