A host of international luminaries in the field of children’s literature will be participating in the 12^th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), which takes place May 19-29 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), a prime feature of the 11-day annual festival for children and youth will be an extensive programme of workshops, competitions, plays, and cultural events, including appearances by 16 renowned authors from around the world, some of whom will be attending the event in person. Others will lead sessions via virtual platforms.

This edition will feature New York-based Japanese manga artist Misako Rocks who will be present at the festival to trace her successful journey as a published artist, how she developed her signature style and talk about her current project Bounce Back. Kevin Sherry, American author and illustrator of The Yeti Files, the award-winning I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean and the Remy Sneaker series, will also attend the festival in person. He is also a chef, a cyclist and a puppeteer.

Also from the US, bestselling author and illustrator of This is How I do it, Matt Lamothe will attend in person, while Nanette Heffernan, author of the picture book Earth Hour and climate change activist, will interact with her audience virtually. Compatriot Abby Cooper, bestselling author of the middle grade novels Sticks and Stones, Friend or Fiction and Bubbles, will also appear at SCRF virtually.

Celebrated writers appearing person include Swaady Martin, also a serial entrepreneur and activist from the Ivory Coast; New York Times best-seller writer and illustrator Colombian Claudia Reuda; illustrator and designer and author of Leila in Saffron and Sleeping Beauty, DinaraMirtalipova from Uzbekistan; Pakistani author of The Cosmos That Allah has Changed, Zenubia Arsalan; founder and lead writer of the Greenfeet Guides, American Ambika Anand Prakop.

Authors and illustrators participating virtually from the UK include: Sebastian de Souza, an actor producer, screenwriter, musician and author of KID: A History of the Future; FransieFranden, writer, illustrator and graphic designer and author of Do Grannies Have Green Fingers?; Katie and Kevin Tsang, writers of children and young adult novels, including Sam Wu is NOT Afraid; author of A Pocketful of Stars, Aisha Bushby; and Wereworld writer and designer of the BAFTA-winning Bob the Builder, Curtis Jobling.

Themed ‘For Your Imagination,’ the forthcoming 12^th edition of SCRF will see the participation of 27 authors and 172 publishers from 15 nations. A host of popular artists and experts will lead 385 workshops and specialised activities. The event will also host cultural sessions, cookery shows and plays, among other interactive sessions.