Having lived overseas for many years, I have come to appreciate the many festivals and cultures around the world. One that has always fascinated me, is Diwali. The books in today’s blog are colourful, beautiful and full of vivid information about Diwali, festivals of light as well as other cultural celebrations and brilliant women from India!
Girl Power, Indian Women who took on the World by Neha J Hiranandani, Cover and Pattern illustration by Aditi Kakade Beaufrand, Inside illustrations by Niloufer Wadia, Published by Scholastic
These anthologies of brilliant people from around the world are inspired and can engage readers in new ways. Short, snappy biographies of amazing women from India will get young readers learning of unknown but wonderful women who changed their world, and challenged themselves. The bold and bright colour of this book immediately grabs your attention and the possibilities are endless once you begin reading. Spanning centuries, the women featured were warriors, spies, princesses and athletes. They were and are proof that you can do anything you put your mind to. I particularly loved reading about Meenakshi Gurukkal, the warrior grandma and Kalpana Chawla, an astronaut! Wonderful illustrations of each woman are the perfect accompaniment to their stories. This would be absolutely perfect for every class reading corner.
Little Glow by Katie Sahota and Harry Woodgate, Published by Owlet Press
Beautifully illustrated and lyrically told, this is a true celebration of light, hope and love. Little Glow watches through the window as neighbours, friends and family come together to celebrate birthdays, New Years, Hanukkah and Christmas. Little Glow watches faces light up, hands being held and smiles being shared and feels the love and hope these things bring. This serves as an introduction to festivals and celebrations around the world and a reminder they happen in our own neighbourhoods. Little Glow, though alone in the windowsill still acts as a beacon of light welcoming home family for Christmas. This would make an ideal read aloud for KS1, and a starting point for learning about light, fireworks and ceremonies. The illustrations are glorious and will have readers devouring each page.
All About Diwali by Swapna Haddow and Aditi Kakade Beaufrand, Published by Scholastic
Perfectly timed this book is all you need to learn about and celebrate Diwali in your own home. From facts and stories to craft activities and recipes, I doubt you will find a more comprehensive or brilliant book about Diwali. Using simple items found in the home, readers can made a simple card, or a sweet gift box using egg cartons. More preparation may be needed for the recipes but they promise to be delicious! I am planning to introduce my own children to spiced chai milk and chocolate burfi. My stomach is rumbling at the thought of the potato curry and chappatis…even the illustrations make these look amazing. For readers just learning about Diwali to seasoned fans, this book will ensure you have a fantastic celebration. There are extra pages at the back to record your Diwali celebrations and goals for the coming year.
The Best Diwali Ever by Somali Shah and Chaaya Prabhat, Published by Scholastic
Ariana is excited about Diwali this year as she has plans to help make sweets, decorate the house, wear a beautiful new skirt and win the Rangoli competition. However, younger brother Rafi, wants to be with her and hug her but she find him more annoying than cute. His mistakes and “oops” cause Ariana to be cross until she realises that he has helped her to enjoy the best Diwali ever. This is an enchanting tale celebrating Diwali and family. The illustrations are divine and bring this festival to life beautifully. This would be wonderful to read aloud to any age group as a starting point to discuss the joys of celebrating and of the key features of Diwali.
We All Celebrate by Chitra Soundar and Jenny Bloomfield, Published by Tiny Owl
Celebrations unite us all! A simple but brilliant sentence that appears on the back of this book. From the endpapers and into the book, this is an absolute joy to read. As you travel the world, through seasons, there is a celebration or festival to learn about. Some familiar like Chinese New Year to others that I was keen to know more about like Nowruz Pirooz. Utterly fascinating, this book provides details on the traditions and special foods, events and costumes associated with each celebration. Is there a better way to celebrate diversity, religions and traditions than through the pages of a book? This rich and colourful book will be a welcome addition to any classroom or home library. Let’s celebrate our celebrations!
I am a primary school teacher, turned librarian. Now I have the title Reading Advocate for ASSET Education Trust, based in Suffolk.
I read constantly and have more books than bookshelves, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
I celebrate reading every day at work and at home with my two children, aged 11 and 9.
I sit on the National Executive Committee for the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and run an OU/UKLA Teachers as Readers group!
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My Shelves Are Full 
nice post
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