The UAE’s first Silent Books Exhibition, being hosted by the UAE Board on Books for Young People, UAEBBY, is taking children and young adults on journey into a world of 54 wordless books that have come from 20 countries around the world.

Showing in Sharjah since August 1st, the exhibition focuses on 'silent' books, on how books without words can still be books and transcend linguistic and cultural barriers to be enjoyed by people globally.

Visitors to the exhibition are introduced to the techniques that go into the creation of silent books, the impact of illustrations, and the role visual language plays in conveying semantics, meaning and ideas. For eight weeks until 30th September, the exhibition is hosting informative sessions through which its visitors are gaining unique insights into the importance of a variety of universally relevant messages contained within silent books connecting with its audience, irrespective of the language they speak.

A host of authors and illustrators are conducting workshops aimed at expanding children’s intellectual capacities, strengthening comprehension while ensuring consistency with the storyline, and telling techniques of the books used for these activities. Additionally, these workshops are helping young participants understand the important role these silent books have played in bringing home messages of tolerance and harmony.

Entitled ‘A Story and a Scene’, the first specialised workshop in the series was conducted by popular Emirati children’s author, Maitha Al Khayat, for 21 youngsters from the Sharjah Social Empowerment Foundation, Tamkeen. In a reading from her own work, The Runaway Louse, Al Khayat ignited much creativity and eagerness among children to play with characters and build their own narratives.

The exhibition reflects an important aspect of the Emirati cultural fabric, woven to appreciate diversity and promote all forms of knowledge and culture among members of the community.

Commenting on the importance of an event of this nature in the UAE, Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY, said, "The Silent Book Exhibition is one of IBBY’s most outstanding cultural enterprises, a source of inspiration to publishers and illustrators to create books that have universal appeal. We are proud to bring this exhibition to the UAE and showcase such works that have enabled children living in the direst of circumstances to enjoy stories and share emotional experiences with peers who may not speak their language."