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 What is God? A Rusty’s Neighborhood Series by Joyce Bolton. A tender, thought-provoking story that follows the spiritual awakening of an inquisitive eight-year-old boy named Rusty. After noticing how passionately his best friend attends Sunday School, Rusty begins to wonder about something he has heard countless times but never truly understood.
With quiet honesty, he turns to his mother and asks a question as timeless as it is profound: “What is God?” Though simple in form, his question opens the door to a journey neither of them expects—one that leads them through curiosity, honest exploration, and heartfelt reflection.
Moved by Rusty’s sincerity, his mother does not give him a rehearsed or doctrinal answer. Instead, she accompanies him on a gentle quest to understand the nature of God, allowing both of them to discover meaning together. Through their conversations—sometimes playful, sometimes deeply introspective—and the still moments in between, they begin to uncover a richer understanding of faith, spirituality, and the divine presence woven quietly into everyday life. The story becomes not just a search for an answer, but a shared experience of wonder, openness, and connection.
This uplifting narrative speaks to readers of all ages, especially to those who are searching for clarity, struggling to express their beliefs, or seeking a compassionate way to discuss spiritual questions with children or loved ones. Whether you are wrestling with the question yourself, feel confident in your understanding, or simply wish to articulate spiritual truths more gracefully, “What Is God?” offers a gentle, thoughtful pathway into one of life’s most enduring mysteries.
The book’s strength lies in its authenticity. Rusty’s innocent questions and his mother’s thoughtful, sometimes searching responses create a dialogue that feels real and emotionally grounded. Rather than offering rigid theological explanations, the story embraces openness and personal reflection. It invites readers to consider a wide spectrum of human experiences with the divine—wonder, doubt, curiosity, reverence—and to discover their own way of understanding God. This inclusive, respectful approach makes the book ideal for families from any religious or spiritual background.
Author Joyce Bolton does more than tell a story—she creates a safe, nurturing space in which readers can explore the nature of God with honesty and heart. Rooted in love, curiosity, and discovery, “What Is God?” becomes a guide for anyone navigating questions of faith, purpose, and identity. Whether you are a parent hoping to spark a meaningful conversation, a teacher guiding young minds, or a seeker eager to deepen your spiritual journey, this book offers a compassionate companion on the path toward understanding the divine.
Visit the ARPress official social media accounts for more updates.
- https://authorreputationpress.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/AuthorReputationPressLLC
- https://www.instagram.com/authorreputationpress/
- https://www.pinterest.com/arpressllcseo/
- https://x.com/ARPressLLC
- https://www.tiktok.com/@arpressllc
- https://www.youtube.com/@AUTHORREPUTATIONPRESSLLC
