A Magic Carpet Trip to the Children’s Books of the Middle East -Discovering the voice of Arabic children’s books of today

Abstract: In spite of the great literary ancient past of the Middle East, the Arabic children’s book of today is still in its infant stages of development, facing many challenges. This essay initially touches on some of these challenges in order to set a framework in the mind of the reader, which will facilitate the appreciation of the very existence of the books that then will be examined. Seven children’s books written by Arab authors and illustrated by Arab artists will be analyzed in order to find the voice of the children’s books of the Middle East today. My essay will explore the themes that are discussed in the books, how gender roles are displayed, whether there is a religious message, and if society’s attitude towards childhood can be traced in the books. In my search for the voice of Arabic children’s books, I will answer this guiding question: What are these themes’ impact on, and implications for, a child’s sense of discovery?