In 2025, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has launched the latest edition of the Sharjah Children’s Book Awards, offering a total prize pool of AED 110,000 to celebrate exceptional works of children’s literature. This esteemed award is part of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), which remains a prominent platform for fostering creativity, literacy, and education within the UAE and the broader Arab world. These awards honor authors, illustrators, and publishers who have made significant contributions to children’s books, offering a mix of categories designed to recognize works across different formats and age groups, including Arabic and English-language books, audio books, and accessible literature for blind and visually impaired children.
The Purpose of the Awards
The Sharjah Children’s Book Awards were established to support the development of high-quality children’s literature in the UAE and beyond. The awards reflect the cultural importance placed on nurturing young minds through reading, storytelling, and creative expression. With the backdrop of the Sharjah Book Authority’s continuous efforts to enhance the reading culture, these awards serve as a beacon for authors and publishers who strive to create books that educate, entertain, and empower young readers.
The awards are held annually and offer a generous financial incentive and global recognition to those who excel in various categories. The categories reflect the diversity of today’s children’s literature landscape, encompassing a wide range of genres, formats, and themes.
Categories of the Sharjah Children’s Book Awards
The Sharjah Children’s Book Awards is divided into several categories, each designed to recognize specific contributions to the world of children’s literature. These include:
1. Sharjah Children’s Book Award
The core of the Sharjah Children’s Book Awards, the Sharjah Children’s Book Award, is split into three sub-categories based on age groups and the type of book:
- Best Arabic Children’s Book (Ages 4–12): This category is dedicated to Arabic-language books that cater to children in the age group of 4 to 12. The judges look for books that are engaging, educational, and imaginative, with themes that resonate with young readers.
- Best Arabic Young Adult Book (Ages 13–17): This sub-category acknowledges works of fiction or non-fiction aimed at older children and young adults. The themes could range from identity and family to larger societal issues. Books that inspire critical thinking and self-reflection, or address contemporary challenges facing adolescents, are typically nominated here.
- Best English Children’s Book (Ages 7–13): Open to authors writing in English, this category includes books for children between the ages of 7 and 13. The themes are broad and can encompass anything from fantasy and adventure to real-world experiences.
Each of the three sub-categories is awarded AED 20,000, contributing a total of AED 60,000 to the prize pool.
2. Sharjah Audio Book Award
In recognition of the growing trend of audiobooks in the digital age, the Sharjah Audio Book Award celebrates high-quality audio productions. This category includes:
- Best Arabic Audio Book: This category rewards excellence in the production of Arabic-language audiobooks. Narrators, sound effects, and the overall quality of the audio production are considered in this category.
- Best English Audio Book: Similarly, this sub-category honors the best audiobooks in the English language. Here, the emphasis is on engaging narration, high production values, and the way the audiobook maintains the essence of the original text.
Each winner in the Sharjah Audio Book Award categories receives a prize of AED 15,000, contributing AED 30,000 to the overall prize pool.
3. Sharjah Children’s Book Award for Visually Impaired
One of the most significant aspects of the Sharjah Children’s Book Awards is its focus on accessibility. The Sharjah Children’s Book Award for Visually Impaired is an initiative that highlights the need for literature to be accessible to all children, including those with disabilities. Books submitted in this category must cater specifically to children with visual impairments, incorporating tactile features, Braille text, and other sensory elements to make the reading experience as inclusive as possible.
The award for this category is AED 20,000, and the winning book will also receive publishing support, with a focus on global distribution to ensure that visually impaired children across the world have access to quality literature. This prize exemplifies Sharjah’s commitment to making literature available for every child, regardless of their abilities.
Submitting to the Awards: Guidelines and Requirements
Authors, illustrators, and publishers wishing to submit their works for consideration must adhere to specific guidelines. The deadline for submitting entries for the 2025 edition of the awards is in late March, and it is essential that all submissions meet the eligibility criteria:
- Eligibility: Only books that are first editions published in the last two years are eligible for the award.
- Submission Process: Participants must submit three non-returnable copies of the book for which they are nominating. These should be sent to the Sharjah Book Authority’s official submission portal.
- Additional Documentation: Authors and illustrators must submit their CVs, a profile of the publishing house, and a copy of their passport. The submission of a digital file or electronic version of the book is also encouraged in some categories.
- Languages: Both Arabic and English books are accepted, ensuring that the awards represent the linguistic diversity of the region.
The submissions will be evaluated by a panel of experts who have extensive experience in children’s literature, audio production, and accessibility. The criteria for selection include creativity, originality, narrative quality, educational value, and overall contribution to the field of children’s literature.
Encouraging the Future of Children’s Literature
The Sharjah Children’s Book Awards are not just about recognition; they are a stepping stone toward fostering the growth and development of the children’s book industry in the UAE and beyond. Winning an award can catapult authors, illustrators, and publishers into international recognition, giving them the visibility to reach new markets and expand their readership.
Moreover, the awards encourage a greater focus on diverse storytelling, with themes ranging from cultural heritage and historical narratives to modern-day adventures and issues. By creating a platform for various genres of children’s literature, Sharjah aims to cultivate a generation of young readers who are well-rounded, empathetic, and curious about the world around them.
The Sharjah Children’s Book Awards also play a significant role in encouraging the production of books that reflect both traditional and modern values. They provide an opportunity for young readers to connect with literature that speaks to their personal experiences while also exposing them to global perspectives, all while making sure that books are accessible to children with different abilities.
Conclusion: A Bright Future for Young Readers
As the Sharjah Children’s Book Awards 2025 continues to inspire creativity and excellence in children’s literature, it remains a testament to the UAE’s commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that foster education and creativity. The awards’ emphasis on inclusivity, accessibility, and the celebration of both Arabic and English literature ensures that children everywhere have access to the stories that shape their imaginations.
With a generous prize pool and the backing of Sharjah’s world-renowned cultural institutions, these awards will continue to encourage new voices in children’s literature while strengthening the cultural fabric of the region and beyond. For authors, illustrators, and publishers, winning a Sharjah Children’s Book Award is more than just a prestigious accolade—it is an affirmation of their impact on young minds and the future of reading.
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