What if a book could begin with a drawing, an idea or a simple story waiting to be told? This summer, Sharjah Public Libraries (SPL) is inviting children and young people to explore the journey of storytelling through its new summer camp, ‘Beyond the Book’.

Running from 3 to 6 August 2026 across SPL branches in Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Wadi Al Helo and Dibba Al Hisn, the programme is designed to help participants discover how ideas transform into books through creativity, imagination and hands-on learning.

Part of SPL’s wider seasonal programme, ‘The Book: A Journey That Begins and Never Ends with the Pages’, the camp welcomes children and youth aged 6 to 18 for interactive workshops covering writing, drawing, design, storytelling and visual expression.

The programme follows the journey of a book from its earliest beginnings, starting with observation and imagination before moving into character creation, story development, cover design and the basics of printing and publishing. Through creative activities, participants will learn how authors and designers bring stories to life while developing their own storytelling projects.

“The Summer Camp strengthens our role in connecting younger generations with knowledge,” said Eman Bushlaibi, Director of SPL. “The school break offers valuable time to develop skills and talents, and through the camp, we provide a safe space for children and youth to explore, learn, and collaborate.”

Each SPL branch will offer activities tailored to different age groups. The Sharjah, Kalba and Wadi Al Helo branches will welcome children aged 6 to 13, while Al Dhaid, Khorfakkan and Dibba Al Hisn will focus on teenagers and young adults aged 14 to 18.

At the main Sharjah branch, young participants will learn how everyday experiences can become story ideas, creating characters, building story maps and exploring how colours can communicate meaning. They will also discover the basics of book production before designing covers and producing their own illustrated stories.

At Kalba, children will explore the origins of human expression through cave drawings, ancient symbols and oral storytelling before experimenting with comics, plots and character development. Meanwhile, Khorfakkan participants will follow the full writing and publishing process, from developing ideas and editing text to visual storytelling and presentation skills.

The Wadi Al Helo branch will take young writers through a creative journey focused on building characters, settings and plots, while Dibba Al Hisn will introduce older participants to the relationship between writing, design and visual identity as they develop their own book concepts.

At Al Dhaid, teenagers will explore different storytelling styles using visual and audio prompts, creating original characters and completing a personal ‘My Little Book’ project.

Beyond entertainment, SPL’s summer camp aims to encourage creativity, communication and confidence, giving young participants the tools to transform their ideas into stories they can share.

The creative journey will continue later in the year with SPL’s Winter Camp 2026, scheduled from 7 to 10 December, which will explore how books and literary works can be transformed into theatrical, artistic and visual productions.