(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) By Muaijil Al-Thifeeri
MUSCAT, Feb 26 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti author Heba Mandani on Monday urged Arab families to encourage their children to read books.
In remarks to KUNA on the sidelines of the 23rd Muscat International Book Fair, Manadani said that improving the cultural and intellectual aspects of children is a social responsibility, as everybody should contribute effectively in this matter. Mandani participated in an interactive reading session with the children in "book friends" pavilion.
Praising the large variety of fair's cultural activities for children, including the 'scientific village', Mandani said the village introduces children with the latest technological and modern scientific developments.
She also endorsed the remarkable efforts exerted by Oman in encouraging Arab children books' authors, as well as welcoming them in such cultural venues to interact with their audience of young readers.
The children's paper books became "rarely" purchased and read, as smart tablets invaded the children's lives; a technology that deprived them from the joy of touching and smelling paper books, as well as listening to bedtime stories from their parents, Mandani noted.
In this vein, she pointed out that children's books authors are facing the dilemma of attracting children to paper books.
The 23rd Muscat International Book Fair kicked off last Thursday and will last until March 3, with the participation of 783 publishing houses, exposing around half a million books.
The participating countries are namely: Kuwait, Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Japan, Pakistan, Germany, Italy, Canada, and US. (end) ma.maa.lb
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