Diwali (Celebrations and Festivals)

By Author / Illustrator

Sital Gorasia Chapman, Darshika Varma

Genre

Seasonal

Age range(s)

Publisher

Words & Pictures

ISBN

9780711287181

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

08-08-2024

Synopsis

Discover the joy and meaning of the magical festival of Diwali, a very special time for people all around the world.

Sonali and her brother Jay are inviting you to celebrate with them! Join in as they make rangoli patterns, cook up a feast with their nani and nana, and visit all their friends and family with gifts and delicious treats. Along the way, you'll learn how Diwali is a fun five-day celebration, all about the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

This bright, engaging and heart-warming book covers: The preparations on Dhanteras; The cooking and baking on Kali Chaudas; The delicious feast and fireworks on Diwali; The special breakfast and gifts on Nutan Varsh; The celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters on Bhai Beej.

. . . and the joy and excitement of this spectacular festival are brought to life with: A salt dough diva recipe; Instructions to make a rangoli pattern; A colourful fact-file; A fun quiz to complete together. In this immersive exploration of Diwali, kids join a family as they celebrate this vibrant festival. A simple way to introduce little ones to this important occasion, guided by young children who are celebrating.

Part of the Celebrations & Festivals series, you are invited into a family's celebrations as you explore the magic and excitement of religious and cultural festivals around the world.

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Reviews

Sue

Presented through the eyes of a young girl named Sonali and her little brother, Jay, Celebrations and Festivals: Diwali is a bright and engaging book which captures the joy and excitement of this festival.

The story follows Sonali and her family as they eagerly make preparations for the festival, getting the house ready for family who are coming to stay, making decorations and preparing delicious food. The excitement and joy at every step are vividly conveyed and engaging illustrations on every page much to the story.

Children of any faith (or none) will readily identify with the sense of anticipation and joy which both author and illustrator have captured so well on these pages. Not only is much factual information included in the story itself but there is additional information at the end of the book which adds details. This allows a younger reader to learn more and is also invaluable for any adults sharing the text who are not familiar with this festival and offers an excellent starting point for further investigation!

There are also some lovely ideas for activities to try and a quiz to find out what the reader has learned from reading the story, which shows some photographs of people celebrating the festival. An excellent addition to any bookshelf or library, 'Diwali' both explains and celebrates this festival, making it a valuable resource as well as an enjoyable read.

48 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher