Over on ArabLit M. Lynx Qualey last week translated and summarised the announcements for the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature shortlists (reposted here with permission)

The five shortlists — for best text, best illustrations, best production, best book, and young adult — were announced on the opening day of the Frankfurt International Book Fair.

Young adult

There were only three books shortlisted for this year’s YA category:

Taghreed Najjar’s Whose Doll Is This, a compelling novel set between Chicago, Jaffa, and Beirut that follows the fate of a doll left behind when Arwa’s grandma fled her Jaffa home in 1948;

Fatima Sharafeddine’s Plump Mila, about a girl’s struggles with anorexia; and

Me and the Crew by Mais Dagher, ill. the acclaimed Lena Merhej, about a boy named Ibrahim who’s bullied after he discovers a secret.

“Best Book of the Year” category

This four-book shortlist includes:

Abu Karkouba, by Nabiha Muhaidli and ill. Walid Taher (Dar al-Hadaek);

With All the Love in My Heart, by Anas Abu Rahma and ill. Lubna Taha (Palestine Writing Workshop);

Damascus: The Story of a City, by Alaa Murtada (Dar al-Balsam); and

A Story about “س” and “ل,” also by Anas Abu Rahma, ill. Lubna Taha (The National Publishing House of Jordan).

 “Best Text” category

The four-book shortlist includes:

Abu Karkouba, written by Nabiha Muhaidli and ill. Walid Taher (Dar al-Hadaek);

Damascus: The Story of a City, by Alaa Murtada (Dar al-Balsam);

Everything’s Going to Be Okay, by Mohamed El-Atabi, ill. Ali Shamseddine (Dar al-Hadaek);

For One Simple Reason!, by Samar Taher ill. Sasha Haddad (Dar Asala).

“Best Illustrations” category

The four-book shortlist includes:

I Fly by Dr. Amani Saad Alnajem, ill. Khalid Zaini (Alif Ba Ta Publishing); 

Bows of Friendship, by Fatima Hamad Al Mazroui, ill. Walid Taher and Mohammed Ibrahim (Hudhud Publishing and Distribution);

Doll House, by Jakeer Khorshid, ill. Faris Gara Beat (Dar Rabie); and

Day of Fairy Tales, by Khawla Ali Mohammed, ill. Ghazala Picadillo (Dar al-Buraq Children’s Culture).

“Best Production”

The four-book shortlist includes:

Abu Karkouba, by Nabiha Muhaidli and ill. Walid Taher (Dar al-Hadaek);

Island of the Blessed Seas, by Walid Taher (Yanbow Al Kitab);

Sanjoob and the Spilt Milk, by Haifa Mohareb Sawarka, Ill. Javiera MacLean, (Salwa Books); and

Damascus: The Story of a City, by Alaa Murtada (Dar al-Balsam).

“Best Silent Book” category

This was a new category and no shortlist was announced.

Prize organizers reported that this year they had received 175 submissions from around the world, and that winners in all categories — including the new “Best Silent Book” category — would be announced at the opening ceremony of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2019, on October 30, 2019.

The 1.2 million AED in prize money (approximately USD $325,000) is divided between authors, illustrators, and publishers.