Sharjah24: The Advisory Board of The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) held its first meeting to discuss the board’s action plan for the year 2022 and explore ways to enhance its role in promoting a culture of reading among children and youth by launching a series of initiatives and events that aim to raise the standards of children’s books.
Headed by Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, the board also discussed its participation in various cultural events in the UAE and aborad, including book fairs, workshops, and story-reading activities.
Held at Al Suhub Rest House in Khorfakkan, the meeting was attended by Khawla Al Mujaini, Director of Exhibitions and Festivals at the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Eman Bushulaibi, Director of Sharjah Public Library (SPL), Majd Al Shehhi, Publishers Relations Manager at Emirates Publishers Association (EPA); Nadia Al Najjar, author of children and young people’s books; Wafaa Ibrahim, illustrator of children’s books; and Alyazia Khalifa, Founder of Al Fulk Translation and Publishing.
During the meeting, the board reviewed the preparations for the participation in diverse events and exhibitions, including The Month of Reading, the “Middle East Film & Comic Con”, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the International Children’s Book Day, the London Book Fair, the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), the World Congress of the International Board of Books for Young People, and the Kan Yama Kan (KYK) initiative which is organised by UAEBBY in Ramadan.
Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY said: "The meeting aimed to discuss integrated action plan (roadmap) that embodies the Board’s vision and mission to facilitate communication and information exchange among individuals and organisations concerned with children’s literature in the UAE and abroad, give children throughout the UAE the opportunity to have access to books of high literary and artistic standards, encourage the publication and distribution of quality children’s books nationwide and help raise the standards of children’s books to international levels”.
Al Aqroubi highlighted the UAEBBY’s commitment to support all efforts that contribute to the development of creative works dedicated to children, by facilitating communication with authors, illustrators and cultural institutions locally and globally and launching initiatives that promote reading culture, noting that members of the advisory board who have wealth of experience and knowledge in the children's book industry and publishing sector, have shared valuable ideas to further the Board’s mission in the future.
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) has announced the formation of a new advisory board in November 2021 during its participation in Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). The new board represents the Board in the international cultural events, conferences, and book fairs. It is charged also with setting and reviewing UAEBBY’s action plans and achievements during its quarterly meetings.
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