Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) has announced that it will launch a “long list of books that are 100% made in Qatar” at this year’s Doha International Book Fair (DIBF).
“Spanning across all genres, from children’s to fiction and non-fiction, the number of books published by HBKU Press written by Qatari writers is on the rise,” HBKU Press said in a statement, stressing that the publishing house helps local authors highlight the local narrative, nurture their talents and provides them with an established platform from which their voices can be heard.
DIBF 2017 will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from November 29 to December 5.
Qatari author Muneera Saad al-Romaihi is known for tackling sensitive topics in her children’s books and her third book is no exception. The author of best-sellers Khayal Manal (Manal’s World) and Majid Al Ghadeb (Angry Majid), will release Ana Ushbeh Al Qamar (I look like the Moon) where she confronts the poignant subject of brave children fighting the battle for their life: cancer.
First-time author Jameela Sultan al-Mass al-Jassem has published two books with HBKU Press that will launch at the fair. Rehlat Riyal (The Riyal’s Journey) and Alamatni Namla (The Ant Teacher) highlight themes of compassion and empathy through imaginative adventures that are sure to entertain.
Shaikha al-Zeyara, an established Qatari author publishing for the first time with HBKU Press, brings to life a tale based on traditional stories passed down from generation to generation. In the book titled Sultan Al-Baher, readers will sail the high seas in an adventurous sailing competition.
In a first for HBKU Press, 13-year-old Al Maha al-Delaimi becomes the youngest author ever to publish with the publishing house. Her book Values for a better world explores how individual children can change the world by starting with small changes in themselves and around their community.
Finally, two new series that were commissioned by HBKU Press to teach children vocabulary relative to the local environment around the Arab child. Silsilat Min Be’ati introduces children aged 4-6 years to simple linguistic concepts, while Silsilat Dawrat Hayat Alka’inat introduces children of the same age to simple scientific information about the stages of the life cycle of some organisms found in their environment.
DIBF 2017 will open from 9am to 10pm, and on Friday from 4pm to 10pm.