As part of its participation in Turin International Book Fair (TIBF), which hosts Sharjah, the World Book Capital 2019 as the guest of honour, the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) organised a visit to ‘De Amicis’ primary school, Turin, in cooperation with Italy’s national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY Italy).

UAEBBY’s visit is aimed at sharing culture and knowledge, and enabled young students to explore the creative world of stories, plots and linguistic aesthetics. It also introduced them to the latest illustration techniques utilised in children’s books. The reading sessions were presented by Emirati author and illustrator Alia Al Shamsi and  Italian researcher and author, Dr. Marcella Terrusi, from IBBY Italy.

Author, Alia Al Shamsi expressed her joy after meeting the children who were enthusiastic and interactive during the workshop. She lauded UAEBBY’s efforts and initiatives that aim to involve Emirati writers and intellectuals in international cultural events, which enables intellectuals from all around the world to be introduced to the Emirati creativity and exchange expertise.

“The session was very interactive, and the children had many questions. I could see the passion in their eyes to discover the different worlds in the stories. When you read to children, you unleash their imagination and get to experience first-hand their thought process and wild imagination. Through their inquisitive questions, authors can use them to enrich their future works with more creativity and new angles,” Al Shamsi continued,

The school session was attended by the UAEBBY and IBBY Italy members, and school personnel.

The UAEBBY is the national section of the IBBY, a non-profit organization, which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. IBBY seeks to promote international understanding through children’s books; to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to reading material with high literary and artistic standards; to provide support and training for authors and illustrators involved with children’s literature.