Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Magical folktale connects an Iranian boy to his culture.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE SWEETEST OF LEMONS begins with the author Daniel Nayeri recalling a trip he made with his parents as a young boy in Iran to leave their city of Isfahan and drive through the desert to visit his grandfather's farm in the country. Halfway there, they stop to refuel at the house of a man named Abbas (at this point the story becomes fictional). "I begged Abbas, who was a famously great storyteller, to tell me one of his stories," Nayeri recalls. Abbas tells him a long, twisty tale of three brothers and their magical tree that grows just one lemon a year "so perfectly sweet that it cured sadness itself." There's also a captive princess, a giant, three goats, and an underworld where the youngest brother must outsmart the giant and save himself and the princess. The boy butts in at one point to say to Abbas, the storyteller, "This sounds made up." "Of course it's made up," Abbas replies. "Now don't interrupt. We're in the underworld, for goodness sake." When Abbas' story ends, the boy is left wondering what happened to a character and his sheep. Abbas tells him he'll have to wait till next time to find out, "when you come back to visit."
Is It Any Good?
This lively account of a boy hearing a magical tale shows the power of storytelling to not only entertain but also connect the reader (or listener) to an ancient culture. The Sweetest of Lemons speaks to the enduring nature of folktales and how they live on, delighting and confounding readers and listeners for generations. Author Daniel Nayeri, who was born in Iran and immigrated as a refugee to Oklahoma, keeps things light and grounded in warm family love. Iranian American illustrator Rahale Jomepour Bell, who grew up in Iran and now lives in Kansas City, reflects the country's colors, architecture, and traditional dress in collages that draw from traditional Persian miniatures. The book's design skillfully sets off the story-within-the-story with framed blocks of text and a different art style (collage) from the gouache illustrations of the contemporary scenes, helping to prevent reader confusion between time jumps.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the folktale told in The Sweetest of Lemons. Do you like how it unfolds? What elements make a good folktale? What's your favorite folktale?
How does the youngest brother show courage and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?
What elements in the art of the folktale let you know the characters are living in another time and place? What's your favorite picture in the book, and why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Rahele Jomepour Bell
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads , Grandparents , Moms )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Levine Querido
- Publication date : June 2, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 48
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : June 29, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate