The House Without Lights: A Glowing Celebration of Joy, Warmth, and Home

Faruqi gives a longing voice to an unoccupied house watching as its neighbor residences are festooned in lights, including Diwali lamps and Hanukkah menorahs. When a family, portrayed with brown skin, moves in, the house hopes to be lighted up for the approaching yuletide. But the newcomers don’t decorate, and though the house is filled with the mouthwatering smell of golden rice, the parents work through the holiday (“so our friends can celebrate with their families,” they say). Even so, House feels cozy with its new residents and, months later, gets its lights—during Eid. Alam’s spellbinding illustrations of suburban tranquility are populated with snow-laden rooftops, multicolored twinkle lights, and feelings of loving camaraderie in this holiday tale whose charming conceit is matched by the visible glow of the house, at last happily winking its lights. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)