Pledge to children

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IN AN INAUGURAL address during the Cairo Child Book Fair late last week, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak appealed to parents to encourage their children to read to help them develop their creativity and grow up as inspired individuals who can help their societies develop.

Mrs Mubarak pledged continued commitment to the cause of child reading, promising total dedication to get Egyptian children the best books possible and to encourage writers of children's stories to enhance their creative production.

Moreover, Mrs Mubarak declared the establishment of a special fund for the translation of books from and into Arabic. Also, as part of the inauguration ceremony, Mrs Mubarak presented the annual prizes of the Suzanne Mubarak Award for Children Literature. Awards went to a new group of writers and painters who produce literary and creative work, including simplified science and science fiction books.