Holi

Readers are made to feel a part of the story in this collection that uses variations of “we.” Text introduces each festival, describing historical background and religious and cultural roots in just a few sentences, followed by several examples of how it is celebrated. Pages generally have one or two short sentences, and the large color photos, most of which feature children participating in related activities, are the set’s best feature. A concluding page contains photos of each festival’s symbols or celebratory items along with a picture glossary. These books are attractive and compelling enough to draw an audience, and compare favorably with many well-written, recently published works on similar topics. VERDICT A fine supplementary option for new or replacement purchase.

This entry in the Festivals series describes a holiday many Western readers may not recognize: Holi, a
Hindu celebration. Geared towards the very young, this uses short sentences and simple words to convey
details of the festival. Holi takes place during spring in India, when the moon is full; participants build a
bonfire and cover each other with colored powders. Briefly, this explains the origins of the holiday (“We
remember a special boy. His bad aunt Holika put him in a fire. But he lived!”) and offers many lively,
enthusiastic photos of revelers covered in the brightly colored powders. A final diagram explains what the
various colors mean (“Blue stands for power and life."" “Pink stands for joy.”) while a brief introduction
offers lesson ideas for educators. An eye-catching first look for new readers.