Holi

Children's Literature

In the Hindu religion, Holi appears to be a holiday that is fun for adults and children. It has a religious basis and is also part of the spring rituals that appear in many cultures and religions. People clean and paint their houses and buy new white clothes. Then on the holiday, they celebrate by throwing colored powders on each other. For those who observe the more religious side of Holi, the day may include a visit to a temple and promises to be good friends and neighbors. Special sweets are also served and the photograph of these delicacies would make any mouth water. The text is supported by illustrations that match what is described. The book ends with a delightful statement "Holi is one holiday when everyone can be a kid!" There is a picture glossary entitled "Words You Know," an index, and a brief blurb about the author. This title is part of the "Rookie Read-About Holidays" series. 2003, Children's Press/Scholastic, Ages 5 to 7.
—Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Exuberant color photographs reflect the nature of the Hindu celebration that commemorates the triumph of good over evil and the beginning of spring. Here, the mythic root of the holiday and the contemporary ways of celebrating it are explained in terms simple enough for young listeners and readers, Hindu and non-Hindu alike. Several photos show the vibrant colors of the gulal with which celebrants powder one another, and their joyful participation in being dusted-or soaked in colored water-is apparent. The Hindu population of the U.S. continues to grow, and this brief title is a welcome choice as it serves both to broaden existing holiday collections and to introduce this religion to young America readers.-Coop Renner, Blackshear Elementary School, Austin, TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.