When we first started Kids BookFest, our intention was simple and sincere. We wanted to bring together all the booksellers, publishers, and educators who specialise in Malay, Arabic, English, and Islamic children’s books—under one roof, for one community. That was the heart of it. A space where parents could discover meaningful resources, and where children could fall in love with reading in the languages that shape their identity.
Our very first edition was massive. We had competitions that brought out the kids’ creativity. We hosted a talk for homeschoolers. We ran storytelling sessions that filled the room with laughter. We even had a MET sharing session and a heartfelt forum with three mothers who spoke honestly about their journeys. It was vibrant, chaotic, beautiful.
And of course, when something works, people start copying. That’s normal. But honestly, that was never the point. Our focus has always been the families we serve and the ecosystem we’re trying to strengthen.
Over the years, we’ve tried to hold the event every six months so parents can stock up on what they need—Arabic books for kids, relevant Malay storybooks, posters, English titles, and more. We wanted Kids BookFest to become a rhythm in the community calendar, something parents could look forward to.
Our latest edition, Kids BookFest 4.0, was another milestone. Alhamdulillah, we welcomed 1,500 visitors. Seeing the hall buzzing with families, authors, educators, and little readers reminded us why we started this in the first place.
So… what’s next?
We’re exploring collaborations with organisations that can bring in symposium-style Islamic talks—deep, meaningful discussions on Islamic topics that parents are hungry for. We want Kids BookFest to grow not just as a marketplace, but as a knowledge hub, a gathering point, a community space.
Make dua for us as we continue building this little dream into something bigger for our children, our families, and our ummah. InsyaAllah.