King's Tarboosh

If one day you find sea urchins washed up on the shore, beware not to pick them up and do not be fooled by their bright colors. You will find them empty inside, and your hand will be filled with poisonous spines... What Murad faces is worse than just spines. The boy who is thirteen years old living in a house with his grandmother, who has a social personality, and his parents, who tend to be isolated and immersed in work. He tries to escape his loneliness and dull life, to be drawn into a sparkling circle of friends led by a famous advertising star... but he finds himself facing a difficult experience and greater isolation in an unknown place he never expected to go to with his feet. In his ordeal, he meets a king who has no people but has the key to freedom... Will he be able to save him before it's too late? The purpose of the book: Our childhood years pass quickly like a shining comet, but they leave the greatest impact inside us... Therefore, driven by dreams and love, I started writing the story "The King’s Fez" for young readers... Like many interested in children's literature in our Arab world, I dream that the youth grow up with pride in their Arabic language. As we learned, no civilization or sound thinking exists without language... Out of love for writing and gratitude for childhood and its inspiring lights, I wanted to convey some meanings to young friends through the story, most importantly: - Do not let your image in others' eyes be what moves you, but rather what you believe in from values of goodness and beauty. - Having few friends or being alone does not mean you are a bad person; you should look for the right people for you. It is also a good opportunity to discover ourselves. - Some decorations and lights that impress us at first glance may be deceptive... so do not rush to judge. - Hidden heroes resemble ancient cities; only those who appreciate them can truly value them. Author: Marwa Saif Illustration: Fatima Magdy Age group: Young adults +12