EPA enlightens the minds of young people with 430 titles at ‘Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival’

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Emirates Publishers Association is participating in the 14th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority under the theme ‘Train your brain,’ from 3 to 14 May at the Expo Centre Sharjah. As part of this initiative, the Emirates Publishers Association will showcase 430 titles of children’s and young-adult literature and host ‘Menassah.’

The website consists of 29 member publishing houses, offers access to more than 10,000 books from various creative, educational, and informative fields that cater to the interests of children, nurture their minds, develop their practical skills, and expand their knowledge. It also provides Emirati writers an invaluable opportunity to promote their publications and market many Emirati literary productions intended to inspire and educate future generations.

This participation at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival aligns with one of the association’s strategic pillars to instill a love of reading in the hearts and minds of generations from an early age to empower communities of the future. Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, said: “At the Emirates Publishers Association, one of our primary goals is to enlighten young minds with knowledge, a feat that can only be achieved through reading.

We believe that reading is the fundamental building block for cultivating creative and innovative minds. As such, we spare no effort to motivate children and young people to read, making it an ingrained daily habit for them. We provide a diverse range of books that bring them pleasure and benefit, which we showcase at various exhibitions we attend in collaboration with our members.

One of our most significant events is the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, where we participate with our publishers to bring joy and education to young readers.” He added: “Through our participation in the festival, we also aim to boost the prosperity of our publishers’ businesses and support the publishing sector in the country. This festival is an innovative platform to cultivate a culture of reading among children and enhance the quality of the children’s book industry in the UAE and the wider region.

As one of the region’s largest children’s book fairs, it attracts a significant number of visitors every year with its unique blend of interactive, educational, and entertainment experiences. This provides a valuable opportunity for our participating publishers to market their publications on a large scale and maximise their benefits.” Sessions: The Emirates Publishers Association’s participation in the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival extends beyond book exhibitions and sales.

The association also holds reading sessions encouraging children to develop their imaginations and cultivate a love for reading. The association will have two exciting storytelling sessions in collaboration with its publishers as part of this initiative. The first session is a storytelling event featuring Naya, a cheerful little girl who loves to laugh and play. The Naya series carries sentimental content, such as family bonding, to instill positive educational values in children.

Each story in the series is written in Arabic and English, offering a valuable opportunity for children to improve their language skills while enjoying an entertaining and educational experience. As for the second session, the association is excited to present ‘A Tale of Two Colours: A Story Reading Session’ on 11 May, presented by Ajyal Publishing House. This session aims to take children on an exciting journey through a story of two colours, depicting a fictional tale of a creature with a distinct color who finds himself in a place devoid of color.