Event 5 Wednesday 10 March 4pmAl Ras 1For far too long children and young adults have not been well served by the Arabic publishing industry. Children’s books have tended to been unimaginative in content and poorly produced and, as a result, all too often associated with ‘school’ and ‘learning’ rather than with entertainment the sheer joy of reading. Happily there is now a major effort to redress this with highly talented writers, illustrators and publishers from across the Arab world now creating books of real interest and visual appeal to children .Today we are joined by four of those who believe passionately that children must have the best possible books available to them - and are most active in helping ensure they do.

Nadine Touma is an award-winning Lebanese author, artist and publisher who believes that art should be at the centre of a child’s everyday life and that a great way to achieve this is by creating stunning illustrated books for all ages. She founded her own publishing house, Dar Onboz, in 2006 and in 2008 was a finalist for the International Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award.

Fatima Sharafeddine was born in Beirut and has written more than 35 books as well as translated many others, working with publishers in Lebanon, the UAE and Brussels where she now lives. She is an very active member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and participates in numerous reading activities including visiting remote villages simply to read stories to children in schools and libraries.  She has recently started to give workshops in various Arab capitals for writers who want to focus on children’s literature.

Taghreed Najjar is a former teacher who has also headed up the publishing department in a children’s cultural centre. She now runs her own publishing company in Amman - al Salwa – (whose strapline ‘Fun Arabic Children’s Books’ says it all!)  She has written more than 28 children’s books, including the classic Who Hid the Eid Lamb? Her latest book, A Home for Arnoub, includes an interactive CD as well as craft ideas as Taghreed believes it is vital for children to balance their time between the computer and other skill developing activities. Many of her books are also used as supplementary readers in schools.

Qais Sedki is founder of Pageflip Publishing, an independent Emirati publishing house that focuses on original content, classical Arabic graphic novels in Japanese Manga style. Their debut title, Gold Ring, has just won the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Award in the Children’s Literature category, making Qais the first Emirati to win the award.  Qais’s unique take on the genre combines the work of two well-known Japanese Manga artists with the well-known sport of falconry and the promotion of Arab values such as family, hospitality, respect for others and pride in traditions. As such, he fills that vital space when children become your adults and, all too often, cannot find the books to engage and entertain them.
Join our panel for what promises to be a lively discussion about what’s being done to ensure our children have a flying start in life, why it is so important in the campaign to address illiteracy and their personal motivations for being involved.

tell a friend about this item

back

Permalink: Nadine Touma, Fatima Sharafeddine, Taghreed Najjar, Qais Sedki