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View of the Beirut Book Fair at the Seaside Arena, where Arabic- and French-speaking publishers come together this year under one roof. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour) Add as preferred on Google The children are spellbound as they sit cross-legged on rugs, lying on colorful cushions or settled on wooden benches as they listen to Sari Hanna Matran, a Francophone children's author, who tells the stories of great Lebanese figures, from Gibran Khalil Gibran to Charles Malek to the athlete Simon Khoury. At the French Institute of Lebanon’s pavilion at the Beirut Arab and International Book Fair, questions abound and answers come thick and fast in confident French.On this Sunday morning, the children then visit the Antoine Bookstore stand, a familiar institution for generations of Francophone readers. This time, "Loup qui sauvait des animaux" (The Wolf Who Saved Animals) takes center stage. Imaginations run wild, smiles multiply, and each child leaves with one or more books tucked under their arm. Scenes like these... You have reached your article limitStay informed about a Middle East in crisis.Subscribe for $0.5/month for the first 3 months. Subscribe now Log in This article is only available to L’Orient Today subscribers. Subscribe now Log in Create a free account to continue reading this article. You’ll also receive The Morning Brief, our must-read daily digest of Middle East news. Opt out anytime Email Address Password Email Address Password I would like to receive special offers from L'Orient Today as well as selections of the best articles. Register By creating an account, you agree to the terms and conditions of use and our privacy policy. Register Or register with: Facebook
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