Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) is celebrating the International Day of Friendship, which falls on Sunday.
Friendship is an important social experience that spans across all cultures, and HBKU Press is using this opportunity to introduce readers, new and old, to some great fictional friends!
Rima Ismail, outreach and special projects manager at HBKU Press, said : “It is our pleasure to recognise this day for its important social message that readers all over the world can relate to and find positivity in. We always strive to foster cross-cultural learning, friendship, and comradery through our books. We hope that all readers can find a friend in one of our stories and be inspired to then turn around and be a friend for others today.”
Younger readers who may be wondering how to do this need look no further than HBKU Press’s own dynamic children’s catalogue, which notably caters to readers just starting their literary journey. Friends Forever by Polish author, Przemyslaw Wechterowicz is a beautifully illustrated story that tells the heartwarming tale of a family of rabbits that inhabits the same old oak tree as a family of owls in the branches high above.
Hajar’s Gift by Noon is an original children’s book published by HBKU Press this year, and tells the story of a young girl named Hajar who, one day, meets a woman that lives in a painting. She notices that the woman appears sad, and begins talking to her. Upon discovering that the lady in the painting is sad because she was missing a special bag, Hajar promises to find her a new one and embarks on a grand tour of Kuwait.
The wildly popular Planet Omar series by Zanib Mian is a recent release from HBKU Press, which has translated the first three books of the series for Arabic language readers interested in the Young Adult category. Planet Omar is a highly acclaimed series about an imaginative boy named Omar, who invites readers into his own rich inner world by taking them along on his vivid escapades.
The Wonder series by R J Palacio is known worldwide as an inspiring tale of a young boy named Auggie growing up with a facial deformity in a world that isn’t always understanding nor accepting. Now the new kid at school, Auggie must learn to navigate change, classmates, and big mean bullies. Luckily, Auggie has a supportive family and a great new friend, Summer, who see and accept him for who he is, and are always there for him - no matter what.
HBKU Friendship Day titles.
