A Knot Is Not a Tangle
Published on 25. November 2025
Book
Hardback
48 pages
978-0-593-80969-3 (ISBN)
Description
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.
A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
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?
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.
A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
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?
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Random House USA Inc
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Illustrations
FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATIONS
Dimensions
Height: 289 mm
Width: 239 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
477 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-593-80969-3 (9780593809693)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Daniel Nayeri
A Knot Is Not a Tangle
E-Book
11/2025
Knopf Books for Young Readers
€7.99
Available for download
Persons
Daniel Nayeri was born in Iran and spent some years as a refugee before immigrating to Oklahoma at age eight with his family. He is the author of several books for young readers, including Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, the Christopher Medal, and the Middle Eastern Book Award, and The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams, winner of the Newbery Honor Award. He lives in the US with his wife and son.
Vesper Stamper is the author and illustrator of several books. Her illustrated picture books include The Greatest (September 2024), The Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, and Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. Her YA debut, What the Night Sings was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and a Morris Award Finalist. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts. She teaches illustration at School of Visual Art.
Vesper Stamper is the author and illustrator of several books. Her illustrated picture books include The Greatest (September 2024), The Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, and Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. Her YA debut, What the Night Sings was a National Book Award Nominee, a National Jewish Book Award Finalist, and a Morris Award Finalist. Vesper has a BFA in Illustration from Parsons and an MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay from School of Visual Arts. She teaches illustration at School of Visual Art.