Abdulaziz Taryam with Marwa Al Aqroubi.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Twenty-one remarkable literary works from 8 countries have earned coveted positions on the shortlist for the prestigious 15th Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature. The shortlist was unveiled during a press conference held on Thursday at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah.

The shortlisted entries hail from the UAE and Egypt, each contributing five outstanding works. Jordan is represented with four captivating titles, while Lebanon offers three literary gems. Canada, Oman, Palestine and Iraq have each earned one well-deserved spot on the shortlist.

The winners of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, an initiative organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and generously supported by Etisalat, will be officially announced during the opening ceremony of the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair on November 1, 2023.

The press conference saw the participation of Abdulaziz Taryam, CEO, Adviser, and General Manager of Etisalat e&- Northern Emirates, and Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, in the presence of esteemed officials and media representatives.

The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature jury selected the shortlist from a total of 323 nominated publications, divided into the following award categories: Early childhood: 65 books; Picture book: 136 books; Chapter book: 35 books; Youth Adults book: 49; and Poetry book: 38 books In the Early Childhood award category, a total of five publications have secured their positions on the shortlist. These works include:

• 16 Reasons to Tolerate Your Brother’s Mischief by Noor Al Huda Mohammed, published by Dar Ashjar, UAE, featuring illustrations by Samar Maqoon.

• The Shy Radish by Yara Bamiya, published by the Palestine Book Association in Palestine.

• Feelings, Feelings? by Fatimah Al Sadoun, beautifully illustrated by Iman Abdul Hamid, published by Noon Books: Nahed AlShawa Cultural in Canada.

• House and Thread by Fatimah Nasser, adorned with enchanting illustrations by Israa Hudairi, published by Dar Al Banan in Lebanon.

• He Who Lost His Feelings by Mohannad Alakous, published by Dar Maktabty for publishing and distribution in Egypt, with the artful touch of Tahera Redaei’s illustrations. The Picture Books category proudly presents five outstanding titles. These include:

• The Black Line by Yazan Masarwa and Bartchu Yilmaz, published by Al Salwa Publishers in Jordan.

• An Elephant on My Finger by Abdullah Al Sharhan, published by Agyal in the UAE.

• Emerging into Life, authored by Lama Azar, illustrated by Hanane Kai, and published by Jabal Amman Publishers, Jordan.

• Story of a Branch by Jikar Khorshid, published by the Red Fox Bookshop in Oman, graced with illustrations by Salma Kamal.

• The Passenger by Nabiha Mhiedly, published by Dar Al Hadaek in Lebanon, enhanced with illustrations by Walid Taher. The Chapter Books category boasts five exceptional publications, including:

• Destroying the World in 46 Seconds by Mais Dagher and Mohammed Al Hamawi, published by Al Yasmine Publishing and Distribution in Jordan.

• Ghost in the Camp by Fatima Sharafeddine, published by Dar Al Saqi in Lebanon, featuring the remarkable illustrations of Juwel Ashqar.

• Juha and the Genie Faoushan by Samar Mahfouz Barraj and Tharefa Haydar, published by Kiwi in the UAE.

• Rayan... My Red Notebook by Tamara Qashsha and Sasha Haddad, published by Al Salwa Publishers in Jordan.

• Shehab One Million, authored by Lamis Khadija Asli and Nancy Abdel-Raouf, and published by Dar Aliya in Egypt, accompanied by Sahar Abdullah’s exceptional illustrations. The Young Adult award category stands out with three exceptional works, including:

• Budjana, an intriguing creation by Maram Bashir Sadiqi, published by Qindeel Printing Publishing and Distribution in the UAE.

• Mariam’s Earring by Rania Bedda, published by Nahdet Misr in Egypt, featuring illustrations by Aya Khamees.

• Smile so I Can Be Stronger by Sherine Sami, published by Dar Al Shorouk in Egypt.