Shereen Kredieh started Asala in 1998, after her father, an academic publisher, encouraged her to try children's books. Her first title was a story by a university friend, sold from her father's stand at book fairs. Asala grew as part of Dar Annahda Alarabiya and now counts more than 1,600 Arabic titles, reviewed by an in-house educational team. The list mixes realistic fiction and modern fantasy, and Kredieh chose to leave comprehension questions out of the books so reading stays a pleasure. Asala has also produced bilingual books for Syrian refugee children that were approved by Lebanon's Ministry of Education. Its titles have won the Khalifa Award and the Kitabi Awards, and "When You Get Angry" took the 2013 Etisalat Award for Best Production. Kredieh later wrote a PhD on the Arabic children's book industry.
Asala Publishers at a glance
- Founded in 1998 by Shereen Kredieh
- More than 1,600 Arabic children's titles published
- "When You Get Angry" won the 2013 Etisalat Award for Best Production
- Produced Ministry-approved bilingual books for Syrian refugee children
Who is behind Asala Publishers
- Shereen Kredieh (Founder). Source: ibby.org.uk