What Shape is an Elephant?

Feeroozeh Golmohammadi has been painting and illustrating children's books for nearly two-and-a-half decades. She is among the first Iranian women to have won international acclaim in art. Feerozeh is credited with ushering in the renaissance of Persian miniature paintings. She has won national and international awards including NOMA, Iran Gold Plaque and the Hans Christian Anderson Honorary Diploma.

Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, who is also called Maulana, was born in the city of Balkh in present day north-east Iran. The date of his birth is written as the 6th of Rabi al-Awal of 604 (H.Q), which in some calendars would be September 30, 1207. Divan Shams Tabrizi is considered to be his greatest poetic work. History says that once Rumi called all his disciples to hear his last will and testament through a sermon. It is said that he ended his sermon with the words, "Know, also, that the best persons are those who benefit others and the best words are those that are few and well-considered."