It’s all too easy to head straight for the tried-and-trusted classics when picking books for your children to read. But the diverse range of new work in 2022 confirms that looking back doesn’t always best serve children; the excitement of the new is just as important to them.
The books we’re looking forward to reading alongside our children in 2022, then, not only tell us something about the world they are growing up in, but about their hopes and fears, dreams and aspirations, too.
Picture books
There’s much-loved, and then there’s Julia Donaldson, The Gruffalo author whose work is surely in every child’s home. This year, she teams up with The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler once more for the delightful Mole’s Spectacles and Badger’s Band (February and May, Macmillan), the latest in the multimillion-selling Tales from Acorn Wood lift-the-flap series that made stars of a fox who lost his socks, a tired rabbit wanting a nap and a postman bear.
Donaldson also has a “magical and lyrical” picture book with Helen Oxenbury out in April (Puffin Books). There are no advance images of this yet but Welcome to the World celebrates babies' first experiences. It’s Julia Donaldson – it’ll be great.
Fellow children’s author superstar David Walliams also returns with a second picture book illustrated by Adam Stower. Marmalade (February, HarperCollins Children's Books) follows the delightful adventures of a baby panda with orange fur who meets all sorts of animals on his quest to understand where he belongs in the forest.
Less high-profile but equally deserving of attention is Don’t Ask the Dragon by Lemn Sissay and Greg Stobbs (February, Canongate Books). The first children’s book from British-Ethiopian poet, writer and broadcaster Sissay, it tells the story of a little boy called Alem who’s not sure where to celebrate his birthday. As the title suggests, it might not be wise to consult the hungry dragon. Or is it?
Another lovely journey through the animal kingdom comes from former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo. A Song of Gladness: A Story of Hope for Us and Our Planet (April, Two Hoots) was inspired by a blackbird the author enjoyed in his own back garden, and the stunning illustrations from Emily Gravett will remind children and adults of the beauty of the natural world and how we can preserve it.
Finally, we’re looking forward to One Camel Called Doug by Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton (February, Simon & Schuster). A rhyming story with an educational counting element, Doug is all alone until he comes across loads more camels. He loves the company but also likes the peace of some alone time. Don’t we all…
Books for ages 5 to 8
Anyone who has a child aged 5 to 8 will know they devour facts in non-fiction books. And the fascinating, sometimes gory, stories about plant life in David Attenborough’s spectacular new television series The Green Planet – which had its UAE premiere last week – are definitely worth closer exploration in Leisa Stewart-Sharpe’s book of the same name, accompanying the show (out now, Penguin Books).
We spoke to Stewart-Sharpe for her last book, What a Wonderful World, and this is also superb at exploring, celebrating and depicting the wonder of the world.
On a similarly exploratory note, Sam Sedgman’s Epic Adventures (February, MacMillan) is a really neat way to understand the world, its history and peoples via 12 interesting railway journeys. From cherry blossoms and temples seen from Japanese bullet trains to the woolly mammoths buried beside the Trans-Siberian Express, Sam Brewster’s brilliant illustrations perfectly complement Sedgman’s engrossing tales.
But when it comes to traditional storytelling, it doesn’t get much more classic than The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth’s Grahame’s enduring tale of mole, rat, badger and toad. Interestingly, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, one of the chosen authors for World Book Day 2022, has been asked to update and modernise the world of Toad Hall for a new, age 5-plus audience in a fully illustrated version by Jojo Clinch (April, Puffin). Probably about time, too, given how the original doesn’t exactly celebrate equality.
Bringing matters right up to date, we’re really excited by this month’s debut from Lucy Brandt, Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor (January, Puffin). The titular Leonora is a brilliant creation, a young girl who spends her days fashioning fantastical inventions in her secret island lab, only to find that her uncle has been selling them for profit on the mainland. So begins a fun, mildly perilous and brilliantly madcap adventure taking in a talented otter and singing sea captain.
Lastly, it’s great to see the emergence of some Arabic-language children’s books in English translation. Thunderbird by Sonia Nimr (March, University Of Texas Press) is probably for the upper end of this age bracket, a time-travelling adventure featuring young orphaned Palestinian girl Noor, who must go back in time to find magical bird feathers and save the world. The great champion of Arab literature, M Lynx Qualey, is on translation duties, which is a seal of approval in itself.
Books for ages 9 to 12
Publishing for the 9 to 12 age group can often seem like an obsessive quest for the next Harry Potter. Still, new fantasy series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief (April, Simon & Schuster) comes with huge buzz: author AF Steadman received the world’s largest book advance for a debut children’s writer for her series about unicorns, which, rather than being fluffy and clad in rainbows, are magical, dangerous and bloodthirsty.
Step up young Skandar, but just as his dream of racing one to glory is about to come true, a mysterious figure steals the island’s most powerful unicorn. With magic, battles, races and secrets aplenty, it’s no surprise Skandar and The Unicorn Thief has already been optioned by Sony Pictures.
A girl called Amari will also be battling for children’s affections in April when BB Alston follows up his bestselling, award-winning Amari and the Night Brothers with Amari and the Great Game (HarperCollins). Amari is a refreshingly different hero; Alston couldn’t find any fantasy stories featuring black children when he was growing up, so wrote one himself. After Amari found her brother and saved the supernatural world in book one, she finds the pressure of being the leader of magiciankind too much, but someone more dangerous fills the void. So begins the mysterious Great Game, a competition to decide who will actually determine the future of magic.
Confirmation that everyone can be a hero also comes with Ellie McNicoll’s Like A Charm (February, Knights Of Media). Where McNicoll’s award-winning debut, A Kind of Spark, celebrated an autistic girl who fights against injustice and oppression, here her neurodivergent protagonist has actual magical powers; Ramya is able to see the creatures that populate Edinburgh where others can’t. And as she sets out to discover the truth behind the “Hidden Folk”, she finds out that her powers can change everything.
Finally, England and Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has done so much for children’s reading over the past year that it’s about time he featured in his own novel. The Breakfast Club Adventures (May, Macmillan) pulls together a group of unlikely friends who need to solve the mystery of a missing football. Written with author Alex Falase-Koya and illustrated by Marta Kissi, Rashford says breakfast clubs were “about forming friendships, about togetherness, about escape”.
His book, like so many of 2022’s crop, is all of those things and more.
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My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business
He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery
Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all
Juliet, Naked
Dir: Jesse Peretz
Starring: Chris O'Dowd, Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke
Two stars
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
