Bodour Al Qasimi, an Emirati publisher, author, and women’s rights activist, is the first woman from an Arab Gulf state to win the coveted BolognaRagazzi Award for Fiction.
At a ceremony held in the magnificent Farnese Chapel at the Palazzo d’Accursio in Bologna, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi was presented with the prize for her ground-breaking children’s book House of Wisdom.
“This award, in my opinion, signifies a shift towards a more inclusive children’s publishing sector,” Sheikha Bodour remarked in response to the honour. Stories like “House of Wisdom” convey that, amid increased international tensions, literature may promote harmony, advancement, and a better understanding of other cultures. It’s a relevant statement regarding the ability of literature to foster understanding and maintain a larger human perspective.
“The House of Wisdom was a library that represented how knowledge and cross-cultural cooperation can create strong bridges,” she continued. Its demise in 1258 serves as a tragic metaphor for the brittleness of intellectual freedom, a lesson that is still relevant today.
The popularity of “House of Wisdom,” which is praised for its captivating method of fostering compassion, scientific curiosity, and critical thinking, is a step forward in the global acknowledgement of the importance of Middle Eastern children’s literature. Majid Zakeri Younesi’s evocative illustrations for the book make a stunning addition to the narrative.
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