TEHRAN -- A book containing the memoirs of Iranian children’s book author Mehdi Azar Yazdi, who was mainly known for his “Good Stories for Good Children”, has recently been published.

Entitled “Bookworm and Paper Heater”, the book was recently released by Jahan-e Ketab Publications. It is a compilation of articles written by Azar Yazdi in Jahan-e Ketab Monthly in 1968 and 1995 under the title of “Bookish Memoirs”.
Azar Yazdi passed away on July 9, 2009. His “Good Stories for Good Children”, which won a UNESCO prize in 1966 and was selected as Iran’s best book of the year in 1967, remains a hot pick among children’s books in Iran.
In “Bookish Memoirs”, he narrates his recollections related to books, reading, writing, publishing and bookstores in humorous style.
The book’s introduction includes poems, unpublished writings by Azar Yazdi as well as his bibliography.
Born in 1921, Azar Yazdi began writing for children in 1956. He wrote seven books, each of which is adapted from a classic of Persian literature and rewritten for children in an easy-to-understand style.
“Encouragement is the main factor that makes a person begin a task and continue with it. I had no one encouraging me (when I was young), and in fact, my parents taunted me about writing childlike stories,” said Azar Yazdi in February 2007 at an event held in his honor by the Iranian Luminaries Association.
He was also author of “The Naughty Cat,” “The Playful Cat,” “Simple Stories,” “Poetry of Sugar and Honey” and “Masnavi of Good Children.” His “Adam” was chosen as Iran’s book of the year in 1968.