Sheikh Zayed Book Award Organises Storytelling Event at Magrudy's Dubai
Date December, 27 2018
Location Dubai, UAE
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) organised a children’s storytelling event in collaboration with Magrudy’s Bookstore on Thursday, 27 December 2018. The storytelling session was a continuation of the Award’s series of events dedicated to promoting children’s literature and instilling values of tolerance in children.
The event featured the talented Emirati author Hessa Al Muhairi who narrated her SZBA award-winning story “The Dinoarf” with simultaneous English translation provided by Syrian translator and theatre actress, Hala Bassar.
The ‘Dinoraf’ story is set in the Animal Kingdom, where a dinosaur is out on a mission to find his parallel among the rest of animals. Throughout his journey, he gets to know the differences between the animals, which finally lead him to find his connection with the giraffe, hence becoming the “Dinoraf”, in a unique portrayal of the contemporary case of peaceful coexistence and mutual acceptance of cultural differences.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Secretary General of Sheikh Zayed Book Award said: “His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, announced 2019 as the ‘Year of Tolerance’ in order to deepen the values of tolerance and co-existence among people from different cultures, and Sheikh Zayed Book Award prides itself in serving this wise vision through organizing cultural events locally and internationally.”
Commenting on this occasion, Co-founder of Magrudy’s Bookstore, Isobel Abulhoul said: “The father of our nation, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, set out to ensure that reading and literature remained an important aspect of culture. When the Sheikh Zayed Book Award was founded in 2006 it included a prize for the best children's literature, a clear sign of his wise vision.”
She added: “Magrudy's bookshops have always, in their long history, had a key focus on children's books, and ensuring that the Arabic children's books are prominently displayed is part of that. Magrudy's is honored to partner with the Sheikh Zayed Book Award to celebrate the winner of the children's prize, and thereby to encourage children to fall in love with reading and books.”
Sheikh Zayed Book Award Winner, Hessa Al Muhairi holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Double Master of Science in Education Management and Policy from Deakin University Australia; she has been working as a nursery teacher since her graduation. Al Muhairi participated in a lot of Children’s Literature workshops and managed a number of training programs. She has two published books for children; ”Whose Footprints are These?; and “The Dinoraf.”
Speakers
Hala Al Bassar
Hala Al Bassar is young bilingual theater actress and voice talent. She was introduced to the world of theater and acting during her study at the American University of Sharjah by Prof. Anthony Tassa. His guidance and inspiration led to Hala’s involvement as actor and director in a number of theater shows even after her graduation. Later, Hala had an introduction to method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in New York. Upon her return to the UAE, Hala started focusing on Children’s theater shows and events, primarily because of the amount of honest, challenge and joy this type of audience brings!
She also reads short stories in live events such as the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and Dubai Shopping Festival.
Hala has received local recognition in awards including Best Actress in Dubai Community Theater in 2016 and Best Actress in Sharjah Theater Festival for Short Plays in the same year.
Hessa Al Muhairi
Hessa Al Muhairi holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Double Master of Science in Education Management and Policy from Deakin University Australia; she has been working as a nursery teacher since her graduation. Al Muhairi participated in a lot of Children’s Literature Workshops and managed a number of training programs. She has two published books for children; ”Whose Footprints are These?; and “The Dinoraf”.