
Member Reviews

Reluctantly going along to his sister’s dance class, Varun finds he is fascinated by the rhythm and movement of bharatanatyam. He secretly tries it at home and falls in love. When he begins dance lessons he is teased when others think that boys can’t dance. However, Thatha points out that he used to dance and pulls out old photos of him dancing as a young man.
Srividhya Vankat’s Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps is a lovely picture book about following your heart and passion. The loving relationship the children have with their grandfather adds to the story and presents intergenerational family relationships. Full color illustrations add to the story, and Tamil vocabulary is interspersed throughout.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by Yali Books.

I received an eARC in return for an honest review and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.
This is an absolutely charming story with a thoughtful message and lovely illustrations. Absolutely a wonderful addition on any child’s shelf, especially if that child has an interest in dance or has faced issues of bullying or discrimination because of their interests.
I loved the messaging regarding gender equity and familial support, and thought that it did a great job focusing on positive messaging. In particular I loved the relationship between the main character and his grandfather.
The non-fictional context inclusions added so much value as well.

What a cute story! A great way to introduce young readers to a new culture, as well as talk about the importance of following your dreams. I loved that the author included more information about dance within the context of Indian culture, especially in regards to the discrimination against male dancers.
While he might be the first boy at his new dance school, I’m sure Varun won’t be the last!

Srividhya Venkat’s new book Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps highlights bharatanatyam, an ancient classical dance form from India. While he takes karate, Varun’s sister is learning to dance. Varun is not at all interested until one day, he can’t escape from the rhythm of the dance. But boys don’t dance do they? It takes encouragement from their grandfather and dance teacher to give him the courage to try and do what he loves. Such an important message in this book, one that we need to see more of! The illustrations by Kavita Ramchandran are gorgeous and the backmatter is perfect for helping to understand more about this ancient art form. Thank you so the author, Yali Books and #netgalley for providing an E ARC. #dancinginthathasfootsteps

This is a beautiful story about a boy who wants to dance just like his sister and his grandfather who shows everyone that dancing isn't only for girls. Through the story, we learn about bharatanatayam, an ancient classical dance from India. The illustrations perfectly embody the movements in the dance, you can clearly picture Varun and Thatha dancing. Dancing in Thatha's Footsteps ticks all the boxes for an inclusive picture book and I will be adding this to my preschool library.

Such a fantastic book! I wish I had a book like this growing up.
Varun has an itch to learn dance, but he's told that boys don't dance. Thatha is a fantastic role model and I really love that he encouraged Varun to follow his heart. It was uplifting to see the support and encouragement provided to Varun by the teacher and his Thatha. They were gently encouraging him to break down those barriers, inviting him to be the first boy to break down the boundaries. It's a nice way to challenge the silly rules set by the girls, allowing them to also embrace change and invite boys to learn dance.
Being a Bharatanatyam dancer, I really loved this book. It introduces readers to the world of Bharatanatyam, and classical Indian dance. It's a nice introduction to readers that dance and culture in India extends beyond the world of Bollywood.

When your heart says to dance, you’ve got to listen. Thanks for the reminder that dancing is for everyone!

The last time I read a children's book,I was left thoroughly disappointed and I vowed to never again read another one. But this book changed that perception and I'm so grateful to it.
Toxic masculinity is one that has been ingrained in our minds ever since we are children. A male being feminine is frowned upon and seen as grounds for bullying. In this case, the feminine quality is dancing Bharatnatyam. You'll be surprised to hear that the creator of Bharatnatyam was in fact a male warrior worshipped in most parts of India.
'Dancing in thatha's footsteps' shows a young boy's wish to learn this artform, but he was faced with barriers, including his own self doubt to conquer a 'female' art. Until, that is, he realized a role model in his grandfather.
That's why the growth of children is very important. They copy those around them. And if they have the right role model to guide through walks of life, it becomes so much sweeter.
This book is a solid reminder of what we can achieve, breaking gender 'laws' and being who we are.

Learning about other people's heritage nad background is an important thing that I want my children to read and hear about so when I saw this book which is about an Indian Dance, I knew I wanted to request it!
Not only do we learn about an Indian dance, there is a lovely msg behind it too - it's a bit like the Indian version of Billy Elliot.
Loved the illustrations - they were very cute and captured the story perfectly.
Great book.

I really enjoyed this picture book about a boy who wants to learn Bharatanatyam, but has to battle what others think of him. It's a sweet read and I think it's perfect for younger readers.

An incredibly sweet story about a young boy who wants to learn to dance and his grandfather who encourages him to follow his heart. I loved how this story incorporated Tamil words with definitions at the end..

Please, a children's book on Bharathanatyam? I am all in. I loved it! The book challenges gender norms and encourages children to try things that are outside of what society has prescribed to them. The saying that "Dance isn't for boys", especially in the Tamil culture is quite common and it's beautiful to see that the author addresses this through this story. Also glad to see that the Tamil culture is introduced in the book, with some words that are familiar to me.
I am definitely going to buy a copy for myself. Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy.

I loved this book! It was greatly illustrated, and the story was very encouraging. It shows that you can be different!

Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps is a heart-warming, adorable book. I enjoyed the story, the beautiful and powerful message and the illustrations. Learning about the dance was interesting as well! Good book.

A young boy wants to dance the Bharatanatyam, an ancient dance from India but meets resistance from his sister and other kids. He practices in secret, making himself miserable. This important story encourages kids to follow their interests and pursue their passions across gender norms. The author sprinkles in some new language in Tamil and introduces readers to the dance form with beautiful images in the back matter. Be sure to check this one out
Thank you to Netgalley and Yali Books for providing the digital ARC for an honest review.

This is a lovely story of young Varun, who is desperate to learn to dance and finds everything inspiring, but is made fun of by the girls at the dance school. His grandfather inspires him to dance and follow his dream. It's super sweet and wholesome!
I really loved that Tamil dance terms are used throughout! It's great learning new words. And there's a helpful guide at the back for those looking.
I thoroughly adored this little book about acceptance and dance. Let all those who love to dance, do so!

Dancing in Thatha's Footsteps is a charmingly lighthearted story about Varun, a boy who wants to learn to dance (specifically Bharatanatyam, a classical dance originating from India) like his sister. But dance isn't for boys. Right?
Venkat addresses this question through easy-to-understand writing accompanied by visually pleasing illustrations.
As the story progresses, the reader watches as Varun's grandfather tries to convince him to follow his dream of dancing, despite Varun's doubts that dancing is just for girls. It's an inspiring story perfect for boys (and children of all genders) everywhere who feel pressured and forced toward gender norms/roles.
I imagine this book would also be great for teaching children about different cultures. Bharatanatyam originates in India, and many Indian-American families practice this dance. I loved the fact that extra information was included in the back of the book, and I enjoyed learning something new while reading the story.
All in all, I would recommend Dancing in Thatha's Footsteps to families and young children everywhere, especially those who love to dance.

4.2 Stars
One look at the title, and I knew I had to read this one. The author tackles the issue of dance and gender quite well in this cute book. Despite some of the famous classical dancers being men, this lovely art form is not considered masculine enough for boys. Kathakali is probably one where men are prominent.
The book shows a young boy, Varun is attracted to the rhythm of dance beats and finds himself wanting to learn Bharatanatyam. After he’s ridiculed and laughed at for it, the boy finally finds enough confidence when his thatha (grandfather) dances and displays his talent.
The book reminded me of a dance program at a wedding from more than 17 years ago. A father-son duo performed Dasavataram on stage, and it was mesmerizing! I still remember it.
The author mentions how dance is seen more as an activity rather than an art form. Indian classical dance is graceful and expressive (be it the mudras or the facial expressions). The sound of the anklets in sync with the musical beats is the best thing one can listen to.
Though the book is more enjoyable for Indian-Americans, it can be read by a wider audience as well. I love how the students in the dance class belong to different ethnicities. The illustrations are just as good and suited for the target audience. The Indian in me wants something more desi.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Yali Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book made my heart smile! I loved it so much. I especially learned loving about a dance that was special to another culture and seeing how that connected a family beautifully through generations. I really loved how the story focused on a boy who wanted to dance but was embarrassed. Great book.

“Dance isn’t for boys”. How often have we heard this? No other art form has as much of a gender discrimination as dance does. This little book seeks to destroy that idea and proclaims correctly that dance, like any other art form, is for everyone.
The story has little Varun struggling with his desire to learn Bharatanatyam and overcoming his reluctance with the support of his grandfather and the dance teacher. It is quite nicely written, and you will feel Varun’s pain and confusion. I also loved the idea of having photographs of real-life Bharatanatyam dancers at the end, including those of male dancers. That was a perfect addition to the story.
The story will surely inspire children to rethink gender discrimination within hobbies and about following their hearts rather than listening to outdated ideas. It also provides an inside look at one of the oldest dance forms in India, and how it helps Indian-Americans to stay connected to their roots.
It is so heartening to see that such beautiful books about another culture are being published in America. The overall language is quite simple and easy to understand. There are some Tamil words used in the story but the glossary at the end of the book provides the pronunciation and meaning of these words appropriately. While the characters are predominantly Indian-American, there are children from other cultures in the dance school. So the story can be read by every reader, though I feel that because of its strong cultural focus, it might be a little challenging for those of non-Indian ethnicities to follow.
Can’t skip mentioning the illustrations. The sketches are quite simple and allow you to focus on the story without creating distractions. I loved how the illustrator snuck in the “Black Lives Matter” slogan and the rainbow flag within the background of the very first page. Kudos!
Thank you, NetGalley and Yali Books, for the Advanced Review Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.