At a Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival panel discussion, Xin Li, Eman AlYousaf, and Amal Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Hanqari explore how media and cultural identity shape minds of children—and why listening may be the most powerful tool of all
Sharjah, April 25, 2025
An educator, author and an illustrator got together on Thursday at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2025 to drive home why curiosity isn’t just a phase but, in fact, the foundation of lifelong learning.
The panel discussion titled “Little Minds… Big Dreams”, part of the Cultural Programme at the 12-day annual festival, saw Xin Li, Amal Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Hanqari and Eman AlYousuf delve deep into how intellectual curiosity in early childhood drives not only creativity, but also empathy, innovation, and critical thinking.
Known for her debut picture book I Lived Inside a Whale and her illustrations in You and the Universe – a collaboration with Lucy and Professor Stephen Hawking – Xin spoke candidly about how evolving platforms are reshaping young minds. “Kids still watch TV, but it’s streaming. They still listen to the radio, but now it’s podcasts,” she said. “The medium hasn’t disappeared – only the platform has changed.”
Having lived across cultures, Xin believes today’s children need more than just information – they need connection and real-world experience. “There’s a huge difference between being told sand is soft on the beach, and actually feeling it between your toes,” she said. “That’s the kind of knowledge we’re at risk of losing if children stay glued to screens instead of engaging with the world.”
The Chinese-born, Norway-based illustrator who draws from her own cross-cultural upbringing to create picture books that bridge emotional and linguistic gaps, urged both parents and educators to embrace dialogue over control. “Sometimes I look at my daughter and realise: this world is hers, not mine. My childhood looked nothing like hers. So instead of trying to impose what I knew, I step back—and start a conversation.”
Talking about the role of parents, Emirati writer Eman Al Yousuf said: “The greatest strength we can give a child is the ability to think. When a child feels safe, supported, and close to a parent—almost like a friend—they begin to share, to question, and to grow into someone who thinks critically, not just repeats.”
Citing examples of how superstar footballers influence popular perception these days more than anyone else, the author of The Window Which Saw, Guard the Sun, The Resurrection of Others highlighted how in today’s world, cultural diplomacy isn’t just about officials any longer. “It’s about content. A child might not know who the prime minister of a certain country is, but they know the footballer of that country’s team. These are the new ambassadors. This makes early education through stories and media incredibly powerful.”
Meanwhile, academician Amal Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Hanqari highlighted the powers of learning by watching friends. “Through workshops, I’ve seen how education delivered by peers is more impactful than from adults. Children imitate their friends more than they obey instructions, and that’s something we can use positively,” she said, narrating real life anecdotes.
“I remember two children registered as deaf and mute. But in a music class, they suddenly started to sing with others. They weren’t disabled—they were silenced, perhaps by fear, perhaps by family. This is what happens when we don’t listen to their voices and suppress them instead.”
The discussion is part of a broader cultural and educational agenda at SCRF 2025, which features over 600 workshops, panels, and sessions under this year’s theme Dive Into Books.
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