Bodour Al Qasimi praises role of silent books in unlocking young minds

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, UAEBBY, has stressed the need to provide all kinds of sources of knowledge for children, specially refugees, to overcome challenges they face and give them hope for a better future.

She made the statement during her visit to the Silent Book Exhibition, being organised by the UAEBBY and hosted by Sharjah Art Foundation at the Flying Saucer. She underlined the importance of investing in the capabilities of children for their personal development and in their communities.

Brought to the UAE and the wider Arab region for the first time, the exhibition focuses on how wordless picture books can be enjoyed and appreciated by children, and young refugees in particular, regardless of language.

The exhibition, which opened on 1st August and continues until 30th September, focuses on the power of silent books and their ability to convey ideas and meanings visually. It also brings to the fore the role of these books in promoting visual literacy – in improving the users’ ability to interpret, negotiate and make meaning from a narrative presented in image form.

The eight-week event is showcasing 54 thought-provoking wordless books that have come from 20 countries around the world.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi toured the exhibition, viewing the books on display, and expressed her appreciation for contributions made by publishers around the world in developing the silent books genre. She highlighted the importance of promoting such kinds of books that take children on a visual journey through pictures into other worlds, allowing them to unlock their imaginations, discover themselves and develop creative skills.

"We are pleased to have brought the Silent Book Exhibition to the UAE and Arab world for the first time. This event is a brilliant platform for reinforcing the important role these books have in personal development and in facilitating human communication. Silent books are a powerful tool that can be used to inspire refugee children to explore the world through beautiful illustrations – ones that bear values and principles essential to encourage them to comprehend their reality and increase their confidence in their futures," said Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi.

"The content in the books displayed is deeply meaningful. I was moved to see how every story in these books have been painstakingly crafted to put a smile on the faces of children in need of emotional support. These books are a glorious escape that takes them on a journey away from their painful memories into a brighter and more optimistic world," said Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY.

The exhibition features a range of workshops conducted by a galaxy of authors and illustrators who are helping expand children’s mental abilities and strengthening their capacity to understand the themes, telling techniques, and other unique qualities of these books.