Rose by the Sea: An Armenian Journey of Courage and Hope

by Rebecca Rose Mooradian, Myo Yim (Illustrator)

Based on the true story of the author’s great-grandmother, this fierce yet hopeful picture book about surviving the Armenian Genocide sparkles with hope and heart even amid unspeakable tragedy—perfect for readers of The Proudest Blue and Yuyi Morales’s Dreamers.

Rose is what my parents call
Dzovinar, their rose by the sea.

Dzovinar (“zill-ven-ar”) lives with her family in Armenia, where the hillside is dotted with sheep and the apricot trees bloom every spring. She loves her home—but one day, soldiers storm her village, and she returns to an empty house.

Their parents gone, Dzovinar and her sister are forced to flee. Afraid and alone, they journey across the desert, then over the first to France and then to America, where they hope a new future will bloom. Changed but not lost, Dzovinar takes root in a new land…forever a rose by the sea.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Family, Kids

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully told, empathetic, all-ages story of coming to America and the power of immigrants! Definitely getting it for every young person in my life

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading. Not only is it a beautifully illustrated book, it also covers the too often neglected Armenian Genocide in a simple, sensitive, and moving way that is age appropriate for the entire family.

[Chrisanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried again.

The illustrations are lovely and beautifully descriptive of the emotional and plot landscape.

Don't skip the author's note.

[Abbigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautifully illustrated; visually, I loved how colors guided the story, but while I read it I wondered if the story was too advanced for kids learning their colors or if colors would feel baby-ish to older readers. Now I think the colors give this book a great entry point for seemingly "too young" of readers; I think this book has a wide audience because the author did not get too specific about the genocide in the pages but includes a longer author's note that adds context.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book in the "new picture book" section at the library and grabbed it because I loved the front cover. I'm so glad I did. This is another gorgeous book about 2 sisters during the Armenian Genocide who are forced to flee their country and eventually come to the United States as refugees. The story is based on the author's great-grandmother's true story and is beautifully written, with color as the backdrop. I loved this amazing book!

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good picture book which follows two sisters who have to flee their Armenian village during the Armenian genocide to re settle in the United States, in Delray, Detroit, in fact. This picture book has very pretty illustrations and focuses a lot of bold colors that dominate different pages and tells about the people who help them along the way, including a Turkish woman in Armenia! This is a good narrative to teach children about the Armenian Genocide!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well done. This book is a sensitively told story of the Armenian Genocide based on the author's grandmother's story. The illustrations are evocative and beautifully draw upon color. An extended author's note adds good information.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text is poetry, full of heart and hope. The illustrations are charming. A delightful read. Buy it!