At The Promenade Culture Centre, books are never just pages bound together, they’re portals into new worlds. That belief came alive once again in the most recent cycle of Readers’ Planet, the Arabic book club that promotes literacy and a love of reading among young kids 10 to 13 years old. Guided by instructor Alaa Alterkait, this season’s journey took readers through Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono.
Unlike previous cycles where stories were told aloud, this time each participant was handed their own copy of the book to read at home. The sessions, carefully structured over three months, were designed to blend independent reading with lively group discussions, games, and creative activities, all with the aim of helping children grow as readers in Arabic.
Over the course of four sessions, the children tackled big themes: resilience, responsibility, confidence, and the quest to find one’s place in the world. They didn’t just read about Kiki the young witch; they reflected on her doubts, her journey toward independence, and how her story resonated with their own lives.
To encourage deeper engagement, each child received a reading journal where they could summarize chapters, answer questions, and jot down personal reflections. In the very first meeting, they even designed their own Ex Libris stamps, personal bookplates that they would later use to mark their copies of Kiki’s Delivery Service. Thanks to Programme Coordinator Farah Omrani, the children saw their designs turned into real stamps, a moment that highlighted how books can become treasures, uniquely theirs.
Learning at Readers’ Planet always comes with a touch of fun. During the later sessions, the group split into teams for a trivia game based on the book. The energy in the room was contagious, with participants surprising one another with how much detail they had absorbed from the story.
The season concluded with a very special finale, a screening of Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Popcorn in hand, the children compared the differences between the novel and the film adaptation, discussing how changes in plot, character development, and artistic choices shape the story in each medium.
Since its launch in February 2022, Readers’ Planet has grown into a much-loved community program at The Promenade Culture Centre. Each year, two cycles are hosted, one in autumn, the other in spring, with every season exploring a new theme. Past sessions have included topics like identity, and the program has welcomed children aged 6–12 in different formats.
This cycle welcomed 10 enthusiastic participants, and the intimate group size allowed every child to contribute and connect. The next adventure is just around the corner, beginning on October 4th. Parents can register their children through the link in the Promenade Culture Centre’s Instagram bio.
As the Readers’ Planet team reminds us: “For children, books are not just stories, they are whole worlds, and parents are the guides who help them begin the journey.” With each new cycle of Readers’ Planet, that journey continues, one story, one child, one discovery at a time.
Follow Promenade Culture Centre on Instagram @pcckuwait.
