Meet Tarabulsi: The Soul of Tripoli Books
Welcome to the world of Tripoli Books! Today, I want to introduce you to Tarabulsi and share the story of how he came to life.
In Arabic, "Tarabulsi" is the name for a man from Tripoli—whether in Lebanon, Libya, or Greece. But for us, Tarabulsi is more than just a name; he is a character who stepped out of my imagination the moment I started this project.
His look is defined by three meaningful symbols:
- The Hat: Inspired by the "Foreign Language Effect," the hat represents how our ideas, emotions, and intelligence shift and reach a more sophisticated level when we speak a different tongue.
- The Compass: This symbolizes the "geography of words." I’ve always been fascinated by how words travel across nations and create a living archive of history. It reminds me of the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote: "Language is the archive of history."
- The Scarf: An accessory that represents culture and attire. It’s a nod to how we present ourselves and celebrate our heritage when we meet others.
From a Pencil Sketch to a Whimsical Reality
Tarabulsi started as a simple, "funny" pencil sketch I drew on a usage guide. Being a multilingual brand based in Kuwait, I wanted his look to be perfect. After working with a few designers, I finally connected with a talented designer from Makkah, Saudi Arabia. She didn't just capture my ideas—she elevated them by adding his body and backpack. I couldn't have asked for more!
The Journey Ahead
Tarabulsi is a curious young boy who loves learning languages and sharing good news about our bookstore. While I am a bit timid myself, I want the focus to remain on the value of writing and the joy of learning. My goal is to keep the journey of language-learning fun, artistic, and gentle on the brain—much like the cartoons I love.
Soon, Tarabulsi will begin traveling worldwide to discover new languages to add to our collection. He will eventually become our official spokesperson through animation as we grow!
A Special Gift for You
If you’ve made it to the end of this post, I have some happy news! I invite you to message our customer service on WhatsApp and say the word "Tarabulsi." As a thank you, we will send you a free WhatsApp sticker pack featuring our favorite traveler
Thank you for being part of our journey!