“My real passion is drawing and doing something creative. I’m good at working with my hands,” noted children’s books illustrator Alessia Bravo as she led an illustrations workshop for children at the 12^th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival. Her works are part of the 9^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition running at SCRF 2021.

Children of all ages unleashed their creativity onto paper, using vibrant crayons, colours and cutting paper to create a 2D collage. When learning becomes fun, the experience is immersive. Even after the workshop ended, kids sat around absorbed in putting final finishing touches to their art work as they attentively listened to the feedback they were receiving from the award-winning illustrator.

“In workshops you get to see how kids think and imagine, and they surprise you! If you just give them an idea, they can take it from there to create amazing things. I would like to be like them,” added Bravo.

Bravo won the Tallinn Illustrations Triennial Grand Prix in 2017 for illustrating French children’s book ‘La Bleine du Bus 29,’ and has been honoured with the UFUQ Award launched this year by SCRF.

With the aim to promote children’s books that feature high-quality visual content that can compete globally in the publishing industry, the Children’s Book Makers Platform (UFUQ) offers financial support of $1500 to each participating illustrator for the production of one book.

Hosting literary discussions by 32 participating authors from 15 countries, both in-person and through online formats, Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival gives kids the exceptional opportunity to step out freely in a safe and sanitized environment. The prestigious 11-day event is running at Expo Centre Sharjah until May 29.