Parents urged not to turn page on paper books

Dubai: Books can still bring families together in today’s high-tech world where children spend more time on digital devices, authors stressed at a Dubai literature event on Thursday.

They underscored the benefits of book reading – in its traditional hardcopy form – during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Speaking to Gulf News on the event’s sidelines, women authors of children’s books said reading has a social and cultural dimension not equaled by digital media.

“Story time means children getting together in a circle at school or being tucked in at night when it’s time to go to bed – the paper book does that,” said writer Micheline Habib.

“There’s this sense of family when it comes to books, children like to swap books and talk about them with others. With devices, it’s usually just them going alone at it.”

Micheline added humans, especially children, appear to be innately drawn to reading or listening to stories.

“There’s something creative, beautiful in us that comes alive as we read. The feel of the book, even the smell, only adds to that,” she said.

“As a reader, writer and educational adviser, I can say books play a big role in children’s lives even today.

“But it’s the parents’ responsibility to encourage book reading. Take the children to the book store and let them pick out a book like they choose chips or chocolates in the supermarket.”

Micheline was part of a midday panel on “Love Reading, Love Writing! Encouraging Children’s Literacy.”

Meanwhile, Julia Johnson, author of the popular children’s book, The Pearl Diver, said books are windows into cultures.

The illustrated book draws from the way of life in the traditional Arabian Gulf, portraying a young boy’s fears and adventures as he follows his expert pearl diving father.

“Young children sometimes ask me: ‘Why don’t you write about life now? I say: ‘Well, you can write that then,’” said Johnson.

“Life’s full of interesting stories. If children talk with their grandparents (for example) they will know it’s a different world.”

She added illustrations are part of strong story telling, which has traditionally been held in high esteem in Arab culture.

“That’s especially true when the story has got factual content, or something that’s unfamiliar and difficult to imagine. It’s important to depict it,” said Johnson.

The book carries illustrations by Patricia Al Fakhri, who with Johnson held Thursday’s session on “Collaborating in Words and Pictures.”

Patricia said images have the power to captivate children and adults alike. Used alongside a storyline, pictures can be doubly powerful in narrating a tale.

“But we shouldn’t underestimate children, we’re here to, sort of, ‘stretch’ them and raise them higher. Books and illustrations should not ‘dumb down,’ as it were,” Patricia said.

The fifth edition of literature festival is running till Saturday at the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City.