Children's Books discussion

Happy Diwali to those celebrating today. I haven't read many picture books on the holiday, but this list has some titles that look excellent:

https://coloursofus.com/21-childrens-...

I'm hoping to check out some this week.

If you've read any picture books about Diwali, I hope you'll post reviews here!

fyi, there are a *lot* on openlibrary.org. Including, for example, Amma, Tell Me About Diwali!, which looks like it might be the most inviting to young families.

My libraries have plenty, too, but again mostly ebooks. Which is fine, I guess, but to have enough paper books to make a display would be even better, naturally. Or at least to enhance an 'autumn' display.

I gave Diwali 4 stars when I read it last winter.

I'd like to figure out the right words to fix the blurb. The book makes it clear that many religions have a holiday called Diwali, occurring at about the same time, celebrating the belief that "good always wins against evil." A billion people celebrate, not just Hindus but Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists.

The book makes it sound like a holiday that really would be effective at spreading good cheer & peace on earth, though, like Christmas, there are lots of sweets and boughten gifts included, too, which may work similarly to 'secularize' the holiday.

Bright photos with details, also index, glossary, and resources.
I enjoyed the quick read, and learned a lot.

Recommended especially to families with children ages 4-9 who don't already know about the holiday.

Shubh Diwali! looks more appealing, but I only gave it three stars:

I do like how specific it is, especially if one reads the author's note in the back. But is it the best Diwali choice for a collection? I doubt it. Especially because I was struck by how much money needs to be spent... it's going on as bad as a modern American Christmas, which imo is obscene.

Rama and Sita: The Story of Diwali
This is an interesting retelling of a story from the Ramayana.
It's a battle of good vs. evil but the link to Diwali isn't clearly stated.

The illustrations are a little weird. They're brightly colored and fun but the people are way off in perspective and realism. It doesn't make a good e-book. The print is too small.

Archie Celebrates Diwali
This story is about a girl named Archan in contemporary America or Canada or Britain or somewhere other than India where her family is from. She's excited to invite her friends over for Diwali but as her big, loud, crazy family gets more and more into the celebration, she feels nervous her friends will think her family is weird, her outfit weird, they won't like the food. Then after her friends arrive, the power goes out so there's no light for Diwali!

Archie and another friend tell a different version of the Rama and Sita story that explains better why they are celebrating Diwali and the link to the lights. Naturally, the other girls are fascinated and have a good time even when a storm knocks out power. Archie learns to have faith in her culture and that others will accept it if she does. Anyone from a large, ethnic family can relate to this story.

The illustrations look realistic enough in a digital cartoon way. I liked seeing the celebration unfold and learning all about Hindi culture. The back of the book has more about Archie's favorite holiday, the story of the Ramayana, a glossary and craft activity (make your own diyas).

The e-book is readable but the print is on the small side.

I realized that a book we read earlier in the year actually corresponds with one of the days of Diwali. Bracelets For Bina's Brothers It focuses on the Indian holiday Raksha Bandhan (I didn't not realize this was part of Diwali until I read another Diwali book this week) which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. The author and illustrator are of Indian descent). The math concept explored is patterns. Good for Kindergarten age.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Rama and Sita: The Story of Diwali
This is an interesting retelling of a story from the Ramayana.
It's a battle of good vs. ev..."

I'm going to get the Archie book from our library! Sounds good! The Rami and Sita one sounds interesting. I'm guessing it's just the good triumphing over evil that is the tie-in with Diwali? I know the goddess Lakshmi is most connected with the holiday.

DiwaliI don't really like the illustrations here and the text is fairly basic (prefer Diwali as it feels complete enough for early elementary but still appealing enough for pre-K) but this is a decent basic introduction and there is the bonus of the music. I would have loved if some traditionally popular Diwali songs were at least mentioned in the back of the book (even if not included to play due to copyright) to feel more authentic. However, for purposes of livening up the text the song at least is somewhat transporting and I think it's worth sharing with young children. I also appreciate that you'll hear the proper pronunciation of the words (i.e., saying the "w" as a "v" in Diwali)
You can find the song and illustrations here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gohbR...

PS I did some quick research and this is apparently quite popular and many people feel it's nostalgic (albeit from 2011) and really captures Diwali for them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZj-M...

Kathryn wrote: "
I'm going to get the Archie book from our library! Sounds good! The Rami and Sita one sounds interesting. I'm guessing it's just the good triumphing over evil that is the tie-in with Diwali? I know the goddess Lakshmi is most connected with the holiday."

It very briefly mentions the light and why people celebrate Diwali but it doesn't really explain much. The story Archie tells is a little different and makes more sense. I could relate to Archie, being from an ethnic family myself and sometimes having weird traditions. In my lifetime though, Italians have become so common place around here and everyone loves Italian food and Italian grandmas that no one has ever batted an eyelash at our traditions and enthusiastically joined in. In elementary school it was a little weird to have an old world grandma. I understood Archie's feelings of embarassment about her family and worries about their food. I'm sure my dad felt the same way when he was in prep school in the 60s. Growing up post-WWII, Italian food and traditions were still as unfamiliar as Hindu traditions seem to many of us.