It’s not enough for parents to hope their children grow up to love books — they need to create an environment conducive to inspiration.
That’s the main message from Isobel Abulhoul, chief executive of the Emirates Literature Foundation and founder of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
“My love of books started very early in my life, thanks to my late beloved parents, for whom reading and books were seen as enjoyment and a source of knowledge,” she says.
“Our home had books dotted about, in the main living room, in the bedrooms, on the kitchen table.
“With visits to the library and books given as gifts on special occasions, this meant I have always looked at books as my best friends.”
With World Book Day arriving on Thursday, Abulhoul encourages parents and families to begin a new chapter by bringing the joy of reading and storytelling into their homes.
Here are 10 of her favourite books, from classics to the contemporary, to get you started
1. ‘The Pirate Twins’ by William Nicholson (1929)
“This beautiful picture book was my favourite and one that my father loved too.
"He read it to me repeatedly. I think it gave me a sense of adventure, travel, and excitement. In this book, I was ‘Mary’ waiting for the pirate twins to return to share my birthday cake!”
2. ‘The Famous Five’ series by Enid Blyton (first published in 1942)
“I devoured the stories and tried to re-enact the adventures with my brother and reluctant friends in our garden at home. Our cat had to pretend to be the dog, Timmy.”
3. ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson (1911)
“When the story begins, Mary Lennox was a spoilt, demanding girl who becomes an orphan and must travel to the UK and the forbidding Yorkshire Moors to live with her uncle, whom she has never met.
“Over the course of the story, Mary finds out about the secret garden, why it is locked, and meets Dickon, who has a special way with animals.
“Mary transforms herself over the course of the story and becomes a heroine. I could not stop reading and fell in love with all the characters.”
4. ‘Heidi’ by Johanna Spyri (1881)
“I had not been yet to Switzerland when I read this novel, but I was transported to the Alps, living in a mountain hut, keeping goats. It felt so real. Heidi was an inspirational heroine, a real and believable girl, who achieved so much.”
5. ‘A Baby Sister for Frances’ by Russell Hoban (1964)
“Frances is a badger, and she is the main character in this series of beautiful picture books that tackle normal challenges that occur in family life.
“My children loved these stories and we re-read them many, many times.”
6. ‘Good Night, Mr Tom’ by Michelle Magorian (1981)
“I read this novel as an adult and my children read it, too. It is a beautiful story, tackling difficult subjects, but full of love and kindness.
“It is set during the Second World War and features a young boy who is evacuated from London during the Blitz to a small village and ends up living with Mr Tom, an old widower.
“Both Willie, the young boy, and Mr Tom were transformed over the course of the story. This book is a family favourite.”
7. ‘Mr Friend Flicka’ by Mary O’Hara (1941)
"The Flicka horse series really kept my horse-mad daughter reading.
“She loved these stories set in the USA, with the mustang horse and a young boy named Ken.”
8. ‘Danny, the Champion of the World’ by Roald Dahl (1975)
“I read this with my son and I still have such strong memories of the time we spent dedicated to sharing this inspirational story together.
“It is good to read stories together with your children. After that, they can enjoy reading themselves. It forms a special bond with characters that you love and encourages discussion of the plot.”
9. ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar (1998)
“I read this when it was first published and then some of my children read it and loved it.
“We spent many happy dinner times discussing what we thought would happen next. The main character is Stanley Yelnats, who is sent to Camp Green Lake, a correctional boot camp in the Texas desert.
“The author really writes a gripping mystery story that appeals so strongly to young readers.”
10. ‘War Horse’ by Michael Morpurgo (1982)
“This author always captivates the reader. This novel tells the story of Joey, a horse bought by the army for service in the First World War in France, and the attempts of 15-year-old Albert, his previous owner, to bring him safely home.
“Great and difficult themes run throughout the story and are tackled in most sensitive ways. This is a novel that builds empathy and understanding.”
The biog
Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:
- Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
- He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
- There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
- After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
- In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Griselda
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20loss%20of%20sodium%20chloride%20in%20our%20sweat%20can%20lead%20to%20confusion%20and%20an%20altered%20mental%20status%20and%20slurred%20speech%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EBody%20temperature%20above%2039%C2%B0C%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHot%2C%20dry%20and%20red%20or%20damp%20skin%20can%20indicate%20heatstroke%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EA%20faster%20pulse%20than%20usual%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EDizziness%2C%20nausea%20and%20headaches%20are%20also%20signs%20of%20overheating%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIn%20extreme%20cases%2C%20victims%20can%20lose%20consciousness%20and%20require%20immediate%20medical%20attention%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)
MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am daily at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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