10 Best Diwali Books for Kids

India is a diverse country; you may have heard of that. This diversity is very much visible, not only with all the different kinds of festivals we celebrate but also diverse with the way we celebrate it. Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of these Indian holidays. 

North Indians celebrate Diwali with Lord Rama, Sita Ma, and Lakshaman Ji returning to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana. In South India, Diwali is celebrated in honor of Lord Krishna’s victory over Narakasura. In contrast, in the west, people celebrate Diwali to rejoice in the return of King Bali back to earth. Therefore, some people associate Diwali as being the harbinger of good, happy days. 

At the same time, some think of it as an omen of good over evil, yet we all unite to celebrate this auspicious day together. Therefore, kids must understand the significance and history of our culture, and that's why we created a list of books that you can give them to introduce to the saga of Ramayana. 

1. Amma, Tell Me About Diwali! by Bhakti Mathur

This adorable yet informative picture book revolves around two brothers, Klaka and Kiki, who love asking questions about festivals and traditions. In this installment, they want to explore Diwali and the rituals and stories behind it. 

It is told in a lyrical narration by their Amma where she talks about Lord Rama’s victory and shares the stories about Goddess Lakshmi with spell-binding illustrations. It’s a perfect book for children who are curious about the legends and the stories that gave birth to this beautiful festival. You can find the book here.

2. Binny's Diwali by Thrity Umrigar

A picture book for kids that deals with anxiety. The holidays are over, and Binny has a presentation to give in front of the class. She has to talk about her favorite festival through the show and was pretty pumped about it, but her excitement suddenly takes the shape of public speaking fear when a sudden shyness takes over her. With the help of her class teacher, Mr. Boomer, she somehow manages to explain to her classmates about diyas (earthen lamps), the stories, and the various rituals that follow this festival after remembering the spirit of Diwali and the celebration of having courage. 

It not only teaches people about the problems children face outdoors when they are faced with rude commentary and sneers but is also a relatable companion for kids with similar situations to relate to and feel encouraged from. There are separate pages written by the author and the illustrator specifically added to the piece of knowledge already provided in the narrative. If you are looking for a book that inspires and teaches kids about courage and taking responsibility, then this should be your pick this Diwali. You can find the book here.

3. Let's Celebrate 5 Days of Diwali! by Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar

This is a multi-cultural story of Neel and Maya, who visit their Aunty Eisha for Diwali, who lives in India. This story talks about the five leading days of the celebration of this festival, namely Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Saal Mubarak, and lastly, the festival of Bhai Dooj. It is a perfect Diwali book with occasional mythological stories to evoke the spirit of a festivity if you want to know how people actually participate in this occasion. You can find the book here.

4. Krishna And Narakasura by Kamala Chandrakant

Krishna and Narakasura is a modern retelling of Amar Chitra Katha’s  (a graphic novel loved by many Indians) take on the legend of Lord Krishna and the evil Narakasura. This story retells why the first few days of Diwali are named after Naraka. It’s a story celebrated mainly by the south Indians, and reading this book would be really helpful for kids to understand the diverse meanings behind Diwali. You can find the book here.

5. My Little Book of Lakshmi by Penguin Books India

Goddess Lakshmi tours earth once a year to bless her devotees by visiting their houses. This very fun illustrated book introduces the perspective of the Goddess herself on the various ways of celebrating Diwali. It’s an excellent approach to make young minds open to understanding Hindu Mythology and the significance of each God and Goddess in our day-to-day customs. This board book is one of the many installments of a vast series, and it also comes with seek-and-find activity at the back of the book that will keep children busy. You can find the book here.

6. Lucky, it's Diwali by Nalini Sorensen

Lucky is a dog who loves Adit, but Adit is an eight-year-old boy that doesn’t really like this dog in particular. So with an unlikely friendship and mutual hate towards the festival of Diwali, will Adit finally find some common ground with a human’s best friend, aka Lucky in Adit’s case? Told through Lucky, the dog’s perspective, this story makes up for a potential Disney-Pixar worthy friendship story, perfect for dog lovers of all ages. You can find the book here.

7. Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Diwali by Neville Astley 

Peppa Pig is an animated cartoon series for kids to enjoy and has recently come up with an adorable picture book about Diwali which tells the story of Peppa, who wants to learn about the festival. In this installment of Peppa pig stories, Peppa and her whole family practice the customs and prepare the feasts to get the taste of the festival of lights. You can find the book here. You can find the book here.

8. Diwali by Hannah Eliot

This is a beautiful non-fiction book illustrating the five days of the celebration of Diwali. It does not go into the religious reasoning of the festival or either of the legends related to the festival of Diwali. It only focuses on the traditions and the celebration that will surely get any kid excited about the festival and is even appropriate for non-Indian kids who don’t know much about the culture just yet. You can find the book here. You can find the book here.

9. Hurray for Diwali by Anita Raina Thapan 

In this story, along with Gittoo and friends, kids will get the chance to learn the magical story behind Diwali as they play with crackers, feast together, pray and share their time with each other. It talks extensively about each and every aspect of Diwali. You can find the book here.

10. Lighting a Lamp by Jonny Zucker 

Lighting a lamp is a realistic fiction picture book told from a young boy's perspective who is helping his family prepare for the celebration of Diwali. A two-page spread is also provided for the parents as a guideline to talk to their kids and discuss the festival with added information keys and stories. One of the best Diwali books to read this year, if you haven’t read this one already. You can find the book here.

Conclusion -
Diwali is one of the biggest festivals of India, and we all celebrate it for different reasons. To cherish the differences in customs and values and the unity of this festival that brings us together, these books will teach young readers all that there is to know about Diwali and the diverse ways in which it is celebrated and loved.