Dubai Culture Hosts a Reading Initiative to Celebrate International Children’s Book Day

Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated entity for culture, arts and heritage, joined the world in celebrating International Children’s Book Day on 2nd April 2018 through the Dubai Public Library. 

To mark the occasion, Dubai Culture organised a reading initiative as part of its Spring Colours Festival, providing an innovative, exciting reading and knowledge experience for children by setting up reading times in the Al Rashidiya, Al Twar, Hor Al Anz, Al Mankhool and Umm Suqeim branches of the Dubai Public Library. 

Dr. Hissa bin Masood, Director of the Dubai Public Library at Dubai Culture, said: "Our celebration of International Children’s Book Day reflects our efforts to establish a permanent reading community in the UAE. The initiative activated an annual global event linked directly to the objectives of the Dubai Public Library and encouraged a high number of children to spend valuable time reading. Children participating in the ‘Arab Reading Challenge’ initiative were also invited to the event, with a focus on newly launched books.”

During the event, 200 students spent one hour reading more than 1,300 books in Arabic, English and French across various fields. In line with Dubai Culture’s mission to spread happiness across society by strengthening the literature sector, the event transformed the Dubai Public Library branches into platforms for diverse cultural and creative exchange both regionally and internationally.

The world celebrates International Children’s Book Day on 2nd April each year, which marks the birthday of the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen — a prolific author who is best remembered for his children’s fairy tales. The celebration aims to inspire and encourage children to develop a love for reading, while also drawing attention to children's books by organising literary activities, readings and events for children.

The Dubai Public Library network includes eight libraries for adults and another seven for children. Some branches feature multi-purpose halls, classrooms and exhibition spaces and all branches of the Dubai Public Library are connected via computer systems. This has established close links with other modern libraries, providing access to vast sources of information on a diversity of topics in both Arabic and English.