An enduring tale about two young children who share a courtyard and are separated by the activities of war. We often forget the casualties that are lost not only in physical lives but in the growing up of our children in war-torn countries. (Ages 5-8)

Nikoo Yahyazadeh’s Yasi and Mina’s Pomegranate Tree (9781534113237, $18.99) receives inviting illustrations by Serineh Eliasian as it surveys the rigors of friendship tested in Iran by two best friends who love a pomegranate tree.

Their childhood is impacted by life in a war-torn environment as Iran wars with Iraq, forcing the friends to face parental decisions that impact their lives.

This lovely story of friendship against all odds, life in Iran, and adapting a relationship to change evolves is delightfully absorbing and thought-provoking.

PreS-Gr 2–This series focuses on “own voices” storytelling, where experiences are told directly from those who have lived through them. It adds a richness to the telling, and it comes through strongly in these books. The first deals with what could be seen as ADHD, but is definitely a child who struggles with emotional regulation. Through it all, big daily emotions manifest as dinosaurs, raging bulls, or swirling hurricanes as the main character cycles through feelings. It captures the heartbreak behind lack of control, eventually resolved with family and tools to harness the feelings. Yasi and Mina’s Pomegranate Tree tackles history and world events, as it chronicles two girls living in Tehran as bombings begin. It offers an elementary-appropriate discussion of bomb shelter protocol, the effects of war, and what it feels like to emigrate for safety. VERDICT These books cover important topics from authors in the know.