The Indian holiday of Holi is coming up next week, March 1 & 2, 2018 so it seemed appropriate to review this wonderful new picture book which introduces the holiday that will appeal to both newcomers to the holiday and those already familiar.
Title: Festival of Colors
Author: Kabir Sehgal & Surishtha Sehgal (check out the interview with this mother-son duo at Children’s Book Podcast)
Illustrator: Vashti Harrison
Publisher: Beach Lane Books, 2018
Book Type: Fiction
Ages: 3-6
Theme: Indian Holidays, Colors
Opening Lines:
Guavas are ripening. Lotuses are blooming. And Holi, the Indian festival of colors, is almost here.
Synopsis:
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!
Activities:
- Watch this two-minute BBC clip about Holi.
- Make your own colored powders from natural sources or for a simpler recipe using food coloring.
- Holi craft ideas: dhal art (mosaics using dried beans) and tissue paper blossoms.
- Feeling courageous throw a Holi party. Be sure to read the recommended safety tips.
Why I Like This Book:
A wonderful, colorful, accessible way of introducing young children to the Indian holiday of Holi. The simple structured text gently guides the reader through the fabulous colors while keeping the reader wondering what the two young characters, Chintoo and Mintoo, will be doing with the collected flowers. We then see the kids prepare the colored powders, which the authors term as petal-powder {love}. One of my favorite parts of the book is when the viewing lens expands beyond Mintoo and Chintoo’s home to show the reader that Holi is something bigger than just their family. The lines for the section read:
Chintoo and Mintoo are ready too! <page turn>
And so are their parents. <page turn>
And their friends. <page turn>
And their neighbors. And then … <page turn>
The book then conveys the sentiment of Holi being about friendship, forgiveness, and fresh starts, not just within the family but extending to the community as well. An author’s note at the end provides a brief overview of the holiday.
The artwork is dynamic and vivacious and most importantly kid-appealing.
Take a look at this wonderful 3D animated book trailer.
Find Festival of Colors at the following spots:
Kitaab World | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads
ISBN-10: 1481420496
ISBN-13: 978-1481420495
Disclosure: I received my copy of this book from the publisher. This review nevertheless reflects my own and honest opinion about the book.
Thanks for sharing, Darshani. It looks beautiful and informative.
thanks!
Oh my, you shared a beautiful Indian tradition I am not familiar with. I love that it represents new beginnings and is a community event. I want this book. Hope you don’t mind if I review it a little later and give it some more book love. Enjoyed the video!
look forward to reading your review!
It takes skill to capture such a unique tradition, and it looks like the author and illustrator have done a great job.
What a beautiful book. . .in so many ways. Thanks for sharing it with us, Darshana!