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Sharjah: Emirati children will be provided with a pack of books delivered free to their homes during next year's book fair to improve their reading habits.
"Each and every UAE national family will be given a bookcase filled with children's books, to encourage them to read and to help them face the challenges presented by the electronic media," said His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Speaking at the inauguration of the annual Sharjah World Book Fair that started on Wednesday at Sharjah Expo Centre, Dr Shaikh Sultan stressed that electronic books will never defeat the uniqueness of printed books and it is important to shield children from the internet.
"Public and school libraries will be supplied with books on culture, so that children will have easy access. We have to make the children enjoy reading books and by presenting them with this gift, they will be encouraged to confront the internet," said Dr Shaikh Sultan.
Over 725 publishers from 41 countries will exhibit their publications. This includes eight foreign publishers who have collaborated for the first time with Arab publishers in translating their books. An estimated 100,000 titles will be displayed in Arabic, English and other languages spread over 400 stalls in four halls.
The number of foreign publishers participating at the fair is 272 from 23 countries, and there are 491 Arab publishers from 18 countries. "The Sharjah Book Fair has contributed a great deal in positively building the cultural bridges between the East and the West, through the communication between writers and publishers," said Abdullah Al Owais, Director General of Sharjah Department of Culture.
Kalimat, the first publishing house in the region to specialise in Arabic books for children, will also participate at the 10-day fair. Kalimat, an initiative run by Shaikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, will host daily reading sessions and art workshops at the fair.
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