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Are you an aspiring young author? 🤩
If you like writing stories or poems, this record is for you…
Who knows, it might inspire you to write your own book! 📚
Alfai Almarzooqi, a girl from the United Arab Emirates did, and what makes her book even more awesome is that it is bilingual, written in English and Arabic.
That is how just weeks after her birthday, at the age of 5 years and 20 days, she became the world’s youngest person to publish a bilingual book (female).
Let’s find out more about her book and how she actually achieved this fantastic feat…
Alfai’s book The Lost Rabbit is all about compassion, love for animals, and the importance of caring for one another.
The characters in her story are Alfai, her friend Salma, and Salma’s lost rabbit, Fufu. 🐇
We won’t spoil the ending – *NO SPOILERS ALLOWED* - so let’s find out more about the author behind the book…
When we asked Alfai about her other interests outside of writing, she said:
“I like to play with my kitten Booba, as well as swimming, playing gymnastics, sewing, visiting libraries and plant some flowers to add more colours to the planet.”
Do you share any of the same hobbies? 🙋♀️
Okay, but what inspired her to write her own book?
“I love to listen to the stories that my parents read to me before bed and would ask […] questions, like ‘How old is the tree’ […]?
“I was able to draw my characters and scenarios at age of 3, and was able to tell my parents a full story about them.
“They encouraged me to create my first story and push it to share with many children who love animals.”
So after 3 full days of writing and drawing, her story was ready!
What would YOUR book be about? 🤔
Alfai is also very lucky to have a supportive family, friends and classmates celebrating her awesome achievement with her:
“I had a book signing ceremony at my class. All my friends were happy for me and my teachers created a special corner for my book to read it to other classmates.
“My family was proud, especially my young brother Hamad who was there clapping for me the entire time!” ❤️
Supporting your friends and their dreams is SO important. 🙏
Of course, getting your book published is not easy…
Alfai’s mum told us all about it:
“We struggled as parents to find a publisher who was willing to take on the job without compromising the original content. That’s because [they all] said they had to change the illustrations of our daughter.
“I refused to do so because we were aiming for authenticity. So, I stuck to my point.
“But eventually we found a publisher who specializes in publishing the children’s books.”
And the rest… is history! 📖
And in case you’re wondering, Alfai’s writing career will not stop here…
In fact, she’s already been thinking about new stories she could write and she’s teased a couple of possible book titles such as the Cute Cat and Happy Princess.
However, when she grows up, Alfai wants to be a fashion designer instead! 👗 👒 👠
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Congratulations, Alfai, and we can’t wait to read your next book!