A searing and exhilarating new collection from the award-winning author of The Boys of My Youth and In Zanesville,who “honors the beautiful, the sacred, and the comic in life” (Sigrid Nunez, National Book Award winner for The Friend). A New York Times Notable Book A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice A Boston Globe and LitHub Best Book of the Year When “The Fourth State of Matter,” her now famous piece about a workplace massacre at the University of Iowa was published in The New Yorker, Jo Ann Beard immediately became one of the most influential writers in America, forging a path for a new generation of young authors willing to combine the dexterity of fiction with the rigors of memory and reportage, and in the process extending the range of possibility for the essay form. Now, with Festival Days, Beard brings us the culmination of her groundbreaking work. In these nine pieces, she captures both the small, luminous moments of daily existence and those instants when life and death hang in the balance, ranging from the death of a beloved dog to a relentlessly readable account of a New York artist trapped inside a burning building, as well as two triumphant, celebrated pieces of short fiction. Here is an unforgettable collection destined to be embraced and debated by readers and writers, teachers and students. Anchored by the title piece––a searing journey through India that brings into focus questions of mortality and love—Festival Days presents Beard at the height of her powers, using her flawless prose to reveal all that is tender and timeless beneath the way we live now.

Lyrical, sensory nonfiction text and vibrant illustrations invite readers to experience a child’s-eye view of 13 holidays around the world, such as the Spring Festival in China, Inti Raymi in Peru, Eid al-Fitr in Egypt, Día de Muertos in Mexico and the New Yam Festival in Nigeria. Includes pronunciation guides, a global festival calendar and educational notes about why we celebrate.

Finally, here is a book on the Pongal Festival for children and adults. Pongal is a four day festival celebrated by the Tamil speaking population in India and all over the world. The festival has been celebrated since thousands of years ago. This book provides a very simple account of what the festival is all about, when it is celebrated and how it is celebrated. It also includes some activities like creating the design called "kolam," recipe for the Pongal special sweet dish "Sakkarai Pongal" and a few more. Whether you are a parent looking for a book on Pongal festival for your child or a teacher looking to read a book on an International festival to your students, this book should come in very handy.

In these charming volumes, Little Mei asks her grandfather about each of the four different Chinese celebrations represented. He tells her the stories of Nian and the monster Xi (Chinese New Year); Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet who loved his kingdom (Dragon Boat Festival); the Jade Emperor of Heaven who ordered the earth to be destroyed by fire (Lantern Festival); and Hou Yi who shot down the suns (Mid-Autumn Festival). In Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival Little Mei wants to know why her family members have all come together this evening. Grandpa tells her the story of Hou Yi who shot down the suns and his wife, Chang'e, who floats to the moon. Includes a quick recipe for moon cakes.

This volume examines the history and tradition of two special holidays celebrated by Japanese Americans. During the Obon Festival ancestors and others who died are remembered; but on Children's Day, games, crafts, plays and other joyous celebrations mark the day.

40 unusual world festivals and their accompanying costumes are brought to life in stunning illustrations and engaging texts.

In Lantern Festival, early readers will learn about this Asian festival and the ways people celebrate it. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they explore this unique celebration.A labeled diagram helps readers understand the symbols of the Lantern Festival, while a picture glossary reinforces new vocabulary. Children can learn more about the Lantern Festival online using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Lantern Festival also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, and an index.Lantern Festival is part of Jump!'s Festivals series.