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Festival of Colors
Learn all about Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors, in this lush picture book from bestselling mother/son duo Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal.
Spring is here, and it’s almost time for Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo are busy gathering flowers to make into colorful powders to toss during the festival. And when at last the big day comes, they gather with their friends, family, and neighbors for a vibrant celebration of fresh starts, friendship, forgiveness, and, of course, fun!
Spring is here, and it’s almost time for Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Siblings Mintoo and Chintoo are busy gathering flowers to make into colorful powders to toss during the festival. And when at last the big day comes, they gather with their friends, family, and neighbors for a vibrant celebration of fresh starts, friendship, forgiveness, and, of course, fun!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2018
14 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Surishtha Sehgal
11 books6 followersSurishtha Sehgal was a university professor for many years and now enjoys reading to children during story time. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization that promotes social responsibility among students, and she serves on the boards of two universities and a national arts center. She lives in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
February 22, 2018
I was looking for a book out in 2018 and I saw the title and thought this will be great. I had no idea what it was about. WHAT A Delightful surprise!
This is about a Holy festival in India in Spring where they use colors powdered from flowers to bring in new beginnings, inclusiveness and good over evil. The Festival is the Holi festival and they shout Holi Hai and throw the flower powders of color into the air as a big community.It looks just wild and sorta fun. Reds, oranges, violets, and blues. They wear white so that going home you are awash in colors. I am going to have to look up more about the Holi festival. It looks absolutely interesting.
This short little book held the kids enraptured. They were trying to figure out what was going on and why and it didn't make much sense. Now, both kids want to take some flowers, make some powder and have our own festival. They think it looks like fun. I don't know that we should, but that was their reaction from the book.
This is about a Holy festival in India in Spring where they use colors powdered from flowers to bring in new beginnings, inclusiveness and good over evil. The Festival is the Holi festival and they shout Holi Hai and throw the flower powders of color into the air as a big community.It looks just wild and sorta fun. Reds, oranges, violets, and blues. They wear white so that going home you are awash in colors. I am going to have to look up more about the Holi festival. It looks absolutely interesting.
This short little book held the kids enraptured. They were trying to figure out what was going on and why and it didn't make much sense. Now, both kids want to take some flowers, make some powder and have our own festival. They think it looks like fun. I don't know that we should, but that was their reaction from the book.
April 29, 2019
This is the second picture book about Holi that I've read, the first being the underwhelming Holi Colors by Rina Singh. Unlike that book, which was basically just a bunch of photographs of children with coloured powder on their faces and some insipid rhymes, Festival of Colors has more of a story, with siblings Mintoo and Chintoo preparing for the festival by gathering flowers.
Flowers, you say? Well, as it turns out, those coloured powders are traditionally made from dried and powdered flowers. (I thought it was just coloured powder that was bought at a store!) So the beginning part of the book is basically a book that teaches colours as the siblings go about collecting the flowers to make their powders: irises for blue, marigolds for orange, etc. Then, when they have their powders, they join with their family, friends, and neighbours (all dressed in white) and begin the celebrations.
There's an author's note at the end that explains more about the festival, but the book itself already does a decent job of showing what goes on during Holi. And the illustrations are cute, intensely colourful, and immensely appealing.
I would definitely recommend this book for young children (or anyone, for that matter) who's interested in learning about Holi and what happens. It's also a colourful feast for the eyes, so people who appreciate good illustrations in picture books might want to take a look as well.
Flowers, you say? Well, as it turns out, those coloured powders are traditionally made from dried and powdered flowers. (I thought it was just coloured powder that was bought at a store!) So the beginning part of the book is basically a book that teaches colours as the siblings go about collecting the flowers to make their powders: irises for blue, marigolds for orange, etc. Then, when they have their powders, they join with their family, friends, and neighbours (all dressed in white) and begin the celebrations.
There's an author's note at the end that explains more about the festival, but the book itself already does a decent job of showing what goes on during Holi. And the illustrations are cute, intensely colourful, and immensely appealing.
I would definitely recommend this book for young children (or anyone, for that matter) who's interested in learning about Holi and what happens. It's also a colourful feast for the eyes, so people who appreciate good illustrations in picture books might want to take a look as well.
February 1, 2020
Mother-and-son author team, Surishtha and Kabir Sehgal, whose previous collaborations include
A Bucket of Blessings
and
The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk
, join forces once again in this sweet picture-book celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi. The simple text follows brother and sister Chintoo and Mintoo as they gather and dry flowers, and pound them into brightly-colored powder - powder that is then used in the celebration of the festival. A brief author's afterword explains a little bit more about his "Festival of Colors."
Appropriately enough, given the title of the book (and of the festival itself), illustrator Vashti Harrison's artwork here is vibrantly colorful, with lots of bold, eye-catching hues. Her style is cartoon-like, and a little flat for my taste, but the palette makes the visuals here immensely appealing all the same. The story is simple but sweet. There's a dearth of good Holi stories here in the states, so I'm pleased to see the appearance of Festival of Colors on the scene. Recommended to fans of the Sehgals, and to anyone looking for children's stories about the eponymous festival of colors.
Appropriately enough, given the title of the book (and of the festival itself), illustrator Vashti Harrison's artwork here is vibrantly colorful, with lots of bold, eye-catching hues. Her style is cartoon-like, and a little flat for my taste, but the palette makes the visuals here immensely appealing all the same. The story is simple but sweet. There's a dearth of good Holi stories here in the states, so I'm pleased to see the appearance of Festival of Colors on the scene. Recommended to fans of the Sehgals, and to anyone looking for children's stories about the eponymous festival of colors.
February 12, 2018
Vibrant colors and color identification, as well as a wide range of body types and skin tones, make this book a great choice for storytimes and for book displays. I would've liked a bit more exploration of what Holi is in terms of the holiday itself, but an end-note nicely expands on the sparse information offered by the text.
March 17, 2018
This picture book easily details the key elements of Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors. Beautifully depicted and filled with vibrant colors, children and parents alike will be excited to learn new ways to celebrate spring.
January 28, 2018
A vibrant celebration of the Indian festival of colors Holi with a bit of additional about it at the back of the book.
February 2, 2018
The lush colors in this book are gorgeous. I am anxious to try this one out with my preschool storytime--a new, fresh twist for the "colors" theme!
February 9, 2018
Colorful and simple. Good way to introduce another culture to little ones.
February 13, 2018
I didn't even know the Holi Festival of Colors existed until I read this BEAUTIFUL book. Just lovely.
And nothing beats a book that makes you smile AND makes you want to learn more!
And nothing beats a book that makes you smile AND makes you want to learn more!
September 28, 2019
I adore this book! What a great way to share this festival with students. And Vashti Harrison's illustrations are so joyful.
June 24, 2018
beautiful! i fully want to make colored powder from flowers!!
October 14, 2023
Festival of Colors is a stunning picture book about Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Two siblings gather pigments from flowers to make the necessary powders, which is then thrown into the air and onto festival participants. The illustrations are lush, and it was amazing learning more about Indian culture.
January 27, 2022
Featured in a grandma reads session.
On the bold, beautiful artwork of Vashti Harrison, the authors, Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal helped up learn about HOLI, the Indian festival of colors. We loved hearing about it, and learning more about another culture. My group was whisper "Holi Hai" to each other as the characters in the book did. . .pronounced [holy, heh], and the meaning is "It's Holi!"
We loved this bright book, and want to find out more about this holiday - in 2022 it is March 18/19? we think . . .
On the bold, beautiful artwork of Vashti Harrison, the authors, Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal helped up learn about HOLI, the Indian festival of colors. We loved hearing about it, and learning more about another culture. My group was whisper "Holi Hai" to each other as the characters in the book did. . .pronounced [holy, heh], and the meaning is "It's Holi!"
We loved this bright book, and want to find out more about this holiday - in 2022 it is March 18/19? we think . . .
September 13, 2021
The Festival of Colors in India sounds like a wonderfully fun way to build community!
January 30, 2019
Festival of Colors is a really sweet story about Holi that also serves as a delightful colours book! The illustrations are vibrant and gorgeous and suit the story and the festival perfectly.
Highly recommended for anyone in need of a picture book about Holi or colours or both.
Highly recommended for anyone in need of a picture book about Holi or colours or both.
August 25, 2019
Our two-year-old loves the colors, and the word POOF.
February 2, 2018
Holi is the Indian festival of colors and symbolizes inclusiveness, new beginnings, and the triumph of good over evil. Spring is here and Chintoo and Mintoo are ready to prepare for the Holi Festival! Gathering flowers, drying them, separating petals, and pressing them into fine powders is only part of the preparation. As the community gathers for this celebration, Chintoo and Mintoo remind us that it is also about having FUN!
Through the vivid colors and illustrations young readers will begin to learn their colors at the same time as learning about other cultural celebrations.
Through the vivid colors and illustrations young readers will begin to learn their colors at the same time as learning about other cultural celebrations.
February 3, 2018
This is a diverse, educational, and entertaining picture book for readers of all ages. It's adorable, brightly colored illustrations help create a book that leaves you feeling happier after reading it. It's incredibly easy to feel happy while reading a book about colors, flowers, family, and festivities.
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
FULL REVIEW https://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2018/...
February 11, 2018
This has inspired me to learn more about the Holi Festival of Colors. I’m hoping some of my students, their families, my neighbors and co-workers will be willing and able to share their expertise and experiences about the celebration. I have to say to be a part of a festival “of fresh starts. And friendship. And forgiveness.” would be a wonderful celebration indeed!
September 4, 2018
My four year old is so obsessed with this book she brought it to school so her pre-k teacher could read it to the whole class. She's so obsessed with it, we've been reading it every night for three weeks. She's SO obsessed with it she tries to binge watch Holi videos on youtube. 5 stars from me for that reason alone.
February 9, 2018
As so many families go to the Festival of Colors here in Utah, this would be a nice introduction to the significance of the festival and its origins (I get that it is makes for a great Instagram photo, but there is a bit more to it)
February 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The illustrations are beautiful and adorable. I think the book discusses this celebration in an informative and fun way. I also liked the naming of colors and various flowers, which provides an additional educational aspect to the story.
February 18, 2018
Literally a beautiful story about the Indian Festival of Colors. Perfect for primary (learning colors) and perfect for intermediate to learn about traditions. Perfect for everyone the power of creativity.
February 19, 2018
This book is beautiful and shows the experience of the titular festival through young eyes. It also manages to portray the deeper meaning without being pedantic. This is a beautiful book; that is enough.
December 29, 2018
This was darling, and I loved seeing the meaning behind the tradition! The festival of colors is huge in my Utah neighborhood, but I don't know if people appreciate the cultural elements behind it. This book was awesome in bringing that to life!
January 31, 2018
A very simple telling of Holi. It is perfect for a storytime about Diwali or possibly integrated into a storytime about color.
February 7, 2018
This was fine and probably would work in a classroom setting, but it was also not a standout.
February 8, 2018
Really great color book in and of itself, but the added element of education on Holi/Indian culture is GREAT (esp. with the author's note at the end to provide further context).
February 9, 2018
Very colorful book about Holi - a festival I previously knew nothing about
February 11, 2018
Gorgeous picture book about this colorful holiday.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews