Latest news with #InternationalAwardforArabicChildren'sLiterature
Gulf News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
Sharjah Ruler launches 'Reader of the Century' platform, designed to empower children
Sharjah: His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated the 16th annual edition of the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, which runs until May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme 'Dive into Books'. His Highness toured the festival halls, which host 122 Arab and international publishing houses from 22 nations this year. Across the festival's 12 days, 133 guests from 70 countries will lead a vibrant and interactive cultural agenda of 1,024+ events, including workshops, theatre performances, interactive sessions, and specialised reading activities which will span diverse genres including arts, culture, edutainment, and more. Dr Sheikh Sultan explored several pavilions at the festival, where the Sharjah Ruler was briefed on their programmes and initiatives focused on instilling a culture of reading in the younger generations. Reader of the Century During the tour, His Highness visited Sharjah Children's pavilion, an affiliate of the Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Leaders and Innovators, where His Highness launched the 'Reader of the Century' platform, designed to empower children and young adults aged 6-18 through literature and knowledge, and enhance their active role in society. The platform encourages children to enjoy reading books and benefit from their content, ensuring a cultural experience that is both enjoyable and enriching. The Ruler of Sharjah also visited the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) pavilion and met with representatives from the Egyptian Board on Books for Young People, the UAEBBY's guest of honour country at SCRF 2025. His Highness was briefed on their vision to enhance cultural cooperation between the UAE and Egypt, as well as to facilitate the exchange of expertise in the development of children's literature and associated initiatives. Upon arrival, His Highness was welcomed by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention; Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, Egypt's Minister of Culture; alongside heads and directors of Sharjah's leading cultural and educational institutions, as well as authors, intellectuals, and specialists in children's literature who are part of SCRF this year. New Awards Additionally, His Highness launched the newly redesigned website of the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature, which now showcases the award's updated identity. The Ruler of Sharjah also announced the launch of the 17th edition of the award, which is now open for submissions from individuals involved in the creation and production of Arabic children's books from across the world. During the tour, His Highness also visited the pavilions of the Department of Culture and the Emirates Publishers Association, as well as the 'Read, You Are in Sharjah' platform by Mansa Distribution Company and the House of Wisdom. His Highness was briefed on their respective initiatives, which focus on advancing the publishing sector and fostering cultural engagement, as well as their ongoing efforts to encourage children to develop a strong interest in reading and writing. Dr Sheikh Sultan also visited the pavilions of the Social Services Department, the Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum, the Kalimat Foundation, the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, and the Kalimat Group. The Sharjah Ruler was briefed on the activities of these leading institutions in the field of publishing and knowledge, which actively contribute to initiatives that nurture children's development, foster reading habits, and engage young minds through interactive, educational, and entertaining activities delivered in creative and diverse ways. His Highness concluded the tour at the Sharjah Exhibition for Children's Book Illustrations 2025, which is hosting a diverse selection of artworks this year, including those by award-winning artists. His Highness was briefed by participating local and international artists on their displayed works. Honouring Celebrating creative excellence, His Highness honoured the winners of the Sharjah Children's Book Award, which presents its winners with AED 20,000 for each of the award's 3 categories. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi's latest work House of Wisdom, published by Kalimat Group shined in the English-language Children's Book category (ages 7 to 13). Mohamed Kasbar from Egypt won in the Arabic Children's Book category (ages 4 to 12), for the book Shhh ... It's a Secret, published by Orjouha Publishing, the award was received by the representative of the publishing house, Mohammed Gharib. The Arabic Young Adults' Book category (ages 13 to 17) was awarded to Bahrain's Asmaa Al Sakkaf for On the Equator, published by Hazaya Library. The Sharjah Audiobook Award was bestowed upon Jordan's Nahed Al Shawwa Dear Cows, published by Noon Books. His Highness also honoured the winners of the Sharjah Children's Book Illustration Exhibition Awards 2025. The first prize was awarded to Luis Miguel San Vicente Oliveros from Mexico, followed by Cristina Pieropan from Italy in second place, and Shin Ami from South Korea, who secured third place. Hani Saleh from Egypt, Laura Merz from Finland, and Ali Asghar Bagherzadeh Matak from Iran were each honoured as encouragement for their creative contributions. Future Makers Museum SCRF 2025 introduces a fresh slate of innovative features such as the 'Future Makers Museum' and the 'Sherlock Holmes Exhibition'. A variety of creative workshops are also available, including manga illustration, Make Your Own Bristlebot, Digital Cubes, Spinning Robots, and hands-on science experiments that combine fun with learning. The festival is hosting 133 guests from 70 countries and will stage more than 50 cultural sessions featuring a distinguished group of international writers and illustrators, in addition to 85 theatre and roaming performances.
Sharjah 24
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Int'l Award for Arabic Children's Literature launch 17th edition
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, along with Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who leads the Sharjah Book Authority and is also the Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, visited the Sharjah Book Authority's pavilion during the opening of the 16th edition of the festival. Marwa Al Aqroubi, who chairs the UAE Board on Books for Young People, shared with His Highness the vision behind the newly updated award from e&, highlighting the important changes that have been made. This year, the award has introduced a new category called "Non-Fiction." This initiative aims to promote books that share real-life experiences and help spark critical thinking and exploration in young children. In addition to the new category, there are also four other categories: "Early Childhood," "Picture Book," "Chapter Book," and "Young Adult Book." Al Aqroubi announced that the 17th edition of the award is kicking off with fresh aims and a wider reach. It now has a name that highlights its global importance and its role in supporting Arabic literature for children. The award has been recognized for adding valuable books to Arabic libraries. As it moves into this new phase, the goal is to make an even bigger impact and include more participants from different countries who are involved in creating Arabic books for kids and young adults. Al Aqroubi has shared exciting news about a new initiative aimed at getting more people involved and attracting fresh creative talent for an award. They have decided to focus on nonfiction books, which will change every two years. This choice highlights how important nonfiction is for helping people learn through reading and connecting with real-life experiences. Writers and publishers are encouraged to send in their works that blend creativity with awareness, with the goal of cultivating a generation of readers and thinkers who appreciate well-written, high-quality Arabic. At the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, Al Aqroubi had a meeting with Mohammed Al Amimi, who is the Acting General Manager of the Northern Emirates at e&, the main sponsor of the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature. They talked about how to strengthen their partnership and looked for ways to make the award even better, aiming to reach more authors, publishers, and illustrators from around the world. Both agreed on their commitment to promoting reading among children and young adults and finding new ways to inspire a love of books. Al Amimi emphasized that the organization is committed to supporting the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature. This award helps showcase and celebrate creativity in books for children and young adults in the Arab world. It has played a key role in helping many Arab authors grow and encouraging publishing companies to release impressive new titles. As a result, these books have enriched the collection of literature available in Arabic, making reading more enjoyable and engaging for young readers. e& is working together with the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) to support projects that help promote culture and education. This partnership aims to strengthen the UAE's role in community-focused efforts and to highlight the importance of the Arabic language. The award represents a commitment to the future by investing in the book industry and supporting the development of today's and tomorrow's Arab generations. The award has introduced its new website, which showcases its updated identity. This change is part of an exciting new initiative aimed at expanding its presence and influence around the world. The website reflects the award's commitment to reaching a global audience and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. A new award is open for creators of children's and young adult books in Arabic! This includes authors, illustrators, and publishers from all over the world. If you're interested, make sure to submit your work by August 31. The award has a total prize of 1.2 million AED, which will be shared equally among authors, illustrators, and publishers. Additionally, 100,000 AED will be set aside for special training programs through 'Warsha.' To qualify for this award, your work needs to be original and written in Arabic. It must also have been published in print within the last five years and not have received any other awards. Please note that books focused on education, school subjects, science, series, e-books, or audiobooks are not eligible. The Early Childhood category is for books aimed at children from birth to five years old. Publishers can submit up to five books in this category. The Young Adult category is for readers aged 13 to 18 and includes different types of stories, like fiction, nonfiction, and fantasy. In this category, publishers can submit as many books as they want, as long as the stories are fresh, unique, or adapted from something else. The stories should be engaging, with good dialogue, a strong plot, and well-developed characters. For the Picture Book category, which is for ages 5 to 9, publishers can submit a maximum of five books. The Chapter Book category is for kids aged 9 to 12 and emphasizes telling stories through words instead of pictures. Publishers can submit as many of these books as they like, provided they are new, distinctive, or adapted. There's also a new category for nonfiction books aimed at children and young adults up to 18 years old, where publishers can submit as many entries as they want. If you want to participate, you need to send copies of your books through the award's website along with your name. Only officially registered publishing houses can enter, and you can't submit books that have participated before. The judges can choose not to give an award or exclude any book that doesn't meet the requirements, and their decisions are final. Winners will be announced at the opening of the Sharjah International Book Fair in 2025.
Sharjah 24
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Menassah's unique methods inspire young readers at SCRF
Steel baskets with tote bags that resemble hot dogs, a bright coloured cup, a soda can, and chips box are strategically placed over the books on display. On closer examination, one finds that the baskets announce the book category – board books, story books etc. The cups and bags are on sale for a modest price as are hoodies and t-shirts with the 'Read, you are in Sharjah' message in Arabic sewn on them. The merchandise gets more interesting at the display refrigerator – pizza boxes with the reading message, soda cans, milk bottles, etc. These boxes quickly attract visitor curiosity. 'We basically want to market the idea of books to kids in a way they will understand. Just as it is important for us to go to the supermarket to buy eggs and milk to build our bodies, we should take care of our brains and feed them using books. Our campaign 'Read, you're in Sharjah' was inspired by the earlier slogan 'Smile, You're in Sharjah'. The book on display in the fridge doesn't have a listed price which is meant to convey that books are priceless. The egg box on display has the caption 'Wisdom eggs with wisdom protein'. This is our unique marketing idea in a festival filled with books,' explained Alya Duaifes, Creative Production Coordinator for Menassah. The pavilion also has a doodle corner where children can use stickers from the Menassah brand to create images of their choice on a board. Monsters, trees and the sun are among the creations that the young visitors have come up with so far. Alya added that any registered member of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) will have the opportunity to get their books marketed and sold by Menassah. For SCRF, the books on display cater to a young audience. Occupying pride of place in the Menassah pavilion is a group of children's books that have won the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature instituted by the Sharjah-based UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and e&. 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 will feature 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
Sharjah 24
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Int'l Award for Arabic Children's Literature strengthens identity
Involvement in the Cairo Book Fair The event took place in conjunction with the council's involvement in the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, which continues until Wednesday, February 5. This year marks the inaugural presence of the council in a dedicated pavilion that highlights the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature. The pavilion provides an opportunity for publishers and visitors to engage directly with the award's team, addressing inquiries, gathering feedback, and showcasing books that have won in the most recent edition, along with those that were shortlisted. Highlighting Egypt's Literary Impact In a session attended by more than 100 publishers, authors, artists, and media professionals, Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), commended Egypt's significant contribution to the creation of high-quality children's and young adult literature. She emphasised that Egyptian publishing houses have been prominently featured in every edition of the award, receiving rightful recognition and securing esteemed accolades. The event featured an in-depth presentation covering the award, its various categories, qualifications, and the process for participation. The discussion included the criteria used by the judging panel for evaluation, as well as the obstacles that publishers have encountered when submitting their entries. Discussions also centered on promoting future participation, fostering increased engagement from Egyptian publishers, and strengthening their visibility in forthcoming editions. The UAE Board on Books for Young People delegation made a notable visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, engaging with various officials and delving into the extensive collection of children's and young adult literature available at the renowned institution. A delegation visiting the area has made a significant contribution by donating a selection of award-winning books and shortlisted titles. This initiative aims to enhance the library's collection with high-quality, distinguished publications. The UAE Board on Books for Young People held two engaging activities for children at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina during their visit, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of learning and creativity. The events engaged young participants, enhancing their appreciation for literature and inspiring them to broaden their imaginations through the act of reading. Children were inspired to use their free time more effectively, leading to an increase in visits to the library. The UAE Board on Books for Young People has officially launched its participation in the Cairo International Book Fair with the opening of the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature pavilion. This marks the first time the pavilion is presented by e& as an unique area, separate from other Emirati institutions. The pavilion will not only act as a hub for interaction with publishers and award enthusiasts but will also feature reading sessions, entertainment activities, and opportunities for visitors to meet directly with the award's organizing team.
