The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has selected three Emirati books for its 2024 Honor List. The prestigious list features 184 books from around the world, divided into three categories: writing, illustration, and translation, with one Emirati book selected within each category.

In the writing category, the International Board on Books for Young People selected “Yellow Sea Green Sand” by writer Nadia Al Najjar, illustrated by Haidi Fawzi, and published by Wow Publishing House. In the illustration category, the silent book “The Clown,” written and illustrated by Ayesha Jassim Al Badi and published by AlFulk Translation and Publishing, was chosen.

For the translation category, the IBBY selected “Water Life,” written and illustrated by Jha Rambharos, translated by Samar Mahfouz Barraj, and published by Kalimat Group.

Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People, said: “We are proud of the selection of three books published in the UAE over the last three years for IBBY’s Honor List. This reflects the development and prosperity of the children’s and young adult book industry in the country, and the advanced status enjoyed by the local publishing industry. Our publishers are keeping pace with international standards and are capable of attracting the interest of not only children, parents, and teachers but also international publishing houses looking to translate and distribute these works.”

Al Aqroubi pointed out that the three books nominated by the UAE Board on Books for Young People to compete at the global level are distinguished by their high quality in writing, illustration, and translation, addressing topics close to children’s world and interests. Simultaneously, it reflects the board’s efforts to support and develop the book industry through the workshops and training programs it continuously organizes for those working and interested in this field, as well as to appreciate and honor these contributions through the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Books.

Authors, illustrators and translators whose works have been included in the Honor List will be honored in a special ceremony during the annual conference of the International Board on Books for Young People, which will be held in Italy from August 30 to September 1, 2024.

A special catalog for the Honor List will also be printed, containing details of each book. This catalog aims to encourage children’s and young people’s literature in multiple languages and from diverse cultures around the world.