Notaila Rashed’s 86th Birthday

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Jordanian-American guest artist Sara Alfageeh, commemorates the 86th birthday of pioneering Egyptian translator and children’s author Notaila Rashed. Known affectionately as “Mama Loubna,” Rashed devoted her life to the creation and promotion of children’s literature. She helmed the influential Arabic children’s magazine “Samir” for decades and authored numerous beloved literary works for children and young adults alike. Through her books and short stories, she aspired to highlight ancient Egyptian literary traditions while showcasing the rich cultural heritage of contemporary life in her home country. 

Notaila Ibrahim Rashed was born on this day in 1934 in Cairo, Egypt. She went on to study at Cairo University, where she wrote her first children’s stories. By 1953, her work had jumped off the pages and onto the airwaves through radio broadcasts. Just a few years later, Rashed helped found the groundbreaking educational magazine “Samir,” and she later oversaw the publication as its editor-in-chief.

Throughout her esteemed career, Rashed wrote and translated countless children’s stories, and collaborated with a diverse list of Arabic youth magazines, television shows, and radio programs. Among her most famous works is the 1979 two-part book “The Diary of Yasser Family,” which inspired the first children’s film created by the Egyptian National Council of Culture. 

Rashed received a variety of awards in honor of her contributions to Egyptian literature and society, including the Medal of the Council of the Ministry of Culture in 2002.

Thank you, Notaila Rashed, for fostering a love of literature across generations. 

Guest Artist Q&A with Sara Alfageeh

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Jordanian-American guest artist Sara Alfageeh. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: I’m an Arab-American Illustrator and comic artist, who particularly focuses on children’s literature and young adult work. Getting to research Notaila and learn how hard she worked to keep art and reading accessible to every kind of child deeply resonated with me. She made sure her magazines and comics could reach the hands of any kid by keeping costs low. In her stories, she never talked down to children and just provided moral lessons, she encouraged readers to come to their own conclusions. She was an incredible woman, and it was an honor to illustrate her. 

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I spoke with parents of friends from all over the region of their memories of the magazine and was delighted to receive voice notes, texts, and calls from older Arab men and women fondly talking about growing up with comics in Samir. They spoke of spending and pooling all their allowances together to get the new issues. They still remembered their favorite short stories.

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: I wanted to capture the nostalgia and fondness people had for her stories by studying the colors, line work, and themes, so that people could feel that same warmth again. 

Q: What do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: Art is meant to be held closely and shared easily. Better cheaply printed and in the hands of many than behind a glass wall to be ogled at by a few.  

Early concepts of the Doodle