Sharjah 24: As part of its efforts to preserve local cultural heritage, the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) organised a training workshop on Emirati folktales, known as "Al Kharafif," ("traditional Emirati tales"), focussing on methods for collecting, documenting, and rewriting them in a style appropriate for children and young people.
The workshop, which featured 16 Emirati female authors who specialize in this field, was hosted at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah. The workshop was overseen by specialists in Emirati history and children's literature.
Maitha Al Khayat, an Emirati novelist and artist specialising in children's books, supervised the three-day class. It sought to help participating authors document and rewrite Emirati folktales in a fresh, fun, and engaging way.
Marwa Al Aqroubi, who serves as the president for Kids, commented: "Through this edition of the 'Books Made in the UAE' project, we continue to build and develop the skills of Emirati authors and illustrators interested in children's and young adult literature, providing them with all the support needed to produce high-quality works that will find their way into publishing houses and eventually into the hands of the next generation."
Al Aqroubi underlined that the UAE Board on Novels for Young People hopes that this initiative would foster the creation of children's and young adult novels written by Emirati writers that reflect the UAE's cultural values.
At the same time, it aims to expand the number of titles produced and published in the nation, enhancing the cultural and knowledge landscape, revitalising literary legacy, and cultivating a new generation of professional Emirati authors and illustrators in this sector.
The UAE Board on Books for Young People also asked Dr. Abeer Al Hosani and Dr. Aisha Al Ghais to participate in the project and oversee the assessment of the stories written by the participants for the current edition of "Books Made in the UAE."
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