May 2025 | Vol. 25 Iss. 5
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Author’s story of the Silk Road immerses Albion students into integrated learning By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Daniel Nayeri’s visit unites Albion into the “Dreams of Samir.”
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amir, from “The Man Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams,” mirrors the author’s father: a lively, engaging man who captivates people with his storytelling. “Samir’s not the main character, but he takes center stage,” author Daniel Nayeri said. “He owns the spotlight and was inspired by my dad. When he’s in a restaurant, somehow all the other tables are in a conversation with us. He tells big stories, and he likes being around people and talking and haggling. He’s one of those great storytellers.” Like his father, Nayeri is a natural storyteller, often weaving his personal experiences into conversations to make a point. During his visit to Albion Middle School, he shared memories of his childhood—his mother and his stuffed lamb, trips to the ice cream store with his father, whittling with his son and his wife’s fashion expertise helping him choose scarves and berets for his signature look. When Nayeri enters a classroom, the students greet him enthusiastically. He teases one student about the opportunity to pay her to do her social studies homework, and as a former pastry chef, challenges a teacher to a bake-off. As a woodworker who crafts wooden spoons, he discusses sandpaper grits and woodworking safety with students, though he’s reminded to avoid cutting off a
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HOME EXPO At a school assembly, teachers pose students’ questions to author Daniel Nayeri, with a batik students made for him near the stage. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
finger with the band saw. His hands are critical to his work as they craft the stories he pens. As an immigrant from Iran, Nayeri’s journey was shaped by his experiences at refugee camps and arriving in Oklahoma at Continued page 4
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