Sharjah 24: Larger-than-life teddy bears, full-bodied hand-puppet parrots with flapping wings, and costumed performers are bringing stories to life at the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair in an engaging, immersive storytelling workshop designed for 4-10-year-olds.

The ‘Books and Arts' workshop, led by Louna Land, commenced with a read aloud session of the delightful story of Bavaro, a bright and colourful ‘talking’ parrot with a unique talent for mimicking voices. The interactive and playful storytelling session helped the young ones understand that each child is unique, and why it is wrong to bully another who seems ‘different’.

Louna Abu Rizk, the star performer who led the kids on an exciting storytelling journey, said: “We combine the power of a good story with creative tools such as talking animals, dance, and fun voices to liven up the session and make the kids remain engaged with the story. The goal is to teach young kids that our differences are what make us unique, and we must not bully others just because they are different.”  

The excitement in the room was palpable as children squealed with joy and jumped out of their seats at the sight of a life-size teddy bear waddle into the room to crown Bavaro for his uniqueness. A celebratory dance followed, after which the children learnt to make colourful parrots using cups, paints, cardboard, and googly eyes. 

Samer Abou Rizk from Louna Land, said, “The idea behind the ‘Books and Arts' workshop is to get kids attracted to the book and be inspired by their characters. The hands-on activity of creating their own parrot, which they carry home as a souvenir, will make the story resonate more deeply and reinforce the moral lessons learnt. Our animated storytelling techniques coupled with choreographed movements and spontaneous music and dance make it an unforgettable experience for the kids!”

‘Books and Art’ is one among the numerous interactive workshops and activities organised daily at SIBF 2021 to enhance children's creativity. SIBF 2021 concludes on November 13 at Expo Centre Sharjah.