Ithra Launches Fifth Edition of Children’s Book Fair with South Korea as Guest of Honor

Dhahran – Asdaf News:

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) launches the fifth edition of the Children’s Book Fair, in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The dynamic and inclusive Fair is designed to inspire children aged 4 to 14 and promote early engagement with books and reading culture, serving as a platform that nurtures imagination, critical thinking, and dialogue between generations and across cultures.

This year, Ithra welcomes South Korea as the Fair’s Guest of Honor, offering young readers an immersive experience into Korean children’s literature, traditions, and storytelling.

Highlights include:

• A special session led by Korean author and artist Han Damhee, the first Asian recipient of the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, one of the leading platforms for children’s literary awards. In this session, children will explore the craft of making mini books and designing traditional Korean hand fans.
• A dedicated Korean booth featuring a curated collection of Korean children’s literature translated into English, providing young readers with a unique cross-cultural perspective.

To mark this important occasion in Saudi-Korean cultural ties, the Acting Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Moon Byung-Jun, attended the Fair’s launch on 14 July.

In his remarks, Acting Ambassador H.E Moon said: “I am delighted to deepen Korea–Saudi cultural collaboration through our collaboration with Ithra, Saudi Arabia’s premier cultural institution. The Ithra Children’s Book Fair, welcoming children—the future of Saudi society—will, I believe, further strengthen the people-to-people ties between our two nations. I hope the fair will serve as a catalyst for even broader cooperation across a wide range of cultural fields.”

Visitors to the fair can also look forward to:

• Book signings by celebrated children’s authors: Nahed Alshwa, founder of Arabic children’s literature publisher Noon Books and author of The Journey is Short, and Dr. Wafaa Al Sebeil, a prominent figure in children’s literature in the Kingdom and author of Alph Baa Saudia.
• Panel discussions covering key themes in children’s literature and education. Discussions led by children’s literature experts, including: Nasser Al Dossary, Dalia Tonasi and Amal Al Aboud.
• Creative workshops for parents led by Sundus Al Sharif, Director of Children and Youth Libraries at King Abdulaziz Public Library.
• A series of meet-the-expert sessions, giving children the chance to engage directly with the participating authors, illustrators, and literary professionals.

Abdullah Al Hawas, Head of Ithra Library, said: “We’re very proud of the role Ithra plays in instilling curiosity and reading culture amongst young people in the Kingdom. This is complemented this year by the opportunities to discover South Korean literary culture, delivered with the collaboration of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. Through this edition of the Children’s Book Fair, Ithra continues to broaden the horizons of young and enthusiastic readers, fostering global cultural dialogue and strengthening cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world.”

This event builds on previous initiatives that nurtured Saudi-Koren cross-cultural dialogue, including Ithra’s published Korean-language translation of Arab poems (Al-Muʿallaqāt for Millennials), presented at the 2024 Seoul International Book Fair, in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The translation bridged literary traditions and introduced a new generation of Korean readers to the richness of Arab heritage. 

The Children’s Book Fair reflects Ithra’s broader efforts to create transformative learning experiences that connect children with stories, ideas, and cultures from around the world. It is a platform where young minds are celebrated, and the future of literature begins.