A Story That Found Its Place
The Cloud That Moved In is shortlisted for the 2026 International Award for Arabic Children's Literature
There is a particular kind of joy in publishing that has little to do with sales figures, print runs, or even the excitement of holding a finished book for the first time.
It is the moment when a story you believed in receives recognition beyond the walls of your publishing house.
Today, we are celebrating one of those moments.
The Cloud That Moved In, written by Aisha Rashid Al Mannai and illustrated by Maryam Mahmoudi Moghadam, has been shortlisted for the 2026 International Award for Arabic Children's Literature, one of the region's most respected honours in children's publishing.
And for everyone at Ajyaal, this recognition feels deeply personal.
Every publisher receives manuscripts that show promise. Occasionally, however, a story arrives carrying something more: a responsibility to its author, its readers, and the experience from which it was born.
This was one of those manuscripts.
From the beginning, we understood that this book deserved extraordinary care. Aisha had entrusted us with something profoundly meaningful to her family. Our task was to honour that trust while creating a picture book that could stand on its own as a work of literature.
That meant making room for artistic interpretation, trusting the intelligence of young readers, and finding the right creative voice to bring the manuscript to life.
Maryam's illustrations gave the story a remarkable visual identity. Through her imagination, something deeply intimate became a world readers could enter, explore, and make their own.
What emerged was a collaboration built on trust, creative courage, and a shared belief in what children's books can accomplish.
To see that work recognised by an international literary award is therefore immensely gratifying.
Not simply because another title from Ajyaal has reached a prestigious shortlist, but because it affirms the value of publishing stories that may be difficult to tell, yet deserve to be heard.
Children's literature grows richer when we make room for experiences that are rarely given a voice.
The International Award for Arabic Children's Literature celebrates excellence in writing, illustration, and publishing. We are proud that a book created with such care is now part of that conversation, alongside other outstanding works contributing to the future of Arabic children's literature.
Our congratulations go to Aisha and Maryam, whose sensitivity, imagination, and talent made this possible. We are equally grateful to the award organisers and jury for recognising the book.
Awards are important milestones. They introduce stories to new readers, open doors to new conversations, and remind publishers that taking creative risks can be worthwhile.
But the most meaningful part of this journey remains what happens after a book finds its reader.
Somewhere, a child may discover this story for the first time. Somewhere, a parent may find it helpful. Somewhere, a book that began as one family's experience may become part of another family's library.
That, to us, is where publishing finds its greatest reward.
For now, we are simply delighted to see this little book travel so far.
The Cloud That Moved In is available now from Ajyaal.