Celebration Festival

By Alysia Kelly & Ruth-Mary Smith

Reviewed by Meg Rowe

Evie loves celebrations so when she is asked to judge her local communities Celebration Festival, she is excited – and nervous. How will she be able to choose a winner? With her best friend, Biscuits the dog, Evie sets off on an adventure investigating celebrations and awareness days from January to December.

Celebration Festival’s timely themes surrounding cultural diversity, inclusion, community, and friendship make it an excellent picture book choice for both home and school settings and the stories, entertaining and informative, combined with additional glossary notes, entice young children to embark on their own celebration exploration.

Debut author Alysia Kelly’s Celebration Festival is a fun and festive romp that opens a window on the world with Ruth-Mary Smith’s vibrant and appealing illustration bringing each festival to life. Beginning with the South Indian festival of Pongal (Biscuits is scared of the fireworks!) to International Yoga Day in June (Biscuits does like downward dog) and ending in December with Christmas and Hanukkiah (Evie and Biscuits both love to sing) Celebration Festival is a lovely mix of information based narrative, beautifully showcased by the delightful friendship between Evie and Biscuits.

Teachers, librarians, parents, carers, and children will enjoy Celebration Festival as a shared read aloud and as a handy reference for each month’s celebration and awareness days throughout the year. What will your favourite celebration be? Or will you be like Evie and Biscuits and love them all?

Larrikin House 2026

Alysia Kelly

Ruth-Mary Smith