Reviews

Binny's Diwali by Thrity Umrigar

maweets's review

4.0

A lovely story about Binny who shares Diwali with her classmates via a show & tell. The illustrations are bright and cheerful. The story is a good example to younger readers about how exciting it can be to share your own culture and traditions with others. I liked how the story acknowledges how it can be a bit anxiety-inducing to put yourself out there like how Binny did at show & tell- the fear of "othering" oneself is real. But the rewards of building a stronger, more vibrant community are worth it.

mckenzierichardson's review

4.0

For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle

A sweet story of one girl's victory of goodness and light. Binny is tasked with sharing her favorite holiday with her class, Diwali. Plans are set, jalebis and pedas are made, but when it comes time to present, Binny doesn't know what to say. Remembering the the guiding lights of the diyas, Binny overcomes her fear and shares the beauty of Diwali with her class.

A lovely book that shares some aspects of Diwali such as making rangoli, watching fireworks, giving gifts, and lighting diyas. At the end of the book is more information about the festival including one of the origin stories of Prince Rama and the demon-king Ravana and a breakdown of the five days of Diwali.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Each pages shines with its own light. A perfect accompaniment to this story about the Festival of Lights. Heartwarming and delightful.

abigailbat's review

Binny is excited to share about her favorite holiday Diwali with her classmates at school. She tells them about the oil lamps and the sparkling fireworks that celebrate the Hindu festival of lights. This is a beautiful book and a good choice to introduce this holiday to children.

augustgreatsword's review

informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

libraryrobin's review

4.0

A delightful story of a young girl sharing her favorite holiday with her classmates, followed by a retelling of the story of Prince Rama's victory over the evil Ravana.

ekimball's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

afro75's review

4.0

This picture book is a wonderful introduction to the hindu tradition of Diwali. The illustrations are beautiful and the text matches with them perfectly.

ellalouise99's review against another edition

5.0

A fantastic book about a child's story of Diwali. Binny is telling her class all about the festival of lights, Diwali that she, as a Hindu, celebrates with her family. The book is very informative yet told through a story which makes it more engaging and easier to follow than lots of non-fiction books. The book would be perfect to use when teaching about Diwali, I would use the book in KS1 and lower KS2 but I also think it also has the potential to be looked at in upper KS2 as it gives a clear and understandable explanation of the celebration. The story not only explores Diwali, but also Binny's feelings as she tries to talk to her class, many children are likely to have experienced similar feelings to Binny and would therefore be able to relate to her character. The book brings inclusion to the classroom, making children aware of other children's experiences and lives. A fantastic book which I will have in my classroom. At the back of the book, there is extra information on Diwali including information on 'the story of Diwali' and 'the 5 days of Diwali'.

mldavisreads's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective

• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Informative picture book.  Binny is a young girl of Indian descent who is excited to tell her classmates all about Diwali.  She dresses in a new Indian outfit, ate jalebis and pedas for breakfast, and went to school.  She briefly froze with the attention of the class on her but was able to recover when she thought of the spirit of Diwali-- the victory of goodness and light.  Binny shared her love of fireworks, sparklers, diyas ( clay lamps), and colorful drawing powder.  Binny's excitement for the holiday and love of her  family's tradition shines through.  Not much of a plot, but an effective way to learn about a holiday that many (myself included) are not familiar with.  Chanani's illustrations are bright, colorful, and effective at capturing the joy of the hoilday.