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BAHRAINI children’s author Nada Fardan launched her latest Arabic book at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival this month and is set to release her first English-language book, underpinning her aspiration for global readership among children.
Mama Ladayha Magnatees, Arabic for ‘my mom has a magnet’, offers valuable lessons in kindness.
The 19-page narrative centres on Samar who is always observing her mother since she has an admirable character. From their elderly neighbour to the school janitor of a different nationality, and even the birds in the garden, all are strangely drawn to her. When Samar asks her why, she says it is because she has a magnet.
Through careful observation, Samar discovers the magnet is metaphorical, symbolising her profound kindness, which transcends all boundaries.
“The story was inspired by a personal experience where my son intervened to prevent his younger cousin from handling scissors,” 39-year-old Nada told GulfWeekly.
“Despite my niece’s initial resistance, she eventually agreed to hand them over to me due to my gentle persuasion. From that incident, my son learned a valuable lesson about the power of kindness.”
Bringing Nada’s words alive are creative talent Maliha Ahmadi’s illustrations. Whether it’s Samar’s mother, demonstrating infinite kindness, humility and a strong humanitarian attitude, the keenly observant Samar herself, or the story’s other characters like the neighbours and wildlife, Maliha’s clever use of colours and expressive facial features will ensure an engaging experience for the reader.
“The book is suitable for readers aged six and above,” Nada adds, highlighting that the story’s main theme of treating all individuals, irrespective of age, nationality, or socio-economic status, with kindness and respect, extending to both humans and animals alike, will appeal to all.
Though the book was launched this month, Nada wrote the story back in 2022 and submitted it for the Children’s Literature category at the well-known Rashid Bin Humaid Award for Culture and Science based in the UAE. She won that year and eventually decided to publish the story as a book.
Nada discovered her talent for the written word during her primary school years. The former architect and now full-time writer’s literary journey took a significant turn in 2014 when she started participating and winning in various regional competitions.
“I advocate for increased focus on children’s literature and the endorsement of artistic endeavours, including the adaptation of our written works into plays, anime, television programmes, and films. Such adaptations serve as authentic reflections of our environment, culture, and values, which is really crucial for the young generation in order to maintain their identity,” the Sanad resident explained.
“It is my earnest hope that writers receive monetary backing, enabling them to devote themselves fully to their craft without concerns about financial stability.
“Given that earnings from book sales often fall short of meeting writers’ basic financial needs, many find themselves torn between their professional commitments and their passion for writing,” she added.
One to always push herself to achieve newer heights, Nada will soon venture into writing English books for children. She is currently working on her debut English title, with hopes to attract a global readership in the near future.
“I had some reservations as English was my second language. However, upon the completion of my story concept, my confidence ascended. Writing in Arabic comes naturally to me, with words flowing effortlessly. However, in English, I find that I must be mindful of cultural distinctions that manifest in the language itself.
“Given my aspiration for global readership among children, I recognised that writing in English, as a universally spoken language, signifies a strategic progression towards that goal,” she added.
Mama Ladayha Magnatees, published by Masabeeh Publications, is available for purchase in Bahrain
@goldenbooksbh on Instagram, and at National Bookshop, Al Waqt Bookshop, Bahrain National Museum, and Sophia Bookshop, and Al Kashkool Bookshop.
