The girl who spoke to the nile
Picture Book Project by Shiroug Idriss
This page presents Shiroug Idriss’s first authored and illustrated picture book, currently in development within the Illustrated Arab programme.
All texts and illustrations are unpublished and shared for review and collaboration purposes.
© 2026 Shiroug Idriss & Illustrated Arab. All rights reserved.
Drawing on oral storytelling traditions, the project reinterprets them through a contemporary visual and narrative form.
It belongs to a still underexplored space within Arabic children’s literature, where the dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary forms remains limited.
Through a clear and accessible narrative, it opens space for stories from Sudan that remain largely absent from international publishing circuits.
- Illustrated Arab Team
The Synopsis
Inspired by the Nubian myth from the ancient Kingdom of Kush, the story take place in the village of Nab, set along the Nile. The villagers depend on the river’s floods to grow their crops and once held deep respect for Hapi, the god of the Nile.
But Hapi has changed. Once generous, he has become proud and unforgiving. Humans have taken from the river without gratitude, and he now demands a heavy price: each year, a young girl must be sacrificed so the waters continue to rise…
Technical details
Trim Size: Leporello
Length: 32 pages
Tone: Mystical, contemplative, and symbolic.
Original Language: English
In-House Translation Available: All languages.
Shiroug Idriss
Sudanese Author-illustrator
Shiroug is an artist and medical doctor based in Sudan, with over 5 years of experience as a freelance illustrator. She worked in a diverse range of projects including graphic novels, comics, editorial illustration and children’s books. Her work is deeply inspired by African folklore and mythology, with a strong emphasis on representing Afro-Arabian heritage. Through her illustrations, Shiroug seeks to highlight and preserve the rich narrative of her roots, creating art that resonates with both historical depth and contemporary relevance. She has additionally received the Mahmoud Kahil Award 2025 in the children’s illustration category.