It's a stormy night and Jaya and her mum are waiting for Dad to come home to begin their Divali celebrations. As they wait, Mum tells Jaya the story of Rama and Sita, upon which their New Year's celebrations are based. Together they make the rangoli patterns, get dressed in special new clothes, and light the divas that will chase the darkness away. And, like the people of Ayodhya, Jaya waits expectantly for her father's safe return.

Author Biography

Lisa Bruce works in the library of a teacher training college in the Lake District. In addition, Lisa directs pantomimes and lectures students on aspects of children's literature. She has worked as a children's librarian in London where she was involved in promoting children's literature. Lisa has published a number of successful picture books including Engines, Engines (Bloomsbury, 2000), Row Your Boat (Frances Lincoln, 2001), Amazing Alphabets (Frances Lincoln, 2003). She lives in the Lake District with her two sons. Katja Bandlow is the illustrator of Magic Mr Edison (Flying Foxes, 2002). She was born in Bremen, Germany, and completed her Diploma in Children's Book Illustration at Hamburg University. She has studied illustration in London and Italy and is published in France and Germany. She lives in Hamburg, where she works part-time as a physiotherapist and children's book illustrator. This is her second book for Random House.