Student Sessions in-person @ the LitFest!
This event has now taken place, please wait for updates for 2024.
The Emirates Literature Foundation is delighted to welcome school students to the Emirates LitFest, 1-6 February 2023. We are excited to bring you a selection of in-person sessions for your students to attend and enjoy. These sessions promise to be fun, interactive and highly captivating, with your students being able to engage with the authors and ask questions.
The tickets are priced at 25 AED per student, with accompanying teachers granted free entry. Terms and Conditions apply. Please see below.
Magrudy’s bookstore will be on-site for book purchases before or after the session. For advance or bulk book buying, please visit your local Magrudy’s store or the Magrudy’s website.
PLEASE NOTE: Kindly remember, we have limited room capacities and tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
Sessions
Ben Miller: The World of Stories
Date/Time: 3 February 2023, 9:00-10:00
Venue: MBRL Theatre, Mohammed Bin Rashid Library
Language: English
AGE: 8+
How much do you immerse yourself in stories? Master storyteller Ben Miller has created a world where brother and sister Harrison and Lana find themselves saving the realm of the fairytale in The Day I Fell Into A Fairytale. In his second book in the series, The Night We Got Stuck in a Story, they are climbing a magical thread to a land of storybooks where they must face danger and restore balance to the land. Children are sure to enjoy this event and be inspired to delve into the land of reading themselves – who knows where that could lead!
Ben Miller is a gifted actor, sketch comedian, and writer whose inspired imaginative stories are perfect for young readers.
Onjali Q Raúf: Hope on the Horizon
Date/Time: 6 February 2023, 11:30-12:30
Venue: Al Riwaq II, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 9+
We all need to know that no one is too small to make a positive difference. Children can sometimes feel frustrated about their ability to change things, but in this inspiring event bestselling children’s author Onjali Q Raúf shares her ten top ways for finding hope. She has created some amazing fictional characters in her books and with their help she encourages young people to discover the importance of kindness, empathy, friendship, holding strong to the things that matter… And wants us to know that wonders can happen if we focus on those things. There is indeed Hope on the Horizon!
Onjali Q. Raúf is an award-winning children’s author, who was awarded an MBE in 2022 for her services to women’s rights and literature. Her thought-provoking novels tackle issues of today, and include The Lion Above the Door and The Boy at the Back of the Class.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Am I Made of Stardust? Big Questions for Young Scientists!
Date/Time: 3 February 2023, 9:00-10:00
Venue: Al Riwaq II, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 8-12
There are so many questions about science and space that we can’t answer… But now you have the chance to hear some of the answers from one of the world’s top space scientists! Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock can tell you everything from how long it would take you to fly to a star, to what would happen if you fell inside a black hole, to what astronauts eat for dinner on the ISS! Her latest book, Am I Made of Stardust? is packed full of fabulous facts, mind-blowing insights and engaging explanations and she is here at the LitFest to share it with you.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist and is currently President of the British Science Association. She presents The Sky at Nt on UK TV and is committed to inspiring new generations of astronauts, engineers and scientists.
Philip Reeve: The World of Utterly Dark!
Date/Time: 6 February 2023, 11:30-12:30
Venue: Al Baraha II, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 12+
In the Utterly Dark series, the wonderfully eponymously named Utterly Dark has questions on her identity as she strives to protect her island home from the sinister forces lurking in the ocean. Join Philip Reeve, master storyteller and world-builder, as he tells us how he has brought to life this strong character searching to understand her place in the world. Imagination is at the forefront of all Philip’s writing and the audience will be inspired by his creativity and power to create a credible fantasy world.
Philip Reeve published his first novel Mortal Engines in 2001 and since then has written over 20 books, including the Railhead trilogy, and the Utterly Dark historical fantasy series.
Sudha Murty: Stories for All
Date/Time: 6 February 2023, 9:30-10:30
Venue: Al Riwaq II, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 6-10
Who can resist a good story, especially when it’s being told by renowned storyteller Sudha Murty? Young readers can relax and enjoy the event as she pulls traditional Indian adventures of extraordinary animals and wonderful people from her bag of tales.
Sudha Murty was born in Karnataka and writes in English and Kannada. Her books have been translated into all major Indian languages and she especially enjoys writing for young readers.
Wafa’ Tarnowska: Nour’s Secret Library
Date/Time: 6 February 2023, 9:00-10:00
Venue: Al Baraha III, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 6-10
Wafa’ Tarnowska explores the power of books to heal and take us to safe spaces during difficult times. Join Wafa’ as she brings to life her book Nour’s Secret Library, and savour the illustrations by Vali Mintzi, which beautifully demonstrate the idea behind the book.
Wafa’ Tarnowska is an award-winning children’s author, translator and storyteller who was born in Lebanon and lived in many countries including the UAE. Nour’s Secret Library won the 2022 IPPY Gold Award for illustrated children’s books and was featured in several publications as one of the best children’s books of 2022.
Rhianna Pratchett: Developing a Writing Career in Videogames
Date/Time: 6 February 2023, 10:00-11:00
Venue: Al Riwaq I, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
Language: English
AGE: 15+
Join us to discover how Rhianna Pratchett moved into script writing and narrative design in 2002 after having been a magazine and newspaper feature writer on games, movies and books. This is your chance to discover how she developed her career in these fields and what talents are needed to succeed!
Rhianna Pratchett has also authored Crystal of Storms for a younger audience alongside her work on the narratives for videogames, and her short stories and comic book series. Her credits include Overlord, Tomb Raider and Heavenly Sword.
Buy the Books
Students are encouraged to read the books before attending the sessions (but that is not necessary!). All the books are available for sale on the Magrudy’s website and in their stores, as they are the official bookseller for the Emirates LitFest and will be offering competitive prices for the books.
Books will also be available to purchase before or after the session on the Magrudy’s stall at the LitFest. All sessions will be followed by a book signing.
Terms and Conditions
- For every purchase of 20 student tickets, the school is entitled to 1 free teacher ticket.
- For every purchase of 20 – 30 student tickets, the school is entitled to 2 free teacher tickets.
- Any additional teachers accompanying the students must purchase a ticket online prior.
- Teachers are responsible for the students’ safety and well-being during their visit to the sessions at the Emirates LitFest.
- Tickets can only be purchased online using a credit card. No other modes of payment can be accepted.
- Proof of payment/ Receipt will be emailed to you after purchasing your tickets.
- Please do not print your tickets. The Emirates LitFest is a sustainable event that uses digital tickets with QR codes.
- Be prepared to present the digital tickets on your phone at the entrance of the session.
- Photographers and videographers are working onsite, and anyone attending the event may be included in the Emirates Literature Foundation’s image bank and promotional materials. By purchasing tickets to the event, you confirm that you have approval from the parents of the students in your care to be photographed.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions regarding the event, you can email us at aira.anupol@emirateslitfest.com and/or aliya.khan@emirateslitfest.com.
Or give us a call:
| Aira Anupol +971 4 355 9844 (ext 111) |
Aliya Khan +971 4 355 9844 (ext 111) |
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