The SCRF is the largest event of its kind in the Middle East.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

The wait for the region’s largest children’s reading event – Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) is finally over. The 11th edition of the much anticipated annual literary event opens doors on Wednesday at Sharjah Expo Centre.  

Celebrating the theme ‘Explore Knowledge’, the largest and most important event of its kind in the Middle East will run till April 27.

Over 2,500 cultural and literary events and activities, visits confirmed by 198 international, regional and local authors and cultural personalities, and the best in children’s and YA literature being flown in by 167 publishers from 18 countries – will all focus on making reading fun for young children at this 11-day festival organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

Book lovers are in for exciting meet ups with a stellar line-up  of 33 authors, including Elisabetta Dami, international best-selling children’s author from Italy and #1 New York Times bestseller and award-winning children’s author, Carole Boston Weatherford. Stuart J. Murphy from the US, children’s books’ author and visual learning strategist, is also among the big names to watch out for.

Alongside the Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations that will feature 320 artists and illustrators from 55 countries, SCRF 2019 will be hosting two brand new exhibitions, ‘Traveling the Silk Road’ and ‘Voyage to the Deep’.

Another first for the festival will be live theatrical performances in Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi, designed for the entertainment of people coming in from different communities. With a galaxy of international guests, internationally renowned chefs, illustrators and educators who will lead a multitude of knowledge- and creativity-building workshops, SBA has added another hands-on activity for young students – the school competitions, which will feature daily awards for talented students who portray excellence in creative writing, filmmaking and Arabic poetry recitation. 

The ‘Kids Café’ will bring together young talents who have attained remarkable achievements – Arab chess champion Sultan Al Zaabi; the youngest Arab journalist Durar Al Muraqeb, and others to meet and share their experiences with young visitors; and the cookery corner will be sizzling with a packed culinary itinerary of 140 workshops and live masterclasses presented by some of the youngest Arab and international chefs from eight nations.