Sharjah 24: The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) concluded its involvement in the second edition of the "Learning Beyond" conference organised by the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture, Ithra on January 19 and 20 in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
Acting as the conference's educational partner, the board highlighted distinctive experiences and inventive, unconventional, and informal approaches within the education sector. The primary focus this year revolved around the use of storytelling to derive the utmost benefit from the learning journey.
Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY, took part in a session on silent books. During the discussion, she elaborated on the board's journey and the efforts of the United Arab Emirates in introducing and promoting silent books, not only at the local level but also within the Arab world. She emphasised that these books feature pages filled with illustrations and visuals, devoid of written words. This design allows individuals of all ages to comprehend them without any language barriers, enabling them to grasp their intentions or unravel their mysteries without requiring an intermediary to interpret their meanings or objectives.
She affirmed that the heightened global migration and asylum-seeking in recent years, prompted by the challenging conditions in numerous countries, has led to an increased interest in silent books by institutions in host countries. This interest aims to facilitate communication, especially with children and young individuals, through publications that transcend language barriers, engaging hearts and minds using a universal language – the language of visuals. This approach instills a sense of comfort, hope, optimism, and the capability to overcome the challenges of the refugee journey while easing integration into new societies.
Al Aqroubi underscored the pivotal role played by the UAEBBY in establishing and publishing the first silent books in the UAE. The board organised numerous workshops at both local and regional levels, along with hosting four exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Sharjah.
The UAEBBY also participated in another session focused on folktales, where writer Nadia Al Najjar, a council advisory board member, discussed the significance of traditional heritage in storytelling through popular tales passed down through generations. Furthermore, the board organised a discussion session centered on the book "Feelings... Feelings," which secured the 2023 Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Books in the Early Reader category.
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