4 . Every child in Montana will have a chance to get free books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which is in partnership with the state’s first lady, Susan Gianforte.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program to improve childhood literacy and a love for reading. The program provides free age-appropriate (与年龄相符的) books to children from birth to age five, regardless of the money their family makes. By providing free books and improving early reading ability, the program hopes to improve educational outcomes and create a foundation (基础) for a lifelong love of learning in young children.

“I’m so excited to be starting my Imagination Library widely in Montana!” said Parton. “I want to send my very special thanks to first lady Susan Gianforte for her partnership in making this amazing gift available (可获得的) to children and families across the state.”

Parton’s Imagination Library will provide a free book each month to any Montana child, ages 0 to 5 years old, who is registered with the organization.

“The ability of reading and writing helps the kids a lot with their development. When parents read to their kids or when the kids read alone, books attract them, fire their imagination, and spark their curiosity,” Gianforte said.

5 . In February, the publishing company Puffin released (发行) new editions of some books by Roald Dahl that had been edited to remove or replace rude language. Dahl’s original work included terms that were once considered acceptable but that many people today find upsetting, such as describing characters as “fat” and “ugly”. Puffin said it changed those words and others so the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all.” Many people argued against the move, however, saying it amounted to censorship (bans on people’s ideas or language). Others say it’s good to remove outdated and hurtful language. What do you think? Should publishers revise old books?

Yes — times and language change. Society’s values are always changing. What would have been acceptable to say or do 50 years ago might not be OK anymore. People are right to point out when somebody says something hurtful, so the same should apply to books with rude language. A careful editor is able to successfully remove words or terms that upset people without changing what originally created by the author. The most important thing is that children (and adults) read books — and lots of them. Any minor changes to the text that make Dahl’s — or another writer’s--stories more accessible and inclusive are a good thing.

No — books should be left as they are. Censorship is dangerous because it limits what a person can say or how they express themselves. If we allow people to censor one author’s work, what’s to stop them from doing the same to every author’s work in the future? If somebody disagrees with an opinion or is angered by an idea, it doesn’t mean no one else should hear it. A healthy society hugs many different beliefs and points of view. If some people find certain words or descriptions upsetting, the best approach isn’t to ban or change them but to discuss, debate, and make people aware of why the material is hurtful. It can help people learn and understand.

7 . A recent New York Times opinion piece by Daniel Willingham addressed the question of whether listening to a book is the same as reading it. Willingham begins the piece with a frequently asked question—Is it cheating if I listen to an audiobook for my book club?

Willingham argues that they’re both worthwhile but is careful to note that doesn’t mean they have the same value. In line with his points in the article, I listen to audiobooks when I wouldn’t otherwise be engaged in a book—say, at the gym or while walking. That’s certainly an advantage of listening over reading. But I was surprised to find that Willingham didn’t mention what I consider to be the biggest difference between the two: Engagement.

The critical difference, for me, between reading and listening is that reading is something you do, while listening is something that happens to you. Reading is an act of engagement. The words on the page aren’t going to read themselves, which is something they literally do in an audiobook. If you’re not actively taking in written information, then you’re not going to make progress on the book. Audiobooks, on the other hand, make progress with or without your participation.

Willingham refers to this point by saying that harder books—“difficult texts” as he calls them—require more engagement, which is thus better suited to reading. Yet it’s not necessarily true. For example, I’ve recently been listening to David Graeber’s excellent Debt: The First5000 Years, a tough read with lots of information and arguments. While I haven’t grasped every piece of information that he’s presented, I have spent a lot more time thinking about an important topic than I otherwise would. This fill-in-the-cracks nature of audiobooks is a critical advantage.

Ultimately, it’s fair to consider audiobooks and written texts as fundamentally different media. They are different forms based on the same work. Your option depends on what you are willing to give to it(time, above all) and what you hope to get out of it.