Sheikha Bodour announces adult, youth focused imprint

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and CEO of Kalimat Group, has announced that the launch of Riwayat, an imprint that will be dedicated to publishing novels and short stories for young adults and adults through a portfolio of celebrated and award-winning Arab and international authors. The group says the new imprint will be officially launched within a few weeks.
The announcement was made at a ceremony hosted by Kalimat Group at Shababeek Restaurant in Al Qasba, Sharjah, yesterday, to recognise the group's employees and celebrate the achievements made by Kalimat over the past year.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said that the year 2014 was full of events, publications, and awards, including Kalimat being shortlisted to receive the ‘BOP - Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publishers of the Year in Asia' at the acclaimed Bologna Children's Book Fair, shortlisted for the prestigious Children's and Young Adult Publisher Award at London Book Fair 2014, won the award of the Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum for ‘Majd's Box', and received a special mention at the Bologna Children's Book Fair for its children's title ‘Don't Open this Book / When I Open this Book'.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi hailed the efforts made by Kalimat Group's employees, saying: "These achievements would not have been possible without your dedication and sense of responsibility as well as your teamwork and persistence to deliver exceptional publications to Arab children and young adults. I highly appreciate your efforts and feel optimistic that we can build on the achievements we have made so far, for a brighter and better future."
In keeping with her belief in the importance of reading for children and their own future, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi established Kalimat in 2007, at a time when it was very difficult for Arab children to find high quality books, in terms of content, illustrations, design, and layout.
With over 160 publications, Kalimat has managed to produce books that Arab children can relate to, with stories that talk about topics of relevance and interest to children and that entice them into the enjoyable and interesting world of reading.
Kalimat Group is comprised of Kalimat, the first publishing house in the UAE dedicated solely to publishing and distributing high quality Arabic children's books targeting children up to 16 years old, and Horouf, which was established in 2013, and is dedicated to publishing printed books and smart applications that offer a modern integrated education system in the Arabic language that is first of its kind in the Arab World. Horouf's solutions aim to pioneer a fresh, fun, and future oriented approach to Arabic Education that helps build and develop the capacity of students.
With a portfolio of internationally acclaimed and award winning authors and illustrators, Kalimat focuses on producing books that the children of the UAE and the region can relate to, with vibrant illustrations and stories that talk about the value of family, friendship, simplicity, and happiness. Many of Kalimat's publications have been included in the Honour Lists and Recommended Reading Lists issued by Arab and International reading and literature organisations.
Source: WAM