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The Twirly Wiggly Dance

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Book Synopsis

Based on debut author Farrah Riaz’s own childhood experiences comes The Twirly Wiggly Dance, a relatable story about dancing to your own beat set against the celebratory backdrop of a South-Asian Muslim wedding, bursting with colourful illustrations by Navya Raju. Perfect for entertaining young twirlers and wigglers!

Little Intisar has a BIG job at her Auntie Mahira’s wedding: she’s going to dance in the group performance!

As she practises, she realizes there is one dance move that she just can’t do-no matter how hard she twirls and wiggles. Intisar worries she’ll ruin the whole routine, and disappoint Auntie Mahira. Can Intisar’s family of movers and groovers show her that being herself is far more fun than being perfect?

Extra pages at the back of the book with non-fiction information about all the events of a Muslim wedding, make this is a perfect book to read and talk about together.

Our Review Panel says...

The Twirly Wiggly Dance invites the reader to share in the traditions associated with a Muslim wedding through the eyes of a small child called Intisar. She has been asked to be a part of a big group dance at the Walima, the final part of the wedding ceremony, a celebration party!

Intisar worries about getting the dance right, and this thread runs through the story as Intisar learns about each aspect of the celebration until the evening of the Walima, where Intisar has to decide whether to perform or watch the dance.

The story beautifully describes Muslim wedding traditions, and there is a short chapter at the end of the story which explains a little more about each tradition, relating it to the story itself.

The book would be perfect as part of a PSHE or RE topic around special times. It would also be a great resource to open up conversations around feeling worried or nervous about doing something new; Intisar overcomes her worries and inspires others to dance as a result!