As China reemerges as a world power, is its awakening to be welcomed - or feared? NPR foreign correspondents Rob Gifford, David Greene and Louisa Lim examine China's rise on the world stage, looking at the country's cultural and business reach across continents. Reports will be featured throughout June on Morning Edition; visit the series page at NPR.org.

  

It's almost time to pack the lawn chairs and cooler and head down to Jazz in June, the annual summer music festival in Norman. With three evenings of Blues and jazz under the sun and stars, this free outdoor festival features top headliners and local performers June 23 - 25.

  

Featured performers include Margo Valiante, Murali Coryell, the 145th Army Big Band, Larry Coryell, Poncho Sanchez, Jeremy Thomas Quartet, the Norman North High School Jazz Choir and Norman High Jazz Combo. KGOU helps produce this festival every year; get more info about the musicians, the schedule and locations at the Jazz in June website.

  

Diane Rehm was honored with the Voice Education Research Awareness (VERA) Award from The Voice Foundation on Saturday, June 3. The Voice Foundation presents the VERA Award annually to honor individuals for contributions to the field of voice communication.

  

In 1998, her career nearly ended because of spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder that causes strained, difficult speech. She receives regular treatment and has called attention to the condition on The Diane Rehm Show. As a VERA Award recipient, Diane joins an accomplished group that includes Julie Andrews, Ben Vereen, Teddy Pendergrass, Dan Rather, and Walter Cronkite.

  

Summer is the season of pleasure reading, when some of us have enough free time to make a dent in reading lists or to take a new discovery on vacation with us. NPR's editors have a preview of some of the most promising titles coming out this summer and lists of recommendations of good reads already on bookshelves. Browse the 2011 Summer Books section at NPR.org.

  

Mowers cutting across lawns, waves crashing on the shore, food sizzling as it hits the grill -- throughout the summer, All Things Considered will present personal stories about the quintessential sounds of the season. Favorite NPR personalities have shared the sounds they associate with summer -- Car Talk's Tom and Ray Magliozzi, commentators Meredith Ochs, Bailey White and Amy Dickinson -- now it's your turn. Submit your idea, with "Summer Sounds" in the subject line.

  

Not sure what to do with that leafy bunch of ... whatever it is? The bounty of local farm produce is coming into its own at farmers' markets, but what if you don't know how to incorporate unfamiliar fruits and veggies into your meals? Kitchen Window's Nicole Spiridakis has some tasty recipes to get you started at NPR.org.