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.