Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) joyfully welcomes this year’s annual International Day of Friendship, which falls today as founded by the United Nations in 2011. Friendship is an important social experience that spans across all cultures, and HBKU Press welcomes this opportunity to introduce readers new and old to some great fictional friends!
“HBKU Press is an internationally reputed publishing house,” said Rima Ismail, Outreach and Special Projects Manager at HBKU Press. “It is our pleasure to recognize 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 catalog, 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. With one only asleep during the day, and the other only asleep during the night, Little Rabbit and Little Owl will have to come up with some seriously creative ways to be friends!
Hajar’s Gift by Mr. 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 adventures commence, with Hajar taking readers along as she visits the various marvels and landmarks of the country, picking up splendid souvenirs for her dear new friend to fill the bag . As educational as it is heartwarming, Hajar’s Gift teaches readers how important good friends are, how to be a good friend, and the real value of the gift.
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. Readers this summer are sure to find friendship and adventure in equal parts with Omar through these books, making great fictional friends in this unique hybrid format series. Throughout the books, prose is regularly punctuated by doodles and small illustrations to bring these adventures to life and offer a truly fun and engaging reading experience for all of Omar’s new friends!
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. Wonder and We’re All Wonders are both available for Arabic language readers, as well as Auggie & Me and 365 Days of Wonder, which are companion novels to readers who are not quite ready to say goodbye to Auggie just yet. Adapted for the big screen to international acclaim in 2017, Wonder is a poignant tale of friendship, inner beauty, and the importance of kindness.