1 . Best Books for Children 2024
Who’s Cute? by Camilla Reid
Meet the cute woodland creatures in the forest and find out which is the cutest. Will it be the tiny, baby rabbit, the little mouse or the young, wide-eyed owl? An adorably illustrated board book for babies and toddlers with a surprise mirror ending, Who’s Cute? will be read and enjoyed time and again.
Keep Smiling by Floella Benjamin
Vina is known for her smile; her mum says that sharing it is the best gift she can give. But the day she starts her new school, Vina finds that her smile has mysteriously disappeared. As she searches for it all over the school, she learns that sometimes happiness is found in the most unexpected places. With its message of positivity, this book offers a great starting point to help young children to talk about their feelings.
The Little Mermaid by Campbell Books
Dive in the sea with this best-loved fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. This board book’s push, pull and turn mechanisms give little hands many surprises to discover as they follow the underwater adventures. Nneka Myers’ bright, bold illustrations of the little mermaid, the prince, the sea witch (巫师) and many more favorite characters will attract babies and toddlers as you read the story together.
I’m Not Scary! by Rod Campbell
A fun touch-and-feel mini-beasts story from Rod Campbell, creator of the preschool lift-the-flap classic, Dear Zoo. Join in the fun by touching a scritchy-scratchy grasshopper, a shiny beetle and even a slimy snail in I’m Not Scary!, an interactive touch-and-feel book, packed full of favorite bugs and mini-beasts. But will you be brave enough to touch all the creatures?
1. What does Keep Smiling teach readers about?| A．How to adapt to a new life. | B．Being brave to express oneself. |
| C．Being creative when making friends. | D．Where to find happiness. |
| A．They have illustrations. | B．They teach ocean diving. |
| C．They are fairy tales. | D．They involve sea creatures. |
| A．Rod Campbell’s. | B．Camilla Reid’s. |
| C．Campbell Books’. | D．Floella Benjamin’s. |
2 . Nearly two decades ago when the Google Books Project digitized and freely distributed more than 25 million works, book publishers argued that free digital distribution weakens the market for physical books. However, new research from Imke Reimers and Abhishek Nagaraj reveals that the opposite—increased demand for physical books, through online discovery—could be true.
The two researchers focused on a particular part of Google Books’ digitized works: those from Harvard University’s Widener Library, which helped seed the project in its early days. The condition that enabled their experiment: Harvard’s digitization effort only included out-of-copyright works, published before 1923, which were made available to consumers in their entirety. The works from 1923 and later were still copyrighted and not digitized.
The researchers analyzed a total of 37,743 books scanned (扫描) between 2005 and 2009. They looked at sales for the two years before this digitization period and the two years after, and found clear differences in the increased sales between digitized and non-digitized books. Approximately 40% of digitized titles saw a sales increase from 2003-2004 to 2010-2011, compared to less than 20% of titles that were not digitized. The increase in sales was also found to be stronger for less popular books.
“If a book is readily available online, people may decide that it’s a useful book and want to buy it,” Reimers said. “The ‘discovery effect’, which even increased the sales of a digitized author’s non-digitized works, is a strong driver of increased sales. It’s not a huge jump in sales, but it’s still good news for publishers.”
“And book lovers,” Reimers said, “are known for their preference for physical books, as opposed to digital versions, which could also play a role.” She added, “Whenever I talk to people about my research on books, at some point they all say, ‘I just love the feel of a book in my hand.’”
1. Why did the researchers choose the publications before 1923 for their research?| A．They were all masterpieces. | B．They were mostly searchable. |
| C．They were not protected by copyright. | D．They were only partly downloaded for free. |
| A．By interviewing book users. | B．By comparing the sales data. |
| C．By classifying the book titles. | D．By referring to historical records. |
| A．To point out the limitations of the study. | B．To stress people’s different reading tastes. |
| C．To tell another contributor to the sales rise. | D．To show a growing trend in reading books. |
| A．Consumers Are Enthusiastic About E-books |
| B．Book Publishers Object to Digitizing Books |
| C．Physical Bookstores Are Declining in Importance |
| D．Digitizing Books Promotes Demand for Physical Copies |
3 . One Saturday last November, I stepped into my local library. I was about to read a book when I heard an elderly man speak to a lady. “This library will soon become a café. Everyone is reading with electronic devices,” he said. Hearing this, I wanted to shout, “I still read library books!” But my words stuck in my throat and I found teenagers around me were talking to friends or staring at their phones.
Reading online feels robotic to me. It’s like I stare at a screen and click “next” for the following page to appear until the very end of the e-book, and at the end of all of that, I just think, “That’s it?” But when I read a printed book, it’s like I’m holding on to the characters. I can imagine the plot better, as I can picture the scenes of each moment in my head with more accuracy and imagination.
Besides, some online books miss components (组成部分) that are in the printed novels. For instance, the physical copy of a fantasy novel I have read contains a map, but the e-book version does not. That is an injustice to e-book users; after reading and understanding the map, the story made a lot more sense for me, in terms of the setting and plot.
And personally, physically turning to the next page is better than clicking “next”. When reading online, I sometimes worry that I click “next” too quickly. It feels more like a race; I want to finish it because the pages just keep making that “flipping” sound and I wonder how long the book really is.
Some printed books have a special smell that makes the novel feel special to me. It’s hard to describe but I’m sure I’m not the only one that thinks so. I know I cannot convince every teen to switch from the digital book to the printed one, but maybe my writing about the difference will at least get some of them to think about it.
1. Why will the library be replaced by a café?| A．Few people head for it. | B．It lacks good management. |
| C．Few people read its books. | D．It holds little attraction for the youth. |
| A．They include additional contents. |
| B．They leave a lively impression. |
| C．They have a special pleasant smell. |
| D．They can improve readers’ imagination. |
| A．Making her tired of reading. | B．Leading her to read aimlessly. |
| C．Bringing more fun to her. | D．Stopping her digging into reading. |
| A．To inspire teenagers’ interest in reading. |
| B．To show advantages of printed books. |
| C．To reduce the impact of electronic devices. |
| D．To encourage teens to change the reading medium. |
4 . These novels focus on the excitement and drama of returning to class.
The First Rule of Punk
By Celia C. Pérez
(Puffin Books)
On the first day at her new middle school, Malú upsets a popular classmate and violates the dress code with her punk style. Her dad reminds her of the first rule of punk: Be yourself. Will keeping his advice in mind help Malú have a better rest of the school year? Ages 10 and up.
It’s the First Day of School...Forever!
By R. L. Stine
(Square Fish)
This classic book from the author of the Goosebumps series is filled with suspense and humor. Every day, Artie wakes up and the same thing happens — he bumps his head and gets ready for the first day of fifth grade. A twist ending helps explain why nothing changes from day to day. Ages 8–12.
New Kid
By Jerry Craft
(Quill Tree Books)
On the first day at a fancy prep school, Jordan realizes he’s one of only a handful of Black students. He doesn’t feel like he fits in with his classmates or his old friends in the neighborhood. Will he continue to feel stuck between the two worlds? This book is the only picture novel to win the famous Newbery Medal. Ages 8–12.
Save Me a Seat
By Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan
(Scholastic)
If you’re a fan of Fish in a Tree, you may enjoy this novel about two fifth graders. Ravi recently moved from India to New Jersey and feels like an outsider. Joe gets looked down upon because he needs extra help at school. As time passes, they realize they may share a lot in common. Ages 8–12.
1. Whose book is suitable for a 15-year-old boy?| A．R. L. Stine’s. | B．Jerry Craft’s. |
| C．Celia C. Pérez’s. | D．Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan’s. |
| A．New Kid. | B．Save Me a Seat. |
| C．The First Rule of Punk. | D．It’s the First Day of School...Forever! |
| A．They are familiar with each other. | B．They both come from India. |
| C．They are quiet in class. | D．They both encounter challenges. |
5 . Los Angeles residents Joe Blackstone and Jamie Mohn have long recognized the lasting impact storytelling can have on a child’s life. Shortly after getting married, the couple began volunteering to read books to elementary school kids. Then, when they became parents themselves, they created the J3 Foundation to help organizations devoted to children’s growth. But after learning two-thirds of fourth graders who cannot read effectively end up on welfare, Blackstone and Mohn decided to take a more hands-on approach: in 2018, they launched J3’s Cozy Reading Club.
Each session of the two-hour, after-school program is free and includes outdoor activities and a healthy snack. Then, it’s time for some comfortable reading. After teachers read a book aloud and the group talks about the storyline freely, the kids find a spot to sit while grabbing a book of their choice to look through. In the end, they get to choose two books to borrow and take home.
In its first year, J3’s Cozy Reading Club served 15 students in one L. A.-area classroom. As of 2022, it had expanded to 17 schools across four different districts, impacting a total of at least 400 students, the vast majority of whom live in underserved communities. With impressive statistics backing it up 90% of the students have significantly improved their reading scores, and 95% say they’ve started reading for fun since taking part in the program——its founders have much to celebrate.
“Having more than 5,000 culturally relevant books available to them is so exciting. I love it when our students can see themselves and their classmates’ lives reflected in the books they are reading. The hope of changing one kid at a time makes all the work worthwhile,” Blackstone said.
Currently, J3 is in the process of raising $864,000, so the Cozy Reading Club can expand to an additional 24 Los Angeles schools and double its book collection to 10,000. This is worthwhile. The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) reported that 68% of U. S. fourth graders weren’t skilled at reading in 2022, up from 66% in 2019.
1. What can be inferred about Blackstone and Mohn?| A．They are children’s writers. | B．They teach reading in a school. |
| C．They value kids’ development. | D．They’ve donated much to charities. |
| A．Learn the history of books. | B．Discuss a book’s plot. |
| C．Cook and have snacks. | D．Buy interesting books. |
| A．Its great achievements. | B．Its various services. |
| C．Its long-term goals. | D．Its current programs. |
| A．To state reading is significant. | B．To show J3 is a necessary cause. |
| C．To assess J3’s potential abilities. | D．To criticize America’s education. |
6 . Invited by an author-friend, I recently attended a program of readings by local African-American writers. As the audience in the library expanded, I noticed that I was among a minority of white and elderly supporters. After years of university teaching, volunteering in many organizations, and working as a psychologist in inner-city settings, I was comfortable amid many sorts and curious about what I might learn from these authors.
I settled into my seat as the chairman introduced a handsome and passionate man — Kendall Glaspie. He greeted us and then began to read from his five-chapter book of poems — Loved-Unloved: A Black Man’s Puzzle. I sat mesmerized, as the sounds and meanings of his words washed over me. Suddenly I reached back 60 years to a part of me, a college student of the second year, who first discovered Lawrence Ferlinghetti and A Coney Island of the Mind. Like Ferlinghetti, his work was meant to voice something. The moment felt magical.
After the program, I stood in his author-line to speak with him, purchase a copy, and ask if I could write about my experience while listening to him. He generously granted (准予) permission. Back home, I devoted myself to reading the poems, giving them the attention they deserved.
Kendall’s book did not disappoint. He sees it as “a collection of poems that explore complex dynamics that influence the identity and feelings of ordinary people in North America”. It investigates what the construct of love means to us as individuals and as a collective. Although I am not that remarkable — nor am I even of his generation —— I have spent my personal and professional life studying, discovering, and witnessing the healing power of love. I identified strongly with both the universal and much in the personal that he described. The depth of his grasp of the journey toward wholeness embracing all parts of ourselves but allowing our choices of action to be based on consciousness, left me impressed.
1. What do we know about the reading program?| A．It was often hosted in inner-city settings. |
| B．It was an uneasy attendance for the author. |
| C．It involved a few white and elder attendees. |
| D．It invited university teachers to give lectures. |
| A．Fascinated. | B．Shocked. | C．Puzzled. | D．Bored. |
| A．Choices of action. | B．The construct of love. |
| C．The identity of the individuals. | D．The meaning of life. |
| A．A guide to solving puzzles. | B．An essay on explorations of love. |
| C．An introduction to a program. | D．A blog on reading experiences. |
7 . Here are some books that are suitable for English learners. Let’s have a look.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
One great thing about this book is that it gives you a deep understanding of a different culture. This book follows the life of Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl. Esperanza moves into a home on Mango Street, The house is old and small. In the new home, Esperanza feels like that she has no time to be alone. She promises herself that one days he will leave and have her own home.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
We can almost guarantee that native English speakers have read this book at least once. A baby pig called Wilbur is almost killed because of his status—he is the smallest pig and he is considered to be useless. Charlotte, a spider, knows that the farmers are planning to kill Wilbur. She promises to make a plan to save him.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
It is a classic. So, if you find yourself in a conversation about literature, this is a good one to talk about. This is a story of a long fight between an old experienced fisherman and the best fish he ever caught. Santiago has returned to the village without any fish for 84 days. On the 85thday, his luck changes and so does his life.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
It’s based on history. If you have already known a lot of information about World WarⅡ,this might be an interesting book for you. The year is 1943 in Copenhagen, Denmark. There are soldiers everywhere. The life of 10-year-old Annemarie has been changed a lot because of the war. But this is a story of hope and courage.
1. What can the readers learn from The House on Mango Street?| A．Mango Street is in Mexico. |
| B．Mango Street is very beautiful. |
| C．Esperanza is an ambitious girl. |
| D．Esperanza loves the new house a lot. |
| A．Charlotte’s Web. |
| B．Number the Stars. |
| C．The Old Man and the Sea. |
| D．The House on Mango Street. |
| A．It was written in 1943. | B．It’s historical literature. |
| C．It’s suitable for children. | D．It’s about a different culture. |
8 . After high school English teacher Larry Abrams started his teaching career in a far suburb outside of Philadelphia, he found he taught in a book desert (荒漠). Many of the kids in school simply struggled (挣扎) with reading and then writing .
In 2017, when one of his students told him she had no book to read to her 2-year-old daughter, Abrams took action. He put forward a call to friends and family asking for gently used children’s books, and in no time, he had more than 1, 000 of them. He began handing out the books to young moms and local elementary schools. That was the start of his nonprofit, BookSmiles, which has since collected, sorted, and handed out hundreds of thousands of books throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area — and will soon reach 1 million.
BookSmiles calls on people to help collect books and drop them off in the group’s large collection boxes, which are painted with literary-themed artwork and put outside local businesses, houses of worship, schools, and people’s homes. Books are often handed out through teachers, who come to the book bank and choose as many books as they want.
Larry Abrams thinks children should be read to because it’s something joyful that creates a bond (纽带) between the parent and the child in such an important way. Reading books creates a moment that will never die off and always stay with the child. And what’s more, reading books to kids gives them power. The most important tool that they get is words. There are some kids who grow up hearing lots of words because they’re read to every single night. They are used to hearing sentences connected together when they’re babies. And then there are other kids who never get that. Reading and books help level that playing field. It gives words, millions of words, to these babies who really, really need them.
1. What did Larry Abrams find about his working environment?| A．He had to live a hard life in a desert. |
| B．His students were very short of books. |
| C．His students couldn’t read or write at all. |
| D．His school was struggling to make ends meet. |
| A．His student’s trouble. | B．His school’s requirement. |
| C．His daughter’s need for books. | D．His close friend’s request. |
| A．What books BookSmiles hands out. | B．Where BookSmiles’s boxes are. |
| C．How busy BookSmiles’s workers are. | D．How BookSmiles works. |
| A．It helps parents and children to kill time. |
| B．It makes children depend more on their parents. |
| C．It puts children far ahead of those without being read to. |
| D．It develops children’s language skills by parent-child behavior. |
9 . If you think being a teenager is hard, think again. Raising a teenager is a lot harder. Beginning at thirteen, your kids will be wanting (demanding, actually) more freedom and independence. They already know what their interests and wants are. But that doesn’t mean you should stop guiding them (especially when it comes to reading). Here are 4 highly recommended books for your teenagers:
The Martian
by Andy Weir $9.76
In the year 2035, NASA sends off the crew of Ares 3 to Mars for a planned month-long stay. However, a strong storm threatened to trap them on the planet and a hurried withdrawal follows. Mark Watney is left behind when he was believed dead. Now, he has to learn how to survive alone another planet until help comes back for him.
Big Bones
by Laura Dockrill $7.98
Bluebelle is a sixteen-year-old overweight girl, who was told by nurse that she was “obese” and was forced to lose weight through using a food diary. But she is perfectly happy with how she looks and uses the food diary to tell the story of her everyday life instead.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
by John Boyne $7.98
Bruno is a nine-year-old during the Second World War. He moved to Auschwitz with his family when his father was promoted as a commandant (司令官). When he explores his new home, he meets a boy wearing stripped pajamas who lives at the other end of the fence. They become fast friends.
Fangirl
by Rainbow Rowell $10.97
It’s Cath’s freshman year in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her twin sister wants nothing to do with her. She’s having a hard time adjusting to life in college because of her social anxiety disorder. Add in a challenging fiction-writing class, a friendly writing partner, a new roommate, and a complicated relationship, and what to do you get? An interestingly confusing life that is, and all Cath wants is to finish her fan fiction in peace.
1. Which will readers probably buy if they like science fiction?| A．Fangirl. | B．Big Bones. |
| C．The Martian. | D．The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. |
| A．It is about adventure in childhood. | B．It mainly deals with life in college. |
| C．It is the cheapest one among the four. | D．It is the masterpiece of Rainbow Rowell. |
| A．College students. | B．Teenagers aged 13-15. |
| C．Parents with young teenagers. | D．Adults interested in writing. |
10 . Have you wanted to try an ebook? Has the cost of ebooks stopped you? Well, there are ebooks that you can download.
There are several reasons some ebooks are free. In some cases, the book’s copyright has come to an end. In other cases, writers offer books for free to grow a readership.
When you find a free ebook you want to read, get it right away.
Some free ebook sites offer referral links to other websites. Therefore, you can download free ebooks there.
| A．Be careful of some websites. |
| B．So visit Amazon’s list quickly. |
| C．Several websites offer free ebooks. |
| D．Referral links provide lists of best sellers. |
| E．Often the offer is open only for a short time. |
| F．Often a free book will be the first in a series. |
| G．These referral sites help you find free ebooks of interest to you. |
