1 . This Mother’s Day we asked a handful of children’s book experts and writers which stories and characters come to mind when they think about motherhood.
Runaway Bunny
by Margaret Wise Brown
Since it was first published in 1942, Brown’s Runaway Bunny has never gone out of print. It is pretty much a work of genius! Brown opened the door for parents to feel like they’re reading a story about love and caring about their children while the children are exploring their own individual identity and how close they are or separated they are from the adults in their lives.
Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse
by Walter Dean Myers
It is a collection of photographs Myers collected over the years. Myers writes, “Seeing their faces scrubbed and beaming and them dressed in their Sunday best makes me think about the hardworking parents and grandparents who have taken time to take care of their children.”
Mommy’s Hometown
by Hope Lim
This story is about a boy and his mother’s trip to her childhood home in Korea. The boy discovers the town is not how he imagined it would be. Mommy’s Hometown starts from the specific lens (镜头) of Korean culture, but has the universal feature of memory and perception.
Happy Dreams, Little Bunny
written and illustrated by Leah Hong
Happy Dreams, Little Bunny is ”a next-generation Runaway Bunny.“ Through a gentle dialogue, it guides us to find peace in our imagination and to grow in autonomy and independence.
1. Which statement of Runaway Bunny is NOT correct?| A．It has been published for 80 years. |
| B．It is appreciated widely. |
| C．It will separate adults and children. |
| D．It can help kids to find their individuality. |
| A．Margaret Wise Brown. | B．Walter Dean Myers. |
| C．Leah Hong. | D．Hope Lim. |
| A．They all have no pictures. |
| B．They are all about Korean culture. |
| C．They all have gentle dialogues. |
| D．They are all suitable for moms and kids. |
2 . If you want to improve your English through reading original English works, here are some recommendations.
Charlotte’s Web
By E. B White
This is a lovely novel that all age groups can understand. Aimed at native English speaking children, there are many adults who still say this famous book is their favorite. This is part of the national curriculum in many schools around the world, so it’s quite possible this book will also come up in conversation. You can almost guarantee that the majority of native English speakers have read this book at least once.
The Outsiders
By S. E. Hinton
This short novel is perfect for EFI learners. It has modern themes and typical teenage issues that people around the world have experienced. There are very few cultural notes in this, which means you don’t need much background information. The sentences are short and easy to understand. The vocabulary is also very easy. You should be able to read this book without difficulty.
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
This is a realistic novel. It is based on history. Unlike other historical literature, it’s easy to understand. If you already know a lot of information about World War II, this might be an interesting book for you. It’s not recommended if you don’t know too much about the World Wars. In this case, you will be focusing on trying to understand the facts too much so you will not enjoy the book as much.
Thirteen Reasons Why
By Jay Asher
This story take place in the present, which means the writer writes using simple grammar. ”All sentences are short and the vocabulary is relatively easy. The interesting grammar and short paragraphs make this a quick and easy book for ESI learners. This is an award-winning book and on New York Times best book list, so it is worth a read.
1. Which book had you better avoid reading if you don’t know too much about history?| A．Charlotte’s Web. | B．The Outsiders. | C．Number the Stars. | D．Thirteen Reasons Why. |
| A．Charlotte’s Web and The Outsiders. | B．The Outsiders and Thirteen Reasons Why. |
| C．Thirteen Reasons Why and Number the Stars. | D．Charlotte’s Web and Number the Stars. |
| A．All of them are designed for children. | B．All of them are easy to understand. |
| C．All of them are award-winning books. | D．All of them have modern themes. |
3 . The Nobel Literature Prizes are awarded to the persons who shall have produced in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction. The followings are some famous female winners in recent years.
Louise Glück
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2020. Childhood, family life, relationships and death are frequent themes in her collections. Gluck seeks out the universal. The rich English-language poetry tradition is her primary literary source of inspiration. Glück’s language is free of poetic formalities and she often uses daily spoken language.
Alice Munro
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2013. Alice Munro has devoted her literary career mostly to short stories. The underlying themes of her work are often relationship problems and moral conflicts. The relationship between memory and reality is another frequent theme she uses to create tension. She is able to demonstrate the impact that seemingly small events can have on a person’s life.
Herta Müller
The Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2009. Her works are rooted in her experiences as one of Romania’s German-speaking racial minority. Müller describes how dictatorship (独裁) causes a fear and sense of distance that stays in an individual’s mind. With precise language, she recalls images from the past.
Svetlana Alexievich
She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015. Svetlana Alexievich represents life during and after the Soviet Union through the experience of individuals. Personal experiences have been an important part for her works. She uses interviews to create a picture of a wide range of voices. With her “ documentary novels ” , Alexievich moves in the boundary between reporting and fiction.
1. Whose works does a student loving poems probably read?| A．Louise Glück. | B．Alice Munro. |
| C．Herta Müller. | D．Svetlana Alexievich. |
| A．Writing short stories. | B．Describing significant events. |
| C．Balancing memory and reality. | D．Dealing with relationship problems. |
| A．The language style is precise. |
| B．They have similar backgrounds. |
| C．They are rooted in people’s real life experiences. |
| D．The focus is the relationship between individuals. |
4 . Every year, Barnes & Noble picks the 10 best books of the year, covering all genres and age groups. If you’re looking for an amazing book to grab before the end of 2021, here are some of the best books of the year.
Cloud Cuckoo Land
This novel is both a historical and futuristic science fiction story that connects five characters across hundreds of years through their relationship to a book: “Cloud Cuckoo Land.” The book they find is about a shepherd named Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird, so he can live a carefree life forever. As each character finds this book, from a l5th century kid to a young teen on a futuristic interstellar ship, their stories meet in this complex yet fascinating read.
Crying in H Mart
When Michelle Zauner was 25, her mother s cancer changed her life forever and forced her to accept her Korean American identity in a desperate attempt to stay connected to her mother. As a talented musician, Michelle had previously been divorced from her cultural roots, but quickly turned to food to keep her mother's memory alive in this powerful and heartbreaking memoir.
Pony
It is a historical, middle-grade adventure novel intended for adolescents. It talks about a 12-year-old boy named Silas who is woken in the middle of the night to see his father being taken away by three horsemen. With only his horse named Pony by his side, Silas sets off on a life-changing mission to find his father.
You Will Get Through This Night
It is a nonfiction read about mental health that offers both a personal and professional outlook on how to survive the hardest mental health days. Dividing the book into three chapters — This Night, Tomorrow, and The Days After — Daniel Howell wants readers to not just survive the hard nights but properly care for our mental health.
1. What do Cloud Cuckoo Land and Pony have in common?| A．Plot. | B．Literary form. | C．Characters. | D．Writing background. |
| A．Cloud Cuckoo Land. | B．Crying in H Mart. |
| C．Pony. | D．You Will Get Through This Night. |
| A．It is about psychological health. | B．It helps cure physical disabilities. |
| C．It is a collection of personal stories. | D．It mainly solves sleeping problems. |
5 . Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Harry Potter )
by Newt Scamander (Author), J. K. Rowling (Author), Olivia Lomenech Gill (Illustrator)
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander's classic compendium (汇编) of magical creatures, has delighted generations of wizarding readers. With this beautiful, large-scale new edition illustrated in full color, muggles (麻瓜) too will have the chance to discover where the Runespoor lives, what the Puffskein eats, and why shiny objects should always be kept away from the Niffler. Profits from the sale of this book will go to Comic Relief and J.K. Rowlings international charity, Lumos, which will do magic beyond the powers of any wizard.
Product details
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books; Reprint edition
Language: English
Hardcover: 160 pages
ISBN-10: 1338216791
ISBN-13: 978-13382 16790
Reading age: 8 years and up
Grade level: 3-6
Item Weight: 2.82 pounds
Dimensions: 9.8 x0.9x 11.5 inches
Benjamin Coleman
★★★★☆
This has to be my favorite of the illustrated editions
The “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” illustrated edition has to be opinion the most beautiful of all of the ones released so far. Each of the pages is illustrated beautifully for every fantastic creature you can possibly imagine in the Potter universe. My personal favorite was the dragon section which has beautiful illustrations of several different species of dragons. This book is a must buy for both new and older fans of the series and a great collection item for any Potter fan. So if you’re looking for a great present who loves Harry Potter, get these illustrated editions!
Michelle E Krupski
★☆☆☆☆
Disappointing book
1. The size of the book is inconsistent with the other HP illustrated series, which is disappointing.
2. The book does not have a dust jacket which is inconsistent with all of my other HP books and disappointing.
3. The illustrations lack depth. The majority of the book is just rough sketches with color. I can imagine that myself. What I was anticipating was amazing detail and a beautiful book. What I received looks like a rough draft. Not worth the price I paid.
1. What do we know about Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?| A．It is intended for children aged 3-6. |
| B．Olivia Lomenech Gill is one of the authors. |
| C．Earnings from the Sale of this book will go to charity. |
| D．It is about the fight between muggles and the Runespoor. |
| A．The dragon section. |
| B．The Niffler section. |
| C．The Runespoor section. |
| D．The section related to Harry Potter. |
| A．The story in the book lacks depth. |
| B．The book is too big to be put on the shelf. |
| C．The illustrations don’t live up to her expectations. |
| D．The book arrived damaged with scratches on the covers. |
6 . Not all brilliant reads are behind the paywall, some classics are much more accessible—click and download.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Pride and Prejudice is a really, really good book. A little bit rigid, a little bit repressed, a little bit tender, and painfully class conscious, it’s the full English romance package. Now more than 200 years old, the novel has been retold time and again, finding new audiences each time. Still, there’s no substitute for the original.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
From the Cheshire Cat to Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Alice’s adventures are as strange and wonderful today as they were 150 years ago. Complete with Arthur Rackham’s wonderful illustrations there’s still nothing quite like it. Everyone should go down the rabbit hole at least once.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Perhaps no book does a better job of condensing Charles Dickens’ brilliance than his 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities. Taking place in London and Paris against the background of the French Revolution, the story has inspired countless projects since—even Christopher Nolan’s Batman films. And the best thing? If you like it, all Dickens’ other books are ready and waiting to be read too.
Frankenstein; Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
Although Mary Shelley’s central message of people being destroyed by the monsters they create has been largely ignored in the years since publication, the tale itself continues to be very popular indeed, and with good reason. The book’s masterful combination of horror, romanticism, and science fiction makes it as attractive today as it would have been in 1818. Just the thing for nighttime reading.
1. What can you read about in Pride and Prejudice?| A．Cute animals. | B．French Revolution. |
| C．Scientific discoveries. | D．Class consciousness |
| A．Frankenstein. |
| B．A Tale of Two Cities. |
| C．Pride and Prejudice. |
| D．Alice's Adventures in Wonderland |
| A．They are romantic novels. |
| B．They can be read for free. |
| C．They were created in the early 1900s. |
| D．They were ignored when first published. |
1. Who is probably the man?
| A．A teacher. | B．A writer. | C．A student. |
| A．Its words. | B．Its illustrations. | C．Its topic. |
| A．From a secondhand store | B．From an online bookshop. | C．From the school library. |
8 . It's the most wonderful time of the year! The winter holidays are the perfect chance to get comfortable with a good book, and luckily we have some best sellers right now. We're sure you'll find what you're looking for.
Sunday Funday by Katherine Hallgan
Hardback, $20 (10 percent off with membership)
A great book full of seasonal activities that families and friends can enjoy together. From gardening projects to creative hand-made things and warming winter recipes (食谱), there's something for everyone, whatever the weather.
The History of the World in 100 Animals by Simon Barnes
Hardback, $16.99
This beautifully pictured book explores the good relationship between humans and animals, from bees to chimpanzees (黑猩猩) who share more than 90% of our DNA. If you are crazy about animals, this is the book for you.
Accidentally Famous by David Baddiel
Paperback, $12.99
Nothing amazing ever happens to Billy Smith but when TV workers visit his school he becomes popular, but as everyone knows, being famous comes with a price. David Baddiel's laugh-out-loud book asks what life would be like if everyone suddenly knew your name.
Eddie Albert and the Animal Gang by Paul O'Grady
Paperback, $15
This action-filled adventure from TV favourite Paul O'Grady follows a young boy with a very special gift—he can talk to animals! On a trip to Amsterdam, Eddie meets a monkey in danger and rescues the young creature with the help of his animal friends.
1. What is the member price for Sunday Funday?| A．$20. | B．$19. | C．$18. | D．$10. |
| A．Sunday Funday. | B．Eddie Albert and the Animal Cang. |
| C．Accidentally Famous. | D．The History of the World in 100 Animals. |
| A．They are published in hardback. | B．They stress harmony with animals. |
| C．They are full of beautiful pictures. | D．They speak of famous TV persons. |
9 . Are you a book lover? Here are some of the hottest books of the season.
The One Thing You’d Save
The One Thing You’d Save is about a homework assignment. Ms. Chang has students choose what they’d save if their home was on fire. Some choose baseball cards or animal toys. One picks a sweater that was passed down for generations. Another chooses a box of memories about a sister who died. This book helps readers learn to figure out what matters most in life.
War and Millie McGonigle
It’s 1941. Millie McGonigle, a 12-year-old girl, was supposed to be living a carefree life. However, she lives in the shadow of World War Ⅱ. War and Millie McGonigle is an inspiring story that tackles the topic of life and death. The story line is driven by vivid characters and their relationships. The interaction between Millie and her little sister, Lily, mirrors the real-life sibling (兄妹) relationships in many families.
Simon B. Rhymin’
Simon is starting fifth grade and hopes to become a famous singer. But he’s shy about using his voice to express his ideas and thoughts. When a teacher asks the class to give an oral presentation, Simon must find the strength to change and overcome his fears. Simon B. Rhymin’ is a book that gives confidence to readers who are going through similar struggles.
Rez Dogs
Rez Dog is a book about an eighth grader named Malian. She’s visiting her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation when COVID-19 hits. To stay safe, Malian has to stay away from school” and her friends. Many kids will understand this tough situation. During the lockdown, Malian learns to think about what other people have gone through and how they are feeling during the pandemic (疫情).
1. How can The One Thing You’d Save influence us?| A．It gets us to preserve sweet family memories. |
| B．We may find it essential to ensure home safety. |
| C．We will try our best to improve our academic performance. |
| D．It reminds us to discover what we should treasure most in life. |
| A．They are both inspirational stories. |
| B．They are both set in cruel war times. |
| C．They both reflect character weaknesses. |
| D．They both involve principles of survival. |
| A．The One Thing You’d Save. | B．War and Millie McGonigle. |
| C．Simon B. Rhymin’. | D．Rez Dogs. |
10 . Fiction can be a powerful tool for helping individuals make sense of the real world. Science fiction is no different. In light of that, we have rounded up some of the best sci-fi novels of all time.
Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Date published: 1965
One of the most beloved sci-fi novels of all time, Dune received a theatrical release in 2020. It was not the first time the coming-of-age story about a young man who must fight for his own life as well as the existence of his planet hit the big screen.
The War of the Worlds
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Date published: 1898
The father of science fiction, H.G Wells, wrote this novel, in which a group of aliens (外星人) attacks Earth, destroying everything in their path. When the novel was first turned into radio broadcast in 1938, it caused public panic as many listeners didn’t realize it was fiction.
The Giver
- Author: Lois Lowry
- Date published: 1993
Arguably the most widely read science fiction novel, The Giver follows a young man named Jonas, who is set to become the Receiver of Memory within his society. As his training gets underway, he begins to realize that the society he is in may not be all that perfect.
The Three-Body Problem
- Author: Liu Cixin
- Date published: 2006
Liu Cixin is one of China’s most beloved science fiction authors, and The Three-Body Problem marks English-speaking readers’ first opportunity to engage with his work. In the book, a group of aliens plan to occupy Earth. On Earth, some humans plan to side with the aliens and others plan to fight back.
1. Who is the father of science fiction?| A．Frank Herbert. | B．H.G. Wells. |
| C．Lois Lowry. | D．Liu Cixin. |
| A．Dune. | B．The Giver. |
| C．The War of the Worlds. | D．The Three-Body Problem. |
| A．They help readers to understand the world. |
| B．They taught young people to fight for life. |
| C．They were all published in the 90s. |
| D．They are all about aliens. |
