The book fair where creativity meets the future, London Book Fair, opened its doors last March 11-13, 2025, in Olympia, London. Drawing around 30,000 attendees, this year’s London Book Fair showcased the vibrant world of publishing and creative content, marking a significant milestone in the industry. The fair not only maintained its impressive attendance figures but also celebrated a 10-percent boost in rights-center table sales compared to 2024.
Citi of Books is proud to have been part of this prestigious event, representing the incredible works of our talented authors in stand 7B94. In our assigned booth, a range of books—from fiction to nonfiction—would be on exhibit. A book included in the gallery was “Alisa in Washerland (Mandarin Edition)” by Marian Flores.
Author and illustrator, Marian Flores attended Paier School of Art, where she earned a certificate in Advertising and Commercial Art. After working for many years as a graphic artist, she returned to college in 2002, graduating from Naugatuck Valley Community College in 2004, where she received an A.S in General studies.
In preparation for a career teaching art, she will graduate Central Connecticut State University in December 2006, with a B.S. in Art Education. Marian currently resides in Wolcott, CT, with her husband, Pete, and son Richard.
“Alisa in Washerland (Mandarin Edition)” offers a modern take on the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, drawing inspiration from the author’s childhood aversion to washing dishes and her nieces’ reluctance to load the dishwasher. When Marian’s sister dreamt of living inside a dishwasher, it sparked the idea for this whimsical fable.
The story follows a ten-year-old girl named Alisa, who despises doing the dishes and wishes she could avoid it forever. After making her wish, she magically shrinks and is transported into a fantastical realm within the dishwasher, where she encounters peculiar creatures engaged in cleaning the dishes. As Alisa navigates this enchanting world, she begins to miss her family and friends, ultimately wishing to return to reality. This experience leads her to promise that she will never complain about washing dishes again.