"Binny woke up happy but nervous. It was her day to share about Diwali, the Festival of Lights!
Binny is excited to talk to her class about her favorite holiday. But she struggles to find the words.Taking a deep breath, she tells her classmates about the fireworks that burst like stars in the night sky, leaving streaks of gold and red and green. She shares with them delicious pedas and jalebis. And she shows them clay lamps, called diyas, which look so pretty all the children ooh and aah.Featuring a heartwarming story by Thrity Umrigar, enchanting illustrations by Nidhi Chanani, and detailed information about the Hindu festival of lights, Binny's Diwali is a holiday treat." www.amazon.com

Binny wakes up on the first day of Diwali with a happy consciousness that this is the day she will be sharing the Hindu Festival of Lights with her classmates, through Show and Tell. She enjoys the special clothing her parents give her, and the special breakfast they prepare, but when it is time for her to stand up and tell the other students what Diwali is, she is silenced by a sudden shyness. Fortunately, her teacher Mr. Boomer comes to her aid, and inspired by the diyas, or oil lamps used to mark Diwali, she manages to describe all of the wonderful things that go along with the festival, from fireworks to treats. The book closes with an afterword giving more information about Diwali, including a retelling of the myth of Rama and Sita, as well as a note from both author and illustrator...

Binny's Diwali came out in September of this past year (2020), some two months before Diwali, but I am only reading it now as it has been on order at my library until very recently, and my request for it has only just been fulfilled. In any case, although it is not the time of year for Diwali, I enjoyed both story and artwork. Author Thrity Umrigar is better known for her novels for adults, although she has produced one prior picture-book, When I Carried You in My Belly (2017). I was interested to learn from her afterword that she is not a Hindu herself, but a Zoroastrian - I had a very good friend in college who was Zoroastrian - but that, like Indians of all religions, she celebrated Diwali as a child. I hadn't realized hitherto that Diwali is as much a national and cultural celebration, as it is a religious one. Leaving that aside, the accompanying illustrations from Nidhi Chanani, whose work I have encountered before in Bea Birdsong's I Will Be Fierce, were colorful and cute, done in a cartoon-like style. All in all, a sweet little picture-book, one I would recommend to anyone seeking children's books about the celebration of Diwali, or about the experiences of Indian-American children. ( )

Adorable Binny, with oversized, expressive cartoon eyes, wakes up excited and nervous about her day to share about Diwali, Festival of Lights at school. She wears a special outfit and eats a special breakfast, but when it's her turn to stand in front of the class and share, she has an attack of nerves. A calm, kind teacher, bald-headed Mr. Boomer, quiets the class and encourages Binny, who remembers her mother's words about the little oil lamps called diyas. She speaks confidently about Diwali, and classmates help her decorate streamers and light an (electric) diya.

Back matter includes "The Diwali Story" and "The Five Days of Diwali," a note from the author, and a note from the illustrator. Digital illustrations.

See also: Our Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. Ali

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Re-read November 2021 ( )