Diwali in February? It’s a Diwali in My New Home Cover Reveal

This week I’m all about celebrating fall holiday titles outside of their seasons. It makes perfect sense that Diwali, the festival of lights, would be celebrated in the autumnal season when the days grow shorter and the nights longer. Yet now is the time in the publishing season when we like to look forward two seasons or so. And what better holiday to consider than Diwali itself?

The other day debut author Shachi Kaushik reached out to let me know that her first picture book, Diwali in My New Home, published by Beaming Books, is coming out in September 2022. The description from the publisher reads:

“Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India. But as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. And even though the celebration is different this year, it’s still Diwali.

A heartwarming story of celebrating in a new place and sharing the Hindu festival of lights with those unfamiliar with the holiday.”

Now Shachi has a connection to Diwali herself. Every year, you see, the Round Rock Public Library organizes a Diwali event. They started in 2016 and it was around that time that Shachi would host bilingual storytimes. Then, when the pandemic hit, Round Rock Library continued the celebration as virtual storytimes instead. You can actually view the video of them doing so HERE.

At the beginning of the book Shachi dedicates the book to the library “where it all started”. And now, with lovely art by the wholly talented Aishwarya Tandon, the cover:

Thank you to Shachi for alerting us to her book. You find the book available here, while Shachi can be found on Instagram or Twitter.

Filed under: Cover Reveal