Yusuf’s Lantern Night
Yusuf joins the lantern festival, where the whole town glows.
Once a year, the town of Lanternville held the Festival of Lights. Yusuf made a paper lantern with Jess. They painted it with stars and a smiling moon.
On festival night, the streets were full of families. Music played. Smells of sweet cakes floated in the air. Daisy the deer lit the first lamp, and the light spread from hand to hand.
Yusuf lit his lantern from Jess’s. Then he lit one for a little child who had none. ‘Thank you,’ said the child. A dozen lights, then a hundred, glowed in the street.
Hundreds of lanterns floated up into the night sky like golden stars. Everyone fell quiet. Yusuf held Jess’s hand and watched them rise. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
On the walk home, Yusuf said, ‘It’s like we all made one big light.’ Daisy nodded. ‘Yes, my dear. Light shared is light doubled.’
The little lesson
Light is brighter when we share it.
Let’s talk about it
- Do you have a festival you love?
- How did the lanterns make the town feel?
Finish stories to collect Yusuf as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Around the World stories
A Night in the Igloo with Sam
Sam builds an igloo with her family and has a snug night under the northern lights.
The Colourful Bazaar of Uma
Uma gets lost in a busy market, but kind strangers help her find the way.
The Festival of Lights with Manu
Manu joins the lantern festival, where the whole town glows.
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