Dr. Barbara ten Brink made her second appearance at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on April 18–19, 2026, at the University of Southern California campus, where she presented her children's title Miss Claus and Her Pandas at the MainSpring Books booth. The event, one of the nation's most celebrated literary festivals, brought together diverse voices and stories that inspire curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Part of the Miss Claus in Toy Land series, Miss Claus and Her Pandas explores the importance of recognizing individual strengths and creating environments where everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Through engaging characters and relatable challenges, the story encourages children to embrace differences, work together, and develop confidence in their unique abilities. During her interview, Dr. ten Brink discussed the educational themes woven throughout the book, emphasizing the importance of helping children identify problems, explore solutions, and understand that every individual brings value to a group.
The festival attendees, including parents and educators, resonated with the message of positive social and emotional development. Dr. ten Brink's broader body of work, which includes dozens of published titles spanning children's literature and educational subjects, continues to blend entertainment with practical life lessons, helping young readers develop critical thinking skills, empathy, and self-confidence. She praised the supportive literary community at the event and reflected on the importance of connecting directly with readers through large-scale literary celebrations.
MainSpring Books, a publishing and marketing company dedicated to helping authors share their stories, proudly showcased authors like Dr. ten Brink whose works encourage learning, imagination, and meaningful human connection. Her participation highlighted the enduring power of children's literature to inspire future generations both inside and outside the classroom.
For more information about Miss Claus and Her Pandas, visit Amazon or the author's website. An author interview is also available on YouTube.
