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About
Sahar Shams is a Berkeley-based author, illustrator, and children's mental health advocate. Her debut picture book, What Does Santa Want for Christmas? (Random House Books for Young Readers, October 2026), asks a question no one has asked in 200 years of Santa stories: who gives Santa his gifts?
Before books, Sahar built emotional tools kids could hold in their hands. She founded The Little Soul, a nonprofit for children's mindfulness, and created Meeka's Secret, an interactive story app supporting children healing from abuse, with more than 125,000 downloads and coverage on VOA and Radio Farda. She holds an MFA in Fine Art, received the SCBWI Don Freeman Grant for illustration, and is completing her second master's degree in Counseling Psychology at CIIS.
Born in Tehran, Sahar brings Persian storytelling warmth to American picture books. Her mission in one line: helping children be kind to themselves, so they can be kinder to the world.
Awards
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CBWI Don Freeman Grant recipient
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Tapestry of Voices / Equity & Inclusion” SCBWI Award, 2023
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AAU Spring Show Selected Children’s Books, 2018 & 2019
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Iran Video Games National Festival, Character Design award 2009
Press
Featured Project
Total more than 125K downloads
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Parents and teacher's reviews
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Michka Ebook
Michka, an interactive ebook in Farsi, has been created with the help of child psychologists and addresses sexual abuse topics in a more understandable and non-threatening way for children. It uses the metaphor of an insect by that name which is torn in confusion when its wings ( then a private part of the insect's body based on the story ) are broached by another insect.
Children's letters after they learned how to take care of their heart's flowers.
Nicole Jafari, Psychologist, University Professor, Children Studies
"I recommend Meeka to all parents, to first examine its power of communication and storytelling on their own, and second to spend together with their child to watch and discuss as it unfolds. Meeka brings children and parents together."
Suzanne Darley, Ph.D., REACE, Expressive Art Educator
"As an expressive arts educator, I know that stories have the power to transform lives."
“Meeka’s Secret” allows us to reach out to children and offer hope, through a story."
Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist and New York Times best-selling author
The Little Soul Foundation has developed a wonderful app for kids that uses art therapy and games to help kids overcome the effects of childhood trauma.
