ABSTRACT
Most theorizing about picture books begins with the assumption that they are a multimodal form in which meaning is produced by the interaction of verbal and visual media. This chapter focuses on the narrative aspect of picture books. In general, in Iranian picture books the meaning of the verbal narrative is not necessarily incomplete if read without reference to the pictures. Rather, these books can be located on a spectrum which at one extreme features a few books that lose their meaning if their pictures are removed and at the other features illustrated books where pictures are merely ornamental. Adaptations take a different stance by employing a creative attitude toward cultural heritage. Firouzeh Golmohammadi is a rare instance of an illustrator who resorts to Iranian styles when adapting versions of Persian classics such as Rumi. Iranian picture books nowadays tend to entertain children and give them pleasure besides granting them an active role as an agent.
