EIGHTH SESSION / 2021
The Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum announced the winners of the Best Children's Book Award for the eighth session / 2021. The winners as per the decision of the jury, are some of outstanding works that met the criteria of the award, namely:
First: Children’s Books Category Age Group (under 12 years old):
1. The book titled (الذي طارت منه الكلمات) (From which the words flew), the publisher: Nour Al Maarif for Publishing and Distribution / Egypt, the writer Muhannad Al-Aqous, and the illustrations by Dr. Amira Al Tababi,
Second: Books for Young People (16-12 years):
2. The book (الملكة سهيلة) (Queen Suhaila): Publisher: Nahdet Misr Publishing House, the writer Rania Hussein Amin.
Third: Best Text Category:
3. The book (أكاد أختنق) (Almost Choking): The Writer Sahar Shehadi, and the illustrations by Atif Abdullah, the publisher: Nour Al Maarif House for Publishing / Egypt.
Fourth: Best Illustration Category:
4. The book (أمل) (Amal), the painter: Haya Halaw, the writer: Amal Nasser, and the publisher: Dar Hikayat Qamar for publishing and distribution / Saudi Arabia.
On this occasion, the President of the Forum, His Excellency Mr. Nasser Asi, and the members of the Board of Directors of the Forum, extended their congratulations and praises to the winners, wishing them to keep on excelling and succeeding, along with their best wishes to all members of the Forum.
Professor Aisha Hamad Maghawour, Secretary General of the Arab Forum of Children's Book Publishers, chairman of the award committee, also expressed delight at this achievement and distinction, while noting that the Forum's award for the best children's book is meant to develop the children's book and prompt publishers to come up with the best, something that helps to engage children to have a sense of book companionship, and to build up their reading skills.
The jury of the award has wrapped up its work over the past few days to judge the competing works in the eighth session of the Arab Forum of Children's Book Publishers Award for the best children's book throughout an array of assessment criteria for this Award that is intended to aid in promoting the creative output of the publishing houses of the forum's members, and the enhancement of their contributions to the areas of Arab children's book publishing.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qassimi, President of International Publishers Association, emphasized that the Association gives due care for effective and open communication with publisher unions and associations around the world to discuss developments and challenges in the publishing sector and identify new business models in line with developments in the previous phase.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi said: “We have drawn up a plan to hold a series of in-depth meetings and dialogues with publishers around the world and we started with Arab Publishers Association and Egyptian Publishers Association. The Arab publishing sector has promising opportunities, as the percentage of Arab young people is considered one of the highest percentages all over the world and this category is eager for knowledge and looks forward to getting acquainted with all new and creative aspects. Thus, this constitutes a motivation and inspiration for publishers.”
This statement was said during a meeting held between Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi and members of Arab Publishers Association and members of Egyptian Publishers Association in Cairo.
The meeting of Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi with Arab Publishers Association is the first activity that she has undertaken since holding the presidency of International Publishers Association, in a step in which she affirmed that the issues of Arab publisher are included within the main and essential issues the Association set for its new business cycle. Sheikha Bodour sent a message to Arab publishers, in which she declared that International Publishers Association is keen on interacting with them and continuing the exchange of ideas and visions to find out the factors of growth of the publishing sector in the Arab markets and define how to allow Arab books to reach global markets.
Supporting the creativity
Sheikha Al Qassimi discussed, before the participants in the meeting, the tasks of the specialized committees at International Publishers Association and showed how publishers joined it and participated in achieving its goals, noting that the Association was established to defend for publishers, unify their statements and visions and arrange their efforts to play their roles in an incubating and supportive environment throughout the world.
In addition, President of Arab Publishers Association, Mohamed Rashad, considered that the first visit of Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi, in her official capacity as President of International Publishers Association, is an appreciation and respect for Egypt's position on the map of Arab and global publishing.
He appreciated the efforts exerted by Sharjah under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in caring for and paying due attention to writers and the publishing stakeholders, pointing out that the establishment of Sharjah International Book Fair and the splendid initiatives accompanying it, represented a good chance for the publishing sector undergoing difficult circumstances.
A meeting was held last Saturday between Mr. Tayfur Esen (President of the International Association of Children's Book Publishers in Turkey) and Mr. Hassan Muhammad Adnan Salem (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum), in attendance of Dr. Muhammad Agir Akce. This fruitful meeting allowed to give an overview of the activities of both institutions, they discussed the areas of common cooperation, and ways to boost and strengthen the activities between all the institutions operating in the area of Children's books so as to establish joint targeted activities.
The International Publishers Association announced the election and appointment of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi as the President of the Association, starting from its next session of 2021 during the General Assembly of International Publishers Association, which was held via "Zoom" platform, with the participation of a group of members of the Association.
During the past two years, Sheikha Bodour held the position of Vice-President of International Publishers Association.
The selection of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi for this prominent international position, which is considered one of the most influential positions in the book and knowledge industry, constituted an Arab and international precedent that embodies the efforts of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in supporting the publishing industry and publishers at the local and global levels, through a series of international initiatives within which she exerted great efforts to serve the publishing sector in various countries of the world. This selection is deemed an international honoring for the cultural march of the Emirate of Sharjah in particular, and the United Arab Emirates, in general.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi has also made many achievements that have a great impact on the course of Emirati cultural work, as she founded the Emirates Publishers Association in 2009.
Sheikha played a prominent role in allowing Sharjah to get the title of "World Book Capital of 2019", making Sharjah the first Gulf city to receive this title and the third in the Arab world and the Middle East region, since Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi chaired the advisory committee and the office of Sharjah as World Book Capital.
