【推荐1】Are you a sci-fi fan? Here are four exciting new sci-fi books that may bring you a lot of fun.

The Olyix from another planet have attacked Earth, catching people for their god. Cities are destroyed by their terrible weapons (武器) and millions either have escaped to seek help in space or are fighting a war that seems unwinnable. This is the final sci-fi novel in Peter F. Hamilton’s extremely surprising series The Salvation Sequence.

This impressive sequel (续集) to Arkady Martine’s Hugo Award-winning sci-fi book sees the Teixcalaanli Empire facing an alien threat which could bring about its complete destruction (毁灭). Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is all that stands between the empire and all-out war, so in desperation, he sends a representative to talk with the mysterious aliens.

Jack Four, one of twenty human clones, has been created to be sold. His buyers are the aliens who only want him for their experimentation program. But there is something different about Jack Four. No other human clones can get the knowledge that has been put into his brain.

Rabbits is a secret and sometimes deadly underground game. The rewards for winning are unclear, big money or even immortality (永生). Or winners might unlock the universe’s greatest secrets. But the deeper you get, the harder the game becomes. Since the game first started, ten rounds have taken place. The eleventh round is about to begin, and if you want to know what happens in the game, just stay in the game.

【推荐3】The Best Poetry Books

Reading poems can be a lot of fun for kids. With these children’s poetry books on the homepage, children will gain a new appreciation of poetry and the spoken word.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices

The entertaining sounds of insects fill these poems by Paul Fleischman, making it a favorite with 12 — 15-year-olds. These poems were written to be read aloud by two readers.

Paul Fleischman received the 1989 Newbery Medal for Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. Other recognition included: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the PEN Center USA Literary Award and so on.

Eric Beddows’ detailed pencil pictures, are vivid and effective complements to the poetry, which brings insects to life when it is read aloud by two voices.

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together

Poet Mary Ann Hoberman is the author of the picture book, which includes the joyful pictures of Michael Emberley. The book contains very short story poems for two people to read aloud, alternately and together. Each of the 12 stories for 6 — 11-year-olds features rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, as well as humor and attention on the joys of reading.

The book is one of a series of story poems. All the books are designed to be read aloud by two people, as if, says Hoberman, it’s “a little play for two voices”. The two people can be an adult and a child or two children.

Big Talk: Poems for Four Voices

Poems for four voices are much more challenging to present than poems for two voices, but middle school students tend to enjoy the challenge. The three-story poems in it will appeal to middle schoolers. The author, Paul Fleischman, provides a clear description of how to use the book. The poems are color-coded to make them easier for the four readers to keep track of their parts.

I Am Phoenix: Poems for Two Voices

The fifteen poems for two voices in the book are all about birds. Ken Nutt’s soft pencil pictures complement the poems by Paul Fleischman. The words of each poem are in two columns, each to be read by one person, sometimes individually, sometimes together.

【推荐1】What I Think of Boxing as a Sport

Boxing is a popular sport. Newspapers, magazines and sports programmes on TV frequently cover boxing matches. It could be the toughest of all sports to survive. It takes boxers hours in the gym and years to develop the specific characteristics needed to be a great boxer.     1    .

It seems to me that some people, especially men, find it appealing because it is an aggressive sport. When they watch a boxing match, they can identify with the winning boxer. This gives them the feeling of being a winner themselves.     2     They do that because the boxer comes from their own country, and if “their” boxer loses, they often feel as if they have lost a fight themselves. It is a fact that many people have feelings of aggression from time to time, but they cannot show their aggression in their everyday lives. Watching a boxing match gives them a way of expressing it.

    3     Although boxers wear gloves during the fights, and amateur boxers even have to wear helmets, a kind of strong hard hat, there have frequently been accidents in both professional and amateur boxing, sometimes with dramatic consequences.Boxers have suffered from head injuries, and occasionally, fighters have even been killed as a result of being knocked out in the ring. Besides, studies have shown that there are often long-term effects of boxing. They are usually in the form of serious brain damage, even if a boxer has never been knocked out.

To conclude, I am personally not at all in favor of aggressive sports like boxing.     4     We can celebrate more men and women from non-aggressive sports as our heroes in our society. I believe that the world is aggressive enough already! Of course, people like competitive sports, and so do I, but I think that hitting other people in an aggressive way is not something that should be regarded as a sport.

【推荐3】Much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition

Our much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition is back! Enter for the chance to win prizes of up to £1,000.

Rules and prizes

Please ensure that submissions are original, not previously published and exactly 100 words long (not including title). Don’t forget to include your full name, address, email and phone number when filling in the form. We may use entries in all print and electronic media.

Terms and conditions:

There are three categories—one for adults and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12.

● In the adults category, the winner will receive £1,000 and one runner-up (第二名) will receive £250.

● In the 12-18s category, the winner will receive a £200 book voucher (代金券) or a Kindle Paperwhite and a £100 book voucher for their school, and the runner-up will receive a £100 book voucher.

● In the under-12 category, the winner will receive £100 of book vouchers or a Kindle Paperwhite and £100 of book vouchers for their school, and the runner-up will receive a £50 book voucher.

Please submit your stories by 5 p.m. on January 5, 2024 either online or by post addressed to: Reader’s Digest

The editorial team will pick a shortlist of entries, and the three best stories in each category will be posted online at readersdigest.co.uk on February 1, 2024.

You can vote for your favourite, and the one with the most votes will win the top prize. Voting will close on February 29, 2024 and the winning entries will be published in our May 2024 issue, and posted online on April 16, 2024.

Enter your story below—good luck!

【推荐2】Amazing landscapes of China’s Xinjiang

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the central part of the Eurasian Continent, on the northwest border of China. It covers about one-sixth of China’s total territory. Xinjiang was a key link on the Silk Road and a hub for east-west cultural exchanges in ancient times.

• Attractions in Xinjiang

Karakul Lake

The Karakul is a lake in Akto County along the highway, located 196 km from Kashgar City. Karakul is a very unusual plateau(高原) lake. In fact, it is the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau, at an altitude of 3,600 m. The view is breathtaking, thanks to the surroundings, snow-covered mountains and beautiful reflections in the crystal-clear water.

Tianchi Lake

Tianchi Lake, also known as Heavenly Lake, is located on the northern side of the Bogeda Peak in the Tianshan mountains. It is 120 km from Urumqi City and only a 90-minute drive, and the center of the Tianchi scenic area of startling contrasts-an alpine drift lake at an altitude of 1,980 m (6,496 ft) with glistening glaciers on the mountain peaks nearby when the sun is shining.

Kanas Lake

Kanas Lake is in the Kanas Geopark and is mainly made up of Crouching Dragon Bay, Moon Bay, Immortal Bay and the interesting mystery of the legendary big red monster fish! The water, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, decorates the world like a diamond.

• Delicious food in Xinjiang

Xinjiang boasts(自夸)a rich and unique food culture. Breakfast here includes melons, jam and milk tea while lunch is often served with delicacies featuring beef and mutton, such as roasted whole lamb. Dinner usually entails Nang, tea or noodles.

• Various products of Xinjiang

Xinjiang specialties include lavender, cotton, tomato, mutton, beef, jujube, and various fruits.

In addition, Xinjiang has the richest mineral resources in China, with 138 different types. Those resources discovered in other parts of our country make up less than 25%. Nephrite is one of China’s top five famous jades and most of it is found in Hetian, Xinjiang.

【推荐3】Have you imagined spending a night in a museum? Fortunately, your dream may come true.

Spy Museum| Washington, DC

The Spy Museum is about the unseen jobs and displays spy objects in the world! “Operation Secret Sleepover” invites a group of juniors and parents for a night of detective(侦探) training, like inventing a fake name, gathering intelligence(情报), studying questioning techniques, and more. The next mission starts on Friday, September 9.

Ages: 9 to 13

Cost: $ 115 for general admission/$ 105 for members

Baseball Hall of Fame | Cooperstown, New York

Fans of America’s hobbies will take the chance to stay a few extra nights here. Travel along the hallowed galleries; enjoy a screening in the Grandstand Theater; show your respect to honoring legendary players. Dates sell out quickly. To secure your spot, call (607)547-0329.

Ages: 7 to 12

Cost: $ 50 for general admission

Milwaukee Public Museum| Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The overnight at Milwaukee Public Museum is intended for the 21+ crowd. Tickets include dinner, two drinks, snacks, special tours, films in the six-story theater, entry to the new traveling exhibit “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed”, and continental breakfast. The next event is October 20. Registration closes two weeks prior(提前).

Ages: 21+

Cost: $ 125 for general admission

Baltimore National Aquarium | Baltimore, Maryland

Ocean and shark lovers will be glad to spend nights at BNA. Dive into the attractive underwater world and discover the importance of these incredible creatures. Join experts for a behind-the-scenes tour, interact with marine life, and watch a 4D film.

Ages: 8+

Cost: $ 120 for general admission/$ 100 for members