Grades
PreK - 6
Children's Books About Diwali to Celebrate the Festival of Lights
Teach your students by reading about favorite Indian cultural traditions—like lighting the Diya!
Diwali (duh·vaa·lee) is a beloved Hindu holiday — and celebrates the triumph of light over darkness with family, food, and fun festivities! Popular traditions include mesmerizing gold sparklers and colorful rangoli designs, a beautiful Indian art form that uses powdered color.
This year, Diwali falls on October 31. Bring the spirit of Diwali to your classroom with hand-selected Diwali books by Scholastic editors and a fun, educational activity.
Start by teaching your students about Diwali by using books such as Binny’s Diwali, a sweet story about Binny embracing her culture and sharing her family’s Diwali traditions with her classmates. There’s also Rookie Read-About Holidays: Diwali, a non-fiction book with colorful pictures and fascinating facts about the holiday.
Next, you can try an easy classroom activity to bring Diwali to life for your students by creating a Diya, an oil lamp made out of clay! Your class can participate in this fun, hands-on activity and learn all about special Diwali traditions.
Students will need:
- Chart paper and markers or interactive whiteboard
- Self-hardening clay or store-bought clay Diyas
- Tempera paint
- Paintbrushes
- Tea candles (battery operated), one per child
Directions:
1. Prepare and decorate the Diyas — they can either be made with self-hardening clay or be store-bought. If your class chooses to create Diyas from clay; follow these instructions:
- Ask students to use the ball of self-hardening clay to shape a small bowl (big enough to hold a tea candle).
- Ask students to use their index finger and thumb to pinch one end of the Diya to create a small point at the front of it.
- Allow the clay to harden.
- Once the clay has finished drying, students can paint the Diya with the tempera paint (Diwali designs usually include lots of colors and intricate floral patterns).
2. Arrange the finished Diyas together in the front of the classroom, and use battery-operated candles to light them up. Take a moment to admire the beauty of your student’s creation and marvel over the main theme of Diwali — the triumph of light.
3. Recap the lesson about Diwali by asking students what they learned and record the findings on the chart paper or whiteboard.
4. As a group, write a letter to parents explaining about Diwali and the Diya.
5. Send the finished Diyas home with the letter.
Shop these beloved Diwali children’s books below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
Books About Diwali
$5.21$6.95
save to wishlistHarini shares the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist Diwali traditions with her equally bright multi-cultural classroom.
$5.99$7.99
save to wishlistThis relatable picture book beautifully captures the colors and excitement of Diwali while offering an important lesson about celebrating the people you love... even super-silly siblings!
$4.49$6.99
save to wishlistIt is Diwali and Peppa and her family are learning all about the Festival of Lights. Mummy and Daddy Pig are cooking a feast while Granny and Grandpa Pig bring everyone special clothes to wear. Then it's time for the party to begin! This storybook comes with a fact sheet in the back about Diwali and a sheet of stickers.
$14.24$18.99
save to wishlistBinny is excited to talk to her class about her favorite holiday. But she struggles to find the words. Taking a deep breath, she tells her classmates about the fireworks that burst like stars in the night sky, leaving streaks of gold and red and green
$4.46$5.95
save to wishlistFollowing the well-known and much-loved Rookie format, each Rookie Read-About Holidays book explains the development of the holiday and how it is celebrated today.
$5.21$6.95
save to wishlistBright photographs support an introduction to the origins, principles, and practice of the Indian holiday Diwali.
Books About Indian Culture & Traditions
$6.71$8.95
save to wishlistIn this tender debut picture book, author Gita Varadarajan crafts a powerful story about belonging, embracing your heritage, and believing in yourself. Archana Sreenivasan's vibrant and magical illustrations bring to life this journey of self-discovery.
$14.99$19.99
save to wishlistFrom the New York Time bestselling and award-winning author, Joanna Ho, comes an uplifting call to action that highlights Asian American history, paired with vibrant and colorful illustrations by artist and activist, Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya.
$5.96$7.95
save to wishlistThis original story is based on Hindu mythology and tells the story about how Ganesha's love of sweets led to a broken tusk and the writing of the epic poem the Mahābhārata.
$4.46$5.95
save to wishlistSiblings Mintoo and Chintoo welcome spring and participate in Holi, the Hindu celebration of friendship, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
$3.71$4.95
save to wishlistNamaskār! My name is Nisha, and I'm a kid just like you living in India. India is a country filled with colorful festivals, majestic temples, and an extraordinary history! Have you ever wondered what India is like? Come along with me to find out!
$5.21$6.95
save to wishlistThree siblings enjoy the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan-a celebration of the special relationship between brothers and sisters-in this vibrant reinterpretation of the classic song "Frère Jacques (Are You Sleeping) from the New York Times best-selling mother/son duo Surishtha Sehgal and Kabir Sehgal.
$5.96$7.95
save to wishlistThis boy visits friends in 13 different countries spanning all six populated continents. Along the way, he introduces readers to each friend's environment and customs.
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