Blog
Resources for parents, teachers, and anyone curious about bringing ancient history to life for children.
Two Minutes That Help Another Family Find These Books
A short, honest review is the single most useful thing a reader can do for a small publisher. Not because of any algorithm — because of the parent standing in front of a shelf, trying to decide.
Marlik Tepe — A Lecture in Sacramento, Wednesday September 30
The fifth lecture in the Iranology series comes to the Sacramento Zoroastrian Center on Wednesday, September 30. The subject is Marlik Tepe — a hill in northern Iran that turned out to hold the tombs of rulers, and gold that had been waiting three thousand years.
Free Classroom Packs — One for Every Book in the Series
Six free classroom packs are now on the site, one for every book in the series. Each is two pages: a teacher's page with the big question, vocabulary, discussion prompts and the misconceptions to watch for — and a student sheet with a hands-on activity. Everything uses paper, straws, foil, clay and sand.
Book Six Is Here: The Girl Who Had Two Languages
The sixth Tiny Time Traveler book is about a question many children carry quietly: am I this, or am I that? Ariana takes it back four thousand years to the ancient city of Susa.
Knowing Where We Come From Helps Us Imagine Where We Can Go
Research on ethnic identity and family storytelling suggests that cultural knowledge can be a real protective resource for children growing up between two worlds.
We'll Be at Walnut Creek Oktoberfest — September 25 & 26
Downtown Walnut Creek turns into a two-day festival on September 25 and 26 — live bands, traditional dancing, a biergarten, and a Kinder Karneval kids zone with a giant slide, petting zoo, and story times. Dr. Bahram Ghadiri will be signing books both days.
Where to Find Us: A New Events Page (and a Calendar You Can Subscribe To)
Until now, the only way to hear about a book signing was to catch the blog post that week. There's now a single page listing every upcoming appearance — and a calendar you can subscribe to, so new dates show up in your own calendar without you having to check.
Find Us at the Orange County Children's Book Festival — Sunday, September 20
One of the largest children's book festivals in the country is back at Orange Coast College on Sunday, September 20 — four stages, dozens of authors, hands-on activities, and free admission. The Tiny Time Traveler series will be there too.
Celebrate Mehregan With Us in San Ramon — Sunday, September 27
One of the oldest festivals in Persian history is coming to San Ramon Central Park. The Roya Foundation's Mehregan Festival — free to the public — brings live music, food, crafts, and a Kids Zone to Sunday, September 27, and the Tiny Time Traveler book series will be there.
Book 1 Is Now Available in Persian — اولین انیمیشن جهان باستان
Wonderful news for Persian-speaking families: The First Animation of the Ancient World — Book 1 of the Tiny Time Traveler series — is now available in Persian! Published by Ketab Corporation (Sherkat Ketab) of Los Angeles, اولین انیمیشن جهان باستان brings Aryan, Ariana, and Homa's very first adventure to young readers in the beautiful language of Iran.
Tiny Time Traveler Is Now on Social Media — Come Ride With Us!
Big news from the Tiny Time Traveler workshop: Aryan, Ariana, and Homa the phoenix now have a home on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X! Follow along for animated story videos, glimpses of the real archaeology behind every book, and first word on new adventures.
A Morning of Stories, Songs & Signed Books in Berkeley
Today the Tiny Time Traveler series left the page in Berkeley — a live reading and musical performance with Sanaz Boroujerdian, followed by a book signing with Dr. Bahram Ghadiri. Thank you to Diaspora Arts Connection and every family who came.
Meet the Tiny Time Traveler Books at the Roya Foundation Youth Center Grand Opening, August 18
The Roya Foundation is opening its new Youth Center in San Ramon with a ribbon-cutting celebration on Tuesday, August 18 — and the Tiny Time Traveler book series will be there. Join us from 1 to 2 PM to celebrate a new space dedicated to helping children learn and grow.
Stories, Songs & Imagination: A Live Book Reading in Berkeley, August 16
Diaspora Arts Connection is hosting a free live book reading and musical performance inspired by the Tiny Time Traveler series — Saturday, August 16 in Berkeley. Sanaz Boroujerdian will bring the stories to life with music. Space is limited.
The Venus of Sarab: A Little Clay Lady 8,000 Years Old
Long before cities, kings, or writing, someone in a little village in the Zagros mountains rolled clay between their hands and made a statue. We still have it.
Ancient Shahdad: The Desert City That Made Wonders in Bronze
Deep in Iran's Lut Desert, the Bronze Age city of Shahdad made astonishing tools and treasures — including one of the world's oldest metal flags, topped with a bird.
Why Iran's Real History Starts Long Before the Achaemenids
For centuries the story of Iran has been told through Greek eyes — skipping past Tepe Sialk, Shahr-e Sukhteh, and the 2,660-year Elamite world that came first.
Iran's History Is the Story of Its People, Not Just Its Kings
Behind every dynasty and battle is a far older story — the farmers, potters, musicians, architects, and children whose daily lives are what civilization actually means.
How Parents Can Help Children Fall in Love with Ancient History
A few minutes of reading together, the right questions at bedtime, a museum trip on Saturday — small parent choices are what turn ancient Iran into a child's favorite story.
Why Books About Ancient Iran and Its Culture Matter for Children
Research in education and cultural studies shows that books about ancient Iran do more than teach history — they shape identity, imagination, and a child's place in the human story.
Why Iranian Diaspora Children Should Learn About Iran's 12,000-Year History
For kids growing up between two worlds, knowing the deep story of ancient Iran builds identity, resilience, and pride that connects them to one of humanity's oldest civilizations.
Why Knowledge About the Archaeology of Ancient Iran is Useful for Kids
Iran's 12,000 years of archaeology give kids more than history — they build cultural pride, sharpen critical thinking, and inspire dreams as big as the ancient cities themselves.
What is Archaeology Today, and Why Kids Need It
Modern archaeology blends excavation with DNA, drones, and satellites — and teaches kids to think like detectives, storytellers, and stewards of a shared past.
Most Interesting Archaeological Findings from Ancient Iran — From 12,000 Years Ago to the Median Period
From Chogha Golan's first farmers to the columned halls of the Medes, Iran's archaeological record turns ancient dust into living lessons kids can feel.
What We Find in Ancient Persia That You Won't Find Anywhere Else
From the world's first animation to 12,000-year-old farming villages and underground qanats, a tour of the discoveries that exist nowhere on Earth but ancient Iran.
Where Was Ancient Persia?
Ancient Persia wasn't a single city — it was a vast land of mountains, deserts, and trade routes at the heart of Asia, home to humans for over 12,000 years.
How Horses Came to Ancient Iran
The story of how wild horses on the Iranian Plateau became the bold companions of Elamite kings, messengers, and warriors — and made ancient Iran one of the world's great horse cultures.
Ancient Toys from Susa and Iran's Old Villages
Tiny clay animals, miniature carts, and handmade dolls from Susa show that kids 5,000 years ago played — and that families have always cared about childhood.
The Magical 8,000-Year-Old Flute from Tepe Sang-e Chakhmagh
Carved from a migratory bird's leg bone 8,000 years ago, the Sang-e Chakhmagh flute is one of the world's oldest instruments — and proof that music has always lived in ancient Iran.
Discover the Amazing Burnt City!
Shahr-e Sukhteh — the 5,000-year-old Burnt City — gave the world its first animation, its oldest artificial eye, and a peaceful, ingenious civilization kids will want to meet.
The First Animation of the Ancient World: Bringing Iran's History to Life for Kids
What if your child could travel back in time to the ancient lands of Iran — before empires, before kings, before written history? The First Animation of the Ancient World takes young readers on an unforgettable journey through Iran's earliest civilizations, guided by two curious children and a legendary Simurgh. Rooted in real archaeological discoveries, this beautifully illustrated story makes history come alive for kids everywhere.
Ancient Persia for Kids: What Every Parent and Teacher Should Know
A beginner's guide to ancient Persia for parents and teachers. What was ancient Persia, where was it, why does it matter, and how to teach it to children ages 3-12.
Why There Are Almost No Children's Books About Ancient Persia — And How We're Changing That
Most children's history books skip ancient Persia entirely. The Time Travelers to Ancient Persia series is the first to bring 12,000 years of Iranian Plateau history to life for young readers through real archaeology.
How to Teach Ancient History to Children: A Homeschool Parent's Guide
A practical guide for homeschool families on teaching ancient civilizations — including ancient Persia, Mesopotamia, and the Iranian Plateau — to elementary-age children using books, activities, and real archaeology.
Persian Culture for Elementary Students: 10 Things Kids Should Know
A teacher-friendly guide to introducing Persian culture in the elementary classroom — covering inventions, art, daily life, and the surprising ways ancient Persia still shows up in your students' world today.
The World's First Animation Is 5,200 Years Old — and It's Painted on a Cup
Long before Disney, an unknown artist in ancient Persia animated a goat on a clay goblet. Here's the story of the world's oldest known animation, the archaeological dig that found it, and what you can show your kids today.