‘Poppy the Pea - Oh, what a great way to be’ is the first title in a new rhyming picture book series following the adventures of Poppy the Pea. Join Poppy as she engages with fear, setbacks, and wise, loveable characters on her first and formative journey!

This beautifully designed pocketbook is an ideal little gift book and read-aloud story for children aged 5+. It features charmingly simple, quirky, and calming illustrations, paired with playful rhyming verse and catchy refrains at the end of every page that convey a variety of memorable life lessons and discussion points. The division of the story into five short chapters also introduces emergent readers to a more structured format.

'Poppy the Pea – Oh, what a great way to be' has been praised by prominent children’s book reviewers and platforms, as well as parents, teachers, schools, and therapists, with many finding it an especially comforting and empowering read for children navigating anxiety and fears—and even a gentle reminder for adults too.

The book has also inspired popular school workshops led by the author and is quickly becoming a favourite among educators, as more teachers and schools embrace its message.

Enjoy this limited, authorised first edition of 'Poppy the Pea – Oh, what a great way to be'—a heartfelt little tale of courage, resilience, and hope, for bedtime, classrooms, and gifting to dreamers young and old.

About the book 

ISBN: 978-1-7393909-0-7
Ages: 5 - 105!
Subject: courage, resilience, self-belief, friendship & hope
Size: 138 x 110 mm (pocket book)
Pages: 64
Formats: hardback book, ebook & audiobook
Price: £6.99 (book) (£3.69 audiobook ) (£1.99 ebook)
Wholesale Distributor: Gardners

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About the Author-Illustrator

Farzad Sharifi-Yazdi grew up in Berkhamsted, England, where he picked up his enduring nickname, Fuzz (later Dr. Fuzz), along with his love of poetry. At fourteen, his poem Brian’s Head won the Young Poet of the Week competition, organised by the Times Educational Supplement (TES), a prestigious pull-out of The Times newspaper, where it was also published.

Curiosity about a war that had displaced him from his birthplace, Iran, at age five, later inspired Farzad’s doctorate in Geopolitics from King’s College London. His research on rivalries and territorial disputes in the Middle East led to his first book, published by Bloomsbury in 2015. Writing for children has been Farzad’s long held dream—what better way to promote mental wellbeing and international peace, subjects extremely dear to his heart.

Farzad and his wife, Sarah, are based in London and hope to start a family soon. When not writing, Farzad can normally be found walking in nature or tending to his allotment and pond! He is currently working on the second instalment of the Poppy the Pea series while continuing to bring the first book to schools across the UK and abroad.