Divali Rose

Ricki is looking forward to Divali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights." He’s also waiting for two special rosebuds to bloom. The buds are on the bush that his grandfather had planted in the front yard. His grandfather promises that the roses will be the color of Divali. But Ricki can’t imagine what color that might be. One morning, on his way to school, Ricki bends one of the rosebuds to get a closer look and accidentally snaps it off. When his grandfather believes the new neighbors have stolen his rosebud, Ricki must summon the courage to confess what he has done. Set in Trinidad, Vashanti Rahaman’s moving story, richly illustrated by Jamel Akib, reflects the meaning of a festival that is celebrated by approximately one billion Hindus worldwide.