Set in a lively Iranian bathhouse the day before the Persian New Year, three boys who are enjoying their day with their fathers hear a loud commotion in the baths and set out to investigate. 25,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

In an Iranian bathhouse on the eve of Nowruz, three boys suspect a Div--a monster--is wreaking havoc on their New Year preparations. - (Baker & Taylor)

How to Catch a Monster meets Persian myth in this engaging picture book set in a lively Iranian bathhouse the day before the Persian New Year as three boys encounter something unexpected.

The bathhouse is always busy the day before Nowruz. Everyone wants to be clean for the new year! As three boys enjoy their day at the bathhouse with their fathers, they hear a strange sound and decide to investigate. There’s a big mess, and they hear the sound of someone—or something—large splashing in the baths. What could it be? An unruly guest? A four-legged intruder? Or perhaps…a monster? - (Simon and Schuster)

Sina Merabian is an author-illustrator of picture books and longer work. Her work can be playful or macabre, and she enjoys the opportunity to work with intricate patterns and unique locales. - (Simon and Schuster)

Booklist Reviews

Three rosy-cheeked boys and their look-alike fathers head to the bathhouse to prepare for Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Simple text and lovely, patterned illustrations in soft pastels depict the boys and men as they sing, tell stories, partake in tea and sweets, and observe the Haft-sin (a table with special items, like painted eggs, goldfish, and coins, to note the arrival of spring). The festivities are interrupted, however, when the boys hear loud sounds, notice something has made a mess of the bathhouse, and surmise that a Div, or Persian monster, must be responsible. As they investigate, tension builds as horned, shadowy Divs appear on the walls—and in the boys' imaginations, captured in thought bubbles—growing larger and scarier. When the "monster" turns out to be a cat, the boys and men have a good laugh and a new story to tell for Nowruz. But the final scene, with a happy Div relaxing after a bath, gives the last laugh. A concluding author's note offers more information on this spring celebration. Grades K-2. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

Horn Book Guide Reviews

Nowruz is a celebration of the end of winter and the start of a new year. For the three boys and their fathers in this story, a visit to what appears to be an Iranian bathhouse is an essential part of the preparations: Everyone wants to be clean for the new year. While the fathers soak in large pools and snack on watermelon and other treats, the boys are distracted by loud noises, ripped towels, and broken pumice stones on the floor. Their imaginations run wild, and they suspect that a Div, a monster with big horns! And big, dirty feet! may be in residence. A menacing shadow, to everyone's relief, seemingly reveals itself to be a harmless cat. The notion that a monster could be in the bathhouse seems preposterous, but there are plenty of hints in the lively digital illustrations to suggest that perhaps there really is one. In this delightful story, everyone, from kids to cats to monsters, celebrates the new year. An author's note provides further information on Nowruz and its traditions. Copyright 2023 Horn Book Guide Reviews.

Horn Book Magazine Reviews

Nowruz is a celebration of the end of winter and the start of a new year. For the three boys and their fathers in this story, a visit to what appears to be an Iranian bathhouse is an essential part of the preparations: "Everyone wants to be clean for the new year." While the fathers soak in large pools and snack on watermelon and other treats, the boys are distracted by loud noises, ripped towels, and broken pumice stones on the floor. Their imaginations run wild, and they suspect that a Div, a monster "with big horns! And big, dirty feet!" may be in residence. A menacing shadow, to everyone's relief, seemingly reveals itself to be a harmless cat. The notion that a monster could be in the bathhouse seems preposterous, but there are plenty of hints in the lively digital illustrations to suggest that perhaps there really is one. In this delightful story, everyone, from kids to cats to monsters, celebrates the new year. An author's note provides further information on Nowruz and its traditions. Julie Hakim Azzam March/April 2022 p. Copyright 2022 Horn Book Magazine Reviews.

School Library Journal Reviews

K-Gr 2—There is a Div (Persian monster) threatening to ruin Nowruz (the new year) in the bathhouse. A group of friends think they have seen the Div and warn their fathers, who in turn find only a small cat walking through the beautiful building—giving everyone a good laugh. Soft, colorful illustrations, punctuated by bright reds, complement the narrative that introduces Nowruz, including its rituals. The beautifully illustrated architecture and decor of the bathhouse provide an ideal setting for the excitement and rituals of holiday preparation. For readers celebrating Nowruz, this book is a fun way to get excited for the new year, with a thrilling Div tale. For readers unfamiliar with it, Merabian provides a brief summary, its traditions, and how this tale fits in with Persian storytelling. VERDICT For libraries looking to expand juvenile architecture or holiday collections, this tale fills a niche.—Jessica Schriver, Rutgers Univ., Camden, NJ