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In this vibrant, bighearted picture book by celebrated creators Hena Khan and Sandhya Prabhat, a young girl must overcome her shyness to join in the dancing fun at a mehndi. Talia wants to be as graceful as the bhangra dancers at the mehndi: Bend! Twirl! Snap! But her feet drag and her arms freeze when she tries to dance in front of others. Instead, she shrinks in her chair. But maybe with some help from her dadi, Talia will find the courage to take to the floor. Then, can she convince Dadi to join her? Acclaimed author Hena Khan has crafted a sweetly authentic story about overcoming inhibitions through the joys of dance, community, and family. Her text is beautifully brought to life by Sandhya Prabhat''s stunning illustrations.
About the author
Hena Khan has been publishing books for children, including many that center Pakistani American and Muslim characters, for over two decades. Hena’s bestselling novels include Amina’s Voice, winner of the APALA award, and More to the Story. She is also the author of the Zayd Saleem Chasing the Dream, Zara’s Rules, and Super You! series. Hena’s acclaimed picture books include Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns, Under My Hijab, and It’s Ramadan, Curious George. She has served on the board of We Need Diverse Books and is a member of the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC. Hena lives in her hometown of Rockville, Maryland.
Sandhya Prabhat is an independent animator and illustrator from Chennai, working out of California. She has illustrated children’s books, animated television shows and movies, and designed for social media platforms. She is the illustrator of The Spice Box, My Name, and A Garden in My Hands, as well as many other picture books.
