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A Knot Is Not a Tangle
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 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.
Here’s something to 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.
48 pages, Library Binding
First published November 25, 2025
1 person is currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Nayeri
31 books938 followersDaniel Nayeri is a writer and editor in New York City. He wrote and produced The Cult of Sincerity, the first feature film to be world-premiered by YouTube. He has had all kinds of jobs around books, including book repairman, literary agent, used bookstore clerk, children's librarian, Official Story-Time Reader Leader, editor, copy-editor, and even carpenter (making bookshelves). He's also a professional pastry chef. He loves Street Fighter 2, hates the word "foodie," and is an award-winning stuntman.
Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.
Daniel and his sister/co-writer Dina were both born in Iran and spent many young adult years in Europe. There they learned several languages between them and tried Frosted Flakes for the first time.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 7, 2026
A beautiful story of a family tradition to create a family rug. A grandmother works with the grandson to knot the design, the grandfather raises the sheep they make the yarn from. This would make a great read aloud to introduce the art of making rugs.
January 8, 2026
Daniel Nayeri is one of the most talented writers alive today. His newest picture book about a grandmother and grandson weaving a rug together is exemplary. The picture book is narrated by an unnamed Iranian child who is learning to weave a rug with his grandmother. His grandmother shares her experience weaving the rug they sit on, which is faded, but holds deep memories. The young boy expresses multiple times that their rug will be “perfect” or the “best ever,” but his grandmother gently corrects him. All rugs are valuable and serve a purpose and there is value in imperfection. She even teaches him how to add a “Persian flaw” to demonstrate her point further, saying: “Nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be. Our job is to make knots out of the tangles.”
The watercolor illustrations are bright, colorful, and detailed, especially on the pages that depict a rug made for a king. The setting of Isfahan, Iran, where Nayeri is from feels fully realized and rich. The entire process is depicted from caring for the sheep in the field to washing, carding, and spinning the wool; to planning out the design on graph paper; to weaving the threads on a loom. Every word feels carefully chosen and deliberate. Includes themes of family, traditions, and imperfection. This should be a first purchase for every library that serves young people. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
The watercolor illustrations are bright, colorful, and detailed, especially on the pages that depict a rug made for a king. The setting of Isfahan, Iran, where Nayeri is from feels fully realized and rich. The entire process is depicted from caring for the sheep in the field to washing, carding, and spinning the wool; to planning out the design on graph paper; to weaving the threads on a loom. Every word feels carefully chosen and deliberate. Includes themes of family, traditions, and imperfection. This should be a first purchase for every library that serves young people. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
December 28, 2025
Delicate watercolor illustrations filled with rich colors and expressive characters support a story about family traditions and perfection in this picture book [3.5 for me!]. The narrator, a young Persian boy, describes the many steps necessary in weaving a rug, a process that he is eager to learn. The wool must be sheared, washed, dyed, and dried before the weaving can begin. As he and his grandmother work together, even sketching out the pattern they will follow, he makes remarks about how perfect the rug will be. But when he tries his hand at weaving, his hands don't obey his impulses. With her help, he improves. But he's shocked when she removes a knot. Her words are so important for those of us who seek perfection, something that is impossible. "'This is the Persian flaw,' she says. 'Nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be. Our job is only to make knots out of the tangles' " (unpaged). The end result is beautiful, beautifully imperfect. Readers should take note of the Author's Note in the back matter, which discuss weaving but also the making of art and the role of an artist in our world--to "make beauty out of chaos, knots out of tangles, memories out of everyday chores" (unpaged). YES! I especially appreciated how the grandparents rein in their grandson's ambitions of perfection and superlatives. Add this well-written story to a collection about art or one about cultural practices and traditions.
January 15, 2026
The overall message of this book is just as beautiful as the illustrations in this book: IMPERFECTION IS EVERYWHERE. NOTHING AND NO ONE NEEDS TO BE PERFECT. WE TRY OUR BEST AND APPRECIATE THE EFFORT A D MEMORIES THAT ARE MADE.
I love the relationship among the boy narrator and his grandparents. The grandfather herds sheep and gives the wool to Grandma. Grandma and the boy card it, spin it (I do wish there was a ln illustration of spinning) and dye it.
At every turn, the boy uses words like "best" and "perfect" to which the Grandma issues wise words:
" if we give our best, then it will be good enough."
" This is how we make it with care."
She shows her grandson how to tie knots, just as her grandmother showed her.
The author even has beautiful words for the rug they have sat upon until now and are retiring: " Everything has a purpose. Even old and faded things.". Their rug was good enough to sit upon and eat but the ancient king had a magnificent rug that was not... perfect. It was " Right for its purpose, to welcome the people into the king's palace."
Nayeri has a way with words and this picture book is absolutely lovely. I highly recommend it for all ages.
(The author's note also explains knots per square inch and the different designs typical in different areas of Iran!)
I love the relationship among the boy narrator and his grandparents. The grandfather herds sheep and gives the wool to Grandma. Grandma and the boy card it, spin it (I do wish there was a ln illustration of spinning) and dye it.
At every turn, the boy uses words like "best" and "perfect" to which the Grandma issues wise words:
" if we give our best, then it will be good enough."
" This is how we make it with care."
She shows her grandson how to tie knots, just as her grandmother showed her.
The author even has beautiful words for the rug they have sat upon until now and are retiring: " Everything has a purpose. Even old and faded things.". Their rug was good enough to sit upon and eat but the ancient king had a magnificent rug that was not... perfect. It was " Right for its purpose, to welcome the people into the king's palace."
Nayeri has a way with words and this picture book is absolutely lovely. I highly recommend it for all ages.
(The author's note also explains knots per square inch and the different designs typical in different areas of Iran!)
October 15, 2025
This story is about a boy who helps his grandmother weave a new rug for their house. They have to do all the steps, starting with getting the wool from the sheep and dyeing it up to designing the rug and then threading the loom and doing the weaving. The story takes place in Iran (Persia) and has a wonderful message of pride in your work, doing your best, and the power of things you make yourself. Loved this one.
January 22, 2026
"Here's something to remember:
Even a rug can be a precious thing."
And this:
"All of this takes weeks, but in my memory,
it's one long wonderful day."
And:
"Nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be. Our job is only to make knots out of the tangles...beauty out of chaos...precious memories out of everyday chores. The opportunities are everywhere if you look with an open heart."
Themes: Iran, Middle East, art, culture
Ages: 1-5th+ grades
Pub year: 2025
Even a rug can be a precious thing."
And this:
"All of this takes weeks, but in my memory,
it's one long wonderful day."
And:
"Nothing in this world is perfect, and nothing should pretend to be. Our job is only to make knots out of the tangles...beauty out of chaos...precious memories out of everyday chores. The opportunities are everywhere if you look with an open heart."
Themes: Iran, Middle East, art, culture
Ages: 1-5th+ grades
Pub year: 2025
January 23, 2026
Sweet picture book about a Persian boy making a rug with his grandma. He learns that nothing in this world is perfect, and that is okay. The author's note was informative & included:
"It isn't the role of an artist to be perfect. An artist must simply make beauty out of chaos, knots out of tangles, memories out of everyday chores. The opportunities are everywhere if you look with an open heart."
Loved it!
"It isn't the role of an artist to be perfect. An artist must simply make beauty out of chaos, knots out of tangles, memories out of everyday chores. The opportunities are everywhere if you look with an open heart."
Loved it!
January 20, 2026
Beautiful picture book (where can I get a rug like that?) with exquisite watercolors to support a story that is very important to Nayeri. This made me want to examine Persian rugs more closely. It's just coincidental that I just finished a chapter book, Skylark, that included dying using different plants. It would be fun to include some weaving with students after using this book.
January 20, 2026
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?
November 28, 2025
.It’s a wonderful book that shows a tradition of Iran. We love learning about other cultures.
I didn’t know how persian rugs were made and all the work they required. We also looked at some videos because my 11 year old couldn’t quite get how the rugs were madeZ
I didn’t know how persian rugs were made and all the work they required. We also looked at some videos because my 11 year old couldn’t quite get how the rugs were madeZ
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December 2, 2025Having gained an appreciation from Everything Sad is Untrue for Nayeri’s love and respect for the art and heritage of Persian rugs, i enjoyed seeing that expertly translated into a beautiful and worthy story that conveys the same sentiments on a toddler/preschool level.
January 7, 2026
A Knot Is Not a Tangle is a thoughtful and engaging story that gently explores problem-solving, patience, and perspective. With warmth and clarity, it reminds readers that challenges can be untangled with care, understanding, and a little creativity.
January 23, 2026
This is SO good. I love the emphasis on care over perfection. This part reminded me of my own elders: "A fancy Persian rug can have a thousand knots in every square inch. I say, 'let's do the most knots ever.' My grandma says, 'if we do, it will take too long and cost too much to ever sit on."
November 14, 2025
"Everything has a purpose." A wonderful, reassuring book whether soothing disappointment after making a mistake or a pep after a rough day. I know I needed it.
December 5, 2025
Connection, pride in your work, patience and learning about one's heritage and family. 5 stars!
December 18, 2025
Beautifully told and vibrantly illustrated. Would recommend!
December 24, 2025
A Knot Is Not a Tangle is a tender story about a boy learning family traditions and the beauty of imperfection while making a Persian rug with his grandmother.
January 12, 2026
Interesting and informative! Now I understand why Persian rugs are so valuable.
January 12, 2026
I loved this book. I also enjoyed seeing a different style of drop spindle than the one I have. The back matter was fascinating.
January 16, 2026
Beautiful art and I got to learn about the history and purpose of Iranian carpets!
January 21, 2026
Beautiful illustrations and a nice telling of family and cultural traditions through the eyes of a young boy.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews