Festival of Colors

October 1, 2017
The Sehgals' newest picture book introduces young readers to Holi, a Hindu spring festival, through color, repetition, and onomatopoeia. As the book opens, Chintoo and Mintoo--nicknames often given to young children in India or in Indian homes--are preparing for Holi, a holiday during which, among other things, celebrants douse each other with colored powder and water. The children collect flowers, such as hibiscus ("because hibiscus flowers make RED") and irises ("because irises make BLUE"), and then crush the dried petals into powders to use to play with their parents, friends, and neighbors. "POOF!" the colors pop, and the revelers chant, "Holi, hai! Holi, hai!" ("It's Holi! It's Holi!") Unlike the Sehgals' text, which lacks rhythm and is quite dull, Harrison's textured and cinematic illustrations are vivacious and dynamic, with renderings of humans that reflect her background in animation. Refreshingly, she represents children and adults with a wide variety of skin tones; India's many browns are also on display here. This is the mother-and-son authorial team's third collaboration (after A Bucket of Blessings, illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong, 2016, and The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk, illustrated by Jess Golden, 2014), and while it is sharper than the duo's previous books, it still falls flat. The book includes an authors' note that provides further historical and cultural context about Holi, which may provide some classroom relevance.Anodyne but useful. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 6, 2017
The Sehgals, the mother-son duo behind A Bucket of Blessings, offer a fittingly vivid introduction to Holi, the springtime Hindu festival of colors, as seen through the eyes of Indian siblings Chintoo and Mintoo. The children collect flowers from their garden to turn into brightly colored powders (“They gather orchids, because orchids make purple”), then gather with everyone they know in the town square to celebrate by throwing the powders on each other. Harrison (Little Leaders: Bold Women), working in a distinctly Disneyesque style, fills a spread with laughing and dancing celebrants, their skin and white clothes covered in dustings of red, yellow, blue, and purple. But the Sehgals also remind readers that “Holi is a festival of fresh starts. And friendship. And forgiveness.” Those already familiar with Holi may wish that the authors had devoted less space to powder preparation (in real life, the afterword notes, “most people buy these powders from the local bazaar”) and more on other aspects of the holiday. But there’s enough brightly colored fun to prompt readers to seek out local Holi celebrations. Ages 2–8. Illustrator’s agent: Carrie Hannigan, Hannigan Salky Getzler.

February 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 3-Brother and sister Chintoo and Mintoo are getting ready for Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Their process is slowly revealed as the siblings gather petals, dry and separate them, and then crush the dried petals into powders. Lively digital illustrations show the children's excited family members and neighbors carrying the powders through the streets, and then "POOF!" wet and dry powders fly through the air in a rambunctious celebration. Readers will learn from the book's endnotes that Holi celebrates "inclusiveness, new beginnings, and the triumph of good over evil." This is useful information, but the real beauty of this attractive book is that it shows the country's home life and community togetherness beyond the holiday celebration. Children in primary grades will find this an accessible read, whereas younger patrons can enjoy it as a read-aloud and learn about colors and cultural festivals in an engaging way. VERDICT A must-buy for picture book sections that will delight children regardless of their familiariy with the holiday.-Henrietta Verma, National Information Standards Organization, Baltimore

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Preschool-G It is spring and Chintoo and Mintoo are excited; it is time to prepare for Holi, the Indian festival of colors. Together, the brother and sister roam their verdant garden, collecting the flowers they will turn into brightly colored powders. They gather hibiscus flowers, because hibiscus flowers make red. Orchids, marigolds, and irises come next. Chintoo and Mintoo dry the flowers before separating the petals and finally pressing them into powder. Once their petal powders are complete, it's time to celebrate. All dressed in white, the siblings join their parents, friends, and neighbors outside where the powders will be tossed about. The Sehgalsa mother-and-son duouse short, repetitive sentences and color-coded words, which nicely pair with Harrison's genial scenes emphasizing the vibrant, sunny colors of the festival and the delight of getting ready with family. This lively, informational read reinforces primary and secondary colors and showcases this jovial Hindu festival as a time to celebrate fresh starts, friendship, and forgiveness, and have lots of fun in the process. An authors' note offers more context.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)