The Light Within You - Namita Moolani Mehra - ★★★★★

-
AUTHOR: Namita Moolani Mehra
ILLUSTRATOR: Kamala M. Nair
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
RATING: 5 twinkly diya-shaped stars.

In a Nutshell: Oh, how I loved this book! Full of light in various ways. One of the best picture books I have read about Diwali.

Story Synopsis:
Little Diya is very excited that she is flying to India for Diwali. After moving to the US, she has been very lonely, and now she will get to meet Nani, her darling grandmother, whom she misses the most.
In India, Diya immediately feels at home, and happily joins in the Diwali preparations with Nani, going shopping, drawing rangoli, dressing up in fancy outfits, lighting diyas and firecrackers, and having a lovely time with family and friends. But soon, it is time to return home. Is there any way Diya continue to carry the happy light of Diwali in her heart?


There are so many things to adore about this book!
🎇 Its genuine portrayal of Diwali, covering all the elements of the festival and not just the “entertaining” parts such as crackers and new clothes. Hardly any Diwali book focusses on the quieter side of the celebrations, so this was a refreshing change.

🎇 The name ‘Diya’, so perfect for a story focussing on Diwali!

🎇 The bond between Diya and her Nani, filled with respect and mutual love. A grandparent-grandchild story is always special when written well.

🎇 The way the book doesn’t lose track of its intent. It’s not the story of Diwali, but a story using Diwali to highlight an important message, and it doesn’t deviate from this purpose by introducing needless or frivolous elements in the plot.

🎇 On that note, the message, so simple and yet so impactful and so heartening! The wordings of this lovely message reminded me of one of my favourite Christian songs for children, ‘Let Your Light Shine.’ A beautiful reminder that the essence of all belief systems is love.

🎇 The depiction of India through the text and the illustrations. Not picture perfect, not stereotypically crass. Just authentic. I loved seeing my country portrayed in such a realistic manner, a rare experience from books published in Western countries.

🎇 The focus on the pain children feel in being separated from loved ones, due to migration or any other reason. Not all children find it easy to put their thoughts into words, and it takes an understanding adult to make children understand how distance does make the heart grow fonder if approached with the right spirit.

🎇 The author’s note at the end of the book, talking about Diwali, its meaning, and the manner of its celebration. I appreciate this content being put in the parting note than within the story itself as this keeps the story streamlined.

🎇 A glossary explaining the Hindi words used in the text.

🎇 The illustrations – just wow! Each page is as glowing and de-“light”-ful as Diwali itself. The characters, the expressions, the festive elements – all equally stunning! (I am going to ignore Nani’s nose ring that seemed to move mysteriously from left to right to left on its own accord.)

🎇 A special note of appreciation for the way Diya was shown greeting her grandma when they first arrive in India, with a respectful ‘Namaste’ and by touching her feet. I would have loved the text to expound on this as well (especially for the benefit of non-Indians who might pick this book up), but still, it was nice to see the traditional Indian greeting being demonstrated through the sketches.

🎇 A special poem at the end, written in the style of an affirmation to ensure that your light shines beyond the festival. Beautiful!


By now, I have read more than a few picture books about Diwali written by non-resident Indians and published by American companies. This one is, by far, the best I have read, as it offers a complete package and a genuine experience. The sweet story depicts not just the beauty of the festival of lights but also highlighting about how our inner light doesn’t depend on others.

Recommended with all my heart. The content is perfect for the age group of 4-8 years.

My thanks to Two Lions and Edelweiss+ for the DRC of “The Light Within You”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Takeout Sushi - Christopher Green - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Christopher Green GENRE: Contemporary Short Story Collection, Japanese Fiction. PUBLICATION DATE:  May 2, 2024 RATING: 3.9  stars. In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended! This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan witho
Read More»

Big Bad Wolf Investigates Fairy Tales - Catherine Cawthorne - ★★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: Catherine Cawthorne ILLUSTRATOR: Sara Ogilvie GENRE: Children's Nonfiction PUBLICATION DATE: April 25, 2024 RATING: 5 sparkly, scientifically accurate stars. In a Nutshell: This book and I were a match made in book heaven! Loved the approach that combines humour and logic to debunk the sillier elements of some fairy tales. Strongly recommended! I enjoy fairy tales. I love scientific thinking. I adore logic. I relish humour. Seeing all four of these together in a single work was almost a “bookgasmic” moment for me! 😆 Had the book not delivered on any of these factors, I might still have been happy reading it. But the content not only reaches but also surpasses the promise made by the title and cover. All of us know that there are several logically impossible elements in fairy tales. In childhood, we might have oohed and awwwed at the stories without overthinking the practicalities. In adulthood, we might have cringed at the gender bias, wealth bias, and the lack of conse
Read More»

The Great Divide - Cristina Henríquez - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Cristina Henríquez GENRE: Historical Literary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: March 5, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A literary fiction focussed on Panama during the time of the construction of the Panama Canal. Note that this isn’t a book directly about the canal or its construction, but about the people connected to the canal in some way or the other during that period. A great book if you go in with the right expectations and enjoy character-oriented fiction. Plot Preview: 1907, Panama. Francisco, a Panamanian fisherman, hates the commercialisation of his country under the foreigners, and hence resents his son Omar’s joining the canal construction crew. Omar, however, wants to learn and earn more than his little village can offer him. Sixteen-year-old Ada has heard about Panama having many jobs. She has stowed away to Panama, hoping to get some work and earn enough for her ailing sister’s surgery back in Barbados. Her mother Lucille, a tailor, doesn’t yet know of her ru
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis
Read More»

Red Runs the Witch's Thread - Victoria Williamson - ★★★★

-
Image
  AUTHOR: Victoria Williamson GENRE: Historical Fiction, Horror. RATING:  4 stars. In a Nutshell: A psychological horror inspired by the last witch burning in Scotland in 1697. A disturbing yet compelling read. I wanted more closure at the end for my own peace of mind, but other than that, this was a satisfying book. Recommended! Plot Preview: 1722. Paisley, Scotland. Thirty-seven-year-old widow Christian Shaw is obsessed with perfecting her thread bleaching process. She wants to make the thread the purest white, so it can sell better and restore their family fortunes. In the absence of any male family members, it is up to her as the eldest daughter to ensure the security of their house, her mother and two younger sisters, and her late father’s social position as the laird (landowner.)  However, Christian’s mind is troubled. With the 25th anniversary of the witch burnings of 1697 approaching, Christian’s thoughts go frequently to the past, and to the role she played in the burning of s
Read More»