SHARJAH, November 6, 2014 – (WAFA) – Palestinian Tamer Institute for Community Education won Wednesday the Young Adult Award for Arabic Children’s Literature.

Tamer Institute for Community Education was announced as the winner for Young People’s Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, the most prestigious children’s literature award in the Arab region, during the 33^rdannual edition of Sharjah International Book Fair held Wednesday.

Sonia Nimr’s Strange Travels in Amazing Lands was chosen as the young adult book of the year. The book, whose drawing are painted by Lubna Taha, is published by Tamer Institute for Community Education.

According to the publisher’s press release, the book was released in mid-2013 and was widely and fast circulated among young and adult readers as well as critics. The book was distributed to more than 200 community and school libraries in Palestine and was discussed in over 100 sessions.

Sonia Nimer is a Palestinian children's literature author and story teller. She started publishing in the nineties. Sonia released many books in young adult and children literature with several Arabic and foreign publishing companies.

The novel tells the story of a girl who travels in adventure crossing deserts and seas fighting stereotypical roles. 

To be noted, Tamer Institute for Community Education is an educational non-governmental non for profit organization established in 1989 as a natural and necessary response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian community . Its program aims to contribute to enhancing reading, writing and all forms of Expression among children and young adults. It also aims at contributing to a Palestinian environment that is supportive to learning processes, and at supporting the literary and scholar production on child culture in Palestine.

According to the publisher, the novel travels into fascinating adventures, beyond reality of a woman bravest than men of her years, whose life is revealed to a university professor invited to attend a conference in Morocco, where she is handed an old manuscript of the whole life of Qamar, who, despite concerns of family and friends defies fear and danger in a restless adventurer. Qamar travels dangerous waters, she faces slavery, danger and hardships, she meets so many people, tutors and friends, she lives, loves and travels once more, will her journeys ever end, especially when her reality becomes too much to bear? The fates throw us into high tides while we glide in life; we spend a long journey with Qamar. The book is engaging and attractive, it throws the reader in the midst of seas beautifully weaved with the skillful narration of a storyteller.

K.F. /T.R.