Two Canadian Christian Moms, who met in a Muslim country in 2001 worked together for five years to develop and publish a children’s book that aims to help plant seeds of understanding.
Author Janice Edgar met watercolour artist Donna Acheson-Juillet in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2001. Edgar, a mother of two is a graduate of Carleton University’s (Ottawa, Canada) School of Journalism and Acheson-Juillet is a mother of three and a watercolour artist from Canada who spent several years in France prior to moving to Dubai. From the moment they met they agreed to collaborate on a children’s book. The result: Pierre’s Adventure in Arabia: Searching for the Heart of Dubai, a children’s picture book now available in English, French and Arabic. The book tells an endearing tale about a Canada goose named Pierre, who befriends Faraasha Farhana (happy butterfly in Arabic). Together the pair search for the heart of Dubai and Pierre is surprised at where it is found.
“We were both living in Dubai during 911 and were discouraged by the negative media reports about Muslims following that tragedy. We felt we had to do something to help people get a more accurate perspective on Islam. Our goal was to introduce youngsters to the Muslim world in an entertaining, enlightening and educational manner,” says Edgar.
More than 5,000 English copies of the book, published in 2005 by Dubai-based Jerboa Books, have been sold to date. Edgar, who returned to Canada in 2006 after spending seven years in Arabia says she hopes some day her book will gain traction in North America.
“Living and working with Muslims during my seven years in the Gulf helped me to appreciate that Islam is a religion of tolerance. I am fascinated by the parallels I see between my own faith and spiritual beliefs, and Islamic beliefs and practices. They are different, but also very much the same. The core of Islam is much like that of Christianity: love one another and treat others as you want to be treated. If we could all just follow that practice and co-exist peacefully, what a wonderful world it would be.”
“I dream about the day Oprah will hold it up and declare it an Oprah pick,” she admits, adding that she continues to conduct storytelling sessions wherever she can, to people of all ages. Edgar, who now works as a full-time public servant in Canada, uses her spare time to deliver Pierre’s story to children’s gatherings, schools, old age homes and retirement residences, workplaces and pow wows. She has shared her story with audiences throughout the United Arab Emirates, in Qatar and various cities throughout Canada.
Copies of Edgar’s book can be ordered online through Amazon.com. Visit www.jerboabooks.com to learn more about children’s books themed about topics relevant to Arabia.