The integral role of the visual narrative in storytelling and enhancing a child’s sense of wonder takes the spotlight at the 12^th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival currently on at Expo Centre Sharjah where artists and illustrators from 50 countries are exhibiting 395 works at the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition, running alongside the main event.

Currently in its 9^th edition, the IllustrationExhibition features 106 works of artists from across 15 Arab nations while artists from 35 foreign countries are exhibiting 289 picturesque works.

From realistic and abstract styles to images with a bright and cheery palette, or sombre shades and monochromatic illustrations, the works on display instantly shifts the mood from happy and magical to mysterious, gloomy, or scary as it provides an immediate connection with the setting of the story.

Depicting a wide range of artistic techniques to effectively provide the context and the personality of a book’s characters, the exhibition demonstrates the power of the visual narrative in helping young readers establish a relationship with the written word, and in opening the doors to their understanding of a story.

Incorporating both modern and folkloric elements from 50 cultures around the world including Estonia, Chile, Greece, Japan, South Korea,Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Lithuania, Argentina, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, amongst others, the exhibition offers a glimpse into the unlimited possibilities a single image has in bringing a story to life.

The UAE is represented through the works of Emirati artists Salem Al Junaibi and Asma Alhosani, the bold colours of Eman AlRaesi’s simple designs and the stark visuals of Khalid Al Banna.

The bold, expressive, and innovative artistry on display reinforces the endearing appeal of illustrations in sparking imagination and enriching the text even as it transcends the boundaries of language.