Book Recommendations for May

The Largest Cake in the World

Grade Level：G1-G5

Author：[韩]安英恩

 Illustrator: [韩]金成姬

Publisher：中信出版集团

ISBN：9787521731231

Shelf Number：1F-新书速递书架

The Largest Cake in the World is a story adapted from an anecdote about Leonardo da Vinci, who served as the wedding planner for Ludovico Sforza, the Duke of Milan, in 1491. The book was the award-winning work at the 2015 Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

In the story, da Vinci wants to create a cake cathedral for the Duke and Duchess. During the construction process, da Vinci observes and reflects, inventing devices for kneading dough, cracking walnuts, hoisting, and even flying, effectively solving the issue of manual labour.

Apart from its storytelling and educational aspects, the illustrations in the book are also full of artistic atmosphere. The use of various painting techniques such as collage, coloured pencils, and watercolours creates a strong visual impact for readers. The black silhouettes on the last page of the story are the figures from da Vinci’s most famous painting “The Last Supper.”

It is worth mentioning that the endpapers of the picture book also hide all the kitchen utensils invented by da Vinci, such as a barbecue grill, pepper grinder, garlic crusher, and left-handed bottle opener.

MinaGrade Level: G1-G2Author: Matthew Forsythe

Publisher：Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

ISBN: 9781771474146

Shelf Number: 1F-新书速递书架

Lexile measure: AD500L

Mina is a little mouse who loves reading. She lives with her father on an empty tree stump by the pond.Her peaceful life is often interrupted by her father, who has a habit of bringing home ‘surprises from the outside world’.Once, her father brought home a ‘squirrel’ and was convinced that it was harmless. However, during the days they spent together with the ‘squirrel’, it didn’t eat or drink a drop, which was quite strange. Her father had no choice but to call a doctor to examine the ‘squirrel’. To their surprise, the ‘squirrel’ turned out to be a cat! A thrilling game of ‘cat and mouse’ was about to unfold…

The illustrations in this book are large, vibrant, and colourful, making it perfect for parent-child reading. Students may consider inviting their fathers to read it together and reminisce about the “surprises” or “scares” they have brought to each other.

Index of The Acts of the Wind 

Grade Level：G6+

Author：[叙利亚]阿多尼斯

Translator: 薛国庆

Publisher：人民文学出版社

ISBN：9787020161942

Shelf Number：2F-0406

Index of The Acts of the Wind is the essence of contemporary Arabic poet Adonis’ poetry, collected from nature. It includes 13 highly representative lyrical poems.Adonis’ poetry, centered around the wind, encompasses various images related to rain, sky, roses, dust, and humanity. It is free, dynamic, profound, and thought-provoking. Each poem in the book sweeps through the hearts of people like the wind and stands as a brilliant gem in Arabic literature.The texture of the book cover is like velvet, warm and delicate to the touch, resembling Adonis’ poetic style.

Below is an excerpt from the third poem entitled, “Rain”, recently read by two high school students, Andy Zhang (Class G9TS) and Winston Chen (Class G9SY). Let us together experience the charm of Adonis’ metaphorical mastery through his words and the students’ heartfelt reading!

 Neuromancer Grade Level：G9+

Author：William Gibson

Publisher：Ace

ISBN：9780441007462

Shelf Number：2F-0396

Set in a dystopian society, the story of Neuromancer follows a washed-up computer hacker named Case who is hired for one last job that promises to grant him access to the ultimate artificial intelligence. As he delves deeper into this dangerous assignment, he encounters rogue AIs and enigmatic allies.

William Gibson’s vivid prose and visionary storytelling transport readers into a richly imagined universe where technology and humanity merge in unpredictable ways. William Gibson is the individual who introduced the concept of cyberspace and coined the term “cyberpunk”, influencing countless works in both literature and film. The intricate plot, filled with suspense and intrigue, keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while the exploration of themes such as identity, artificial intelligence, and the consequences of a hyper-connected society provokes thought and reflection.