Here’s how to enter our Book of the Month competition in partnership with the Bookworm this June
To mark World Refugee Week (16–23 June) and celebrate our inspiring June Book of the Month, The Girl at the Front of the Class, we’re inviting young readers to take part in a meaningful art competition.
This heartfelt picture book, written by award-winning author Onjali Q. Raúf and illustrated by Pippa Curnick, tells the story of a young girl who has just arrived at a new school.
She’s quiet and doesn’t want to play—but her classmate sees more than silence. She sees sadness, and she has a plan…
“There’s a new girl in my class. She has eyes as wide and as golden as a tiger’s, a face as pale as a glass of milk, and hair as shiny as a mirror. I’d like to be her friend. But she never wants to play with me in the playground or make sandcastles in the sandpit.
The cleverest people I know say that the new girl is sad because she had to leave her home, her family, her school, her toys, her books and all her friends too.
But I’ve got a plan! There’s something I can do to make her feel better when she’s missing everything she’s left behind…”
This beautifully illustrated story is a powerful reminder of the difference kindness can make—and how even small gestures can help someone feel welcome, seen, and supported.
How to enter:
Create a piece of artwork that celebrates hope and community. Show us how we can welcome others and make the world a little kinder.
Get creative! Use crayons, paints, collage, labels or recycled materials—anything you like!
- Entries should be no bigger than one side of A4.
- Adults can write for younger children.
- Email your entry to education@yallauae.ae. Include your name and age with your submission.
Deadline: Submit by Friday 27 June
Prizes: Two lucky winners will receive a signed copy of the book, courtesy of the Bookworm, to be collected in-store (Meadows or Umm Suqeim, Dubai).
Open to UAE entries only. Ready? Get creative and enter now!
Competition T&Cs:
- Entries should be no bigger than one side of A4.
- The closing date of the competition is Friday 27 June
- Only one entry per person is permitted.
- Open to UAE residents only.
- The competition is open to children aged 3-8 years.
- The winner(s) must respond within 24 hours to our message, or we reserve the right to select a new winner.
- The winners will be selected based on creativity and originality by Yalla and the Bookworm.
- Yalla reserves the right to withdraw the winner’s place and offer it to another entrant if no response from the winner has been received within 24 hours of initial contact.
- The Promoter may terminate, amend, or withdraw this competition and/or these terms and conditions at any time.
- Entry to the competition is conditional on acceptance of these terms and conditions. By entering the competition, you are deemed to have read and accepted these terms.
- For a full list of Yalla Dubai’s Terms and Conditions, click here.
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