ARPress

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 The Spare (Part 4) by Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter.Author Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter was born and raised on a working ranch twenty-eight miles north of Philip, South Dakota. As young people, they worked hard and played hard, and events that occurred caused considerable pain to her both mentally and physically. Her choices were not the best, and at seventeen, she was very much on her own. The saying “I was the only hell my mother ever raised” was probably very accurate. She writes this to tell you what it was like growing up and to let others know their choices are important to their future.

She has had many life experiences, both good and bad, over the years. Growing up in the 1940s, every farmer/rancher in South Dakota was dirt poor, trying to produce a crop when there was no rain, or the grasshoppers took over, or hail came and wiped out all. The hard work left its mark on this young person. It was always the next year’s country. Did she want to live and work at this all her life? That wasn’t a question that she asked herself, but she stayed away from that lifestyle at an early age.

After marriage, at a young age, it was “you made your bed, lie in it,” and she was destined to finish high school and care for a baby before knowing anything about babies other than lambs, calves, and pigs. Poverty was sa way of life for this young couple, scrimping to make ends meet. Work consisted of being a bus driver at age eighteen, a short-order cook and finally going on to get more education and work in offices.

The Spare (Part 4) is a deeply personal memoir that explores the themes of perseverance, familial bonds, and the emotional complexity of holding onto one’s heritage. Marsha May Fairchild Sumpter weaves a tapestry of stories that reflect the challenges and triumphs of managing a family farm and the enduring lessons passed down through generations. This book serves as a tribute to the sacrifices made by previous generations and a call to appreciate the value of heritage and hard work. Through vivid anecdotes, Marsha reminds readers of the enduring impact of decisions made in the past and their reverberations through time.

She brings her firsthand experience to life with the wisdom and warmth of someone who has lived the stories she shares. Raised on the family farm in South Dakota, Marsha grew up surrounded by the values of determination, resourcefulness, and respect for the land. Her memoir is an homage to her parents and grandparents, whose vision and resilience shaped the future of their family. Through the pages of The Spare, Marsha captures the heartache and hope of sustaining a family farm amid the challenges of modern times. Her meticulous attention to detail and gift for storytelling makes this memoir both an emotional and educational journey.

Marsha recounts her family’s tireless efforts to cultivate and expand their homestead, demonstrating the rewards of dedication and strategic planning. From her grandparents’ daring move to the Dakota Territory to her parents’ meticulous stewardship of the land, the memoir underscores the profound connection between the land and its caretakers.

Through candid narratives, Marsha reveals the complexities of managing a family business. Conflicts, differing visions, and the weight of responsibility are recurring themes, offering readers a realistic portrayal of the sacrifices required to maintain unity and purpose. The story teaches the importance of perseverance and long-term planning. It shows how the choices made today impact future generations, emphasizing the need to honor and preserve our legacies.

The Spare: Part 4 delves into the later stages of life, offering insights into aging and the inevitability of death. The narrative reflects on the “winter” of human existence, highlighting both the challenges and blessings encountered along life’s journey. The overarching moral lesson emphasizes the importance of resilience and gratitude. By embracing life’s trials and appreciating its blessings, individuals can navigate the complexities of aging with grace and dignity.

This installment continues the author’s exploration of personal growth and perseverance, themes evident throughout the series. For instance, in The Spare (Part 1), Sumpter reflects on the significance of choices in shaping one’s destiny, encouraging readers to consider their own decisions and potential for growth. Similarly, The Spare (Part 2 recounts the author’s early marriage, marked by challenges that were overcome through commitment and determination. This narrative underscores the value of steadfastness in the face of adversity. In The Spare (Part 3), the focus shifts to the family’s return to the ancestral farm, symbolizing a journey of compromise and commitment. The story illustrates the complexities of familial relationships, and the resilience required to preserve family heritage.

The series offers a profound reflection on life’s various stages, emphasizing that through resilience, commitment, and gratitude, individuals can find meaning and fulfillment, even amidst challenges.

The Spare (Part 4) was displayed at the 2024 and 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) – Book Gallery. LATFOB is one of the world’s most significant literary gatherings. It has been held every year since 1996 with the goal of bringing together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. It is attended by more than 550 authors, celebrities, storytellers, and hundreds of exhibitors.

Most recently, the book was featured at the 2025 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF). The 31st edition of BIBF, held from June 18 to 22, 2025, unfolded as a vibrant tapestry of literary innovation, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration. Hosted at the China National Convention Center, this year’s fair showcased over 400,000 titles and introduced groundbreaking initiatives that highlighted the evolving landscape of global publishing. Spanning 50,000 square meters, BIBF 2025 featured more than 1,700 exhibitors from 80 countries, a significant increase from previous years. Notably, first-time participants from Bangladesh, Chile, Ethiopia, and Jamaica brought fresh perspectives to the fair’s diverse representation. The event attracted approximately 300,000 visitors on the first day alone, reflecting the growing global interest in literature and publishing.

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