Today we’re honored to reveal the cover for Lost Words: An Armenian Story of Survival and Hope by Leila Boukarim, illustrated by Sona Avedikian! The book was edited by Elizabeth Lazowski, designed by Sandy Frank, and will be released on March 26, 2024 by Chronicle Books. Preorder it here, here, or here.
Keep scrolling for exclusive notes from the author and illustrator!
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Based on a true family story, this inspiring picture book about the Armenian Genocide shares an often-overlooked history and honors the resilience of the Armenian people.
What is it like to walk away from your home? To leave behind everything and everyone you’ve ever known? Poetic, sensitive, and based on a true family history, Lost Words follows a young Armenian boy from the day he sets out to find refuge to the day he finally finds the courage to share his story.
“It is difficult to find the words to describe the type of loss a Genocide can cause to a young child. I’ve been looking for something similar for my own son. This picture book is a good start to help explain loss and raise the many questions necessary to start the conversation.”—Serj Tankian, activist, artist, and lead vocalist for System of a Down
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A word from the author:
When our boys were little, my husband, Haig, and I talked about telling them about their history. We struggled with when the right time would be and with how we would do it. What details would we leave in and what would we have to leave out? Could we paint a complete enough picture? We had no idea. This story went through over forty iterations over the next 4 years. I wanted to quit more times than I could count. Through it all, Haig stood by me. He told me this book would get published with such confidence, I had no choice but to keep going. For him. For our boys. And I am so glad I did.
As much as we want to shield our children from the horrors of our world, we have a responsibility to be honest with them. Only through telling them the truth about our past can we ever hope for a better future. — Leila Boukarim
A word from the illustrator:
Lost Words is a story that’s so close to my own family’s experience. Before I even started on the sketches, I delved into all the things in our house that reminded me of Armenia; rugs, ceramics, jewelry, and manuscripts. I tried incorporating the colors I found into the palette, and used a lot of my own memories to illustrate the tender moments in the book. I’m glad we got to share a part of our story, and I hope everyone finds some hope in our main character’s journey. — Sona Avedikian
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Leila Boukarim writes stories for children that inspire empathy and encourage meaningful discussions. She enjoys reading (multiple books at a time), embroidering, nature walking, and spending time with people, listening to their stories and sharing her own. Leila lives in Berlin, Germany. You can visit her at leilaboukarim.com.
Sona Avedikian is an Armenian illustrator born in Beirut, Lebanon, and currently based in Detroit, Michigan. She loves creating vibrant work and often takes inspiration from Armenian art and architecture. You can find more of her work at sonaavedikian.com.
