Author Hadeel Ghonim and illustrator Sahar Abdullah were announced the winners of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature 2020 at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2020 on November 5, 2020.
Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature is an Arabic literary award for children’s literature established by the Arab Children’s Book Publisher’s Forum in 2009. The awards sponsored by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of UAEBBY (United Arab Emirates Board on Books for Young People is announced each year during the Sharjah International Book Fair.
The Etisalat Award this edition saw 174 authors, 158 illustrators and 93 publishers in the region compete. The judging panel comprised Noura Al Noman, novelist and science fiction writer; Dr. Abdulrahman Buali, PhD in Arabic Literature and Language; Salwa Shakhshir, General Manager of Al Salwa Publishing; Sinan Hallaq, children’s book illustrator; and Ahmed Al Ali, Managing Editor of Rewayat.
This panel announced the winner of the Etisalat Award’s ‘Children’s Book of the Year’ as Shahrazizi’s Nights: A Tale Within a Tale Within a Tale, penned by Hadeel Ghonim, illustrated by Sahar Abdullah, and published by Al-Balsam Publishing House, Egypt.
Speaking at the virtual event, HE Abdulaziz Taryam, CEO, Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat – Northern Emirates, said: “Sponsoring one of the most prominent literary awards in the Arab world reflects our keenness to support all initiatives that spur positive change in society, and impact the present and future of our young generations. Supporting the award underscores our unwavering commitment to identifying and nurturing new literary and creative talent, be it in the field of writing, illustration or design. The Award also aligns with our vision to support and promote an inspiring intellectual and cultural environment to further the development of the UAE across the economic, cultural and social domains.”
The two winners go home with the AED 300,000 prize money.
