Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 4--Although Riya loves the tasty sweets Mama makes for Diwali, she "shivers thinking about the dark night and the very loud fireworks of Diwali." Riya enjoys many aspects of the five-day "celebration of light over darkness and good over evil"--treats, gatherings with family and friends, decorations--but she'd rather hide from the "dark, spooked, crowded, and loud" nighttime festivities. When Mama tells her the story of Diwali--about the courage of beloved Prince Ram, his wife Sita, and brother Lakshman--Riya, too, is ready to be brave. Veteran narrator Mathan perfectly embodies anxious young Riya with a sweet, higher pitch; imbues Mama with soft, patient kindness; and gives Riya's older sister moments of confident encouragement. VERDICT Presciently recorded with plenty of room for page-turns, libraries should offer both print and audio for an enlightening read-along.
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