Tag Archives: Holi

Elem. – Happy Holidays! (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Happy Holidays! Bellwether Media, 2024. $17.95. $107.70 set of 6. 24 p. Grades PreK-2. 

Rathburn, Betsy. Cinco de Mayo. 979-8-886-87398-6.
Rathburn, Betsy. Groundhog Day. 979-8-886-87399-3.
Rathburn, Betsy. Holi. 979-8-886-87400-6.
Sabelko, Rebecca. Memorial Day. 979-8-886-87401-3.
Sabelko, Rebecca. Presidents’ Day. 979-8-886-87402-0.
Sabelko, Rebecca. Valentine’s Day. 979-8-886-87403-7. 

Bellwether Media is back with six new titles in their existing Happy Holidays! non-fiction series for early readers. Each volume introduces readers to a major holiday from around the world via basic facts communicated in large text, accompanied by high quality photographs. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine the volume on Groundhog Day. Simple text introduced facts about the holiday, including how and why the holiday is celebrated, as well as locations where the holiday is observed. Punxsutawney Phil was prominently featured in the volume (of course!). Backmatter includes a re-statement of holiday facts, a visual/text glossary, and links to additional resources. 

THOUGHTS: An excellent choice for libraries serving beginning readers looking to update or expand their cultural and/or religious holiday collections. Recommended.

394 Holidays

Elem. – Holi Hai!

Posted on by
Reply

Soundar, Chitra. Holi Hai! Illustrated by Darshika Varma. Albert Whitman, 2022.  978-0-807-53357-4.  Unpaged. $17.99. Grades PreK-3.

Holi is around the corner and Guari’s family is preparing by making color, or gulal, for their celebration. Guari wants to make yellow…but ends up disappointed when she randomly chooses red instead. Though her mother reminds her that, “all colors are part of spring,” Guari still doesn’t want to make red or help her family members with their color–until her grandfather tell the legend of Holika and Prahlada and reminds her that love is stronger than the anger in her heart. Back matter includes further information on the festival of Holi, a glossary, and recipes for homemade colors.

THOUGHTS: Holi Hai! shares the festival of Holi with readers in a manner that will appeal to those who celebrate the festival themselves and those who want to know more. The author, Chitra Soundar, does an excellent job blending Guari’s storyi with information that helps all readers celebrate and understand the holiday. Darshika Varma’s vibrant illustrations give life to Guari’s story and the legend of Holika and Prahlada that grandfather tells. The contemporary feel of the illustrations reinforces the relevance of the book in today’s world. Highly recommended for any collections seeking books about Holi with broad appeal.  

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD