Happy Songkran Day!: The Thai New Year Celebration

PreS-Gr 3–Tida and Lek are ecstatic that their favorite day is finally here: Songkran Day, the Thai New Year. On this April holiday, the sisters help their parents prepare for rituals and events, including special food, offerings, a water party, and an evening festival where Lek will do a special dance. Little sister Tida is finally old enough to help more but gets ahead of herself all day long, resulting in moments of clumsiness that culminate in a peanut sauce stain on Lek’s special dance outfit. But the family works through the frustration with loving solutions and forgiveness, and all is well for the rest of the day. Phumiruk captures the excitement, joy and occasional stress of a big holiday that all readers will connect with. The story is able to breathe and unfold at an engaging pace while still including facts for those new to the traditions of Songkran Day. Finely detailed and vibrant illustrations in colored pencil bring each scene to life. The main family has tan skin and black hair, and the community is diversely depicted. Back matter includes an author’s note, glossary, and list of resources.