Hands-on session at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair gives young creators early lessons in prosthetics and designing moving robotic body parts using simple materials and boundless imagination

Sharjah, November 15, 2025

It was a morning full of amazement and curiosity for scores of children at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) as they learned to turn everyday materials into animated machines.

The “Autonomous Hands” workshop guided participants through building robotic hands using simple daily materials like cardboard, double-sided tape, straws, strings and stickers, transforming static paper cutouts into motion-filled, expressive “characters.”

Fans flock to find the newest manga hits and rediscover the classics, as Japanese stories bridge cultures and inspire a new generation of Arab readers

Sharjah, November 15, 2025 

The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) drew people of all ages to the colourful world of Japanese manga and anime. From nostalgic classics like Pokémon, Dragon Ball, and Akira to the latest sensations such as Kagurabachi and Frieren, Japanese pop culture continues to captivate Arab audiences with its dynamic storytelling and artistry.

Manga is a type of Japanese comic book or graphic novel, usually published in black and white. While anime refers to the animated version of manga and includes everything from TV shows to full-length movies. Both have unique stories, expressive characters, and artistic depth.

 Available for the 10-plus age group, the paid activity at the ongoing Sharjah International Book Fair is a novel concept that aims to keep the love for books and reading progress to writing one’s own book

Sharjah, November 15, 2025

Writing and publishing a book and seeing it on the shelves of a book stall or at a book fair’s stalls is every aspiring writer’s dream. Sensing this hidden dream of budding writers, the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) has come with a dedicated creative writing space where the workshops for children happen.

The writing space, separated from the rest of the workshops by large faux square blocks featuring the SIBF logo, is open to all ages. Many adults with a passion for writing have also taken part. There are no trainers, but facilitators guide participants in selecting writing prompts, binding their pages with orange plastic combs, and placing them in a green folio case to take home.