WE ARE THE LIGHT

Three South Asian families observe Diwali.

A Sikh child wearing a patka helps the family tidy their house as this Hindu festival approaches. There’s plenty to do: “sweeping and scrubbing until all is spotless and shining,” purchasing “clothes new in silk and cotton,” and cooking “for days and days, making rainbows of glistening sweets.” Soon the story spotlights other families performing their own rituals: making rangolis, taking oil baths, stringing marigold and jasmine, and arranging diyas in honor of the goddess Lakshmi. Prefaced by the phrase “after we,” each stanza resonates with use of the rhetorical device anaphora and the collective voice. Mukherjee’s lush, eye-catching art evokes warmth and movement: a dupatta rippling across the page, a family member wielding a broom with joyful abandon. A vibrant double-page spread of the families in their finery lighting sparklers is followed by an illustration of the children gazing at Diwali lamps. “We find that we are the light— / the light of good that defeats evil, / the light of knowledge that illuminates ignorance.” With its philosophical message, this spread will invite contemplation and conversation about the true meaning of this festival. LaRocca relies on rhythmic pacing, wrapping up with the coda: “We are the light, at Diwali and always.” Visual cues, including dress, suggest one family is from the northern region of India, while another is from a southern region.

Vividly enticing festivities.