The International Award for Arab Children’s Literature is presented with its winning publications at the Cairo Book Fair

Sharjah, January 27 / WAM / The International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, presented by E& and organized by the UAE Council on Books for Young People, continues its participation in the activities of the 57th session of the Cairo International Book Fair, which continues until the third of next February at the Egypt International Exhibition and Conference Center, within an active Emirati cultural presence that aims to enhance the status of Arabic children’s literature and consolidate its role in building awareness of new generations.

This session of the exhibition enjoys wide international momentum with the participation of 1,457 publishing houses representing 83 countries, in addition to thousands of exhibitors and accompanying cultural events, which gives the award a wide space to communicate with book makers, including writers, illustrators, and publishers, learn about the latest experiences and trends in the book industry directed to children, and discuss opportunities for cooperation and cultural exchange at the Arab and international levels.

The award pavilion at the exhibition attracted wide official and cultural interest, as it was visited by a number of senior Emirati and Arab officials, led by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, and His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hanno, Egyptian Minister of Culture, in a scene that reflected the advanced position that children’s literature has now occupied on the agenda of Arab cultural work.

The award delegation held a series of meetings with officials of the Emirati pavilions participating in the exhibition, which confirmed that the book directed to children today constitutes one of the cultural projects most closely linked to the future.

During its presence at the exhibition, the award delegation is keen to introduce its various categories and nomination mechanisms, in addition to displaying the winning books in its seventeenth session and the works that reached the short list, allowing visitors to the exhibition to see distinguished examples of Arab production in children’s literature. Participation also includes organizing meetings and conferences aimed at promoting the culture of reading and opening direct dialogues with those interested in children’s literature and its current issues.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, said that participation in the Cairo International Book Fair aims to expand the promotion of the award given the prominent cultural status of this event and a wide Arab and international presence, pointing out that the exhibition constitutes an ideal platform for introducing the message of the award and the Council’s efforts to support Arab children’s literature and encourage creative production that takes into account the child’s intellectual and aesthetic needs and reflects the diversity of Arab experiences.

She added that the slogan of the exhibition this year, “Whoever stops reading is left behind for centuries” is in line with the vision of the award, which stems from the belief that reading in childhood is the basis for building a knowledge society capable of keeping pace with cultural and technological transformations, noting that the award is not limited to honoring the winning works, but rather seeks to build an incubating environment for book makers and enhance dialogue about the future of Arab children’s literature and its role in consolidating identity and openness to the world.

This participation confirms the commitment of the UAE Council on Books for Young People to continue its presence in major Arab and international cultural exhibitions based on its belief that investing in children’s literature is an investment in the future of Arab culture. The Council also extends an open invitation to visitors to the Cairo International Book Fair to visit the award pavilion, view the winning books and shortlisted works, and learn about some of the best Arab creativity in writing, drawing and directing.

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