Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press Announces Where Is My Teacher? as 2020 World Book Day Book
Written by 14-year-old Dalal Ghanim Al-Romaihi, Where Is My Teacher? is Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press’ (HBKU Press) selection for this year’s World Book Day
World Book Day is an annual event that was launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1995. Each year, HBKU Press selects a children’s book that embodies their commitment to highlighting local narratives on the world stage while promoting a love of literacy and reading among youth.
“By participating in this internationally recognized event, HBKU Press is contributing to cross-cultural communication, dialogue and understanding,” said Rima Ismail, Outreach and Special Projects Manager at HBKU Press. “This book, and in particular this young author, are the perfect example of what happens when a love of literacy is established at a young age: a passion for reading, a flair for writing, and an incredibly imaginative story that is sure to entertain children around the world. We are proud to have published this wonderful book.”
In the past two years, Shaikha Al-Zeyara’s Sultan Al Baher (The Sultan of the Sea) and Dr. Jabr al Noaimi’s Min Fa’ir Ila Maarid (The Mouse that Saved Me) were chosen as the 2018 and 2019 HBKU Press World Book Day book selections. Each year, HBKU Press hosts a book reading at a local school in celebration of the day, providing children with the opportunity to meet and greet the author.
“Though HBKU Press has suspended all of its many outreach activities within schools after their closure due to the current COVID-19 crisis, we hope that by selecting a book written by such an imaginative young author as the HBKU Press 2020 World Book Day selection, it will inspire other young children to develop their writing talents during this time at home and submit their work to us as well,” explains Ismail.
Where Is My Teacher? is a delightfully inventive tale that is inspired by Al-Romaihi’s own love of reading. The premise is simple: Dalal’s teacher is missing and the possibilities of where she could be are endless. What follows is a wildly imaginative journey that takes readers on a literary adventure where they are immersed in a new world on every page. With the clever rhymes and vivid illustrations, each spread references some of the author’s favorite books – can you guess what they are?
“I’m really happy and so excited for my book to be chosen by HBKU Press as their 2020 World Book Day book,” said Dalal Ghanim Al-Romaihi. “It’s such an honor and I really hope that kids will be inspired to write and share their stories. It’s never too early to start chasing your dreams!”
Where Is My Teacher? can be found online as an eBook on Amazon Kindle. Hard copies of the book, and any HBKU Press book, can now be purchased and delivered in Qatar from the RAFEEQ application (available to download from the Apple Store and Google Play). For more information on how to get a copy of any of your favorite HBKU Press books, please follow us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/hbkupress) and on Twitter and Instagram (@hbkupress) for daily updates.
