ATOOSA SALEHI

Bibliography

Poetry Collections

I Miss You / Illustrator: Hoda Haddadi / Young Adult Poetry Collection / Peidayesh Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2007  (Persian: دلم برای تو تنگ است)

With Spring’s Permission / llustrator: Mahnoosh Moshiri / Young Adult Poetry Collection / Noghteh Publications / Tehran, Iran / 1996 (Pesian: با اجازه‌ی بهار)

A Melody for Rain / Illustrator: Farshid Shafiee / Young Adult Poetry Collection / Soroush Publications / Tehran, Iran / 1998  (Persian: ترانه‌ای برای باران)

Walnut Eyes / Illustrator: Various Illustrators / Young Adult Poetry Collection (anthology with other poets) / Hagebutte Verlag / Munich, Germany / 2018  (Persian: چشم‌های گردویی)

Behind the Bright Red Light / Illustrator: Mostafa Akbari / Young Adult Poetry Collection / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / Forthcoming  (Persian: پشت چراغ قرمز پررنگ)

Picture Books

Rozbeh’s Journey / Illustrator: Hesameddin Tabatabai / Picture Book / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2016  (Persian: کوچ روزبه)

Thirty-Three-Star Hotel / Illustrator: Atefeh Malekijoo / Picture Book / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2021  (Persian: هتل سی‌وسه ستاره)

Nargol’s Adventures (four-volume series) / Illustrator: Mahboubeh Yazdani / Picture Book / Nardeban Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2017  (Persian: ماجراهای نارگل)

Jirak and Jorak (four-volume series) / Illustrator: Bijan Mirbagheri / Picture Book (co-authored with Mozhgan Kalhor) / Markaz Publishing / Tehran, Iran / 1999  (Persian: جیرک و جورک)

Has Anybody Seen the Little Monkey’s Dream? / Illustrator: Haleh Darabi / Picture Book / Elmi Farhangi Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2006  (Persian: کسی خواب میمون کوچولو را ندیده؟)

Lettuce, My Beautiful Car / Illustrator: Marzieh Sarmashghi / Picture Book / Elmi Farhangi Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2008  (Persian: ماشین قشنگ من، کاهو)

Shoot the Ball / Illustrator: Nasim Bahari / Picture Book / Shahr-e-Ghalam Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2021  (Persian: شوت کن توپ رو)

Chehel-Gis and Jan-Tigh / Picture Book / Tuti Publishing / Tehran, Iran / Forthcoming  (Persian: چهل‌گیس و جان‌تیغ)

Retellings of Persian Mythology

Zahhak the Serpent-Shouldered: A Tale Told by Seven Voices / Illustrator: Nooshin Safakhoo / Retelling of Persian Mythology / Madreseh Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2021  (Persian: ضحاک ماردوش: روایت هفت راوی)

Tales of the Shahnameh (twelve-volume series) / Illustrator: Niloofar Mirmohammadi / Retelling of Persian Mythology / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 1998–2014  (Persian: قصه‌های شاهنامه)

Parrot and the Merchant / Illustrator: Nayereh Taghavi / Retelling of Persian Mythology / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2007  (Persian: طوطی و بازرگان)

Siavash / Illustrator: Atiyeh Markazi / Retelling of Persian Mythology / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2007  (Persian: سیاوش)

Early Reading Series

First Grade, First Book (forty-volume series; Project Editor and Author) / Illustrators: Vida Karimi, Ameneh Arbaboun, Ghazaleh Bigdelou, and Ghazaleh Barootian / Early Reading Series / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2020–2023  (Persian: کلاس اولی، کتاب اولی)

Second Grade, Second Book (twelve-volume series; Project Editor and Author) / Illustrators: Vida Karimi, Fatemeh Zamanehrou, Shaghayegh Moravvej, and Ghazaleh Barootian / Early Reading Series / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2023–present  (Persian: کلاس دومی، کتاب دومی)

Children’s Novels

Nima the Genius (four-volume series) / Illustrator: Nasim Bahari / Children’s Graphic Novel / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2020  (Persian: نیما نابغه)

Like Everyone, But Like No One / Illustrator: Mitra Abdollahi / Children’s Novel / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2006  (Persian: مثل همه، اما مثل هیچ‌کس)

Young Adult Novels

Even One Minute Is Enough / Young Adult Novel / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2010  (Persian: حتی یک دقیقه کافی است)

Dear Darya / Young Adult Novel / Cheshmeh Publishing / Tehran, Iran / 1999  (Persian: دریای عزیز)

 

Literary Translation

Works translated by Atoosa Salehi into Persian

Coraline / Author: Neil Gaiman / Young Adult Novel / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2010

The Gruffalo / Author: Julia Donaldson / Picture Book / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2008

35 Kilos of Hope / Author: Anna Gavalda / Young Adult Novel / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2009

Stellaluna / Author: Janell Cannon / Picture Book / Elmi Farhangi Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2011

A Very Strange Creature / Author: Ronda Armitage / Picture Book / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2013

Boa’s Bad Birthday / Author: Jeanne Willis / Picture Book / Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) / Tehran, Iran / 2017

Horrid Henry (ten-volume series) / Author: Francesca Simon / Children’s Novel (co-translated with Mozhgan Kalhor) / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2007

Tom Gates (sixteen-volume series) / Author: Liz Pichon / Graphic Novel / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2014–present

Here We Are / Author: Oliver Jeffers / Picture Book / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2023

What We’ll Build / Author: Oliver Jeffers / Picture Book / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2023

I Am Very Busy / Author: Oliver Jeffers / Picture Book / Ofoq Publishers / Tehran, Iran / 2025

International Editions and Translations of Original Works

Walnussaugen (German edition of Walnut Eyes) / Illustrator: Martin Pflanzer / Young Adult Poetry Collection / Hagebutte Verlag / Munich, Germany / 2017

Has Anybody Seen the Little Monkey’s Dream? (English edition) / Translated by: Shaghayegh Ghandehari / Editor: Sophie A. Koutlaki / Picture Book / Elmi Farhangi Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2008

Lettuce, My Beautiful Car (English edition) / Translated by: Sophie A. Koutlaki / Picture Book / Elmi Farhangi Publications / Tehran, Iran / 2008

Rozbeh’s Journey (Turkish edition) / Picture Book / Zangin Publishing / Istanbul, Turkey / 2022

Even One Minute Is Enough (Arabic edition) / Young Adult Novel / Egyptian Cultural Assembly / Cairo, Egypt / 2023

Awards and Honors

• White Ravens Honor List, International Youth Library (Munich), Selected Title — I Miss You, 2008
• White Ravens Honor List, International Youth Library (Munich), Selected Title — Zahhak the Serpent-Shouldered: A Tale Told by Seven Voices, 2022
• Kanoon National Press Festival, 1st Edition, Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — Tales of the Shahnameh series, 1998
• Kanoon National Book Award, 9th Edition, Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — Dear Darya, 1999
• Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Press Festival, 5th Edition, Young Adult Poetry Category, 2000
• Kanoon National Press Festival, 7th Edition, Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor, Poetry Category, 2003
• Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Press Festival, 11th Edition, Crystal Pen Award, Young Adult Poetry Category, 2006
• Best Book of the Year Award (Children’s Book Council of Iran), 1st Edition, Selected Title — Like Everyone, But Like No One, 2006
• Salam Book Award, 11th Edition, Selected Title — Like Everyone, But Like No One, 2006
• The Woman of Culture Award, Selected Title — Like Everyone, But Like No One, 2006
• Best Book of the Year Award (Children’s Book Council of Iran), 2nd Edition, Selected Title — Tales of the Shahnameh series, 2007
• Kanoon Children and the Shahnameh Festival, Selected Title — Tales of the Shahnameh series, 2007
• Jafar Payvar Literary Award, Statuette and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — Parrot and the Merchant, 2007
• Children’s Book Council of Iran, Selected Title — Parrot and the Merchant, 2007
• Mehdi Azar-Yazdi Literary and Artistic Award, 1st Edition, Selected Title — Siavash, 2007
• Kanoon National Book Award, 17th Edition, Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — Siavash, 2007
• Children’s Book Council of Iran, Special Mention — Siavash, 2007
• Book of the Season Award, 6th Edition, Statuette and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — Lettuce, My Beautiful Car, 2008
• Parvin E’tesami Literary Award, 3rd Edition, Statuette and Certificate of Honor, Selected Title — I Miss You, 2008
• Kanoon National Book Award, Selected Title — I Miss You, 2008
• Book of the Year Award (Iran), Selected Title — I Miss You, 2008
• Children’s Book Council of Iran, Special Mention, Selected Title — I Miss You, 2008
• Ghanipour Award for Book of the Year, Selected Title — Even One Minute Is Enough, 2010
• Kanoon National Book Award, 15th Edition, Gold Medal and Certificate of Honor, Young Adult Novel Category, Selected Title — Even One Minute Is Enough, 2011
• National Festival for the Retelling of Classical Literature, Selected Title — Nargol’s Adventures series, 2017
• Roshd Book Award, 18th Edition, Selected Title — First Grade, First Book series, 2021

Workshops

Selected workshops include:

• Creative Writing Workshop, Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults) — Iran and Europe, Autumn 2003
• Reading with Teens Workshop, Association of Children’s and Young Adult Writers, October 2010
• Workshop on the Characteristics of Contemporary Young Adult Poetry, Shiraz Children’s Literature Festival, June 2016
• Creative Writing Workshop for Children, Kherad Educational Complex, Summer 2017
• Children’s Poetry Workshop, Children’s Book Council of Iran, Spring 2018
• Translation for Children Workshop, Ofoq Publishers, Summer 2018
• Picture Book Creation Workshop, Safir Translation Department, 2020 and 2022
• Fiction Writing Workshop for Young Adults, Owsan Institute, 2020, 2023, and 2024
• Creative Writing Workshop for Students, Allameh Tabataba’i Educational Complex, 2024–2025

Jury Membership

• Student Literary Competitions, Allameh Tabataba’i Educational Complex, 2024 and 2025
• Final-Round Judge, Poetry Category, Children’s Book Council of Iran, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025
• Garnet Short Story Festival, 2023
• Tehran Children’s Painting Competition, 2020
• Book of the Year and Press Festival of Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults), 2012, 2014, and 2017
• Sepidar Festival, 2015 and 2017
• Shiraz Children’s Literature Festival, 2016
• Children’s Literature Category, Seventh Parvin E’tesami Festival, 2016
• Young Adult Poetry Category, Tenth Children and Young Adult Press Festival, 2011
• Book of the Year Award, 2000, 2004, 2005, and 2011

Professional Experience

• Editorial Director, Children’s and Young Adult Section, Ofoq Publishers, 2014–present
• Director, Mahak Publishing (Children’s and Young Adult Department of Kherad Publications), 2010–2017
• Editor, Young Adult Section, Peidayesh Publications, 2011–2013
• Member, Council for Theoretical Debates, Kanoon (Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults), 2006–2010
• Founder and Director, Ofoq Book Club for Teens, 2004–2023
• Editor, Aftabgardan Newspaper, 1994–1997
• Editor, Soroush Magazine, 1990–2000

Academic Publications and Research

Scholarly articles and essays written by the author.

• “A Special Audience-Oriented Criticism: An Overview of the Work,” by Afsaneh Shaban-Nejad, Children and Adolescent Literature Research Magazine, vol. 38 (Autumn 2004): 128–139.
• “Literacy and Creativity,” Children and Adolescent Literature Research Magazine, vol. 32 (2003): 153–156.
• “Something Between Reality and Imagination, Dream and Awakening, and Myth and Reality” (review of Dream Seller), Children and Adolescent Literature Research Journal, no. 15 (Winter 1998): 94–97.
• “From Myth to Modern Persian Fantasy: Sanctifying a Path from Myth Toward Creative Recreation,” paper presented at the International Conference on the Functions of Fantasy in History and Literature, University of Isfahan, May 25, 2025.

Critical Reception: Reviews, Articles, and Dissertations

Scholarship and criticism on the author’s work.

Theses

• Eslami, Zahra. “A Study of Imagery and Aesthetics in the Poetry of Atoosa Salehi.” Master’s Thesis, Summer 2023.
• Izadinejad, Ahmadreza. “A Comparative Analysis of the Narration of Female Characters in the Shahnameh” (based on the works of Atoosa Salehi). Master’s Thesis, January 2022.
• Majboori, Nastaran. “A Study of the Revision and Rewriting of Shahnameh Stories, with a Look at the Works of Atoosa Salehi and Mohammad Reza Yousefi.” Master’s Thesis, November 2020.
• Naji Ebrahimi, Samaneh. “The Effect of Gender on Character and Point of View in the Retellings of Atoosa Salehi from the Shahnameh” (based on stories published by Kanoon through 2015). Dissertation, Imam Reza International University, Yazd.
• Sardari, Madinah. “The Study and Analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Poetry, Based on the Works of Mehri Mahoudi, Erfan Nazar Ahari, and Atoosa Salehi” (supervised by Sima Mansour; guided by Professor Nasrallah Emami). Dissertation, Dezful Azad University, 2013.

Journal Articles

• Mousavi, Shayesteh Sadat, Mohammad Ali Khazanehdarlou, and Parvin Yahyania. “Deconstructing Metaphysics of Presence in Literary Recreations for Adolescents, with a Look at the Recreation of the Shahnameh’s Story of Rustam and Sohrab by Atoosa Salehi,” Journal of Children’s Literature Studies, University of Shiraz, vol. 12, no. 2 (Autumn–Winter 2021): 289–314.
• Hessampour, Saeid, and Neda Moradpour. “Zahhak: A Tale of Seven Narrators Through the Labyrinth of Rewriting, Image-Text Interaction, and the Community of Philosophical Inquiry,” Journal of Children’s Literature Studies, University of Shiraz, vol. 16, no. 2 (Semiannual, 2025-2026).
• Najafi Behzadi, Sajjad. “A Creative Narration of an Ancient Text, Based on the Recreation of Bijan and Manijeh by Atoosa Salehi,” Journal of Children’s Literature Studies, University of Shiraz, vol. 11, no. 2 (Autumn–Winter 2020): 209–232.
• Mortezaei, Parvin. “Symbolism in the Poetry of Atoosa Salehi,” paper presented at the Sixth International Conference on Humanities Studies(Winter 2021).
• “A Survey and Analysis of the Elements of Story in Several Tales Rewritten from the Shahnameh for Young Adults,” Literary Investigations Magazine, vol. 14, no. 27 (2013).
• Tarbon, Abbas. “The Poetry of Atoosa Salehi Has Its Own Voice,” Journal of Child and Adolescent Literature, no. 60 (Winter 2013): 103–106.
• Fooladvand, Marjan. “The Effect of Retelling on the Relationship Between People and Literature: Focusing on the Works of Atoosa Salehi” (revisiting the services and disservices of retelling), Journal of Child and Adolescent Literature, no. 60 (Winter 2013): 96–102.
• “Surveying the Retelling of Symbolic and Mythological Characters of the Shahnameh in Children’s and Young Adult Literature,” Literature, Mysticism, and Philosophy Studies Magazine, vol. 3, no. 2 (Summer 2012): 103–115.
• Special feature on the works of Atoosa Salehi, Journal of Children’s and Adolescent Literature, no. 9, vol. 15 (Winter 2013): 94–119.
• Akrami, Jamaloddin. “Poetry on the Sidewalk,” Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 55 (April 2003): 56–61.
• Nazari, Mahdieh. “From Imaginative Lines” (review of A Melody for Rain), Entekhab Daily, October 2000, 7.
• “For Reconciliation with the Tree” (report of the 26th Audience Review Meeting), Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 92 (June 2005): 30–39.
• Akrami, Jamaloddin. “Who Pushes Your Waves?” Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 43 (May 2001): 40–43.
• Shafa’i, Arash. “Thinking of ‘You,’” Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 133 (November 2008): 61–64.
• Tarbon, Abbas. “The Map of the Lost Land,” World of Book, no. 224 (February–March 2007): 89.
• Kaedi, Shohreh. “Once Upon a Time There Were Not Two,” Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 80 (June 2004): 89.
• Akrami, Jamaloddin. “The Presence of Incident in Poetry” (on Atoosa Salehi’s poetry collections), Children’s and Young Adult Monthly Book Review, no. 61 (November 2002): 68–75.
• “The Multidimensional Character of Stein” (roundtable report), Literature Research on Children and Young Adults, no. 24 (Spring 2001): 40–56.
• “Criticism of the Season: A Forest Full of Raspberries, a Jar Full of Songs of the River” (With Spring’s Permission), Review of Children’s and Young Adult Literature, no. 13 (Summer 1998): 143–150.
• “Ancient Literature, at Last” (report of the review panel), Children’s Book Council of Iran, Criticism of Children’s and Young Adult Books, no. 12 (Winter 2015): 207–220.
• “We Are the Smiling Flowers, Children of Iran” (a survey of children’s poetry in Iran), Goharan Magazine, no. 6 (Winter 2004): 125–142.
• “Reviewing the Literature of Children and Young Adults in Iran After the Revolution (1979–1999), Part II: 1989–1999,” Children and Adolescent Literature Research Book, no. 21 (Summer 2000): 25–47.
• “Too Much Theory in Criticism” (pathology of children’s and young adult poetry), Literature of Children and Adolescents Monthly Review, no. 66 (March 2004): 46–53.
• “Characterization in Adaptations of Rumi’s Masnavi for Children and Young Adults,” Children’s Literary Studies, no. 7 (Spring–Summer 2013): 137–159.
• “Experiences on the Blackboard” (report of the 25th Meeting with Audiences), Literature of Children and Adolescents Monthly Review, no. 91 (May 2005): 81–87.
• “Roundtable: Judges of the Book of the Year, Poetry Section,” Literature of Children and Adolescents Monthly Review, nos. 41–42 (March 2000–April 2001): 40–47.
• “Children’s and Young Adult Poetry in the Realm of Doubt” (review of Poetry on the Sidelines), Literature of Children and Adolescents Monthly Review, no. 52 (February 2002): 36–43.
• “A Note on the Collection Jirak and Jorak: Walking with the Seasons,” Child and Adolescent Literature Research, no. 60 (Winter 2013): 107–112.
• “Metamorphosis in the Form of Young Adult Poetry: A Consumptive Approach to Form,” Children and Adolescent Literature Research, no. 53 (Spring 2012): 73–76.
• “Fantasy and Fantasizing Practices in the Shahnameh for Children’s Literature,” Children’s Literature Studies, no. 1 (Spring–Summer 2010): 55–74.
• “Allegorical Tales and Narratives of Our Time” (an overview of Once Upon a Time, with an allegorical and moral approach), Criticism of Children’s and Young Adult Books, nos. 1–2 (Spring–Summer 2014): 45–50.
• “Surveying the Illustrated Shahnameh for Children,” Literature of Children and Adolescents Monthly Review, no. 170 (December 2011): 104–120.
• “The Literary Challenge in the Field of Poetry for Children and Young Adults: Mature or Immature?” Children and Adolescent Literature Research, no. 53 (Spring 2012): 29–35.
• “The Ups and Downs of Children’s and Young Adult Poetry in Iran in the Three Decades After the Revolution,” Persian Literature, no. 15 (Spring–Summer 2015): 81–100.
• “Pleasure and Adaptation,” Children’s Literature Studies, no. 16 (Fall–Winter 2017): 79–100.