Children's National Launches Bi-lingual Children's Storybook in the UAE

Children’s National, home to the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, launched a bi-lingual children’s storybook through a book-reading event in Al Ain, UAE.  UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, participated by reading the book aloud to a group of children currently undergoing treatment at Tawam Hospital.

Titled “A Very Special Place”, the illustrated book tells the story of an Emirati boy who comes to Children’s National for a procedure and, through this experience, he ultimately learns to be brave despite his fears.  The book is intended to ease children’s discomfort and fears around visiting a hospital, and highlight the healing power of reading.  The idea for the book was inspired by the UAE’s Year of Reading initiative and long-standing friendship between Children’s National and the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah said, “Over the course of many years, the UAE’s partnership with Children’s National has led to robust efforts to advance medical innovation, best practices and knowledge transfer to improve the lives of children in the UAE, US, and around the world.  This book is yet another example of the positive value that our collaboration imparts to our children and communities.”  After the book-reading, Sheikh Abdullah sat in a private meeting with the Children’s National delegation.

The event was also attended by the book’s author, Maitha Al Khayat, and illustrator, Noora Al Shaikh, Dr. Maha Barakat, Director General of the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi,  as well as Children’s National President and CEO, Dr. Kurt Newman, and Child Life Services Manager, Terry Spearman.  “A Very Special Place” was published in both Arabic and English.

Media coverage included:

• The National
• WAM (English and Arabic)
• Gulf News
• Big News Network
• Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Arabic)
• Al Khaleej (Arabic)