A Sweet Diwali

Illustrated by Geeta Ladi
Look inside
Join a young girl and her dog in this Step 2 reader as they joyfully prepare to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights! Perfect for readers ages 4-6.

Raina is excited to celebrate Diwali, a Hindu holiday that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Along with her family and her best friend, Lion (a little dog with a big sweet tooth!), Raina helps prepare for the celebration. She decorates the house with clay lamps called diyas, makes beautiful rangoli designs with sand, watches colorful fireworks, and shares sweet treats with Lion. It’s a Diwali to remember!

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories, for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.
Harshita Jerath (pronounced HER-she-ta) is a children's book author who draws inspiration from her memories of growing up in India and the colorful world around her. She is the author of picture books, "The Leaping Laddoo" (Albert Whitman & Co, 2022) and "Cooler Than Lemonade" (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2023). Her upcoming book, "A Sweet Diwali" (2024), is inspired by her childhood friendship with her dachshund dog, Dollar. She currently lives with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Geeta Ladi is a children’s book illustrator born and raised in Mumbai. As a child, she poured through storybooks, absorbing the rich illustrations and creating new imaginative worlds from them. India’s multicultural diversity has influenced her style, as her colorful work aims to share it’s unique energy with children all over the world. Geeta has combined her artistic knowledge with her personal experience of working with children in Indian schools. Geeta's hobbies are watching movies with her husband, playing with her energetic dog, and photography.

About

Join a young girl and her dog in this Step 2 reader as they joyfully prepare to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights! Perfect for readers ages 4-6.

Raina is excited to celebrate Diwali, a Hindu holiday that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. Along with her family and her best friend, Lion (a little dog with a big sweet tooth!), Raina helps prepare for the celebration. She decorates the house with clay lamps called diyas, makes beautiful rangoli designs with sand, watches colorful fireworks, and shares sweet treats with Lion. It’s a Diwali to remember!

Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories, for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

Author

Harshita Jerath (pronounced HER-she-ta) is a children's book author who draws inspiration from her memories of growing up in India and the colorful world around her. She is the author of picture books, "The Leaping Laddoo" (Albert Whitman & Co, 2022) and "Cooler Than Lemonade" (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2023). Her upcoming book, "A Sweet Diwali" (2024), is inspired by her childhood friendship with her dachshund dog, Dollar. She currently lives with her family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Geeta Ladi is a children’s book illustrator born and raised in Mumbai. As a child, she poured through storybooks, absorbing the rich illustrations and creating new imaginative worlds from them. India’s multicultural diversity has influenced her style, as her colorful work aims to share it’s unique energy with children all over the world. Geeta has combined her artistic knowledge with her personal experience of working with children in Indian schools. Geeta's hobbies are watching movies with her husband, playing with her energetic dog, and photography.

Books for National Depression Education and Awareness Month

For National Depression Education and Awareness Month in October, we are sharing a collection of titles that educates and informs on depression, including personal stories from those who have experienced depression and topics that range from causes and symptoms of depression to how to develop coping mechanisms to battle depression.

Read more

Horror Titles for the Halloween Season

In celebration of the Halloween season, we are sharing horror books that are aligned with the themes of the holiday: the sometimes unknown and scary creatures and witches. From classic ghost stories and popular novels that are celebrated today, in literature courses and beyond, to contemporary stories about the monsters that hide in the dark, our list

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

For LGBTQIA+ History Month in October, we’re celebrating the shared history of individuals within the community and the importance of the activists who have fought for their rights and the rights of others. We acknowledge the varying and diverse experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community that have shaped history and have led the way for those

Read more