Looking for something brilliant to do with the kids this month? The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is back for its 13th edition and this year there’s an extra-special twist: a robot zoo. You heard us.
Head to Expo Centre Sharjah from Wednesday May 11 to Sunday May 22 and you’ll find an immersive experience full of art, literature and culture. The event is organised annually by Sharjah Book Authority. It is the largest children’s reading event in the region.
The 12-day agenda has more than 1,900 activities including kids’ activities, cultural displays, theatre and artistic performances. The event will host renowned artists and publishers, artists, actors, culinary experts, social media influencers and more.
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For the first time ever, the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival will also unveil a special robot zoo: an exhibition of eight animal robots built to resemble wild creatures. The exhibition is based on the book The Robot Zoo by Marshall Editions and is designed to capture the imaginations of curious kiddos.
The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival is also hosting its inaugural booksellers conference: the first of its kind in the world. It will bring together more than 200 regional and international booksellers, distributors and publishers to network and strengthen the industry. There will also be 43 international authors from 21 countries who will host 120 cultural activities.
Wondering what else is happening? There will be 139 publishers from 15 countries around the world showcasing their works. There will also be more than 50 Emirati and Arab publishers and illustrators. Additionally, there will be a whopping 130 performances of four live shows and two theatrical plays. Take the kids to see a musical adaptation of The Magic School Bus, an ice-skating show and more.
Celebrity chefs and cookbook authors including Ciara Atwell and Dario Stephen will liven up the cookery corner, while the social media station will host 25 activities led by influencers and content creators. The Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival will also host the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Exhibition with 23 workshops and 296 artists and illustrators.
First, we’re heading straight to the robot zoo. Talk about imagination.
Sat May 11-22. Expo Centre Sharjah, scrf.ae.
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