Dr Ben Garrod is giving a talk about dinosaurs at the Sharjah International Book Fair
Dr Ben Garrod is giving a talk about dinosaurs at the Sharjah International Book Fair
Dr Ben Garrod is giving a talk about dinosaurs at the Sharjah International Book Fair
Dr Ben Garrod is giving a talk about dinosaurs at the Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah International Book Fair: what to see from the Children's Programme


Rupert Hawksley
  • English
  • Arabic

How to keep the kids happy on a long day out? It is the eternal question that keeps parents up at night. But don’t panic: there is plenty on offer for children of all ages at the Sharjah International Book Fair.

A sure-fire hit will be the Lego Robotics (7-11 years) workshop, which encourages kids to learn basic engineering skills using those famous coloured bricks. In a similar vein is the Toys Factory (3-8 years), where recycled materials and tools will be used to create something for each child to take home, while also reminding them how important it is to look after the planet.  Sharjah International Book Fair: what to see at the Cooker Corner

The emphasis of the Children’s Programme is on teaching new skills. With this in mind, there are workshops in everything from Japanese origami (5-12 years) and ninja skills (7-14 years) to 3D drawing (5-12 years) and clay art (8-14 years). 

But, this being a book fair, the real highlights involve reading and writing. A series of interactive Write Your Story (7-12 years) sessions allow kids to enhance – or to try out for the first time – their Arabic writing skills, while Caterpillar Stories (4-11 years) is a workshop, which will help them understand how a story is constructed.​​​​​​​

Our Friends in the Desert (8-12 years) is a traditional storytelling event, which focuses on those desert animals facing extinction. The subject matter might seem serious, but this session should actually provide a good opportunity for children to relax a bit after all those activities. Speaking of extinction, dinosaur expert and evolutionary biologist Dr Ben Garrod is making an appearance. Garrod has presented a number of television series in the United Kingdom, including Secrets of Bones. He has a knack of bringing science and history to life.     

It is well worth looking at the Theatre programme, too. Magical Journey (all ages) and Once Upon a Dance (all ages), from the Republic of Belarus Children's Dance ensemble, introduces kids to the world of fairy tales. And you'll have to book quickly if your kids want to catch a production of The Lion King (all ages).

For all sessions and timings, visit www.sibf.com

______________________

Read more:

______________________

Your Guide to the Home
  • Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
  • Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
  • Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
     
What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper

Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km

UAE squad

Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Pension support
  • Mental well-being assistance
  • Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
  • Financial well-being incentives 
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now