Shields up!

A beloved children’s book written by a Bahraini author has been made into a cartoon series, and officially released this week, teaching young minds valuable lessons in gratitude, integrity, patience and more.

Faris wa drou’oh Al-asher (‘Faris and his 10 shields’) penned by Nada Fardan hit the shelves back in 2015, and is a collection of 10 short stories, each dedicated to a particular ‘shield’ or virtue.

The Sanad resident had originally submitted her work at the popular Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity and after receiving a positive feedback and praise from the jury, decided to publish it.

However, the idea for it to be adapted as an animated series Durro’a Al-Faris (‘knight’s shields’) struck last year after Saudi writer Fahad Al-Qahtani reached out to Ms Fardan, and the duo worked with animation company Cartologia to bring the tales alive in a rhyme format.

Over the last year, three of the 10 episodes were created and the first episode of the series was screened at Abdulrahman Kanoo Cultural Centre in Riffa during an event. It also featured a themed competition for children, an interactive session singing the rhyme featured in the cartoon, and a book signing, among other things.

Nada emphasised that the series delivers authentic Arabic content rooted in local cultural and environmental values.

“I’m thrilled to see that my story will now reach a wider audience,” Nada told GulfWeekly.

“Our goal is to reinforce identity, instill a sense of belonging, and present engaging, value-driven stories that maintain the simplicity and excitement children love.

“This is a big project and we’re in the process of working on the remaining episodes. The first three are available on my YouTube channel (@al-nadaworkshops),” the 39-year-old added.

The series revolves around young Faris (‘knight’ in Arabic), who faces life’s battles with unwavering courage and resilience thanks to his shields or virtues that guide him – the Shield of Self-Confidence, which empowers Faris to believe in himself; the Shield of Cultural Difference, which celebrates diversity and understanding; and the Shield of Gratitude, fostering appreciation, among others.

According to the architect-turned-full-time-author, she always strives to write stories that can resonate with children from diverse backgrounds and nationalities, with some of her books featuring characters with special needs, nodding to her inclusive approach.

One of her recent titles Manba’a Al-Jood (‘source of bounty’) was officially unveiled at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival this year and highlights the idea that something good can only be built on strong, noble foundations. Her first children’s book One Trunk Away – the heartwarming tale of Harry, a young elephant, and his mother, who gently encourages him to face new challenges on his own – also released this year.

“We are considering having English subtitles for the animated series (Durro’a Al-Faris), so more children can enjoy it,” Nada revealed.

Other books by the author include Faris fi zaman Al-goos (‘Faris in the Pearling Age’), Ebtisamet Shamoosa (‘Sunny Smile’), and Hamama Nodi (‘Nodi the dove’).