Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has announced the shortlist for the 20th Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Children’s Literature, held this year under the theme “Childhood: A World of Challenges.” This year’s edition focuses on stories for children aged six and above and attracted submissions from across the Arab world.

The shortlist comprises nine creative works from six Arab countries, selected for the final stage following a rigorous evaluation process that upheld the highest standards of literary quality, objectivity, and transparency. The winners of the first, second, and third prizes will be announced at the end of August.

The shortlisted works are:

A Dream the Size of a Garden by Fadi Ali Mohammad Qattoush (Jordan)
Mr. Very Happy by Jana Adel Fayez Sliqa (Lebanon)
Concern for the Planet Ruqan by Mennatallah Jalal El-Sayed (Egypt)
My Cake Is Crooked… But It’s Tall by Mirna Nizar Abdul Rahman Alloush (Syria)
An Exceptionally, Extremely, Incredibly Special Child by Sarah Mohamed Shehata Mohamed (Egypt)
The Secret of the Thing by Dorra Salem Al-Barji (Tunisia)
How Did Tamim Find Energy? by Suhair Mohammad Abdullah Khawaja (Jordan)
With the Current by Ruba Ahed Sobhi Isleem (Palestine)
My White and Golden Scarf by Haneen Riyad Darwish Abu Taleb (Jordan)
The award’s Scientific Committee referred all eligible submissions to a specialized jury panel comprising distinguished writers, critics, and experts in children’s literature. The submissions were evaluated based on criteria including originality, strength of content, creativity, innovation, narrative coherence, linguistic quality, and suitability for young readers.

The jury emphasized that the evaluation process adhered to a blind-review system, with judges having no access to the names or nationalities of participants, thereby ensuring equal opportunities and making the quality of the work the sole basis for evaluation.

In its assessment of the shortlisted works, the jury noted that the texts reflected a growing awareness among writers of the importance of engaging with children's lived experiences and the questions, concerns, and contemporary challenges they face.  The stories explored a range of topics relevant to children’s everyday lives, including anxiety, fear, anger, shyness, self-esteem, sibling rivalry, learning difficulties, acceptance of difference, belonging, friendship, family, disability, illness, and the impact of war.

The committee also highlighted the remarkable diversity of literary approaches and artistic styles represented in the shortlisted works. The stories blended realism, imagination, adventure, and humor, demonstrating how literary language can both engage young readers and encourage critical thinking.

According to the jury, the most outstanding works were not necessarily those that tackled the most pressing issues, but rather those that successfully transformed simple ideas into compelling narrative experiences, conveying their messages through plot, character development, and literary imagery rather than direct instruction or didacticism.

The award’s current edition attracted 2,805 applications, of which 1,750 applicants completed all eligibility requirements, while 1,055 applicants did not finalize their submissions. Entries were received from 43 countries across the Arab world and beyond, with Egypt accounting for 26% of submissions, followed by Jordan (18.6%), Syria (17.5%), Algeria (9%), and Palestine (8.4%).

Since 2006, Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has organized this annual award for writers from the Arab world and beyond. Each year, the award focuses on one genre of children's literature: short story, poetry, novel, or playwriting. The prize consists of a certificate bearing the winner's name and the category in which they won, a shield carrying the award’s name and logo, and a total prize fund of JOD 18,000, distributed as follows: JOD 10,000 for first place, JOD 5,000 for second place, and JOD 3,000 for third place.

Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, the cultural and social responsibility arm of Arab Bank, is a non-profit organization dedicated to investing in knowledge, culture, and social innovation to support the advancement of Arab societies through thought leadership, literature, the arts, and innovation.