Picture Book – Published by Asala Publishers. Beirut, 2011.

International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), Honor List, 2014.

“ما احلى النوم” (How Good Is to Sleep) is a fun children’s picture book that follows Hisham, a boy who loves to sleep so much that he’s always late getting ready for school. His mother tries everything to change this habit, but to no avail. One day, Hisham’s mother has to stay overnight with her sick mother and asks Hisham to rely on himself to wake up early the next morning. Hisham comes up with a brilliant idea that leads to a humorous and messy adventure. The illustrations are colorful and packed with humor, details and sneaky little surprises.

This was the first picture book I illustrated, and it felt like telling my own story. Like Hisham, I’m a pro at hitting snooze and cherishing those precious extra five minutes. Illustrating this book was not only fun but also rewarding. With no preconceived knowledge of how to illustrate a picture book, I was given the freedom to explore and develop my own approach. This creative autonomy allowed me to experiment and truly connect with the story, resulting in an illustration style that felt both personal and expressive.

Written by Samar Mahfouz Barraj | Illustrated by Zarifi Haidar Marín.

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