Kalimat receives ‘Bologna’ children’s publisher award

Sharjah / WAM

In a groundbreaking achievement for an Emirati publishing house, Kalimat Publishing House, a subsidiary of Kalimat Publishing Group, won the Bologna Best Children’s Publisher of the Year Prize – BOP – Asia 2016. More than 500 publishers, authors and illustrators of children’s books from around the world were present at the award ceremony in Bologna, Italy.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, received the prestigious award on behalf of the group, which was won after competing with 4 international publishing houses from Singapore and Japan. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi also received the Bologna Ragazzi Award for ‘Lisanak Hisanak’, which is authored by Fatima Sharafeddine and illustrated by Hanane Kai. The title won in the ‘New Horizons’ category, which is designated for the best text and illustrations in children’s books, after impressing the judges with its creative narrative and engaging artwork.

Speaking about the Best Children’s Publisher of the Year Award, Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi said, “Today, Kalimat Group succeeded in adding yet another achievement to its long list of successes by winning the Best Children’s Publisher of the Year award against strong competition from hundreds of publishing houses across the world. Its success makes Kalimat the first Emirati publisher to receive this renowned global children’s publishing industry award.”