Soundar’s rhyming picture book gives readers an overview of the Hindu celebration of Diwali as it is celebrated in large parts of North India and by the North Indian diaspora.

Diwali is celebrated on the night of the new moon, and so after “Grandpa watches the waning moon” and notes that “the festival is coming soon,” an Indian boy and girl help their family clean and decorate the house. Then they all don new clothes, sing hymns and light lamps together, and exchange gifts and sweets with their neighbors, all in celebration of the holiday. Family members wear a combination of traditional Indian and Western attire; the suburban setting looks Western. It ends with a joyful greeting: “Shubh Diwali, to one and all. / We wish you joy, big and small!” Soundar’s use of “Shubh” in the title—meaning “auspicious” or “holy”—instead of “Happy” is welcome, as is Chua’s inclusion of neighborhood diversity (white and black families as well as a person using a wheelchair). As an entry on the holidays shelf, it breaks little new ground, but North American shelves hardly overflow with Diwali titles. An author’s note explaining the regional and religious differences in the celebration of Diwali across South Asia and the diaspora and a glossary of common terms provide readers with additional scaffolding.

A solid introduction to a holiday celebrated by millions. (Picture book. 4-8)

-Kirkus Review

Picture Book
2019

Shubh Diwali is a beautiful introduction to the Hindu celebration - festival of lights, or Diwali. In it, we meet a family excited to celebrate this holiday. From the very first page, family is introduced. A young girl sits on her grandfather's lap awaiting the waning moon and the signal of the start of the celebration. As the story continues, we witness the entire family pitching in to clean the house for the upcoming party - grandparents, parents, brother, sister, even the dog! They explain what decorations they will put up (mango leave bunting) and what it is supposed to signify (to welcome the gods). As the story continues, we see a grandmother and two young girls (and the dog!) painting Rangoli - traditional artwork - throughout the house. We are invited to see the new clothes they will wear for the special occasion. As the story continues, we see people of different backgrounds included in the celebration. Stories are told, especially about their gods - the grandmother tells these stories to a group of children. We are then show that they pray, light lamps, sing, exchange gifts - all the while the family is sharing with their friends and neighbors and inviting them to exchange gifts with them and partake in their food. Later, the family sits together for a delicious looking meal!

The story is about family but is also a diverse narrative. It is easy to read, rhymes, and is brightly illustrated - all ways to encourage young readers to read about this celebration. The book focuses on the main family, but shows people of all cultural backgrounds, of all abilities, sharing and enjoying each other. Nearing the end, it shows the family saving their money in a piggy bank, preparing extra clothing for donations, and a promise for new beginnings.

At the back of the book, there is a glossary of terms used, an explanation about the five days of Diwali, and the author's note regarding her own experiences growing up in India, celebrating the different holidays, and joining with neighbors of all faiths in the evenings.

I think this book both shows the differences and the similarities of other holidays without coming right out and saying it. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or any other similar celebration - I think you can see yourself in these pages - the gift giving, the meal preparation, the cleaning, the time spent with family. Hopefully this book helps to show that we are similar and different and that is nothing to be scared of or shunned.

A fun way to read this book, would be to imitate cleaning on the front pages, have a craft where children could make their own bunting or rangoli art with washable markers, crayons, etc. If they made this craft before the story was read, when this part comes up, the could hold up their artwork for all to see. Bells could be rung during the story as well. In promoting the program, you could ask that patrons or children bring in old toys, books, clothes, etc. in the spirit of Diwali and then donate them to a local mosque that helps the homeless or to a crisis nursery.
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A loving family prepares for and celebrates the Hindu festival of Diwali in this rhyming picture-book from Indian expatriate author Chitra Soundar, now living in London, and Singaporean expatriate illustrator Charlene Chua, now living in Canada. As they clean and decorate, listen to stories and pray, the family are filled with joy, and with the light that Diwali brings...

Having enjoyed other titles from both Soundar (Farmer Falgu Goes to the Market and its sequels) and Chua (How Nivi Got Her Names), I picked up Shubh Diwali! with a sense of expectation, one made all the keener by the relative dearth of good Diwali titles here in the states. Although slight, the narrative here reads well, and hits on some of the high points of celebrating this festival, while an author's afterword gives more detailed information. The artwork is colorful and cute, in a cartoon-like style, and captures the excitement of the activities described in the text. Recommended to anyone looking for Diwali picture-books for younger children. ( )