The Best Diwali Ever

PreS-Gr 1–A young girl looks forward to all her favorite parts of Diwali in this gorgeous, colorful picture book celebrating the Festival of Lights. Optimistic Ariana lays out her plan to make this the best Diwali celebration ever. She can’t wait to make yummy sweets, wear pretty clothes, open presents, and decorate with divas, to name a few. But as the festival gets underway, her three-year-old brother Rafi ruins everything! He makes a mess in the kitchen, joins the dancers at the temple, and—worst of all—falls and smudges Ariana’s elaborate rangoli design made of colored powder, rice, and flowers. While many readers will be as frustrated by Rafi’s antics as she is at first, Ariana, in the true spirit of the season, finds a way to see the best in the situation. This gentle and relatable plot blends well with the explanation of Diwali and its traditions through the eyes of a child. Prabhat’s beautiful, warm palette with fall colors of brown, orange, maroon, and purple enhances the detailed illustrations in every spread.