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(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Ruth Jeyaveeran.
In Kathmandu during the Festival of Lights--called Swanti, Tihar, or Deepawali in Nepal (Diwali in India)--two brothers look for a kukur (stray dog) to honor during the celebration. Coauthor Amish Karanjit, Engle's son-in-law, lived through the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, when rescue dogs played an important role in finding survivors. The interesting holiday story is illustrated with cultural specificity. Suggested activities are appended. Reading list. Glos.
(4)
4-6
Orca Origins series.
This book successfully expresses that Diwali is celebrated differently around the world. Hindu, Jain, and Sikh Diwali traditions are represented through photographs of celebrations, related legends, included recipes, and anecdotal narratives about real people. Though losing focus as it attempts to cover related topics such as Indian immigration, the book offers in-depth depictions of cultural and religious practices. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| March, 2008
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-3060-2$23.93 New ed. (1997)
(4)
K-3
Best Holiday Books series.
This useful but unexciting revised and updated series presents the historical and spiritual origins of these religious holidays and the ways they are observed. The books particularly focus on how the holidays are celebrated in modern-day North America with festivals featuring traditional foods, music, and clothing. Many captioned photographs break up the pages. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review includes these Best Holiday Books titles: Diwali: Hindu Festival of Lights and Ramadan and Id Al-Fitr.
32 pp.
| Boyds
| August, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-524-9$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jamel Akib.
Ricki is excited to celebrate Divali, but he's worried that his grandfather won't forgive him for accidentally having "meddled with his rosebush." Though the narration can be convoluted and the story tackles too many issues, a lilting Trinidadian syntax and cross-cultural references add flavor to this morality tale about honesty, family, and accepting difference. Gentle rose-tinted illustrations fill the pages.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| August, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7660-2778-7$31.93
(3)
4-6
Celebrate Holidays series.
Captioned photographs, maps, drawings, and sidebars combine with accessible text to present a thorough discussion of the featured holiday. Each title explains the origin of the holiday then describes traditional observances and modern-day celebrations, including some personal family stories and simple activities. Diwali includes a craft. This series is a useful resource for library or classroom holiday-books collections. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Celebrate Holidays titles: Celebrate Ramadan, Celebrate Christmas, and Celebrate Diwali.
32 pp.
| National
| October, 2006
|
TradeISBN 0-7922-5922-X$15.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-7922-5923-8$23.90
(3)
K-3
Holidays around the World series.
These books use short, simple sentences and large, colorful, well-captioned photographs to explain each holiday's customs and traditions. Written with a global perspective in mind, the text's use of the "we" voice (rather than "they") makes the information seem more authentic and respectful. Recipes are provided; Diwali includes a game. Both books feature an essay written by a religion professor. Reading list, websites. Glos. Review covers these Holidays around the World titles: Celebrate Diwali and Celebrate Ramadan & Eid Al-Fitr.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| April, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2235-8$$18.95
(4)
K-3
Finding Out about Holidays series.
After retelling the story from the Ramayana, Parker-Rock focuses on how Diwali is celebrated in India and in North America. The text is choppy, but the attractive photos, illustrations, and large, clear typeface make this an accessible if bland introduction. A Diwali spin on "pin the tail on the donkey" doesn't seem all that authentic. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
40 pp.
| Barefoot
| September, 2002
|
TradeISBN 1-84148-936-0$$16.99
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Nilesh Mistry.
In this complicated retelling about the traditional Hindu tale of the origin of Divaali, the Festival of Light, Prince Rama wins his wife, Sita; loses her to the Demon King Ravana; defeats Ravana; and assumes the throne with Sita as his queen. An author's note explains the holiday customs, and a list of characters (and how to pronounce their names) is provided. The gouache illustrations, while vibrant, verge on cartoonish.