1 . The first rule of popular science is to reveal the wonder and mystery of the world. For that reason, Sentient (Picador), written by photographer and wildlife film-maker Jackie Higgins, is my pick of the year. According to my interviews with many readers, I select other four newly-published books in 2022.

This book describes how our ancestors hunted and consumed ancient animals such as mammoths, bison, giant camels and many more now-extinct species. The diet of the Clovis peoples of North America was a menu described as “a record of a lost world”. This book explains how our dinners robbed the world of so many large animals. It gives inspiration for how modern humans can be at peace with nature.

In 1999, Mann published a graph showing the rapid post-industrial rise in global temperatures. Two decades later, his book The New Climate War remains convinced that we can prevent climate change. This book sets out a common-sense approach to carbon pricing and a revision of the Green New Deal. Of course, there are still many people who deny that climate change is even happening.

Physicist Kate Greene imagines that she spends four months in a geodesic dome in Hawaii, with five other people, to mimic living in a colony on another planet. The story describes the future of our Earth. Kate makes readers cherish the natural environment. “No sunshine on our skin, and no fresh air in our lungs,” Greene turns the frustrations into a moving story.

The birds were once common across the peninsula. But as development over the last 100 years reduced the habitats on which the bird depends, the species became endangered. Mark Walters travels the state to report on the natural history and the current situation of Florida’s flag ship birds. This book can raise people’s awareness of protecting the birds’ habitats.

6 . Nowadays, media and information coming so quickly on the Internet, kids are used to getting things in quick ways, but refuse to read a book.

I remember the wonderful ________ when I realized my 6-year-old niece could read. One weekend, it was bedtime and we were reading Make Way for Ducklings. She ________ a few words. I was ________ to see that she was enjoying reading. Two years later she moved in with me. Our bedtimes were filled with various stories. Now she is 11. However, she is more interested in Tik Tok than in any of the stories. And ________ she certainly can read, she really doesn’t like to unless I threaten to ________ her iPad.

As an educator and writer, this is ________ for me. To my regret, reading has become a ________ in my family.

“Don’t worry too much,” educational consultant Waldinger ________ me when I called to discuss my pain. “As digital natives, our children simply have a ________ relationship with the written word from that of us who came from the typewriter ________”, suggested Waldinger

“Kids do lots of incidental (伴随的) ________,” she told me. “Playing video games and watching a movie like Frozen with closed captions (字幕) are reading. And so is using a(n) ________ to make cookies.”

She said, “You just can’t expect kids to sit down and ________ the encyclopedia (百科全书) like we did back in the day. Accept the fact, stop ________ over reading, and just give children more ________ to read, whether digital or printed.”

7 . Kimberly Arcand, a visualization scientist for NASA, has made it her life’s work to help tell the stories of space. Having authored several astrophysics nonfiction books over the years, Arcand recently turned her attention to children’s books. She released Goodnight Exomoon last year, an “astronomical parody,” which takes the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon and explores planetary science in a way that is readable for the very young.

The idea, Arcand says, was born when her own children refused to sleep. “I would read for hours to try to get them to go to sleep and they loved Goodnight Moon. One day I could not imagine reading Goodnight Moon again so I started creating stories based on it,” says Arcand. She wrote down one of the versions of her playful parody, and then put it in a drawer where it stayed for nearly a decade.

Then, in 2018, scientists found what they believed was the first exomoon orbiting the exoplanet known as Kepler-1625b. “With that first exomoon candidate, it reminded me that I had written the story, says Arcand. So, the scientist pulled her would-be book out of the drawer and brought it to life.

“In the great telescope room there was a telephone, an atmospheric balloon, and a picture of a satellite flying by the moon...” begins the story, setting readers in a room that houses a huge telescope. The story goes on to introduce children to some of the more modern tools that astronomers use, like accelerometers, micrometers and satellites, teaching them about astronomical objects like comets and exomoons.

Arcand hopes the book will excite “space fans”, and that it will inspire children and especially young girls to see the field of science as one that is approachable. This desire drives Arcand’s scientific work, as well. When not penning parodies, Arcand spends her time making complex concepts and theories more accessible to a variety of audiences, from fellow researchers to students and the general public.

8 . “I’m not a reader.” It’s a common reply that Julia Torres, a teacher-librarian in Denver Public School, has heard throughout her 16-year career. She’s seen students tear up books, throw them away or check them out only to immediately return them all because they didn’t have confidence in their ability to read.

As a librarian, Torres feels strongly that libraries should be spaces of liberation, places where students can develop a love of reading at any stage. Reading is a skill that everyone can grow to love, but too many negative experiences during a child’s literacy (读写能力) education can result in boredom, lack of interest or even anger. When a student has a poor experience like being shamed for their reading choices, they can begin to associate reading with painful feelings of insecurity, shame and stress.

To prevent reading disorder (阅读障碍) practices, as Torres notes, librarians first can build an inclusive (内容丰富的) library where classified collections can make it easier for students to find out the books they want and also help identify gaps in the collections. Reevaluating librarians’ role is necessary, which allows students to take control of the library and have a say in what’s purchased for the collection, directly exciting students’ reading interest. Instead of hosting traditional book fairs where students have to pay for books, it is better to open up a True Book Fair, where students are invited to choose books intentionally to their interests without any costs. Librarians are recommended to read what students are reading. Another two important approaches to preventing reading disorder are to take a look at the library policies and redefine (重新定义) what counts as reading. It is necessary to get rid of fines, check-out limits, security gates, and punishment policies. Plus, students are encouraged to listen to audiobooks or read picture books. Find a way to teach important skills like comprehension or critical thinking with the texts that excite and interest students.

9 . The Best Books to Buy for Teen Boys

Getting teen boys interested in books can be a challenge for parents. Fortunately, many young adult authors are now writing teen books that attract guys.

◆ The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Buckingham Palace becomes a shelter for kids escaping from zombie-infested (僵尸出没的) London. In yet another breathtaking story, readers are caught up in the action and stress of teens trying to survive as a horrible disease spread across England. Author Higson, a well-known British actor and comedian, is also the writer of the highly successful Young Bond series.

Recommended for ages 14-18.

Price: $10

◆ Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Award-winning author Westerfeld creates another reality of World War I in this biology-versus-technology story. The two teens are supposed to be enemies. A girl, pretending to be a British airman, and a prince cross paths and find themselves sailing on the airship Leviathan.

Recommended for ages 12-14.

Price: $12

◆ Gone by Michael Grant

Everyone over fifteen is disappearing in Sam’s town and the ones left behind are seeking help. In this story, teens must get together and find a way to rule themselves while preparing to fight against supernatural elements. Teens will enjoy this story of unwilling heroes, competition, and revenge (复仇).

Recommended for ages 14-18.

Price: $10

◆ The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Readers are following the adventures of 15-year-old Will who fights against huge beasts and evil warlords (军阀) trying to take over the kingdom. Author Flanagan continues to interest his fans with this long-running series of the adventures of a shy teenage boy who becomes a hero.

Recommended for ages 12-14.

Price: $16