A cute picture book about a boy and his love for dance. Even with the few words on every page, the dynamic between thatha and his grandson was so cute and illustrated so wonderfully. It also highlights the very broad gender divide in the Indian classical dance circles, especially in Bharatanatyam.

This picture book follows the main character Varun. Varun sees his sister’s dance class one day and is interested in the dancing (it’s a specific type of dance called bharatanatyam) but lots of people think that the dancing is just for girls and not something a boy like him should be doing.

I really like the message that this book had about following your heart, and not letting other people tear down your dreams. I loved the character of Varun’s grandfather (Thatha) and how supportive of Varun he was, especially because he used to do bharatanatyam.

There were a couple of additions in the back of the book that I really liked. First, there was a short nonfiction section that talked about male Indian dancers. I really liked this real world connection to the fictional story, and I think it would be educational for kids. I also loved the glossary that included the Tamil words spoken in the book, and I think it would be a great segue to talk to kids about languages.

rating: 4/5 stars

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.

This is a sweet story about not giving up, believing yourself and following your dreams. The story is told in a simple manner and would suit younger readers. As someone from the Indian background whose daughter learns bharathanatyam, I enjoyed it. My 9 year old daughter did too. And a final word of appreciation for the rather lovely illustrations!

More books from ethnic/BAME authors please.

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.

As a South Asian, seeing myself represented in books is a bonus! Only after having a child have I realized how little I see people - who look like us, talk like us or have customs and cultures like us - featured in books!

This was a sweet little story with Tamil representation but that was not all. I loved the message it sent that classical dance is not just for girls and women. The illustrations were cute and the glossary at the end with translation was a nice touch, making this book open to an international audience.

Just a quick note that I’ve rarely seen grandparents refer to their grandchildren in formal terms.. it felt a little unnatural. But otherwise all good!

Will definitely be reading this to my son!

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!