UAE | Heritage and Culture
Children's books turn into success story
Reading is still popular among children today and it is increasingly associated with visual and audio media, according to senior bookstore officials.
- By Siham Al Najami, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:01 April 2, 2008
- Children's literature is the second best selling genre at Book Corner stores in the UAE.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Dubai: Reading is still popular among children today and it is increasingly associated with visual and audio media, according to senior bookstore officials.
The culture of reading has an added dimension as technology, hand-in-hand with media, is transforming fiction and non-fiction into top movie productions and screenplays.
Children's literature is the second best selling genre at Book Corner stores in the UAE, said Bina Makwan, Operations Manager, adding that the top book list for children changes throughout the year.
The top book sales gather pace during a movie premier with the Spiderwick Chronicles and the Chronicles of Narnia topping the list of the most sold.
Habits
"The movie industry has increased reading habits among children with a growing number of children both reading a series of books, as well as watching the visual presentation of their favourite characters," she said.
Young girls are drawn to the series of Mary-Kate and Ashley and Princess Diaries, whereas young boys are attracted to the Spiderwick Chronicles.
Children are encouraged to read via events such as the International Children's Book Day, which is held annually on or around April 2.
This date is the birthday of favourite children's writer Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote classics such as Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid.
The day is sponsored by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which takes the opportunity each year to invite a writer from a host country to compose a message to children around the globe, and also commissions an artist to design a poster for the event.
Posters and messages are then used by the non-profit organisation to promote books and reading.
Nusrat Ebrahim, retail manager, Marketing and Development for Jashanmal Bookstores in the UAE, commented: "I think there is a lot more interest in this time and age. Schools are pushing kids to read more often.
"Children are exposed to different stories and novels from magazines and newspapers as they are increasingly publishing review pages and giving the opportunity for children and their parents to pick up top children books."
Opportunities
With wide access to the internet, children have more opportunities to learn about different authors and focus their research on books that are within their interests, she said.
Young adults are still lingering on the Harry Potter series. Moreover, widely known classic novels are being reprinted, such as those by Charles Dickens, with new editions for children.
"I think reading and the media industry complement each other. The only thing I would add is for parents to push to read. To actually make reading a family activity since it is the most vital skill for children. If it is not nourished in early ages it might never be picked up," Ebrahim said.
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