Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi launches new children’s book at Sharjah reading festival

Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group and President of Worldwide Publishers Affiliation, has launched her newest work in kids’s literature, ‘World Book Capital’, at Sharjah Youngsters’s Studying Competition (SCRF).

Revealed concurrently in Arabic and English by Kalimat Publishing, a part of Kalimat Group that specialises in publishing Arabic books for kids and youth, the e book was launched on Friday at an interactive session for younger guests at SCRF, which runs till Might 29 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

As a story, with illustrations by Denise Damanti, the e book introduces younger generations to the idea of World Ebook Capital, a worldwide initiative by UNESCO. World Ebook Capital is a title conferred on a special metropolis annually whereby the chosen metropolis is anticipated to hold out actions that inculcate the behavior of studying amongst its inhabitants. Sharjah was named the World Ebook Capital for the yr 2019 in recognition of the town’s efforts in selling books and literacy. The e book World Ebook Capital goals to coach younger readers on all cities which have gained the title for the reason that inception of the initiative in 2001.

The e book launch occasion featured a studying by Bodour Al Qasimi, providing SCRF’s younger guests a chance to work together with the creator.

Additionally at SCRF, now in its twelfth version, younger kids are studying gaming expertise through the ‘Machinery Design’ workshop, targeted on instructing children the purposes of STEM (Science, Expertise, Engineering and Math) in gaming expertise.

The workshop coach mentioned getting uncovered to expertise at a youthful age, whereas concurrently studying methods to apply their information of STEM virtually, makes studying “fun” for kids. Such workshops in “non-traditional fields” additionally helps kids make extra knowledgeable college and profession selections afterward in life, the coach added.

On the Machine Design workshop, kids can discover ways to construct the Wire Recreation from scratch, and perceive the science behind this widespread recreation.

In the meantime, budding younger artists at SCRF created artwork works on white rocks throughout a one-hour workshop. Youngsters aged 9 to 13 participated within the ‘Drawing on the Stone’ utilizing a fluorescent palette of acrylic paints, fine-tipped paint brush, floral-patterned stencils, and a sponge brush.

Alykotb, 13, mentioned: “This activity is a combination of traditional and modern painting styles and I find it both creative and interesting. I have never painted on a stone before; this method is quite challenging as the stone is very porous.”

A protracted-time participant at SCRF mentioned he was happy to see the annual occasion return after a yr’s hole. Jon Malinowski, President of The Mixed Ebook Exhibit, who has introduced the most recent best-sellers from Canada, UK and the US, mentioned: “This is one of the most well-organised book fairs. [SCRF] has done a great job in executing COVID-19 health and safety protocols. It’s wonderful to see visitors of all age groups trickling in to enjoy and learn from the festival’s myriad cultural and artistic offerings.”

Greater than 170 publishers from 15 international locations are showcasing their books and literary materials at SCRF.

Malinowski, who has been coming to SCRF for a decade, added: “Most international publishing events of this scale have a stronger B2B focus. And while [SCRF] has offered international publishers a platform to enable their post-COVID-19 recovery with new book deals, copyright exchanges, and expand their distribution network in this region, it has also served as a much-needed bridge between them and their customers.”