Suitcase Full

The Things We Keep: A Suitcase Full of Family, Culture, and Courage

A Suitcase Full is a heartfelt picture book about the power of family, the beauty of embracing change, and the immigrant experience. When a young girl’s family is forced to flee Iran, there isn’t time to make a plan. Kimia fills her suitcase but is forced to leave her beloved grandmother, Nana-joon, behind, along with many cherished possessions and places. They travel to vibrant cities like London and Paris, and ultimately find solace on the inviting shores of O'ahu, where new adventures await. When her teacher assigns the class a special project—bringing a suitcase filled with meaningful objects—Kimia learns to weave her past into her present, celebrating both her roots and her growth.

Through stunning illustrations and poignant storytelling, A Suitcase Full invites readers to explore their own life stories and identities, and to discover how our experiences make us who we are.

• Share in the joys and challenges of starting fresh in a new place
• Explore themes of resilience, belonging, and what it means to carry your story with you
• Offer comfort and hope to children adjusting to new homes or schools

Based on the author’s childhood, A Suitcase Full is a touching story that encourages shared storytelling and conversations about family history, migration, language, culture, and coping with change.

A Suitcase Full explores themes of the immigrant experience, home, identity, and the power of family. When young Kimia and her parents are forced to flee Iran, they set off on a journey around the world.

Maryam Kia is an award-winning psychologist and author. A Suitcase Full is her debut picture book. When she was young, her family imigrated from Iran to the island of O'ahu. Along the way, she experienced multiple countries, languages, cultures, and schools, inspiring her career as a resilience, wellness, and mindfulness expert. As an author, Maryam hopes to empower young readers to see the wonder and magic in their own suitcases and to appreciate the treasures others carry. Maryam lives in Southern California, where she and her kids are always on the lookout for shooting stars, rainbows, and waterfalls.

Jaclyn Sinquett grew up playing in her dad's garden, feeding worms to box turtles, and tossing French fries to seagulls at the Jersey shore. She received her BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts and now illustrates books for children. In addition to A Suitcase Full, some of her works include How to Get Your Octopus to School, Loud Mouse, and I Love Strawberries! She’s also created thousands of greeting cards and enjoys incorporating hand lettering into every project she can. Most of all, Jaclyn loves helping people connect with each other and themselves through her art. Her favorite color is yellow ochre, and she lives in Brick, NJ, where spends her time avoiding sunburn at the beach with her husband and daughter, chasing her cat off the kitchen table, and listening to her parrot impersonate an alarm clock.