This year’s edition of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair takes place from 23-29 May, with a mix of educational and professional sessions all designed to emphasise the power of reading, listening, and learning in children and adults alike.
Every session is FREE to attend, so register now before tickets run out!
| Education Sessions | Cultural |
Education Sessions
Monday 23 May
Across the Line with Nayanika Mahtani
Time: 10:00-11:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 12+
Language: English
Strand: Inspire
In a time when we see schisms and fault lines across the world, history and personal trauma are interwoven skilfully into a fast-paced novel with themes which resonate today. Looking at how borders and beliefs are shaped by the games played by those in power, author Nayanika Mahtani holds up a mirror to the partition of the Indian sub-continent as she sensitively shows how the shadows of the past can affect us in the present, in this session on her award-winning YA novel, Across the Line.
Tuesday 24 May
Ancient Myths in the Modern World – The Greatest Stories Ever… Retold
Time: 10:00-11:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 8-12
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
From ancient myths to modern storytelling, the hero’s journey has had the power to enthrall, surprise, and inspire people from all over the world. Using contemporary books and movies, Mr. Gallicano guides students through the hero’s journey, examining how the stages of the journey can be seen throughout time in mythology and our own lives. This exploration provides an understanding of the deep connections that exist between different cultures and how all great stories tap into the universal human experience. Join Mr. Gallicano as reveals how you are the hero in your own journey…and how to listen for your call to adventure.
Todd Calgi Gallicano is the author of Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw, The Selkie of San Francisco, and Search for the Swan Maiden, the first three books in the critically acclaimed Sam London Adventure series. The books encourage readers to learn more about mythology and folklore, and to visit and support the world’s majestic national parks. They are also available in German under the title Magic Guardians.
When he’s not working on the next Sam London adventure, Mr. Gallicano is a Hollywood screenwriter. His screenplay Best. Christmas. Ever. is currently in production for Netflix and stars Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño.
Power of Poetry Workshop with Dr Afra Atiq and Danabelle Gutierrez
Time: 11:30-13:00
Location: Second Stage
Age: 12+
Language: English
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
Harness the power of words to express your thoughts and feelings in this workshop from two of the UAE’s top poets. Open yourself to this creative experience as Afra and Danabelle show how to tap into your artistic soul.
Dr Afra Atiq is an Emirati scholar and poet. She has won numerous awards for her poetry and has been featured on stages across the world. Her art explores a broad range of topics which include heritage, culture, identity, legacy, self-acceptance, grief, and almost everything in between. She writes and performs in a blend of English, Arabic, and French. She’s a founding member of Untitled Chapters – a community for Emirati women writers.
Danabelle Gutierrez is a writer, actress, and photographer and one of Illustrado’s 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf in 2020. She has performed her poetry with various groups throughout the UAE with her work published in & Until The Dreams Come and I Long To Be The River.
Wednesday 25 May
Secrets of the Mangroves with Ahmed Al Shoaibi
Time: 10:00-11:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 5-11
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
Storyteller Ahmed Al Shoaibi entertains with his new book, Secrets of the Mangroves, about a girl who gets lost kayaking in the Mangroves only to have the animals who live in that environmental ecosystem help guide her back to her family.
Al Shoaibi has visited numerous schools in the UAE with his delightful picture books including The Tales of Hamad and The Tales of Ayesha, to do book readings, book signings and discussions about topics such as the importance of reading and Emirati identity.
Citrus the Smoothie Sloth with Ebtisam Al Beiti
Time: 11:30-12:30
Location: Main Stage
Age: 4+
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
Sloths should be sleepy….. but Citrus didn’t feel sleepy at all! He wanted his friends to love his homemade smoothies but they just wanted to keep on napping… Until Millie Monkey comes up with a great idea that makes everyone happy. Join captivating storyteller Ebtisam Al-Beiti in this interactive and fun event for younger children.
As a published children’s author and early years professional who is usually found in a noisy classroom or running operations as an experienced vice-principal, Ebtisam Al-Beiti is the perfect presenter to entertain and educate a young audience. Her first book ‘Can I Go Out Now?’ was launched in January 2021 and was featured in The Reading for Pleasure Project, a UAE school government reading program initiated by The Emirates Literature Foundation and The UAE Ministry of Education.
Thursday 26 May
Drawing with Maitha Under the Sea! (Illustration Workshop)
Time: 10:00-11:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 6-10
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
Pencils at the ready! Draw along with Maitha Al Khayat as she introduces you to the latest characters from her new book with Julia Johnson, Aisha’s Pearl, and shows how you can add colour to your own stories with illustrations that bring them to life.
Maitha Al Khayat is an Emirati and an International children’s author and illustrator. With 170 publications, she delights children with her quirky yet cultural stories through interactive storytelling and workshops. Her most recent book is an acclaimed collaboration with author Julia Johnson, Aisha’s Pearl .
Her picture book My Own Special Way was awarded best children’s books in the Children’s forum in Riyadh, 2011, also translated into English and Turkish. It was shortlisted for best book in translation for Marsh Awards 2013. Also, Turn Off The Lights was awarded Best Children’s Book at the Publisher’s Association in Sharjah in 2016. Her illustrations of Father’s Date Palm Trees were shortlisted for the Best Picture Book prize at the Zayed Book Award in 2020. Her recent picture book Grandma Moudy Fashionista is also translated into Italian. Maitha wrote children’s TV shows like Iftah Ya Simsim, Sesame Street and Hamdoon, an Emirati cartoon show.
Maitha enjoys reading picture books to children and her four cats.
Tala The Bengal Tiger with Beverly Jatwani
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 3+
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
What is the connection between the little girl Veera and the mysterious and endangered Bengal tiger, Tala? This chance encounter will forever change Veera’s understanding of courage, helping her to fight her own fear and ultimately stand up for what she believes in. Tiger facts and an exciting adventure story make this perfect for young ones.
Having witnessed how children engage with nature at the nursery which she co-founded, Beverly Jatwani was inspired to write a series of children’s books that capture the innate love and affinity that children have with Planet Earth. Through her stories, Beverly takes children on their own journey to discover how even little people can make a positive impact on our planet. Her seven books for children include Pedro the Puerto Rican Parrot and Tala the Bengal Tiger.
Junior Spotlight
Time: 16:00-17:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: All Ages
Language: English
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
Get ready to be amazed and entertained as youngsters from throughout Abu Dhabi take to the stage to show off their creative talents in music, drama, dance, and performance.
Friday 27 May
Luam’s Balm with Layne Redman
Time: 10:00-11:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: 6+
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
Early one summer’s day, Luam and his sister stumble across a magical shea tree in the back of their garden and are transported to a place they have never been. Jamaica! There, Luam finds himself running a race against two of the fastest boys in the country. But will Luam choose victory or risk it all to help someone in need? Powerful messages of kindness and positivity make this a feel-good session for all!
Layne Redman is an award-winning TV presenter, actor, voice-over artist and writer based between London and Dubai. Since becoming a father 10 years ago Layne became aware of the lack of books for black and mixed-race children. This gave him the inspiration to write for children, with the focus on creating and sharing stories for children that looked like his.
Voices of Future Generations: Hear how to make the world a better place from our child authors
Time: 11:00-12:00
Location: Main Stage
Age: All Ages
Language: English
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
Can you imagine how the world could be a better place? One where we look after the planet and each other, a place where everyone is equal, with enough food to eat and clean water to drink, where animals thrive, one where we respect our differences and look out for each other as friends?
Two young authors who have taken their passion for creating a better world to heart by writing winning stories inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals will be reading extracts and talking about how you can get involved. They are ten-year-old Saoud Ahmed Alkaabi who studies at Omair bin Abi Waqqas School in Kalba and Saira Thomas whose dream is to popularise vegetarianism because she believes that it can make the world a better place. Saira is 12 years old and from Cambridge International School Dubai.
And if you feel that you could make your vision for the future into an adventure story, why not enter the Voices of Future Generations competition and become a child author yourself?
The 22 winning stories of the second round of Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East Region are now available for all to read in Young Voices of Arabia 2021, a beautifully produced collection in Arabic and English, illustrated by UAE-based artists.
See if you have can find a golden ticket during this session– winners receive a free copy of the book!
Professional Development Sessions
Kaan Ya ma Kaan with Dr Hanada Taha Thomure
Date and Time: Tuesday, 24 May at 10:00-13:00
Location: Business Lounge
Language: Arabic
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
Research suggests that students who are not fluent readers by Grade 3/4 will have difficulty learning other subjects all through school. This session will focus on the 4 types of reading that teachers can engage students in and all the skills that can be taught using authentic children’s literature. Those skills include phonics, reading, reading comprehension, morphology, fluency and vocabulary. Please come ready to participate in reading, discussion and fun activities.
Target Audience: K-9 Arabic language teachers
Librarians as Leaders: Librarians’ Training by Mary Rose Grieve
Date and Time: Wednesday, 25 May at 10:00-13:00
Location: Business Lounge
Language: English
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
The role of the school librarian is instrumental to a whole school approach to reading and literacy. This workshop will explore ways that we can inspire and implement change and to develop and embed a reading culture in schools. We will look at ways to collaborate with teachers and share ideas and best practice. There will be lots of practical ideas on how you can be involved from learning to read to disciplinary reading, from reading in and beyond the curriculum to reading for pleasure. With lots of opportunities for collaboration and discussion, this workshop will give you the confidence to implement new ideas and lead from the library.
Mary Rose Grieve is the librarian at Hartland International School where she has overseen the development of the library since 2015 from a Primary library to three separate libraries for Primary, Secondary and staff professional development. She was UAE School Librarian of the Year in 2019 and is the Joint Honorary Secretary for the national committee of CILIP SLG. She is currently completing her chartership with CILIP and is working on an NPQSL, a professional qualification in senior leadership. She is reviewer for Just Imagine and a school governor. Passionate about the crucial role of the library in leading whole school literacy, reading for pleasure and inquiry learning, she is looking forward to collaborating with colleagues in this workshop.
Reading Rocks: The importance of books for young children and how to encourage families to read at home
Date and Time: Thursday, 26 May at 12:30-13:30
Location: Main Stage
Language: English
Strand: Inspire, Enrich
Join acclaimed author and illustrator Maitha Al Khayat, gifted storyteller and author Ebtisam Al Bheiti, author and early years educator Beverly Jatwani, and expert librarian Mary Rose Grieve in this discussion on how to instil a love of reading in your students, and encourage parents to enrich their children’s lives by developing the habit of reading to children at home.
Moderator: Dania Droubi, Head of Education, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
Cultural Sessions
Wikimedians of the UAE
Date and Time: Sunday, 29 May at 11:00-13:00
Location: Business Lounge
Age: 18+
Language: Arabic
Strand: Create, Inspire, Enrich
Join the Wikimedians of UAE User Group at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair for an edit-a-thon to enrich the “Abu Dhabi Book Fair” article on Wikipedia with more information and sections.
Seize this opportunity to learn the fundamentals of editing on Wikipedia.
Just bring your laptops and join us on a journey to enrich digital Arabic content!
Contact Us
If you have any further questions regarding the event, you can email us at aliya.khan@emirateslitfest.com.
Or give us a call:
| Aliya Khan +971 4 355 9844 |
Aira Jane Anupol +971 4 355 9844 (ext 111) |
