Australian percussionists inspire creativity and sustainability with their high-energy performance at the 16th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, which runs until MAy 4 in Expo Center Sharjah 

Sharjah, April 25, 2025  

A high-energy performance titled “Junklandia” by the Australian percussion group Junkyard Beats transported young schoolchildren into a magical world of music and dance at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), which got under way at Expo Center Sharjah on April 23.

The three performers from Junkyard Beats introduced themselves as siblings from the faraway planet Junklandia who were out on a mission to Earth to teach its inhabitants the Junklandian ways of music and creative recycling. For this, they transformed ordinary household items into musical instruments to create a toe-tapping, electric atmosphere that soon had the primary school children dancing away under the stage.

Illustrator Ami Shin guides children in creating imaginative homes inspired by traditional Korean Hanok houses and their vibrant details

Sharjah, April 25, 2025

What do you get when you mix traditional Korean rooftops, colourful cut-outs, and a lot of imagination? A room full of young architects with dreams as big as castles and as thoughtful as greenhouses.

Held on Thursday as part of the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition, the “My Wonderful House” art workshop saw children aged 8 to 15 get involved in a hands-on session led by acclaimed South Korean illustrator Ami Shin.

The Canadian comedian’s visual antics and hilarious experiments leave young audiences in stitches at the 16th annual Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, which runs until May 4

Sharjah, April 25, 2025   

Young school children were in for a visual treat as Canadian standup comedian Marty Putz presented his slightly weird and insane show at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), which got under way at Expo Center Sharjah.

The comedic performer who shot to fame with his eccentric acts at the “Britain’s Got Talent” show was dressed in a scientist’s blue overalls as he made his crazy inventions and presentations that tickled the young audience.

SCRF 2025 attracts top-tier partners to reinforce its global cultural impact

Sharjah, April 25, 2025

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has unveiled a top-tier lineup of sponsors and partners for the 16th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025), underlining the event’s growing cultural influence on a global scale. Running till May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, and themed “Dive into Books”, this year’s edition will deliver a rich programme of cultural events, interactive workshops, thought-provoking panel discussions, and a diverse showcase of the latest titles in Arabic and other languages.

At the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, young audiences explore storytelling and illustration with the award-winning artist behind This is Not a Panther

Sharjah, April 24, 2025 

On the opening day of the 16th edition of Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), children as young as four gathered for a session with Cristina Pieropan, the renowned Italian illustrator whose latest book, This is Not a Panther, made its regional debut at the 12-day event. That the book is written in Spanish, illustrated by an Italian artist, and is being showcased in the UAE says much about the festival’s reach – and its quiet mission to foster cross-cultural understanding from the earliest years.

Sitting amongst her attentive audience, Cristina’s warmth filled the room. “This is a real story – my story,” she told the children, her words lovingly translated into Arabic by a festival volunteer. The book recounts a young Cristina’s desire for an unusual pet: a panther, inspired by an old book from her grandfather’s library. “My family gave me many presents – a parrot, a kitten, a dog – but not a panther,” she recounted, her tale sparking giggles.