The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF) stands as a beacon of creativity and storytelling excellence in the ever-expanding landscape of children’s literature. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the festival returns this spring, from April 23 to May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, inviting authors, publishers, and illustrators to submit their works for three distinguished literary awards by March 31.

With a combined prize of AED 110,000, the Sharjah Children’s Book Award, the Sharjah Audio Book Award, and the Books for Visually Impaired Children Award do more than recognise outstanding books. They cultivate a literary culture that enriches young minds across the Arab world and beyond. By celebrating originality and craftsmanship in storytelling, the initiative seeks to inspire a new generation of readers, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of books.

The path begins with a submission for authors, illustrators, and publishers eager to leave their mark on children’s literature. Entries for the awards can be made through the official SCRF website (https://www.scrf.ae/en/awards), with applicants required to provide three non-returnable copies of their nominated book, a publishing house profile, and the CVs and passport copies of both the author and illustrator via https://www.scrf.ae/en/awardnominationform.

Celebrating storytelling across languages and ages

The Sharjah Children’s Book Award is at the heart of the festival’s literary accolades. It recognises compelling storytelling across age groups and languages. The award, which has a total prize of AED 60,000, is divided equally among winners in three categories: Arabic Children’s Books (4–12 years), Arabic Young Adult Books (13–17 years), and English-language Children’s Books (7–13 years).

Beyond its monetary value, the award recognises creativity and literary excellence. Eligible submissions must be first editions published within the past two years, ensuring that young readers have access to new and original stories. Authors who have previously won in the same category must wait two years before applying again.

Translated or adapted works are ineligible; submissions must specify the intended age group. While submitted copies remain with the organisers, the festival reserves the right to feature winning books in promotional campaigns. The names of the honoured authors and illustrators will be revealed in a dedicated ceremony during the festival.

Expanding access to the written word

Beyond celebrating storytelling, the festival champions inclusivity through the Books for Visually Impaired Children Award. Valued at AED 20,000, this category is not merely about recognition. It is a mission to ensure that blind and visually impaired children can access the same literary experiences as their peers.

The same conditions apply for submitting entries in this category, in addition to incorporating tactile illustrations, using raised and textured elements that allow young readers to explore stories through touch, entries must also incorporate tactile illustrations. Texts must be printed in large, clear fonts and Braille, with careful attention paid to page design to facilitate seamless tactile reading. Thoughtful colour contrasts further ensure that books remain accessible to those with partial vision.

Embracing the digital evolution of storytelling

As the landscape of literature evolves, so does the way stories are told. The Sharjah Audio Book Award recognises excellence in this growing format, awarding AED 30,000 equally to outstanding productions in two categories: Best Arabic Audio Book and Best English Audio Book. Each winner will receive AED 15,000, underscoring the festival’s commitment to high-quality narration, production, and storytelling. Eligible entries must align with the criteria set by the Sharjah Children’s Book Award, ensuring that the same literary and creative excellence applies across all formats.