Embracing the Future.
In 2025, ARPress reached a new milestone by joining the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF), one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading events dedicated to children’s and young adult content. Held from 14 to 16 November at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, the fair reinforced our mission to champion diverse voices and cross-cultural storytelling. With a history of participating in major global book fairs, ARPress welcomed the opportunity to engage with CCBF’s vibrant international community.
Approved by the Shanghai Press & Publication Administration and organized by major Chinese publishing groups, with Ronbo BolognaFiere Shanghai Ltd. as co-organizer, CCBF has been a cornerstone of global children’s publishing since 2013. Its partnership with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair reflects China’s “going global and bringing in” strategy, promoting international exchange and introducing outstanding global titles to Chinese readers. The 2025 edition hosted around 500 exhibitors from more than 35 countries across its 25,000-square-meter venue, drawing tens of thousands of visitors and showcasing thousands of new titles, artworks, and multimedia projects.
The fair featured two main zones: a Copyright Zone focused on rights trading and a Hybrid Zone blending publishing, marketing, and retail. ARPress was honored to exhibit in the Copyright Zone at Booth 2A17, presenting curated fiction, nonfiction, and poetry collections. CCBF’s renowned programming continued in 2025, with the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition receiving over 15,000 submissions, the Illustrators Survival Corner offering masterclasses and portfolio reviews, the Children Plus – COMICS exhibition highlighting nearly 200 international comic titles, and the expanded Cross-Media Lounge spotlighting innovative global projects.
Across forums and seminars, international experts explored topics such as AI in education, inclusive storytelling, and global reading promotion, further strengthening CCBF’s role as a hub for cultural exchange. For ARPress, participating in this event deepened our connections across the Asia-Pacific region, enabled meaningful engagement with authors and illustrators worldwide, and affirmed our commitment to stories that transcend borders. As we welcomed partners and book lovers to our booth, we left inspired to continue nurturing global collaboration and advancing imaginative, empathetic, and diverse storytelling for young readers.
A few books were only featured in this globally reached book fair. One of the masterpieces featured is A Very Powerful Gift by Pamela Elges Roesler. The author is deeply involved in her community and passionate about helping those in need through her church. She teaches at the community college, despite being 76 years old and three years cancer-free. Roesler loves teaching because she knows she can positively impact teens who struggle with their self-identity. She earned her master’s degree in literacy and initially taught middle school, where she became curious about why students at this age often struggle with reading and comprehension. This curiosity led her to complete a PhD in curriculum and instruction. For many years, she trained teachers to better understand and address the fears of their students. Roesler has taught numerous semesters in special education, working with both educators and parents.
The story of A Very Powerful Gift revolves around a young spider named Stewart, who initially struggles with fear and self-doubt. Unlike his fellow spiders, Stewart is afraid to jump and spin intricate webs, feeling inadequate in comparison to others. This conflict is a central theme of the narrative, as it highlights the challenges of overcoming one’s fears and embracing individuality.
Recently, a Hollywood Movie Script Coverage for “A Very Powerful Gift” by Pamela Elges Roesler has been released for the book’s qualification for a Hollywood screen adaptation. ARPress’ Movie Script Coverage Service aims to provide a written outline of the author’s book—a screenplay—that will be stored in a database accessible to major studios when seeking stories to adapt into films. Recently, a Hollywood-style script, A Very Powerful Gift, was released. The story blends heart, suspense, and whimsy into a narrative with universal appeal. By expanding its world, deepening its characters, and exploring its themes more fully, it has the potential to become a visually stunning and emotionally resonant feature-length film. With its balance of humor, excitement, and inspiration, Stewart’s journey will captivate audiences of all ages, reminding them that even the smallest leaps can lead to the greatest victories.
The April 14, 2025 issue of Publishers Weekly featured A Very Powerful Gift. Publishers Weekly (PW), often referred to as the “Bible of the book business,” is a long-standing and highly influential trade magazine. Established in 1872, it serves professionals such as publishers, editors, agents, librarians, booksellers, and authors. The magazine is best known for its authoritative pre-publication reviews. A starred review from Publishers Weekly is considered a mark of excellence and can significantly influence bookstore orders, library acquisitions, and media attention. Additionally, The Hollywood Book Reviews recommends A Very Powerful Gift, noting: “This is a wonderful story to show children how not to fear things other children can do with ease.”
Here’s an excerpt from the review written by Hollywood Book Reviews that highlights:
“Perhaps a simple lesson, but Pamela Elges Roesler conveys an important theme for children growing up. Irrational fears can be overcome, and self-confidence is achieved step-by-step in developing minds of young people. What seems to be a challenge simply becomes an achievement. This is a wonderful story to show children how not to fear things other children can do with ease. Although people with arachnophobia (fear of spiders) may find themselves frightened by the illustrations, meeting Steward will also soften their anxiety over spiders, and who knows – maybe in the future they won’t step on them when confronted by these amazing creatures.”
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