1 . Every year — for more than 15 years running — Amazon editors come together and read hundreds of books. From there, they make a list of favorites, cutting it down from 60 to 40 and then finally to 20, during a heated debate in Seattle. It’s a long process where emotions run high. Below are 4 of the top 20 picks of 2023, along with quotes (引述) from the editors.

Hello Beautiful

by Ann Napolitano

“Ann Napolitano creates a touching story that centers on the Padavano sisters, who are close to each other — until they aren’t. Hello Beautiful offers big emotions, and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful and so page-turning, which is why we named it the Best Book of 2023 So Far.” — Al Woodworth

Weyward

by Emilia Hart

“Though divided by centuries, three women, who share a unique connection to the natural world and to one another, tell their attractive stories of ill treatment, danger, and adaptability in a beautifully written novel that is an impressive read.” — Seira Wilson

Poverty, by America

by Matthew Desmond

“In 200 powerful and critical pages, Matthew Desmond lays out a clear explanation of inequality that will make you rage (发怒), give in, and feel shame. This book may not be the easiest read, but it’s one of the most important ones.” — Lindsay Powers

King: A Life

by Jonathan Eig

“Eig’s best description of Martin Luther King Jr. is an amazing achievement of writing and research, telling the hardships and heroics of a man who changed the world. This is biography at its absolute finest.” — Al Woodworth

2 . Boys whose classmates think reading is for girls are more likely to perform poorly in this area, a new study suggests.

To conduct the study, researchers tested a total of 1,508 fifth-grade students in 60 classes in Germany, who had an average age of 10. The children filled out questionnaires in which they ranked whether they thought boys or girls were better at reading, which gender read more, and which gender had more fun doing so. They also assessed their own enjoyment and skill in the activity, and completed reading tests.

Past studies suggested the stereotypes (刻板印象) that reading is for girls and math is for boys are widespread, so the researchers wanted to see if this could contribute to a gap in skills. Their study revealed that boys who believed gender stereotypes about reading were less likely to see themselves as competent and motivated in this regard. The researchers also found boys whose classmates thought reading was for girls not only had similar attitudes about themselves, but also appeared to perform worse in tests. They discovered girls generally exhibited better reading and writing ability than boys as early as the fourth grade. And as they got older that achievement gap became increasingly obvious. At the same time, the gender stereotype didn’t appear to affect girls positively or negatively. However, the study’s authors acknowledged that their data might not be accurate as they relied on the children’s honesty. They’ll conduct further research.

One of the authors of the study said, “To reduce socially determined gender disparities (不一致) in reading, it may help to create contexts that discourage students from acting on their stereotypical beliefs.” The study is the latest to examine how gender stereotypes affect young people. Late last year, a separate team of researchers found teaching teenage boys about gender equality could prevent them from being violent.

4 . Fluency is the rate at which the child reads. Fluent readers take note of things like question marks and adjust their voice. Their expression sounds natural, and their voice is not as flat as they read. Children who are fluent readers make their reading sound like talking.     1     Here are some ways to improve your children’s fluency.

First, it’s important to choose “just right” books. They will struggle to read books that are too difficult, spending their time trying to figure out unfamiliar words.     2     If a child is struggling with fluency, consider having him read books that are easy.

    3     It’s important to discuss what fluent reading sounds like but even better actually to set an example for your children. This can help your children understand what you mean when you ask them to use the expression more smoothly. Another choice is to have children listen to audiobooks to hear what fluent reading sounds like.

Children can improve their fluency through whispering phones. They are like pretend telephones that children read into. When children read into such phones, they can hear themselves well and use that feedback to think about their expression and reading rate.     4    

Use choral reading (合唱式阅读). This occurs when a group of children reads something together, saying the words at the same time. You might read the text out loud by yourself first.     5     Then you can read it together, with them matching your pace and expression.

6 . It’s no secret that reading good news feels a lot better than reading bad news. Like, would you rather bite into a lemon, or sip on a fresh glass of lemonade?

    1    The world is full of problems and conflicts and we need to stay informed and alert (警觉的) to what’s going on around us. While reading traditional, more negative news is important, consuming good news is also part of staying informed.     2     And it also brings meaningful benefits, like reduced stress and anxiety, higher rates of engagement, community building skills, and inspiration for creating a better world. Plus, knowing what to look for in the good news landscape is a key part of improving our media literacy skills and being thoughtful news consumers.

In fact, good news, known as solutions journalism, is becoming more popular, as publishers and news stations discover the benefits of sharing positive stories. Good Good Good is one of them.     3     A team of reporters and editors there work daily to deliver stories that make readers feel hopeful and equipped to do more good with possible solutions.

“If it bleeds, it leads.” has long been a saying used in the media to describe how news stories about violence, death and destruction draw readers’ attention.       4     The thing is, however, there’s also good stuff out there — the delightful and kind parts of humanity. “Beautiful stories are happening worldwide.     5    When you do find them, the world can suddenly feel like a very different place. Good news is a vital part of how we learn about the world and solving the world’s problems.” Hervey, one of Good Good Good’s editors said.

8 . How to Host a Book Swap

If you love the written word, you probably have a pile of books somewhere in your home.     1    If you’re becoming alarmed at the price of new books, hold a book swap. The idea is pretty simple Guests bring books to share, and the accumulated books are then redistributed to new owners. If you’ve never held a book swap before, here are a few tips.

Send out invitations. A formal invitation should include the address, date and duration. A 2 to 3 hour party gives everyone a chance to enjoy the time and leave happy.     2    Three books is pretty standard. If you want extras around, don’t set a maximum.

Provide enough space. Some people use one large dining table and start piling up books when they run out of space.     3    They can offer people a chance to consider their selections without having to juggle piles of books while they’re doing it.

    4    To make sure guests can find what interests them, the easiest way to do this is to mart sections on the table for specific types of books. When people arrive, hand out a brief set of instructions, asking them to place their books in the right category.

Make it a party. When you’re in the planning stages, think party and you’ll be one step ahead of the game.     5    Create some good interactions with a little background music. Have an area set aside for coats and bags. Remember, you are hosting a party!