The House of Wisdom's (HoW) Enchanted Gardens concluded its third edition, transforming its outdoor spaces into a world of imagination inspired by The Little Prince. Drawing on French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's timeless novel, the festival, which ran between December 14-25 and welcomed 328 children aged 5 to 12, along with their families, to explore literature through art, play, and technology.
The experience featured seven interactive stations, including creative workshops, educational activities, and augmented reality content enabling children to engage with the story's characters and planets in an immersive way.
Enchanted Gardens focused on children's literature, celebrating iconic works from around the world, with the inaugural edition held under the theme of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, followed by a second edition inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
The third edition of HoW's Enchanted Gardens, organised under the sponsorship of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, highlighted the global significance of The Little Prince as one of the world's most widely read literary works, translated into 600 languages and dialects, reflecting its lasting appeal across generations and cultures.
Building on this cross-cultural theme, House of Wisdom collaborated with Alliance Française-Sharjah to create an experience for visitors that highlights the artistic value of The Little Prince, while exploring the historical context in which the work was written and the author's journey. Alliance Française-Sharjah contributed to fostering intercultural dialogue by promoting the French language and culture and by strengthening the Francophone presence.
An educational compendium of values and knowledge
Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, said: “The Little Prince is at once an educational, intellectual, imaginative and literary compendium. It gives children knowledge of friendship, responsibility, and empathy, expands their imagination, and trains them to think. From this perspective, the new edition of the festival seeks to translate the beauty of world literature into live, interactive experiences that combine reading with art and modern technologies, transforming the story into a space for play, discovery and learning, bringing them closer to the word of books, because literature is a wide gateway through which young minds enter a world of shared values across cultures, nurturing curiosity and a love of knowledge from an early age.
Creative Workshops and Learning Experiences
The festival included a curated programme of creative workshops delivered in French and English, organised in collaboration with Alliance Française-Sharjah. These included workshops that invited children to paint artworks inspired by the world of The Little Prince, design star-themed T-shirts, and create framed art pieces based on the story's characters and planets.
The experience also included a range of immersive interactive zones, such as the Inventor's Atelier, which blended art and discovery; the Planet of Imagination, dedicated to drawing and colouring; the Whispers of the Snake Maze, featuring puzzle-based challenges; and The Merchant's Market, offering story-inspired souvenirs.
Additional highlights include the Planet of the Grown-Ups, designed for shared activities between parents and children, and the journey concluded at the Sunset Cafe, which offered a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
Live Performances and Storytelling
At the Asteroid Stage, visitors enjoyed a diverse programme of live performances and interactive sessions throughout the festival. These included immersive storytelling experiences presented by UAEBBY, taking children on imaginative journeys across planets while emphasising friendship and wonder.
The programme also featured African-inspired drumming workshops by Dubafrique, designed for families, alongside musical and dance performances that blended movement with creative storytelling, as well as a drama performance and spoken-word sessions that encouraged children to explore rhythm, poetry, and creative expression through voice, movement, and participation.
A Cultural Invitation to Read, Imagine, and Explore
By merging literature with the arts and interactive technology, Enchanted Gardens, The Little Prince encouraged children to read, imagine, and engage emotionally with acclaimed works from world literature. This innovative approach reflected the House of Wisdom's belief in the essential role of children's literature in enhancing their linguistic, intellectual, and creative skills. The experience also strengthened children's character and deepened their understanding of diverse cultures, while aligning the values espoused in global literature with Emirati traditions.