Sanaa Shebbani


Sanaa Shebbani is a Lebanese children's writer and translator. She wrote one play and has published more than 90 children's books. In 2010, UNESCO, Regional Bureau, Beirut, published her story book for youth Hatta Ankoulouka Ila Alami as she was chosen after attending a workshop as part of the program Beirut, World Book Capital, 2009: Reinforcing the Cultural Diversity in the Storybooks Dedicated to Youth. In 2012, her book What Have You Decided, Malik? won the Sharjah Award for Children's Book. In 2017, her book The Battle of Antara Ibn Shaddad was shortlisted for Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature in the Young Adult's Book category. In 2022, her story book Ziyara Gheir Moutakaa: Gibran Khalil Gibran was considered distinguished for excellence by the International Board on Books for Young People Honour List 2022.

Education and career

Sanaa Shebbani is a Lebanese translator and children's writer. She has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the Lebanese American University, and earned a master's degree in School Counseling. Since 2006, Shebbani works in the University of Balamand as a Project Officer, developing educational material and train the trainers on issues related to health and education. From 2002 until 2012, Shebbani was a screenwriter for "Noura Noura" magazine which was issued by the University of Balamand. From 2004 until 2014, she participated in writing some stories and entertainment activities for "Al-Arabi Al-Sagheer" magazine issued by the Ministry of Information, Kuwait. For four-year, Shebbani has also written some short stories and activities for two Lebanese magazines "Tuta Tuta" and "Ahmed" both issued by Dar El Hade'k. She has also translated some English Children's short-story books into Arabic including "Kisses for Daddy" by the Australian author Frances Watts. Till now, Shabbani has published more than 90 books for children and young adults; she also wrote one play Azraq ya Zahr which was directed by Karim Dakroub in 1999. In 2011, her story Jamila wal Nabi' won the award of "Learn to Care"
In 2012, her book What Have You Decided, Malik?, published by Dar Al Maaref Bookshop Co. Publisher in 2011, won the Sharjah Award for Children Book. While her book The Battle of Antara ibn Shaddad was shortlisted for Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature for category of Young Adult's Book.

Works

Some of her works include:"The Violinist Defies the Flute Player", 2002"A Butterfly and A Worm", 2004"A Cat and A Fish", 2005"Huda and The Red Lip Stick", 2005"We Think, Learn, and Memorize … In the Heart of the Holy Quran", 2006"From a Tree to another", 2007"The Strange Dance", 2007"Things Disappear in Our House", 2007"The Small Camel Humps" Translated, 2008"Help Me, I Help you", 2008"Kisses for Daddy" Translated, 2008"Mr. Watermelon ”, 2009"The Journey of a Phoenician Merchant", 2009"In the Company of Elisa", 2009"How Do I Maintain my Health With Food?”, 2009"How Do I Succeed with the Least Effort Possible?”, 2009"Purple Colors in the City of Tyre", 2009"Isis in Jubail", 2009"Cadmus and the Alphabet", 2009"How Do I Make My Friends and Become the Trustful Among Them?”, 2009"The Story of a Fisherman", 2009"How to Convince My Family to Go Out on a Vacation?”,, 2009"I have a Cold!”, 2010Abu Basala, 2010"Rawan’s Hiccups" "What have you Decided, Malik?”, 2011“The Biography of the Last Donky", 2012"The Guard of the River", 2012"Hala the Inventor", 2012"How Did I exist?”, 2012"Stories of the Letters", 2013"Galia in the School", 2013"The Secret of the Confused Star", 2013"Doctor, Shaddah", 2014"Adventures in the forest of Kawaed "Ta’a al-Marbouta" ”, 2014

Awards

2011: her book "Jamila and the Spring" won "Learn to Care"2012: her book "What Have You Decided, Malik?" won the Sharjah Award for Children's Book.2017: her book "The Battle of Antara ibn Shaddad" was shortlisted for Etisalat Awad for Arabic Children's Literature for Young Adult's Book category