National Library of ADACH translates new collection of children's stories

 The National Library of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage published the translation of a new collection of children's stories about literature and international theatre. The publication is part of the National Library’s aim to boost reading culture among Arab children and to provide them with great works of world literature. It seeks to consolidate many noble human values and open the door for the other peoples’ cultures. “L'inconnue du Louvre” (the Louvre’s Unknown Woman) written by Emmanuelle and Benoît de Saint Chamas, and with drawings by Laure Cacouault. Germaine is a concierge. She watches over the inhabitants of the building like a little fairy. Her greatest wish is to one day receive mail, but she has no family or friends. She then decides to write to the Louvre, and a miracle happens! A mysterious figure replied. It makes her share a closely guarded secret: the night life of the great museum in Paris and the truth of some of the Louvre’s historic and artistic artefacts. The book was translated by Dhaya Haidar. “Peter Pan” written by J.M. Barrie and re-narrated by Young Hwa Kim – drawings of Young San Yang Was. This story was originally written as a children's play, which was presented for the first time in 1904 as "The Boy Who Could Not Grow Up." The play became widely famous and was re-written as a story, which stresses that children’s dreams and adventures can be achieved. British novelist Barrie has recommended that "Peter Pan" copyright’s earnings be given to the Children's Hospital in London. In 1912, the statue of Peter Pan was erected in Kensington Gardens in London. The book was translated by Samer Abu Hawash. “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck – edited by Sai Chi Kim – drawings by Jin-Young Lee. Maeterlinck was a Belgian author, poet and playwright. His “The Blue Bird” play premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1908. Maeterlinck won Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911. The "Blue Bird" in the story is a 28-centimetre-long summer bird whose body is covered with blue feathers while head and tail are coloured in black. Blue birds live up in the trees and are mostly insectivorous. The story: Tyltyl and Mytyl, who are two children of a poor woodsman, are jealously watching a party at their rich neighbor's house the eve of the holiday. An old lady asks them to find a bird blue to help her sick daughter to recover. The brother and sister embark on a search journey during which they live strange events, which stress that everyone is looking for happiness that they think is far away, but in reality it is really close to them. The book was translated by Samer Abu Hawash. The “Firebird” is a Russian folk tale – edited by Young A. Park – drawings of Young San Lee. The horse in this story is the main hero, and is often referred in the traditional Russian folk as the firebird. It is a symbol of courage and speed, which is known as a fairytale creature. The story talks about a hunter and a king, who asks the former to fulfill many of his endless desires. The hunter, who is trusted by people, eventually survives because he has a wise and intelligent horse on his side, while the life of the king, who is hated and feared by his people, comes to an end. The book was translated by Samer Abu Hawash.