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It's the Festival of Lights in Nepal, and today is the day to honor dogs! Brothers Alu and Bhalu wander the streets of Kathmandu, passing by twirling kites and bamboo swings, looking for a dog to feed. But as night falls, their task begins to feel hopeless, until they spot a small black dog who is in need of a friend. This sweet story presents an important Hindu holiday through the eyes of two young boys, making it relatable for both those familiar with the holiday and those reading about it for the first time.
"Every year, dogs in Nepal are celebrated on Kukur Tihar, which takes place during a five-day festival of lights. Nepalese dog-owners revere their pets with a red tika on the forehead, a garland of marigolds, and special treats to eat. They pray for the health and safety of their dogs and give thanks for their loyalty and friendship. Here a pair of dejected brothers roam the streets of Kathmandu looking for an unclaimed stray dog to honor, as they have none of their own. Award-winning poet Engle collaborates with Amish and Nicole Karanjit to tell this semifictional, heart-warming story of luck and love. Mixed-media illustrations reveal a bustling Kathmandu emerging from the rubble of a deadly earthquake, vibrant and determined to resume normalcy. Textile patterns layered over paint in the clothing of figures and backgrounds adds a unique cultural element. A happy ending will have readers cheering for the brothers and probably begging for a puppy of their own."-Booklist
"In Nepal, the festival Diwali has a special component where stray dogs, or kukur, are honored, and young brothers Alu and Bhalu are particularly determined to find a dog to feed this year given search dogs' important help after the recent Nepalese earthquake. After combing the town they happen on a sad and abandoned puppy, whom they dub 'Haku' and smuggle into the house and up to the rooftop as the night draws in. Drawn by the sound of puppy wooing, the rest of the family, including the boys' little sister, heads up onto the roof, and there, with a backdrop of festival reworks, they include Haku in the celebrations and agree that in the day's tradition of sibling giving, 'all three children should generously give one another one lonely puppy who needed a home.' Engle, working with her daughter and Nepalese son-in-law, creates a spare, lyrical text that eschews the usual explanatory glosses (the name of the tradition, Kukur Tihar, isn't even explicitly mentioned); while non-Nepalese audiences may therefore need some help to contextualize some elements, such as the flower wreaths and red forehead mark on the dog, the result is a bracing absence of pandering that relies on the dog-centered plot and festive details to drive the story on their own. Painterly digital illustrations are occasionally stiff, but there's a pleasing balance between lively pattern and festive details and the purple tones of the evening, and Haku, with his importuning big eyes, is practically irresistible. The result is an engaging introduction to a tradition that a lot of kids would like to join in celebrating and a quick view of a country that doesn't get much attention in youth literature. A glossary, a brief bibliography of children's books about Nepal, and a list of slightly contrived activities is appended."-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Brothers Alu and Bhalu are celebrating Kukur Tihar, a special day to honor dogs during festival time in Nepal. The two young boys search the streets of Kathmandu for a stray dog to feed, remembering the brave search-and-rescue dogs that saved many lives after earthquakes devastated their country in 2015. Multiaward-winner Engle teams up with her daughter, Nicole Karanjit, and son-in-law, Amish Karanjit (who was born and raised in Nepal), to craft this tale based on a true story from ano
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