The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is a home for books and a forum for in-depth discussions on every aspect of a child’s world

• Dr Abdullah AlSharhaan: Before writing for others, write for yourself and the child within you. If you enjoy it, so will future generations.
• Raahat Kaduji: My advice to young creatives is to be brave with your ideas, don’t worry about how you’ll be perceived.
• Bara’ Al-‘Aawour: Through illustration, we offer children a soft power—the courage and resilience to overcome life’s difficulties.

Sharjah, April 25, 2025

At the ongoing 16th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), a panel of acclaimed illustrators and storytellers convened to explore the essential and often overlooked role of picture books in shaping young minds. Moderated by writer and critic Tasneem Zeyad, ‘Building the Narrative: The Essential Role of Picture Books’ brought together three distinct voices: Palestinian illustrator Bara’ Al-‘Aawour, British author and illustrator Raahat Kaduji, and pioneering Kuwaiti artist and children’s media specialist Dr Abdullah AlSharhaan.

At a Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival panel discussion, Xin Li, Eman AlYousaf, and Amal Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Hanqari explore how media and cultural identity shape minds of children—and why listening may be the most powerful tool of all

Sharjah, April 25, 2025   

An educator, author and an illustrator got together on Thursday at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) 2025 to drive home why curiosity isn’t just a phase but, in fact, the foundation of lifelong learning.