Latest news with #EBBY
Gulf Today
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
UAEBBY hosts Egyptian Board of Children's Books as Guest of Honour at SCRF
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is hosting the Egyptian Board of Children's Books (EBBY) as the Guest of Honour at the 16th Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), which runs until the evening of 4th May at Expo Centre Sharjah. The UAEBBY continues to consolidate its role in building bridges of cultural communication between peoples by hosting the EBBY. This hosting marks a new milestone in Arab cooperation within the children's literature sector. The Egyptian Board of Children's Books, as an active branch of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), showcases its efforts to promote reading and develop Egypt's children's book industry through a joint pavilion with UAEBBY. The delegation will also host sessions and events connecting young readers with leading writers and illustrators. The EBBY delegation includes several notable figures: Dr. Ibrahim Shalabi, a young adult novelist addressing identity and adolescence; illustrator Mohamed Wahba, known for manga-inspired styles and panoramic depictions of Egyptian life; and Haitham Shukri, a storyteller blending performance and narrative. Dr. Nadia El Khouly, Chair of the Board and a Professor at Cairo University, is a prominent advocate for youth empowerment through literature. Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, expressed enthusiasm for hosting EBBY, citing its cultural depth and impact on children's literature. She affirmed the Board's commitment to regional and international cooperation and emphasised literature as a bridge for mutual understanding. Hosting EBBY aligns with the UAE's spirit of openness and cultural diversity. Al Aqroubi added that the hosting allows audiences at the festival to explore diverse literary experiences while providing UAE-based writers and illustrators a chance to exchange knowledge. Guests will also gain insights into the UAE's thriving cultural scene, particularly in children's literature, and will engage directly with festival attendees. Dr. El Khouly voiced EBBY's honour in being the festival's Guest of Honour, viewing the participation as a way to elevate Egyptian children's literature internationally. She noted the educational and aesthetic value of Egypt's books and the importance of sharing these with a wider audience. El Khouly highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Emirati and Egyptian boards, which includes expertise exchange and collaborative programmes. She sees this hosting as an opportunity for festival visitors to explore the richness of Egyptian culture and literature, brought to life by creators carrying messages of humanity and unity. The hosting includes daily events such as storytelling sessions and art workshops led by EBBY members. Meetings with the Emirates Publishers Association, Kalimat Group, Sharjah International Literary Rights Agency, and others aim to explore collaboration. The Egyptian delegation will also tour key cultural institutions like the Sharjah Public Library and the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
Sharjah 24
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
A sketch a day captures the spirit of SCRF 2025
Wahba, a master of comic creation, has been drawing a sketch each day at SCRF 2025. If the first day sketch depicted His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurating SCRF, the second day sketch was a detailed study of a storytelling session at the UAEBbY pavilion, where mothers excitedly took photographs on their mobile phones while children sat on stools gazing at storybooks. The third day's illustration was the House of Wisdom, the new icon of Sharjah's reading culture. 'This is my first time at SCRF, and it is an honour to be here as part of EBBY. I make a live drawing of an activity here every day. The vibes here are magical, with numerous books and activities,' said Wahba who began drawing at the age of four and has numerous illustrated books in Arabic and English. The Cairo-based artist said he had received professional training in Japan, South Korea, France and Turkey and likes to travel around the world to imbibe more cultures. 'For the past 20 years, I only do pen sketches; before that, I used to do pencil sketches. I do this like a game and a challenge,' said the artist. The UAEBbY is exhibiting numerous children's books from Egypt including a few in English at SCRF 2025. Adding colour to the sessions with children are author Dr Ibrahim Shalaby and storyteller Haitham Shoukry who read aloud the books from Egypt. The EBBY team is led by its President Nadia El Kholy, a Professor of English at Cairo University and a distinguished translator. Under the stewardship of UAEBbY President Marwa al Aqroubi, the organisation has collaborated with EBBY for a cultural exchange of ideas. At SCRF, it is organising workshops for children every day. The visiting EBBY team will witness cultural programmes and will be taken for sightseeing across Sharjah including Heart of Sharjah; they will return to their country enlightened about SCRF and its reach. By hosting Egypt at SCRF 2025, UAEBbY is furthering its collaboration with EBBY, which started during its participation in the Cairo International Book Fair earlier in the year. There, UAEBbY had organised a Kan Yama Kan event to visit schools and libraries and gift children with books. One of the stated objectives of the organisation is to donate books to children in need or have poor access to them, and also in places of unrest. In 2024, it had donated over 15,000 books to countries including Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco fulfilling its mission to nurture creativity and positive values in younger generations. Taking place from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, the 16th edition of SCRF promises an immersive experience under the theme 'Dive into Books'. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), this year's agenda features 133 guests from 70 countries, and 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 nations. For more information on this free-to-attend event, visit
