Najla Al Owais here.
I clearly remember the first time I came across a book by author and illustrator Maitha Al Khayat, and it was around the time my eldest daughter was around 5 years old. The book that portrayed the adventurous grandmother “Grandma Moudi The Fashionista” was soon to be a staple in our nightly reading. Next, I found Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep in Al Salwa Publishing at the Sharjah International Book Fair and my children fell in love with the book. I also used it religiously in the days and weeks leading to any dentist appointments.
From then on, I made sure to purchase any book authored or illustrated by Maitha Al Khayat because it promised a fun time with my kids, often with witty dialogue and interesting pictures, and with much food for thought! I am honored to hold this interview with Maitha Al Khayat (MAK), who is a mother, author, and illustrator with many award winning titles.
Najla: If you can think back to your early beginnings, how did you get started on your journey as author/ illustrator?
MAK: As a child, I would draw the stories I’ve read and create my own comic book. As a teenager, I started writing my diary, but it was more of a way to vent. I never thought or imagined that I’d be an author. On the contrary, I’ve always wanted to be a movie maker, a director or scriptwriter.
Najla: How long have you been drawing and illustrating?
MAK: I’ve been drawing since I was a little girl. Unfortunately, I don’t have any illustrations or artwork to share from that time, because my father studied in the US and UK, so we are always travelling.
Najla: What were some pivotal moments in your life or in your career that influenced the development of your literary and artistic talents?
MAK: I think it’s because of the constant change from one country to another, one city to another, one home to another – this affected me and shaped my character in many ways. It influenced the way I made friends and adapted to different changes in my life. This also lead me to constantly be on the look-out for stories about our roots, dig deep into my heritage and embrace my mother tongue “Arabic” which was my biggest fear. This allowed me to turn it into a strength and write for children who are in search of their identities and afraid of their own language.
Najla: What is the medium that you usually use as you do your illustrations? Do you use any special software? Pens? Inks? Colors?
MAK: I usually like traditional mediums like charcoal, chalk pastels and gouache. However, it’s more convenient these days to create digital artwork. I’m constantly on the go and like to shift from one place to another. So, it’s easier to carry your digital studio wherever you are. But I do miss traditional illustration.
Najla: As an artist, do you make your picturebooks to evoke meaning or feeling? What usually inspires your art?
MAK: The main feeling I focus on is joy. If I’m not enjoying my work, why write it or even try to illustrate it. My usual inspiration is my children. Most of the books I’ve written are based on fun moments, inquisitiveness and naughtiness done by them.
Najla: I came across a previous interview where you spoke about your sister and husband, and how they inspired you to make the move to become an author. Was there any other influential person in your early beginnings on both your writing and art?
MAK: My sister hated books when we were kids because it meant me not playing with her. But when we became mothers, she finally confessed that she only enjoyed stories that were told by me. My father of course was the most influential person because through him I fell in love with stories. He’s an amazing storyteller and I’m still enthralled with his stories till now. I’ve been blessed with so many people who believed in me; mother, my husband and best friend Hanan.
Najla: In an old interview you wrote about how you write in English sometimes and then translate to Arabic. Is that still the case? I can also see the benefit of having your books available in both languages. However, I do not always come across the English versions of your picture books. Are they available? And do publishers prefer picture books to be in one language more than the other?
MAK: I used to do that, but now it depends on the type of story or idea that crosses my mind. The thing is I can’t tell if I’m doing it also. The English books available are “I Love Mum’s Pretty Veil”, “The Bedouin Penguins”, “Love in Ramadan”, “My Own Special Way,” “Aisha’s Pearl”, “Aisha’s Cake” and also “When A Camel Craves the Munchies”. It depends on the publishers.
Najla: Amongst your work, what was your favorite book to write, and why? And what illustrated work was your favorite piece to illustrate and why?
MAK: My favorite book to write was “When A Camel Craves Loqaimat”, because I wrote it in one go, and when I submitted the first draft, the publisher took it without changing a thing in it. My favorite yet to illustrate is still in the making so look out for it soon.
Najla: I’ll definitely be on the look out! I attended an ELF session entitled “Hey Mum, They Look Like Me” where you and other international speakers (namely Candy Gourlay and Zanib Mian) spoke about identity and representation.
It was such an insightful session, what are your thoughts about the portrayal of identity in children’s books in the region? Can you cite some of your favorites, if any, that capture this sense of identity?
MAK: I still don’t feel there are enough portrayals of identity in children’s
books because most publishers in the Arabic world are more focused on common issues and worldwide topics that are happening internationally. Some writers tend to also write stories that will give them a chance of winning a literary award to gain recognition. I always believe that writing your own stories, about your own roots and culture is true recognition and is an award itself. Some great examples of these books are “Mah and Me” written and illustrated by Ibtihaj Al Harthi.
Najla: What are the last five books that you read and loved?
MAK:
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros,
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse by Charlie Mackesy,
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger,
A Game Of Thrones by George R. R. Martin,
The Wheel Of Time Series by Robert Jordan.
Najla: Any future projects that you are currently working on?
MAK: I’m excited to launch my latest books “Aisha’s Cake” which I illustrated, and “Hunting My Breakfast” which I wrote. I’m also excited to launch my first ever fantasy YA novel which will be released soon in March 2024.
Najla: That sounds exciting! I can’t wait for your new book, Maitha. Thank you for being generous with your time and holding this interview. I wish you all the best with your upcoming projects. Your work gives both young readers and adults such joy, and I’ve seen how it inspired my children firsthand. I’m happy you decided to share your talent with the world. Thank you again for sharing your insights with me.
Just in case you missed it, we have been doing a series of #UAEReads interviews every Sunday. Here is our #UAEReads Interview with Omani artist/illustrator Ibtihaj Al Harthi by Fajer Bin Rashed. We are also very privileged to have this #UAEReads Interview with Her Excellency, Isobel Abulhoul, former CEO and Trustee of Emirates Literature Foundation, Founder of Magrudy’s (the longest-running book store in the country) and the internationally renowned Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
About the Author-Illustrator:
Maitha Al Khayat is an Emirati mother of five. She’s a children’s author and illustrator, and trains in writing & illustrating picture books. Maitha is a Board Member at the UAE Board of Books for Young People – UAEBBY, and an ambassador at The Cultural Office Women’s Creative Network.
In less than 10 years, Al Khayat has published 171 books; some translated into English and Turkish, and used as part of the curriculum in schools around the country.
Maitha Al Khayat’s Award Winning Titles:
- Turn off the Lights (author) – Best Children’s Book (2015) Awarded by Sharjah Publications Association.
- My Special Way (author) – Best Children’s Book (2011) Awarded by Children’s Forum Award in Riyadh 2011.
- My Own Special Way (author, Early Reader Edition) – Nominated for Best Translated Book Marsh Awards 2012.
- My Father’s Palm Tree (illustrator) – Nominated for Best Illustrations in Picture Books for the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards 2020.
Maitha’s bibliography:
| Title | Author | Illustrator | Publisher | ISBN |
| Grandma Moudi is a Fashionista | Maitha Al Khayat | Vanina Starkoff | Kalimat (2017) | 978-9948-18-148-4 |
| Uncle Khalfan’s Sheep | Maitha Al Khayat | Maya Fidawi | Dar Al Salwa (2014) |
9789957040734 |
| Mah & Me | Ibtihaj Al Harthi | Ibtihaj Al Harthi | Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing (2015) |
9789927118272 |
| Turn off the Lights | Maitha Al Khayat | Gustavo Aimar | Kalimat (2016) | 978-9948-22-349-8 |
| My Special Way | Maitha Al Khayat | Maya Fidawi | Kalimat (2010) | 978-9948-15-537-9 |
| My Father’s Palm Trees | Rima Al Kurdi | Maitha Al Khayat | Alhudhud (2017) | 9789948102991 |
| Aisha’s Cake | Julia Johnson | Maitha Al Khayat | ELF (2023) | 9789948766599 |
| Aisha’s Pearl | Julia Johnson | Maitha Al Khayat | ELF (2022) | 9948884221 |
| When a Camel gets the Munchies | Maitha Al Khayat | Mariana Ruiz Johnson | Kalimat (2012) | 9789948851684 |
| The Bedouin Penguins | Asma Al Ketbi | Maitha Al Khayat | Alhudhud (2016) | 9789948136231 |
| Love in Ramadan | Maitha Al Khayat | Maitha Al Khayat | Alhudhud (2019) |
9789948136224 |
| My Mum’s Pretty Veil | Maitha Al Khayat | Maitha Al Khayat | Alhudhud (2016) | 9789948427889 |
| Hunting for my Breakfast | Maitha Al Khayat | Gustavo Aimar | Kalimat | 978-9948-78-220-9 |
About the Guest Contributor:
Najla Al Owais is a PhD candidate studying Math Education at UAEU. She has previously worked as a middle school mathematics teacher, and a freelance translator and interpreter. She is passionate about teaching mathematics, and is an avid reader, and loves finding the intersection between both mathematics and reading. She has a Bachelor’s of Science from Zayed University in Math Education and Masters of Arts from the American University of Sharjah in English-Arabic-English Translating and Interpreting. Wherever she goes, books find her. She hopes to one day publish her own book.
About the Guest Editor/Curator for March 2024 [#UAEReads]:
Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as a teacher educator for 15 years and has led several research projects on reading and social emotional learning, diverse picturebooks and teacher practices, psychology of high creatives and exceptional people, culturally responsive and inclusive education. She is a quintessential lover and creator of booklists (see her Social and Emotional Learning bookshelf here and other publications below). Myra serves as the Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies with the College of Education, UAE University. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who lives and breathes books and enjoys organizing events and festivals where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.
Publications on booklists:
Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Tupas, R. (2023). A diverse social and emotional learning booklist for gifted learners and advanced readers. Roeper Review, 45(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2022.2145397
Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Al Ghufli, H. T., AlOwais, N. M., Baja, E. S., & Tupas, R. (2022). Using diverse picturebooks for inclusive practices and transformative pedagogies. In M. Efstratopoulou (Ed.), Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education (pp. 72-92). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4680-5.ch005
Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2021). Of grit and gumption, sass and verve: What gifted students can learn from multicultural picture book biographies. In S. R. Smith’s Handbook of giftedness and talent development in Australasian Pacific (pp. 431-453). Singapore: Springer International Handbooks of Education. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-13-3041-4_18
Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2020). Diverse books for diverse children: Building an early childhood diverse booklist for social and emotional learning. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 22(1), 66-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468798420901856
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 
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