Shortlist announced for Arabic Children’s Literature Award

The International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature (IAACL), presented by e& and organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), announced the shortlist for its 17th edition during a press conference at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a major library and cultural centre in Alexandria, Egypt.

This year’s selection features 25 titles across five categories, with five books competing in each, and the shortlist highlights the geographic diversity of Arabic publishing, with Jordanian publishers leading with 10 nominated books, followed by Egypt with seven, the UAE with four, Lebanon with three, and Bahrain with one.

This year, the award received a record 407 submissions from 22 countries, involving 280 authors, 263 illustrators, and 116 publishers.

The Early Childhood category (ages 0–5): “Abi Yuhib Ummi” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Paulina Morgan, published by Kalimat Group from the UAE; “Indama Ashouru Bil Malal” by Nour Al Huda Mohammed, illustrated by Noura Al Khalifa, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; “Ghadan Yawm Akhar” by Dalia Al Manhal Mirza, illustrated by Maya Majdalani, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; “Kayfa Anam?” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Sally Samir, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; and “Matha Yujad Fi Qalbi?” by Yamam Khurtach, illustrated by Shereen Saeed Al Seirafi, published by Al Yasmine Publishing House from Jordan.

The Picture Book category (ages 5–9): “Ayna Yakhtafi Fahd?” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Noha Jamal, published by Tanmia Publishing House from Egypt; “Bab Al Quds Al Khafiya” by Ibtisam Suleiman Barakat, illustrated by Charlotte Chama, published by Al Salwa publishing from Jordan; “Buyut” by Nour Al Huda Mohammed, illustrated by Sara Oguloti, published by by Al Salwa publishing from Jordan; “Thikra Lil Bay’” by Sarah Abdullah, illustrated by Nour Haidar, published by Kalimat Group from the UAE; and “Wijhat Nazar” by Abeer Adel Ahmed, illustrated by Zarifa Haidar, published by Al Yasmine Publishing House from Jordan.

The Chapter Book category (ages 9–12): “Akhir Bayda Fi Al Alam” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Nadine Issa, published by Al Yasmine Publishing House from Jordan; “Al Alam Min Wijhat Nazar Dooda” by Dr. Mohammed Kajak, illustrated by Nadine Issa, published by Qumra from Lebanon; “Risala Ila” by Salsabeel Arabi, illustrated by Hadi Fawzi, published by Al Mustaqbal for E-Learning and Printing from Egypt; “Ghatsa” by Nour Al Huda Mohammed, illustrated by Zeina Al Messiri, published by Dar Rahiq Al Kutub from Egypt; and “Kazem wa Durriyya: Khittat Uthn Al Fa’r” by Nesma Sherif, illustrated by Sara Mar’i, published by Alia Publishing House from the UAE.

The Young Adult category (ages 13–18): “Abna’ Al Thil” by Hala Abbas, published by Aseer Alkotb from Egypt; “Abna’ Al Qamar” by Dr. Mohammed Kajak, published by Qumra from Lebanon; “Awrak Habiba” by Hijra Al Sawy, illustrated by Mayada Massad, published by Nahdet Misr Publishing House from Egypt; “Jabo 101” by Rania Baddah, illustrated by Mohammed Al Hamou, published by Nahdet Misr Publishing House from Egypt; and “Al Sirr” by Mais Dagher, illustrated by Fadi Atoura, published by Asala Publishers from Lebanon.

The Non-Fiction and Realistic Books category (up to age 18): “Ana” by Qais Saleh Al Hanti, illustrated by Isra Haidari, published by Al Salwa publishing from Jordan; “Al Rahhala Al Masri” by Hiba Abdel Jawad, published by Aseer Al Kutub from Egypt; “Indama Anaqt Al Samaa” by Mozah Al Maktoum, illustrated by Rami Tannous, published by Kalimat Group from the UAE; “Kawakib Fi Al Fada” by Masrah Touqan, illustrated by Shireen Quteina, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; and “Lima Tateer Al Balonat?” by Asya Ahmed Abdel Lawi, illustrated by Shireen Adham Mostafa, published by Al-Noor Educational Publishing Foundation from Bahrain.

Since its inception in 2009, the award has evolved into a leading cultural benchmark for children’s and young adult literature, driven by the visionary leadership of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People.