IT'S HOLI!

A family finds a way to help their youngest enjoy a beloved holiday.

It’s Holi, the Hindu festival that celebrates the coming of spring. After his older sibling wakes him up, a young South Asian boy dons a traditional white outfit and snacks on mitai, jalebi, and samosas. The boy watches as family and friends fill water balloons and small cannons with water and colored powder. Although the boy loves colors, he seems uncertain, and when he’s splashed with water, he tells his family he doesn’t want to play. They urge him to join in, but he says that he’s worried about getting water on his face, especially in his eyes. His sibling brings him a pair of goggles, and he joins the fun. While it’s commendable to see a holiday book that centers a character coded as neurodiverse, the story feels rushed: The young protagonist isn’t given the opportunity to opt out of participating or much time to calm down before jumping back into the fray, nor does the child have the chance to come up with his own solution. While the simple, clear language and vibrant cartoon images make for an upbeat tale, many kids who are similarly overwhelmed by holiday festivities will find the resolution unsatisfying.

An appealing Holi celebration that falls short in its treatment of sensory issues.