Works in children’s literature highlighted

DUBAI, Sept 19, (KUNA): Two Kuwaiti female writers received the Sharjah Award for Gulf Woman Creativity for their works in children’s literature at a ceremony sponsored officially by Sharjah Emirate.

Amal Al-Randy won an award for her story “My Father’s Surprise”, while her compatriot Fatima Shaaban received same prize for her story “The Two Almonds’ Journey”.

Al-Randy indicated to KUNA that this is her first-ever award to receive from Sharjah Emirate, and that she has previously won the Rashid Bin Humaid Cultural and Science Award of Ajman Emirate twice for her two works; “The Star of the Green Rectangle” and “The Most Beautiful Punishment”.

She expressed her joy of representing Kuwait along with her fellow citizen Shaaban at such a significant event, saying “We have had the honor to represent our dear country at this important Gulf forum as our win is foremost Kuwait’s win.”

“This achievement is a crowning moment of my 14-year career in children’s literature writing,” Al-Randy affirmed, noting her winning story contains significant and beneficial ideas for children and their relationship with their fathers as it addresses changes in child’s mentalities, encourages them to behave with humility and good manners around people, and raises awareness about humanitarian conditions.

Focuses

The story also focuses on the father as a role model for his kids and ways to gain his good virtues and positive characteristics, she said, adding it also explains the true meaning of leadership and tolerance in life, as well as the importance of respecting and appreciating others regardless of their social classes or work positions.

“I have applied simplicity based on the principle of tolerance in telling the story, and totally abstained from other redundant methods such as preaching and lecturing that no longer fit modern day’s way of teaching,” said Al-Randy.

For her part, Shaaban said her story tackles the fictional aspect of children’s literature and presents solutions for some issues that families face with their kids, adding she attempted to deliver a healthy idea written in an adventure-theme style to attract the child’s attention toward reading the story.

The Kuwaiti writer mentioned her interest in children’s literature since the 1990s, and dedication to work and care for them, for they are the “seed of future” that nations and societies depends on to achieve progress and prosperity.

Furthermore, she also mentioned her large collection of self-written stories and songs for children, up to 50 works, in addition to publishing an e-magazine entitled “Kunooz”, (Arabic for treasures), and forming an e-application called “Kan Ya Ma Kan, (Arabic for once upon a time), to encourage kids to read.

Shaaban urged Gulf novelists and writers to keep up their efforts towards children’s literature and contribute to developing great generations for the future.

By Suleiman Redha