Announcement of the 2026 Shoman Children's Literature Award Winners
Amman3 min read
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The top three spots in the 2026 Abdul Hameed Shoman Children's Literature Award were distributed among Syria, Jordan, and Egypt in a cycle dedicated to the art of storytelling under the theme "Childhood: A World of Challenges," targeting works aimed at children aged six and above.
Syrian author Mirna Nizar Abdul Rahman Alloush took first place for her story "My Cake is Crooked... But It's Tall," while Jordanian author Haneen Riad Darwish Abu Taleb came in second for "My White and Gold Scarf," and Egyptian author Mennatallah Galal El-Sayed placed third for her story "Anxiety on Planet Ruqan."
The results of this cycle hold special significance given the wide participation the award witnessed, with the number of submissions reaching 2,805, of which 1,750 met the candidacy requirements, with entries coming from 43 Arab and non-Arab countries.
Egypt topped the list of participating countries with 26 percent, followed by Jordan with 18.6 percent, then Syria with 17.5 percent, Algeria with 9 percent, and Palestine with 8.4 percent.
The three winners present different experiences in writing and children's literature. The Syrian winner of the first prize, who holds a Syrian Board certification in laboratory diagnostics, has undergone several training programs in writing for children, and her participation in the award represents her first experience in this field.
As for the Jordanian winner of the second prize, she is a writer and novelist who holds a Master's degree in Arabic Language and Literature from Petra University. In 2020, she published the novel "Revenge of the Narcissus" through Al-Aan Publishers and Distributors, which addressed issues of mental health and psychological support.
The third prize went to Egyptian author Mennatallah Galal El-Sayed, who combines in her experience both animation screenwriting and children's literature, working in this field since 2021 with a special interest in developing creative content aimed at children.
CEO of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, Valentina Qussisiya, congratulated the winners, emphasizing that the advanced level of the participating works reflects the growing interest in Arab children's literature and the richness and diversity of creative experiences it is witnessing.
Qussisiya praised the work of the jury, confirming that the award continues to support creators and encourage the production of literary content that enriches the imagination of the Arab child and strengthens their relationship with reading and knowledge.
The scientific committee of the award explained that the choice of the cycle's theme stemmed from the importance of listening to the child's inner world and the questions, concerns, and challenges they face in light of rapid cultural and digital transformations.
The jury confirmed that the selection process among the works qualified for the shortlist was precise due to their close levels, and the selection of the winners was based on criteria of originality, creativity, artistic value, and the suitability of the works for the targeted age group.
The Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has organized the award annually since 2006, rotating its themes between stories, poetry, novels, and theatrical scripts for children, with the aim of supporting Arab creativity and encouraging the production of literature capable of addressing children in a language that combines pleasure and knowledge.
The value of the award is 18,000 dinars, distributed as 10,000 dinars for first place, 5,000 for second, and 3,000 for third, in addition to a certificate and the award shield.
