Janis Latimore Oh Nigel, Is That You Book Exhibition at the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair

Explora Books will feature Janis Latimore's Oh Nigel, Is That You? at its exhibition booth 5A.B14 at the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair, scheduled for June 17-21 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing. Illustrated by Kahmeika Harriatt, the book is an age-by-age poetry collection that traces a boy's childhood through the tender, funny, and bittersweet moments that shape who he becomes.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2nd Jun 2026 - Told entirely in verse, the collection follows Nigel from infancy through age twelve, with each short poem capturing a distinct season of his life--biting and climbing as a baby, running the stairs at one, losing a beloved grandmother at nine, and missing friends during the COVID-19 pandemic at ten. The recurring refrain "Oh, Nigel, is that you?" gives the book its heartbeat: a gentle, knowing question that acknowledges how children grow through their mischief and their grief alike.

What distinguishes the collection is its emotional range. Latimore does not soften the harder passages of childhood. Nigel's world includes real loss and real disruption, set alongside the joys of drumming, sports, and learning French. That balance gives the book an authenticity that will resonate with children who recognize their own lives on the page, and with the adults who remember theirs.

The final poem--depicting Nigel at twelve as an altar boy who prays, sings, reads, and rings the bell--marks a quietly powerful turn. The refrain shifts from question to affirmation: "Oh, Nigel, this is you!" It is a moment of recognition and arrival, suggesting that identity is not assigned but accumulated through all the years that came before.

Harriatt's illustrations complement the verse with warmth and specificity, grounding each poem in a visual world that feels immediate and real. Photographs of the real Nigel appear throughout, bridging the illustrated story and the life behind it--an unusual choice that deepens the book's sense of personal testimony.

Latimore dedicated the collection to her nieces and nephews, and that dedication is felt throughout. Oh Nigel, Is That You? is the work of someone who has paid close attention to the ordinary details of a child's life and found in them something worth celebrating and preserving.

Explora Books will feature the title at its exhibition booth 5A.B14 at the 2026 Beijing Book Fair. Oh Nigel, Is That You? is also available through Amazon and BookBaby Bookshop.

About Explora Books

Explora Books is a book marketing firm located in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company specializes in self-publishing and marketing, taking pride in its exhaustive research and creative strategies that provide wider avenues for aspiring authors to gain recognition for their works. Explora Books aims to guide authors through the complexities of self-publishing, offering convenient solutions to navigate this process. The firm fosters and redefines creativity and innovation, setting new industry standards. Explora Books is dedicated to empowering authors globally.

Contact Details

Organization: Explora Books Ltd

Contact Person: Simon Pratt

Website: https://explorabooks.com/home

Email: Send Email [https://dashboard.kingnewswire.com/release-contact/45607]

Contact Number: +16043306795

Address: Jameson Offices, 838 W Hastings St w, Vancouver, BC V6C 0A6, Canada

City: Vancouver

State: British Columbia

Country: Canada

Release Id: 02062645607

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