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A social and political history of two decades of Egyptian neoliberalism through children’s picture books published in Egypt in the post-2000 era
Children’s picture books are some of the most transparently ideological materials available to parents and educators, and as cultural objects they are an expression of the zeitgeist of a particular era. They reveal much about the hopes, values, and aspirations of the society that produces them, as well as that society’s vision of its place in the wider world at large.
Children’s Picture Books and Contemporary Egyptian Society examines a new wave of Egyptian picture books that was published in the current century to see how these books responded to larger societal trends and transformations in Egypt, as well as to explore the ideologies that lie behind them. Yasmine Motawy argues that a host of factors, including the growth of gated communities and international schooling, the proliferation of lucrative literary awards, returning Gulf migrants, television dramas, and nationwide reading advocacy initiatives helped give rise to a new kind of children’s picture book in Egypt.
Motawy focuses on three clusters of selected picture books to investigate the extent to which these books reproduce hegemonic discourses or, alternatively, open up new horizons of childhood agency and societal transformation. The first cluster includes books that directly socialize the child by showing them ‘how things are done,’ in both the domestic sphere and the increasing globalized spaces that children frequent with their families. The second cluster aims at reframing cultural notions around femininity through the retelling of folk and fairy tales, while the third cluster addresses children's abilities to assess the impact of their actions on their environment, and invites them to examine their personal suitability to positions of power and stewardship.
“Through its examination of the influences that have molded Egyptian children’s literature, from trends in the book publishing industry to upheavals in politics and social discourse, this thoughtful and courageous book throws down a challenge to producers and consumers of picture books. It demands they eschew traditional and neoliberal ideologies and instead set new transformative agendas for the production of children’s literature. It is one of those historic books that can change how a culture thinks.”—John Stephens, Macquarie University
"Carefully researched and beautifully written, this book is a must-read for all those who are interested in international children’s literature. Yasmine Motawy is a well-informed guide to take readers through the recent past and present of the Egyptian children’s book market. She opens up a treasure trove of interesting books and offers powerful ideas about children’s literature and child citizenship that resonate far beyond the corpus that she has studied. It is my sincere hope that this book will inspire translators and publishers to make these books available more widely.”—Vanessa Joosen, University of Antwerp
"At a time of profound cultural and sociopolitical shifts in Egyptian society, Yasmine Motawy asks crucial questions about its expectations of what books and reading can do for children. Her piercingly intelligent examination of the values and assumptions invested in picture books leads to significant insights into the development of children’s literature in Egypt, and the contemporary tensions between encouraging children to maintain the status quo and empowering them to imagine a different future."—Evelyn Arizpe, University of Glasgow
"Children’s Picture Books and Contemporary Egyptian Society is not only a complex and nuanced scholarly exploration of picture books published in Egypt post-2000, but also a committed, heartfelt, and resonant reflection on child-adult relationalities that is relatable transnationally. Critically essential to theory and praxis, it is a pivotal resource for anyone interested in the social, cultural, and political significance of children's culture."—Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak, University of Wrocław
"Motawy’s sophisticated analysis of the ideological subtexts in children’s picture books makes a much-needed contribution to scholarly debates in Arabic literature. She demonstrates how these books convey socialization skills, gender expectations, and national belonging, while at times subtly challenging these social norms. The book also offers invaluable insights for critical parenting, illustrating how creative writing can inspire young minds to question the neoliberal status quo and imagine better worlds."—Dina Heshmat, The American University in Cairo
“Yasmine Motawy’s Children’s Picture Books and Contemporary Egyptian Society asks crucial questions and provides equally essential answers. Starting with a question about the value of ‘looking at a society through the lens of literature made for its youngest members,’ Motawy critically analyzes diverse categories of contemporary Egyptian picture books, along with the sociopolitical factors that influenced Egyptian children’s literature as it bloomed over the past few decades.”—Petros Panaou, University of Georgia
"Yasmine Motawy examines the development of picture book publishing in Egypt, helping us to understand how and why the industry recently grew with such momentum. With great respect to Egyptian child readers, Motawy reveals how authors, artists, and other actors construct Egyptian children and the kinds of stories they think they should read. This is an essential book for anyone interested in childhood, children's literature, and nation building."—Sarah Park Dahlen, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
"Offer[s] insight into how children’s literature captures the complexities of contemporary Egyptian society."—Al-Ahram Weekly
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Writing and Reading Egyptian Picture Books in Context
2. Children’s Book Publishing in Egypt
3. The Institution Socializes
4. Retelling Fairytales and Egyptian Folklore: Focus on Femininity
5. Imagining Our Way out of This One
Another Beginning
Picture Books Referred to in the Text
Secondary Sources