emirates7 - A well-known group of 25 international children’s authors from 5 continents will be leading a cultural programme at the 13th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), which takes place from May 11 – 22 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Organised by Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the annual festival for children and youth, runs for 12 days this year and is themed ‘Create Creativity’.

This edition of the festival will see Kyle Balda, American animator and film director, who co-directed children’s movies, such as Minions, and created the animation for Despicable Me and Jumanji. Also attending the SCRF is the bestselling children’s author of Big Noah Little Boa, Ken Spillman, from Australia. A successful mentor and presenter of workshops on writing and creativity for adults and teens, Spillman has written 90 books.

British author-illustrator Curtis Jobling, who is best known as the designer of Bob the Builder TV show, will be a celebrity presence at SCRF this year, in addition to Sebastian de Souza, actor-author who wrote the best-selling time-travelling adventure story, Kid: A History of the Future.

Vashti Harrison, the No. 1 New York Times-bestselling author-illustrator of children's books from the US, will also be at SCRF this year. Her middle-grade books, Little Leaders, Little Dreamers, Little Legends, is a best-seller. She is also a two-time recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children.

Claire Legrand, the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, most notably the Empirium Trilogy, will fly in from the US, along with Kobi Yamada, award-winning children’s author of picture books, such as What Do You Do With An Idea? and What Do You Do With A Problem? Shanda McCloskey, who writes and illustrates children’s books and enjoys talking to children about robots, drones, and stories with words and pictures, and Alicia D. Williams, author of children’s titles such as Genesis Begins Again; and Nanette Heffernan, author of Earth Hour are other US authors at the festival.

Themed ‘Create Creativity’, the forthcoming 13th edition of SCRF will see the participation of 139 publishers from 12 nations. A host of popular artists and experts will lead 750 workshops and 130 art shows and performances. The event will also host cookery shows, competitions and plays, among other interactive sessions.