Book conference to foster reading culture among youth

Sharjah: The first Conference of the International Board on Books (IBBY) for Young People for the Region of Central Asia and North Africa (CANA) will be held in Sharjah in April to foster a culture of reading among the youth.

Organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young people (UAEBBY), IBBY will be held under the theme “Bringing Books and Children Together”. The conference will bring together children’s book writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, storytellers, academicians and other experts in the field of children’s literature from across the CANA region on April 21 and 22 at the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“The conference will offer a valuable platform that brings all those concerned with children’s literature and the book industry from across the CANA region together for the first time in the emirate of Sharjah,” Marwa Obaid Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY Board Members, said.

“It also aims to encourage writers, illustrators, and publishers to create and produce books that deal with serious topics that blaze new ground and fulfil children’s intellectual needs, and ultimately help them to achieve their aspirations and look towards the future with confidence,” she added.

The two-day event aims to involve librarians, animators, and cultural agencies to discuss ways on how to promote a reading culture among children irrespective of their age, needs, or environment. It also aims to learn about current and future approaches undertaken by the children’s book publishing sector in the region through panel discussions, papers, presentations and networking sessions.