BIJAN ALWAYS WINS

Winning isn’t everything.

Bijan always has to win, even when he’s taking part in activities that don’t have a clear victor, such as drawing pictures of birds, eating vegetables, playing dinosaurs, and brushing his teeth. He also wins in his dreams: He transforms into a scaly green creature and breathes fire at his frightened fellow dragons; later, he dives to the bottom of the ocean—so deep that no one can hear him declare, “I win again!” Back at school the next day, Bijan’s friends, fed up with his competitiveness, refuse to sit with him. Bijan slowly realizes that it’s lonely being a self-proclaimed champion. “More than anything, I want to win at being a friend.” So he treats those around him with kindness, and they welcome Bijan back into the fold. Khorram’s simple, expressive text uses fantastical elements to elevate a familiar story of social-emotional growth to a thoughtful parable that will leave readers mulling what it means to be a true friend. Tran’s wispy digital illustrations convey both whimsy and heart, using a palette of pale greens, pinks, and deep blues along with a variety of perspectives, to dramatic effect. Bijan is light-skinned and dark-haired; his friends represent a diverse range of skin tones and hair colors.

An inspired tale that puts a clever spin on a well-trod message of friendship and generosity of spirit.