Music of the Bells

A stunning picture book that celebrates the power of movement in storytelling and is perfect for fans of Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud and Bunheads by Misty Copeland!

While living in India, Neela danced Kathak–a form of classical Indian dance that uses movement to tell stories–but now that her family has moved, she dances ballet like the other kids in her school. She loves ballet and her new friends, but she missed the feeling of being strong and graceful all at once, the stories that Kathak dances hold, and of course the jingle, jingle that her anklets make as she moves across the stage.

Neela decides to take a chance and sign up to do a Kathak routine at the annual showcase, but it’s been a while since she’s danced in this style, and she worries that the other kids won’t like it. When Amma reminds Neela to stay true to herself, Neela lets the music of the bells guide her.

Author: Anitha Rao-Robinson
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published: 03/17/2026
Pages: 40
ISBN: 9780593624371
Language: English