David G. Toussaint's 'My Friend Patches: Lost and Found' Featured at BIBF 2026

Vancouver, British Columbia Sep 23, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Displayed at Booth 5A.B14, the book formed part of Explora Books' international showcase, introducing a children's story about a young girl whose beloved horse disappears after a thunderstorm, setting her on a journey of hope, responsibility, and reunion.

Months later, far from home, Gracie recognizes Patches pulling a plow for a struggling farmer who has renamed the horse Isabella and depends on her to help grow food for his family. Rather than offering an uncomplicated reunion, Toussaint asks Gracie to confront her own failures: neglecting Patches and breaking her promise to help care for the horse. After praying for guidance, she experiences what her father later describes as God speaking to her heart, and she chooses to leave Patches with the farmer, learning in the process that she was never the horse's owner so much as its steward. 

A dedicated discussion section at the end of the book extends that lesson into scripture, guiding young readers--and the adults reading alongside them--through Bible passages on stewardship, keeping promises, generosity, and personal responsibility, including Acts 20:35's reminder that "there is more happiness in giving than in receiving." That structure broadens the book's appeal beyond casual readers, offering parents, Sunday school teachers, and homeschool families a resource designed for conversation as much as storytelling.

The fair's 40th-anniversary edition brought together over 1,700 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions, with the United Arab Emirates serving as Guest of Honor under the theme "Community and People." That theme found a natural reflection in My Friend Patches, a story that asks its young heroine to surrender something she loves so another family can flourish.

The book also aligned with another trend highlighted throughout this year's fair. Children's publishing also remained one of the fair's strongest sectors. According to Beijing-based OpenBook, children's books accounted for nearly 29 percent of China's retail book market in 2025. Amid a program largely focused on artificial intelligence, digital publishing, and international rights, My Friend Patches offered visitors a quieter, values-centered perspective within that thriving category--a story designed to reward repeated reading, reflection, and discussion rather than passing novelty.

My Friend Patches: Lost and Found is available through Amazon and other major digital bookstores.

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.

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