Diyas at Circle Time A Celebration of South Asian Festivals Around Diwali Time Words By: Anjali Joshi | Art By: Tim Palin This holiday season, discover festivals from across South Asia to join in an inclusive, multi-faith celebration! Harini can’t wait to share her family’s Diwali traditions at circle time. But she’s not alone! Amrit shares how his Sikh family observes Bandi Chhor Divas. Dhimen introduces the class to the Nepali festival of Tihar. Urvi is Jain and narrates her family’s favorite Deepavali story. Harini and her friends gain a new sense of appreciation when they find similarities, like lighting clay diyas, and notice differences, like honoring beloved pets, in their celebrations. When a classmate feels left out, Harini and Urvi find a sweet way to include them in the festivities. In this new edition of her popular picture book Let’s Celebrate Diwali, educator Anjali Joshi showcases four festivals spanning South Asian traditions for younger elementary readers, offering a rich and more inclusive cultural narrative for Diwali story time. ------ A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People (2026) ------ ". . . especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community/public library holiday themed picture book collections."–Midwest Book Review Themes: Holidays & Traditions; AAPI; Asian American; School Stories; Friendship; Social Awareness; Stories About Me; Family Stories; New Experiences; Social-Emotional Learning; Includes Teaching Resources; Includes Backmatter; Includes Primary Sources
