Dancing Devi

Words By: Priya Parikh | Art By: N. Dejeshwini

Celebrate the beauty of classical Indian dance while learning to grow through missteps and failures

Devi wants to be a perfect bharatanatyam dancer, just as she believes her mom to be, but she is disheartened when she loses her first dance competition. Devi decides to practice until she is perfect, but no matter how hard she works on her facial expressions or her footwork, she keeps making mistakes. She is at the point of giving up, when Devi’s mother shares the mistakes she made while learning how to dance, helping Devi realize that imperfection and failure are a part of learning.

A culturally rooted picture book that shares a universal message of dedication and self-love through the practice of a classical Indian dance form.


_______

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award—Best New Voice, Children's & YA, Silver Award (2023)

NYC Big Book Award—Children's: Motivational (2023) 


"Bright contemporary illustrations and informative back matter add context and depth to this sweet story that makes for a worthwhile read-aloud with the potential for rich discussions."—Booklist

"Bright cultural touches...complement the book’s messages."—Foreword Reviews


_______

Themes:
Realistic Fiction, Determination, Asian American, Family Stories, Family, Self-Management, Social-Emotional Learning, The Arts, Include Phonetic Glossary, Include Teaching Resources, Picture Book, Growth Mindset