The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB), held on April 26–27 at the University of Southern California (USC), was a significant cultural event that brought together a diverse array of participants and marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of literature, culture, and community. The festival is known for attracting a large crowd each year. For instance, the 2024 festival drew over 150,000 attendees, and the 2025 event featured more than 550 writers, experts, and storytellers, along with hundreds of exhibitors.
The festival featured over 100 ticketed author events, children’s storytelling sessions, poetry readings, book signings, and more than 400 exhibitor booths. Notable participants in the 2025 festival included authors such as Stacey Abrams, Jon M. Chu, Amanda Gorman, Chelsea Handler, Ibram X. Kendi, and Rebecca Yarros, among many others. The festival’s success was also attributed to the generous involvement of volunteers who assisted with various aspects of the event, including welcoming attendees, staffing author events, and supervising book signings.
LATFOB 2025 emphasized accessibility and community involvement. General admission was free, with select programming requiring tickets. The festival’s partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs ensured that a wide range of activities were available to attendees of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a welcoming environment for literary enthusiasts and families alike.
As LATFOB celebrates three decades of literary celebration, the 2025 festival underscored the importance of storytelling in shaping culture and community. With its diverse programming and commitment to accessibility, the festival continues to be a premier event for book lovers and cultural aficionados. The success of this year’s event sets a promising precedent for future festivals, ensuring that the tradition of literary celebration will continue to thrive in Los Angeles.
LATFOB 2025 offers a unique opportunity to explore new voices, groundbreaking ideas, and thought-provoking works of art. This year, one of the most anticipated entries is A Very Powerful Gift by Pamela Elges Roesler, showcased in the Book Gallery. The story blends heart, suspense, and whimsy into a narrative with universal appeal. With an expanded world, deepened characters, and fully explored themes, it has the potential to become a visually stunning and emotionally resonant feature-length film. Balancing humor, excitement, and inspiration, Stewart’s journey is sure to captivate audiences of all ages, reminding them that even the smallest leaps can lead to the greatest victories.
The story of A Very Powerful Gift centers on a young spider named Stewart, who struggles with fear and self-doubt. Unlike his fellow spiders, Stewart is afraid to jump and spin intricate webs, feeling inadequate in comparison. This conflict is central to the narrative, highlighting the challenges of overcoming fear and embracing one’s individuality.
Pamela Elges Roesler 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 April 14, 2025 issue of Publishers Weekly features 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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