You Are Everything

Ages 5 to 8, Grades K to 3

Inspired by a Rumi poem, this mystical picture book for the young readers emphasizes the vast interconnectedness of the world and each of us.

you thought:

What if I try a little...

becoming?

And as soon as you thought it,

it started to happen.

(That’s how powerful you are!)

Whatever you thought of,

you started to become!

You Are Everything takes readers on a journey that begins before the existence of space and time and ends in the present day. Illustrated by Iranian-American artist Shilla Shakoori, the story is a cosmically inclusive embrace of our interconnectedness. 

With each turn of the page your transformation unfolds from a being that just is to one that becomes the world around us. And if you can take a moment off from all the doing that you do, author Arabian suggests, and let yourself simply be, you may realize that you are not just one person -- you are also everything in the universe.

Readers who love Rumi and stories from Persian mystics or anyone interested in mindfulness and a greater awareness of being in the world will love You Are Everything.

About the Author

Iranian-American scholar and teacher Omid Arabian is the founder and director of YOUniversal Center, where he conducts courses in mysticism for adults and children. His translations of Rumi's poetry have been published in three volumes.

Author Residence: Los Angeles

Shilla Shakoori is a contemporary artist from Iran who now lives in Los Angeles. Shilla approaches her life and her art with a humanist worldview, and counts Rumi as her most notable influence.

Illustrator Residence:Los Angeles

Illustrator Hometown:Iran