Myra Garces-Bacsal here.
World Book Capital
Author: Shaikha Bodour Al Qasimi Illustrator: Denise Damanti Languages: English and Arabic Arabic title: العاصمة العالمية للكتاب (عربي)
Published by Kalimat (2020) ISBN: 9789948251668 | 978-9948-25-167-5
Bought a copy of the book. Book photos taken by me.
I have actually featured this title over at GatheringBooks (see my review here) two years ago. Hence, this is merely an elaboration of what I have already shared back in 2022. I thought, however, that what better book to begin the curation of #UAEReads this month of March than this beautifully illustrated book written by Shaikha Bodour Al Qasimi, one of the staunch reading champions in the country.
I did not know what a World Book Capital (WBC) is – until I read this lovely picturebook. A quick search has revealed more information from this UNESCO website, indicating a World Book Capital Network that started in 2001 – with Madrid as the very first WBC. The objective of the WBC network is to recognize “the power of books and reading as cornerstones to more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies.”
Sharjah became the World Book Capital in 2019, and as I read the application guidelines here, I realize that it is no small feat to be part of this network, with such a rigorous nomination and selection process (see the downloadable PDF link here). The preparation of the application dossier, in itself, is a testament to one’s commitment to books and reading.
This picturebook is a celebration of World Book Capitals in general, described as a “city unlike any other city” – each one a bibliophile’s haven. Stories clearly take center-stage throughout the city, even in beaches, park benches, museums – with bookstalls on the streets too. The lush description of a book-rich environment would make any self-respecting book lover wish to visit such a magical place.
I love how the text is so sparse and the art created by Italian illustrator, Denise Damanti, fires up the imagination of a reader who becomes increasingly eager to know of such a place where books are celebrated, shared, and found everywhere in the city.
While I confess to not having spent as much time in Sharjah as I would have wanted to, I am aware that there is the annual Sharjah International Book Fair that I am told is a must-visit. I also had the opportunity to do a used book hunting expedition in Sharjah back in 2020, pre-pandemic-lockdown.
The blurb at the back of the book provides even more information about what the WBC Network is all about:
Every year, UNESCO grants one city the title of “The World Book Capital” from April 23rd – “UNESCO World Book Day” – until 22nd of April of the following year. During this year, the selected city undertakes to organize several activities and events related to books, reading, and literature. This is implemented through a program that aims at raising awareness about literacy and reading issues as well as the significance of libraries and book shops, and at highlighting the overall benefits of a lively book culture.
It would be a book lover’s dream (and privilege – with all the visa requirements that restrict the easy crossing of borders) to visit all WBC. Here is the complete list since 2001 (see more information here):
- 2001: Madrid, Spain
- 2002: Alexandria, Egypt
- 2003: New Delhi, India
- 2004: Antwerp, Belgium
- 2005: Montreal, Canada
- 2006: Turin, Italy
- 2007: Bogotá, Colombia
- 2008: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 2009: Beirut, Lebanon
- 2010: Ljubljana, Slovenia
- 2011: Buenos Aires, Argentina
- 2012: Yerevan, Armenia
- 2013: Bangkok, Thailand
- 2014: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- 2015: Incheon, Republic of Korea
- 2016: Wrocław, Poland
- 2017: Conakry, Guinea
- 2018: Athens, Greece
- 2019: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- 2020: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- 2021: Tbilisi, Georgia
- 2022: Guadalajara, Mexico
- 2023: Accra, Ghana
- 2024: Strasbourg, France
- 2025: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
How many of these World Book Capital cities have you visited, thus far?
More about the Author and Illustrator of World Book Capital:
Shaikha Bodour Al Qasimi serves as the Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority, the Founder of the Emirates Publishers Association, Founder of the UAE Board on Books for Young People and past President of the International Publishers Association. Her father is His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, who has served as Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah since 1972 (see here for more information).
The illustrator, Denise Damanti is a freelance illustrator born and based in Italy. It is my first time to encounter her art, which I found to be joyful, bold, and fun. You can find her on Instagram and Etsy.
About the Guest Editor/Curator for March 2024 [#UAEReads]:
Myra Garces-Bacsal has served as a teacher educator for 15 years and has led several research projects on reading and social emotional learning, diverse picturebooks and teacher practices, psychology of high creatives and exceptional people, culturally responsive and inclusive education. She is a quintessential lover and creator of booklists (see her Social and Emotional Learning bookshelf here and other publications below). Myra serves as the Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies with the College of Education, UAE University. She is a self-proclaimed nerd who lives and breathes books and enjoys organizing events and festivals where fellow nerds converge and attempt to joyfully change the world.
Publications on booklists:
Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Tupas, R. (2023). A diverse social and emotional learning booklist for gifted learners and advanced readers. Roeper Review, 45(1), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2022.2145397
Garces-Bacsal, R. M., Alhosani, N. M., Elhoweris, H., Al Ghufli, H. T., AlOwais, N. M., Baja, E. S., & Tupas, R. (2022). Using diverse picturebooks for inclusive practices and transformative pedagogies. In M. Efstratopoulou (Ed.), Rethinking Inclusion and Transformation in Special Education (pp. 72-92). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-4680-5.ch005
Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2021). Of grit and gumption, sass and verve: What gifted students can learn from multicultural picture book biographies. In S. R. Smith’s Handbook of giftedness and talent development in Australasian Pacific (pp. 431-453). Singapore: Springer International Handbooks of Education. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-13-3041-4_18
Garces-Bacsal, R. M. (2020). Diverse books for diverse children: Building an early childhood diverse booklist for social and emotional learning. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 22(1), 66-95. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468798420901856
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 
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