The One and Only Rumi

De: Rabiah York

Narrado por: Neil Shah

The inspiring story of Rumi’s journey from a young refugee to a renowned poet shows how his childhood helped shape his poetry.

Young Muhammad adores his home, and he loves waking up each day to the sound of birds singing. His father encourages him to keep singing through happy days as well as sad—just like the birds. And there are indeed sad days ahead when his family is forced to flee from Genghis Khan’s army, becoming refugees. As they travel, Muhammad takes many lessons from nature, and his positivity and spirit of largess lights the way.

This moving story based on the life of the beloved thirteenth-century poet Rumi celebrates showing love to everyone and offers a beautiful message of hope in troubled times.

©2025 Rabiah York (P)2025 Listening Library

Reseñas de la Crítica

* “Exploring a potentially lesser-known side of the poet, the concise yet lyrical narrative itself evokes Rumi’s potent verse. When the family finally settles in a new home, they temper their sadness with gratitude that they’re still together. Holding fast to ‘quiet hope’ and the ‘entire universe’ within himself, Muhammad opens his heart to new friends and grows up to be ‘the one and only Rumi.’ An author’s note underlines the teaching that ‘hope in the darkest of times can always be found.’ A dazzling tribute to a luminary figure.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Rumi learns life lessons from his parents to be generous, positive, to make his own joy, and persevere through hard times. These lessons helped him grow into a celebrated poet still read and inspiring people hundreds of years later.”—School Library Journal

“This picture book homage to the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi focuses on his childhood, when he was still known as Muhammad. . . . The specific biographical details are less the point than the narrative parallels to modern-day refugee stories, although York makes clear in an author’s note that Muhammad and his family would not have been called this modern term.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books