Events at Corning – Some Soon, Some Not So Soon…

If you’re in the Corning, NY area tomorrow (I know it’s short notice) go by the Museum to check out a couple of events. There’s the lecture on Tiffany glass, during An Evening for Educators, from 4-5:30. And then hang out for 2300º: Glittering Traditions, where you can watch Kurt Walrath create hot glass goodies. This event is from 5:30- 7:30. Both events are free, just RSVP. There’s also musical entertainment by the band Entrain. Sound like a good evening of glass and music.

Now for the event that isn’t quite as soon as those last two…Corning had such a good time hosting the 2009 GAS conference that they’ll be having their first annual GlassFest next May, 2010. To be exact it’ll be May 27-30, 2010. Read more about it here. I know I want to go. Corning is a great glass destination!

As if Diwali weren’t colorful and fun enough, The Festival of Lights: A Lift-the-flap Diwali Celebration by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Darshika Varm, makes it even more fun to read about with flaps and things to lift and pull to see more information or details in the illustrations.

The book is a story about a family getting ready for Diwali and what happens on the different days of the five-day celebration. There’s cleaning, shopping, crafting, food preparation and getting the home altar ready for the big day.

It covers decorating the outside of the house with rangoli, diyas and lanterns, buying sweets to share with family and friends, the sights and scents of the mandir (home temple), getting dressed up in new fancy clothes, the story of Diwali and celebrations with relatives.

Flaps (there are more than 140 in all) give you vocabulary words for different foods and definitions, as well as fun things like what’s inside the shopping basket or where the cat is hanging out. They also help illuminate the story of Diwali, which is the triumph of good over evil as Lord Ram defeated the demon Ravana to save his wife, Sita.

This pretty and colorful book helps kids understand what Diwali is and how it is celebrated, regardless of whether they practice it at home. This would be a nice book to keep in a classroom (it’s rated for kids ages 3-7) or to have at home to teach kids about Diwali even if it’s not something you celebrate. Where I live there are a lot of people from India so we are probably exposed to Diwali more than some other regions of America, but it’s a nice holiday to know about wherever you live.

Combine with the book Diwali and check out some fun lantern crafts and printables for kids to round out your experience.

About the book: 24 pages, hardcover, published 2025 by Wide Eyed Editions. Suggested retail prices $22.99.

Have you read?