[2] Fazlollah Mirhadi, who was Touran's father, left Iran in 1909 to study mechanical and structural engineering in Germany.

Many of these young Iranians, Mirhadi among them, were interested not only in western science and technology but also progressive social and political ideas of the modern world.

[3][4] Fazlollah met Touran's German mother, Greta Dietrich, during the difficult years of the First World War.

Greta raised her children as Iranian but ensured that they stayed connected to Europe by teaching them German and French and tutoring them in European history, art and culture.

During that time, Greta managed all the affairs of the household and kept them afloat by renting the house that later became the site for the Farhad School.

[1][2] Starting in 1932, Touran began her formal education in schools in Tehran while her mother continued to teach her languages.

She was so moved by the post war devastation in Europe that she joined student groups that participated in rebuilding efforts across the continent.

Her travels in Europe solidified her conviction that education, literature, arts and knowledge are keys to preventing human misery and war.

After this tragedy, it was the support and encouragement of her mother that helped Touran get her life back on track and pursue her aspirations.

Central to the Farhad system was the role that the library played in educating the children, broadening their knowledge and encouraging reading and critical thinking.

[9][5][2] In 1963, along with a group of prominent teachers and educators, including Lily Ahi, Samin Baghtcheban and Abbas Yamini Sharif, Touran Mirhadi co-founded the Children's Book Council (CBC) of Iran.

[11] Mirhadi was an active and leading member of the CBC, helping the council navigate the many changes in the Iranian society throughout its 50 years of existence.

Referencing her work with the Council, Keyhan Mohammadi, director of the Center, remarked that "Iranians consider Mirhadi to be the founder of children's literature" in Iran.

[7][14] Work on this monumental effort started in 1980 in response to the need for a reliable and objective source for the Iranian children and young adults to learn about themselves, their country and their world.

[17] In 2012, the Institute for Research on the History of Children’s Literature in Iran nominated Touran Mirhadi to receive the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2013 and 2017 respectively (ALMA).

[21] In July 2015, Mirhadi was nominated again for the 2016 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award by the Institute for Research on The History of Children's Literature in Iran (HCLI).