Bodour Al Qasimi's 'The House Of Wisdom' Receives Prestigious BolognaRagazzi Award For Children's Literature

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, founder of Kalimat Group, recently led a reading session for her new book, ‘The House of Wisdom’. This book, aimed at readers aged nine and above, has been honoured with the BolognaRagazzi Award in the fiction category at the Bologna Children Book Fair in Italy. The award celebrates books with exceptional content and artistic design, promoting innovation in children's literature.

Al Qasimi's book takes readers on a historical journey through the House of Wisdom, also known as the Grand Library of Baghdad. Established by Caliph Harun Al-Rashid during the Islamic Golden Age, this institution significantly impacted global knowledge before its destruction by Hulagu Khan. The narrative, illustrated by Majid Zakeri, highlights knowledge's role in shaping societies and encourages young readers to think critically.

Reflecting on the award, Sheikha Bodour stated: "The House of Wisdom invites readers on a profound journey into the heart of Arab and Islamic civilisation, shining a light on a rich legacy that continues to inspire and guide future generations. Through this book, we aim to celebrate the intellectual achievements of Arabs and Muslims, whose contributions laid the foundation for a global renaissance."

Sheikha Bodour emphasised understanding heritage to shape a brighter future. She envisions Sharjah's House of Wisdom as a modern embodiment of its Baghdad predecessor. It aims to ignite curiosity and passion for learning among younger generations. The book is available in Arabic and English at the House of Wisdom bookstore and Kalimat Group website.

Kalimat Group celebrated the award with a reading session involving children and youth. Sheikha Bodour highlighted Baghdad's House of Wisdom's contributions to fields like medicine and astronomy. The institution welcomed scholars from diverse backgrounds and languages. A notable anecdote shared was Caliph Al-Mamun’s practice of rewarding translators with gold equal to their manuscripts' weight.

Cultural Programme Highlights

The reading session was part of a cultural programme starting February 20, 2025, in collaboration with Sharjah's House of Wisdom. Creative workshops and an art exhibition were organised. French artist Benjamin Bené and Moroccan calligrapher Marouane Aouinat led workshops on February 21 and 22. Forty students from Rubu’ Qarn created artworks inspired by the book's themes.

Benjamin Bené is renowned for his unique visual arts approach; UNESCO honoured him in 2012. Marouane Aouinat is celebrated for preserving Arabic calligraphy while innovating within it. Their workshops aimed to inspire creativity among students from Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah and Sharjah Youth.

The exhibition showcasing students' creations opened on February 23 and will run until February 27 at Sharjah's House of Wisdom. This initiative aims to enhance reading skills while fostering critical thinking among young readers by exploring history and Arab scholars' invaluable contributions.

Through these efforts, Sheikha Bodour hopes to instil an appreciation for knowledge among youth while celebrating Arab intellectual achievements that have shaped our world today.

With inputs from WAM