The 2025 China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) once again brought magic to life from November 14 to 16 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC). Celebrating over a decade of inspiring young minds, CCBF continues to live up to its powerful motto—“Embracing the Future.” More than just a book fair, it has grown into a vibrant hub where creativity, storytelling, and innovation meet. As one of the leading global platforms for children’s book publishing, CCBF connects authors, illustrators, publishers, and readers in an atmosphere bursting with imagination and possibility.
Beyond the colorful displays of books and illustrations, this year’s fair featured a dynamic lineup of events—from insightful conferences and seminars to the prestigious Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, the engaging Illustrators Avenue, and the inspiring Children Plus Exhibition. Each activity reflected CCBF’s unwavering mission to promote quality children’s literature and nurture a lifelong love for reading among the young.
Citi of Books (COB) was thrilled to be part of this event! Traveling all the way from Albuquerque to Beijing, COB proudly featured 16 remarkable titles from our talented authors. Among the standout selections that captivated attendees was “Give the Drummer Some: Drum Line Origins in School-Daze Confunktory” by Milton Lawrence Cox II.
Milton Lawrence Cox II graduated “Thank-You-Laude” with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Business at Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA. At VSU, he was impressed and taught that playing music in a college level marching band is performing on the professional level.
During his junior year at Big State (VSU) he also sought out and volunteered for a one semester cooperative education internship as a computer programmer trainee at Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Company in Hartford, CT, which upon successful completion was extended for a second semester.
Keeping his love for percussion playing current, he has performed in and around eastern Virginia as a drummer-percussionist with the Virginia State University Alumni Theatre Ensemble’s production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.
He is also prone to offer occasional sit-in rudimental combination strokes on his church’s drum set as his choir’s accompaniment. The former U. S. Navy Lieutenant is a behavioral health provider and resides in Hampton Roads, VA.
“Give the Drummer Some: Drum Line Origins in School-Daze Confunktory” offers an engaging and deeply personal look into Cox’s journey as an African American student drummer during the 1960s and 1970s. Drawing from his experiences performing in school marching bands, concert bands, and string orchestras, Cox vividly traces the evolution of the traditional “drum section” into the high-energy “drumline” we know today.
The book captures a pivotal era when the rigid, military-style cadences of classic marching bands gave way to the funk-inspired, rhythmically complex beats that define modern drumlines. Cox identifies three driving forces behind this musical transformation: the spirit of competition among drummers, the creative urge to expand rhythmic possibilities, and the intense rivalries that developed between schools.
Beyond the music itself, Cox highlights how drumlines became not just about sound but about showmanship—where synchronized movements, flair, and crowd engagement turned performances into thrilling displays of rhythm and energy. “Give the Drummer Some” celebrates this cultural and musical evolution, honoring the creativity, passion, and innovation that helped shape one of the most dynamic traditions in American music history.
You can purchase the book through the link below: