Mr. Abd Al Tawwab Yousef

Abd Al-Tawwab Yousef obtained a BA in political sciences from the College of Commerce in Cairo University in 1949. He held several administrative responsibilities and headed the Department of Culture in the Public Relations Administration of the Arab Socialist Union until 1975, when he resigned to devote his time entirely to writing.

Yusuf is a giant of children’s literature. As an admired and prolific writer, he authored close to 400 books and tales written especially for children, of which more than 20 million copies were printed. He also edits fascinating children magazines and presents radio and television programs that attract a large audience of children. His books typically combine the pleasures of a stimulating imagination with a subtle moral message. Some of his stories were translated into English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Persian and Urdu. He also wrote around 30 academic books relating to children’s educational and cultural guidance.

Mr. Yusuf founded Al-Fardus, the first monthly Islamic magazine for children, and the Society for Child Literature in the 1960’s and organized the first conference on Child Literature in the Arab world in 1970. Since its inception, he has been a member of the Children’s Committee of the Egyptian Supreme Council for Culture, and was a member of the Board of the Egyptian Writers’ Union for 8 years. He was also a member of the Child and Family Committee of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He was awarded numerous prizes and medals including the Egyptian State Prizes for Children’s Literature (with First Class Medal) in 1975, and Children’s Culture (with Second Class Medal) in 1981, as well as prizes from UNESCO in 1975, and the Union of Arab Radio Stations.

Abd Al-Tawwab Yousef wrote beautiful children’s stories in urban and rural set­tings. A subtle moral message pervades his work and meshes with the pleasure given by a fertile imagination. A rich vocabulary introduces the child to the treasures of his tongue with­out taxing his abilities.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.