Diwali Storytime & Craft (Ages 4-8)

Children ages 4-8 and their grown ups can stop by for a Diwali celebration with a local author!

Priya Kumari is a multi-award-winning children’s author and the founder of an independent publishing company Eternal Tree Books, which produces mainly children's books. Her mission is to publish uplifting books created by visionary authors and artists for all ages to share stories from under-represented Indian culture—diverse stories promoting peace education, emotional hygiene, science of well-being, and cultural competence. Her most popular book, Leaf Talks Peace: Buddha’s message of Harmony, is blessed with a foreword by The Dalai Lama. Born and raised in the scenic foothills of Himalayas, she inherited her love of reading and passion for the written word from her father, who owned a bookstore. She is passionate about diverse representation in publishing and also serves as a member of the DEI committee at IBPA, the largest trade association for independent publishers in the US. She is the founding board member of a non-profit, South Asian Kidlit- a global community of creatives supporting and promoting independent South Asian children's literature. She is also a certified public accountant and lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two sons.

My Diwali--Lights of Virtue: Book description

My Diwali invites you to the home of little Leela and her elder brother, Aadi. They celebrate joyfully the five days of Diwali, the Indian festival of lights—lights of virtue. Aadi is never afraid of speaking up against anything wrong and Leela is a thoughtful little girl. Aadi gets a criminal arrested, so Maa and Papa appreciate him by talking about stories behind the five days of Diwali and victory of good over evil. While enjoying the festival, the kids discover that the Divine lives within their hearts in the form of virtue. They learn how Diwali brings the lights of personal success, social justice, and ecological peace during the darkest days of the year. The authors invite you to light a lamp spreading the lights of virtue this Diwali.

Craft: 1. Sand Rangoli is ideal for all ages. Peel the stickers and sprinkle colored sand to make beautiful Rangolis. 

           2. Paint and decorate Clay Diyas

Food: Children can enjoy preparing an Indian dessert--Coconut Laddoos--using packaged ingredients (coconut powder, condensed milk, coco powder). This will not involve use of heat or flame, it will simply involve mixing the ingredients and rolling the mix into balls called laddoos.