Binny's Diwali

We love this book! We wanted a Diwali story that was relatable to our daughter, and this is one of the best books on this topic! It is not a typical Diwali book that focuses on why it is celebrated but rather on the universal meaning of the festival. The why is different for all Indians since there are so many stories about Diwali, and one story is not relatable to everyone. In this book, Binny has to tell her class about Diwali, and when it is her time to speak, she freezes but remembers what her mom told her about it. The illustrations are stunning, unlike anything we have seen in other Diwali books.

I celebrate Diwali, and as a teacher I wanted my students to understand Diwali in a simple form and connect as closely as possible to the experience that I share about my tradition. This is a great classroom text for your Holiday collection or to keep at home!

As a classroom teacher (1st grade) I try to make sure I have lots of diverse books so that all my students are able to see themselves in the illustrations. The students enjoyed the pictures and the story. It is about a little boy named Binny who describes Diwali to her classmates.

Amazing book for the the kids to learn about Diwali

I am a first-grade teacher. I struggle to find read alouds that are age appropriate when teaching my students about different cultures and holidays. Binny's Holiday was perfect. The message was clear and relatable to my first graders. I would highly recommend for parents and educators.

Beautiful illustrations. However, I don't like how the teacher, while good-intentioned, "othered" the student.

Probably one of the best Diwali books I have ever seen! Really well done book! loved the story and pictures! Author and illustrator did a phenomenal job in explaining the holiday and incorporating the spirit of Diwali in the book! The educators note about the holiday is well written too. Really recommend for any classroom or home :)

I am surprised by this Diwali book. It is actually engaging and realistic to the typical Hindu kid's Diwali experience. It was not 'telling' what Diwali meant, but 'showed' the meaning through the text and the art. I would give this as a gift to other families, it is THAT good.