Renowned Emirati and American authors share how to make big ideas simple for young readers at SCRF 2025

Linda Booth Sweeney and Fatima Al Mazrooi get together at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival to discuss how stories can simplify complex ideas, connecting children to values that shape their world

Sharjah, April 24, 2025

At a time when children are navigating an increasingly complex world, authors have a critical role to play in helping them make sense of it all – one story at a time. That was the heart of the conversation on the opening day of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) on Wednesday evening during a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring celebrated children’s and Young Adult (YA) authors Linda Booth Sweeney and Fatima Al Mazrooi.

The session, moderated by literary editor and cultural commentator Hala Harb, explored how storytelling can turn subjects like systems thinking, emotional growth, and nature’s interconnectedness into fun, digestible narratives for young minds.

“Children don’t need things too simplified – they need things made meaningful,” said Linda Booth Sweeney, an American author and systems educator known for weaving scientific and ecological thinking into children’s literature. “At the same time, our goal should be to invite them into wonder, not overwhelm them with facts.”

Referencing a moment from her stay in Sharjah, Sweeney described how the sustainability measures at her hotel made her wonder how ‘large, global concepts’ can be introduced to children meaningfully. “Sustainability I see is just as important a part of life here as anywhere else – it’s in the hotel systems, the signs, the water-saving devices,” she said. “But to a child, ‘sustainability’ can feel like a huge word. So I break it down by asking: what are the scenarios a child is already familiar with? Playing a sport. Running the faucet too long. That’s where I begin.”

Emirati author Fatima Al Mazrooi echoed the sentiment, noting how cultural values and philosophical themes can be made approachable through imaginative metaphors and relatable characters.

“During my childhood, there was little space to explore emotions or individuality. Writers like Victor Hugo taught me the principles of storytelling – but it was only as an adult that I began to understand how I could use those tools to express the child within,” Al Mazrooi shared. “So when I write, I’m not celebrating my personal achievements – I’m celebrating the subject, the idea, the value that will go on to enhance our society. Writing for children is not a solitary journey; it’s an investment in future generations.”

Now in its 16th edition, SCRF 2025 continues to highlight literature that both entertains and empowers. With over 600 interactive sessions, the festival is a hub for global authors, illustrators, and educators, offering children and young adults stories that mirror their lives, cultures, and imaginations.

-ENDS-  

Attached images:

1-2) During the session “Making big ideas simple” at SCRF 2025

3) Author Fatima Al Mazrooi

4) Author Linda Booth Sweeney

5) Literary editor Hala Harb