It’s Deepavali at Little Lantern Bakery. Amma is tying ribbons, Paati has finished the kolam by the door, and Thaatha is cooking a feast. Everyone has a job. Everyone except Clara.

Then the bell jingles, and a little girl steps inside. The bakery feels too big and too loud, and Clara knows exactly how that feels. With a tiny stool, her favourite corner and one small flame that won’t go out, Clara finds her own way to help someone feel at home.

Inside the book

Along with the story, there’s a note for grown-ups about Deepavali and the diya, a tiny glossary of the words Clara’s family uses, from Paati and Thaatha to murukku, a few questions to talk about together, and two activity pages to draw and colour.

Why we made this book

Our Little Lantern Bakery stories draw on our authors’ own childhood memories, reimagined as fiction. Little Lantern Bakery is the bakery in the story. We are Amour Desserts, the team behind the books.

This time it’s Deepavali, celebrated by Clara’s Indian Malaysian family in Melbourne, with Paati and Thaatha visiting from Malaysia. We hope children who celebrate Deepavali find something familiar here: the diya, the kolam by the door, the murukku on the plate. For children who don’t, we hope it’s a warm first look at the festival.

And for any child who has felt too little in a busy room, we hope Clara shows them that small can still shine.

Who it’s for

Written for ages 4 to 7, it’s made for reading together: at Deepavali, at bedtime, or any time a child needs a reminder that small can be brave.

It also makes a thoughtful gift from parents, grandparents and anyone sharing Deepavali with the children in their life.

Also in the Little Lantern Bakery series

The Little Mooncake That Tasted Like Home

A Mid-Autumn Festival story about family, memory and the people we love far away.

See the book

See all Little Lantern Bakery books