About the Event
Join us for a special storytime with award‑winning children’s author Anita Yasuda as she shares her vibrant new book, Bollywood Beat! Enjoy an upbeat, interactive reading filled with rhythm, movement, and celebration.
After the storytime, Groove Dance Studio will lead a lively dance demonstration - perfect for kids who love to move! Families can also enjoy fun, hands‑on activities inspired by the story.
This is a drop-in event for families with children of all ages and their caregiver(s).
Early Learning Programs for young children at WPL are based on literacy research and include tips and information for parents and caregivers. Your active participation in these programs will maximize the experience for you and your child.
About the Author
Anita Yasuda is an award-winning Canadian writer of South Asian descent. She was born and raised in the rolling hills of southern Ontario. From a young age, Anita was passionate about writing and often found herself with a pencil in her hand, crafting stories. When she wasn’t recruiting friends to act out her tales, she was studying various forms of dance, watching Bollywood movies and dreaming of the stage. When she grew up, Anita attended high school in Japan and fondly remembers learning Nihon buyo (Japanese classical dance). She later earned a degree in East Asian and South Asian studies at the University of Toronto’s Victoria College. Of course, her favourite course was on the art of storytelling. Since then, she has worked as a firefighter (for one day), a yoga instructor for children, and a Montessori teacher before transitioning to writing full-time. Anita still loves sharing stories with everyone she meets. When she is not writing in her garden studio, she enjoys hiking in provincial parks, exploring the Bruce Trail and playing with her dog, Lenny.
About Bollywood Beat!
Delight in the ringing of ankle bells and the swish of colourful scarves as Bollywood dance is described in playful rhymes. Two sisters arrive for the Masala Magic Dance Recital. They join the other performers to get ready. “Rustle, hustle.” And watch the opening act. “Wiggle, giggle.” Then it’s older sister’s turn. “Flickity-flip. Thumka-hip.” The families in the audience join in. “Toes tap. Hands clap.” It’s a wonderful time. Until … uh-oh. Younger sister has second thoughts about performing! “Heart-stopping.” With a gift and a bit of encouragement from older sister, little sister steps on stage. “Thumka-hip. Flickity-flip.” The audience is invited to participate. “Hustle, rustle.” And soon everyone is dancing to the Bollywood beat! The joy is infectious in author Anita Yasuda’s lyrical romp of a picture book, and children won’t be able to resist dancing along! Bollywood culture is on full display in this delightful celebration of family, tradition and dance. Yasuda cleverly repeats the same rhymes from the first part of the story in reverse order to tell the second part of the story. The deep, rich colours in Devika Oza’s mesmerizing art bring the dance recital to life, exquisitely conveying the movement and emotions of the dancers and the audience, as well as the street where the recital is set. The back matter includes a brief glossary of terms.
Photography Notice: Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at this event and may be broadcast, reproduced, and/or made available in print or online. For individual or small group photos, staff will make attendees aware of their presence and will ask permission before taking photos.
For larger public events, please note that by attending, you are consenting to the use of your appearance, image, and voice in print or digital productions created by the Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you’d like to be excluded from any photo/video.
Programmer: Nancy
