Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
A fun dive into how to make bright powders to toss for Holi.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
A sister and brother prepare brightly colored powders to use for the spring Hindu holiday of Holi in FESTIVAL OF COLORS. Mintooo and Chintoo pick fresh flowers for the purpose: hibiscus for red, orchids for purple, marigolds for orange, and iris for blue. They dry them, separate the petals, and press the petals into fine powders. The next day, they dress in white along with family, friends, and neighbors, and they head outdoors where everyone gathers to toss the powders at one another and shout a holiday greeting. "Holi, hai!" means "It's Holi!" As a conclusion, it is explained that Holi is a festival of fresh starts, friendship, forgiveness, and fun.
Is It Any Good?
This festive picture book about the Hindu spring holiday of Holi is narrowly focused on the colored powders used to celebrate within a vibrant Indian community. In Festival of Colors, emphasis is on how the powders are made from bright flower petals and then on how the powders are tossed at family, friends, and neighbors. Holi is unique, and kids who celebrate will enjoy the representation. Others will want to celebrate too. An end note explains how today the powders generally come from a bazaar or an online source, so the hands-on approach of this book seems a bit out of sync. The book's simplicity makes for a pleasant starting point to learn about Holi and perhaps branch out to learn more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Festival of Colors and discuss what holidays they celebrate. Do you celebrate Holi? Any other spring holidays?
Colored powders are tossed at people as part of the celebration, all in good fun. How does this sound to you? Have you ever played paintball?
The children in the story work as a team to make the colored powders to toss for Holi. Do you work with siblings, friends, or classmates on special projects?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Vashti Harrison
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Holidays
- Character Strengths : Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Beach Lane Books
- Publication date : January 30, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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