Holi Colours

Starred review from January 1, 2018
“My jaan, my life, my little one./ Let’s play holi. Let’s have fun!” So begins Singh’s tender tribute to the Hindu holiday of Holi, during which participants toss colorful powders on each other. Writing in the voice of a parent addressing a child, Singh uses the occasion to highlight five colors (“Lotus sent the sweetest pink./ Stole it from your cheeks, I think”), accompanied by intimate and appropriately vibrant photographs of Indian children and families throwing gulal powder, painting each other with color, laughing, and hugging. A closing note briefly describes Holi’s underpinnings, wrapping up a joyful hybrid of concept book, holiday title, and portrait of familial love. Up to age 3.

February 1, 2018

PreS-K-This board book has the primary purpose of teaching young children the names of colors. Each page contains a photograph of children enjoying the Hindu festival by tossing and reveling in the colored powders thrown to welcome the coming of spring. The book not only teaches about the colors, but is a great way to introduce the occasion to young children who do not celebrate Holi. It is also a wonderful cultural connection for children who are Hindu and who will recognize themselves in the pages. VERDICT A unique color book that goes beyond teaching about color to celebrate and teach about a Hindu celebration.-Peggy Henderson Murphy, Wyandot Elementary School, Dublin, OH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2018
Singh celebrates Holi, the Hindu festival of colors and love, and highlights six colors in this vibrant, playful board book. Hindus celebrate Holi and the arrival of spring by tossing colored powders called gulal on one another. Short rhyming couplets, with type set within a design of the appropriate color, describe where the color is found. Some can be found everywhere ("Riding on the gentle breeze / came the GREEN of all the trees"), and some are specific to India ("Peacock brought the dreamiest BLUE-- / he said he saved it just for you"). Stock photographs depict diverse children and their families and friends, with skin colors of different hues, laughing and celebrating with various Holi colors smeared over their faces and bodies. The sheer joy of the event comes through on nearly every page (and one suspects the child crying due to an eyeful of powder will brighten up soon enough), introducing the fun of the observance to all readers. A brief note at the end of the book gives more information about the festival, explaining that it "celebrates the legendary love of Lord Krishna for his beloved, Radha." Communicating the universal concept of color within the specific celebration of Holi, this gem deserves a place in every child's book bag. (Board book. 2-5)

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