The Diwali Gift
by Shweta Chopra & Shuchi Mehta
illustrated by Anna Koan
Date: 2014
Publisher: 3 Curious Monkeys
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library
1 2 3. Whatever Could It Be?
Join the 3 Curious Monkeys Suno, Dekho and Jaano as they discover the most auspicious, wonderful Diwali Gift!
When a mysterious package arrives just in time for Diwali, the three friends can hardly contain their excitement! Sparklers? Bangles? Diyas? Whatever could it be?
Discover the most special gift of all... in this tale of tradition, curiosity, and fun!
(synopsis from Goodreads)
I didn't really know anything about Diwali before reading this book. I know a little more now, but I still feel like I couldn't really explain it to someone else, unfortunately.
Three little monkeys (Suno, Dekho, and Jaano) find a package from Suno's grandmother. They speculate about what could be inside. At the end, the secret is revealed and the holiday is celebrated.
The illustrations are really cute (I especially like the monkeys' iBanana laptop). There is one part of the book that did give me pause, though, and that was with the bangles. It comes across as a little bit of a gender stereotype (probably because I don't understand the significance of the bangles, or why boys wouldn't want them). I wish that had been explained, or at least included in the glossary stating that they're traditionally for women. There is a decent glossary at the back, along with some information about Diwali. I thought that info was a little too necessary, however; I would've liked to see more of it included in the story itself so that the book wouldn't need any endnotes.
Overall, though, this is a fairly cute book that depicts three excited kids getting ready for their favourite holiday. It's hard not to get a little bit excited right along with them.
Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Overall: 3.17 out of 5
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