“I wouldn’t take children again, it was too much fun.” – a Dubai teacher after Andy's last visit

Andy Stanton, winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, returns to Dubai with the latest news of Mr Gum, Polly and the other eccentric inhabitants of Lamonic Bibber. What twisted plots is Mr Gum cooking up to put an end to children, fun and corn on the cob? This is the place to find out.

Language: English

Age Group: 6+

The Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain’s Bake Me a Story provides a new twist on fairy tale favourites – by matching them with her recipes so that parents and children can bake together!

In this enchanting storytelling session, Nadiya will share her take on classic tales, with stories including the ‘The Gingerbread Guy’, ‘Jack and the Bean-Patty Stalk’, and ‘Ruby-Red and the Three Bears’.

And what about a demonstration of our favourite baker’s showstopping talent? Nadiya will decorate a Gingerbread Guy on stage and then children will receive a gingerbread man of their own to take home!

When anyone asks her, “What do you want to be?” she replies, ''I want to be a Turtle''.

Most young girls might say they want to be a doctor, or a vet, or an actress – why does this young girl want to be a turtle?

Join this interactive session with writer Amal Farah to find out!

Amal Farah won the 2016 Etisalat Award for Children's Books in the Best Text category. A writer for children and young adults and founder of Shagara Publishing, her other books include Girl’s Diary, The Monster, and Kangaroo.

Language: Arabic

Age Group: 6+

This Book is Out of Control! is the latest ‘fourth wall-breaking’ book to star Bella, Ben, their dog and a book that frankly has no idea how to behave itself. As in This Book Just Ate My Dog and We’re in the Wrong Book, things are just going to get sillier unless the young reader can save them! A hilarious, interactive session featuring live drawing by this amazing illustrator.

Richard Byrne, who is also author and illustrator of This Book Belongs to Aye-Aye, The Great Moon Confusion and more, will take children and parents on a fun-filled trip into his wild imagination.

Language: English

Age Group: 4+

Julia Johnson’s stories have been met with widespread acclaim for how well they capture the people, places and wildlife of the UAE and the Arabian Gulf. In this session, Julia will revisit some of the inspirations for her writing, and will introduce fans to her latest captivating story of Arabian life: The Old Man and His Donkey.

Language: English

Age Group: 6+

Can you have food allergies and still have fun? Of course you can, but for children it can be a hard adjustment, leaving them feeling excluded and isolated. When Priyanka Talwar’s son was diagnosed with allergies, she was inspired to write You Can’t Always Tell to help the millions of other parents and children affected by showing children that they can be safe but still be involved. Join Priyanka for a fascinating talk and interactive family session.

Language: English

Age Group: 4+

When the Story Maker comes to the village on her bicycle, everyone comes to find out what her story is. As she walks around the village and tells her stories in her loud voice and the laughter spreads along the road, the children of the village gather around her.

Join Sahar Naja Mahfouz in this interactive reading session and listen to the Story Maker’s stories.

Sahar writes for children to help them develop their personalities and accept others. Her books include The Story Maker, My Mother’s Suitcase, Sounds and Noises and Rain Drops.

Language: Arabic

Age Group: 6+

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2017 Oxford University Press Short Story Competition, and who better to present the award to the UAE’s newest literary icons than the author of the Unicorn in New York series, Rachel Hamilton.

Following the prize giving, Festival favourite Rachel will take us on a side-splitting storytelling adventure with her third tale about Louie, the showstopping unicorn who leaves his idyllic life in Story Land for the somewhat grimier charms of New York, where he enrols at the School of Performing Arts and begins his journey to become a legend of the stage! What misadventures are in store next for the eternally optimistic Louie? This is the place to find out!

Prizewinners will be invited to attend the following session, ‘Unicorn in New York’ for free.

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2017 Oxford University Press Short Story Competition, and who better to present the award to the UAE’s newest literary icons than the author of the Unicorn in New York series, Rachel Hamilton.

Following the prize giving, Festival favourite Rachel will take us on a side-splitting storytelling adventure with her third tale about Louie, the showstopping unicorn who leaves his idyllic life in Story Land for the somewhat grimier charms of New York, where he enrols at the School of Performing Arts and begins his journey to become a legend of the stage! What misadventures are in store next for the eternally optimistic Louie? This is the place to find out!

Prizewinners will attend this session for free.

Language: English, with simultaneous Arabic translation

Age Group: 7-Adult

Horrid Henry is a phenomenon – more than 20 million books starring Francesca Simon’s mischievous trickster have been sold, in 25 languages.

As the series comes to a close with Horrid Henry’s Cannibal Curse, we ask: what makes Henry and his antics so compelling? Come and hear Francesca reveal how she puts badness to good use – and how Henry, inevitably, took on a life of his own.

Language: English

Age Group: 6+

Join this interactive session with children’s author and Festival favourite Maitha Al Khayat, in which she reads from My Mum’s Pretty Veil: a story of the love between children and their mothers.

Maitha Al Khayat, Emirati children author and illustrator, has published number of children books including I love my dad’s long beard, Two Whales and others. She enjoys school visits, reading for children and children’s activities.

Language: Arabic

Age Group: 6+

Nothing stops Reeve & McIntyre Productions! Author Philip Reeve and illustrator Sarah McIntyre are back with their fourth book, Jinks & O'Hare Funfair Repair! In the award-winning Pugs of the Frozen North they told the wild and wacky tale of a pug-powered sledge trip across the Arctic – how do you top that? Come and see for yourselves!

Language: English

Age Group: 6+

Are you ready for a hilarious hat hunt?

Jon Klassen’s award-winning picture books I Want My Hat Back and This is Not My Hat are loved by children and adults alike for their clever, understated humour. The third part of the ‘hat trilogy’, We Found a Hat, features two shifty-eyed turtles, one fabulous hat, and a struggle between loyalty and temptation. 

Jamal is a little camel with little legs so he must walk, walk, walk through the desert. Renowned author/illustrator Michael Foreman’s latest book features a camel and his boy exploring a setting that might be very familiar to some readers – the desert and city of Dubai. Inspired by Michael’s previous visit and available in both Arabic and English, this is a must-read book for children of any nationality growing up in the UAE.

Smriti Prasadam-Halls brings a loud, lively session full of dinosaurs, monsters and aliens in a celebration of her brilliant picture books T-Veg, Don’t Call Me Sweet and the all-new My Alien and Me.

Smriti’s interactive sessions are an unmissable experience for the youngest children and parents who want to read – and laugh – along with them.

Language: English

Age Group: 4+

Who would win in a race – a camel or a drone? What would you do if you ran into a ghost on the holiday of Gergi’an? Find out in these brand new tales about Emirati life.

Ahmed Al Shoaibi’s series of stories shares the exciting world of the UAE through the eyes of a young Emirati boy, Hamad. Join him on his adventures through the deserts and big city wonders of the UAE. And now Hamad’s sister Ayesha has her own series of books – find out what our new hero has in store as she seeks out adventures of her own.

Ahmed is committed to sharing his nation’s traditions and culture in a vibrant and accessible way – through these colourful stories of Emirati children and their community.

He presents his interactive sessions in Arabic and English, and will delight children and parents alike.

Language: Arabic, English 

Age Group: 6+

Young Azan used to enjoy visiting his grandmother ‘Mah’ in her old house, where he would ask her for a story and a date and sesame bar. One day everything changed and Mah’s house was filled with strange women. After that Azan stopped visiting her house and hearing her stories. Azan asks his mother if he can visit Mah again….

In Mah and Me Ibtihaj Al Harthi tackles one of the hardest issues parents have to face with their children – the loss of people we love. She wrote this book as a guide and companion for bereaved children and the parents who want to help them. Come and learn from this award-winning author and illustrator how she approaches books that tackle hard but necessary subjects.

Language: Arabic

Age Group: 6+

We couldn’t stop at just one appearance from Reeve & McIntyre Productions, so before the curtains come down on the 2017 Festival please join Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre for the epic (and adorable) journey of Pugs of the Frozen North!

Shen and Sika are racing to the top of the world on a sled pulled by 66 pugs – on their way they encounter Yetis, Kraken and a whole lot of snow.

Language: English

Age Group: 6+