Vision International School hosts Qatari author of children's books
Date
5/24/2016 9:53:19 PM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Maryam Al Subaiey, Qatari author of children’s books and entrepreneur, interacts with students as part of Children’s Book Week celebrations at the school.
Doha: Vision International School (Al Wakrah) welcomed Maryam Al Subaiey, a Qatari children’s author and entrepreneur, as part of its Children’s Book Week celebrations.
Al Subaiey graduated with MSc in Development Studies from SOAS University and is running her talent and consultation company (Q Talent and U Change Creative Consultancy).
She was behind the innovation of the new Qatar Television, as she was the director of programmes and creation. She has published several books for children in Arabic. In 2009, Al Subaiey co-edited the 3rd Qatar Narrative book Dreesha, a photo-essay book that reflects glimpses of Qatar; and in 2012 published her poems in Gathering the Tide: An Anthology of Contemporary Arabian Gulf Poetry.
Al Subaiey spent the day with students, reading to the elementary classes from her children’s book, Mother Donkey (a wonderful story that highlights Qatar’s rich storytelling traditions and folklore).
She also gave a presentation for the Middle School classes on ‘Following Your Dreams’. When Al Subaiey shared passages from her book, the children were engaged and thoroughly enjoyed conversing with her.
Questions filled the room: “Why did you write such a happy ending? Where did you get your idea from? Is the main character based on someone you know?”
The Middle School classes learnt more about the young entrepreneur’s attempts to start a business. She shared the times she failed before she succeeded and highlighted the importance of being true to one self’ and following one’s dreams.
The day culminated with Al Subaiey signing copies of her books for children and having her picture taken with them.
This was a golden opportunity for students to exchange a few words with the author one-on-one and receive a signed book. The day after Al Suhaibi left, students were still excited about having met a Qatari author. The older students wrote responses to their teachers of their experiences and the younger students raved about the cool book, Mother Donkey.
Author visits are exciting events that foster school enthusiasm. When authors come to speak to students, the youngsters are inspired to read, write and learn more about the process of writing.
The Peninsula