The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Many of us did not truly appreciate the Arabic language until we grew up and read books by great authors like Naguib Mahfouz and Gibran Khalil Gibran. As kids, far too many of us did not like Arabic simply because of how stereotypical books in our native tongue tend to be and potentially because of the boring language, which made the avid readers among us resort to English language books. But for those with kids, getting children to use Arabic properly is a huge struggle. Getting them to read in Arabic is essential, though, because – well – it’s our native language. For this reason, we felt it necessary to share some of the most enjoyable books targeted at children and teenagers in Arabic, and here are five of them.

Barra El Dayra by Rania Hussein Amin

Image via Good Reads

Rania Hussein Amin is known to many Gen Z kids as the author of the Farhana series that many grew up reading. She has been writing for children for a while now, and her target audience keeps growing in parallel with her daughter’s growth. Barra El Dayra is her first book for teens, about young love and a high school crush developing between Farida and Abdel Rahman. This book is also perfect for Egyptian teenagers as it not only delves into topics that preoccupy teens that parents may be uncomfortable talking to their kids about, but it also has two editions: one written in our dialect and another in fusha or formal Arabic.

Layali Shahrazizi by Hadil Ghoneim & Sahar Abdallah

Image via Diwan

Written by Hadil Ghoneim and illustrated by Sahar Abdallah, the title of this book alone will attract any fan of folk tales. A retelling of the tales of A Thousand and One Nights, it’s a much less morbid take on the original tale with Amroyar (the creators’ take on the sultan Shahrayar), Doniazouzou (or Donyazad), and Shahrazizi (or Shahrazad). This book has won multiple awards, and rightfully so. It’s not only absolutely beautiful to read, but it’s entertaining and inspiring for all ages and has outstanding illustrations.

Cappuccino by Fatima Sharaf Aldin

Image via Abjjad

If you’re looking for something easy to read yet has a profound story behind it that any teenager will find compelling, look no further than Cappuccino. This book focuses on the relationship between two teens in Beirut, Lebanon, Anas and Lina, as they navigate abuse in their homes and find solace in the time they spend together. This book is compassionate, bittersweet yet optimistic, and makes for a great read.

Qesasna El Shaabeya by Zeinab Kamal

Image via Makouk

Consider this book series an Egyptian take on Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm’s endeavours. Like the storytellers of old, a team of passionate Egyptians set out on a journey to collect and record stories told to kids before bedtime and the tales told on the street. They are all written in Egyptian dialect, as this is the most honest and traditional expression of these tales. Beautifully written by Zeinab Kamal and masterfully illustrated by Mariam Ramadan, this project was headed by Aly Azmy.

Al Modon Gheyr Al Mawsoola by Mahmoud Qotb & Ahmed Hassany

Image via Al Balsam

Beautiful does not even begin to describe this book. Written by Mahmoud Qotb and illustrated by Ahmed Hassany, Al Modon Ghayr Al Mawsoola takes you on a journey to discover magical cities beyond your reach, as the title suggests. Whimsical and enchanting, this work is just as visual as it is a literary masterpiece – so let us not give too much away.