PreS-K–Autumn has arrived, and so has Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. This story follows one multigenerational family as they prepare for this special holiday. They clean the house for good fortune, prepare sweets and decorations, don their new clothes, and light the diyas (clay lamps). Then, it’s time to feast and celebrate with family, friends, and neighbors. The book accurately portrays how Diwali is commonly celebrated by many families of South Asian heritage, though it does not offer a particularly new or fresh take compared with other books about the holiday. The illustrations are rendered in cartoon style, vibrantly colored, and support the actions described in the text. Characters are portrayed with different skin tones to show diversity within families. The text itself is short and direct, with each page limited to one or two sentences. It includes several Hindi words that may be unfamiliar to some readers, and while they are not defined in the text or a glossary, their meaning can be inferred through context and the illustrations. The narrative focuses less on the religious significance of Diwali, instead emphasizing the ways it’s celebrated. VERDICT A suitable, straightforward introduction for preschool children unfamiliar with the holiday.–School Library Journal
