Review Detail

The One and Only Rumi is about the early life of the great poet, Rumi. He may have lived long ago, but his experience of needing to leave his homeland behind forever and find a new home to escape invasion still resonates with many people today. Rumi, known as Muhammad, could have been bitter about his experience, but his outlook on life was rooted in family, love, and nature, which allowed him to write inspiring poetry. This book was not overtly religious, but it does show through Muhammad’s actions and choices that God and his teachings are a big influence on him. The illustrations help the story feel like a folktale or parable, putting an emotional distance from experiences that would have been scary otherwise.
Overall, this story introduces young readers to the poet Rumi. It also shows that forced migration is an age-old problem.