Picture Book Project

The Road We Walk

Sohila Khaled · Author & Illustrator
Sohila Khaled’s first picture book as both author and illustrator. A story of intergenerational transmission, courage and the conscious choices we make about what we inherit and what we carry forward.
Audience Ages 5–8
Original language Arabic
Status Developed
Illustration from The Road We Walk by Sohila Khaled © Sohila Khaled
Project at a glance
Format
Picture book
Author & Illustrator
Sohila Khaled
Audience
Ages 5–8
Page count
40 pages
Original language
Arabic
Project status
Developed
The story

The Road We Walk is above all a story of intergenerational transmission, courage and conscious choice. Through Sohila Khaled’s distinctive visual world, it explores what we inherit, what we question, and what we ultimately choose to carry forward.

Rooted in rural Egypt and along the Nile, the story honours the resilience of rural life without romanticising it or reducing it to familiar clichés. One attempt follows another as its young protagonist learns to trust what she sees and understands for herself, until, at last, she discovers the quiet pride that comes with finding her own way.

The project

Between generations

A story between generations, carried by the warm and inspiring bond between a little girl and her grandmother.

Courage

Going beyond the paths already traced is not always easy. It takes courage to overcome fear and find your own way.

Rural resilience

A story of rural resilience, rooted specifically in Egypt, yet universal and shared across rural communities.

Selected spreads

A selection from the developed storyboard of The Road We Walk.

Selected spread from The Road We Walk by Sohila Khaled Selected spread from The Road We Walk by Sohila Khaled Selected spread from The Road We Walk by Sohila Khaled Selected spread from The Road We Walk by Sohila Khaled
Sohila Khaled
Author & Illustrator

Sohila Khaled

Egyptian Illustrator & Author

Sohila Khaled is an award-winning Egyptian illustrator and author. Trained as a pharmacist, she eventually chose another path, turning to drawing and children’s books. Since then, she has illustrated more than twenty titles for publishing houses across the Arab region.

Her work has received growing recognition: Mama and Grandma won the Best Children’s Book Award at the Cairo International Book Fair in 2025. She also served on the jury of the Sawiris Cultural Competition in 2023 and took part in the Bhutan Literature and Arts Festival in 2024 with the support of Pro Helvetia.

Her current project, The Road We Walk, is the first picture book she has both written and illustrated. Rooted in rural Egypt and the landscapes of the Nile, it marks a new step in her practice, bringing together her visual language and her own storytelling.

Publishing & rights enquiries

Interested in The Road We Walk?

Full project material is available to publishers and professional partners on request.

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