When I Colored in the World Hardcover – Picture Book, May 28, 2019

This is another simple and beautiful story where a child uses crayons to colour and change the world. Each page the child uses a colour to turn something negative in the world into something positive: yellow turns despair into hope; silver turns drought into rain; purple turns crying into laughter; light blue turns war into peace and so it goes on page after page. It is a message throughout that offers opportunities for discussion at each turn of the page with endless possibilities for children to use their own colours to create their own worlds of hope and a kinder place to be. This is definitely a book I would use for philosophical enquiry and to encourage creativity. - English Association An unusual and deceptively simple picture book that imagines a world without discrimination, poverty or inequality. Beautifully imagined illustrations and thoughtful text give glimpses into the life of other cultures and explore the fabulous colours of the Earth. - Book Trust This is a story that is told with poetic simplicity, offering beautiful images but also raising questions to set thoughts going in readers' imaginations as a child uses an eraser and crayons to bring happier colours to the world, replacing bad with good. A wonderfully positive, life-affirming book which takes negative topics and turns them into positives. A great basis for discussion. - Parents in Touch A child sets about transforming the world with a simple box of crayons, an eraser . . . and a healthy dose of imagination and creativity. In a story that combines vibrant illustrations and simple poetic text, boredom becomes children playing under a blue sky; drought becomes big silver drops of rain and beautiful umbrellas; hunger is transformed into a lush green field of wheat. This is an uplifting book, full of hope, joy, beauty and peace. - Kids Book Review

A lyrical exploration of the power of colors. When I Colored the World prompts readers to imagine that silver can make it rain, orange can turn winter to spring, and purple can transform tears into laughter. This brightly illustrated picture book will be a great conversation starter for kids of all ages. (Jessica Young, author of My Blue Is Happy)

"I love this poetic book. It is thoughtful and inspiring. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful. They draw the reader into the story. "When I Colored in the World" provokes conversations about how we can change and make the world a better place. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages." - Story Wraps Blog

"A beautiful story with simple text, lots of colorful imagination, and a hopeful message to make the world a better place...A nice read aloud for a creative poetry and/or art lesson using colors to express emotions. Also good for a kindness/empathy/global citizen world peace collection."

Ahmadreza Ahmadi is one of the greatest Iranian contemporary poets. He has written numerous children’s stories, some of which have won major literary awards in Iran. In 2010 he was among the five shortlisted nominees for the Hans Christian Andersen award. His books for Tiny Owl also include Alive Again (2015). Ehsan Abdollahi is an illustrator and animator from Iran. He teaches at Tehran Art University. Ehsan is inspired by the environment and fabrics of South Iran (where he was born), and uses bold colours and rich patterns in his illustrations.