1 . Every year—for more than 15 years running—Amazon editors come together to decide on the Best Books of the Year. Below are the top 4 picks, along with quotes from the editors.

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

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

Happy Place by Emily Henry

“Emily Henry’s latest has all the feels!More than your standard second-chance romance, Happy Place is about the beauty, pain, and joy that come with biological families, chosen families, growing up and apart, and how—as adults—we deal with this thing called life.”—Kami Tei

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann

“Please get ready. This true story of violence and murder, adventure, and ambition on the high seas is a page-turner. You can almost feel the salt stuck on your skin as the ship and its noisy shipmen fight against the bad weather and each other for becoming rich and famous. David Grann,once again, has made history come alive.” —Al Woodworth

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

“I will not soon forget Lady Tan. A historical story grounded in women, medicine, and tradition, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is heart-touching, and I found myself underlining throughout this inviting read.” —Kami Tei

2 . 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!

8 . This year’s best books for children address sadness and fear while celebrating love, strength, hope and joy.

The Big Dreaming

Michael Rosen and Daniel Egneus

Two bears are preparing for the Big Sleep, but Little Bear worries they won’t have enough dreams to last the winter. He sets out on a dangerous journey, from which he returns with stored visions of happiness, homecoming and hope.

A Way to the Stars

David Almond and Gill Smith

This is a story of the love between parent and child. When Joe is eager to reach the stars, his dad is fully on board. Together they build a tower, even a rocket(火箭), without success. But every time they laugh and try again, until Joe finally achieves his dream.

A Really Short Journey Through the Body

Bill Bryson

For children over 8 who love science, it is adapted for children by science journalist Emma Young. It is a sure-fire winner, especially among those who enjoy humorous writings.

Oscar’s Lion

Adam Baron

In this story illustrated(插图) by Benji Davies, Oscar is alarmed to discover that his parents have disappeared and that a large lion appears. But has he really eaten Oscar’s parents? This unusual story of love, sadness and family ties will particularly attract children who are coming to terns with loss.

9 . In 2000, a group of innovators in Denmark came up with a different kind of library —the Human Library. It has since transformed into a global phenomenon where “readers” can check out a human “book”. Each “title” offers an opportunity for dialogue over difficult questions, a process which the library hopes will help us all “un-judge” one another.

The first human library was organized by Ronni Abergel, his brother, and two colleagues. As a four-day event at a festival, the project was experimental. However, over a thousand readers came to read the human books available. The books themselves were chosen to represent often misunderstood groups. The initial library was a success leading to the foundation of the Human Library Organization, which has since carried on the lending of human books.

People can be part of the Human Library in two ways. One can volunteer to be a book and to offer first-hand knowledge of an experience or identity. Among the Human Library are books entitled “Alcoholic,” “Depression,” and so on. While these titles may seem simple and direct, the Human Library hopes readers will pick a topic but come to know the book for so much more than just the cover and title. Volunteer books agree to share their experiences — a commitment which requires patience, empathy (共情), and a level of comfort in sharing.

Another way to experience the Human Library is as a reader. Readers check out books for a certain amount of time. While being respectful, the library create s a space where readers can listen to the stories of books. Readers are encouraged to ask the difficult questions they always wondered but never had a chance to ask. Specifically, the library hopes it will be “a place where people who would otherwise never talk find room for conversation.”

The Human Library Organization today holds pop-up events around the world and even has permanent borrowing locations in several cities. They also work with companies as a rather unique provider of diversity and inclusion training.