Shortlist announced for Arabic Children's Literature Award

The International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature (IAACL), presented by ed and organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), announced the shortlist for its 17th edition during a press conference at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a major library and cultural centre in Alexandria, Egypt.

- Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

This year's selection features 25 titles across five categories, with five books competing in each, and the shortlist highlights the geographic diversity of Arabic publishing, with Jordanian publishers leading with IO nominated books, followed by Egypt with seven, the UAE with four, Lebanon with three, and Bahrain with one.

This year, the award received a record 407 submissions from 22 countries, involving 280 authors, 263 illustrators, and 116 publishers.

The Early Childhood category (ages 0-5): “Abi Yuhib Ummi” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Paulina Morgan, published by Kalimat Group from the UAE; “Indama Ashouru Bil Malal” by Nour Al Huda Mohammed, illustrated by Noura Al Khalifa, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; “Ghadan Yawm Akhar” by Dalia Al Manhal Mirza, illustrated by Maya Majdalani, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; “Kayfa Anam?” by Amal Nasser, illustrated by Sally Samir, published by Kalila wa Dimna from Jordan; and “Matha Yujad Fi Qalbi?” by Yamam Khurtach, illustrated by Shereen Saeed Al Seirafi, published by Al Yasmine Publishing House from Jordan.