Cultural Celebrations. ABDO/DiscoverRoo Series. Gr. 1–4. (6 new titles)
Bon Festival. By Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $32.79 (9781098245344). 394.26.
Earth Day. By Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $32.79 (9781098245368). 394.26.
Easter. By Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $32.79 (9781098245375). 394.26.
Spring Equinox. By Elizabeth Andrews. 2024. 32p. illus. lib. ed., $32.79 (9781098245399). 394.26.
These new books in the Cultural Celebrations series contain a some-what odd mix of secular holidays, natural phenomena, and religious festivals, but each holiday is treated with respect and described factually. Each book has several short chapters and begins with a scenario in which a representative character is preparing to celebrate the holiday, then moves into more general information, including interesting details about how the celebration is held in different places around the world. The subject of Bon Festival, a Japanese holiday based on a Buddhist celebration honoring ancestors, is probably the event least familiar to American readers. Author Elizabeth Andrews puts the festival’s customs in context by describing Japanese family life and traditions. In , Andrews describes Christian beliefs about Jesus, making sure to preface them with “Christians believe.” provides the history of the recent origins of the celebration. describes the event in astronomical terms
