“This is one of the most well-organised book fairs,” says Jon Malinowski, President of The Combined Book Exhibit, who has brought the latest best-sellers from top publisher in Canada, UK and the US to the 12^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), which runs at Expo Centre Sharjah until May 29.

Excited to be here after a year’s gap, Malinowski has been coming to SCRF– the region’s largest and most important festival of its kind – forthe past 10 years.

“Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival has done a great job in executing COVID-19 health and safety protocols. It’s wonderful to see visitors of all age groups trickling in to enjoy and learn from the festival’s myriad cultural and artistic offerings,” noted Jon.

Attending an event of this scale has a two-fold advantage for international publishers, agents and book distributors as it gives them the opportunity to meet with industry professionals from around the world while they interact and reachout directly to the public as well.

“Most international publishing events of this scale have a stronger B2B focus. And while the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival has offered international publishers a platform to enable their post-COVID-19 recovery with new book deals, copyright exchanges, and expand their distribution network in this region,it has also served as a much-needed bridge between them and their customers,”Malinowski observed.

At a time when there are enough distractions to keep children away from the written and spoken word, the event is also a timely reminder that literacy, books and reading are equally important for them to help ignite their imagination, build inner confidence and develop their character. Some of the best sellers at the pavilion include recent releases such as Five Feet Apart, The Accidental Prime Minister as well as classics like Moby Dick, Jungle Book, Alice in Wonderland and Pride and Prejudice.

172 publishers from 15 countries across the globe are showcasing their books and literary material at the 12^thSharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) which runs till May 29^th at the Sharjah Expo Centre. Hosting an exciting series of events, workshops and interactive activities, the prestigious event aims to transport the young generation to a wonderful world of innovative edutainment.