Sharjah:Children at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) are engaging in a ‘Storybook Making’ workshop, where they harness their creativity to write, draw, and design their own illustrated books in just 30 minutes.
According to Sharjah 24, the workshop, held at Expo Centre Sharjah, provides young participants with the chance to turn personal experiences and imaginative ideas into individual storybooks. Trainers Nandar and Naza supply the children with dummy books, acrylic markers, stickers, and decorative elements to help them write, illustrate, and design their stories.
The activity aims to foster children's imagination and creativity, encouraging them to express themselves through storytelling. The resulting stories reflect a range of interests and imaginations, such as tales of a princess in a small wooden house, a carrot-loving rabbit watched by a hungry fox, and narratives of everyday routines.
Grade 3 student Abdullah Imran Yousef crafted a battle scene with forts and flags, inspired by an activity he enjoys at home. Participants had the option to write their stories in Arabic or bring their ideas to life through drawings. By the end of the session, each child left with a personalized picture storybook.
The workshop is part of SIBF 2026, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority, which features 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries and showcases over 1.7 million titles. The 12-day event includes 1,500 cultural, creative, and artistic activities such as literary discussions, author interactions, workshops, theatrical performances, the Thriller Festival, and the Cookery Corner.