Children's Books: Introducing the Festival to Young Minds
- Sizzling Scrapbook
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
From the beginning of July, the air starts buzzing with anticipation for Raksha Bandhan, a vibrant festival that beautifully celebrates the unique and cherished bond between brothers and sisters.
For a fun family reunion, a lot of Gujarati families I know in Mumbai head to Lonavala, booking entire villas and resorts for the weekend.
At its heart, Raksha Bandhan is a day of promises, protection, and boundless love. Raksha Bandhan is more than giving and receiving gifts.
But how do we truly introduce our children to the essence of this wonderful tradition?
I believe there's no better way to learn, understand, and connect with a celebration than through the power of storytelling.
And what better vessel for these enchanting narratives than a good book?
Books are not just pages and words; they are gateways to new worlds, helping young minds grasp the traditions, values, and significance of this special day through engaging stories and captivating illustrations.
Beyond explaining the festival directly, reading fiction that beautifully portrays the everyday joys, squabbles, and unbreakable love between siblings can also be a truly delightful and relatable experience for your child. These stories, whether explicitly about Raksha Bandhan or simply celebrating brother-sister relationships, resonate deeply and reinforce the spirit of the festival.
Below are five books for children that emphasis on the spirit of Raksha Bandhan:
“Amma Tell Me About Raksha Bandhan!" by Bhakti Mathur is a delightful illustrated children's book that unravels the origins of the Rakhi festival through its vibrant coloured pages..
Through engaging rhymes and vivid illustrations, it shares traditional stories, including those of Lakshmi and King Bali, and even Rabindranath Tagore's connection to the day. It's a perfect read for young ones to understand the significance of this beautiful celebration of sibling love.
For age: 2 to 8 years
Publisher: Anjana Pub
Author: Bhakti Mathur, since 2010 she has been writing Indian mythological stories and about the culture and festivals of India. Her first book was Amma, tell me about Holi.
Published on: 25 June 2018
Pages: 32 pages
The "Amma Tell Me" series of books is well-known and liked by parents and kids for making Hindu festivals and mythology engaging for children. Many reviews and articles praise the series for its rhyming format and vibrant illustrations, which are key to its success in educating young readers about Indian culture.
"Raashi's Rakhis: A New Celebration of Raksha Bandhan" by Sheetal Sheth offers a modern and inclusive twist on the traditional festival.
Young Raashi questions why only boys receive rakhis, inspiring a new, empowering tradition where both brothers and sisters can exchange these protective bracelets.
It's a vibrant story promoting gender equality and adapting cultural celebrations for contemporary times.
For age: 4-8 years
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Published on: 9 July 2024
"Let's Celebrate an Inclusive Raksha Bandhan & Play some Cricket!" by Ajanta Chakraborty and Vivek Kumar, part of the Maya & Neel's India Adventure Series, reimagines Raksha Bandhan.
It encourages both boys and girls to tie rakhis, extending the protective bond to best friends and sisters. This modern take also weaves in learning the basics of cricket, making it a fun, culturally rich, and inclusive read for children.
For age: 4-8 years
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication date: 09 July 2024
"Peppa Pig: Peppa's Rakhi" sees Peppa enthusiastically learning about Raksha Bandhan, a special day celebrating sibling bonds. She decides to make a beautiful Rakhi for her brother George to show her love and appreciation.
For ages 3 to 5 years, the book beautifully illustrates the exchange of gifts and the joyous spirit of the festival, making it a fun and accessible introduction to this tradition for young fans of Peppa Pig.
Check out Peppa pig’s other amazing books: https://amzn.to/46MqzSi
"Threads That Bind: Sibling Stories from Indian Mythology" by Nalini Ramachandran, with illustrations by Sayani Ray, offers a unique collection of tales. The book features Goddess Parvati attempting to resolve the constant squabbles between her sons, Ganesha and Karthikeya, by narrating stories of other divine siblings from Indian mythology.
It's a charming way to explore the complex, yet beautiful, dynamics of sibling relationships through ancient wisdom
As a book lover, I think there's no better way to learn than through books. Colourful picture books is what kept me going through my childhood. And thus, I feel every child should have a picture book in hand.
While I could find only these books on Raksha Bandhan that are easily available in India, if you have any more suggestions, please share in the comments below.
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