Global Authors Celebrate the Power of Storytelling at SCRF 2025

Sharjah: At the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), international authors and educators came together to explore how stories shape young minds across cultures. In a panel titled “Crafting Stories That Resonate with Today’s Children”, award-winning writers Andrea Rowe, Maryam Hassan, and Dr Bayan ’Amr shared insights into how literature informs, comforts, and inspires.
Australian author Rowe spoke about drawing from children’s emotional experiences, while British-Pakistani writer Maryam Hassan emphasised the need for stories that reflect multicultural identities. Dr Bayan ’Amr highlighted the enduring relevance of Arab folklore, urging creatives to preserve heritage through modern storytelling.The panelists agreed that stories don’t always need morals — sometimes, offering joy or emotional resonance is enough. Addressing diversity in global publishing, Hassan called for greater visibility and support for non-Western narratives. The discussion underlined the festival’s theme: stories are powerful tools for empathy, identity, and imagination.