Award-winning children’s author Onjali Q Rauf coming to the Harris

Onjali Rauf has won two awards for her book portraying the Syrian refugee crisis

The winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize is to perform at the Harris.

Onjali Q Rauf will read The Boy At The Back of the Class when she visits the city.

It won this year’s top kids book award and also scooped the Blue Peter Book Award.

It follows the story of Ahmet, a refugee from Syria, who is seen through the eyes of an anonymous classmate.

Rauf portrays the refugee crisis through the eyes of a child in an accessible, warm and funny story.

Onjali will appear at the Harris on Saturday 8 June at 11am and then again at 1.30pm.

Cabinet member for leisure and culture councillor Peter Kelly said: “What a wonderful opportunity to meet Onjali, right here in Preston. Stories covering subjects so often in the news is vital for children to understand the world we live in, and reinforces the message that we should be kind and welcoming to everyone. That’s one thing Preston is definitely famous for – it’s warm, northern welcome.”

Rauf will also be signing copies of her book during the reading sessions.

Onjali Q. Raúf said: “The Boy at the Back of the Class was born of an ongoing global tragedy, the outcomes of which will be borne by children the world over in the coming years. My intention was to tell this story through the unique lens of humanity, kindness and innocence that only children possess, and by doing so make our world just that little bit more beautiful and compassionate.”

Tickets for the event are £2.60 and need to be booked via Eventbrite.