2 . We’ve rounded four of the most highly expected book releases of November, all available now to purchase or preorder on Amazon.

	“Ready Player Two: A Novel” by Ernest Cline (available November 24, starting at $14.99; amazon.com) Ready for a little escapism in the time of Covid-19? Dive into Cline’s sequel (续集) “Ready Player One” (which was adapted by Steven Spielberg into a hit movie) to take a thrill ride of a science-fiction adventure through a virtual universe packed with mysteries.
	“Moonflower Murders” by Anthony Horowitz (starting at $14.99; amazon.com) Fans will stay up late reading this suspenseful spin on British crime fiction. In this tale, Ryeland, who has moved to a Greek island to run a hotel, gets caught up in the disappearance of a visiting couple’s daughter. Keep the tea kettle handy — this one will be hard to put down.
	“The Best of Me” by David Sedaris (starting at $15.99; amazon.com) When you want a good old-fashioned laugh, turn to this new collection of Sedaris’ funniest and most heartwarming essays and fictional stories written over the last 25-plus years.
	“Fortune and Glory: A Stephanie Plum Novel” by Janet Evanovich (starting at $14.99; amazon.com) Fans won’t want to miss its 27th installment, taking heroine Stephanie Plum on a dangerous treasure hunt. The story introduces the character of Plum’s new enemy, Gabriela Rose. Pace yourself: With this novel, you’re in for a wild ride.

3 . Here is a selection of books offering poems that range from being funny to being thought-provoking (引人深思的).

Containing a different poem for each day of the year, this beautiful book brings together a various selection of poetry inspired by the animal kingdom. There are old and new poems from all over the world, by poets including Lewis Carroll and Grace Nichols as well as lots of attractive artwork.

The first collection, from exciting new poet Laura Mucha explores all sorts of topics, such as science, space and classic fairytales. Other poems are inspired by events that affect us today, such as Dear Key Workers, which praises those who have helped us all during the coronavirus pandemic.

There are all kinds of unexpected advice in this funny poetry book, whether you want to know about lively castles, breakfast or pa rots. Bringing together lots of impressive poems by A.F. Harrod, it’s also filled with fun illustrations by Mini Grey.

Two former Children’s Laureates (童书桂冠诗人) have joined forces to create this book. Michael Rosen has taken inspiration from his childhood and family history, as well as stories of migration from all over the world, to create poems that will leave you with lots to think about.

4 . It’s known that reading is good for a child’s vocabulary and literacy skills, teaching them math or science concepts and helping them learn history. Apart from those, reading has another benefit. Have you read a story and felt tears well up because of a character’s suffering? If so, that is because you have empathy (共鸣) for the character — and empathy can be learned through various fictions. “It’s a magic eye that sees into other people’s hearts,” explains author Cressida Cowell.

Research shows that human brains react differently to stories and facts. “Many more areas of your brain light up when you’re enjoying a story,” explains Miranda McKearney from EmpathyLab, an organization that builds empathy through reading. “Your brain thinks you are in the story… This means you experience the characters’ thoughts as if they are real.”

Empathy helps you to read people’s emotions and work out the best way to respond. This skill, called emotional intelligence, can make it easier to communicate and connect with people. Research has shown that building empathy can lead to greater kindness and tolerance. One study found that children who read the Harry Potter novels — which tell stories about humans fighting against the evil — were less likely to behave unfairly towards powerless groups including refugees (难民).

This theory has been put into practice by St Michael’s Primary School. After reading The Boy at the Back of the Class — a story about a boy who is a refugee escaping from the war — students in that school were inspired to do a 10-mile walk for the non-profit organization Refugee Action. Their empathy also spurred them to raise £1,000 for people who were forced to leave their homes because of war.

Reading encourages children to empathise with others, which could potentially lead to several beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests. For society to develop, creative, communicative and empathetic individuals really matter.

7 . Developing a reading habit is an excellent way to improve your knowledge, expand your vocabulary and reduce stress.     1     Here are some tips on how to start a reading habit and stick to it.

One of the best ways to start a reading habit is to begin with short reading sessions. You can start by setting aside 10-15 minutes a day to read. Gradually increase the duration (持续时间) of your reading sessions.     2     Eventually, you might find it hard to put the book down and 15 minutes won't seem like enough time.

Setting a reading goal is an excellent way to motivate you to read more and make reading a habit. You can set a goal of reading a certain number of books per month or per year. Additionally, you can set a goal of reading for a specific amount of time each day.     3    

To make reading a habit, it is essential to choose books that interest you. If you don't enjoy the book you are reading, it will be difficult to stay motivated.     4    This will make reading more enjoyable and help you get into the habit.

    5    This means setting aside a specific period of the day to read. You can choose to read in the morning, during your lunch break or before going to bed. Find a time that works for you and make it a regular part of your daily routine.

10 . I was always a reader. As a kid, I walked to the library several times a week and stayed up late reading with a flashlight.

As an English major at university, I realised it had been more than two years since I had read most of familiar titles in my memory. I had stopped reading gradually, the way one heals or dies.     1    I joined book clubs that I never attended. I lingered between the shelves in a bookstore for hours as if catching up with old friends. I requested a library book everyone was reading, only to return it unread.

But it was clear to me: I was becoming a person I did not know. I was painfully aware of the glaring hypocrisy(虚伪) in my life. I defended the virtues of bookstores in the age of online retailing and bought books whenever I got the chance, but I hardly read them. They sat on every surface until my house appeared to wear books the way one wears clothes.     2    .

The next time I visited a dollar bookstore, I bought myself five titles for myself. My resolution to “read a book” echoed in my head. I picked up one I’d bought solely for its poetic title.     3    The narrator was an old man, but he sounded more like what a young woman thought an old man might sound like. Whenever I was tempted to give up on it, I thought of my resolution.

    4    I loved the alternating (交替的) points of view. I carried the book to work. I read at lunch and on my walk home, occasionally lifting my eyes to avoid strangers. Back home I stayed up late, finally finishing it.     5    The last time I’d pulled an all-nighter to read, I was 12 and the book was Little Women.