Ricki is looking forward to Divali, the Hindu "Festival of Lights." But when he breaks one of the special rosebuds that his grandfather planted, he must find courage to confess what he has done.
Describes various festivals centered around light that are celebrated by different cultures throughout the year, including Candlemas, Bon Matsuri, Diwali, Hanukkah, Luciadagen, and Kwanza.
"Introduces toddlers to Indian snack foods known as chaat. Scrumptious treats like bhel puri (rice puff salad), tandoori chicken, and sweet coconut cham-cham, look good enough to eat in Wilson Sanger's gorgeous collage art, while her trademark bouncy text will please little ears"--Amazon.com.
A five-year-old South Asian boy becomes fascinated with his mother's bindi, the red dot commonly worn by Hindu women to indicate the point at which creation begins, and wishes to have one of his own. Rather than chastise her son, she agrees to it, and teaches him about its cultural significance, allowing the boy to discover the magic of the bindi, which in turn gives him permission to be more fully himself.
Priya lives in the United States and her family is from India. She feels the magic of the place her family comes from through her Babi Ba's colorful descriptions of India--from the warm smell of spices to the swish-swish sound of a rustling sari. Together, Priya and Babi Ba make their heritage live on through the traditions that they infuse into their everyday lives.
