Kid Lit Review: Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!

Title: Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!

Author: Shoumi Sen

Illustrator: Abira Das

Publisher: Shoumi Sen, 2015

Themes: India, festivals, Durga Puja

Ages: 3 to 8

Durga Puja is here! What does it mean to a child? New clothes, laughing with friends, yummy food and being immersed in a colourful cultural experience. Step into this book and share in Riya's excitement as you watch this festival come alive!

‘Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!' is part of the series 'From The Toddler Diaries' and celebrates Durga Puja as experienced by 3 year old Riya. This artful portrayal of the '5 Days of Pujo' appeals to young and old alike. Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami and Bijoya Dashami - the cultural colors have a pronounced Bengali connection, but are universal to Durga Puja celebrations the world over. Woven in poetry and color, it is easy to read and has been enthusiastically endorsed by 3-8 year olds and their parents.

Review: Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!

Celebrate Durga Puja With Me! is a wonderful book for children to learn about Durga Puja, the festival originating in India that celebrates the victory of the Hindu goddess Durga over Mahishasur. According to its author Shoumi Sen, the book was the result of her efforts to pass on the cultural experiences she had growing up in India to her little daughter who was living overseas. This book has a wealth of information on Durga Puja and eloquently describes the five-day celebrations. It is indeed very interesting to know about it from little Riya's perspective, where the festival is mostly about getting new clothes, sweets, going to the pandals and all the merriment. The text has a lyrical nature to it and is suitable for read-along. The book is rich with full-page illustrations of the celebrations, right from mall shopping to pandal hopping to the aarti. The yellow and red-tinged colour palette chosen by the illustrator Abira Das fits the theme of Durga Puja quite well, and the detailing is worth mentioning.

Multicultural children's books, such as Celebrate Durga Puja With Me!, can serve as a mirror for some readers while providing a window into another culture for others.

About the author

Shoumi Sen is the author of Celebrate Durga Puja With Me! (2015), Celebrate Holi With Me! (2017), and Celebrate Onam With Me! (2020), which make up the From The Toddler Diaries, series of children's books on Indian culture and mythology.

From The Toddler Diaries began as a  series of poems that Shoumi wrote for her daughter. This collection was the life of several bedtime story sessions and play dates with friends. Inspired by this interest among kids and encouraged by their parents, she decided to publish the collection.

Sindoor Khela. Photo by Arundhati Chakraborty, courtesy of Shoumi Sen.

Sindoor Khela. Illustration by Abira Das from Celebrate Durga Puja With Me! (Sen, 2017)

ESL Activities to Teach About Festivals: Durga Puja