I Wish I Knew by Souha Abou Chakra
“A girl is drawn to the bright light of her computer screen. She innocently talks to a stranger and shares pictures and personal information. She then learns that this conversation is interfering with her life in troubling ways. Soon, she has no choice but to call for help! This is a silent story that invites the imaginations of those young and old to join a very important discussion so that they too do not say: ‘I wish I knew.’”
This is the poignant description of HBKU Press’s first wordless book, I Wish I Knew, by prolific author Souha Abou Chakra and award-winning illustrator Zohreh Godini. While I Wish I Knew is the first publication of its kind from the Qatari publishing house, HBKU Press is no stranger to pioneering literature.
I Wish I Knew is a uniquely told tale that invites readers to ponder the real and potentially harmful side effects that come with prolonged exposure and use of the internet. The book is exceptional for its ability to provoke thoughtful discussion and elicit genuine reaction without the use of a single word, telling a full story through creative illustration alone.
“HBKU Press proudly publishes a wide array of literature, and takes the responsibility of producing books for children very seriously,” said Rima Ismail, Outreach and Special Projects Manager at HBKU Press. “Our books are consistently geared towards facilitating the holistic development of young readers, which is why we deliberately have high standards that ensure topics are appropriate and well-suited for children. Each publication is also crafted from start to finish in a way that sparks imagination and hones the reader’s ability to deliberate and ask important questions.”
“The silent story has always been a genre that we’ve been interested in,” added Ms. Ismail. “We finally received a story that met all our criteria, and we believe it had a particularly important message that sheds light on children’s relationship with the internet, which is undoubtedly a topic of great concern for parents and educators.”
Storytelling Beyond Words
I Wish I Knew is especially timely today, as more and more aspects of our everyday lives move online, including learning and socializing. Countless education and social networking platforms are accessible to children, and it is crucial that usage, benefits, and potential pitfalls of these platforms are examined from all angles.
This book takes the example of a young girl that excitedly begins to explore the internet, interacting with various features and contacts online. Her explorations take a drastic turn when she inadvertently begins to excessively share information about herself, leading to anxiety and fear. Luckily, she is able to turn to her parents for support and they proceed to call for help, thereby resolving the issue.
I Wish I Knew exists as a cautionary tale for children and parents to gain awareness and avoid falling into similar situations. The book’s ability to complete a full story arc through illustrations is not only a notable feat, it also aids the proliferation of this message to readers worldwide who do not need to rely on language to grasp its essence. Publishing a book such as this introduces a new level of accessibility and inclusivity, crafting a universal message in a universal language.
Meet the Author
Souha Abou Chakra is a prolific children’s story writer with many critically acclaimed titles published by HBKU Press, including Wool Yarns, Who Am I? and popular award-winner Migrating Hoopoe. She has previously worked with the Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) to produce programs, songs, and stories.
“I Wish I Knew tells us about a child’s experience with the internet, including many situations that seem happy and exciting at first. However, as events escalate, they become difficult and cause anxiety and fear for the little girl, which she did not expect,” explained Souha Abou Chakra.
The author also shared that she has always been concerned by children’s relationship with the internet, not just because of the lack of oversight and control regarding usage, but also the possibility that they may be exposed to or harmed by situations that put them in difficult dilemmas they may not be equipped to solve themselves. In addition, they may then also be afraid to ask for help, especially from family.
“Leaving children to create their own experiences via the internet, particularly social networking sites, coupled with the lack of awareness of parents and guardians to potential dangers, emphasizes the effort adults should put into carefully monitoring the movements of children.” She advises that parents guide their children step by step through websites and communication applications, as well as learn about ways to activate restrictions that prevent them from entering and engaging with people on inappropriate websites.
Souha was inspired to write I Wish I Knew because, “silent stories give the child a wide space to think and imagine, so their mind is not restricted to the written text. Rather, they can venture beyond the position the writer presents in addition to being captivated by the drawings in all their intricacies.” She also believes that "the silent story strengthens the skills of dialogue and speaking among children. It enhances their ability to discuss their ideas with adults, which in turn helps them critically assess the information they’ve gathered, learned, and developed.”
The author concluded by calling on parents and schools to acquire the story due to its topical importance. “The story is an introduction to educating young people about what they might encounter in the virtual world. Hopefully, it will help them realize that it is necessary to turn to parents and teachers when they face uncomfortable situations that make them feel unsafe.”
Meet the Illustrator
I Wish I Knew is truly story-driven because it wholly depends on the author’s ability to create a well-paced arc that is conveyed entirely via illustration. Indeed, the creative capacity of the book’s illustrator, Zohreh Godini, is on full and brilliant display in the book.
Souha continues to praise Godini for her work, calling her illustrations distinguished and crucial in the work to “bring the story to life with its finest details.” Godini succeeded in compensating for the absence of words through her expressive drawings, conveying the full spectrum of her feelings about the subject and presenting children with a minutely detailed, professional work of art.
“My life goes forward through art, and I am grateful and happy for this,” Zoreh. “I received a very short summary of the story, and made illustrations based on that. Sometimes the transcendence and meaning of a story cannot be described with words. I think this is the beauty of illustration,” she mused.
“When there’s a feeling that does not fit into words, it can be portrayed by creativity in imagery instead. Simulating a feeling as a movement in imagery, or an object or color, or anything that expresses a concept or simile that does not fit into words...this is creativity. The feeling in this story is the girl's loneliness and lack of security and courage to share her feelings with her parents. This creates a darkness and emptiness in her life. The book is part psychology combined with creativity in visualization."
I Wish I Knew has already achieved international acclaim, achieving an Honorable Mention in the 2023 Purple Dragonfly Awards’ Best Illustrations category. The book was also a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards’ Picture Books – All Ages category.
I Wish I Knew by Souha Abou Chakra and illustrated by Zohreh Godini is now on sale in bookstores and online.