On April 19 2017, the ninth edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival of the United Arab Emirates’s Sharjah opens, a cultural show dedicated to kids and adults focusing on education, learning, and children’s literature. Organized by Sharjah Book Authority, the event is held annually under the direction of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, who takes part to the opening ceremony.
This year Elena Pasoli, Exhibition Manager of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, is attending the fair as a guest of UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) Executive Board, the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). President of UAEBBY is Marwa Obaid Rashid Al Aqroubi, who was also member of the 2017 BolognaRagazzi Award’s jury.
The festival lasts for 10 days and attracts many visitors from across the world, the event also hosts the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition - now in its sixth edition. We’re proud to announce that among the winners and the 2017 mentions, there are the Italian Marco Somà (second place winner) and Cristina Pieropan (special mention). The first and the third place winners are the Spanish artists Alejandro Galindo Buitrago and Ester Garcia Cortes.