Mirtalipova, whose captivating folkloric art is inspired by the rich traditions of her Uzbek/Russian roots, said: “My wish for the world is that all cultures are celebrated, stories continue to be written, and that one day, every child will find themselves within the pages of a book.” “Illustration is silent story telling. When you read aloud a story, it is the illustration that visually connects what a child is hearing to what he/she is seeing. It is important therefore that every culture is represented in the pages of a book,” she added. Keeping heritage alive Meanwhile, Adib, another popular Egyptian children’s writer, also said that heritage plays a vital role in strengthening one’s identity, especially in the era of globalisation.