Carolyn Summer Quinn

A good children’s book about the holiday of Diwali.

The Indian celebration of Diwali is now an official school holiday in New York City and in the state of California, so children – and adults – on both coasts are probably very curious about it. The children’s book THE MAGIC OF DIWALI WITH SAARA by Annie Agarwal can provide your children, and you, with a delightful overview of it, as told through the eyes of an engaging young narrator.

The book is also colorfully and adorably illustrated, with little Saara shown as a happy and curious child, eager to find out more about the holiday.

Diwali is a celebration of joy, and of good over evil, that follows the lunar calendar and always happens on a moonless night. It all began when Prince Lord Ram had to liberate his wife, Sita, from a demon king named Ravana. Lord Ram won the battle and brought his Sita home to his kingdom. The people in the kingdom rejoiced and lit up their homes with little lights called “diyas” to welcome him back and to celebrate the victory. Demon kings may cause bad things to happen, but hey, good can still triumph in the end! It’s great to be reminded of that.

The holiday is also about love and kindness. Saara’s mom explains the tradition of lighting diyas by telling the child, “When we share love and kindness just like we share the lights of the divas, it grows and makes everything around us brighter.” The mother is right on target.

The story follows the preparations of the day as Saara and her family get ready for the Diwali party they’re hosting that evening for their family. Diwali includes not only lighting the diyas but creating paper lanterns, making and buying special treats, and a trip to the store to buy new clothes in the spirit of “out with the old and in with the new.” When evening falls, there’s even a tradition of fireworks.

I learned a lot about this holiday from reading this engaging and informative new book, and now I want to celebrate Diwali the next time it rolls around, too!