The Blue Door

Sonia Nimr

Sonia Nimr is considered one of the most important children’s writers in the Arab world. Born in Jenin in the occupied West Bank in 1955, her childhood was shaped by a blend of folklore, proverbs, the stories of Victor Hugo and Naguib Mahfouz, and her own imaginative tales, all interwoven with her lived experiences. This rich tapestry formed Nimr’s unique sensibility.

During her undergraduate studies at Birzeit University in Ramallah, Nimr was arrested and sentenced to three years in an Israeli prison for political reasons. It was within the confines of prison that she began her writing journey. She later earned a PhD in Palestinian history from the University of Exeter in England.

Nimr’s first two picture books, Al Tanboury’s Shoes and The Clever Swallow, both inspired by Palestinian folk tales, were published in 1996. After working with the Museum of Mankind and the British Museum, she returned to Palestine in 1999.

Over the years, Nimr has authored 21 books for children and young adults, garnering significant accolades for her work. These include the Etisalat Prize for Arabic Children’s Literature and multiple nominations for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Since 2006, Nimr has also served as an assistant professor in the Department of Cultural Studies at Birzeit University.

Yasmeen Hanoosh (Translator)

Yasmeen Hanoosh is a literary translator and fiction writer. She currently directs the Arabic program at Portland State University, where she teaches Arabic language and literature. Hanoosh’s academic interests lie in the cultural politics and literary expressions of post-2003 Iraq, with a particular focus on the country’s ethno-religious minorities.

Her first story collection, Ardh al-Khayrat al-Mal’una (The Land of Cursed Riches), was published in 2021. Her second collection, Atfal al-Janna al-Mankuba (Children of Afflicted Paradise), is forthcoming. Hanoosh’s translations of Arabic fiction have been featured in various literary magazines, including World Literature Today, Banipal, ArabLit Quarterly, and The Iowa Review.

Raouf Karray (Illustrator)

Raouf Karray was born in 1951 in Sfax, Tunisia. His father, a furniture maker, and his mother, who worked with embroidery, both influenced Karray’s early artistic inclinations. His childhood was spent playing in the orchard near his home, observing the growth of fruit, the soil, and the distant horizon.

In 1969, Karray embarked on an eight-year world tour. In 1977, he spent five years in Italy, where he taught graphic arts, worked as a stage designer, created illustrations for a newspaper, and produced television commercials and posters. Since 1995, he has participated in numerous art events and exhibitions both in Tunisia and internationally, including multiple showings at the Palace of the Popes in Avignon and the Institute of the Arab World in Paris.

In 2012, Karray was awarded the KITABI prize for the best children’s books in Arabic. His artistic endeavors are driven by a deep-seated belief that a society thrives when its children are nurtured and cared for.

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