Shubh Diwali!

by Chitra Soundar, Charlene Chua (Illustrator)

Overview

WSRA Children's Literature: Picture This 2021 Recommendation List

The festival of lights is here—time to celebrate the New Year!

Diwali has arrived! Rangoli art decorates the floor, and strings of flowers hang around the doors. Now it's time to ring the bells, light the lamps, and welcome the New Year with family and friends. A sweet introduction to the Hindu festival of lights.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807573617
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/28/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	495,293
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Chitra Soundar is an active supporter of reading for pleasure and inclusivity in publishing. Born in India, she now lives in London. She has over thirty books in print worldwide.

Charlene Chua grew up in Singapore but now lives in Ontario, Canada. When she's not making art, she enjoys cooking, reading, and playing video games.

Editorial Reviews

WSRA Children's Literature: Picture This 2021 Recommendation List

"Jaunty rhymes and warm, generous family activities mark the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in this picture book that's designed to fill young eyes with wonder." — Foreword Reviews


"A solid introduction to a holiday celebrated by millions."— Kirkus Reviews


"Soundar's text reflects a lovely, pluralistic society in which an Indian family’s values and practices are affirmed. A necessary addition to any corpus of books about celebrations."—Booklist

From the Publisher

10/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—Told in the words of a child, this picture book shows how an Indian family prepares for the festival of Diwali. Young and old participate equally in these preparations. Everyone helps clean the house and decorate it with buntings and vibrant, colorful art. Traditional foods and sweets are made, and new clothes are bought. When Diwali begins, families come together to worship, sing hymns, and tell stories of gods. It's time to visit friends and neighbors. Fireworks brighten the skies, and gifts are exchanged. The pictures are vivid and detailed, and the book is narrated in cheerful rhyme. Soundar briefly touches on the background of the Hindu festival of light, but the focus remains on the preparation and practices during the celebration. For those already familiar with Diwali, this book is fun and relatable, and for those who have not been exposed to Hindu culture, this will teach them that Diwali is a time to celebrate with family and friends, give thanks, and pray for blessings and bounty. VERDICT A well-written selection to introduce Diwali and promote cultural appreciation.—Noureen Qadir-Jafar, Syosset Library, NY

School Library Journal

2019-06-23
Soundar's rhyming picture book gives readers an overview of the Hindu celebration of Diwali as it is celebrated in large parts of North India and by the North Indian diaspora.

Diwali is celebrated on the night of the new moon, and so after "Grandpa watches the waning moon" and notes that "the festival is coming soon," an Indian boy and girl help their family clean and decorate the house. Then they all don new clothes, sing hymns and light lamps together, and exchange gifts and sweets with their neighbors, all in celebration of the holiday. Family members wear a combination of traditional Indian and Western attire; the suburban setting looks Western. It ends with a joyful greeting: "Shubh Diwali, to one and all. / We wish you joy, big and small!" Soundar's use of "Shubh" in the title—meaning "auspicious" or "holy"—instead of "Happy" is welcome, as is Chua's inclusion of neighborhood diversity (white and black families as well as a person using a wheelchair). As an entry on the holidays shelf, it breaks little new ground, but North American shelves hardly overflow with Diwali titles. An author's note explaining the regional and religious differences in the celebration of Diwali across South Asia and the diaspora and a glossary of common terms provide readers with additional scaffolding.

A solid introduction to a holiday celebrated by millions. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews