Sharjah: The 15th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) will be bringing together 45 distinguished authors and professionals from 14 Arab nations who have made significant contributions to the field of children’s literature in an event that promises to highlight literary brilliance and innovation.
The 12-day cultural extravaganza will highlight the talent in children’s and young adult literature, which covers a wide range of genres and includes history, science fiction, compelling mysteries, exciting adventures, and works that have a transforming effect on readers’ lives.
With the theme “Once Upon a Hero,” the festival will be hosted by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) at Expo Centre Sharjah from May 1 to 12, providing a rare chance to interact with notable, multi-award-winning Emirati and Arab visitors. The esteemed visitors will facilitate talks that highlight problems and obstacles in children’s and young adult literature, providing solutions and perspectives that help mold the future of this important industry.
Prominent Emirati writers will be present at the event, among them the important figure in children’s literature Nadia Al Najjar. Al Najjar will offer in-depth explanations of how stories affect young people’s culture. She is the winner of the Sharjah Book Fair Award for Best Emirati Book and an advisory member of the UAE Board on Books for Young People.
Aisha Bati Al Shamsi, head of the Fann Training and Consulting Center and a specialist in child care and education, will be joining her to share her knowledge. She has contributed to child education literature and has developed national standards and curricula for early childhood education in particular.
Noura Khouri will participate in the conversations and contribute her knowledge of children’s books. She highlights the natural landscape and cultural legacy of the United Arab Emirates while fusing her writing with her volunteer work in early childhood education and motherhood.
Leading Arab science fiction expert Dr. Taleb Omran from Syria will speak at SCRF, offering perspectives on how science fiction helps develop children’s consciousness and cultural understanding. His body of work spans many genres, including novels, studies, children’s books, and short tales.