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Diwali in My New Home by Shachi Kaushik, Aishwarya Tandon on September 27, 2022
Genres: Children's, Holidays & Celebrations
Pages: 19
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads
Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India. But as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. And even though the celebration is different this year, it's still Diwali. A heartwarming story of celebrating in a new place and sharing the Hindu festival of lights with those unfamiliar with the holiday.
Julie’s Review of Diwali in My New Home
This is a lovely book teaching about the Indian holiday of Diwali to kids not familiar with the culture or holiday. The book follows a girl who has grown up with massive Diwali parties in her previous home. But now, she lives somewhere else and the streets do not look the same. But her family still makes the holiday special and she gets to introduce the holiday to her friends and neighbors.
The illustrations are great, with each character having beautiful clothing and the house with lovely decorations. The different settings – home, school, outside – all have been drawn very well. I did find a silly thing where something about the girl’s school outfit changes in the pages, but you can play seek and find yourself 😉
Reading diverse books is important, to raise our awareness of other cultures and customs, and to expand our own world. There is so much we can learn from each other. We’re going into a busy holiday season where many different holidays are celebrated near each other, and it’s helpful to understand them and their different festive ways.
This book is also great to read for kids who move. Yes, moving to a new place is a completely new experience, and familiar things you may wish to see may not be there. But you can make the most of it and still enjoy your celebrations with friends and family.
Book Trailer
Author Interview
Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot, and plan, or is your writing more organic?
Giving myself the freedom to write spontaneously keeps my creativity flowing.
My first draft is more about discovery mode, as I allow myself to explore and follow where the story takes me. During revisions, I focus on pulling everything together and refining the structure.
Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How did you deal with it?
I’ve experienced writer’s block many times and still don’t always know how to deal with it. I take it one day at a time and read as much as possible. I find that reading exposes me to different styles and ideas that might spark my creativity.
Tell us what you enjoy most about writing picture books.
What I love most about writing picture books is how much fun it is to create a story, then trim it down by carefully choosing the right words. It’s like crafting a puzzle, making sure every word fits just right so the sentences flow smoothly and are fun to read aloud.The best part, though, is knowing that my stories can make a child smile .
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing, I attend cultural festivals, visit bookstores, or hike and take walks on the beach to recharge my spirit.
What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?
There are countless books out there, but here are a few that can help you get started.
Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication by Ann Whitford Paul (Author)
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Writing Life by Annie Dillard
Author Bio
Shachi Kaushik is a writer and storyteller in the children’s media industry. She creates content that is both entertaining and educational for young audiences. With experience contributing to popular animated series on the production side, Shachi is also the author of Diwali In My New Home. Her work inspires young readers to embrace new cultures and experiences through stories.
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