As part of the 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2025, scientist and author Dr. Rana Dajani held a read-aloud session for children, where she read the children’s book “The Peppered Moth”, one of the publications developed by the We Love Reading program. The reading session aims to instill a love of reading in children and promote reading for pleasure through high-quality, content-rich, and meaningful children’s literature.
This activity reflects the program’s commitment to spreading the joy of reading and using stories to indirectly influence children’s behavior, such as raising environmental awareness and positively changing children’s attitudes toward the environment through engaging read-aloud sessions. “The Peppered Moth” addresses critical topics like biodiversity and climate change in a simple, age-appropriate manner, opening children’s minds to global issues in an interactive and enjoyable way.
These insights were derived from the program’s Research and Studies Department, based on a study that revealed the impact of reading environmentally-themed stories aloud on children’s awareness and behavior. It is worth noting that “The Pepppered Moth” is authored by Dr. Rana Dajani and illustrated by Ali El-Zein.
The fair is held under the theme “A Knowledge Society… Knowing Society” and includes a wide range of cultural dialogues, panel discussions, and book signings with renowned writers and intellectuals from around the world.
This year, the fair has chosen Ibn Sina (Avicenna), the renowned Islamic physician and philosopher, as its central figure in recognition of his enduring contributions to medicine, philosophy, and science. The Caribbean region has been honored as the Guest of Honor, celebrating its rich cultural heritage and artistic diversity.
We Love Reading’s participation in this global cultural event reaffirms the vital role of reading in empowering children and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovative stories that reflect contemporary issues.