Music of the Bells

In this culturally anchored picture book from Rao-Robinson and Prabhat, a child embodies the idea that “all dance tells a story, but only I can tell mine.” Though young Neela danced Kathak in India, “the kids here take ballet.” The girl loves ballet and her new friends, but it’s been more than a year since Neela donned her Kathak ankle bells, and she misses them as well as her grandmother’s ragas and her uncle’s bansuri flute. After Neela signs up to do a Kathak routine at an annual showcase, she worries that her classmates won’t like it, until a conversation with Amma reminds her of its joys. And the performance, described with simile-filled language (“like picking fresh mangoes with friends/ and making garlands with aunties”), connects both dance forms with moments past and present. Weaving textile-like patterns throughout scenes that spotlight arrayed poses, vibrant digital illustrations evoke memory and movement. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–7. (Mar.)