Fun ways to raise kids

Magic of Super Mom is a collection of tips on how to play games with babies between infancy and 3 years old. The illustration-filled book targets young Chinese parents who want to give their children a sound early education but do not know how to go about it.

Introducing 156 games played widely by British parents with their babies - one a week - and written in a tone suitable for infants, the book is a fun guide on raising kids and exploring children's inner worlds.

Detailed knowledge about a baby's growth is also included.

- Mei Jia

Three biographies in one book

A collection of three biographies on Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and V.L. Lenin has been released recently. Tsinghua University's philosophy professor Hu Rui believes the book is a good attempt to bring the three revolutionary pioneers from the pedestal to the Chinese public, to show that they were great men with flesh and blood.

The three thinkers, who have greatly influenced Chinese society, are the "most familiar strangers" to the public, Hu says.

With 2,000 pictures, including photos, sketches by celebrated painters, and their manuscripts, the collection gives a chronological account of the lives of the trio. The books will give readers a better understanding of the era when the three influential intellectuals lived.

- Mei Jia

Billy Crystal learns to laugh at himself

Billy Crystal will share his comedic views on life and aging in a new memoir to be published on his 65th birthday in March 2013.

The actor and comedian will reflect on his life, career and aspects of aging including forgetfulness, insomnia, endless doctor's appointments and humorous thoughts on looking at himself naked, publisher Henry Holt and Co said in a statement.

"While I still can remember my life, I thought I should get it down on paper," the When Harry Met Sally star says. "Turning 65 is something to celebrate and have fun with but also to write about all the great and tough times that got me here."

Crystal, who hosted the Oscars for the 9th time in February, published his first autobiography, Absolutely Mahvelous, in 1986 as well as several children's books. His 2005 Tony-winning Broadway show, 700 Sundays, which reflected upon memories of his father, was also translated into a book.

- Reuters

'Treasure Island' return

Writer Andrew Motion, England's former poet laureate, is taking a new generation of readers back to "Treasure Island" in his latest book, which follows the characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure.

In Silver: Return to Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins is four decades older and runs an inn with his son Jim, who meets an unusual girl on the river that runs by his home.

Natty is the daughter of Long John Silver and has what turns out to be an irresistible proposal for young Jim: to return to Treasure Island and seek the treasure abandoned by their fathers.

Motion says the book, which was recently published in the United States, was prompted partly by his desire to revisit the original and to show that Stevenson deserved to be valued more.

- Reuters