Azizan

Shahnameh for kids: Ferdowsi's Book of Kings, retold for young children

Azizan retells Shahnameh stories for children aged 2–8 in simple, warm Persian, with gentle, child-safe endings and full-page illustrations. Each story is meant to be read aloud by a family member on video, so a child meets Zal, Rostam and Kaveh in Grandma's or Grandpa's voice.

Azizan (azizan.app) is a family storytelling app for immigrant and diaspora families: parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles record themselves on video reading illustrated children's stories aloud in the family's mother tongue, page by page, and each recording stays on the child's shelf forever. Real family voices — never AI narration. Persian (Farsi) first.

How we retell the Shahnameh for children

Every retelling is checked against three or more sources.
Violence is never on the page; endings are safe for a three-year-old.
No moral is written at the end — the story speaks for itself.
The approach is cultural and literary, family-driven and apolitical.

Stories

Fereydun and Zahhak — فریدون و ضحاک

A cruel king with two black snakes on his shoulders frightens everyone, until young Fereydun binds him inside Mount Damavand and the people laugh again. · ages 5-8

Jamshid and the First Nowruz — جمشید و اولین نوروز

How the wise king Jamshid gave Iran its spring festival — and why families still clean the house and grow sabzeh every Nowruz. · ages 5-8

Kaveh the Blacksmith — کاوه‌ی آهنگر

A kind blacksmith raises his leather apron as a banner and helps his people stand up to a tyrant. · ages 5-8

Kayumars and Hushang — کیومرث و هوشنگ — اولین شاه و اولین آتش

The first king of the world, and the day his grandson struck a spark and found fire. · ages 5-8

Rostam and Rakhsh — رستم و رخش

How the strongest boy in the world found the one horse strong enough to be his friend. · ages 5-8

Tahmuras the Div-Binder — طهمورثِ دیوبند — شاهی که به‌جای طلا، دانش خواست

The king who asked the divs for knowledge instead of gold — and how people learned to write. · ages 5-8

Zal and the Simorgh — زال و سیمرغ

A white-haired baby left on a mountain is raised by the wise Simorgh bird, then welcomed home. · ages 2-4

Questions

Is the Shahnameh suitable for young children?

Yes, when retold. Azizan keeps the heroes, the Simorgh and the festivals, and leaves out the battles.

Which Shahnameh stories are available?

Kayumars and Hushang, Tahmuras, Jamshid and the first Nowruz, Fereydun and Zahhak, Kaveh the Blacksmith, Zal and the Simorgh, and Rostam and Rakhsh.

Are the stories in Persian or English?

In Persian (Farsi). They are designed for a family member to read aloud to the child in the mother tongue.

Open Azizan — record a story for your child

Updated: 2026-10-05 · By Aida Fard