Authors from Morocco, Serbia, and the UAE, among other countries have gathered at the Sharjah Book Fair 2024 to champion the power of traditional reading over digital formats. They believe that the idea of holding a physical book enhances the reading experience and fosters a deeper connection with the text.

Amina Hachimi Alaoui, Founder of two bookshops: Le Carrefour des Livres and Le Carrefour des Art, publishing house: Yanbow Al Kitab, said, “I always choose to write everything with a pen on paper. We can introduce children to digital books, which might eventually lead them back to physical books. Digital books could be a way to encourage children to read, but paper books offer something digital cannot.”

She added that a book can stay by a child’s bed, and they can touch it, and smell it, these experiences aren’t possible with a screen. “The first step in developing language and ideas begins with reading, and it gives you your own perspective. This process starts with pen and paper, and the paper itself,” Alaoui noted.

Inspired by her grandchildren, Amina wrote Alya and the Three Cats, which was quickly recognized, being shortlisted for the prestigious Etisalat Award in 2016.

Chef Halima Boubakri, who has published a series of 10 cookbooks featuring more than 300 Moroccan recipes under the title Chehiwate Halima, also emphasized the importance of written language over digital formats. The Moroccan chef explained, “It is very important. Even as a chef working in the kitchen, I write every day. I write one or three recipes each day. I am very happy to have presented my recipes in Casablanca. It took me 3 to 4 years to prepare the books and get them published. I’ve always been keen on words and simple articulation, it’s not easy, but it’s worth it.”