Bijan Always Wins

PreS-Gr 3–In this delightful picture book, a young boy discovers that winning is not always the most important thing. Bijan spends his time in a constant competition— with friends, family, and even himself—trying to "win" at mundane activities, such as brushing his teeth. While those around him do not appreciate this trait, Bijan continuously strives to be the winner at anything he does, from drawing to lunch. When he is ostracized, he becomes more interested in connecting with others rather than winning everything. It’s very difficult to successfully make a character as annoying and determined as Bijan be one whom readers will be cheering for. Khorram succeeds by making the actions outsized but relatable. Tran’s artistic style is well implemented here with her subtle shading, comedic timing, and use of simple colors a perfect match for Khorram’s words.