Diversity in Children's Books

Zena Elmessiry, an Egyptian children's book illustrator who created more than 50 books for children. Zena’s books have participated in exhibitions and book fairs all over the world
Whether through drawing cartoons, photography, or collage, art is how she expresses herself. She is always puzzled by the distance between what she wants and what she can achieve.

Mohamed Kasbar is an Egyptian novelist and comic book writer. He holds a Master's degree in Political Science from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain. He received a fellowship from the Supreme Council of Culture and has published many works in the field of children's comics, including the story 'Where Are You, Saadoun?!' by the Jordanian publisher Dar Al-Salwa and the story 'Pssst, It's a Secret' by Dar Arjohha. Kasbar has won numerous local and international awards, including the award from the Arab Theater Authority, which is held twice in Sharjah, UAE, for children's theater.

I’m Arezu Othman, a Kurdish woman and a passionate children's book illustrator and contemporary artist. In my work, I bring stories to life with vibrant and imaginative artwork, and I contribute creative ideas that enhance the storytelling experience for young readers.
I spent several years in the interior decoration industry, where I developed a keen eye for design and aesthetics. Eventually, I decided to take a bold step and pursue my dream of being a full-time artist. This transition has allowed me to fully dedicate myself to creating visually stunning illustrations and contemporary paintings.
As a self-taught artist, I have honed my craft through dedication and passion. My love for reading, especially Middle Eastern mythology and psychology, deeply influences my creative process and artistic vision.

Ali Raid is a lover of art and words, an experimentalist of creative written expression, from poetry and lyrics to short stories and articles.

My name is Rula Bushnaq, I have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, worked as a graphic designer, modtly freelance  and I am a visual artist from Jordan, I am passionate about books and education as I have three kids and would love to work with children related projects, I am good at using design programs such as illustrator and photoshop and would like to explore the opportunity of book illustration, I also love to paint with different traditional kinds of media like watercolor and pencil art.

Samar Al Shahrouri holds a diploma in Child Education and Diploma of Measurement and Personality for Bloom's Montessori Disorders from German Jordanian University of Autism from Princess University College. She worked in state and civil society organisations in the field of coordinating and implementing programmes and in the field of storytelling and puppetry. She participated in various training courses in the field of drama in education.

Chaimaa Lehnech is a multidisciplinary Moroccan artist, based in Rabat. A graduate of the National Fine Arts Institute of Tétouan. She's known for her distinctive work in writing and illustration. She earned recognition with her short animated film "Irreversible," which won the Aïcha Grand Prize for Animation at FICAM in 2022. Her work blends Moroccan tradition with modern and avant-garde elements, showcasing her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries. Chaimaa is currently seeking writing residencies to further develop her projects, continually exploring new techniques and expanding her artistic reach.

Born on February 17, 1993, in Fes, Mohammed Amine El Mathan is a young visual artist and street artist passionate about urban art and underground culture. He graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts Tétouan in 2017, specializing in comics. Since 2012, he has chosen comics as his field of research and study, exploring various pictorial techniques, including drawing, illustration, watercolor, and oil painting. In addition to his academic career, Mohammed Amine actively practices street art using various techniques such as painting, sculpture, airbrush, stencil, and collage.

Growing up, Christine devoured countless children's literature books, her fascination with the beautiful artwork and captivating storytelling, combined with a lifelong passion for art, has been a huge inspiration and driving force in her artistic journey.

Aqeel Abdullah is a playwright and storyteller, particularly in the field of children's literature.