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Formats
Ebook Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-1-5
  • 100 pages
  • $9.99
Paperback Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-0-8
  • 100 pages
  • $14.99
Hardcover Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-2-2
  • 100 pages
  • $21.49
Siva Penamakuru
Author
Let There Be Light - A Diwali Story

Middle Grade; General Fiction (including literary and historical); (Publish)

Diwali is a serious matter for the Pulis–Adhvika and Aadi. The preparation begins weeks in advance, usually. However, this year, it’s different. Due to certain circumstances, they were not ready, despite it being Diwali day. As their friends, the Gajas–-Subbu and Sumati, and Jambu, join and help them prepare the house for the festival, things inadvertently become ‘Un-Diwali’ like. What happens next?

Come, explore, and re-discover the true essence of Diwali along with the Pasumans – Adhvika, Aadi, Subbu, Sumati, and Jambu, as they take you on a roller-coaster ride of celebrations, traditions, songs, and festive treats. You surely are in for a Diwali Delight!!!


 

Reviews
The Hindu holiday of Diwali can seem a magical occasion. Alive with prayer, feasts, and fireworks, it offers opportunity for believers to revel in the triumph of good over evil. Penamakuru’s imaginative book for middle-grade readers takes an otherworldly approach to a fictionalized celebration of this late fall festival. Set in a distant solar system similar to ours on a planet much like Earth, the story follows five pasumans, or anthropomorphic animals—in this case, tigers, elephants, and bears. The creatures gather at the home of the tigers, Adhvika and Aadi, for a Diwali party, with each guest bringing traditional dishes, drinks, and costumes.

The only problem: this year Adhvika and Aadi chose to take their dream vacation right before Diwali, so they are unprepared. When their friends arrive, the tigers ask for their help in the rush to create the perfect scene. This is when things start to go off the rails, with the friends getting so caught up in their plans that they neglect their values. The book’s not crafted as an introduction to Diwali, so readers first exploring the holiday will find minor specifics of the narrative a challenge to keep up with, particularly since the characters are prone to amusing off-topic chatter. But the pressure to make each holiday the best ever will resonate with young people and parents regardless of faith or geographic location, as will the pasumans’ eventual realization that the true meaning of Diwali is what really matters.

Throughout the story, Kuba’s occasional illustrations show the expressive pasumans preparing for the occasion by going shopping, hanging garlands, and drawing festive patterns around their home. At the end of the book, a letter from Jambu the bear explains the history and traditions of Diwali, and a glossary offers helpful definitions of terms. This inventive story invites readers to suspend their disbelief while offering an intriguing introduction to an ancient and beloved celebration.

Takeaway: Charming animal adventure celebrating Diwali.

Comparable Titles: Jatinder Verma’s Prince of Fire, Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Sha and the End of Time.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-1-5
  • 100 pages
  • $9.99
Paperback Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-0-8
  • 100 pages
  • $14.99
Hardcover Details
  • 09/2023
  • 979-8-9885287-2-2
  • 100 pages
  • $21.49
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