The school’s principal told The National that the books were approved by the Ministry of Education and before the fair was held teachers had examined the content of all the books and found them to be suitable.
The school’s principal told The National that the books were approved by the Ministry of Education and before the fair was held teachers had examined the content of all the books and found them to be suitable.
The school’s principal told The National that the books were approved by the Ministry of Education and before the fair was held teachers had examined the content of all the books and found them to be suitable.
The school’s principal told The National that the books were approved by the Ministry of Education and before the fair was held teachers had examined the content of all the books and found them to be

Science books ‘too horrible’ for children, say UAE parents


  • English
  • Arabic

SHARJAH // Parents of students at a private school have complained about violent and unpleasant images in books made available to children as young as five.

Several titles from the Horrible Science series of children’s books were exhibited during a book fair at the Sharjah school recently. The award winning series, penned by British author Nick Arnold, aims to educate children and get them interested in science by using humour and sometimes gory details and drawings.

Tania, who has a 10-year-old and a six-year-old at the school, said she was shocked at the images of guts, bloody body parts and chopped off hands and fingers.

“I spoke to the supervisor and they promised the books will be taken off shelves but for four days that did not happen,” said the 30-year-old from Ukraine.

“When I saw the amount of books that contained repulsive images and vampires I went to the administration and asked to meet the principal, but I wasn’t allowed.

Then I met the supervisor,” she said. “It wasn’t two or three books, actually the majority of books were of this type and they were placed on the front of the shelves to attract children. My son came holding one and insisting that he wanted to buy it, but I refused.”

The school’s principal said that the books were approved by the Ministry of Education and before the fair was held teachers had examined the content of all the books and found them to be suitable.

“The parents have the right to buy what they want, and if they don’t like anything I have an open door policy and they can always come to me straight,” said the principal.

Hessah Al Khajaj, the head of private education at the Sharjah Educational Zone, said the books could be confiscated if they were found to be in breach of rules surrounding fairs and what could be displayed.

“Any private school is obliged to obtain the approval of the zone when holding any event such as a book fair,” said Ms Al Khajaj, adding that parents who noticed any offence were encouraged to file complaints.

However, not all the parents felt the Horrible Science books were a bad thing and said they allowed their children to read the educational series.

Sneh Sharma, a mother of two children aged 7 and 8, said her kids were hooked on the books.

“We have bought and read many of the books,” said Mrs Sharma.

“My son has been reading since he was six. Both my children really enjoy them as it teaches stuff in a fun way. Nick Arnold writes really well. It’s a cartoon after all and there are so many worse things that kids can get exposed to. If it is a school exhibition, it’s for all kinds of kids.”

Nick Arnold was a guest at the Emirates Literature Festival in Dubai last year, while Tony De Saulles, the series’ UK-based illustrator attended the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival that ended at the weekend. Four million copies of the Horrible Science books have been sold in the UK and the books are available in 24 countries.

salamir@thenational.ae

pkannan@thenational.ae

THE BIO

Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain

Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude

Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE

Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally

Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
COPA DEL REY

Semi-final, first leg

Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')

Second leg, February 27

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
%3Cp%3EBy%202030%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%20aims%20to%20achieve%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2039.3%20million%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20nearly%2064%25%20up%20from%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20Dh90%20billion%20contribution%20to%20GDP%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2084%25%20more%20than%20Dh49%20billion%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%20178%2C000%20new%20jobs%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20bringing%20the%20total%20to%20about%20366%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%2052%2C000%20hotel%20rooms%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20up%2053%25%20from%2034%2C000%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%207.2%20million%20international%20visitors%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20almost%2090%25%20higher%20compared%20to%202023's%203.8%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%80%A2%203.9%20international%20overnight%20hotel%20stays%2C%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2022%25%20more%20from%203.2%20nights%20in%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets