Children’s reading festival begins

Hundreds of schoolchildren and families thronged the opening of the fifth Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival to see what it would offer to them and to participate in a series of workshops at the Expo Centre Sharjah in Al Taawun.

Shaikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office in Sharjah, opened the festival in the presence of Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and President of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA).

Organised by the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), the festival will go on for ten days until May 4. More than 80 local, regional and international publishing houses, as well as many cultural institutions and well-known authors, illustrators, intellectuals and publishers are participating in the festival.

Shaikha Bodour with Shaikh Essam during the opening of Shajrah Children’s Reading Festival at Expo Centre on Tuesday. — KT photo by M. Sajjad

Shaikh Essam bin Saqr, accompanied by Shaikha Bodour, toured the festival’s stalls and events. At the stand of Kalimat Publishing House, Shaikh Essam was briefed by Shaikha Bodour, who is also the founder and CEO of Kalimat, about the stand’s contents and publications, all of which were directed to promote love of Arabic reading among children.

Shaikh Essam also inaugurated the initiative, Faces, launched under the Knowledge without Borders Project. The initiative, launched in the project’s website and social networking sites, is highlighting the importance of reading by renowned authors. He also inaugurated the second edition of the Sharjah Exhibition for Children Books’ Illustrations, held alongside the Children’s Reading Festival.

The festival is indicative of the undying support of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

Hind Lenaid, general coordinator of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, said this edition includes Kids Programme, Cultural Cafe, the Cultural Programme and the Cookery Programme to be presented by specialists and experts in their respective fields.

lily@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE