Dubai: A story about an elephant visiting iconic locations in Dubai has proven to be a success among Dubai children.
In fact, Expi Elephant Travels to Dubai, was received so well that it was bought by several schools in Dubai so it could be integrated into their education system.
The book is about a little Indian elephant that works hard, wins a geography competition at school and then with the prize takes her mum on a trip of a lifetime to Dubai.
British author, school teacher and mother of two, Nishita Hitesh Bhayani said the book targets children aged four to eight years old.
“The lesson I would want children to take back from the book is that like Expi always do your best at school. Education once you have it, is something no one can take away from you, it is yours always,” Bhayani said.
Schools such as Repton, Jumeirah Primary School, Universal American School and English College have bought the book.
In addition to the book, a CD with a song called Hey Everybody - The Expi Song, which the children can learn the words and dance to is attached to the book.
“I also re-wrote the whole story into a rhyme as teachers will always pick up a rhyming book, over a non-rhyming one,” she said.
Since the book includes many different locations in Dubai, Bhayani also hopes to encourage children and parents from all over the world to visit Dubai. “It is a good book to read for children in the region especially as it enforces our top tourist attractions and has two pages on National Day,” she added.
Her inspiration to write the books came from her parents who always believed in the benefits of reading and education.
“My mother is a wonderful story-teller and when we were growing up she would portray beautiful stories to us at dinner time and these always stuck in my mind as very happy times as part of my childhood,” Bhayani recalled.
Bhayan said she was asked by some schools to produce an educational video to go with the book that schools can use as a teaching tool.
“I would love to do this and am looking into it. Other books in the Expi series to come out in the next few years are: Expi Elephant Travels to France, Expi Elephant Travels to Kenya, Expi Elephant Travels to India, Expi Elephant Travels to Hawaii and Expi at St Trunks School,” she said.
The book is available at WH Smith, Magrudy’s and Bookworm and Retails.
