Providing the Arabic child book with high-quality specifications that help our child to love reading and be proud of his/her identity.
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.
Mexico is honoring the Emirate of Sharjah, guest of honor at the 36th edition of the Mexico City International Book Fair, from November 26 to December 4. During its attendance, Sharjah displays 57 Emirati publications translated into Spanish and exhibits a wealth of cultural, literary, media, artistic and heritage events and activities, including 27 sessions, presented by 20 cultural institutions and organizations and 24 Emirati and Arab writers and creators. The Sharjah Book Authority, which is involved under its umbrella: Sharjah Publishing City, Translation Grant, Sharjah International Agency for Literary Rights and the Arab Forum of Children's Book Publishers, "oversees the Emirate's program in the exhibition.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, stated: “In this global celebration of the cultural project of the Emirate of Sharjah, we reap the fruits of a wise vision developed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, in which he emphasized that the strongest bonds that unite the world’s civilizations are the bonds of culture With all its manifestations, this is why we embody in the activities of Sharjah, the guest of honor of the Mexico International Book Fair, the common aesthetic size that brings together Arab culture with its counterpart in Mexico, and highlight the unique creative identity of the UAE through its symbols of writers, artists and creators.
The Emirate offers a rich cultural program that embodies the UAE's cultural message and helps introduce the Mexican people to Arab culture, as it includes a number of book launch parties, readings, folklore performances and poetry evenings.
The activities of the Emirate's program take place in a huge pavilion to which the exhibition management has allocated a large space at the entrance of the exhibition, and it includes a number of discussion sessions, dialogue seminars and cultural, media and film forums, including a symposium entitled "Arabic Vocabulary and its Impact on the Spanish Language" and a discussion session entitled "Marketing Trends." Books," and a media forum on the role of the media in strengthening ties between the UAE and Mexico, and another cultural one on travel literature in the two countries.
Arabic calligraphy features prominently in the exhibition, where representatives from Sharjah discuss its history, origins and impact on world cultures.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, said during a press conference held by the Authority at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park yesterday, to reveal the details of the new session: “When (Sharjah International Book Fair) is mentioned, (Sharjah Great Cultural Project) is mentioned as well, and this makes us proud a lot, because in Sharjah we are reaping the fruits of the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, of more than 40 years ago, which he has been taking care of year after year until we reached this day to benefit of the results of this effort.”
He added: “The Fair started as an incubator for a few publishing houses and hundreds of visitors, and today it hosts the largest number of publishers in its history, with 2,213 publishers. The Fair became the first in the world to buy and sell copyright in 2021, and reaching this rank was never a goal for Sharjah, however, what the Fair has achieved is due to what His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah built.”
2,213 publishers from 95 countries, and 129 writers, theorists and innovators from 57 countries, will participate in the revival of 1,047 diverse cultural activities, in the 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority under the slogan "A Word to the World", during the period from the second to November 13th at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
The Fair celebrates Italy as the guest of honor during its new edition, and sends to its audience and guests through a rich program that covers the axes of Italian culture through activities that address various groups and interests, and provide a comprehensive and vivid picture of the Italian scene, and its civilizational, cultural and artistic richness.
During the press conference, the Consul General of Italy in Dubai, Giuseppe Venociaro, said: "We are pleased to have chosen Italy as the guest of honor for the 41st edition of the Fair, as this confirms the depth of relations between Italy and the UAE at various levels, especially in the cultural and literary sector."
For his part, the Director of the Publishing Services Department at the Sharjah Book Authority, Mansour Al-Hassani, reviewed the schedule of events related to the participation of publishers in this year's fair. The most prominent foreign participations were the presence of publishing houses from India, the United Kingdom and Italy, and all participants display more than 1.5 million titles on an area of more than 18,000 square meters.
The Fair will host the “Publishers Conference” in its 12th edition, over three days, from the 30th of this month to the first of November.
As part of its continuous interest in children, the Fair this year dedicated 623 activities for youngsters, ranging from workshops, plays, and entertainment and educational performances. The Fair organizes 123 shows divided between theatrical performances, dance performances, and touring shows.
For his part, the Director of the Publishing Services Department at the Sharjah Book Authority, Mansour Al-Hassani, reviewed the schedule of events related to the participation of publishers in this year's exhibition. The most prominent foreign participations were the presence of publishing houses from India, the United Kingdom and Italy, and all participants display more than 1.5 million titles on an area of more than 18,000 square meters.
Children get science and knowledge through the school educational system and the educational process in particular, within many changes that occur in their psychological, physical and mental development. It is noticeable that developed and developing countries exerted unremitting efforts to develop children’s upbringing and education, as they are keen on educating them and improving their conducts within a behavioral and developmental methodology based on sound foundations and values in line with the principles and policies of those countries. They also aim at caring about the learner and improving his behavior by intensifying intellectual and cultural details and behaviors within the school curricula. Can children’s stories enhance these details and behaviors in the educational process?
The diversity in the audio-visual and sensory knowledge means contributes to the preparation of an integrative curriculum for the child, and the stories have an effective and direct impact on the child’s behavior, its refinement and improvement, in addition to their ability to mix the literary and imaginative side with scientific and historical facts without prejudice to the attractive and enjoyable aspect of story-telling. Stories encourage the child to use imagination, employ creativity and develop his verbal competencies, criticism and listening skills.
There are many stories that reinforced and contributed to instilling the concept of education in children and adolescents, since the emergence of children's literature until the present day. We see that children's stories are scientific, religious and historical. Some of the stories aim at instilling lofty values and principles, and some of them enhance the concepts of citizenship and good morals. There are stories that support the scientific and imaginative aspects and others include a philosophical spirit.
From the above stories we would mention an immortal global fictional example that was written in an unprecedented miraculous manner in both literary and educational history, which is the book “Wonderful Adventures of Nils”, which was published in 1906 by the Swedish writer, Selma Lagerlöf, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1909, as she was the first woman to get this prize.
Selma started her writing project for this book upon the request of the “National Teachers Association” in 1902, since she intended to write a geography curriculum in which students would overcome the difficulty of this subject and the student would learn about the conditions of his country, Sweden, its wealth, and the diversity of its regions.
The writer devoted three years of her life for writing her fictional story grafted with scientific material that included the Swedish regions, their trees, animals, topography and their inhabitants. The writer was not satisfied with all of these aspects, but she was also keen on enhancing her literary masterpiece with legends and folkloric songs to provide scientific material in a funny and exciting way for important age stages in the general national and cultural context of her country. The writer also made a significant linguistic development in her book at the verbal, grammatical and rhetorical levels.
The simple story of Nils has shown a sign of transformation at the educational and national level, and the speed of its translation into other languages contributed to an amazing transformation in the educational process and the Swedish folklore at that time. The popularity of this book did not stop at this point, as it was turned into animated films which adults enjoy watching before children.
Hence, we find out that stories have a prominent and pivotal role in the interactive, cognitive and educational development of the child if the appropriate standards for creative writing are exploited, away from direct indoctrination.
The subject of translating children's books has attracted growing interest among publishers and remains a recurring topic at cultural forums, particularly in events accompanying book fairs. This interest reflects several contemporary developments, most notably the unprecedented cultural openness brought about by globalization.
Today, English and French are no longer the sole sources for children's literature translation. Other languages, including Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, and even several Latin American languages, have entered the field. These works have found their way into the Arab world through various channels, including modern digital technologies that have helped publishers discover new opportunities in international children's publishing.
As this promising field continues to expand, an important question remains at the forefront of discussions among children's book publishers: What is the best approach to translating children's books into Arabic in a way that achieves the desired objectives? Answering this question requires careful consideration of several key factors.
The first challenge facing children's publishers is selecting the right book. Not every children's title published in another language is suitable for Arab children. Winning an international award does not automatically qualify a book for translation, as many works are deeply rooted in the cultural systems of their original audiences.
Publishers may encounter values, perspectives, or treatments of certain topics that do not align with the cultural context of Arab children. Therefore, careful selection remains the first prerequisite for a successful translation project. Leading children's publishers often maintain written guidelines and protocols to regulate the selection and translation process.
Once a title has been selected, the search begins for a qualified and professional translator. The translator is the cornerstone of the entire process, and their cultural knowledge, linguistic expertise, and literary sensitivity are crucial factors in the success of translated works.
Many successful Arabic translations produced during the twentieth century owed their excellence to pioneering translators who were themselves writers, poets, and gifted literary figures. Their work resonated with generations of young readers. Today's translators face the challenge of continually developing their skills and keeping pace with the rapidly evolving publishing and translation landscape.
Children's books often contain symbols, names, customs, and cultural references that may affect how young readers engage with the text. This raises important questions regarding translation strategies and the degree of flexibility allowed when adapting content.
Some authors and publishers insist that their texts remain unchanged, rejecting any modifications at the linguistic or cultural level. Consequently, publishing agreements should clearly define the extent to which adaptations are permitted when translating children's and young adult books. Publishing houses should also establish clear procedures identifying who is authorized to make editorial adjustments when necessary.
Another important consideration is determining whether a book has already been translated into Arabic or other languages, and whether translation rights are exclusive or available for additional territories.
Major publishers may license translation rights on a regional basis, while others focus on language-based rights. Given that the Arabic language serves readers across twenty-two Arab countries, publishers must carefully assess rights agreements. Multiple translations of the same work can also create confusion among readers, a phenomenon that has occurred with numerous literary titles.
Experience has shown children's publishers that illustrations and characters play a vital role in children's books, especially during early reading stages. An important question concerns the publisher's ability to adapt visual elements to suit the cultural environments in which the translated book will be marketed.
Critics have often highlighted the issue of transferring illustrations and scenes exactly as they appear in the original editions. Children are naturally more attracted to familiar environments and characters that resemble their own experiences. As the saying goes, "Like is drawn to like."
Translation remains one of the most important avenues for creativity, renewal, and cultural enrichment in children's publishing. It should remain open and active in order to continuously introduce fresh ideas and perspectives to young readers.
When children's publishers address these considerations comprehensively rather than individually, they increase their chances of producing outstanding translations that enrich the Arabic children's library and provide meaningful added value for future generations of readers.
Grandmothers’ Tales and Children’s Literature
Children’s literature, as we know it today in its written and printed form, did not emerge overnight. Like all other forms of literature, it passed through many stages before reaching its current shape. Storytelling was considered the very first and most important stage, especially because writing stories and preserving them in written form was once difficult. Therefore, oral narration became the easiest and most complete way to preserve and share stories.
Storytelling methods varied from one storyteller to another, even when the main elements of the story remained the same. The style of narration often depended on the atmosphere and emotions the storyteller wished to convey to listeners. The storyteller usually aimed to deliver educational, moral, heroic, or historical messages, while emphasizing certain events or values. Sometimes storytelling included gestures and movements, while in many cases the narrator relied solely on the spoken word.
As time passed, storytelling methods evolved. To attract children and provide more entertainment, enjoyment, and participation, storytellers began using puppets and moving dolls to represent different characters and bring stories to life. Despite these additional tools, the storyteller never abandoned the essential role of oral narration, changing the tone of voice between strength, softness, and kindness to suit each character being portrayed.
In the beginning, storytelling was not considered a profession. Anyone with the ability to narrate events in an engaging and attractive manner could become a storyteller. Such individuals possessed the talent to present details in a captivating way that kept listeners eager until the end of the story. Over time, however, storytelling became a profession. Traveling storytellers emerged, searching for the best stories—whether ancient or contemporary—to share with children. This required constant travel and continuous training in entertainment and communication skills to attract larger audiences. Storytellers eventually had scheduled gathering times that children awaited with excitement and affection.
Besides their ability to attract attention and directly influence children, storytellers were often characterized by kindness, honesty, tenderness, and credibility. In the absence of professional storytellers, grandmothers took on this important role. They narrated stories in ways very similar to traditional storytellers, but with a stronger educational and moral purpose. Through storytelling, grandmothers focused on teaching values, emphasizing goodness, and presenting stories with sincerity and emotional impact. Their tales often highlighted positive lessons and noble qualities that distinguished grandmothers’ storytelling throughout history.
Despite the passage of time, changing eras, and the dominance of modern technology, grandmothers’ tales have not lost their essence. Grandmothers still tell stories in the same familiar and heartfelt way practiced for generations. What unites them all is a shared purpose: building balanced generations filled with noble values and positive qualities. Through charming and meaningful storytelling, grandmothers preserved the beauty of the past and passed it on to their grandchildren, ensuring that these timeless stories remain rich in elegance, depth, and authenticity. These tales come from loving hearts that strive to pass on the very best of earlier times in order to shape bright and promising future generations.
