The Twirly Wiggly Dance

by Farrah Riaz & Navya Raju

Good Books rating 4.25

Children's Fiction

Technical

ID: 316
Added: 2025-09-10
Updated: 2025-09-10
ISBN: 9780192789662
Publisher: Oxford University Press - Children
Published: 2024-12-12
Reviews: 3

Based on author Farrah Riaz's own childhood experiences, The Twirly Wiggly Dance is a warm-hearted picture book that celebrates individuality and the joy of dancing to your own beat. Set against the vibrant backdrop of a South Asian Muslim wedding, it follows young Intisar as she struggles with a tricky dance move but discovers that being herself is more important than being perfect. The book also includes extra pages at the back with non-fiction information about the events of a Muslim wedding, making it an excellent resource for families to read and discuss together. Beautifully illustrated by Navya Raju, this story combines cultural celebration with a relatable message about persistence, self-acceptance, and family support.

Reviews

Books For Topics · 2024-08-15

encouraging 4.00

This review commends the book for its relatable portrayal of a child's experience with dancing and self-expression, drawing on the author's childhood. It emphasizes the story's accessible and heartfelt approach to celebrating individuality.

The review highlights how Farrah Riaz's personal childhood experiences enrich the narrative, making it relatable for children who may feel challenged by fitting in or mastering new skills. The story is praised for its gentle encouragement to find one's own beat and for presenting cultural themes in an engaging and understandable way. It is seen as a valuable resource for parents and educators to discuss perseverance and self-confidence with young children.

Quick quotes

"Based on debut author Farrah Riaz's own childhood experiences."

"A relatable story about dancing to your own beat."

"Set against a culturally rich backdrop that children can connect with."

ReadingZone · 2024-08-01

warm 4.50

This review highlights the book's warm-hearted message about embracing individuality and persistence, set against the vibrant backdrop of a South Asian Muslim wedding. It praises the relatable and charming characters inspired by the author's own family.

The reviewers appreciate how the story conveys the importance of dancing to your own beat and embracing uniqueness through the character Intisar, who struggles with a tricky dance move but remains persistent. They emphasize the cultural richness of the South Asian wedding setting and the humor and warmth that make the characters endearing and relatable for young readers. The book is seen as a lovely tool to encourage children to talk about their worries and to celebrate their individuality in a fun and accessible way.

Quick quotes

"The Twirly Wiggly Dance is a story about dancing to your own beat."

"It's a fun tale set in a South Asian wedding atmosphere, teaching the importance of embracing your uniqueness."

"Intisar is such an adorable character and she's super relatable."

Awfully Big Blog Adventure · Pippa Goodhart · 2024-06-22

joyful 4.25

The reviewer enjoyed the book's vibrant illustrations and the joyous celebration of cultural traditions through dance, appreciating its message about self-acceptance. They found the story engaging and accessible for young children.

Pippa Goodhart praises the book for its lively artwork by Navya Raju that brings the wedding scenes and dance to life, making the cultural setting vivid and inviting. She values the way the story encourages children to accept and celebrate their own unique ways of doing things, especially through the protagonist's struggles and triumphs with dance moves. The book is described as a joyful, fun read that also offers meaningful lessons about confidence and persistence, making it an excellent choice for young readers and families.

Quick quotes

"Vibrant illustrations bring the wedding and dance to life."

"A joyous celebration of cultural traditions through dance."

"Encourages children to accept and celebrate their uniqueness."

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