The AED 1 Bookish Carnival at a pre-loved bookstore in Dubai

Walk into the store, pay AED 1, and play two hours of non-stop bookish games at Bookends 

(And yes, families, friends, siblings, colleagues, and children all are welcome — do dress up carnival style!)

Got AED 1? Yes, only AED 1 is what you need to be part of the Bookish Carnival by Bookends, a Dubai-based bookstore for pre-loved books (second-hand books). Books deserve to be celebrated and how. The carnival, which will be held on Saturday, September 23, from 6 to 8 pm, at the Bookend’s store in Dubai Digital Park, DSO, Dubai, will bring together book lovers, game enthusiasts, and just about anyone who is keen to sharpen their fun, competitive winning edge on a weekend evening. 

You are encouraged to dress up carnival style, yes, the more colour, the brighter and better. Bring out those hats, the quirky wigs, and the clown nose too! And yes, there are goodies to be won, including Dh500 vouchers from the carnival’s prize partner, babyshop. Plus, Bookends will give away vouchers for you to buy books from the store. Dubai-based author Purva Grover, who is the Brand Ambassador for Bookends, will be hosting the event, alongside Grace Karim and Somia Anwar, the heart & soul behind Bookends.

The games that the guests/visitors/participants will get a chance to experience include but are not limited to Bookish Ball Toss, Jigsaw Puzzle Race, Guess the Book Cover, Match the Characters, Book Bean Bag Toss, Book Colour Wheel, and more. Walk-ins are welcome, and RSVPs (hello@purvagrover.com) are encouraged. Just remember all you need is an AED 1 coin in your pocket to register. Walk into the store, pay AED 1, and play two hours of non-stop bookish games. 

• “This is our chance to celebrate the intriguing characters from fiction titles we love, to guess the book covers of the lesser-known titles, or see how fast we can put together a book-inspired jigsaw puzzle and more,” said Somia Anwar and Grace Karim, owners, Bookends. 
• “Come in teams as families or a bunch of friends, come as pairs, or drop by solo. The carnival aspires to be a celebration for all age groups. Just remember to have fun, as you toss in a ball or spin the book wheel. Everyone is going to be winning at this carnival,” said Purva. 

Please also find attached media assets. Reach out to us, if you need more information or images, or wish to interview the Bookends team. Of course, we look forward to seeing you on the 23rd of September, Saturday, an invite is attached.

The event in a nutshell

When: Saturday, September 23, 6 to 8 pm

Venue: BOOKENDS, Dubai Digital Park, Building A3,  Silicon Oasis. Dubai

Vouchers worth AED500 to be won!

Open to: All (kids & adults; come solo or in pairs or teams!)

Prize Partner: babyshop

Walk-ins are welcome, and RSVPs are encouraged (hello@purvagrover.com)

Get social with Bookends: https://www.instagram.com/bookendsae/

Get social with Purva Grover: https://www.instagram.com/purvagr/

Thank You!

Know more about Bookends

Bookends emerged from the creative minds of Grace Karim and Somia Anwar — two dedicated mums on a mission to satiate their children’s boundless thirst for reading. They found books expensive and limited in their native language in the UAE. This sparked the idea for Bookends – the largest marketplace for preloved books, founded in 2020. After three successful years as an online store, Bookends officially opened its first physical location in Dubai Silicon Oasis in July 2023. Dubai-based author Purva Grover joined hands with Bookends as a Brand Ambassador in July 2023 to share her love for books and encourage one and all to take up reading as a habit, hobby, and beyond. So far, together, they’ve hosted various events at the store such as author sessions, book sales with children as entrepreneurs, and more.