Qatar Museums (QM) will launch two new books titled Qatari Kitchen and 99 Domes at the 26th Doha International Book Fair being held from December 2-12 at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
Written by Aisha al-Tamimi, Qatari Kitchen gives a panoramic view of the architecture of Qatari homes and focuses on the essential space of the kitchen.
Ibrahim Mohamed Jaidah’s 99 Domes is a rich visual and spatial journey of the masjid which highlights the design intricacies that merge magnificence and simplicity in a unique harmony.
The two books will be launched at the QM booth tomorrow (December 3). It will also feature a book written by Fatema al-Sulaiti titled Faisal’s Adventures, which contributes in enhancing the relation between the reader and the Qatari community with its rich culture and traditions.
In collaboration with a number of cultural organisations including the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, QM will host a number of creative workshops and book discussions inspired by two its special exhibitions: “The Hunt” and “Marvellous Creatures,” including “Olympic Sports” and “Ottoman Costumes.”
At the workshop for “The Hunt”, visitors will be invited to discover the importance and symbolism of the falcon in Islamic art as inspired by MIA’s special exhibition “The Hunt: Princely Pursuits in Islamic Lands”.
They will be able to reproduce a symmetrical design of two Ottoman falcons, in addition to other creative activities. Open to families, the workshop will take place on December 6 at 5pm.      
Visitors to the “Marvellous Creatures” workshop can make their own animal masks in a one-day workshop inspired by MIA’s special exhibition “Marvellous Creatures: Animal Fables in Islamic Art”. The workshop will also be open to families and will take place on December 7 at 5pm.
There will be a number of creative workshops developed by QM especially for adults. These will include “Arabic Calligraphy and the Qur’an: A Shared Journey”, a book discussion with author Ibrahim Y al-Fakhroo, which will take place on December 4 at 7pm. The book displays a rare collection of Qur’an, which was the main source of Arabic calligraphy, starting from the ninth until the 21st century.
In addition, “Effective Article Writing Skills”, a session with Mohamed al-Jefairi which explores the secrets of effective article-writing will take place on December 5 at 7pm; “Me, My Child and Reading”, a motivational workshop for parents to discover methods to motivate and engage children to enjoy reading will take place on December 9 and December 11 at 7pm; and  “Make Your Book Jacket”, a workshop to teach children how to use recycled paper to produce creative designs will take place on December 5 from 10am to 1pm.
For university and secondary school students, QM will host a workshop in Arabic called “Writing Short Stories”.
Presented by Dr Imtenan Smadi, the workshop will be held on December 8 at 3pm. It will explain the elements of effective short story writing according to the latest research and literary schools.
A wide range of sessions for primary and secondary school children will also be held. These include “Journey Through Time for Kids”, a workshop inspired by Ottoman costumes and orientalist paintings in which children can create their own outfits and enjoy other fun-filled activities on December 3 and 10 at 10am.  
This year’s book fair will feature thousands of books from over 30 countries, bringing to light some of the unique aspects of Qatar’s culture and heritage.



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