The man behind the wildly popular Timmy Failure series, offers children as young as six a masterclass in the art of cartooning at the 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival
Sharjah, April 26, 2025
On Friday evening, the Reading Corner at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF2025) transformed into a playground of imagination, wit, and artistic discovery as American author and illustrator Stephan Pastis took the stage. For children as young as six, it was an hour of laughter and learning from the man behind the wildly popular Timmy Failure series and the long-running comic strip, Pearls Before Swine.
Armed with nothing but a sketchpad, a marker, and a beautiful sense of humour, Pastis guided his audience through the art of cartooning, showing how a simple tweak of the eyebrows could conjure up a world of emotion. “Want to draw a grumpy face? Bring the eyebrows together and point them upwards. For a bored face, angle them down. That’s all there is to it,” he quipped, as beanbag-bound children followed along, giggling.
Pastis, who left behind a career in law to pursue his first love—cartooning—marks 25 years of Pearls Before Swine next year. His signature character, the hapless detective Timmy Failure, has become a global phenomenon, with the series now translated into 37 languages and delighting readers across continents.
Yet for all the acclaim, Pastis’s core message to parents and educators was quietly profound. “My theory is that children should be exposed to as many different disciplines as possible—music, art, drawing, whatever sparks their interest. You never know which one will light their fire,” he reflected. “For me, it was the Peanuts comic strip. My parents gave it to me when I was young and it was love at first sight—I knew instantly what I wanted to do with my life.”
This is Pastis’s first visit to the UAE, and he is visibly moved by the curiosity and energy of his young readers. “The kids have been super-fun and enthusiastic. It’s been a pleasure,” he said, his words echoing the festival’s ethos of creativity and open exploration.
Now in its 16th edition, the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is a sprawling celebration of stories and ideas, drawing families into a world where literature meets technology, science, and the arts. Running until May 4 at Expo Centre Sharjah, this year’s festival invites children to “Dive into Books” with more than 600 workshops and activities spanning pixel art, chemistry, robotics, storytelling, and beyond.
For more information on the programme and visiting details, check www.scrf.ae.
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