Home 5 Articles and Reports 5 Publishing Stereotypes and the Youth’s Diminishing Interest in Arabic Books

Publishing Stereotypes and the Youth’s Diminishing Interest in Arabic Books

by | Apr 25, 2017 | Articles and Reports

Panel discussion at Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival 2017

 

A recent panel discussion organised by the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2017), titled ‘Ways of Producing Outstanding Children’s Books, has raised a series of questions about the reality of the Arabic children’s book industry, and the major challenges it faces in producing new books that are new in terms of meaning, design and layout.

Moderated by writer Abdul Fattah Sabry, the panel was chaired by Egyptian author, Amal Farah, and Kuwaiti children’s author, Latifa Butti, who spoke about their personal experiences in writing, publishing and marketing, as well as the awards they received since they started careers in writing.

The discussion explored ways to develop the children’s book industry and foster young minds to have passion for knowledge and the act of reading. During the discussion, the two writers focused on how a book’s text, its illustrations, and overall direction influence children’s and young adults’ attitude towards books and reading.

During the course of the session, Farah and Butti outlined several examples of changes that have affected the Arabic children’s book industry over the past 10 years.

“The Arabic children’s book industry had been affected by stereotypes about how children’s books should be published, as institutions, schools and parents depend the on classification by age group. As a result, each age group tends to follow a generic pattern of color, illustration and layout – something that has led to strong stereotypes in the Arab book market,” remarked Farah.

“This has resulted in children moving away from Arabic books, who look for internationally published titles because they are able to offer them the kind of creativity and uniqueness in book direction that helps them enjoy a different experience with each new book they buy,” she added.

Highlighting one of major challenges hindering the production of outstanding children’s books in the Arab publishing market, Farah said: “This problem extends to children’s science books. In the past 10 years, the Arab world has seen a serious dearth of good science publications, at a time when such books are encouraging the youth’s natural curiosity and thirst for science everywhere.”

Latifa Butti pointed out that children lack love in their relation with books. They are not nurtured to develop a love for reading, as many families or schools are not aware of the importance of reading in shaping a child’s cognitive abilities.

“The curricula in many schools hardly inspires a child’s imagination, and that is crucial to draw their attention to stories and books. Today’s school curricula are mostly inanimate and lifeless. They stress more on literacy, while they can be designed for both learning and entertainment where children can learn while having fun,” Butti said.

She illuminated that the issue of the Arabic children’s book industry does not pertain to illustrators, publishers and the quality of paper, but it lies in the text itself. If the texts in books fit with children, they will be attached and more attracted to reading.

Speaking about her experience in authorship, Butti observed: “At the very beginning of my career, I sent letters to many publishers who refused to publish my writings because they did not adhere to the traditional Arabic writing style. However, when the producers of the ‘Open Sesame’ TV show talked to me, they admired all the texts that were previously refused by Arab publishers and used them in the famous children’s TV series.”

Recent News

07Nov
Sonia Draga Elected as New President of the European Publishers’ Federation

Sonia Draga Elected as New President of the European Publishers’ Federation

At its general assembly on November 5, the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) elected Sonia Draga, a leading publisher from Katowice, Poland, as its new president, succeeding Ricardo Franco Levi. Draga is the founder and head of the Sonia Draga Publishing Group, one of Poland’s largest publishing houses, established in 2000. Known for publishing about […]

07Nov
“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

“Mleiha” Book Archives the Treasures of Ancient Emirates at SIBF

His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, marked a significant moment for UAE heritage with the unveiling of Mleiha: Ancient Treasures of the UAE, a landmark publication produced by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in collaboration with Assouline Publishing. Attending the launch […]

06Nov
Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Sharjah Book Fair 2024: A Global Gathering Until November 17

Under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024) kicked off at Expo Centre Sharjah, running until the evening of November 17, 2024. This year’s edition features 2,522 publishers and exhibitors from 112 countries, alongside 400 authors […]

Related Posts

Sustainable Publishing: How the Industry is Going Green

Sustainable Publishing: How the Industry is Going Green

Sustainable Publishing: How the Industry is Going Green   As environmental concerns become increasingly urgent, industries worldwide are rethinking their practices, and publishing is no exception. Sustainable publishing is emerging as a critical focus for publishers...

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey : Book Review

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey : Book Review

Natalie Walker is the reason her older brother and sister went to prison more than fifteen years ago. She fled California shortly after that fateful night and hasn’t spoken to anyone in her family since. Ten years later, Natalie receives a letter from a lawyer saying...

The State of Digital Publishing in Africa

The State of Digital Publishing in Africa

Digital publishing has transformed the global literary and educational landscape, but sub-Saharan Africa faces several challenges that hinder its growth in the region. Despite the promise of improved access to information and a reduction in the cost of publishing,...

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this

Pin It on Pinterest