The Winners: 2026 International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature

NOVEMBER 5, 2026 — Yesterday in Sharjah, organizers announced the five winners of the prestigious 2026 International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature.

Five books were chosen in five categories, from among the twenty-five shortlisted titles. This year’s winners include a charming picture book on shapes; a picture book about a boy who picks his nose; chapter book on children in Gaza living through siege; a historical YA novel about a boy growing up in Damascus in the late 19th century; and poetic nonfiction about Arab heritage.

Early readers (0-5): Shapes from Imagination, by Nasser Al Dousari, ill. Maya Majdalani (Zingo Ringo Books, Switzerland)

Picture books (5-9): Fahman, by Masarra Touqan, ill. Maya Majdalani (Kalila wa Dimna Publishing, Jordan)

Chapter books (9-12): Unbeseiged Minds, by Shireen Sabaegh and Lina Abou Chaban, ill. Shirouq Idris, Amani Albaba, Abdullah Qawariq, Na’eem Ajouli, and Diyala Zada (Jabal Amman Publishers, Jordan)

Young adult (13-18): The Boy Who Lost His Dream, by Rima Al-Sha’al (Ru’ya Publishing and Distribution, Turkey)

Nonfiction: A Journey through Knowledge with Arab and Muslim Scholars, by Muhannad Al-Aqous, ill. Omar Lafi (Noon Books: Nahed Al-Shawa Cultural Foundation, Canada)

There were 434 valid submissions this year, organizers announced, with authors from 20 countries and illustrators from 33.

Read more: Unbesieged Minds wins 2026 International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature