The 31st Beijing International Book Fair, held from June 18 to 22, 2025, gathered the global publishing community under one roof for a week of cultural exchange, literary discovery, and dialogue. Hosted at the China National Convention Center, this year’s fair featured more than 1,700 exhibitors from 80 countries, showcasing over 400,000 titles across 50,000 square meters. With debut participation from countries such as Ethiopia, Chile, Bangladesh, and Jamaica, the event reflected an increasingly interconnected literary landscape. Nearly 300,000 visitors attended on opening day alone, reaffirming the fair’s significance as a world-class platform for the written word.
“Empower book fair with new technology and create a never-ending exchange platform for international book industry.”
– BIBF
Amid this remarkable gathering, Kravitz&Sons joined publishers, authors, and industry professionals in celebrating the enduring power of books. Our involvement at BIBF 2025 was not about spotlighting achievements, but about contributing to a shared space where ideas are exchanged, cultures meet, and meaningful conversations begin—through literature.
For us, this event was an opportunity to thoughtfully present works that reflect diverse perspectives and lived experience. Each book brought to the fair was chosen not only for its literary value but for its ability to resonate across borders. The conversations it sparked—whether about faith, identity, struggle, or hope—reminded us that stories remain one of the most powerful tools for connection in an ever-evolving world.
As BIBF 2025 concluded, it became clear that the fair is more than a showcase—it’s a movement. One that blends tradition with technology, diversity with unity, and publishing with purpose. Kravitz&Sons is honored to take part in that ongoing journey.
Alice Tipton wrote The Youth of My Years not just as a memoir, but as a gift—to her daughters, her family, and anyone who’s ever wondered what real grit looks like. Growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the 1940s and ’50s, Alice lived a life most people today can’t imagine: no electricity, no indoor plumbing, and no shortcuts. Now living in Arizona, Alice owns her own business, is an active member of her church and Chamber of Commerce, and still finds joy in the outdoors with hobbies like reading, hunting, and fishing.
The Youth of My Years is exactly what it sounds like—rich, first-hand storytelling from a simpler time that was anything but easy. Told through the eyes of a sharp, spirited young girl, this memoir walks readers through daily life on the Swanson family farm, where work started before dawn and ended only when the stars came out. But don’t mistake this for just another nostalgic farm story. Alice blends heartwarming family bonds with laugh-out-loud mischief, like the time she used a horse and cultivator to “weed” the garden, unintentionally uprooting the entire crop.
The book opens with a vivid picture of early immigrant life, tracing her Swedish family’s journey to America, and transitions into her coming-of-age amidst snowstorms, Sunday school, and summer chores. From her mother’s heartbreaking death to her father’s unshakable commitment to keep the family together, Alice’s life is shaped by resilience, faith, and the kind of everyday heroism that doesn’t get medals but leaves a lifelong impact.
Why does it deserve a spot at the BIBF? Because this isn’t just her story—it’s a snapshot of American history, one that captures the grit, humility, and family values that defined a generation. In a world where everything’s fast and filtered, The Youth of My Years slows things down and reminds us what it really means to grow up strong.
Whether you grew up with dirt under your nails or not, this book hits home. It’s about finding joy in the simple, surviving the storms, and never underestimating the power of a tight-knit family. Alice’s storytelling is funny, heartfelt, and honest—and if you’ve ever lost someone, felt out of place, or just wanted to know your parents better, you’ll see yourself in these pages.
It’s a book you’ll want to read, share, and read again—and maybe call your parents afterward.
Order a copy today, available from Amazon.
The Youth of My Years
Alice Tipton