Emirati Author Publishes First Children’s Novel
Emirati author, Bashayer Arif has published her debut novel for children titled ‘The Secret Life of Dubai’s Street Cats’, along with publishing house, The Dreamwork Collective.
The book will cater to children aged six to nine years old, and will explore themes of friendship, bravery, the importance of animal welfare, kindness and forgiveness.
The story will follow Sharpclaw, and her two best friends, Twitch and Blacktail, as they journey through Dubai. When the friends come across Killtooth, a house cat set out to cause chaos for the three cats, the three friends will need to figure out a way to escape and find a new home for themselves.
Bashayer Arif is an English Literature major and is also a freelance copywriter, proofreader and editor.
The book has been illustrated by Eilis Boyle, a multidisciplinary designer and illustrator, with her work published in The New York Times, Financial Times, and L’Officiel.
Bashayer Arif says, “My book features a strong female lead character and some powerful messages that will resonate with parents and children alike. I hope it encourages young readers to develop empathy and understand our human impact on the natural world around us.”
The book is available on The Dream Collective website and retails for Dhs 50.
