Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / California Bookwatch

California Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 2 February 2009 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks Photography Shelf Automotive Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Computer Shelf Cookbook Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Travel Shelf Reference Shelf Art Shelf
Education Shelf Spirituality Shelf Literary Shelf
Business Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf World History Shelf Military Shelf
American History Shelf Language Studies Shelf Humor Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Music Shelf California Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf


Donovan's Picks

Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique
Kelly DiNardo
Back Stage Books
c/o Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823088898, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Before Dita Von Teese or Madonna there was Lili St. Cyr, a glamorous blonde queen of burlesque whose legacy influenced millions - but whose story has been largely untold, until now. GILDED LILI covers her life and times and blends biography with cultural insights covering her impact and the routines that shocked her world. Any library strong in biography and pop culture will relish this lively survey.

The Book of the Bizarre: Freaky Facts & Strange Stories
Varla Ventura
Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker Street Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634378, $14.95 www.weiserbooks.com

Startling stranger-than-fact true trivia is packed into thirteen chapters in BOOK OF THE BIZARRE, from surveys of haunted homes and spooky objects to strange facts about famous personalities, literary oddities, and more. As a light trivia read, this can't be beat and any collection catering to trivia fans will find it delightful.

More Information Than You Require
John Hodgman
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9780525950349, $25.00 www.penguin.com

From the topic of 'Gambling: the Sport of the Asthmatic Man' to 'The Future and Other Superstitions', MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE is a hilarious take on news and information. 'The real story' about quotes, news, and fun facts and misinformation is given in a series of panels and debates, which makes for some pointed - as well as hilarious - reading. Libraries strong in contemporary news humor will love this.


The Photography Shelf

India in Word & Image
Eric Meola
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
9781599620497, $60.00 www.welcomebooks.com

Any library specializing in cultural reviews of India, especially those seeking an oversized artistic visual approach, will welcome India in Word & Image, a collection of photos by Eric Meola. From temples to color-washed images of people, INDIA IN WORD & IMAGE presents an outstanding splash of cultural insights and color combinations: while the photos are the 'meat', accompanying dialogue offers personalized, cultural insights, as well. Very highly recommended.

Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting
Bert Monroy
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321515870, $49.99 www.newriders.com

Bert Monroy is a pioneer of digital art and holds some 20 years experience in the advertising industry. So he has both the photography and the commercial art background to provide a unique approach to using Photoshop tools to maximum professional advantage. It's a 'master class' for experienced Photoshop artists and covers all the basics of the program and how to create eye-catching, creative compositions. From capturing sunlight to utilizing different backgrounds, Photoshop Studio with Bert Monroy: Digital Painting is an outstanding guide needed by any library strong in commercial Photoshop applications.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 One-on-One
Deke McClelland
Deke Press
c/o Oreilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596521899, $49.99 www.deke.oreilly.com

Master the basics of Photoshop CS4 with a workbook lesson plan perfect for at-home Photoshop learners. It comes paired with a video and offers 12 self-paced tutorials and real-world projects, plus over four hours of new video instruction that compliment nearly 1,000 color photos, diagrams and screen shots for every Photoshop step. As a classroom supplement, online course text or just a personal workbook, it can't be beat!

Lighting Techniques for Middle Key Portrait Photographers
Norman Phillips
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781584282310, $34.95 www.amherstmedia.com

Learn to avoid common problems and create stunning portraits with the aid of Lighting Techniques for Middle Key Portrait Photographers, packing in tips for creating middle key images of women, men and groups. Whether you're shooting in studio or on location, it pairs a strong set of images by various photographers with specific tips, making this the perfect pick for any photography library catering to neo-pros.

50 Lighting Setups
Steven H. Begleiter
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207
9781584282426, $34.95 www.AmherstMedia.com

Easily-followed lighting designs and diagrams make 50 LIGHTING SETUPS FOR PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHERS a key acquisition for any photography library and many a public lending collection. Dozens of images created for actual assignments come from a photographer who takes pictures of people in all walks of life. Targeted text and diagrams accompany each image and offers visual examples of lighting theories. Very highly recommended, especially for libraries catering to professional and neo-pro photographers.

Mastering the Nikon D300
Darrell Young
Rocky Nook Press
26 W Mission Street, Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
9781933952345, $39.95 www.rockynook.com

Owners of the powerful Nikon D300 camera now have a specific guide to its capabilities with a title loaded with information and professional insights. From the step-by-step basics and details on using each of its options to using the camera in conjunction with advanced Nikon equipment and add-ons, this is a fine guide any Nikon D300 user must have.

Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest
Jon Ortner
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
9781599620565, $195.00 www.welcomebooks.com

Jon Ortner's oversized, full-page color photos of the Southwest embellishes an album perfect for both photography collections and those documenting the landscapes of the American Southwest. It's a deluxe, numbered, signed and limited edition of an outstanding collection of over 200 images - including 100 panoramas - shot in over 650 locations across a 130,000-square-mile area. The geology and landmarks of this region are outstanding: towers, spires, arches, domes, bridges and more. This edition is limited to 6,000 copies, so any lending library lucky enough to acquire a copy need place it in the 'reserved' area for special, limited handling. That said, it's a tribute collection very highly recommended for any library strong in landscape photography, American geology and parks, or Southwest history and culture. It's simply unparalleled in its scope, presentation, and coverage.


The Automotive Shelf

Sirens of Chrome
Margery Krevsky
Momentum Books
2145 Crooks Road Suite 208, Troy, MI 48084
1879094843, $24.95 www.momentumbooks.com

SIRENS OF CHROME: THE ENDURING ALLURE OF AUTO SHOW MODELS is a fine survey of auto show history, packing in photos, program notes, and posters from libraries, corporate files, and auto enthusiast profiles to provide a wide-ranging history. From legendary models to funny presentations, SIRENS OF CHROME is a 'must' for any collection strong in auto history and marketing.


The Social Issues Shelf

Al' America
Jonathan Curiel
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595583529, $25.95 www.thenewpress.com

AL' AMERICA: TRAVELS THROUGH AMERICA'S ARAB AND ISLAMIC ROOTS reveals the Islamic and Arab influences within American culture, considering places, names, and the many examples of Islamic culture which permeate American roots from rock and blues music to leading historical figures who relied on Arab or Muslim culture for intellectual stimulation. Libraries strong in American culture and social issues will find this a lively blend of history and racial insight.

Gun Control on Trial
Brian Doherty
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781933995250, $16.95 www.cato.org

On June 26, 2008 the Supreme Court addressed the country's debate on the right to bear arms, deciding that the right still applied to individuals - and ending the District's handgun ban. GUN CONTROL ON TRIAL comes from a journalist who probes the case and its results, offering behind-the-scenes insight on the legal, scientific and historical debates and the myths about gun control that have permeated the case. Any high school to college-level collection strong in social issues will find here perfect material for classroom debate.

Asian Americans in the 21st Century: Oral Histories
Joann Faung Jean Lee
New Press
38 Green Street, New York NY 10013
9781595581525, $24.95 www.thenewpress.com

Oral histories of first- to fourth-generation Americans from throughout Asia are presented in a fine set of new interviews with students, engineers, politicians, activities and everyone in between, drawing on all levels of society to consider Asian American identities and stories. This focus on a new generation balancing heritage with modern interests makes for an involving set of insights perfect for any seeking to understand the underlying foundations of Asian-American life.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Dedicant: A Witch's Circle of Fire
Thuri Calafia
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury MN 55125-2989
9780738713281, $19.95 www.llewellyn.com

This first book in a complete course of Wiccan study tells of the Circles system, designed to harmonize with the Wheel of the Year with monthly lessons of themed stories, lore, spells and rituals. DEDICANT blends insights with exercises for reflection and introduces the Circles system, good for lone students or coven study alike. Any Wiccan student and any new age library catering to them will find this an excellent primer.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Yantra Yoga: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement
Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
Snow Lion Publications
Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
1559393084, $34.95 www.snowlionpub.com

Yantra Yoga, the Buddhist parallel to the Hathayoga of the Hindu tradition, embraces bodily movement, breathing exercises and visualizations and can be find in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Chogyal Norbu is one of the masters of Tantra and Dzogchen and here offers a survey that includes the methods and breathing routines of the discipline. New age libraries strong in Tibetan Yoga need this.


The Computer Shelf

Core Animation for Mac OS X and the iPhone
Bill Dudney, Edited by Daniel H. Steinberg
Pragmatic Programming
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
1934356107, $34.95 www.pragprog.com

Mac programmers seeking to create dynamic Core Animation applications will find Core Animation for Mac OS X and the iPhone a specific, useful key to using Core Animation in applications to give users strong visual feedback using movement and morphing. From familiar concepts that serve as an introduction to learning the new frameworks and APIs, this provides a fine bridge between old and new routines and is designed to bring programmers up to speed quickly on Core Animation basics. Mac programming libraries need this.

VCP Vmware Certified Professional
Elias N. Khnaser
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789738058, $44.99, www.quepublishing.com

The ExamCram series offers a different way to study, packing in critical information needed to score higher on a VCP exam and discussing how to master the essential concepts of VMware Infrastructure 3. From understanding licensing and installation to administering servers, managing virtual machine operations, and planning and installing VCP, this is a top pick for any college-level library where students are studying for the VCP-310 exam, and even includes a cd featuring a complete practice exam.

Mathematical Principles for Scientific Computing and Visualization
Gerald Farin and Dianne Hansford
A.K. Peters Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568813219, $59.00 www.akpeters.com

Many areas of scientific research, from biology to psychology, involve gathering data and computing results. While this book could have been easily considered in our Science, Nature and Technology section, it's reviewed here for its excellent insights for computer collections strong in both science and computational skills. It's a non-traditional introduction to the math of scientific computation and comes packed with many examples to provide readers with the right tools for using the software packages behind the computations. College-level collections strong in software engineering, science, math or computers will find it an excellent technical pick.

Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book
Adobe Systems Inc.
345 Park Avenue, San Jose CA 95110-2704
032157382X, $54.99 www.adobepress.com

Any seeking to learn Adobe Flash CS4 Professional will find key to such learning the Adobe Flash CS4 Professional Classroom in a Book. It comes from Adobe and covers all the basics of learning CS4 Professional, offering tips, techniques, and color photos throughout. While it will be of value to any lending library strong in computer courses, it's especially recommended for self-instruction in Adobe Flash CS4: as a step-by-step learner's primer, it can't be beat.

The KML Handbook
Josie Wernecke
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321525598, $39.99, www.awprofessional.com

KML began as the file format for Google Earth but has since evolved into an international standard for describing any geographic content. It's supported by a range of applications from MS Virtual Earth to Photoshop and AutoCAD, and uses the author's extensive experience with the creators of KML to explore its potential. From creating overlays for blending images onto standard Earth browsers to controlling its map content for Web applications and managing large data sets, this is a 'must' for any computer collection strong in geographic applications.

IPv6 Security
Scott Hogg, CCIE No. 5133 and Eric Vyncke
Cisco Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
1587055945, $60.00 www.ciscopress.com

College-level and advanced software developer's collections will find important IPv6 Security, a survey of security issues identifying all components of modern networks, identifying specific security deficiencies that occur within the IPv6 environment and showing how to correct them. From preventing network attack to monitoring security and understanding large-scale threats and filtering techniques, this is a fine guide advanced software engineers need.

Quickbooks 2009: The Missing Manual
Bonnie Biafore
Pogue Press
c/o Oreilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596522902, $29.99 www.missingmanuals.com

Learn how to set up QuickBooks files, track inventory, follow money from customer invoices to deposit, and more with a guide to Quickbooks packed with real-world advice. This should be the starting point for any Quickbooks user: it covers all the basics using step-by-step instructions and easy language. Small business owners using Quickbooks and libraries catering to them will find it invaluable.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Widow Clicquot
Tilar J. Mazzeo
Collins
c/o Harper Collins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061288562, $25.95 www.harpercollins.com

THE WIDOW CLICQUOT: THE STORY OF A CHAMPAGNE EMPIRE AND THE WOMAN WHO RULED IT is a powerful pick for any lending library strong in wine history or biography. It reviews the live of Veuve Clicquot, a widow who rose to fame and fortune and who became known for her brand name champagne. From her defiance of convention by assuming control, after his death, of the young wine business she had worked with her husband to her rise as one of the world's most notable businesswomen, THE WIDOW CLICQUOT creates a powerful story of growth and is a 'must' for any library strong in wine history and business books as well as biographical sketches or women's studies.

Mrs. Charles Darwin's Recipe Book
Dusha Bateson and Weslie Janeway
Glitterati Incorporated
225 Central Park West Suite 305, New York NY 10024
9780980155730, $35.00 www.GlitteratiIncorporated.com

Charles Darwin's wife Emma kept a 'recipe book' much as her husband kept his natural history notes: here it sees print for the general public for the first time, packing in photos, tested recipes, botanical and anecdotal information, and more. From a Baked Cheese Custard and a Veal Cake to a Compote of Apples, dishes are appealing to modern audiences and served with a fine dose of history and culture. Libraries strong in historical cookbooks will find this a fine revival of a classic.

51 Fast & Fun Slow Cooker Recipes
Dolores Kostelni
Collector Press
Box 230986, Portland OR 97281
1933112212, $7.95 www.collectorspress.com

For a quick, easy little book on slow cooking tips you can't go wrong with 51 Fast & Fun Slow Cooker Recipes. It offers some 70 pages of recipes for everything from main courses to appetizers, soups, and even desserts. Dishes such as Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner, Red Lentil and Split Pea Soup, and Creamy Rice Pudding are quick, easy dishes needing no color photo embellishment.

Comfort Foods Made Healthy
Jessie Price & Editors of Eating Well
Countryman Press
Box 748, Route 12, Mt Tom Building, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881508291, $24.95 www.countrymanpress.com

The classic makeover book for comfort food is Comfort Foods Made Healthy, providing not only recipe makeovers of old favorites - nearly two hundred, made healthier - but basic details on how such makeovers happened, and how they can be applied to other dishes. In fact, every recipe comes with a 'makeover tip' in a boxed sidebar, color photos, and make-ahead and 'active time' calculations for busy home cooks. From a healthier Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings to Spinach and Cheese-Stuffed Shells, it's packed with classic dishes redone to cut calories and preserve taste, and will be a favorite in any general lending library.

Cooking in the South
Johnnie Gabriel
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781401604059, $24.99 www.thomasnelson.com

The 'Marietta Cake Lady' and Paula Deen's cousin Johnnie Gabriel presents over a hundred delicious Southern dishes from her award-winning dessert restaurant, blending Southern dishes with stories of some lively characters and providing important culinary tips. From interpretations of the classic 'Bless Your Heart' phrase to how to keep cake layers from sliding off and how to French-cut fresh beans, Cooking in the South is a top pick for any library strong in regional American cooking.

Wine Wise
Steven Kopan, Brian H. Smith and Michael A. Weiss & Culinary Institute of America
John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780471770640, $29.95 www.wiley.com

WINE WISE: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING, SELECTING, AND ENJOYING WINE comes from three professors of wine studies at The Culinary Institute of America and provides a fine review of the different styles, flavors, and costs associated with different wine varietals. Ten chapters cover major wine-making regions to discuss appellations, products, grapes, and how to understand both labels and the marketing techniques of wine producers. Highly illustrated with area maps, wine label photos, and discussions of blends and varietals, WINE WISE is a basic pick for any library strong in wine introductions.

Chanterelle
David Waltuck & Andrew Friedman
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781561589616, $50.00 www.taunton.com

CHANTERELLE: THE STORY AND RECIPES OF A RESTAURANT CLASSIC comes from the owner of the classic New York restaurant Chanterelle, an establishment specializing in French-inspired innovations and which has become an award-winning establishment for nearly 30 years. Some of its top classic innovations are presented here, adapted for home cooks and accompanying anecdotes by David Waltuck on his early days as a chef. Over 150 recipes accompanied by lovely photos present dishes ranging from Chicken Breast with Crayfish and Beef Rib with Red Wine to Butternut Squash Ravioli. Any library catering to serious home cooks seeking innovative cuisine will find this a winning acquisition.

More Fast Food My Way
Jacques Pepin
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780618142330, $32.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

Can great dishes be put together from simple ingredients and a few easy steps in almost no time? MORE FAST FOOD MY WAY is the answer to any claim that there's 'no time to cook at home'. Dozens of 'minute recipes', nearly-instant soups, complete dinners and easy side dishes come with beautiful color photos and enticing introductions, making this one of the best 'quick' cookbooks on the market, and a 'must' for any general-interest lending library.

The Korean Table
Taekyung Chung and Debra Samuels
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
9780804839907, $27.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

THE KOREAN TABLE: FROM BARBECUE TO BIBIMBAP is a fine survey showing how to create a complete Korean meal from start to finish - including recipes for dishes such as Scallion Pancakes, Korean Dumplings, Ramen Noodle and Dumpling Soup, and more. Color photos throughout accent a Korean cookbook packed with dishes easy to produce at home, making for a top pick for any seeking an introduction to the art of Korean cooking.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Modern Masters V. 17: Lee Weeks
Tom Field and Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1893905942, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

Lee Weeks has over twenty-five years in the comics industry and he's created powerful adventures for Hulk, Captain America, Spider-Man and more. Avid fans of his contributions will find LEE WEEKS a fine behind-the-scenes survey of this comics master, juxtaposing interviews with black and white photos and comics illustrations throughout. Any library strong in comics artists and representation will find this a winner.

The Future's So Bright I Can't Bear to Look
Tom Tomorrow
Nation Books
c/o Perseus Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781568584027, $16.95 www.nationbooks.org

Welcome to a political world where Bush and Cheney are secretly radical leftists trying to destroy the Republican party from within - and a game show awards prizes to contestants with the most outlandishly inappropriate answers. Color panels of the zany world of Tom Tomorrow make for a fantastically humorous future world in this political graphic novel spoof.

The DC Vault
Martin Pasko
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762432578, $49.95 www.runningpress.com

THE DC VAULT is a treasure trove of DC comics memorabilia and is a perfect gift pick for any fan of DC comics. Early sketches, covers, memos, gift materials, and more include a working reproduction of a 1942 Junior Justice Society of America comic book, over 25 plastic-enclosed archival pieces, and more. While not suitable for the rigors of library lending, it's an outstanding and unique gift package for any DC Comics fan.

The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons, 3rd Edition
Jeff Lenburg
Facts on File
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York NY 10001
9780816065998, $85.00 www.factsonfile.com

The 3rd edition of The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons has been extensively revised and updated to provide public libraries and any collection strong in cartoons with a definitive reference, including large amounts of new material. This historical review of animation offers complete details on Academy and Emmy award winners, a history of animation 'milestones', and coverage of anime too. Any library strong in animated cartoon coverage will find it a weighty, definitive reference.

James Bond 007: Polestar
Ian Fleming, et.al.
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
www.titanbooks.com
9781845767174, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Rare Bond stories unseen since their original syndication, including Polestar, appear in a fine set of graphic novel sagas perfect for any Bond adventure enthusiasts. These have never been collected before and provide outstanding black and white adventures. Any library strong in graphic novels in general and Bond in particular will find it a fine acquisition.

Da Crockydile Book 'O Friendship
Stephan Pastis
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
0740776274, $9.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

The crocs harbor an eternal quest for satisfying zebra meals and having one living next door is just too much temptation, fostering unlikely friendships among predators in the zany DA CROCKYDILE BOOK 'O FRIENDSHIP, a compilation on friendship from the popular 'Pearls Before Swine' comic strip. An all-color presentation makes for an exceptional collection perfect for either gift-giving to friends or for general-interest browsing, making it a fine pick also for any library strong in comic strip collections.

Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106
www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Stephan Pastis' MACHO MACHO ANIMALS (0740773690, $12.99) provides another fine 'Pearls Before Swine' comic strip collection and is a highly recommended pick for any library strong in comic strip books. All the favorites from the strip are here, making for a fun collection. Fans of Jim Toomey's 'Sherman's Lagoon' comic strip now have a fine 13th collection, SHARKS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN (0740773879, $12.99), gathering under one cover a year in the life of one great white shark and his lagoon friends. The inclusion of color as well as black and white strips makes for an outstanding presentation of zany and fun scenarios. Highly recommended.


The Travel Shelf

When Wanderers Cease to Roam
Vivian Swift
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
1596914610, $20.00 www.bloomsburyusa.com

Following a lifetime of globe-trotting, author Vivian Swift finally settled down in a small town on the edge of the Long Island Sound, to spend the next ten years contemplating life and the meaning of 'home'. WHEN WANDERERS CEASE TO ROAM documents this process, blending lovely watercolors of local and seasonal attractions with chapters that tell how to remain at home and satisfied in a smaller locale than the world. Any who have done extensive travel or moving will find this an easy, welcoming survey, and libraries with strong travel collections will want to include this.

Best in Travel 2009
Lonely Planet
150 Linden, Oakland, CA 94607
9781741792430, $22.99 www.lonelyplanet.com

Lonely Planet, a prime publisher of independent travel books, provides a collection of highlights for 2009: the best places to go and things to do all around the world, using knowledge of its staff and authors to provide year's worth of possible journeys. From 850 travel experiences for all ages to a rundown of every country in the world and a 2009 travel planner with 50 adventures in a monthly calendar, BEST IN TRAVEL 2009 is a pick for any general-interest lending library strong in overseas travel guides.


The Reference Shelf

2009 Photographer's Market, 32nd Edition
Writer's Digest Editors
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com, 1-800-726-9966
1582975469, $29.99 www.writersmarket.com

Any public lending library and any art library catering to photographers simply must have the annually-updated PHOTOGRAPHER'S MARKET, now in its 32nd annual 2009 edition. Here are well over a thousand listings for magazines, book publishers, stock agencies and more, outlining galleries, trade publications, contests, and advertising markets where photos may be sold. A key acquisition for any reference collection, the extensive updates and changes keep PHOTOGRAPHER'S MARKET essential.

Strong Kids, Healthy Kids
Frederick Hahn
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814409423, $21.95 www.amacombooks.org

Parents worried about a child's fitness will find STRONG KIDS, HEALTHY KIDS comes from a personal trainer who here reveals how his popular adult fitness routines can be adapted for kids of all ages, no matter what his or her athletic ability. Frederick Hahn has spent the last ten years developing these safe exercises for kids as young as seven years old, and here gives the basics on how kids can get strong fast. Any library catering to parents and educators needs this.

The Manga Guide to Statistics
Shin Takahashi
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271893, $19.95 www.nostarch.com

Any student anxious about statistics will find The Manga Guide to Statistics an outstanding guide: it covers various types of calculations, shows how to determine probability and coefficients linked to common concerns of students and everyday living, and is powered by quirky examples holding high interest, A 'must' for any student trying to apply statistical calculations to reality.

iPod: The Missing Manual
J.D. Biersdorfer with David Pogue
Pogue Press
c/o O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596522124, $19.99 www.oreilly.com

From Nano to Shuffle and more, this 7th updated edition of a classic manual on iPods covers all the basics of how to install iTunes, load music on an iPod, transmit its sound all over the house, and more. Learn how to make better playlists, move an iTunes Folder to a bigger hard drive, and more with a survey which covers the basics of downloading movies and music alike. A 'must' for any general-interest lending library.


The Art Shelf

The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression
Gary Faigin
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823004325, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com

For nearly two decades The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression served as a reference for fine artists, animators, cartoonists and more interested in depicting human expressions. Here detailed drawings of a range of human expressions are accompanied by illustrations from a range of other media, from newspaper photos and cartoons to film posters and paintings by other artists, making this a key reference for any art library catering to those who would capture facial expression more accurately, from a range of sources.

Vermeer's Family Secrets
Benjamin Binstock
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780415966641, $45.00 www.routledge.com

Any library strong in art history will relish Vermeer's Family Secrets: it provides a powerful ion-depth collection offering new solutions to the riddle of the 'Sphinx of Delft', providing the first detailed examination of Vermeer's family member as models and offering re-interpretations of essential documents about Vermeer. Over 180 black and white images and over sixty color plates accompany insights key to understanding Vermeer and his era.

Between Brushstrokes
Joan Brady
Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05241-9911
1555953018, $55.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Joan Brady produces fine watercolor paintings capturing everyday life, from meals on the table to kitchen preparations, pets sleeping, garden scenes, and more. Her home-oriented still lifes are gorgeous, capturing the moment and especially pointed when paired with her poems and prose works that follow her seasons and life. This is her second "artobiography" and provides insights into the art's daily life and challenges. Perfect for college-level art libraries strong in watercolor representations and artist autobiographies.

Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05241-9911
www.hudsonhills.com

Geoffrey K. Fleming and Sara Evans' A SHARED AESTHETIC: ARTISTS OF LONG ISLAND'S NORTH FORK (155595300X, $50.00) tells of the North Fork of Long Island, New York, which has attracted artisans of all kinds from cabinet makers to builders. Many artists bought properties in the area, and A SHARED AESTHETIC surveys the painters, sculptors and artists who lived, worked and exhibited on the North Fork. Some three hundred years of history pairs well with color and black and white photos throughout in a book especially recommended for college-level art libraries specializing in either New York or regional American art exposes. The Corning Museum of Glass's CONTEMPORARY GLASS SCULPTURES AND PANELS (0872901688, $40.00) offers a fine gathering of some of the best stained glass sculptures and panels from the Corning Museum's holdings, providing both full-page color panels and smaller photos of works and adding extensive background history and artists' biographies. Any library strong in art glass production will find this a rare, important collection. Frank Van Riper and Judith Goodman's photos are accompanied by text by Frank Van Riper in SERENISSIMA: VENICE IN WINTER (1555952933, $55.00), a fine blend of journalistic photography and solid text description capturing the magic of Venice. The book was six years in the making and shot entirely in black and white, pairing well with an essay describing Venice's culture and atmosphere. Both art libraries and those strong in travel and photography will find this a winner.

Art Deco Jewellery and Accessories: A New Style for a New World
Cornelie Holzach
Arnoldsche Verlagsanstalt GMBH
c/o National Book Network, Distributors
Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9783897902909, $70.00 www.arnoldsche.com www.amazon.com

"Art Deco Jewellery and Accessories: A New Style for a New World" is an outstanding, 'must have' pick for any library strong in art deco in general and jewelry in particular. This was a short-lived period of production between the two world wars: chapters pair color photos with discussions of the 1920s and 1930s fashion trends in jewelry as a whole. Libraries strong in jewelry history and production need this.

At Work
Annie Liebovitz
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com, 1-800-726-0600
9780375505102, $40.00 www.atrandom.com

AT WORK pairs first-person insights from photographer Annie Liebovitz with portraits of a wide range of her images, from a wartime era of reporting where she made her camera capture stories in still lifes to general news and headline reporting with visual impact. The result is a powerful collection recommended as a top pick for any college-level collection strong in photography books.

A Year of Dancing Dangerously
Lydia Raurell
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York NY 10012
9781590201275, $24.95 www.overlookny.com

A YEAR OF DANCING DANGEROUSLY: ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY FROM BEGINNER TO WINNER tells of how one fifty-four year old woman went from a clumsy beginning dancer to a ballroom dance winner in a year. Her entry into a tiny local dance studio would lead her to become the national leader of dance, and tells of her journey through ballroom competitions to rise to the top.

Gothic Art Now
Jasmine Becket-Griffith
Collins Design
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061626999, $29.95 www.harpercollins.com

GOTHIC ART NOW offers a fine collection of the latest cutting-edge Gothic art from around the world, and comes packed with rare, previously unpublished art from both new talents and legendary artists alike. This art work is paired with details from its creators on how they produced their masterpieces, and also holds website details for further follow-up. An outstanding recommendation not just for art libraries, but for general-interest lending collections.

Art in Its Own Terms
Fairfield Porter
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467433, $22.50 www.mfa.org/publications

ART IN ITS OWN TERMS: SELECTED CRITICISM, 1935-1975 provides a powerful survey by one of America's most influential painters, also an art critic. His writings consider the art world as a whole, analyzing the meanings of modern art on both a philosophical and artistic scale and providing college-level libraries strong in art theory and criticism with a powerful survey indeed. Suitable and recommended for classroom discussion, ART IN ITS OWN TERMS is a winning analysis.


The Education Shelf

Teaching Mathematics Through Reading
Faith H. Wallace, Ph.D and Jill Shivertaker
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586833243, $ 35.00 www.linworth.com

Library media and technology specialists for grades K-12 receive a fine survey showing how to use all kinds of texts to help students learn mathematical concepts. From informational trade books and literature to learning numbers, geometry, algebra, and data analysis, chapters survey the available literature and offer annotated bibliographies to help in classroom text selection and activities. Education and librarian collections will find this an excellent pick.

200+ Active Learning Strategies and Projects for Engaging Students' Multiple Intelligences, 2nd edition
James Bellanca
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
9781412968843, $80.95 www.corwinpress.com

The 2nd updated edition of a classic guide to projects for engaging student intelligences continues to be a top pick for any college-level education library or collections catering to educators. It packs in checklists, large print, activity outlines, and variations on themes to keep activities fresh, lively and different, and it is filled with instructions on developing intelligence levels through inquiry and challenge. Any library strong in intelligence development and active learning will find this a top pick simply packed with ideas.

Early Literacy in Action
Betty H. Bruce
Paul H. Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557669228, $54.95 www.brookespublishing.com

Learn how to enhance young children's language skills with a play-focused preschool curriculum taken from over 20 years of field testing and outcomes. It's a proven curriculum educators can use to explore language skills, enhancing preschool teachings and providing support for children with and without disabilities. The activities have been field-tested with over 500 children in public schools and university training programs and offer descriptions, objectives, and social skills assessments alike. A 'must' for any serious early education collection.

Paul H. Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com

Susan R. Sandall and Ilene S. Schwartz's BUILDING BLOCKS FOR TEACHING PRESCHOOLERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, 2ND EDITION (1557669678, $34.95) offers a lifeline for preschool teachers in a survey focusing on fully including children with disabilities in early childhood classrooms. The idea is to offer a framework helping educators meet federal requirements for early education, with a cd-rom holding all printable forms - worksheets, child evaluation forms and more - key to interacting with kids from diverse backgrounds. Teachers and education libraries will find it a fine tool surveying different preschool program teaching methods and objectives. Patton O. Tabors' ONE CHILD, TWO LANGUAGES, 2ND EDITION (155766921X, $29.95) offers a guide for early childhood educators on teaching kids learning English as a second language. From applying the latest research to everyday teaching practices to using assessment techniques for each of a child's languages, and using the curriculum to foster learning, ONE CHILD, TWO LANGUAGES is a powerful tool. Christopher Kliewer's SEEING ALL KIDS AS READERS: A NEW VISION FOR LITERACY IN THE INCLUSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM (1557669015, $24.95) provides a fine inspirational guide to literacy which uses imaginative teaching methods - drawing, dance, dramatic play - to help students with disabilities acquire literacy skills. From blending in student interests with the education process to adopting disabilities to classroom routines, it's an outstanding guide.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

The opportunities and special challenges facing a first-year superintendency can be challenging and unique, so it's important that any education library catering to superintendents as well as district administrators have John Eller and Howard C. Carlson's So Now You're the Superintendent! (9781412941723, $33.95) in hand. It provides new superintendents with guidelines to handling transitions, common issues, and staff and community challenges. Theresa A. Deeney's IMPROVING LITERARY INSTRUCTION WITH CLASSROOM RESEARCH (9781412940894, $33.95) provides educators with a fine primer on how to create and implement classroom action research projects based on strengthening literary instruction. Charts, tables and guidelines offer tips on how to collect and analyze data and are filled with examples of authentic teacher research projects. Educators will find it a winning collection. Marc Levitt's PUTTING EVERYDAY LIFE ON THE PAGE: INSPIRING STUDENTS TO WRITE, GRADES 2-7 (9781412965323, $25.95) offers elementary to middle school teachers key tips to helping students develop topics in writing. From sequential thinking and encouraging observation and description to developing settings, PUTTING EVERYDAY LIFE ON THE PAGE is a fine teaching tool. Roxann Rose-Duckworth and Karin Ramer's FOSTERING LEARNER INDEPENDENCE: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR K-6 EDUCATORS (9781412966078, $26.95) invites teachers to reflect on how teaching and learning helps them identify key ingredients for creating a productive classroom environment. From assessing and building upon student strengths and interests to checklists and examples helping engage learners, teachers receive a fine survey based on research combined with applied classroom experience. Yohuru Rashied Williams' TEACHING U.S. HISTORY BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK: SIX INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGIES, GRADES 5-12 (9781412966214, $26.95) is written by a history education teacher and offers a unique approach to middle to high school students - a 'CSI' approach offering six strategies to tap into a student's curiosity. From how students can learn to use primary and secondary sources to solve historical mysteries to sample lessons and case studies, it's a fine set of sample lessons and an approach which blends with national standards making it a fine pick for teachers as well as curriculum developers. Carolyn Downey, et.al.'s 50 WAYS TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP (9781412958981, $38.95) appears in its 3rd updated edition to offer a fine pick on improving educational equity for all students. From field-tested best practices for improving academic performance to utility and feasibility standards, it's an excellent survey. Joan Franklin Smutny and S.E. von Fremd's IGNITING CREATIVITY IN GIFTED LEARNERS, K-6 (9781412957786, $38.95) is also a winner for teachers of gifted students. It shows how to move beyond rote learning to motivate gifted students with resources already on hand, offering methods for inspiration and linking these to curriculum standards. The tools have been tested and require nothing more than application. Evelyn and Andrew S. Rothstein's ENGLISH GRAMMAR INSTRUCTION THAT WORKS (9781412959490, $26.95) provides a range of approaches on developing language skills for all learners. Classroom teachers receive a resource covering grammar basics that support vocabulary and writing skills alike, with clear explanations accompanying techniques for a wide range of learners. Gary Bloom and Martin L. Krovetz's POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS (9781412927710, $28.95) offers principals a handbook for mentoring assistant principals, discussing how to foster effective school leaders through a coaching-based relationship program. From developing a shared vision for growth to designing professional plans, POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS is outstanding. Two other books for principals highly recommended include two Leading Student Achievement series titles: THE PRINCIPAL AS EARLY LITERACY LEADER (9781412963077) and THE PRINCIPAL AS DATA-DRIVEN LEADER (9781412963053, $23.95 each). Each provides data-driven information for school leaders who can use it to help shape and guide instructional reform. EARLY LITERACY shows school leaders how to assess and develop programs catering to how three, four- and five-year-olds learn to read, while DATA-DRIVEN LEADER shows leaders how to use data to shape and assess instructional reform programs. Carl Weingartner's PRINCIPAL MENTORING: A SAFE, SIMPLE AND SUPPORTIVE APPROACH (9781412965972, $25.95) tells how to develop a principal mentoring program to produce effective, reliable leaders. There's a shortage of such leaders in the field, and author Carl Weingartner's year of experience show how school and district leaders can revise and define a program to attract and retain them without a lot of paperwork or extra costs. Colleen A. Capper and Elise M. Frattura's MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS OF ALL ABILITIES, 2ND EDITION (9781412966955, $33.95) tells how to integrate school services to promote a cost-effective, comprehensive educational program for all students. This shifts the burden from special learning for a few, bringing back classroom centralization and offering tips for transitioning separate programs into inclusive classroom studies. Robert E. Slavin, et.al.'s 2 MILLION CHILDREN: SUCCESS FOR ALL (9781412953085, $40.95) appears in its second updated edition and comes from the founders and leaders of a proven model for elementary-level literacy. From how to offers a graded program beginning with preschool and moving through higher grades to reading curricula for each age group and advice on common roadblocks to learning, it's an outstanding survey. Carolyn Chapman and Rita King's TEST SUCCESS IN THE BRAIN-COMPATIBLE CLASSROOM (9781412969994, $33.95) appears in its second updated edition to tell how to prepare students to do their best on tests. Educators receive a range of ideas from how to define and foster an optimal testing environment to helping students be successful on tests. All are fine education library picks.


The Spirituality Shelf

The Dalai Lama: Essential Writings
Thomas A. Forsthoefel
Orbis Books
Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757891, $16.00 www.orbisbooks.com

The Dalai Lama: Essential Writings provides pieces selected and introduced by Thomas Forsthoefel, chair of the religion department at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania, and provides a fine set of basic teachings on wisdom and compassion. Offered up in chapters based on subject, THE DALAI LAMA is an excellent introductory primer for any spirituality collection.

Introduction to Traditional Islam
Jean-Louis Michon
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316512, $23.95 www.worldwisdom.com

INTRODUCTION TO TRADITIONAL ISLAM: FOUNDATIONS, ART AND SPIRITUALITY packs in nearly 300 color photos as it explores the spirituality and social issues of militant and political Islam. From its basic premises and its vision of life to the message of Islamic art and culture, this is a top pick for any serious spirituality collection and provides an excellent introduction.

A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation
Niam Stifan Ateek
Orbis Books
Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757846, $24.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Ateek's vision is three-fold: the unity of all Palestinian Christians, dialogue between Christian and Muslim Palestinians, and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. It comes from a priest who is an Arab citizen of Israel and whose calling and proximity to internal affairs lends Biblical and social insights into the problems facing all in the region, making this a fine pick for both religious and social issues libraries alike.

People of Bread
Wolfgang Vondey
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Blvd, Mahwah, NJ 07430
0809145596, $29.95 www.paulistpress.com

The story of the church is the story of 'the people of bread', offering a scripture-based assessment including writers of the early church to analyze the social and moral dimensions of the church based on the story of bread. Christian libraries will find it an absorbing analysis that holds many Biblical references and interpretation ideas.

In the Heart of the Desert
John Chryssavgis
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Dr, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316567, $19.95 www.worldwisdom.com

The revised edition of In the Heart of the Desert: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers provides an excellent introduction to the world of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, surveying basic matters of God, death, and loneliness and considering translations and basic introductions to the sources themselves. Libraries strong in Christian analysis will find it a winning analysis.

Of the Land & the Spirit
Christopher James & Joseph Fitzgerald, Editors
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Dr, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316611, $19.95 www.worldwisdom.com

OF LAND & THE SPIRIT: THE ESSENTIAL LORD NORTHBOURNE ON ECOLOGY AND RELIGION blends philosophy with spirituality in a survey written by a farmer, painter, translator, and respected author on religion. His survey offers insights into religious traditions and church changes alike, and creates an excellent scholarly discourse for any library strong in religious analysis and philosophy.


The Literary Shelf

Word and Phrase Origins, 4th Edition
Robert Hendrickson
Facts on File Inc.
132 w 31ST St, 17th Floor, New York NY 10001
9780816069668, $95.00 www.factsonfile.com

Both high school and college-level reference collections will find the 4th updated edition of Word and Phrase Origins a winner: it's been completely revised and expanded and offers definitions for over 15,000 words and expressions, featuring anecdotes, information, history, foreign-language expressions and more. The emphasis on words or expressions whose origins are not addressed in standard dictionaries makes this an especially appealing, important reference.

100 Words Almost Everyone Mispronounces
American Heritage Dictionaries editors
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
9780547148113, $5.95 www.hmhbooks.com

How one pronounces words can make a big difference - and 100 words people are most likely to mispronounce are featured in a survey of common pronunciation controversies. Presented in a small pocket-sized format, 100 Words Almost Everyone Mispronounces is a winner.


The Business Shelf

Fixing Global Finance
Martin Wolf
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801890489, $24.95 www.press.jhu.edu

The latest book from Financial Times columnist Martin Wolf explores why global imbalances cause financial crisis and provides solutions for ending world-wide destructive cycles. Wolf here examines links between microeconomics and macroeconomics, showing how the sub prime lending crisis in the U.S. fits into an overall pattern of worldwide economic shocks over history. College-level libraries strong in global business need this.

Federal Procurement Ethics: The Complete Legal Guide
Terrence M. O'Connor
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike, Suite 800, Vienna, VA 22182
9781567262308, $54.00 www.managementconcepts.com

Being a good contractor is an advantage in the modern market, and this set of new ethics rules provide contracting officers and contractors a change to agree upon guidelines and rules and work based on procurement professional standards. Any library catering to business customers will find this a specific, important key to the new ethics requirements for better business, with chapters exploring ethics components, discussing their applications within contracting experiences, and surveying everything from developing contracts to fighting fraud. Business libraries will find this an important addition.

Starbucked
Taylor Clark
Back Bay Books
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316014038, $14.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

STARBUCKED: A DOUBLE TALL TALE OF CAFFEINE, COMMERCE, AND CULTURE blends an investigative approach with observation of how the coffeehouse movement changed American culture, influencing habits, neighborhoods, and entire business structures. This history focuses on social habits and how they change as much as upon Starbucks' history and business approach, offering a fine connection between business and lifestyle transition points. Both general-interest and business libraries will find it involving reading.

Complete Guide to Writing Effective and Award-Winning Business Proposals
Jean Wilson Murray, MBA, PhD
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
9781601382344, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Any interested in launching a business or formulating a plan to attract new customers needs Complete Guide to Writing Effective and Award-Winning Business Proposals, a business proposal offering focus on the five key basics of the business proposal: solutions, benefits, credibility, samples and targets. From writing persuasively to putting a business proposal into action in the real world, this is a winner businesses and libraries need.

Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
www.atlantic-pub.com

Carla and Lee Rowley's HOW TO OPEN & OPERATE A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS (9781601381415, $39.95) pairs a cd-rom of details offering all the forms in the book with a pre-written, editable business plan in MS Word format for personal chefs interested in starting their own company. From assessing basic equipment to defining a client's special food requirements, it's an excellent handbook for any considering opening their own personal chef company. Miguel Todaro's INTERNET MARKETING METHODS REVEALED (9781601382658, $24.95) offers a tested and complete tutorial on the basics of online marketing implementation. From understanding search engine optimization to effective advertising and developing an e-commerce site, INTERNET MARKETING METHODS REVEALED is a basic winner. Jim Kimmons' ONLINE MARKETING TECHNIQUES FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND BROKERS (9781601381262, $24.95) tells how to learn marketing systems appealing to online real estate consumers, showing how top agents use low-cost, effective methods on the Internet. From selling listings with minimal costs to generating Web traffic and using proven tips and tools, this is a fine pick for any real estate agent looking to transition to more online business.

Spin-Free Economics
Narian Behravesh
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
007154903X, $27.95 www.mhprofessional.com

The world economy is becoming increasingly more complicated and SPIN-FREE ECONOMICS: A NO-NONSENSE, NONPARTISAN GUIDE TO TODAY'S GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEBATES takes away the politics as it considers how modern economics affects everyone. From effects of immigration and unemployment to considering regulation in the face of economic crisis and policies that influence and possibly harm world markets, SPIN-FREE ECONOMICS is outstanding reading both for general-interest audiences interested in global economics and for college-level business students debating the economic impact of globalization processes.

Remix
Lawrence Lessig
Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
9781594201721, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Lawrence Lessig outlines a different kind of war in REMIX: MAKING ART ND COMMERCE THRIVE IN THE HYBRID ECONOMY. It's a survey of copyright, art, and new technologies that combine to brand modern talented artists as criminals. Chapters show how to end the conflict between copyright and new technology, showing how profit motives blend with cultural comparisons and economic principles in new ways in modern society. An excellent survey evolves.

YouTube: An Insider's Guide to Climbing the Charts
Alan Lastufka and Michael W. Dean
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596521141, $29.99 www.oreilly.com

Want to make a hit on YouTube? Then it's key to acquire this title, written by two veteran 'Tubers' who have numerous subscribers to their name and show how to make quality videos, optimize and promote them, and how to create personal channels and successful displays that gain devote audiences. Interviews with YouTube stars accompany tips on viral marketing in this outstanding survey.

The Board Book
William G. Bowen
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393066456, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE BOARD BOOK: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE FOR DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES tells directors how to guide organizations into the 21st century in a book for any new to board membership, as well as for those seeking the latest thinking on their organization and management. Drawing on over thirty years of experience with both for-profit and non-profit boards, it offers insights on ideal relationships between presidents and board members. Any business library needs this.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Dream Landscapes
Rose Hughes
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave N.E., Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564778598, $26.95 www.martingale-pub.com

DREAM LANDSCAPES: ARTFUL QUILTS WITH FAST-PIECE APPLIQUE provides step-by-step instructions for four wall hangings, including tips on embellishing with fabric, beads and embroidery. Chapters teach how to use color, line and texture in designs, how to combine simple piecing and machine applique, and how to assemble and finish polished pieces, making for a fine choice for any quilter's library.

Knitting on Top of the World
Nicky Epstein
Nicky Epstein Books
c/o Sixth & Spring Books
233 Spring Street, New York NY 10013
1933027673, $34.95 www.sixthandspring.com

Nicky Epstein is a major knitting designer and here her creations result in an attractive, oversized presentation of new patterns using inspirations from around the world. Over 50 patterns provide knitters with influences from Ireland, the Baltics, Germany and more, each receiving full-color photo illustration and explanations of such advanced knitting techniques as intarsia, Bohus and more. Charts, photos, and pattern instructions make for a top pick for any library catering to knitters.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave N.E., Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Any library strong in rotary quilt blocking must have Judy Hopkins's encyclopedia 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks (9781564778932, $29.95) of over 500 such quilt bocks. It features complete instructions for each of the blocks, offered in six different sizes for over 3,000 different block possibilities, and it packs in over 3,000 possibilities for blocks. Avid quilters need this compendium of options, and any library catering to them will find it a popular lend. Also certain to prove popular will be Candace Eisner Strick's BEYOND WOOL: 25 KNITTED PROJECTS USING NATURAL FIBERS (9781564775016, $27.95). It focuses on ten non-wool fibers and offers a gathering of over twenty sweaters and fashion accents and blends description with step-by-step instruction and bright color photos of the entire process. Ann McCauley's TOGETHER OR SEPARATE: KNITTING THE NEW TWINSET (9781564778604, $24.95) tells how to explore designs using solid colors and different textures, with projects ranging from skirts to headbands to sweaters. Knitters will find the classic twinset goes far beyond the usual shell-and-cardigan combination to incorporate a range of possibilities.

Knit One Below
Elise Duvekot
XRX Books
Box 965, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
9781933064130, $19.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

KNIT ONE BELOW introduces a new way for knitters to blend colors, weights, fibers and more into versatile fabrics, offering a technique that alternates one action of knitting into the stitch one row below the stitch on the needle. A range of projects support this new idea and offer a variety of shapes and patterns all knitters will find appealing and different. Knitter's libraries will benefit from this different approach.

Continuous Cables
Melissa Leapman
Potter Craft
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
www.crownpublishing.com, 1-800-726-0600
9780307346872, $32.50 www.pottercraft.com

CONTINUOUS CABLES: AN EXPLORATION OF KNITTED CABLED KNOTS, RINGS, SWIRLS, AND CURLICUES provides a different view of cable knitting possibilities: one which tells how to create circular, closed-ring shapes with cables. The resulting rings, swirls and knots differ from the usual cable knit designs, providing knitters with a fine collection of versatile, unusual projects and patterns and profiling over 80 original individual stitch patterns - many designed just for this book. Knitting libraries must have this.

Design Explorations for the Creative Quilter
Katie Pasquini Masopust
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571204554, $24.95 www.ctpub.com

Dynamic art quilters receive a set of easily-followed instructions for integrating quilting designs with artistic painting efforts in Design Explorations for the Creative Quilter. It's packed with techniques that work for all levels of quilters, from beginners to advanced, and it is packed with gorgeous quilting examples from lines and squares to still art and landscapes. Quilting collections will find it a winner.

Celtic Fantasy Rhapsody Quilts
Ricky Tims
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571205667, $19.95 www.ctpub.com

Quilters get to learn a new Rhapsody quilt design with a full-sized freezer paper pattern, 9 bonus quilt templates, and over twenty of quilter Ricky Tims' Celtic applique designs. It's an outstanding survey pairing full-color galleries of student quilts with tips on applique designs and patterns key to the author's Rhapsody Quilts series. Home quilters will find it an easy winner.


The Audiobook Shelf

Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn
Ridley Pearson
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781423346906, $29.95 www.brillianceaudio.com

Christopher Lane's smooth audio narration and seasoned style lends to a fine story of a vanished sister in the Magic Kingdom, a mystery man, and trouble at the Animal Kingdom where evil Overtakers have gained control of computers used to operate Daylight Holographic Imaging. A fast-paced action-filled fantasy evolves in a story set at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

True Believer/At First Sight Box Set
Nicholas Sparks
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
160024372X, $49.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Nicholas Sparks' TRUE BELIEVER receives a fine audio narration by David Aaron Baker and is an excellent box set. TRUE BELIEVER tells of one Jeremy, a young New Yorker who receives a call to investigate a possible small-town ghost, and who finds romance instead. AT FIRST SIGHT tells of emails that change Lexie and Jeremy's future, continuing the romantic saga. A fine box set of two linked stories, audio brings the tales to life and makes this set a top pick for any audio library.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Best of Sexology
Craig Yoe, Editor
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762433230, $14.95 www.runningpress.com

Before Playboy or Penthouse there was the 1933 magazine SEXOLOGY: THE ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE OF SEX SCIENCE - and here to recreate a feel for the times is a facsimile hardcover containing some of the hilarious, zany articles and 'science' of the 1930s, from issues of 'phantom pregnancy' to 'sex among the Eskimos'. Morality, sexual vampirism, homosexual chickens and more are covered in a series of kinky, funny excerpts paired with black and white illustrations. General-interest lending libraries will find it a quirky, fun piece of health/science history certain to attract attention among browsers.

The Great American Heart Hoax
Michael Ozner, MD
Benbella Books
6440 N. Central Expressway Suite 503, Dallas, TX 76206
9781933771540, $24.95 www.benbellabooks.com

THE GREAT AMERICAN HEART HOAX: LIFESAVING ADVICE YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD TELL YOU ABOUT HEART DISEASE PREVENTION (BUT PROBABLY NEVER WILL) is based on clinical studies that show cardiovascular intervention does not prevent heart attacks or prolong life in stable patients with coronary artery disease - making the number of angioplasties and bypass surgeries questionable. This comes from a noted cardiologist who wrote THE MIAMI MEDITERRANEAN DIET, and reveals the truths about what helps prevent and reverse heart disease - and what isn't worth it. A 'must' for any facing heart disease, and for general-interest as well as health libraries.


The World History Shelf

Crusader Castles in the Holy Land
David Nicolle
Osprey Publishing
400 Hahn Road, Westminster, MD 21157
9781846033490, $25.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

The Crusades that moved across the Middle East left behind fortresses and fortifications, and Crusader Castles in the Holy Land considers these fortifications, surveying their history, importance on all sides, and existing fortifications throughout the Middle East, Greece, the Aegean and Cyprus. Fine photos in black and white and color alike blend with the latest research and excavation evidence to make for a fine pick for both history and military libraries focusing on Crusades era events.


The Military Shelf

Weapons and Warfare
Justin D. Murphy and Matthew A. McNiece
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851094981, $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

WEAPONS AND WARFARE: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THEIR IMPACT covers military aircraft from 1919-1945, surveying the development of airpower doctrines after World War I and providing assessment of not only military might, but economic opportunity and how the first generation of military aircraft affected land and sea around the world. It covers a crucial era in military development and should be a part of any serious military collection and many a general-interest lending library.

Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction
Nathan E. Busch and Daniel H. Joyner, Editors
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820332216, $24.95 www.ugapress.uga.edu

COMBATING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION: THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL NONPROLIFERATION POLICY pairs real-world case histories with discussions of the latest problems and risks affecting weapons of mass destruction and their spread. Here experts in nonproliferation studies examine special challenges and offer directions for policy and law making, making for an outstanding reference key to any classroom discussion of nuclear or military might.


The American History Shelf

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War
H.W. Crocker III
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781596985490, $19.95 www.regnery.com

The politically incorrect history that dominates schools and universities insist that Jefferson Davis was a dominant force, Robert E. Lee was like Rommel, and the South was a repressive faction of the States. The reality was the Old South had great charm and grace - and a strong Constitutional case. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War will prove a perfect acquisition for high school libraries seeking alternate perspectives on Civil War events and history.

A Different Mirror
Ronald Takai
Back Bay Books
c/o Little Brown
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroupusa.com
9780316022361, $17.99, www.amazon.com

A DIFFERENT MIRROR: A HISTORY OF MULTICULTURAL AMERICA is a fine update to the original in which Professor Takai examines special challenges of living in a multicultural country. First published in 1993, it was ahead of its time in its analysis: this reassessment has been updated and expanded to include new insights on American culture and modern challenges.


The Language Studies Shelf

Spanish for Cruisers
Kathy Parsons
Aventuras Publishing Company
c/o Paradise Cay Publications, Distributors
Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518
9780967590523, $31.95 www.spanishforcruisers.com

Any cruiser bound for any Latin American country needs to keep on board SPANISH FOR CRUISERS: THE BOATER'S COMPLETE LANGUAGE GUIDE FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING DESTINATIONS. Now in its second updated edition, over 28 topics cover situations at sea, in part, and in the boatyard, including 10 new topics and phrases and words for everything from boating emergencies to money, banking and food provisioning. A lay-flat spiral binding, waterproof cover, and quick organization by topic makes it an easily-used 'must have' reference.


The Humor Shelf

Bizarro Buccaneers
Dan Piraro
Andrews & McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
9780740777400, $9.99 www.amuniversal.com

Pirate cartoons are the foundation of this collection from the popular Bizarro cartoon series, offering a series of lively vignettes complete with 'find the unusual item' in each picture. Libraries interested in lively contemporary cartoon collections from popular one-panel strips, especially centered around a popular theme such as pirates, will find BIZARRO BUCCANEERS a winner.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

The Wonderful World of Perfume Bottles, 2nd Edition
Jane Flanagan
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326123, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

This identification and value guide continues to be an outstanding pick for any library strong in specialty collector's guides. Perfume bottles are some of the most wide-ranging collectibles available, so they often appear in garage sales and flea markets. From good-sized color photos to the latest price ranges and clear descriptions, the 2nd updated edition of The Wonderful World of Perfume Bottles is a top pick for any collection catering to antiques and collectibles people.

America's Money, America's Story, 2nd Edition
Richard Doty
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Road Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
9780794822576, $26.95 www.whitmanbooks.com

From Native American beads to modern commemorative coins - this is a wide-ranging survey of the evolution and history of America's money and appears in a newly updated second edition in full color featuring over 500 color photos and chapters blending history with money events. Collections strong in either American history or collecting will find this an intriguing survey of the evolution of American money.


The Music Shelf

The Elvis Encyclopedia
Adam Victor
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York NY 10012
0715638165, $65.00 www.overlookny.com

Over 210 color photos and an equal amount of black-and-white images appear in an oversized tribute, The Elvis Encyclopedia. It creates a visual collection of his life, pairing hundreds of photos - many unseen and unposed - with a survey of all the information available about his life and achievements. From his poverty childhood to his rise to fame, The Elvis Encyclopedia is an outstanding, comprehensive tribute. If only one Elvis book were to be chosen for a collection, this one winds hands-down over competitors.

Rock Gods
Robert M. Knight
Palace Press International
c/o Insight Editions
180 Varick Street, 10th Floor, New York NY 10014
9781933784717, $50.00 www.insighteditions.com

Since 1968 author Robert Knight's photos of rock stars have documented some of rock's most classic moments, so having them all under one cover in ROCK GODS: FORTY YEARS OF ROCK PHOTOGRAPHY is a real treat, capturing many classics and providing images of Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Green Day, Calpton and more. Guitar players past and present are the focus in an oversized collection introduced by Slash and packed with outstanding color and excitement. Very highly recommended both as a gift book, coffee table acquisition, and a 'must' for any library strong in rock and pop music.

Classic Electrics
Walter Carter
Outline Press
c/o Jawbone Press
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781906002190, $14.95 www.jawbonepress.com

This color photo illustrated history of classic guitars offers the full history of the electric guitar, from the hollowbodies of jazz of the 1940s and 50s to the solidbodies that rewrote the history of rock in the 1960s and 70s. An A-Z encyclopedic format outlines over 350 models from over 70 manufacturers, making for an outstanding survey essential to any music library and many a general interest collection.

Delta Blues
Ted Gioia
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110-0017
9780393062588, $27.95 www.wwnorton.com

Ted thought he understood the blues when he was twenty years old - but he only understood its most basic structure. The rest of his understanding took decades to achieve - and DELTA BLUES met his goal of writing a comprehensive history of the 'deep blues' from its birth to its changes. Any interested in the history of the blues will find this a wide-ranging historical survey perfect for any American music history collection - even those holding numerous other surveys of the blues genre.


The California Shelf

Art Deco San Francisco
Therese Poletti, et.al.
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York NY 10003
9781568987569, $55.00 www.papress.com

Classic San Francisco buildings reflecting the art deco style are covered in an excellent collection of photos of masterpieces reflecting the work of one man: one Timothy Pflueger, an immigrant's son who began his architectural practice after San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, and who proved one of the city's most prolific architects, producing many unique and classic art deco designs over a 40-year history. His life and works are surveyed in ART DECO SAN FRANCISCO, an oversized pairing of photos and architectural history highly recommended as a basic 'must' for both architecture and art libraries and any California history collection.

Lost Laborers in Colonial California
Stephen W. Silliman
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719
9780816528042, $24.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu

LOST LABORERS IN COLONIAL CALIFORNIA: NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF RANCHO PETALUMA uses archaeological data, material studies and archival research to examine how colonials controlled indigenous peoples and how Native Americans lived through and resisted these attempts. Chapters offer a strong blend of archaeological evidence and social history in a study recommended for any college strong in Native American studies or California history and anthropology.

Heart of the Rock: The Indian Invasion of Alcatraz
Adam Fortunate Eagle
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139890, $19.95 www.oupress.com

HEART OF THE ROCK comes from an author who in 1969, along with Richard Oakes, instigated an invasion of Alcatraz Island by American Indians. This occupation of a once-famous federal prison remains a powerful contemporary action in Native history and culture, and HEART OF THE ROCK provides an intimate memoir of the occupation the author helped orchestrate. Photos and personal insights make for a compelling local and modern history.

Backpacking California
Wilderness Press authors
Wilderness Press
1345 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780899974460, $24.95 www.wildernesspress.com

BACKPACKING CALIFORNIA is a 'must' for any California library strong in outdoors selections: it covers over 70 of the best, most diverse backpacking trips documented by sixteen of Wilderness Press's authors, covering trips throughout the state and offering an updated 2nd edition describing routes ranging from one night to weeks in duration. Black and white photos, maps, and color sidebars of at-a-glance information make for an outstanding guide California outdoors collections will relish.

Arcadia Publishing
www.arcadiapublishing.com

Phil Frank's HOUSEBOATS OF SAUSALITO (0738555525, $19.99) is a fine survey of the colorful houseboat community in Sausalito. The local author's been researching houseboats since his first acquisition in 1973: his book packs in history and black and white vintage images. California lending libraries will find it a popular 'must' and individuals who relish the book may find a vintage postcard set (0738525200, $7.99) also of interest. Penny Hutten and the Forestville Historical Society worked hard on FORESTVILLE (0738558052, $19.99), a survey of a Sonoma county town that grew from the Spanish land grant to its current status. Author Penny Hutten has been a 35-year resident of the town and founded the Forestville historical Society in 1999. Any Northern California collection specializing in regional California history will find both books invaluable.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

1635: The Dreeson Incident
Eric Flint and Virginia DeMarce
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1416555897, $26.00 www.baen.com

The Thirty Years War continues to ravage 17th century Europe, but a new force is gathering power: the United States of Europe, a new nation led by Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, and a host of West Virginians from the 20th century lead by Mike Stearns who were sent into the distant past by a cosmic accident. Politics, espionage, and a town lost in time struggling to survive makes for an involving, ongoing series addition especially recommended for libraries already finding the prior books popular lends.

Heir to Sevenwaters
Juliet Marillier
ROC Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10114
9780451462336, $23.95 www.penguin.com

Author Juliet Marillier revisits her acclaimed Sevenwaters realm with this gentle story of a young woman's quest to right a wrong. When a baby is stolen and something unnatural is left in its place, Clodagh must journey to the Otherworld to rescue her brother. An epic journey results through the kingdom of Sevenwaters in this gripping fantasy saga, especially recommended for prior readers of the Sevenwaters trilogy and libraries catering to them - but also good as an introduction for newcomers.

Ender in Exile
Orson Scott Card
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0765304961, $25.95 www.tor.forge.com

Collections already seeing popular activity for Orson Scott Card's prior 'Ender' series will find a 'must' acquisition the ongoing story and new direct sequel to ENDER'S GAME. Here the story picks up at the close of ENDER'S GAME, where Andrew/Ender knows he can't live on Earth, and must choose between living under the Hegemon's control under his brother Pete's thumb, or going out on a colony ship to settle one of the new worlds won in the war. His experiences on the colony world makes for an involving, moving story sure to attract and hold the attention of prior Ender fans.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Yirat Shamayim: The Awe, Reverence and Fear of God
Marc D. Stern, Editor
KTAV Publishing Inc.
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800373, $30.00 www.ktav.com

YIRAT SHAMAYIM is a basic concept for Orthodox Jews and this volume use a range of perspectives on what 'fear of heaven' requires to help define the religious and political aspects of the concept. Articles survey the history and ideas of the fear of god, offering an orthodox forum for detailed understanding perfect for college-level Judaic studies libraries.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

John J. Lamb's THE CLOCKWORK TEDDY (9780425224298, $6.99) tells of a retired San Francisco cop and his wife who have settled into a comfortable retirement collecting teddy bears. When they return to California for the first time since retiring to Virginia, trouble strikes when they witness a robbery at a teddy bear show. Fast investigative action keeps the story hopping. Sarah Atwell's PANE OF DEATH (9780425225011, $6.99) provides a fine, different glassblowing mystery: this centered around a glassblower who lives in a Tucson artist's district teaching and selling wares, until she finds romance and a missing pane involve her in a murder investigation. Madelyn Alt's NO REST FOR THE WICCAN (9780425224564, $7.99) tells of Maggie, who loves her job at Enchantments and is Indiana's newest witch. When she volunteers to care for a bedridden sister, she finds strange spirits involved, and suddenly death and threats seem to converge. A fine mystery evolves. Monica Ferris' THAI DIE (9780425223468, $24.95) tells of one Betsy, who runs a needlework shop and is a store-owner and part-time sleuth. Just back from a trip to Thailand, Doris is eager to show her needlework friends some special souvenirs. When a burglary results and some of her things are taken, murder enters the picture and Betsy is drawn to wonder about Doris' foreign treasures in this excellent novel of needlework intrigue. Each of these excels in unusual settings and plots that go above and beyond your usual 'whodunnit': all are highly recommended picks for any discriminating mystery library.

Invitation to a Murder
Gail Abbott Zimmerman
Pocket Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1416546596, $7.99 www.simonsays.com

This true-crime story tells of a beautiful woman killed by a male intruder in a nice Illinois suburban home. Donna's husband Mark has killed the attacker, but one rookie detective doesn't buy his home invasion story, and begins an investigation into a spousal murder that almost succeeded - and a perfect marriage gone awry. Hard to put down, this novel of true crime is a winner.


The Fiction Shelf

Over and Under
Todd Tucker
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 -5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
0312379900, $23.95 www.stmartins.com

Coming of age stories for adults remain somewhat uncommon; especially if you throw in the factor of cultural influences and social change affecting this transition point. That's what made TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD such a hit - a growing-aware young adult's newfound cognizance of adult issues - and that's what makes Todd Tucker's OVER AN UNDER so memorable. In the summer of 1979 two pre-teen best friends and cave explorers face danger and change in rural Indiana just as a labor strike is changing the face of the town. Perfect for any library strong in coming of age novels.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Homemade Hollywood
Clive Young
The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9780826429230, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

What actor would risk his life swinging off a building without a net, for a homemade Spider-Man movie? And why would Steven Spielberg praise three 'nobodies' for a home movie they made as teens in the 80s? HOMEMADE HOLLYWOOD: FANS BEHIND THE CAMERA traces an underground 'fan film' movement from the 1920s to YouTube modern times, covering everything from the indie filmmaking industry to how big media changes attitudes and content of movies themselves. Any movie fan interested on more than a general level will find this a lively, fascinating coverage of alternative movie media.

Here's the Story
Maureen McCormick
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061490149, $25.95 www.harpercollins.com

Any who recall and relished the TV series The Brady Bunch will find irresistible HERE'S THE STORY: SURVIVING MARCIA BRADY AND FINDING MY TRUE VOICE. It comes from the 'ideal teenage girl' who 'had it all' and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Maureen McCormick, revealing family relationships, personal evolution, and Maureen's personal exploration of the dark side of Hollywood. A powerful memoir, HERE'S THE STORY is hard to put down and a top pick for any library strong in television history and personalities.

Smallville Season 7: The Official Companion
Craig Byrne
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP
9781845766566, $14.95 www.titanbooks.com www.amazon.com

SMALLVILLE, the TV show, covers the teen years of Superman/Clark Rent and this companion to Season 7 comes packed with color photos, interviews with case and crew, a complete episode guide, and more. Any library catering to fans of the TV show will find this a popular pick.

The Incredible Mr. Don Knotts
Stephen Cox and Kevin Marhanks
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826586, $26.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

The movies and life of Don Knotts is revealed in a blend of pop culture history and survey of comedy perfect for Mayberry fans. Over 200 photos - many rare and never before published - supplement a blend of biography, TV trivia, reviews, and survey of the movies and productions featuring Don Knotts in an outstanding treasury perfect for any general-interest lending library strong in film and popular TV personalities.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Hedgehog's Dilemma
Hugh Warwick
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
1596914777, $25.00 www.bloomsburyusa.com

THE HEDGEHOG'S DILEMMA: A TALE OF OBSESSION, NOSTALGIA, AND THE WORLD'S MOST CHARMING MAMMAL is a funny and appealing quest to discover what makes hedgehogs so appealing. Environmental writer Hugh Warwick here tracks hedgehogs around the world, considering pet-keepers, zoos, rare Chinese breeds, and much more. The blend of natural history and travelogue makes for a whimsical, fun title appropriate for any general-interest lending library.

Questions and Answers on Dog Agility Training
Mary Ann Nester
TFH Publications
One TFH Plaza, 3rd and Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793806126, $19.95 www.tfh.com

Any dog owner interested in agility performance will find DOG AGILITY TRAINING a specific and useful guide to common problems for improved agility performance. Whether you're a beginner seeking some agility pointers or an experienced dog handler trying to improve a dog's training, this comes from an expert agility trainer and has over 140 answers to common problems and issues. Collections strong in pet agility training will find it a popular, specific 'how to' pick.

An Eye for a Dog
Robert W. Cole
Dogwise Publishing
Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807
192924214X, $22.95 www.dogwise.com

AN EYE FOR A DOG: ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO JUDGING PUREBRED DOGS tells how to actively participate in over 100 show ring dog-judging scenarios, offering a review of the concepts of breed type, balance, proportion, and breed differences. Chapters cover head features, proportions, trot profiles and more, making for an outstanding survey perfect for any library catering to dog owners and neo-pro show dog patrons.

Canine Behavior: An Illustrated Handbook
Barbara Handelman, M.Ed, CDBC
Woof and Word Press
c/o Dogwise Publishing
Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807
9780976511823, $49.95, www.dogwise.com

Examine the language of canine communication with CANINE BEHAVIOR: A PHOTO ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK, displaying basics on how to interpret dog behavior. From how dog anatomy affects behavioral displays to how to understand how dogs learn, CANINE BEHAVIOR is an outstanding, specific survey perfect for pet libraries.

What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog
Steven D. Hales, Editor
Open Court
Box 300, Peru, IL 61354
0812696530, $14.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

Blend philosophy with insights on pets and you have a fine survey written by those who are dog lovers and who reflect on the logic of pet ownership and its demands. From false contrasts between humans and canines to different animal personalities and perceptions of animal intelligence and ethics, What Philosophy Can Tell You About Your Dog is an excellent guide for any pet owner and for libraries catering to them.

Tuna: A Love Story
Richard Ellis
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com, 1-800-726-0600
9780307267153, $27.95 www.aaknopf.com

Any interested in the natural history and cultural impact of the tuna will find TUNA: A LOVE STORY to be an excellent survey of the fish and its lore. Chapters cover everything from fishing lore to the tuna's environment and historic interactions with humans, surveying everything from sport fishing to the tuna's natural cousins and the food industries relying upon tuna products. A wonderful guide for any general-interest library specializing either in fish cookery or natural history.

Falcons of North America
Kate Davis
Mountain Press Publishing
Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878425535, $22.00 www.mountainpress.com

Raptor educator Kate Davis offers a fined survey of these birds of prey as she covers the natural history of six North American falcon species and includes new research on them. Over 200 color photos and range maps contribute to a natural history that is far more than your usual identification guide - and a top pick for any library strong in birding.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design