British-Pakistani writer pens stories for immigrants

At the 16th edition of the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), a panel of award-winning authors and educators explored a timeless yet increasingly pertinent question: What makes a story resonate with today's children?

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The discussion, “Crafting Stories That Resonate with Today's Children,” brought together Australian author Andrea Rowe, British-Pakistani writer and educator Maryam Hassan, and Arabic literary scholar and children’s writer Dr Bayan 'Amr, and was moderated by Dr Sandy Zanella, a children’s author and mindfulness coach.

Maryam Hassan, a teacher and storyteller of Pakistani heritage currently based in Tokyo, writes from her lived experience — both as a global citizen and an educator of multicultural classrooms.

“I am a Montessori teacher with experience in the UK and the US, where I have seen immigrant children struggle not just with language, but with being understood in terms of their identity,” she shared. “So I wrote to give them stories they could see themselves in.”

Her books — many of which feature South Asian protagonists and cultural references like parathas (flatbreads) or school-lunch mishaps — celebrate differences while building bridges.

“Even if you're not an immigrant, you can learn through these stories. And for those who are, they're a lifeline,” Hassan opined.