This is an absolutely beautiful story of a little girl named Diya who is unable to find her anklets right before her big dancing performance. Children will relate to Diya as she retraces her steps to search for her anklets, which are an important part of her costume. As she searches, she finds other pieces of her costume which she left behind in each location. In the end, her anklets are found and she gets to dance the Dandiya on stage with her friends.

This book is the perfect way to introduce young readers to a culture they may be unfamiliar with. It introduces many things that are a part of the Hindu celebration of Navaratri, including food and clothing. Children who celebrate this holiday will feel proud to share a story about their holiday with the class.

The illustrations are fantastic! They have a lot of color and show the costumes in minute detail. Children will enjoy just looking at the pictures in this book. At the end of the book is a glossary of Hindi words with simple, child friendly definitions and illustrations to accompany each one.

I will be recommending this book for my school district to purchase for part of our multi-cultural curriculum. It would make a wonderful addition to any library!

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #DiyaDancestheDandiya by #PriaDee and illustrated by #YoungJuKim
-4.5 stars

This was a cute story about a girl getting ready to perform but can't find her anklets. It has much needed representation and includes a Hindi glossary.

Diya is all dressed and ready for the Navrathri Dandiya dance, but her anklets are missing! She searches for them all over the place (even her little brother, Ramu, comes to assist) but doesn’t find the anklets anywhere. Can Diya find them before her performance, or will she have to go back home with dancing?
Well, this is a kiddo book, so you know the answer. The story comes in simple prose with good use of Hindi/ traditional terms to make the story authentic. The illustrations are pencil-sketched and have a roughish feel to feel. I like how it vibes with the story.
What I also love is the bindi on their foreheads. A bindi makes a lot of difference to how cute you look. ;) Ramu looks super cute in his little kurta pyjama. Diya has a small fountain (hairstyle) that moves as she does. The details of the jhumkis (earrings), bangles, garlands, etc., are well done.
There’s a glossary at the end explaining the names and Hindi terms used in the book. That said, I’m not sure if the meanings of Sita and Ramu are that accurate (there can be so many meanings, it’s hard to say which fits the best). Also, bindi is not a beauty spot per se. It has a much deeper spiritual and cultural significance (yeah, I know this is a kiddo book).
To summarize, Diya Dances the Dandiya is a cute and sweet book about a little girl’s search for her anklets and her love for dance performance. It’s a cool way to know a wee bit more about the Hindu festive celebrations.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#DiyaDancestheDandiya #NetGalley