Here Comes Diwali : The Festival of Lights [Hardcover]

Meenal Pandya (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000 | Age Level: 4 and up

"Here Comes Diwali" brings this most celebrated hindu festival alive for young children. From the very beginning when the family starts cleaning the house to the end of this five-day journey, it takes you to the heart of festivity through stories and cultural concepts with simple elegance.

"Here Comes Diwali" is not only a great read-aloud book at home but also a wonderful addition to any school, library or a pre-school. It offers fun activities, recipes and a word game for children to immerse themselves in this holiday."

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Diwali, the most celebrated Indian festival observed by both Hindus and Sikhs, is held during the new moon in late October or early November. Through the eyes of a young boy, readers learn about the preparations for and celebrations of this five-day holiday. There is minimal plot. The house is cleaned and decorated. Special food is prepared and firecrackers are purchased. An activity section includes recipes, crafts, a glossary, and a word-search game. The pen-and-ink illustrations are serviceable at best. Anisha Kacker's Ravi's Diwali Surprise (Modern Curriculum, 1994; o.p.) provides the same information and has a better plot and more attractive art.

Elaine Lesh Morgan, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Meenal Pandya has written several books, articles and poems. Her writings have appeared in prestigious magazines and newspapers worldwide. She works as an independent consultant.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: MeeRa Publications; 2 Revised edition (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963553933
• ISBN-13: 978-0963553935
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,691,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars There are better books available., October 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Here Comes Diwali : The Festival of Lights (Hardcover)

'Here Comes Diwali' was a huge disappointment.
The illustrations, which are mono-chromatic and poorly executed take up 6 entire pages of the 21 pages allotted to narration.
The text is written unevenly, shifts between first and third person and provides only minimal information about the traditions of Diwali. For example, "The kitchen smells so..o..o. good. Mom is making lots of sweets and snacks."(sic)
The four-page 'crafts' section consists of very vague instructions for making rangoli, wicks and diyas--with no illustrations. These are the diya instructions: "Using clay have each child make a small container or a bowl by using his or her hand as a base."(sic)
There are also a glossary, word-search and four recipes included which I will not test as I am returning this book.

Instead of this title I would recommend:
Diwali by Chris Deshpande (bright photographs and informative text)
Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore (a fictional story)
Ravi's Diwali Surprise (a fictional story with a few photographs and, again, weak illustration)
Rama and the Demon King by Jessica Souhami (lushly illustrated children's version of the Ramayana)

The bright, cheerful jacket of "Here Comes Diwali" belies a dull and uninspiring interior.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent job!, February 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Here Comes Diwali : The Festival of Lights (Hardcover)

This style of writing is so easy for a young child to enjoy. Books like these make it a bit easier to keep our culture alive thru our children.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explore customs & traditions associated with this festival, March 12, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Here Comes Diwali : The Festival of Lights (Hardcover)

Diwali, the festival of lights, is probably the most celebrated ethnic Hindu festival around the world. In Meenal Pandya's Here Comes Diwali: The Festival Of Lights, young readers explore the customs and traditions associated with this festival beginning when the family begins cleaning the house, through a five day journey. Now in a completely revised and expanded second edition, Meenal Pandya's colorfully illustrated picturebook story is enhanced with easy recipes and fun crafts and activities designed for children. Here Comes Diwali is a welcome and unique contribution to any personal, school, and community library multicultural collection.