The Arab child between East and West: a reading of Al Shamshun, 'Alam Simsim, and Bakkar.

This article explores the continued Western influence upon Arabic children's literature, addressed to different age groups, and the various forms of such an influence, as well as ways of subverting it. The article offers a reading of three works, namely, the two cartoon series Al Shamshun and Bakkar; and the children's program 'Alam Simsim against the notions of 'Cultural Hegemony,' 'Acculturation,' and 'Creativity,' with Al Shamshun being a clear example of the negative impact of cultural hegemony; Bakkar an exemplary creative experience that managed to attract the child with its particular distinctiveness, and, finally, 'Alam Simsim an in-between point that attempts to merge these two notions through the process of acculturation.