Brilio.net - Amidst the excitement of the 2024 Sharjah International Book Fair , the works of Kreatifafa Kausa Cendekia have managed to steal the world's attention. Not just one or two, three children's books from this Indonesian publisher have now been courted by a major publisher from the United Arab Emirates to be translated into Arabic.
This success has recorded an important history for Kreatifafa and is real proof that the quality of Indonesian children's books is no less competitive at the global level.
Achmad Fathurrohman Rustandi, founder of Kreatifafa, felt grateful and touched by this international recognition.
"I feel very appreciated, especially because our works, which are full of Islamic and educational values, are accepted with open arms in the international market. This is the beginning of a great journey for Indonesian children's literacy," he told Brilio.net .
Fathurrohman explained that behind this success there is a quality factor that cannot be ignored. Starting from the illustration aspect to the innovative book concept.
One of the things that makes Kreatifafa books so attractive to international publishers is the different approach to design and illustration. Kreatifafa books, such as 3D pop-ups, have a unique character that is not widely found in the Arab market.
"Our illustrations have a strong visual appeal. In Arabia, they really appreciate works that combine visual arts and education, and our books meet that criteria," Fathurrohman told Brilio.net .
Premium quality and interactive designs such as 3D pop-ups provide a different experience for children. This work is also recognized as one of the advantages that are hard to find in the Middle East publishing market.
A publisher from the United Arab Emirates interested in Kreatifafa's work has even bought the rights to three books at once to be translated into Arabic. This is an extraordinary achievement, considering the high standards of the Arabic book market, especially for children's books.
"I never thought I could bring these books abroad. However, publishers in Sharjah are very interested because our books carry premium quality, interactivity, and of course, educational values that are relevant to their culture," Fathurrohman explained to Brilio.net enthusiastically.
Not only in Sharjah, attention to Kreatifafa's work also comes from within the country. One new work from Kreatifafa, which has not yet been published, has now been courted by a major publisher in Indonesia. Of course, this news adds to the long list of achievements of this publisher that focuses on children's literacy. Fathurrohman explained that, although there is no memorandum of understanding (MOU) that can be officially announced, the publishing process with a major publisher in Indonesia has entered the finalization stage.
Meanwhile, the valuable experience in Sharjah not only brought financial benefits, but also paved the way for a wider exchange of knowledge and networks. Fathurrohman had the opportunity to talk directly with world-renowned publishers, such as Penguin Group, about the global publishing world.
"Learning from a major publisher like Penguin Group is invaluable. I gained a lot of insight into how books are received in the global market, including the importance of quality and uniqueness," he added.
The Sharjah event also brought Fathurrohman together with many publishers and literacy activists around the world. This opened up new opportunities for collaboration and building a wider network.
"We received an invitation for the next fellowship, which gives us more opportunities to introduce Indonesian works to the international market," said Fathurrohman, full of optimism.
Kreatifafa's work, which has now reached the global market, is expected to pave the way for other publishers in Indonesia to follow in the same footsteps, making Indonesian children's literacy more global.
(brl/far)
