When I set out to write “A Kids Book About Diwali,” I had no idea how deeply personal and fulfilling the journey would be. As a mother and former elementary school teacher, I’ve always been passionate about sharing stories that awaken the imagination of young minds, especially those that reflect the diversity of our world.

Growing up, I remember it was common to wish everyone a Merry Christmas in school, but holidays like Diwali were never mentioned. No one would ever wish me a Happy Diwali. As a kid, it made me feel like my culture and traditions were invisible … and maybe even unimportant. Kids pick up signals to make sense of their world, and when Diwali is left out of conversations, it feels like it’s not “normal,” to celebrate. In response, children often bury that part of their cultural identity.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is one of the most important celebrations in the world—rich in cultural significance and a time that brings people together across communities. But growing up in Canada, and later as a mom in the U.S., I noticed a gap in children’s literature when it came to explaining Diwali in a way that was inclusive, educational, and accessible, particularly for children who don’t often see their culture reflected in mainstream media.

For years, I integrated Diwali and other multicultural celebrations into my teaching, creating school plays and events that brought diverse traditions to life for students of all backgrounds. I even developed a diversity curriculum that was adopted by the Ontario School Board. Through this process, I realized that children were eager to learn about holidays and customs different from their own, but there weren’t enough resources to make these cultural celebrations relatable and easy to understand.

After becoming a mom, I felt that same gap when trying to teach my own kids about the significance of the holiday. Once again, there were no resources that explained Diwali in a simple, accessible way so that anyone—regardless of age or background—could not only understand it, but also see themselves in the story.

Every year during Diwali, our entire family, cousins and all, would sit down and write a play based on the Ramayana. The children would tweak the story to add some humor, and everyone, including adults, would act it out together. It became a cherished family tradition.

My motivation for writing the book became even more urgent as more schools began recognizing Diwali as an official holiday. However, there was still a lack of resources for educators and parents to use to teach children about the holiday. Kids knew they were getting another holiday but didn’t really understand why.

That’s when I decided to write a book to address this problem, and the idea truly came to life when I received an invitation and book deal to create it as part of the popular A Kids Book About series, which has over 170 titles. A Kids Book About Diwali is their first holiday book, and the incredible support from the team at DK Penguin Random House helped bring this dream to reality. I’m especially excited to join such a well-known series that already counts several celebrity authors, like Billie Jean King, LeVar Burton, and Jessica Biel among its list of writers.

The widespread popularity of Diwali, combined with the reach and reputation of this series, is the perfect combination to help get this message out to a wide audience.

I wanted to create a book that went beyond explaining the rituals or religious significance of Diwali. Instead, I aimed to truly capture the spirit of the holiday—joy, light, and the coming together of family and community. It was important to me that the book feel universal, focusing on the values Diwali embodies, like the triumph of light over darkness and the importance of kindness, generosity, and togetherness. I also included the stories and traditions of multiple faiths that celebrate Diwali, including Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists.

The book was deeply inspired by my own family experiences. As a mom of two, I see how important it is for children to see themselves represented in the stories they read and to feel proud of their heritage. Diwali is more than just a holiday for us—it’s a way of reconnecting with our roots, and I wanted to share that joy and pride with other families, both those who celebrate Diwali and those learning about it for the first time.

Writing A Kids Book About Diwali has been a labor of love. It’s been incredible to see how it has been embraced not only by South Asian families but also by teachers, librarians, and parents from all backgrounds who want to introduce their children to the beauty of Diwali. 

As a former teacher, I know firsthand how demanding the job can be. To make it easier and less time-consuming for teachers, I’ve included free downloadable worksheets on my website (www.bookaboutdiwali.com) to accompany the book. These resources cover all grade levels and can be integrated into various subject areas, including language arts, math, and art, with fun activities such as word searches, crossword puzzles, and rangoli art. My goal is to provide teachers with ready-to-use materials that not only make teaching about Diwali fun but also help seamlessly incorporate the holiday into lesson plans.

I hope this book helps children feel seen and celebrated, and that it sparks curiosity and conversation in homes and classrooms across the world. At its heart, A Kids Book About Diwali is a celebration of light—the light within us, the light we share, and the light we bring to others. And in today’s world, we need that message more than ever.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s continue to tell our stories, celebrate our traditions, and bring more light into the world. As I often say when I’m speaking about the book—Diwali is for everyone! It’s up to us to help spread this message and make it a reality.

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