Kalimat to release 17 new book titles at the Bologna Fair 2009

Publishers of children Arabic books in the UAE, Kalimat will exhibit 25 book titles at the exhibitions and will set to launch 17 new titles at the Bologna event.

Taking part from the 17th to 22nd March 2009 at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair, Kalimat will then proceed to Bologna from 23rd to 26th March 2009 to exhibit in this international book exhibition where they are expecting more book sales and set to generate deals for buying rights as well as working on cooperative projects with other Arab publishers.

The Abu Dhabi Book Fair has grown to 25% this year over 482 exhibitors from 42 countries expected to participate in the fair. At this exhibition, Kalimat will showcase 25 book titles and host book signing and readings sessions by author Abir Ballan and illustrators Maya Fidawi and Joelle Achkar.

Scheduled on Friday 20th March, Abir Ballan, author of several of Kalimat books, will be present at the booth from 4pm to 5pm for book reading followed by book signing event. Illustrator Joelle Achkar will host an art workshop on 18th March from11am to 12pm and Maya Fidawi's illustration workshop will be held on Saturday 21st March 2009 from 10am to 11am.

Subsequently, Kalimat will travel to Bologna book fair scheduled from 23rd to 26th March 2009 where they will launch 17 new book titles at this international fair. Marking its 46th edition, Bologna Children's Book Fair is the world's leading congregation of international exhibitors for children's book publishing and copyright exchange, hosting over 1,300 exhibitors, 4,879 professionals and 500 journalists from over 33 countries.

The Bologna fair is a unique international mix of tradition, experience, and innovation: three elements in a single event. In addition to the exhibition area, a series of initiatives focuses on latest market trends and offers excellent opportunities to make business contacts.

The fair offers literary agents centre, translation centres an essential tool for increasing international exchange and translations and the TV/Film and licensing rights centre to promote meetings among publishers, book licensors, and TV/film producers. Kalimat author Fatima Sharafeddine and Illustrator Hasan Zahreddine, whose illustrations were short listed from illustrations sent from all over the world, will participate in the exhibition as well.

"Our participation at these book fairs is crucial; firstly because these platforms are the driving force in promoting Arabic language internationally, secondly they provide excellent opportunities for literary exchange. The Bologna fair is mainly a business to business event and we will be focusing to expand our global reach through international affiliations and partnership."

said Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi, Founder, Kalimat.

Exhibiting alongside Sharjah Department of Culture and The Children's Publisher's Association in Bologna, Kalimat hopes that the exhibition will also become a cultural exchange venue.