One Diwali Day: Festivals of the World by Aditi Anand, Dev Kothari
ISBN: 1536247472
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

One Diwali Day by Dev Kothari

One Diwali Day is a picture book not only about Diwali but also about the anxiety that can come with a holiday. The main character, Ronak, is waiting for her sister, Dida, to come home for Diwali and is excited to celebrate with her—but at every turn of the celebration, she’s not there, and Ronak wonders when she’ll get there and how much longer she’ll have to wait. While the book is about Diwali and its specific traditions and events, the unsettled feeling of holidays and having so many people around will resonate with readers who celebrate many different holidays. I appreciated this inside look at the Diwali and getting to learn about the different pieces of it. My favorite part was that at the end there are instructions for a Diwali recipe and craft that readers can make. I think this would be a great addition to any classroom, school, or public library serving elementary-aged readers, especially those in first to third grade. This was a four-star read for me. Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner