Girls on Wheels: A Special Storytime with Srividhya Venkat

Join us at The Book Stall on Saturday, October 7 at 10:30 am for a story time with children’s author Srividhya Venkat featuring her new picture book, Girls on Wheels. Inspired by the skateboarding revolution in India, Girls on Wheels follows three friends who support one another through the ups and downs of learning to skateboard. The lyrical text and vibrant illustrations capture the energy and movement that make this picture book soar. This book is perfect for kids ages 4-8. Ms. Venkat will be happy to sign her works!

More About the Book: Anila is on her way to her favorite place: the skate park. She longs to glide on her board and feel the thrill of catching air. But when she arrives, the ramp looks like a concrete sea monster! Fear creeps in, making her once-broken arm ache. But Sana’s smile and Damini’s laugh give Anila courage. Her friends remind her that in skateboarding, sometimes you fall, but sometimes you fly!

Srividhya Venkat says, “I was blown away when I first learned about the skateboarding revolution happening in India, and more so to see girls pushing boundaries by taking up this daring sport. In a society where women have been expected to follow predefined traditional gender roles and norms, skateboarding is now empowering girls to defy stereotypes and be free to be anything they want to be. In addition, these girls are not only surpassing themselves, but also inspiring others to discover their potential, and to be courageous enough to keep going even when failure pushes them down.”

More About the Author: Srividhya Venkat hopped, skipped, and jumped careers before finding her most cherished one: writing for children. She has published several picture books, including Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps, which won the 2022 South Asia Book Award, and The Clever Tailor, which won the 2019 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. Having grown up in India, Srividhya loves stories that are unique yet universal. Just like Anila’s challenge with skateboarding, Srividhya has her own with swimming, which she continues to work on. And she also loves kulfi! You can read more about her at srividhyavenkat.com.