São Paulo – A benevolent, powerful king wants his son to pick a bride among the most beautiful women of the palace. But the prince doesn’t care about looks and is adamant that he wants someone smart. So, he decides to hold a storytelling contest, and the winner will be the one who tells a story made up from beginning to end. So starts the children’s book Uma história inventada do começo ao fim [A Story Made Up from Beginning to End], which is based on Palestinian folk tales. Palestinian author Sonia Nimer is one of the most important Arab children’s authors. The book has been translated into Portuguese by Maria Carolina Gonçalves and launched earlier this month by Tabla publishing house, which will hold a livestream with the author on Wednesday (26).
Uma história inventada do começo ao fim is a reinterpretation of a Palestinian traditional story. Sonia Nimer rewrote the tale in a more modern way so that present-day children can relate to it. The author added humor and a powerful, smart, creative female lead to the adventure. Nimer says that in most fairytales, the prince rescues the damsel in distress, but in this book, the damsel rescues the prince by using her tremendous ability of imagination.
The livestream Inventando histórias na Palestina: a tradição oral na literatura infantil [Making up stories in Palestine: An oral tradition in children’s literature] will be held at 3 pm (BRT) to discuss the book. Moderating it will be Laura Di Pietro, editor and cofounder of Tabla, who will receive author Sonia Nimer and Tamer Institute for Community Education director-general Renad Qubajj on the publishing house’s YouTube channel.
“I’m glad and honored to moderate this talk between Palestinian author and educator Sonia Nimer and Tamer Institute for Community Education director Renad Qubbaj. Both live in Ramallah. Nimer is the author of the children’s book Uma história inventada do começo ao fim, which we’re launching this month with some events around the book. The book was originally published in Arabic by Tamer Institute, a non-governmental organization that features a team of educators and publishers that for over 30 years have carried out a work of education focused on literature with children across Palestine. Tames is responsible for feeding libraries across the region, from the river to the sea!” Laura Di Pietro was quoted as saying in a statement to ANBA.
Di Pietro told ANBA the book Uma história inventada do começo ao fim is poetic and very funny. “A story with all classic features like a prince, a castle, a princess and everything, but with surprising and very contemporary approach and plot! The illustrations by Raouf Cray are beautiful and modern and flee the stereotype of these classical characters. A book with content and a beautiful text, not easy to translate. So, I’d like to praise the translation by Maria Carolina Gonçalves, a sensitive, precise translation. This book is a gem, so I hope that it reaches many Brazilian children and adults as well,” the editor said.
Sonia Nimer was born in 1955 in Palestine and is among the most important children’s authors in the Arab world. She’s also a philosophy and cultural studies professor at the Birzeit University in the West Bank. Her work is inspired by the folklore and cultural heritage of Palestina. Nimer has over 16 books published and translated into several languages. She has won awards like Etisalat Award for Young Adult Category in 2014 and the Arabic Young Adult Book Award in 2018.
Fact sheet
Uma história inventada do começo ao fim
Written by Sonia Nimer
Illustrations by Raouf Cray
Translation by Maria Carolina Gonçalves
ISBN 978-65-87796-17-8
Tabla publishing
2021, 1st edition
40 pages
BRL 48 [USD 9]
Buy it online
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
