SHARJAH, UAE- Emirati poet and writer Sheikha Al Mutairi has urged parents and educators to rethink how they encourage children to read, saying a love of books grows through curiosity and discovery, rather than repeated instructions or school pressures.
Al Mutairi was speaking at a session titled “Thus Spoke the Books”, hosted by Sharjah Public Libraries at the ongoing 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). Moderated by writer and media personality Ghaith Al Hosani, the discussion explored her relationship with books and libraries, as well as the personal experiences recounted in her book Days of Books, which she signed during the fair.
Recalling her earliest memories of books, Al Mutairi described the pride and confidence she felt as she carried her first-grade textbooks. She said that holding a book gave children a sense of belonging in the adult world and a sense of pride in seeing themselves as readers.
She questioned the effectiveness of repeatedly urging children to read, saying that treating reading as an obligation could undermine the curiosity and enjoyment that draw them to books: “We have exhausted generations of children with constant reminders to read, without knowing how effective those demands are when we do not give them the chance to discover for themselves what they want to know.”
Al Mutairi recalled how her father encouraged her curiosity by asking her to look up a biography in Al-A’lam, a biographical encyclopaedia, without explaining how to use it. The task led her to explore the reference work independently and learn how it was organised. She later became so familiar with it that she chose it as the subject of a school research project.
Discussing her book Days of Books, Al Mutairi said she initially planned to compile unusual laws relating to libraries. However, a suggestion from Al Hosani to include her personal experiences prompted her to shift the focus to stories and encounters from her years with books.
She also reflected on her connection with the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage. As a child, she first became familiar with Juma Al Majid’s name through his business activities. Only later did she discover his involvement in culture and scholarship and his connections with intellectuals and readers. These discoveries became part of her personal and professional memories.
Al Mutairi stressed the importance of documenting everyday experiences, saying details that seem ordinary at the time can become stories worth preserving. She recalled keeping diaries and sketching places she visited when photography was less accessible.
Turning to the role of libraries and cultural institutions, she urged them to adopt a more personal approach with visitors, particularly children and students, by recognising their individual interests and needs rather than treating them as participants in standard programmes.
She concluded with an account of a school visit during which she connected with a student whose behaviour had been seen as defiant. By showing interest in the girl’s appearance and self-confidence and listening to her, Al Mutairi turned the encounter into an opportunity for dialogue.
The experience, she said, showed that personal attention and understanding can leave a deeper impression than direct instructions. She added that books and libraries offer opportunities for discovery, connection and understanding others.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the 12-day fair runs at Expo Centre Sharjah until November 15, bringing together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries.
