My Holi by Priya Kumari; Komal Garg and Illustrated by Abhilasha Khatri

The Holi is the Festival of Colors for the people of India, and this books illustrations honor that in the colors and drawings of this book.
I am always teaching my Granddaughter about the different ways of different countries so that she has respect for all people.
I personally did not know of the Festival of Colors and the true meaning of it. I found it fascinating and it held even my interest and made me want to learn more. I found the history and stories behind the festival to be interesting and informative.
Aadi and Leela with their parents go to visit their grandparents for the Holi and the Festival of Colors. There they learn the meaning behind the celebration while participating in the ceremonies.
At the back of the book there is a glossary of the words in the book and the meanings. Good way to introduce different languages.
I recommend this book for any school library or home library.

This vibrant picture book follows Aadi, Leela, and their parents they visit the foothills of Himalaya to celebrate Holi with their grandparents. Along the way, Aadi & Leela experience both new and familiar traditions and learn more from their parents and grandparents about the origins and meanings of Holi. The text is very informative and sure to add to any young reader's understanding of this important holiday, but it does take on a didactic quality at times. It doesn't quite strike the right balance between narrative and informational; the concept may have worked better as a more straightforward nonfiction text, or with more of the explanatory content relocated to the existing back matter. Even so, the artwork is bright and colorful and has a cartoonish, computer-generated feel, and there are lots of vivid details to notice and enjoy in the illustrations.

⭐ Children’s Nonfiction | Festival | Mythology

Thank you to Publisher Spotlight for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I picked up My Holi because, as an American adult, I only knew Holi as the “festival of colors.” I wanted to see whether this book could give both children and adults a deeper understanding, and it definitely does. The story follows a family as they explain what Holi is, why it’s celebrated, and the traditions connected to it. I also learned that Holi is tied to celebrating a good harvest, which I didn’t know before.

I realized the Holi I had in mind was Badi Holi, and this book does a nice job showing that part through cute, vibrant illustrations. It also explores the mythology behind the celebration, including the story of Hiranya-Kashipu, adding cultural and historical depth in a very accessible way.
The art is colorful and engaging, perfect for young readers.

The text is clear enough, though some of the paragraph blocks could use more variety to help with readability. Overall, it’s an insightful and beautifully illustrated book that teaches both kids and adults something new.

This is such a bright, gorgeous little book and I learned so much about the Festival of Colors. I'd recommend reading this with kids as there's really a lot of cultural and historical background, told through a modern celebration of children with their grandparents.