AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Zayed National Museum has launched four new interactive children’s books in both English and Arabic, offering young readers an engaging introduction to the heritage, traditions, and natural environments of the United Arab Emirates.
The programme represents the museum’s overarching goal of introducing the next generation to the identity of the country and the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s founding father.
The collection consists of four titles that highlight important facets of UAE life.
-“Kitabu – Step Inside, Listen Closely” takes readers on a pop-up tour of the museum’s architecture, galleries, and artifacts.
-“Qudwati – Under the Desert Sky” introduces kids to the desert landscapes that influenced Sheikh Zayed’s principles.
-“Animals of the United Arab Emirates” introduces young learners to local wildlife throughout the nation.
-“Our Life by the Sea”, an interactive colouring book developed in partnership with César Animées, emphasises the significance of the sea in Emirati culture.
Nassra Al Buainain, Director of the Learning & Public Engagement Department at Zayed National Museum, told Aletihad that the initiative’s goal is to increase children’s access to heritage and culture through immersive storytelling.
“Through stories they truly enjoy, we hope to help children discover the history, heritage, customs, and natural environments of the United Arab Emirates,” she said. “We use storytelling, relatable characters, and hands-on, interactive elements to bring history and culture to life through ‘edutainment’, or learning through entertainment.”
The strategy, she continued, is in line with the museum’s mandate as the UAE’s national museum.
“Our publications help young readers develop pride, curiosity, and a lasting connection to their national identity by making these themes engaging and relatable,” added Al Buainain.
The books explore four themes - the desert, the sea, local animals, and the experience of visiting museums - through interactive design elements that turn reading into a hands-on activity and suit various learning styles.
Touch-and-feel textures improve vocabulary and sensory identification, while pop-up pages let kids physically investigate narrative and architectural elements.
The BlinkBook app, which animates kids’ coloured pages, is another way the books incorporate digital interaction.
Al Buainain expained: “In general, it shifts kids from passive reading to active discovery, which makes learning last.”
The museum also uses information from workshops, educational programmes, and visitors to Al Nagwa Boutique to broaden the publishing project and develop future concepts.
Al Buainain added that further titles are now being produced and that future publications are intended for a wider range of age groups, residents and foreign visitors, and older children.
“We intentionally catered to different ages with this first set of titles, from toddlers to children aged 6-9, and each title is potentially the first in a series,” said Al Buainain. “We hope to inspire a life-long curiosity about the UAE’s heritage and reach even more children."