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

Internet Bookwatch

Volume 19, Number 11 November 2009 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Military Shelf Fiction Shelf
American History Shelf Education Shelf Hobby Shelf
Business Shelf Photography Shelf Art Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Dance Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Biography Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf Music Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Gaming Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
World History Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Architecture Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Literary Shelf Nautical Shelf Economics Shelf
Psychology Shelf Sports Shelf Archaeology Shelf
Botany Shelf Railroading Shelf International Studies Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Science Shelf
Civil War Shelf Wisconsin Shelf Library Science Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Humor Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Criminology Shelf Social Issues Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Gardening Shelf Travel Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Parenting Shelf Library DVD Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Christmas Shelf Mathematics Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Computer Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, sixth edition
National Geographic Press
1145 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688
9781426203930, $26.00, www.amazon.com

Preserves of nearly unspoiled nature rest all across the country. Now in a fully updated and expanded sixth edition, "National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States" is a guide to exploring the best of America's national parks. With stories from famed travel writers who offer much advice in experiencing these parks, full color photographs to give readers a sample of what they can see, and countless maps, "National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States" is a must for any traveling nature enthusiast.

Less is More
Mina Parker
Red Wheel, Weiser, & Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573244534, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

A picture is worth a thousand words, and any more than that picture starts being too wordy. "Less is More: Meditations on Simplicity, Balance, and Real Abundance" is a celebration of simplicity and the elegance of less. With plenty of full color photographs displaying the sophistication of the topic, with words emphasizing the approach, there is much to savor and ponder on. "Less is More" is a fine collection that simply should not be missed.

The Best in Tent Camping
Wendel Withrow
Menasha Ridge Press
PO Box 43673, Birmingham, AL 35243
9780897326841, $15.95, www.menasharidge.com

The Wild West didn't have RVs. "The Best in Tent Camping: Texas" is a guide for the outdoors people who want to live in the most authentic way possible by tent camping Texas's deserts and wilderness. Outlining the countless state parks throughout Texas with detailed information on the camping sites on each of them, and what to avoid when enjoying the great outdoors. "The Best in Tent Camping" should be at the right hand for any camper who are in or will soon find themselves in Texas.

Wired for Thought
Jeffrey M. Stibel
Harvard Business Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422146644, $29.95, www.harvardbusiness.org

The internet is a brain trust composed of millions of minds cumulatively affecting the direction of electronically interrelated network as a whole. "Wired for Thought: How the Brain is Shaping the Future of the Internet" is a sort of business and technological manual with a psychological bent. Saying that to understand the internet, and to be successful through it, one must understand the complexities of the human mind and everything about it. Discussing the internet how it stands, and forecasting doom for some popular websites, "Wired for Thought" is an essential read for anyone who wants or needs to understand the internet, be it for curiosity or better business sense.

Visits with the Amish
Linda Egenes
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781587297854, $17.95, www.uiowapress.org

No technology, little travel, the Amish life seems simpler. "Visits with the Amish: Impressions of the Plain Life" are the reflections of Linda Egenes on her visits with her Old Order Amish neighbors and what she learned during her travels and time spent with them. Painting a picture of their lives, she provides much insights into the lives of these people that outsiders would not often know. "Visits with the Amish" is an enlightening read that should not be overlooked.

The Riverina Story
Barry Gray
Rosenburg
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781877058851, $39.95, www.isbs.com

Wine is more than just crushed grapes. "The Riverina Story: Water, Wine, & Wealth" tells the story of The Riverina, a vineyard and winery that has brought wine to New South Wales in Australia and has become a bit of local pride. Telling the history of the place, how it came to be, where it went, and the benefits that were reaped, it's a story that wine lovers and wine history enthusiasts will love. "The Riverina Story" would do well in any collection focusing on wine.

Information Earth
Hammond Infozone
Hammond
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
9780843709124, $15.99, www.langenscheidt.com

The world is big; there's a lot to learn and know. "Information Earth" is a fact book packed cover to cover with quick facts and information that will give readers intriguing information about the countries of the world, outlining their geography, capitals, political systems, and more. Total nonstop information, "Information Earth" is a read to be considered for those who want the facts and nothing but.

World Whiskey
Charles Maclean
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9780756654436, $25.00, www.amazon.com

There are few consoling or celebratory pleasures in life to equal a glass of really good whiskey. For the connoisseur (and those who aspire to such a level of expertise), there is now "World Whiskey: A Nation-by-Nation Guide to the Best", a superbly organized and encyclopedically detailed reference compendium showcasing more than 700 whiskies, revealing insider information on distillery secrets, and providing extensive information on distillery tours. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photography, "World Whiskey" covers whiskey festivals, tasting rooms, and whiskey-centric bars. Of special value for the novice is the opening articles on the making of whiskey, identification of the diverse types of whiskey, and the fundamental principles of appreciating whiskey. Enhanced with a glossary, an extensive listing of references, and section for 'Your Tasting Notes', "World Whiskey" is a highly recommended addition for personal reading lists and community library reference collections.

After Effects Apprentice, second edition
Trish Meyer & Chris Meyer
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Dr., Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
9780240811369, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills For The Aspiring Motion Graphics Artist" continues to be an ideal introductory and instructional manual for the novice motion graphics artist seeking to produce professional quality work. Incorporating twelve lessons updated for CS4, "After Effects Apprentice" is profusely enhanced with screen shots, Guided Tour video training movies, and project files updated for After Effects CS4, as well as being integrated with other germane Adobe applications. Readers will learn how to animate, edit, layer, and composite both video and still images; manipulate keyframes; utilize masks, mattes, stencils and blending modes; create and animate shape layers and text; create special effects, and so much more. A superbly written, organized, detailed, comprehensive, and presented instruction manual, "After Effects Apprentice" is highly recommended for beginners and has a great deal of enduring value to offer even the more experienced motion graphics artist.

Your Intercultural Marriage
Marla Alupoaicei
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60610
9780802418548, $14.99

You love the person, but can you love the culture? "Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship" discusses marriages across the cultural divide and discusses the conflicts that may arise from everything from the wedding to raising the children, family expectations, to even possible bedroom problems. With a Christian viewpoint, "Your Intercultural Marriage" offers sage wisdom that is worth considering for those in love with someone not like them.

The Brokered World
Simon Schaffer, Lissa Roberts, Kapil Raj, and James Delbourgo, editors
Science History Press
PO Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
9780881353747 $69.96 www.shpusa.com

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Simon Schaffer, Lissa Roberts, Kapil Raj, and James Delbourgo, "The Brokered World: Go-Betweens and Global Intelligence, 1770-1820" is an impressively informative anthology of scholarly essays by a diversity of learned authors analyzing forms of knowledge production (from anatomy, chemistry, and natural history to chronology, philology, jurisprudence, astronomy, survey science, and engineering) during the keynote historical period the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Of particular focus is how, in an era when travel was much more laborious, agents of communication managed to spread information that would ultimately change existing political, scientific, and economic networks. Individual essays include "Frontier Tales: Tokugawa Japan in Translation", "Self Preservation: French Travels between Cuisine and Industrie", "Boundary-crossings, Cultural Encounters and Knowledge Spaces in Early Australia", and much more. An extensive bibliography and index round out this well-thought, invaluable contribution to gestalt world history shelves, particularly those of college libraries.

Woodstock Paper Dolls
Tom Tierney
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com
0486473953, $7.95, www.amazon.com

Any enamored of the 60s and seeking a unique tribute and gift will find WOODSTOCK PAPER DOLLS a fun presentation, offering eight colorful paper dolls of festival performers from Jerry Garcia to Jimi Hendrix. Colorful psychedelic regalia makes for a lively, fun presentation.

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer
Novella Carpenter
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202216, $25.95 www.penguin.com

FARM CITY comes from an author who has been an urban farmer for ten years, covering her interest in growing food in the inner city and following her farm from its crop plantings to her first livestock. Agricultural history, farming tips, and a fun memoir blend in a fine firsthand survey of urban farming inspirational for any would-be urban farmer and any urban collection catering to them.

The Book of Cool
Marianne Taylor
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762435494, $19.95 www.runningpress.com

THE BOOK OF COOL is a pick for sociology collections at the high school to college levels and provides a survey of social trends and 'cool' ideas. A history of 'cool' examines who markets the trend, how it's created, and how it changes. Text and images cover fashion, fads, target audiences and more in a fine survey of media coverage, hype, and more. Color photos throughout add to a lively history.

Get Rich Cheating
Jeff Kreisler
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061686146, $14.99 www.harpercollins.com

Take a healthy dose of humor and blend it with some business savvy and observations of questionable practices and you have GET RICH CHEATING: THE CROOKED GUIDE TO EASY STREET, a tongue-in-cheek guide to schemes that have proven to generate cash covers everything from government bailouts to exploiting the weak. From controlling a board of directors to the mechanics of collusion, it's a hilarious, pointed observation of business.

FU, Penguin
Matthew Gasteier
Villard
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9780345518163, $15.00 www.villard.com

FU, PENGUIN: TELLING CUTE ANIMALS WHAT'S WHAT is both a humor and a nature guide, and is a recommended pick for any interested in cuddly animals that have taken over inspirational posters, films and more. Inspired by the popular blog, FU, PENGUIN is loaded with fun color photos and hilarious notes and is a fine pick for any lending library unafraid of a few cuss words sprinkled in-between.

The Art of Community
Jono Bacon
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596156718, $39.99 www.oreilly.com

Of relevance for anyone interested in how computers can be utilized to build virtual communities, THE ART OF COMMUNITY is especially recommended for its wider interest to any library strong in social issues. Its analysis of experiences and observations from online web communities tells how to build objectives and goals for such a web-based community, offering tools for construction and showing how to track the community's work and provide a representative governance strategy for the community. A fine pick for any computer or social issues collection.

GIS for Decision Support and Public Policy Making
Christopher Thomas and Nancy Humenik-Sappington
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92379-8100
9781589482319, $24.95 www.esri.com

Government officials face big fiscal challenges and are often trying to provide high-quality public services on limited budgets. GIS can help that process, streamlining operations and identifying money-saving solutions to common problems. Topics range form how to use GIS for making budget-related decisions and allocating resources to supporting policies and identifying trends. Some 27 examples of how governments successfully used GIS information to analyze and map data makes for an outstanding college-level geography and political science reference.

GIS Tutorial II
David W. Allen
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92379-8100
9781589482012, $79.95 www.esri.com

GIS TUTORIAL II: SPATIAL ANALYSIS WORKBOOK offers an intermediate workbook to help readers build GIS analysis skills, offering a companion to GIS TUTORIAL: WORKBOOK FOR ARCVIEW 9 and a satisfying series of step-by-step procedures on spatial analysis methods from overlay and proximity to statistical and pattern analysis. Spatial analysis distinguishes GIS from other digital mapping: these exercises link practical exercises to concepts and are key to a working knowledge of the system.


The Military Shelf

A Toast for You And Me V. II
Robert C. Valentine
Dig-Cam Publishing
Box 3522, Los Angeles, CA 90032
1880633842, $32.98 www.thunderaway.com

A TOAST FOR YOU AND ME: AMERICA'S PARTICIPATION, SACRIFICE AND VICTORY is packed with previously unpublished color photos and offers a unique and lively original look at World war II culture and events. In-depth research contributes to a powerful survey of underlying forces in the war ("I firmly believe the reason so many Americans joined the war effort was because of their love of country and freedom. But when 'doing your part' turned into hard day-by-day relentless work and sweat, the film as a useful medium to educate and raise morale was supremely invaluable." A 'must' for any military history collection and many a general lending library with more of a social impact focus on events.

Military Reform
Winslow T. Wheeler & Lawrence J. Korb
Stanford Security Studies
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804761635, $24.95, www.sup.org

The military has problems of its own, and ironing them out is vital to national security. "Military Reform: An Uneven History and an Uncertain Future" discusses the modern American military and its current problems. Decrying false reforms and calling for a major overhaul on the way some things are done to bring the system into a modern age in administration, Wheeler and Korb focus on the proposed reforms from the 1980s called for by Congress and the Pentagon. "Military Reform" is a vital addition to any collection discussing the troubles of the modern military and is enthusiastically recommended.

The New Counterinsurgency Era
David H. Ucko
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589014886, $26.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

The enemy no longer just wears a different colored uniform for easy identification. "The New Counterinsurgency Era: Transforming the U.S. Military for Modern Wars" discusses how the United States military must change and revamp itself to meet a brand new threat of enemies who do not play by the traditional rules. Counterinsurgency is the new game, and "The New Counterinsurgency Era" is a scholarly and informative read for those who want to understand modern military tactics.

Preemption, Prevention, and Proliferation
George H. Quester
Transaction Publishers
300 McGaw Drive-Raritan Ctr, Edison, NJ 08837
9781412810418, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

The stand off may be the way to peace. "Preemption, Prevention, and Proliferation: The Threat and Use of Weapons in History" examines both modern and past militaries and how rising military technology has shaped political and social policy throughout the world. With a focus on the past century, George H. Quester provides a scholarly discussion of where weapons were and where they are going. "Preemption, Prevention, and Proliferation" is a solid and core addition to any community or college collections focusing on military subjects.

A Spy's Diary of World War II
Wayne Nelson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786445486 $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

A Spy's Diary of World War II: Inside the OSS with an American Agent in Europe is the wartime diary of OSS officer Wayne Nelson, who served in North Africa and Europe during world War II. His vision disability kept him out of the navy, and so he served as a spy; his diary succinctly and powerfully captures the heart-tugging tension of his dangerous tasks. He earned a Bronze Star and France's Croix de Guerre for his service; now his journal of those difficult days makes for compelling reading and a vivid firsthand glimpse into the war that would determine the fate of the world. Highly recommended.

"War Stories"
Gary Kulik
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
www.potomacbooksinc.com
9781597973045 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Decorated Vietnam veteran Gary Kulik presents "War Stories": False Atrocity Tales, Swift Boaters, and Winter Soldiers - What Really Happened in Vietnam, an accounting of popular myths specifically connected to the Vietnam war in general, and the experience of Vietnam veterans in particular. Kulik does not seek to dismiss, deny or minimize American war crimes in Vietnam - rather, his purpose is to expose false war crime stories, so that the stories that are true can be more accurately regarded and remembered. Of special note is the discussion of Swift Boat Veterans and the "Truth" they propagated specifically to derail Kerry's presidential ambitions. With the prospect of more false stories of American war crimes in Iraq or Afghanistan (and their risk of obfuscating true stories of American misconduct), "War Stories" is extraordinarily timely and highly recommended.


The Fiction Shelf

The Word Book
Mieko Kanai
Dalkey Archive
c/o University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785664, $14.95, www.dalkeyarchive.com

A short story is all that's needed to reflect the simplicity of the human experience. "The Word Book" is a collection of short stories from acclaimed Japanese writer Mieko Kanai, deftly translated by Paul McCarthy as to keep the soul of her writings intact through the cultural divide - which isn't as vast a gulf as one might think. "The Word Book" is an intriguing insight into humanity through fiction, and an excellent addition to any international fiction collection.

Boston Noir
Dennis Lehane, Editor
Akashic Books
Box 1456, New York NY 10019
9781933354910, $15.95 www.akashicbooks.com

BOSTON NOIR offers brand new stories by Patricial Powell, Lynne Heitman, Don Lee and others, all centered around Boston mysteries and topics. Humor, mystery, and stories set in distinct neighborhoods or locations in Boston will especially appeal to mystery enthusiasts familiar with the city's streets and culture.

Call Me Yubbie
Joe Wojcik
Apex Performance Solutions
467 Springdale Road, Westfield, MA 01085
Strategies Literary Public Relations (publicity)
PO Box 178122, San Diego, CA 92177
9780982451908, $12.95, www.apexperfoamncesxy.com

Bullies shape young people more than they should. "Call Me Yubbie" is the story of a young man overcoming the oppression of the bullies in his life. Written by a guidance counselor, he offers his own experience in this story of rising up and standing up to the bullies in one's life. Telling the story of the many sides of the matter of the bullying process, "Call Me Yubbie" is a touching and uplifting read for younger readers.

Zillah's Gift
Lois West Duffy
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439-2129
9781592982905, $13.95, www.beaverspondpress.com

When you have nothing else to look forward too, maybe you need to look to the stars. "Zillah's Gift: A Secret... An Adventure... A Gift" is an ancient Persian story following Zillah, a girl who does not have much in the way of potential prospects for her life. But when she sees a star that no one else can see, this star brings her in contact with the royal family and her life then changes forever. "Zillah's Gift" is a fine read and a fine addition to any community library collection focusing on juvenile fiction.

The Outlaw Billy Stiles
John Koblas
North Star Press of St. Cloud Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393114, $14.95, www.northstarpress.com

Less than honest with the law, less than honest in life. "The Outlaw Billy Stiles" takes fiction to a man who quite enjoyed fiction in himself. Billy Stiles was a contemporary of Jesse James, and had a bit of notoriety for his love of lying and tall tales. Covering the era where his whereabouts are undocumented, historian John Koblas weaves quite a tale. "The Outlaw Billy Stiles" is a fine and recommended read that shouldn't be ignored by fans of the old West.

The Test
Patricia Gussin
Oceanview
2817 West End Ave., Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
9781933515199, $25.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

The best of intentions can go south quickly. "The Test" tells of father Paul Parnell who leaves his children with an unorthodox will. Challenging them to be better people and members of society in order to receive his massive fortune, it seems his money may have the exact opposite effect as the family is torn apart over the money. But through it all, can they remember what their father really wanted, true family values? "The Test" is an intriguing read of the human spirit and the power of family.

When Darkness Loves Us
Elizabeth Engstrom
Apex Publications
PO Box 24323, Lexington, KY 40524
9780982159668, $14.95, www.apexbookcompany.com

Finding the light when swamped in darkness is never an easy thing. "When Darkness Loves Us" is a collection of two novellas from Elizabeth Engstrom. One story follows a young farm girl as she is engulfed by an underworld and yearns to escape, and an old woman who is facing the monsters of her past. Two engaging stories makes "When Darkness Loves Us" quite a pick for its value.

Jackson
T.P. Jones
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
9780982160183, $24.95, www.synergybooks.net

Some companies become more than companies they become institutions. "Jackson" is about a small town grappling with the potential bankruptcy of one of the town's biggest employers. The entire town soon finds itself behind the company to fight off its death. But throwing their will behind it may just take the town with it. A moving story of a small town trying to stay alive, "Jackson" is a moving and recommended literary read, highly recommended.

The Last Aloha
Gaellen Quinn
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781935448006, $17.95, www.gaellenquinn.com

Spreading the word of god is something some people take too far. "The Last Aloha" is a novel of the fall of the prosperous Hawaiian kingdom. A missionary family seems intent with stopping the 'pagan' culture, but one of them wants none of the subterfuge. A riveting story of the glory of the Hawaiian kingdom, "The Last Aloha" is a top pick that should not be overlooked.

A Quiet Belief in Angels
R. J. Ellory
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590202500, $24.95, www.overlookpress.com

Growing up with a serial killer on the loose is no way to grow up at all. "A Quiet Belief in Angels" follows young man Joseph Vaughan as he deals with growing up in a community plagued by a serial killer. For over many decades, Joseph seems helpless to stop the rampage, until he gains the determination that he needs to finally put a stop to it all. "A Quiet Belief in Angels" is an intriguing take on a serial killer mystery that should not be passed up by fans of the genre.

Are You There and Other Stories
Jack Skillingstead
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846614, $24.95, www.goldengryphon.com

Acclaimed short science fiction Jack Skillingstead brings readers quite the collection with "Are You There and Other Stories". Work published and spread throughout the world, he presents readers an entertaining collection focusing on stories that tackle moral questions and choices that people wouldn't normally face in our typical reality. Thoughtful and thought provoking, "Are You There" is a collection that science fiction fans should simply not miss.

The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam
Marilee Brothers
Medallion Press, Inc.
1020 Cedar Lane, No. 2N, St. Charles, IL 60174
9781934755464, $15.95, www.medallionpress.com

Life is full of nonstop surprises and chaos. "The Rock & Roll Queen Bedlam: A Wise-Cracking Tale of Secrets, Peril, and Murder" is the story of karaoke singer and teacher Allegra Thome as she deals with the whirlwind of her life of stumbling on drug busts, meeting sexy DEA agents, managing her current boyfriend, and oh... one of her students goes missing and it's up to her to find her. A mystery with so many elements and conflicts makes "The Rock & Roll Queen of Bedlam" a top pick for those who like their mysteries with a good deal of humor, action, and adventure.

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed
Mitzi Szereto
Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
9781573443678, $16.95, www.cleispress.com

There was always that certain untold naughty element to certain fairy tales... "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is a collection of eroticized fairy tales. From Sleeping Beauty to Rapunzel, these stories offer a different spin to the tales, many of which have discussions of the original nature of some of these tales before they were cleaned up for younger modern readers. "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is a unique dive into the world of the fairy tale for mature readers, highly recommended.

Storm Chaser
Chris Platt
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
9781561454969, $14.95, www.peachtree-online.com

Bonds with animals are not that uncommon, but how much does love stand up to money? "Storm Chaser" tells the story of Jessie, a girl raised on a ranch who has developed compassion for a paint horse who she names Storm Chaser. But when a guest at the ranch decides to buy Storm Chaser when the ranch is in tough economic times, Jessie is at a loss how to save her favorite horse. "Storm Chaser" is a touching story that will attract many a teenage reader.

Berlin Tales
Lyn Marven
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199559381, $19.95, www.oup.com/us

Berlin is a city that was never the same one decade to the next throughout the twentieth century. "Berlin Tales" is a collection of short stories from Germany, expertly translated by Lyn Marven from the original German. Through fiction, these writers present a vivid picture of the ever changing face of Berlin, and give readers an appreciation for this dauntless city. "Berlin Tales" is poignant, and highly recommended.

A Questionable Life
Luke Lively
Beaufort Books
27 W. 20th St., Suite 1102, NY, NY 10011
MM Book Publicity
2817 West End Ave, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
www.beaufortbooks.com
9780825305214, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Fiction novels have a long history of dealing with real-life issues in ways often more effective than any textbook presentation. Author Luke Lively clearly draws upon his more than twenty-five years of professional experience in the banking industry to write "A Questionable Life", a compelling novel that introduced Philadelphia banker Jack Oliver, a man who built his career on making hard choices and pragmatic sacrifices. When his mid-sized banking group is acquired by a financial industry mega-chain, all his career goals and progress are cut out from under him as he finds himself relegated from the heights of success to the lowest rung of the newly reorganized corporate bank. This disaster bank merger lands Jack in the hospital from stress, reveals that he has pretty much failed as a husband and father, and that his mistress valued him only for his formerly high status income. When the opportunity of starting over again in a small Virginia bank is afforded him, it may prove to be his way out of the arrogance of his former life-style and into a new chance to redeem himself, his family, and his future. A superbly written and riveting good read, "A Questionable Life" is a first rate, highly recommended novel laced with echos of the kinds of moral and ethical dilemmas that nearly wrecked the American financial system not so long ago.

Maggie's Way
Jessie Fallon
The Fiction Works
2070 SW, Whiteside Dr., Orvallis, OR 97333
9781581240351, $13.99, www.amazon.com

When she lands a prime job of entertainment manager for the Silver Pines Casino at Lake Tahoe, Maggie McGuire feels she's truly got it made! But it's not long before she learns that she's the target of a stalker, one who is increasingly dangerous and cannot be avoided... "Maggie's Way" is a highly recommended page-turner suspense thriller and the stuff of which block-buster movies are made. Jessie Fallon is a gifted storyteller who will leave her readers looking eagerly toward her next book. Also highly recommended for those readers who would benefit from a large print format is the large print edition of "Maggie's Way" (9781581240276, $14.99).

In Sleeping Beauty's Bed
Mitzi Szereto
Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.cleispress.com
9781573443678, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Fairy tales were never intended to be restricted to an audience of children. Indeed, most traditional fairytales had to be 'cleaned up' or 'disneyfied' in order to be made palatable for young ears. That's why the compilation of adult-oriented fairytales that comprise Mitzi Szereto's "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is such a treat for grown-ups. Restored to their erotic originality are fifteen stories that range from Chinese myths, to Japanese folklore, to European standards from Prince Charming's shoe fetish, to the real story why Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother had a wolf in her bed! Of special note is the succinct introduction to each separate fairytale, noting its history and the context of the sexual culture in which it originated. Superbly written, organized, and presented, "In Sleeping Beauty's Bed" is for an adult readership, and highly recommended reading from cover to cover.

Desert Justice
Paul S. Powers
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753182628, $27.99, www.amazon.com

An outlaw on the run, Sonny Tabor is a young man who is both good with a gun and accused of using it for murder. But he's only used his considerable skills as a gunfighter in self defense as revealed in the pages of "Desert Justice", an anthology of four short stories in which he is captured and faces hanging, is mistaken for a lawman by a gang of black-shirted outlaws, abandoned and left to die in the Arizona desert handcuffed to an Arizona Ranger, and then break out of jail to find the man guilty of the killing for which he is unjustly accused. A riveting good read, published in a large print format, and offered in library edition for an extended shelf life, "Desert Justice" by Paul S. Powers is especially recommended for community library Western Fiction collections.

The Apple
Penelope J. Holt
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780979195648, $15.95, www.yorkhousepress.com

Lies are commonly condemned, but they can make good stories nonetheless. "The Apple" is a novel based on the fabricated story of Herman Rosenblat, a Holocaust survivor whose story is criticized for being fabricated. Dramaticizing his tale, Penelope J. Holt takes an idea that warmed the hearts of millions and crafts a solid novel. "The Apple" is an intriguing and riveting, if sad tale of survival through atrocity.

The Man in the Wooden Hat
Jane Gardam
Europa Editions
116 East 16 Street, New York, NY 10003
9781933372891, $15.00, www.europaeditions.com

Establishing oneself a successful business person is easy, but romance is something else. "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a follow up to the celebrated Old Filth novel, following Edward Feathers as he tries to get himself an English wife in Betty. A story that is wide in scope and has many memorable characters, "The Man in the Wooden Hat" is a fine piece of literary fiction that will resonate with readers.

Isis
Douglas Clegg
Vanguard Press
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor, New York City, NY 10016
9781593155407, $14.95, www.vanguardpressbooks.com

Old legends have their roots in reality. "Isis: A Tale of the Supernatural" tells the story of one Iris Catherine Villiers, and how she gained the ability to speak to the dead, an ability that rocks her world and changes the course of her life. Bone chilling and entrancing reading, Douglas Clegg makes quite the adventure that blends fantasy and horror well, making for a story that's hard to put down. "Isis" is not a story to be ignored for original fiction fans.


The American History Shelf

A Marvelous Hundred Square Miles
Suzanne Barta Julin
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780979894060 $25.95 www.sdshspress.com

Award-winning author and South Dakota native Suzanne Barta Julin presents A Marvelous Hundred Square Miles: Black Hills Tourism, 1880-1941, an engaging, in-depth history of the Black Hills mountain park, from its inception to the contributions of famous people who helped promote Black Hills tourism (such as Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Nicholas Black Elk, and more), to the private organizations that labored to turn Black Hills into a popular destination despite its remote location. More than 70 black-and-white photographs and two maps illustrate this informative chronicle, accessible to lay readers and dedicated historians alike.

Deadly Dozen
Robert K. DeArment
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806137537, $24.95, www.oupress.com

The unsung legends of the old west may still be unsung today. "Deadly Dozen: Forgotten Gunfighters of the Old West" tells the story of a dozen lesser known Old western legends who deserve some recognition none the less. Filled with biographies and tales, for those looking for new stories on the old west, "Deadly Dozen" may be where they need to look, a unique piece of history that shouldn't be missed.

Intersections: The Grand Concourse at 100
Antonio Sergio Bessa
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823230785, $39.95

One little section of New York can have so much history attached to it. "Intersections: The Grand Concourse at 100" is a collection of essays by writers reflecting on The Grand Concourse, a specific set of roads in the Bronx section of New York. Writers draw on their own experiences filling the book with essays alongside full color photographs and historical drawings of the area. "Intersections: The Grand Concourse at 100" is a solid coffee-table acquisition for New York lovers, recommended.

Women's Votes, Women's Voices
Shanna Stevenson
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780917048746, $24.95, www.washingtonhistory.org

It's hard to believe than only a century ago, women were considered the same as felons when it came to voting rights - in which they had none. "Women's Votes, Women's Voices: The Campaign for Equal Rights in Washington" details on battle in the National War for Women's suffrage that raged on during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. At the complete mercy of the men in power, these women had little voting power to bargain with, but through rational arguments and other tactics that brought about democratic enlightenment. "Women's Votes, Women's Voices" is a must for any collection detailing women's suffrage and its history.

Waiting to Land
Martin Duberman
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584403, $26.95, www.thenewpress.com

The past few decades have been chaotic for gay and lesbian rights. "Waiting to Land: A Mostly Political Memoir, 1985-2008" is the reflections of Martin Duberman, primarily on his work to advance the rights of Gays and lesbians around the world since 1985. Despite it being only a little over two decades ago, the world's perceptions of homosexuality has radically changed, and in some cases, stayed the same. "Waiting to Land" is a must read for anyone seeking an informed and informative history of the gay movement for political equal rights in America.

Montana Women Homesteaders
Sarah Carter, editor
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com 1-800-821-3874
9781560374497 $17.95, www.amazon.com

Montana Women Homesteaders: A Field of One's Own is an anthology of testimonies and vintage black-and-white photographs following single women who filed on 160 or 320-acre homestead plots in Montana. Some were single; others were widowed, divorced, or deserted; some had children; and they varied in age, educational level, and ethnic background. Some were ultimately more (or less) successful than others, particularly as the Great Depression closed in. Yet all of them tested themselves on the land and contributed to Montana's rich history. An absorbing, often deeply personal account in the words of women determined to make it on their own, highly recommended.

American Revolutionary War Leaders
Bud Hannings
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786443796, $125.00, www.amazon.com

Bud Hannings is an expert in the field of American military history who draws upon his many years of experience, expertise, and research for "American Revolutionary War Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary", a 558-page compendium of informed and informative descriptions of the men who were essential in the fledgling nation's struggle for emancipation from England and who faced overwhelming military opposition in doing so. Covering not only the more famous and well known figures, "American Revolutionary War Leaders" provides succinct bibliographic profiles of ordinary but critically important soldiers, plantation owners, farmers, politicians, espionage agents. Figures are drown from the ranks of the Navy and Marines, the Continental Army, state militias, diplomats, governors, and others. Of special note are the biographical sketches of the women who made significant contributions to the war. Comprehensive and definitive, "American Revolutionary War Leaders" is an impressive body of scholarship and a seminal contribution that will prove to be a core acquisition for professional, academic, and community library American History reference collections in general, and American Revolutionary War supplemental reading lists in particular. Also highly recommended for American Military History collections are three of Bud Hannings previous works published by McFarland & Company: "Chronology of the American Revolution" (9780786429486, $125.00), "The Korean War: An Exhaustive Chronology" (9780786428144, $245.00), and "Forts of the United States: An Historical Dictionary, 16th Through 19th Centuries" (9780786417964, $125.00).


The Education Shelf

Assessment Live!
Nancy Steineke
Heinemann
361 Hanover Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912
9780325021775, $30.36, www.heinemann.com

Answering a test is so twentieth century. "Assessment Live!: 10 Real-Time Ways for Kids to Show What They Know - and Meet the Standards" is a guide to creating original ways for educators to educate their students and assess them through more original and creative means. Taking the book report to the next level, it suggests everything from monologues to singing as ways for students to prove mastery in a subject. "Assessment Live!" is a solid and vitally recommended read that should not be missed for the teacher who wants to challenge their students creatively.

Teaching the Moving Child
Sybil M. Berkey
Paul H Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598570649, $29.95, www.brookespublishing.com

There is nothing that bores a child more than sitting at a desk for hours. "Teaching the Moving Child: OT Insights That Will Transform Your K-3 Classroom" is a guide for educators who want to weave a bit of physical education into their lessons. Moving is fun and will get children more involved with the lessons, leading to a better educational experience all around. A solid way to add fun for elementary school students, "Teaching the Moving Child" is a read that should be considered by every primary educator.

Seven Skills for School Success
Pam Schiller
Gryphon House Book
6848 Leons Way, PO Box 10, Lewisville, NC 27023
9780876590713, $14.95, www.gryphonhouse.com

Some skills are absolutely necessary. "Seven Skills for School Success: Activities to Develop Social & Emotional Intelligence in Young Children" is a unique approach to education, saying that the most important thing for a child to learn is not a truly academic subject at all, but instead seven emotional and social skills that will prepare a child for the other tasks. Confidence, empathy, willpower, and more, "Seven Skills for School Success" comes to teachers to better help them mentor their students in what is really important.

Non-Fiction Text Structures
Gail Saunders-Smith
Maupin House
2416 NW 71st Place, Gainesville, FL 32653
9781934338384, $23.95, www.maupinhouse.com

Communicating through writing is one of the key lessons that must be learned throughout a child's school years. "Non-Fiction Text Structures for Better Comprehension and Response" is an teacher's aide for teaching students in the later elementary through middle school grades. With quick reference to the non-fiction text structures, ideas for activities and combating common problems, "Non-Fiction Text Structures" is an English teacher's best friend for the subject and should be strongly considered.

Learning To Compete In European Universities
Maureen McKelvey & Magnus Homen, eds.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848440012, $160.00, www.amazon.com

Originally bastions of state support and aristocratic sponsorship, European institutions of higher learning face market-based forces of competition in recruiting faculty and students that have compelled inexorably transformative adaptations, innovations, and evolutions in their structural complexities. "Learning to Compete in European Universities: From Social Institution to Knowledge Business" is a compilation of informed and informative articles and essays on how and why changes are occurring in European university systems as they adapt to compete with each other as they evolve from government-funded social institutions to capitalism-based 'knowledge business' models. Deftly edited by the team of Maureen McKelvey (Professor, Industrial Management, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and Magnus Holmen (Associate Professor, Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), "Learning To Compete In European Universities" is enhanced with the inclusion of numerous tables and figures and a comprehensive index, making it a seminal work of scholarship and a strongly recommended addition to academic library Educational Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Studies In Lifelong Learning In Africa
Maurice N. Amutabi & Moses O. Oketch
The Edwin Mellen Press
415 Ridge Street, Lewiston, NY 14092
www.mellenpress.com
9780773447578, $119.95, www.amazon.com

The academic concept known as 'life long learning' is a form of adult education that encourages a continual involvement in formally and informally pursued studies that can be either specific goal oriented (such as qualifying for an advanced degree) or as part of a generalized philosophy for continuous and continuing self-improvement through the acquisition of information or a better understanding of a particular academic discipline for its own intrinsic sake. In "Studies in Lifelong Learning in Africa: From Ethnic Traditions to Technological", academicians Maurice N. Amutabi (Assistant Professor of History, Central Washington University) and Moses O. Oketch (Senior Lecturer, Institute of Education, University of London) have compiled an impressive and seminal collection of contributions surveying and analyzing the concept and practice of 'life long learning' in various African nations. Particular attention is given to a variety of particularly African issues and cultural influences on the availability, forms, and forums of adult education. Enhanced with the addition of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Studies in Lifelong Learning in Africa: From Ethnic Traditions to Technological" is an informed and informative contribution that is especially recommended for academic library International Education Philosophy and African Cultural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

A Place for Wonder
Georgia Heard & Jennifer McDonough
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571104328, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com

Nonfiction can be just as wondrous as fiction for young readers, if the seeds of curiosity are planted. "A Place for Wonder: Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades" is a guide for educators who want to better help their students take an interest in science and history among other educational subjects. Wonder centers, projects, and other methods are discussed making for a solidly recommended resource that should not be ignored. "A Place for Wonder: Reading and Writing Nonfiction in the Primary Grades" is worth consideration for every primary school teacher.

Helping Kids and Teens with ADHD in School
Joanne Steer and Kate Horstmann
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843106630 $34.95 www.jkp.com

Helping Kids and Teens with ADHD in School: A Workbook for Classroom Support and Managing Transitions should be in every educator's library: it provides chapters that focus on different key issues affecting children with ADHD around the time of school transition from organization to friendships, and it provides tested strategies and tips in a photocopiable workbook format designed to help adults work collaboratively with youngsters. A 'must' for any serious educator's library.

Princeton Review
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.review.com

Eleven practice tests - 10 for the SAT and one for the PSAT - provide practices, overviews, detailed explanations for each question, and personalized score reports key to understanding the processes of each test in Princeton Review's 11 Practice Tests for the SAT & PSAT, 2010 Edition (9780375429347, $22.99). Buyers also get free access to The Princeton Review's online test center, supporting all details in the study guide. A 'must' for students and collections catering to them. Tom Meltzer and Jean Hofheimer Bennett's CRACKING THE AP U.S. HISTORY EXAM, 2010 EDITION (9780375429521, $18.99) offers practical details on the AP U.S. History Exam, covering both essay types and offering students clear strategies on how to form the best responses to both essay and multiple-choice questions. Paul Foglino's CRACKING THE AP CHEMISTRY EXAM, 2010 EDITION (9780375429163, $18.00) offers similar coverage: if it's on the AP Chemistry Exam, it's in this book - from tables and diagrams to the basics of writing great essays. The 2010 edition of Robert Franek with Tom Meltzer, et.al.'s THE BEST 371 COLLEGES (9780375429385, $22.99) is based on 122,000 student ratings and covers the top 20 colleges in 62 categories. Everything from dorms to career centers, financial aid, academics and setting are rated in extensive descriptions to help any student decide. From planning for the test to using resources, these are a top reference for any student's study collection.

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

TEACHING THE FEMALE BRAIN: HOW GIRLS LEARN MATH AND SCIENCE by Abigail Norfleet James (9781412967105, $33.95) tells how to blend brain-based research with applications to empower girls in the classroom, offering real assessments of the different ways girls and boys learn. From girls' unique sensory and emotional characteristics to instructional techniques and ways of handling girls' stress, this is a 'must' for any college education studies library. THE LITERACY GAPS by Ivannia Soto-Hinman and June Hetzel (9781412975216, $38.95) offers literacy learning strategies for English language learners, surveying methods of building bridge of support so these learners can learn alongside peers. Original research provides a resource for ELLs and SELs in the classroom and cover word recognition, background knowledge, gaps between students and peers and more. Harvey F. Silver, Elizabeth C. Reilly and Matthew J. Perini's THE THOUGHTFUL EDUCATION GUIDE TO READING FOR MEANING (9781412968393, $23.95) uses years of school experience to help every student gain the most from school reading assignments. From preparing students to better understand material to examples from different disciplines and discussions on how to gather evidence from readings to build an argument or paper, teachers will find this a winning guide. Eli R. Johnson's ACADEMIC LANGUAGE! ACADEMIC LITERACY! A GUIDE FOR K-12 EDUCATORS (9781412971331, $28.95) packs in 36 strategies in a research guide to help teachers make connections between academic language, literacy and student achievement. Strategies explain how to give students the tools and skills needed to understand academic language, offering descriptions and collaborative protocols to help with academic language in different disciplines. Word lists for different grade levels blend with clear instructions to make for an excellent guide. Ted H. Hall, Don S. Balka and Ruth Harbin Miles' A GUIDE TO MATHEMATICS COACHING (9781412972642, $28.95) provides a powerful analysis of coaching relationships and basic principles established to NCTM and NCSM. Its three-part process for teachers of math offers reviews of collaboration procedures, building trust with resistant teachers, and supporting both individual and institutional change processes. David S. Sousa's HOW THE GIFTED BRAIN LEARNS (9781412971737, $38.95) offers an updated second edition of a best-seller applying the latest neuroscientific findings on how the mind learns. From how brains of gifted students differ and how to gauge if gifted students are being well challenged to identifying the gifted, this comes packed with insights any teacher needs. Susan Villani's COMPREHENSIVE MENTORING PROGRAMS FOR NEW TEACHERS: MODELS OF INDUCTION AND SUPPORT (9781412966139, $35.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide a guide on the importance of mentoring to teachers. From district programs and state programs already in place to program costs, funding, and support for mentors, this builds plenty of key insights for any interested in mentoring programs. Richard A. Lougy, Silvia L. DeRuvo and David Rosenthal, MD's THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR'S GUIDE TO ADHD: WHAT TO KNOW AND DO TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS (9781412966535, $31.95) packs in the latest research and facts to help students with ADHD, offering school counselors a review of symptoms, causes, and the latest details on brain function. From collaborative student interventions to communicating with parents and understanding common ADHD medications and their effects, this is a key reference any school counselor should have. Sheryl G. Feinstein's SECRETS OF THE TEENAGE BRAIN (9781412962674, $32.95) is organized around specific areas of teen development and offers new instructional strategies that can be modified and adapted to various content areas. From the latest facts and research to strategies for issues such as ADHD and aggression, this is packed with educational paths and ideas. Susan Entz's PICTURE THIS: PHOTOGRAPHY ACTIVITIES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING (9781412971294, $30.95) appears in its second updated edition to explore the photography options now available for enriching early childhood instruction. Illustrations and an easy, flowing text accompany a simple review of activities across 10 subject areas and offer objectives descriptions, and keys to both individual and group instructional approaches. Nathan L. Essex's THE 200 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED LEGAL QUESTIONS FOR EDUCATORS (9781412965774, $38.95) is one of the most essential books a college-level education collection can contain. It provides a jargon-free reference of some 200 common legal issues for school administrators and teachers, discussing court cases, legal references, and more. Lynne Schrum and Barbara B. Levin's LEADING 21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS: HARNESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR ENGAGEMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT (9781412972956, $33.95) tells how to create a tech-savvy school in keeping with the newly updated NETS-A standards. From ethical and legal considerations to recommended activities and resources, this packs in 21st century skills from creating wikis and blogs to social networking. Top picks for any education library.

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

NUMBER SENSE AND NUMBER NONSENSE: UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF LEARNING MATH by Nancy Krasa and Sara Shukwiler (9781598570205, $29.95) reviews all the techniques and challenges of teaching math to kids and understanding points where they struggle. Clinical psychologist Nancy Krasa teams with a middle-school math teacher Sara Shunkwiler to provide a powerful collection blending research findings, classroom teachings, and student case histories. Miriam Balmuth's THE ROOTS OF PHONICS: A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION (9781598570366, $29.95) appears in a revised edition to provide a fine phonics history. It provides a broad perspective and focuses on language acquisition in reading and the history of reading instruction as a whole. A 'must' for any educator's library.


The Hobby Shelf

Building and Detailing Model Aircraft
Pat Hawkey
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890247235, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

The model airplane is a hobby in which isn't just for kids anymore. "Building and Detailing Model Aircraft" is an introductory guide for those who want to enter the world of model aircraft construction. With plenty of advice on making one's model more realistic as well as the minor details that often leave people baffled in how to improve the quality of their work, Pat Hawkey brings his love of the hobby and offers much advice. "Building and Detailing Model Aircraft' is an absolute must for any trying to get into the hobby or improve their skill.


The Business Shelf

Yahoo! Income
Dana E. Blozis and Sharon L. Cohen
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
9781601382542, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

YAHOO! INCOME; HOW ANYONE OF ANY AGE, LOCATION, AND/OR BACKGROUND CAN BUILD A HIGHLY PROFITABLE ONLINE BUSINESS WITH YAHOO is a pick for any who would use Yahoo's features to run a business. Examples and anecdotes from real-world Yahoo entrepreneurs pack a simple review of his it works and how to create, manage and promote a business through Yahoo. A fine business pick for any new to the idea.

Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture
Ellen Ruppel Shell
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202155, $25.95 www.penguin.com

There's a cost for the American interest in making and buying things as cheaply as possible - and this obsession has resulted in a dangerously unstable business climate where goals and low prices conflict. Ellen Shell provides a survey of the birth of bargain hunting and how it's changed over the decades, offering a running history of establishments built on notions of price value and those suffering from it. From the lasting impact of the big box chain store to climbing debt, this provides a powerful survey.

Be the Hero
Noah Blumenthal
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605090009, $19.95 www.bkconnection.com

BE THE HERO: THREE POWERFUL WAYS TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES IN WORK AND LIFE shows readers how to take charge of lives and careers, providing hero stories as examples of how to thwart the 'victim' mentality. Alternatives to inertia and despair are offered through case history example, with strong resources at the end of the book including manager tip sheets, smart cards, and more.

How to Save a Failing Project
Ralph R. Young, et al.
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike, #800, Vienna, VA 22182
www.managementconcepts.com
9781567262391, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Poor project results are common and result in unhappy customers and users alike: that's why How to Save a Failing Project: Chaos to Control, the collaborative effort of Ralph R. Young, Steven M. Brady, Dennis C. Nagle, Jr., is key for any project where project managers want to assure success. Ralph Young has led projects in local government and management information systems, and has written four books on requirements engineering: others have worked extensively on project teams. The basics of what differentiates success from failure and key tipping points along the way make this a powerful pick for any business library.

PMP In Depth, second edition
Dr. Paul Sanghera, PMP
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
159863996X, $54.99 www.courseptr.com

The second updated edition of PMP IN DEPTH offers a complete practice exam and its objective is to help students pass the Project Management Professional exam offered by the PMI institute. It hones in on exam objectives, offers chapters in logical learning sequences, and offers study checkpoints for comprehension, notes for additional helpful material, and more.

Marketing Illustration
Steven Heller and Marshall Arisman, Editors
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156577, $24.95 www.allworth.com

MARKETING ILLUSTRATION; NEW VENUES, NEW STYLES, NEW METHODS discusses the basics of launching and promoting an illustration career in today's market. Interviews and work samples from over 70 working illustrators do more than just explain business practice: they chart trends and techniques based on new technology and practices and provides professional experience with daily challenges, making this a 'must' for both business and arts libraries.

Just Listen
Mark Goulston
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814414036, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

JUST LISTEN: DISCOVER THE SECRET TO GETTING THROUGH TO ABSOLUTELY ANYONE shares the author's communication techniques and the secret to more effective communication. From studies on how the brain switches from 'no' to 'yes' responses to how to talk at a higher brain level for better positive results, JUST LISTEN is a guide no business library should be without.

Who's Your Gladys
Marilyn Suttle and Lori Jo Vest
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814414397, $22.95 www.amacombooks.org

WHO'S YOUR GLADYS: HOW TO TURN EVEN THE MOST DIFFICULT CUSTOMER INTO YOUR BIGGEST FAN shows business readers how to create excellent customer service, using a cranky 87-year-old woman as an example of how adversity can change to support. The basics on how to create a company culture that values strong relationships with its customers makes this a powerful pick for any serious business library.

The Biker's Guide to Business
Dwain DeVille
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470481202, $24.95, www.wiley.com

The dry cleaned pants, the double windsor tie, the bugs in your teeth. "The Biker's Guide to Business: When Business And Life Meet At the Crossroads" is a guide to understanding the intersection of biking and business, two things that would not seem to draw comparisons at first glance. Taking the wisdom of the road and applying it to the world of business, author Dwain DeVille draws many parallels which will prove of much worth for the man who wants to tear up the board rooms like he tears up the road. "The Biker's Guide to Business" is an original and unique take on business that many will find highly attractive.

Google Bomb
John W. Dozier & Sue Scheff
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S. W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
9780757314155, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com

The internet is very powerful tool, for promoting (or defrauding!) your business. "Google Bomb: The Untold Story of the $11.3M Verdict That Changed the Way We Use the Internet" is a guide for companies who want to defend themselves on the internet, be it against scams, smear campaigns, and cyber crime. "Google Bomb" is an excellent guide to one's legal rights on the internet (an entity which has very little regulation - but the regulation that is there can be used to protect one's rights). An enlightening and highly important read for any company that wants to prepare its internet defenses.

Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing
George Cloutier
Harper Business
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
Planned Television Arts (publicity)
1110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022
9780061832857, $24.99, www.harpercollins.com

If you aren't making money, why are you wasting your time? "Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru" is a blunt, frank business guide for small businesses that uses harsh truths to point out the flaws in businesses. Sure to shock and intrigue with some of its recommendations, George Cloutier's methods are proven and his wisdom is sound. "Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing" is a must for small businesses who want to succeed no matter what.

Dive In
Nadine O. Vogel
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780980174588, $32.00, www.paramountbooks.com

Special needs does not mean worthless. "Dive In: Springboard into the Profitability, Productivity, and Potential of the Special Needs Workforce" is a guide to hiring the disabled and using them to their fullest as employees and workers. These employees still have high potential for companies if the company is smart, and it can have high value for both employer and employee. "Dive In" is a must read for any company who wants to best understand the special needs workforce.

Manage Your Project Portfolio
Johanna Rothman
Pragmatic Bookshelf
c/o O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781934356296, $32.95, www.pragprog.com

So much to do, no idea how to do it. "Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects" is a business guide aimed at helping managers figure out what is truly important for their business and to encourage them to strong emphasize the important projects over the more dead end ones. Giving advice to figure out the difference between the two and how to make something that's gold even brighter, "Manage Your Project Portfolio" is a strongly recommended read for any business that has to budget time - which is almost all of them.

Harboring Data
Andrea M. Matwyshyn
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804760089, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Information is the basis for economic activity. Corporations hold information in a variety of forms ranging from patents to demographics. In this modern age of the internet, companies must take special care to keep their proprietary information secure from theft and corruption if they are to remain viability competitive in today's volatile and global marketplace. That's why "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" is such a timely and essential compendium of informed and informative contributions on corporate information security and protecting it within the framework of corporate law, policies and practices as the invaluable corporate asset that it is. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Andrea M. Matwyshyn (Assistant Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania), "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" provides a series of thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions by experts and academicians on the nature of information; U.S. corporate security regulations and security issues germane to health care data, financial data, and children's data; information security within a legal framework that includes software licensing and social networking. Enhanced with copious notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Harboring Data: Information Security, Law, and the Corporation" is an essential and core addition to Business School and Law School reference libraries, as well as critically important reading for anyone charged with the security of their company's informational assets.


The Photography Shelf

101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs
Matthew Bamberg
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781435454378, $29.99, www.amazon.com

With the invention of digital photography, the era of cameras requiring film cartridges came to a close, a casualty of the progress of technology. Now there is "101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs" by digital photography expert Matthew Bamberg. This is a 208-page, thoroughly 'user friendly', informed and informative instruction manual for making the most out of digital photographs in terms of taking them, manipulating and managing the images, publishing and sharing those images, and utilizing free downloadable software programs, free online web sites resources, and so much more. From selecting the right paper for hard copy prints, to selecting the best tools, to organizing a pictorial portfolio, "101 Quick And Easy Secrets For Using Your Digital Photographs" is an ideal choice for the novice, and has a great deal of enduring value for the more experienced digital photographer as well, making it a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library photography reference collections.

Kilimanjaro
Michel Moushabeck
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567534, $20.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

One of the tallest peaks in the world Kilimanjaro is not something to be underestimated. "Kilimanjaro: A Photographic Journey to the Roof of Africa" is a story peppered with photos of a typical journey to the peak of the mountain, exceptional in that scaling it is not a particularly difficult thing but still an enthralling experience nonetheless. With much for mind and eye to savor, "Kilimanjaro: A Photographic Journey to the Roof of Africa" serves well as a coffee table book or an informative text on the mountain, highly recommended.

Miramichi
Brian Atkinson
Goose Lane Editions
Suite 330, 500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton, NB Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864925350, $29.95, www.gooselane.com

A unique river brings together unique people. "Miramichi: River of Character" is a combination book of photography and cultural snap shot of the Miramichi River, a major River in New Brunswick, and the people around the river who call it home. A fascinating look at these dauntless people whose development was shaped by the unique river with multiple points of origin, "Miramichi: River of Character" is a fine book of photography for anyone who wants to better understand how people do things differently around the world.

Horses in Living Color
Barbara D. Livingston
Eclipse Press
3102 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581502176 $29.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-866-2361

Horses in Living Color is an astonishingly beautiful coffee-table book of full color photography capturing all manner of equines at their finest. Some images have brief text captions; others simply speak for themselves. From show horses to work horses to wild horses, a vast diversity of breeds are portrayed; all are vividly beautiful. Some of the most striking photographs portray horses in mid-gallop, but others show them browsing among wild flowers, displaying their regalia in a show, or simply doing an honest day's work. Horses in Living Color truly lives up to its title, and is an exquisite gift book for anyone who fancies these intelligent and energetic creatures. Highly recommended.

Florida Cowboys
Carlton Ward Jr.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
www.upf.com
9780813034089, $5.00, www.amazon.com

When the subject of cattle ranching and cowboys comes up, it's usually within the context of the American West. What is not readily evident to most people is that working cattle ranches are a significant factor in Florida's economic well-being and that every day contemporary Floridian cowboys saddle up their horses or fire up their trucks and ride out to care for their herds on over 15,000 ranches where are to be found almost two million head of cattle - representing the unbroken continuation of one of the longest histories of cattle ranching found anywhere in America. Now that legacy in its contemporary setting has been superbly captured on film by Floridian photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr. And published in full color with informative captions as "Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier", a 256-page compendium of memorable images in celebration of Florida cowboys, and all the aspects of who they are and their enduring way of life. Enhanced with the inclusion of twenty informed and informative essays, "Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier" is a highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Regional American History reference collections in general, and Florida History supplemental reading lists in particular.

100 New York Photographers
Cynthia Maris Dantzic
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764333408, $59.99, www.amazon.com

From the invention of the photographic process, down to the present day, New York based photographers have been at the forefront of professional photography in all its diverse categories ranging from portraiture to journalistic to visual art. Now in "100 New York Photographers", Cynthia Maris Dantzic (Professor of Art, Long Island University, New York) has compiled a superbly illustrated, informed and informative history of significant New York photographers whose professional contributions over the past seven decades begin with Rebecca Lepkoff's 1937 Lower East Side 'slice of life' images, to Lucian Read's 2008 Baghdad war photos. In addition to an impressive roster of iconic men and women ranging form Annie Leibovitz and David Gahr, "100 New York Photographers" also showcases a host of lesser known but impressively talented photographers. Of special note are note only the images showcased, but experimental, digital, and film techniques that have been employed in the service of 'the perfect picture'. "100 New York Photographers" is superbly organized and presented, making it a clear and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library photography reference collections.

Beyond The Glamour Photograph
Jack Watson & Andy McFarland
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781601383914, $44.95, www.amazon.com

There is more to taking a picture of a swimsuit model or a beautiful girl in a negligee that just clicking the camera. Glamour photography is a special kind of photography that professional photographers Jack Watson and Andy McFarland have long mastered. Enhanced with an accompany instructional DVD, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph: How to Get Started and Be Successful as a Boudoir, Glamour, and Swimsuit Photographer" is an ideal and profusely illustrated instruction manual that covers more than just the mechanics of taking a good shot, but also provides insider explanations of the glamour photography industry from recruiting models to selling the photos. From wardrobe considerations, to make-up artists and hair stylists, to legal issues, to operating on limited budgets, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph" fully covers all aspects of the glamour photography business. A thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual, "Beyond The Glamour Photograph" is an essential reference for anyone aspiring to make a career in this specialized field of photography.

Road Show
Eric Dregni & Ruthann Godollei
Speck Press
c/o Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781933108179, $22.95, www.speckpress.com

Expression is not bound by rules and ignoring these rules is a way of life for some. "Road Show: Art Cars and the Museum of the Streets" is a unique book discussing cars and how they have become a medium of artistic expression all their own. Discussing the history of the automobile and its evolution, authors Eric Dregni & Ruthann Godollei provide much in the way of intriguing thoughts and show many examples of people using their vehicle to say their message. "Road Show" is a must for those who have a shared appreciation for the automobile and modern art.

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com

Three outstanding photography guide are top picks for any photographer's reference collection, blending color photo examples throughout with fine discussions of professional techniques. Kirk Tuck's COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY HANDBOOK: BUSINESS TECHNIQUES FOR PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584282600, $34.95) provides a history of commercial photography and discussions of licensing fees, pricing, legal aspects of commercial photography, and more. Everything from stock photos to marketing and developing a portfolio provide all the basics for those who would enter the commercial realm. Peter Bilous' BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO PHOTOGRAPHING NUDES (9781584282631, $34.95) provides insights into general nude photography, from locating models and creating nude images with all kinds of models to creating a plan for each session and posing a model. Mark Chen's CREATIVE WEDDING ALBUM DESIGN WITH ADOBE PHOTOSHOP (9781584282617, $34.95) packs in techniques for professional digital photographers who would understand how to put together a complete wedding album. From working with layer masks and adding creative enhancements with channels and color balancing with Levels to applying filters and gradients, this is a 'must' for any serious wedding photographer and for libraries catering to them.

Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com

Susan Ruddick Bloom's DIGITAL PAINTING IN PHOTOSHOP (9780240811147, $39.95) is a 'must' reference for any serious photography collection: it surveys a lesser-covered capability of the Photoshop program and provides keys to re-interpreting, not just re-touching, photos. Chapters show how to use the most basic of Photoshop's tools to create artistic styles and lovely illustrations from photos. Packed with color photo examples, this is a winner. Also winning is the fourth updated edition of Eric Renner's PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY FROM HISTORIC TECHNIQUE TO DIGITAL APPLICATION (9780240810478, $44.95), which covers all aspects of pinhole photography from science to the latest digital techniques. From a beginner's introduction to pinhole cameras to expanded information and zone plate practices for more advanced users, this is packed with color photos of the latest, most original pinhole results.

Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, Personal Style
Alain Briot
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission St., Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2432
9781933952222, $44.95 www.rockynook.com

Mastering Photographic Composition, Creativity, Personal Style examines the idea of a photographer's personality and how that is linked to a photo's style. It follows artistic concepts that have rarely been associated with photography, follows his first book MASTERING LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY, and is packed with different rules of photo composition based on his personal experiences as an artist and teacher. Any photographer serious about self-growth and mastering a different formula for fine art composition will find this a 'must'.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Duane Vandenbusche
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com
0738569194, $21.99, www.amazon.com

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison offers a fine photographic history of one of the deepest, most inaccessible canyons in the U.S.: a 53-mile gorge in Gunnison and Montrose Counties. History professor author Duane Vandenbusche has written six books on the Gunnison country: this packs in images and history in an outstanding survey recommended for any collection strong in U.S. parks history or Colorado history.


The Art Shelf

Painting Realistic Wildlife in Acrylic
William Silvers
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1600611354, $26.99 www.artistsnetwork.com

Master artist William Silvers shares his techniques for capturing nature in a guide presenting his 'whole painting' approach using multiple acrylic washes. Fifteen demonstrations illustrate key acrylic techniques and how to use them while another 15 step-by-step demonstrations show how to work with a range of animals from birds to beasts. Painting examples are accompanied by a facing page of instruction making for a top pick for any serious basic painting library.

Art Revolution
Lisa L. Cyr
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 E. Galbraith, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1600611494, $26.99 www.mycraftivity.com

ART REVOLUTION: ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR FINE ARTISTS AND ILLUSTRATORS comes packed with surveys of innovations and examinations of the artistic process and approaches to the basic methodology in which these approaches work. From emotionally-driven artistic productions exploring facades and cross-cultural experiences to ways artists grow, change tone and style, and develop revolutionary approaches, ART REVOLUTION is for any practicing fine artist or illustrator and is a top pick for any arts or crafts collection.

David Park, Painter: Nothing Held Back
Helen Park Bigelow
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953201, $60.00 www.hudsonhills.com

A half century since his death painter David Park is widely recognized as one of America's most important 20th century painters. David Park, Painter: Nothing Held Back celebrates his life and art, is written by his younger daughter, and provides a survey of her father's life, early death, and painting contributions. It blends memoir with history about life in the bay Area just before and after World war II, supplementing these insights with full-page color reproductions of selected Park works. A 'must' for any serious American painting history collection.

Water Lilies
Claude Monet
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019-5497
9780870707742, $12.95, www.moma.org

The best of one's fame often comes when you can no longer claim it. "Water Lilies" is a collection of artwork from now acclaimed artist Claude Monet, with text from Ann Temkin and Nora Lawrence explaining the importance of his work. A painter who did Abstract Expressionism decades before it caught on, Monet's work has influenced generations. Any with a love for art or art history would do well to check out "Water Lilies".

Flying The Colors
Alan Granby & Janice Hyland
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2, Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953515, $125.00, www.amazon.com

America has a long and distinguished history of notable marine art and artists such as James Buttersworth, Robert Salmon, and Fitz Henry Lane, whose special genius was to put down on canvas truly memorable representations of such marine themes as the sailing ships and yachts that plied oceanic waters. Often some of the best of these paintings have not been readily accessible to the general public. Now a compendium of those marvelous paintings have been compiled in "Flying The Colors: The Unseen Treasures Of Nineteenth-Century American Marine Art" by the team of Alan Granby and Janice Hyland. Beautiful images flawless reproduced in full color are enhanced with an informative essay by Stuart M. Frank. Readers are also provided with succinct biographical descriptions of the artists whose works are represented. The result is a coffee-table art book that is a pure delight to browse through and which is unrestrainedly recommended for personal, academic, and community library American Art History reference collections.

The Book of Inkscape
Dmitry Kirsanov
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271817, $44.95, www.nostarch.com

Professional graphics are a key to a good presentation. "The Book of Inkscape: The Definitive Guide to the Free Graphics Editor" is the manual that the program does not have, giving a complete and comprehensive computer lesson in better understanding this famed graphics program which is as capable as any professional program worth hundreds of dollars. Covering the many steps of the artistic process to turn one's scribbling into professional art work, worthy of million dollar corporations. "The Book of Inkscape" is an absolute must for anyone trying to master the program for professional use.

The Artist's Eyes
Michael F. Marmor & James G. Ravin
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780810948495, $40.00, www.amazon.com

In "The Artist's Eyes: Vision and the History of Art", Michael Marmor (a professor on the faculty of the Stanford School of Medicine and an acknowledged expert in retinal physiology and disease) has teamed up with opthamologist James Ravin to produce a unique approach and perspective on the role of vision and eye disease in the creation of art and the perceptions of the artists. Examining art history through the framework of the biology of human vision, "The Artist's Eyes" is organized into informed and informative chapters dealing with the eye as an optical instrument, coding and contrast, color and its limitations, perspective and illusion, the 'aging eye', external eye disease, as well as cataract and glaucoma, retinal disease. Of special note is the concluding chapter 'The Artist's View' focusing upon the work of Degas and Monet with respect to stimulating vision. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "The Artist's Eyes" is profusely illustrated with 175 full-color illustrations. The result is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to academic and community Art History reference collections, as well as supplemental reading lists for art students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in art, artists, and art history.

Frammenti Della Vita
Jefferson D. Rubin
Fresco Fine Art Publishing
9812 Admiral Nimitz NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
www.frescobooks.com
9781934491140, $60.00, www.amazon.com

A Colorado artist and sculptor who studied in Italy and the United States, Jefferson D. Rubin went on to found and direct the La Scuola Classical Sculpture School in Denver. His work is prized by private collectors and has been on display in numerous museums and galleries both at home and abroad. His life and career ended at the age of 36, the result of a mountain accident in 1995. That was when the "Jefferson D. Rubin Memorial Fund" was established to promote and perpetuate the concept of idealism with respect to the human form in classic and contemporary sculpture with which he was so closely associated. His work and his contributions are showcased in "Frammenti Della Vita: The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin", a 143-page compendium featuring 75 color plates and enhanced with an informative introduction by Marian Granfield, as well as a personal anecdotal reminisce by Marcello Giorgi, a colleague whose very close friendship with Rubin began in Italy and continued when he accepted a post teaching mold-making at Rubin's Denver based school of sculpture. "Frammenti Della Vita: The Art and Writings of Jefferson D. Rubin" is a very strongly recommended and core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library 20th Century American Art history reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Insomnia Workbook
Stephanie A. Silberman
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246355, $21.95, www.newharbinger.com

A good night's sleep sets the way for a better day ahead. "The Insomnia Workbook: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Sleep You Need" is a solid guide to combating insomnia. Suggesting therapies and strategies from fully evaluating one's sleeping habits to understanding what may be causing one's problem, author Stephanie Silberman gives readers a fairly comprehensive toolkit that should not be missed by those fighting to get a good night's rest. "The Insomnia Workbook" is a fine and highly recommended health manual that executes its goal well.

Men's Health Concerns Sourcebook, third edition
Sandra J. Judd, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231-1640
9780780810334, $93.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The third updated edition of MEN'S HEALTH CONCERNS SOURCEBOOK provides the latest details on the health conditions of most importance to men. It includes guidelines for wellness, facts about screenings and checkups, and the latest details on sexual dysfunction and disorders. A glossary of terms and discussions of problems specific to males makes this an outstanding guide for health and general lending libraries alike.

Born Round
Frank Bruni
Penguin Press
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9781594202315, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Author Frank Bruni was working as a bureau chief for the New York Times in Rome when he was called upon to become a restaurant critic - job that challenged him to not become fat again. This story of his struggle with food and weight (and with a new job that required him to taste food as a profession) makes for a fine memoir and is a top pick for health and culinary libraries alike.

50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life and the 50 Diabetes Truths That Can Save It
Riva Greenberg
DaCapo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213200, $14.95 www.dacapopress.com

There's a deluge of misinformation on the market about diabetes. Author Riva Greenberg - also a patient - separates myth from truth in "50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life and the 50 Diabetes Truths That Can Save It", a fine survey identifying the fifty most common popular diabetes myths and the realities. Interviews with experts in diabetes care accompany details on not just myths, but how to use real information to manage the condition and live a longer, healthier life.

Bodies in Doubt
Elizabeth Reis
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801891558, $55.00 www.press.jhu.edu

What does it mean to be human? Humanity incorporates physical and cultural sexuality - yet not all bodies are clearly male or female. BODIES IN DOUBT: AN AMERICAN HISTORY OF INTERSEX offers a historical, cultural, social and medical survey of intersex in America from early to modern times and argues that medical practice cannot exist outside of broader cultural influences. This history of how Americans have handled ambiguous bodies and changing criteria for judging proves it - and is key to any health collection.

Understanding Care Homes
Katherine Froggatt, et.al., Editors
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843105534 $34.95 www.jkp.com

UNDERSTANDING CARE HOMES: A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE offers a survey on how research and development can provide better care home environments. From wider community involvement to concerns of residents and staff managers alike, UNDERSTANDING CARE HOMES ties care home routines and perspectives into a bigger picture, making this a 'must' for any health library.

The Malpractice Cure
Edward D. McCarthy, Esq.
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor, New York NY 10006
9781427799593, $26.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com

THE MALPRACTICE CURE: HOW TO AVOID THE LEGAL MISTAKES THAT DOCTORS MAKE explains the habits of doctors and their office policies that most patients ignore - and offers issues on staffing, systems management, and good communications that keep a physician from court. Practical advice for medical people consider everything from hospital settings and experiences to peer review processes and common healthcare concerns. A 'must' for any medical library concerned with legal best practices.

The Real Truth About Aging
Neil Shulman, MD, et.al.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027195, $21.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT AGING; A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS teaches how to navigate the healthcare system, learning what new approaches and research affect quality of life, how to understand the latest research results, and how to prevent common injuries that affect one's life. From basic facts on the aging process to chapters on preventative medical testing, this is an essential acquisition.

The Big Necessity
Rose George
Henry Holt
5th Ave., New York NY 10010
0805090835, $15.00 www.henryholt.com

THE BIG NECESSITY: THE UNMENTIONABLE WORLD OF HUMAN WASTE AND WHY IT MATTERS delve into the history and consideration of human waste products and the growing stress on sewage systems that is creating what will become a crisis. Rose George examines the sewers and systems of London, Paris and New York to consider where their issues are and how they may fail, pairing a history with a fine social observation of waste products and management. Any general lending library and many a health collection needs this assessment.

Food, Inc.
Karl Weber, Editor
Public Affairs
250 W. 57th St., New York NY 10107
9781586486945, $14.95 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

FOOD, INC: A PARTICIPANT MEDIA GUIDE offers a survey of how industrial food is making us sicker and poorer - and what can be done about it. This is a new kind of film tie-in book that goes behind the scenes of the 2009 documentary to probe resources and advice on how consumers can take action around food issues, expanding on the film's themes and offering a truly complimentary survey. Highly recommended for any library interested in health and food connections.

The Metabolism Miracle
Diane Kress, RD, CDE
Da Capo/Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
2300 Chestnut #200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780738212777, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

THE METABOLISM MIRACLE: 3 EASY STEPS TO REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR WEIGHT PERMANENTLY discusses the phenomenon of Metabolism B, an inherited condition that causes the body to over process carbohydrate foods into excess body fat. The author is a registered dietician who has helped thousands with the syndrome to lose weight: her survey uses the latest research and her own experience to develop a plan to thwart it. General-interest collections will find this a winner.

No Act of Love is Ever Wasted
Jane Marie Thibault & Richard L. Morgan
Upper Room Books
1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37312
9780835899956, $16.00, www.upperroom.org

Dementia is truly a cruel ailment. "No Act of Love is Ever Wasted: The Spirituality of Caring for Persons with Dementia"is a spiritual guide for those charged with providing care to a loved one, patient, or friend faced with dementia. Arming readers with information, it's a guide that discusses the spiritual aspect for both caretaker and afflicted. "No Act of Love is Ever Wasted" is a read to be considered for any religious or spiritual person curious about dementia.

Gifts 2
Kathryn Lynard Soper
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627966, $19.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

'Differently abled', children with Down Syndrome can still provide a positive impact on the world. "Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World" is a collection of essays from family, friends, educators, and more about how they have become better people as a whole through their interactions with people with Down Syndrome. An uplifting read for parents, "Gifts 2" is a solid and recommended read for any who doubt the abilities of those with Down Syndrome to impact the world.

Professionalism In Medicine
John Spandorfer, et al.
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9780521879323, $80.00, www.amazon.com

The successful practice of medicine requires more than a body of knowledge, it also requires a code of conduct. That's why "Professionalism In Medicine: A Case-Based Guide For Medical Students" should be a core component of all medical school curriculums. Compiled and edited by the team of John Spandorfer (Associate Professor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College), Charles A. Pohl (Professor of Pediatrics, Jefferson Medical College), Susan L. Rattner (Professor Medicine and Family and Community Medicine, Jefferson Medical College), and Thomas J. Nasca (Professor of Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medicine (Jefferson Medical College), "Professionalism In Medicine" is a compilation of seventy-two illustrative cases helping the reader appreciate and benefit from real-life professional dilemmas commonly encountered by medical students and practicing physicians in a variety of medical specialties. The contributors are drawn from forty-six medical schools and institutions and include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, medical social workers, health care administrators, and patient advocates. A superbly organized and expertly presented body of commentary that is as thoughtful and it is thought-provoking, "Professionalism In Medicine" is an essential addition to personal, professional, medical school, and academic library Health & Medicine reference collections.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Spiritual Boredom
Erica Brown
Jewish Lights Publishing
Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580234054, $21.99, www.jewishlights.com

The quickest way to lose one's faith is for it to lose its wonder. "Spiritual Boredom: Rediscovering the Wonder of Judaism" is a spiritual guide for combating the most unsuspecting problem of the modern era for many Jews - boredom with one's faith. Humanity has an innate desire for change and newness, but how does one keep one's faith when their religion and synagogue life seems so stagnant? Discussing these questions and offering probable solutions, Erica Brown presents an intriguing dissection of this unique problem. "Spiritual Boredom" is a solid and enthusiastically recommended read for both tired Jews and Judaic leaders.

Yom Kippur in Amsterdam
Maxim D. Shrayer
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
0815609183, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Culture barriers stop many people from doing many things. "Yom Kippur in Amsterdam" is a collection of short stories from Maxim D. Shrayer, his collection focusing on culture clash and the people who dare to try to overcome it. With simple prose and fascinating characters, and a positive message, "Yom Kippur in Amsterdam" is a fine collection of short stories which does not deserve to be ignored.

Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home
Kim Chernin
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556438202, $14.95, www.amazon.com

For most of human history, Jews found themselves being exiled after being exiled. "Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home" tells the story of how modern Israel, centuries after being people exiled from place to place may be forcing Palestinians into predicaments that are not dissimilar to their own. An honest and up-front discussion of the impacts of Zionism, "Everywhere a Guest, Nowhere at Home" is a fine guide to knowing the roots of the Israeli/Palestinian conflicts.


The Poetry Shelf

Lovely Legs
Jean O'Brien
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780956128720, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

It takes a heavy mind to make light of the severe. "Lovely Legs" is a collection of poetry from Jean O'Brien reflecting on her own experiences and what she has learned. Exploring human nature and drawing many intriguing conclusions through verse, "Lovely Legs" is an excellent collection and choice pick. "Strawberry Feast": I love the red lusciousness/of the strawberry feast,/dipping them into sugar/their tart sweetness/a treat for my lips,/their plump roundness/rolls on my tongue./juice smears my cheek/I bite deep.

Days Like This Are Necessary
Walter Bargen
BkMk Press
c/o University of Missouri - Kansas City
5101 Rockhill, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157705, $15.95, www.umkc.edu/bkmk

You only get better with experience. "Days Like This Are Necessary" is a collection of poetry from Walter Bargen, the first Poet Laureate of Missouri. Drawing on a long catalog of poetry, he presents a fine blend of new work and work from his past leading to an excellent book of poetry. "Days Like This Are Necessary" is an excellent collection that should not be missed. "Handmade Table": It's midnight; the lights/are off. Hands glow/in their own concentration//like someone else's gloves,/thin and old, the wrong size,/and out of style.//They shake in the only/world they know./On a scratched oak table//two hands are folded;/the right cupping the left,/the left tight as a fist.

The Ravenous Audience
Kate Durbin
Black Goat
c/o Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781933354880, $15.95, www.akashicbooks.com

Some people take their feminism in another direction - and Kate Durbin is one of those people. "The Ravenous Audience" is her collection of poetry offering her own unique view of feminism which is in no way pretty. A truly unique read, "The Ravenous Audience" is a must read for any poetry fan who wants discussion of current events. "Silence": I thought I heard a plane. F began to scream. He screamed until I/slapped him and his head snapped back. By then, the sound was/ gone.//G, was that you?//Come back.

Beauty Breaks In
Mary Ann Samyn
New Issues Poetry & Prose
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974876, $15.00, www.wmich.edu

With four previous volumes, Mary Ann Samyn brings readers another fine collection with "Beauty Breaks In", discussing the natural tumultuous state of life and what many hold dear. "Beauty Breaks In" is an undeniably worthy pick for poetry fans. "Bank On It": No Wait - I told the story.//Then start it, by God.//(Hello?) (Cashier?)//I shimmied up.//I'm in this pattern now.//Put my forms in the slot.//Dinner almost every night.//What more do you want.//Whatever you resist, persists,/said everyone famously.

Domestic Fugues
Richard Newman
Steel Toe Books
c/o West Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd. #11086, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1086
9780982416914, $12.00

The little frustrations in life have to be vented somewhere. "Domestic Fugues" is a collection of poems from Richard Newman. Focusing on the domestic life and the challenges and agitations that one faces throughout it, he crafts a unique brand poetry that is worth the read. "Domestic Fugues" is of interest to anyone looking for fine poetry, highly recommended. "Matchbook Song": A spark can burn the whole house down,/a match could raze a city block./A book will set the whole damn town/in flames as fast as talk.//A drop could drown a butterfly,/a cup could drown a basement mouse./Rain from an early April sky/steams off the roof of our house.

A Gleam in the Eye
Louis Daniel Brodsky
Time Being Books
10411 Clayton Road, Suites 201-203, Saint Louis, MO 63131
9781568091273, $15.95, www.timebeing.com

Parenthood is something truly magical and unique. "A Gleam in the Eye: Volume One of the Seasons of Youth" is a collection of poetry from a father through the toughest and most intriguing part of fatherhood - the first few months which lead him to the rough feeling of being responsible for another. An intriguing take of poetry, "A Gleam in the Eye" will warm the hearts of many parents. "Our Song": How can music/Be so churchly serene/That it makes me kneel/On cold stone floors and weep?/The song I hear/Is my wife and child/Lying together, both asleep./Each breath they share/Releases a sweet note/Scored by me,/Devotedly,/As I tiptoe from our bedroom,/To keep from waking them./All afternoon,/My eyes hymn our melody.

Apocalyptic Swing
Gabrielle Calvocoressi
Persea Books
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9780892553532, $22.95, www.perseabooks.com

What's a punch in the face? "Apocalyptic Swing" is a collection of poetry from Gabrielle Calvocoressi which focuses on the tenacity of the human spirit. Set in many locations with a major nod to the world of boxing, "Apocalyptic Swing" is a moving and intriguing collection of poetry which should not be ignored. "Dear Elvis, How She Did It and When and What Music": Who Knows? Not me, sitting in the dark classroom./Lincoln was president. He was president onscreen./That's all that mattered to me, a light in dark/rooms, a voice filling the night as I lay awake/and rats scratched in the walls. This was before/I learned to move my hips./When I just lay there and thought I was dreaming./When the rooms spun like roller-rink lights and I prayed you would come.

A Tiara for the Twentieth Century
Suzanne Richardson Harvey
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744890, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

Everything matters to someone, someway. "A Tiara for the Twentieth Century"is a collection of poems from Suzanne Richardson Harvey discussing womanhood and its unique challenges and many roles. With simple and profound wisdom resonating through the verse, "A Tiara for the Twentieth Century" is a top pick for poetry collections. "Favorite Son": You are an antenna finely tuned/A fisherman/whose hook is baited/To capture the flame of an evening smile/You are a chisel sharply honed/To excavate a dream of love/Etched in the heart/You are a touchstone/To you the magic of silence speaks.

One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes
James Crews
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
9781934795095 $10.00, 1-800-636-0071

One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes is a poetry chapbook by prize-winning poet and literature teacher James Crews, offering an eclectic diversity of brief, free-verse poems ranging in format from free verse to stream-of-consciousness. The longing of lost love is a recurring theme in these often heartrending and thought-provoking moments of consciousness preserved in literary form. "One Hundred Small Yellow Envelopes": Tonight was your last wish / I used a teaspoon to scoop you / into each of the yellow envelopes / you chose and addressed to our friends. // I worked all night, watched what everyone / insists on calling your remains / fall into the mouths of the envelopes, / some of the ash as fine as sugar, / other bits as coarse as salt. // I don't know what to do / with the one marked, Felix. / I want to rip it open / like a packet of instant drink mix: // Pour into your favorite cup / your lover's ashes. Add hot water, / stir until the cup is as warm / as his skin once was against yours. // Sip slowly, this simple solution.

Free Cell
Anselm Berrigan
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865020 $13.95 www.citylights.com

Free Cell is the latest collection of free-verse poetry from writing instructor and dedicated poet Anselm Berrigan. The words themselves revel in the freedom to assume any shape in this smoothly rolling collection of musings and insights. The natural flow of the verbal rhythm serves as the perfect counterpoint to the thought-provoking commentary in this excellent collection. "Frailty puckers up to present": Frailty puckers up to present / gibberish in the agri-fab / spamways, helicopter can't / swim, can't junk tribal / penance for living off natty / whims so many pairs of / pants deny in fever's dash. // The routine bites hard, ooze / a rapt factory heir teething / sway, ye olde time cleaners / spun off a granted project / of abeyance in the deep / trim that art savors, bent- / like, creaming dabbles."

Poems of Love
Leikny Annadotter Bjorkli
Ivy House Publishing Group
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
9781571974983, $18.95, www.ivyhousebooks.com

It's said that all artistic expression can call its roots from love. "Poems of Love" is the second collection of poetry from Leikny Annadotter Bjorkli, focusing on the bond between man and woman that has driven society through the ages. With a mix of sensuality and fresh verse, "Poems of Love" is an intriguing and highly recommended read. "Within the Port of Heaven": To be embraced by him.../Strong, sensual, masculine, intelligent, clever -//As being inside/The port of Heaven/Melted together/With head, heart, soul/And gender.../Like Eve and Adam/In the Garden of Eden...


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

How to Make Hot Cold Calls
Steven J. Schwartz
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
1550051334, $11.95, www.fitzhenry.ca

No one likes to be called and sold something, but it doesn't mean it can't work. "How to Make Hot Cold Calls: Your Guide to Making the Sale or Landing That Perfect Job" is a guide to aggressive job-hunting, a practice that is usually strongly discouraged by traditional business etiquette. Steven Schwartz demonstrates to readers how to approach this habit with the courtesy possible and how to get a job one would normally be overlooked for. "How to Make Hot Cold Calls" is a strong consideration for any who are tired of being passive in their job hunt.

Successful Interview Skills, fifth edition
Rebecca Corfield
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749456528, $15.95, www.koganpage.com

The interview may make or break more people than any other stage of a hiring process. Now in a fully updated and expanded fifth edition, "Successful Interview Skills: How to Prepare, Answer Tough Questions, and Get Your Ideal Job" specifically focuses upon instructing the reader in acquiring and practicing effective coping skills appropriate to the job interview process. From appeasing your employers tastes in competence, first impressions, selling oneself, and keeping one's nerves under control, Rebecca Corfield gives a solid and highly useful guide to job seekers. "Successful Interview Skills" should be a purchase for any who want a job greater than flipping burgers.

The Handbook of Career Advising
Kenneth F. Hughey & Collaborators
Jossey Bass
989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470373682, $65.00, www.josseybass.com

Good advice is advice that is actually able to be used. "The Handbook of Career Advising" is a guide for college counselors who want to offer the most sage advice possible. Drawing from the minds of several individuals with much in the way of experience in these matters, it discussing everything from blending career advice with academic advice, dealing with tough cases, and so much more than commonly faces counselors. With countless useful appendixes and indexes, "The Handbook of Career Advising " is top notch wisdom that should be in the collection of any high school or college guidance counselor.

Make Job Loss Work for You
Richard S. Deems & Terri A. Deems
Jist Works
7321 Shadeland Station, Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9781593577407, $12.95, www.jist.com

A wise man does not dwell in the past. "Make Job Loss Work for You: Get Over It and Get Your Career Back on Track" is a guide for the recently unemployed who want to recover from their sudden loss and best get to the next step in their career. With advice on conquering emotions and looking on the positive side of it all, Richard & Terri Deems go far and above giving sage advice on overcoming temporary unemployment. "Make Job Loss Work for You" is a must for those who want unemployment to only be a transition.


The Dance Shelf

Appreciating Dance, fourth edition
Harriet Lihs
Princeton Book Company
614 Route 130, Highstown, NJ 08520
9780871273185, $29.95, www.dancehorizons.com

As long as humanity has had music, they have had dance. "Appreciating Dance: A guide to the World's Liveliest Art" serves as a scholarly introductory primer to give people the information they need to know to truly appreciate this ancient form of expression. With a focus on modern dance and the people who have made dance what it is, it does well in covering the wide scope of dance making for an intriguing read for anyone who wants to better understand modern dance. "Appreciating Dance" executes its goal incredibly well, highly recommended.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

To Find Cora/Like Mink, Like Murder/ Body and Passion
Harry Whittington
Stark House
2200 O Street, Eureka, CA 95501
9781933586250, $19.95, www.starkhousepress.com

The early days of the pulp novel were one often distinguished by deliberate author anonymity. "To Find Cora/Like Mink, Like Murder/Body and Passion" is a collection of three mysteries with a particularly strong noir influence. Originally published under pseudonyms, Whittington's work is now published under his own name, many years after his death. A choice pick of his hundreds of novels of work, "To Find Cora/Like Mink, Like Murder/Body and Passion" is a top pick for mystery fans which should not be passed up.

Ghost Ala Mode
Sue Ann Jaffarian
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738713809, $14.95, www.amazon.com

It's tough trying to clear your name. Especially when you're dead. "Ghost Ala Mode: A Ghost of Granny Apples Mystery" is the story of a Ghost of a Grandmother and her great great great granddaughter Emma, as they try to put to rest the claim that Granny Apples murdered her husband all those years ago. Tortured by her unjust rap, Granny Apples only wants her name to be cleared, and the Ghost's desire makes for an intriguing and highly original mystery.

A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense
Anton Chekhov, author
Peter Sekirin, translator
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980591 $14.95 www.pegasusbooks.com

Now available in paperback, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense collects the classic crime and suspense stories of literary genius Anton Chekhov. Originally published in periodicals and literary journals from 1880-1890, and now expertly translated into English by Peter Sekirin, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense is seasoned with Chekhov's characteristic dark humor, twists of cause and effect, and shocking moments of revelation. Many of the stories are brief, but all warrant a close reading - A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories is an absolute "must-have" for mystery and suspense fans of all walks of life, and a superb addition to public library collections.

The Woman Who Attracted Money
Steve Chandler
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759400, $14.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

The most accusing piece of evidence may be the most subtle. "The Woman Who Attracted Money" is the first of Steve Chandler's Robert Chance mysteries, following Chance and his associate, Madison Kerr. "The Woman Who Attracted Money" proves to be an intriguing and complex drama, that will give readers much to ponder as they strive to piece the clues together along with Chance. Here's looking forward to the upcoming sequels!

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Kerry Greenwood's DEVIL'S FOOD: A CORINNA CHAPMAN MYSTERY (9781590584286, $24.95) blends the story of a baker with a mystery centered around who is poisoning people with weight loss herbal tees and an odd cafe's strange clientele. An investigation brings all these disparate forces together in a fine tale for any mystery library: one that blends food appreciation with a host of small-town characters and experiences. Jon Talton's THE PAIN NURSE (9781590586242, $24.95) tells of Cheryl Beth Wilson, an elite nurse who finds a doctor murdered in an office - and herself the suspect. When another killing follows, a serial killer case is suspected and it's up to Will Borders, former homicide detective, to team with Cheryl to save the puzzle. Kerry Greenwood's MURDER ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT (9781590586327, $24.95) tells of Phryne Fisher, is set in 1929, and tells of her investigation of an antique shop other's mysterious death and strange friendships. Phryne follows some strange leads that bring her into international waters complete with pirate maps, spirit guides, and ghosts. Excellent picks for any serious murder mystery collection. DEEP WATERS by Kate Charles (9781590586020, $24.95) tells of the death of a celebrity baby and a high-profile case one detective Neville Stewart is recalled from his honeymoon to investigate. Another death follows and soon police liaison Mark Lombardi finds himself in an impossible position in this fine murder mystery. Charlotte Hinger's DEADLY DESCENT (9781590586457, $24.95) provides a powerful Lottie Albright mystery set in a Kansas community and revolving around a candidate for politics and a historian's investigation. Her probe into a candidate's background results in some dangerous family secrets coming to light in this fine mystery.

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

Susan Wittig Albert's THE TALE OF APPLEBECK ORCHARD: THE COTTAGE TALES OF BEATRIX POTTER (9780425229774, $23.95) offers a lovely mystery centered around one Mr. Harmsworth, who barricades a common path through his orchard for mysterious reasons. Tabitha Twitchet and her Cat Council investigate - and the Beatrix Potter animal clan find many satisfying mysteries. Aaron Elkins' SKULL DUGGERY (9780425227978, $24.95) tells of Gordon, who accompanies his wife to a charming little Mexican village to visit a relative's dude ranch resort - only to find no relief from his job in forensics when a mummified corpse is found nearby. Gordon's investigation involves an old friend, a child's murder thirty years ago, and a mystery that holds dangerous ramifications for new generations. Any mystery library will relish these. First in a new series is Barbara Hamilton's THE NINTH DAUGHTER (9780425230770, $14.00), set in Massachusetts in 1773 and telling of Abigail, who visits a fellow patriot friend only to find a dead woman in her kitchen and her friend missing. A secret Sons of Liberty document leads to a search for clues to the murder in this fine historical mystery. John J. Lamb's THE TREACHEROUS TEDDY (9780425230329, $7.99) provides a fine mystery centered around a retired cop and a mystery revolving around collectible teddy bears. Clues to a death from a possible hunting accident immerse the first teddy bear jubilee in small-town danger in this thriller. Joyce and Jim Lavene's GHASTLY GLASS (9780425230305, $7.99) provides a fine Renaissance Faire mystery including Renaissance recipes and facts as it tells of Jesse, facing a crabby boss, boyfriend problems, and a real murder affecting the man playing the Grim Reaper. Sarah Atwell's SNAKE IN THE GLASS (9780425230312, $6.99) provides a mystery revolving around glassblower Emmeline, who not only blows glass but investigates the murder of a stranger who has begged to use her kiln for an experimental gem treatment. Lucy Lawrence's STUCK ON MURDER (9780425230299, $6.99) provides a fine mystery set in a small town where a decoupage class becomes involved in the mayor's murder. Yasmine Galenorn's A HARVEST OF BONES (9780425207260, $7.99) tells of harvest time in a small Washington town --usually Emerald's favorite season, but dangerous when a possible supernatural mystery begins to immerse her and Joe in a dangerous hidden mystery. Margaret Grace's MOURNING IN MINIATURE (9780425230800, $7.99) tells of Rosie, who asks Gerry to accompany her to her thirtieth high school reunion, only to find a miniature mystery when star athlete David is murdered and clues point to further danger. Christy Evans' SILK TRAP (9780425230794, $6.99) provides a Georgina Neverall mystery blending a plumber's apprentice's skills with clues literally down the drain. Plumbing tricks are included. Casey Daniels' DEAD MAN TALKING (9780425230749, $7.99) provides a fine Pepper Martin mystery featuring a spunky girl who tries to help with a restoration project, only to learn a contest to restore the cemetery grounds lead to a local reality show and certain danger with a ghost involved. Elise Hyatt's DIPPED, STRIPPED, AND DEAD (9780425230787, $6.99) pairs furniture refinishing with the story of Dyce dare, who is divorced, nearly thirty, with a toddler to raise, a challenging ex, and a furniture refinishing business that turns up a corpse. All are fine picks for lending libraries strong in murder mysteries.


The Biography Shelf

Paul Newman
Lawrence J. Quirk
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589794375, $16.95, www.rlpgtrade.com

From countless Hollywood films to charitable popcorn, there's a reason Paul Newman is regarded as a legend. "Paul Newman: A Life" is a biography of this legendary individual who for the better part of a century captivated audiences around the world. Lawrence Quirk tells the mans story which isn't always as glorious as Hollywood would make it out to be and tells a story of a man who sought acceptance from his father and was a man like any other. "Paul Newman" presents a very human view of the film icon, a top pick for biography collections with a focus on the silver screen.

Strength in What Remains
Tracy Kidder
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9781400066216, $26.00 www.atrandom.com

STRENGTH IN WHAT REMAINS: A JOURNEY OF REMEMBRANCE AND FORGIVENESS tells of an immigrant who arrives in a big city with only two hundred dollars in his pocket, no English, and terrible memories leading to flashbacks. Two years later he's enrolled in an Ivy League university. How did he find the strength and support to change? STRENGTH IN WHAT REMAINS is not only his biography: it's a testimony of human spirit and holds a message for us all. Any general lending library will want this; especially backed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Tracy Kidder's name.

Don't Shoot! We're Republicans!
Jack Owens
History Publishing Company
PO Box 700, Palisades, NY 10964-0700
9781933909677, $16.95, www.historypublishingco.com

An FBI Agent deals with the crimes far too wild for local law enforcement to handle. "Don't Shoot! We're Republicans!" tells the story of Jack Owns and his career as an FBI Agent. A story filled with unique and original anecdotes of his career dealing with various degrees of malice, killers, and absurdity, his story is unlike no other and will charm many a reader and perhaps inspire many to careers in law enforcement. "Don't Shoot! We're Republicans!" is a solid and enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal memoir collection.

On Wings of the Wind
Betsy Ramsay
Red Anvil Press
c/o Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead, Second Floor, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956144, $14.95, www.ederberrypress.com

Culture can be quite the challenge for love. "On the Wings of Wind" tells the story of Betsy Ramsay, an American Jew, defied the European nobility by falling in love with one of their young noble people. Blending faith, class concerns, romance, and more, Betsy Ramsay presents a very intriguing memoir of finding love in unlikely places. "On the Wings of Wind" is a memoir that should not be overlooked.

Dreaming of Baghdad
Haifa Zangana
The Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5406, New York, NY 10016
9781558616059, $15.95, www.feministpress.org

The cruelty of Saddam Hussein is far reaching. "Dreaming of Baghdad" tells the story of Haifa Zangana, a woman who in her youth dared to resist the tyranny of Saddam Hussein in the 1970s. She spent years in prison and was tortured, only for her ultimate fate to be exile from her homeland. A moving story of one separated far from her homeland, "Dreaming of Baghdad" is a read that should not be missed for those trying to understand Iraq under Hussein.

Medicine Trails
Mavis McCovey & John F. Salter
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597141178, $21.95, www.heydaybooks.com

The traditions of the original people of the Americas seem to be getting more and more lost as time rolls on. "Medicine Trails: A Life in Many Worlds" is a memoir of Mavis McConvey, a native American medicine woman in the Klamath River region of Northern California. A picture of a woman who tries to tie the modern world to the traditional practices of her people, she tells a moving and intriguing story. "Medicine Trails" is a must for anyone trying to understand Native American culture in the modern world.

Louisa May Alcott
Harriet Reisen
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780805082999, $26.00, www.henryholt.com

A literary icon, Louisa May Alcott outdid her contemporaries by indulging in what is regarded as a guilty pleasure in the cultured society of her day. "Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women" is a look at this early Nineteenth century writer who outsold her contemporaries by being both literary and embracing the pulp fiction as well. For her time, she was a remarkable individual, holding abolitionist views and serving as a nurse during the civil war. "Louisa May Alcott" is an educational portrait of a literary icon, highly recommended.

Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy
Dennis L. Noble & Truman R. Strobridge
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822
9780813033686 $34.95, www.amazon.com

Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy: From American Slave to Arctic Hero is the true-life story of Michael A. Healy (1839-1904), a captain with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (a precursor to today's Coast Guard). Born a slave in Georgia, he ran away to sea at age fifteen, and spent the rest of his life passing for a white man, a fact that the U.S. Coast Guard did not learn until 1971. During his years of service, Healy enforced the law, stopped mutinies aboard merchant ships, battled illegal liquor and firearm smuggling, and rescued shipwrecked sailors. In 1896 he was brought to trial on multiple charges, and his punishment was to be put ashore on half pay with no command and dropped to the bottom of the Captain's list - yet he earned his way back to his former high position in the service by the time of his death in 1904. An extraordinary tale of a nautical prodigy, Captain "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy is enthusiastically recommended to lay readers, naval historians, and public library collections.

Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment
Ella deCastro Baron
San Diego City Works Press
c/o Sunbelt Publications
PO Box 191126, San Diego, CA 92159
9780981602059, $12.59, www.cityworkspress.org

New challenges in life are there to be met. "Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment" is a memoir of Ella deCastro Baron, a woman of Filipino descent who is faced with the real world. With much charm in her stories which will give readers very much to relate to, there is a certain profound nature in the memoir that will ring loudly true. "Itchy Brown Girl Seeks Employment" is a fine addition to any collection focusing on personal memoirs.

From the Back of the House
Gary L. Rockey
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
www.heritagebooks.com 1-800-876-6103
9780788449161 $30.50, www.amazon.com

From the Back of the House: Memories of a Steak House Clan is more than a memoir - it's the story of "Jim's Steak House" of Ohio's Cleveland Flats, well known as one of the most high-quality, top-class places to go for anniversaries, weddings, birthdays, graduations, celebratory dinners and more. Author Gary L. Rockey begins with the story of how Greek emigrant James Kerkles founded the restaurant in 1930, then goes on to tell how he was adopted into Jim's family at the age of ten. Taken in by veteran restaurateur Raymond Rockey, young G. L. Rockey saw the business of good food and good service in action. He offers an eclectic variety of tales from the restaurant's flourishing years, ranging in tone from joyful to poignant. From the Back of the House is also a glimpse into the culture and personalities of a bygone era, rounded out with scrapbook photographs, newspaper reviews, magazine articles, and menus from Jim's Steak House. An engaging and vivid remembrance of the highs and lows of daily life in "the hospitality business", highly recommended.

The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever
Alison Johnson
Cumberland Press
PO Box 213, Brunswick, ME 04011
9780967561929, $15.00, www.alisonjohnsonmemoir.com

Paranoia can have more effects than just on the paranoid. "The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever"I s a memoir of Alison Johnson remembering her time growing up under a somewhat off kilter Father who always believed Armageddon was around the corner and the fear of disaster lead him to leave a lasting negative impact on his family. An unusual but intriguing story, "The Eleventh Hour Can't Last Forever" is quite the read and is highly recommended for fans of personal memoirs.

Auf Wiedersehen
Christa Holder Ocker
Plain View Press
PO Box 42255, Austin, TX 78704
Stray Dog Media (publicity)
905 Don Miguel Place, Santa Fe, NM 87505
9781935514275, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.com

What's it like growing up under the rule of a man whose name who has become synonymous with evil? "Auf Wiedersehen: World War II Through the Eyes of a German Girl" tells the story of growing up as a young girl during Hitler's Nazi regime. Giving a glimpse of the life of the average German person during this time period and how Germany's defeat radically changed her life, "Auf Wiedersehen" is a unique read about a perspective so often vilified in history.

What I Can't Bear Losing
Gerald Stern
Trinity University Press
1 Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
9781595340542, $17.95, www.trinity.edu/tupress

One of the most celebrated pens in America, Gerald Stern has much on his mind. "What I Can't Bear Losing" is a collection of wise essays from Gerald Stern, with a large assortment of essays reflecting on his long and experienced life, on everything from his family and his faith to romance and his encounters with other notable figures of the twentieth century. "What I Can't Bear Losing" is an enlightening and scholarly read.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Questions & Answers from the Bible
Barbour Publishing
1810 Barbour Drive, PO Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781602606104, $7.97, www.barbour.com

One of the most important books in human history, having a knowledge of the Bible cannot hurt. "Questions & Answers from the Bible: 2,0001 Questions to Test Your Scripture Knowledge" is a simple question and answer book arranged in a trivia style for the fun of Christian families who want to better drill each other in Biblical knowledge. "Questions & Answers from the Bible" is a fun read that is a top pick for Christians looking for ways to entertain and enlighten themselves.

Wise Lives
Patrick Henry Reardon
Conciliar Press
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 950005-0076
9780982277034, $16.95, www.conciliarpress.com

The Old Testament is as vital to Christianity as the New. "Wise Lives: Orthodox Christian Reflections on the Wisdom of Sirach" is an Orthodox look at Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, written only a couple centuries before the birth of Christ. These writings, while not typically revered by Jewish traditions, have had a major impact on Eastern Orthodox Christianity. "Wise Lives" is solid insight into this branch of Christianity, and solid insight into Christianity as a whole.

Good Night & God Bless
Trish Clark
Hidden Spring
c/o Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
9781587680533, $20.00, www.goodnightandgodbless.com

Hundreds of years ago, travelers would often find accommodations for the night in the care of convents and monasteries. "Good Night & God Bless: A Guide to Convent & Monastery Accommodation in Europe" is a travel guide to finding convents and monasteries that to this day offer travelers sanctuary in their halls. The focus seems to be on this sites in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Italy. A truly historical and spiritual way to sleep through one's European vacation, "Good Night & God Bless" is a top pick for any who want to embark on a pilgrimage.

Understanding Bible Prophecy For Yourself
Tim LaHaye
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, OR 97402-9173
9780736925389, $14.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

The biblical times were one of metaphor. "Understanding Bible Prophecy for Yourself" is an exploration of the Bible and its calls to the future from one of the authors of the best selling Left Behind Christian novel series. Drawing his own experience and where he came up with the inspiration for Left Behind, Tim LaHaye gives readers a tour of interpreting biblical prophecy and making one's own judgment calls. "Understanding Bible Prophecy for Yourself" is a must for any would be an amateur theologian.

The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth
Thomas Berry
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758515, $22.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Christianity has more ties with environmentalism than one would think. "The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth" takes a Christian approach to environmental discussion, from self-titled geologian Thomas Berry. Calling for Christians to become more involved in environmental conservation, he draws on many Christian writing of the past to support his environmental call to arms. "The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth" is a must read for anyone who celebrates both Christmas and Earth Day.

The Painful Side of Leadership
Jeff Iorg
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9780805448702, $14.99, www.BHPublishinggroup.com

The job of the shepherd has not gone away; its title has just changed over the years. "The Painful Side of Leadership: Moving Forward Even When it Hurts" is a Christian leadership guide to leading Christians by channeling the ways of the biblical shepherd. Stating that sometimes leadership is not the easiest thing in the world, he hopes to inspire readers be something more and become leaders themselves. "The Painful Side of Leadership" is worth consideration for any person who could call themselves a leader of Christians.

Whatsoever Things Are Lovely
Rhonda Rhea
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800732523, $13.99, www.revellbooks.com

When one obsesses over the physical, they commonly forget the spiritual. "Whatsoever Things Are Lovely: Must-Have Accessories for God's Perfect Peace" is a guide to spiritual accessories that focus on the many things women should know and keep with them, as they go about the world. Designed in consideration for Christian women to think about, "Whatsoever Things Are Lovely" is a recommended and empowering read.

Jesus Nation
Joe Stowell
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414300498, $17.99, www.tyndale.com

Above country, there is God. "Jesus Nation: Belonging to and Becoming Part of the Greatest Nation Ever" is a Christian inspiration book that seeks to remind Christians everywhere that they are a part of something greater than all of themselves and their politics, the nation of Christ. Hoping to inspire those lost in the world to look to the Jesus Nation for the spiritual support they need, "Jesus Nation" is a fine Christian exploration of the belonging all humanity yearns for.

Hugs
Mindy Ferguson
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416587224, $14.99, www.simonandschuster.com

Stories are the way to learn for many people. "Hugs: Bible Reflections for Women" is a guide to studying the stories of the Bible for women readers who want to gain a better grasp of faith and religion through Bible study. Acting as both as study guide and work book it follows a format of Bible discussion then offering women a chance to provide their own ideas. "Hugs" is a top choice for Christian women everywhere.

Sing with the World
John L. Bell & Alison Adam
GIA Publications
7505 S. Mason Ave, Chicago, IL 60638
G-7339, $14.95, www.giamusic.com

You can teach a child a lot about a culture through its music. "Sing with the World : Global Songs for Children" is a compilation of multicultural songs for music educators to help them teach children about world music. The music within is mostly Christian-based, in a way showing Children how Christians all over the world worship Christ through song. "Sing with the World" of recommendation to any Sunday school music collection, recommended.

Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times
Martin C. Albl
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1218
9780884898986, $19.95 www.smp.org

In order to better understand the Bible, one must understand its time of origin. "Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times" is a guide to better understanding the biblical society of thousands of years ago and making it known to modern readers with a radically different society where slavery isn't something socially accepted, women are property, and death was the penalty for all major transgressions. Enlightening and a key proponent to better understanding the Bible to the fullest, "Essential Guide to Biblical Life and Times" is a solid and highly recommended sure to educate and help readers better grasp the Bible.

Mission from the Cross
Klaus Detlev Schulz
Concordia Publishing House
3558 South Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
9780758613509, $29.99, www.cph.org

Spreading the word of God was always one of the ideas of Martin Luther. "The Mission from the Cross" is an examination of mission and how it correlates with the Lutheran sect of Christianity. Examining the teachings of Luther and discussing modern approaches to Missionary work and approaches that would be Lutheran missionaries should use, there is much to relish for readers in this volume that presents much to consider. "The Mission from the Cross" is a solid addition to any Church library or for readers trying to gain a better understanding of Lutheranism.

Finding Organic Church
Frank Viola
David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434768667, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

A church should be a second home of sorts, not a corporate-like entity. "Finding Organic Church: A Comprehensive Guide to Starting and Sustaining Authentic Christian Community" is a guide for church leaders in making a more reliable and loved community center for the Christian families that surround them. With the motto of 'origin determines destiny', author Frank Viola comes at leaders with profound wisdom making for a solid and highly recommended read that should not be missed. "Finding Organic Church" should find its way into any church's reference collection.

Disturbing Divine Behavior
Eric A. Seibert
Fortress Press
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800663445, $22.00, www.fortresspress.com

Wrath of an angry God, or God showing imperfections? "Disturbing Divine Behavior: Troubling Old Testament Images of God" discuss the almighty and his changes from the wrathful and vengeful God that seemed to rule over his followers by sheer fear, and the contrast of the God of love that sacrifices his son. Offering many new ideals and perspectives about these contrasts, "Disturbing Divine Behavior" is a fine read for those trying to better understand God and Christianity as a whole.

Patron Saints for Postmoderns
Chris R. Armstrong
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830837199, $16.00, www.books.ivpress.com

Every generation is different from the one before it. "Patron Saints for Postmoderns: From the Past Who Speak to the Future" discusses ten figures in the past couple centuries who have done much for the faith by are commonly ignored when discussing potential sainthood. A profile each of these figures will drive and inspire readers for saints of a different cut of cloth. "Patron Saints for Postmoderns" is worth considering for any modern religious reader who wants to discuss the unsung heroes of Christianity.

NuChristian
Russell E. D. Rathbun
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482
9780817015497, $15.00, www.judsonpress.com

Life changes, but Christianity seems slow to change with it. "NuChristian: Finding Faith in a New Generation" is a guide for those who want to hold onto their faith but find it hard as the staunch traditionalism of the church seems to be at ends with them and making their life appear to be very difficult. With fresh philosophy and new ideas to stay true to Christ and one's beliefs, "NuChristian" is a read worth considering for a new generation.

Developing Leaders for the Small Church
Glenn C. Daman
Kregel
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825424557, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Small churches require special touches that larger ones don't have to deal with. "Developing Leaders for the Small Church: A Guide to Spiritual Transformation for the Church Board" is an analysis of church leadership at the small church level, where there is a more personal element involved between a pastor and his congregation. The advice a new pastor needs resides in "Developing Leaders for the Small Church", highly recommended.

Heaven Without Her
Kitty Foth-Regner
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780785227441, $14.99, www.amazon.com

A libertarian, a feminist, and an agnostic, Kitty Foth-Regner gave no thought to questions of life after death or the Christian gospel - until her mother became terminally ill. Her mother was a woman of faith and this crises provided the catalyst and motivation Kitty needed to awaken to such issues as heaven, the assertions and promises of Biblical scripture, and more. A journey of spiritual awakening, Kitty's personal story is recorded in engaging detail in "Heaven Without Her: A Desperate Daughter's Search for the Heart of Her Mother's Faith". Inspired and inspiring, "Heaven Without Her" is highly recommended reading, especially for anyone who must confront similar challenges within the context of their own lives or the lives of loved ones.


The Self-Help Shelf

How to Meditate
Jyotish Novak
Crystal Clarity Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781565892347, $11.95, www.crystalclarity.com

Meditation is a complicated term for something that is truly simple. "How to Mediate: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art & Science of Meditation" is a guide to mastering meditation and reaping more of the benefit of the serenity of the matter. With tips on finding relaxation, opening your natural intuition, and more, "How to Meditate" is a must for those who want to unlock their spirituality.

Three Feet From Gold
Sharon L. Lechter & Greg S. Reid
Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781402767647, $22.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

A successful man does not give up as obstacles, but instead turns tragedy into triumph. "Three Feet From Gold: Turn Your Obstacles Into Opportunities" is a follow up to Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, offering much wisdom that will stack on top of that book's lessons. Encouraging people not to give up when things look their worst, and to push themselves further, "Three Feet from Gold" is a vitalizing and inspiring read that should not be overlooked for those who want to improve their successes in life.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Spirits of '76
Daniel W. Barefoot
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873620 $15.95 www.blairpub.com 1-800-222-9796

Attorney and folklore collector Daniel W. Barefoot presents Spirits of '76: Ghost Stories of the American Revolution, a compendium of eerie legends and tales of hauntings connected to ghosts of national heroes of the Revolutionary War - as well as the spirits of the soldiers who fought and died. The anthology of spooky lore handed down through the generations has chilling tales from each of early America's thirteen states. From haunted Revolutionary War sites to the meandering spirit of Patrick Henry's mentally ill wife to tales of heroism and horror beyond the grave, Spirits of '76 is thrilling to read and highly recommended to anyone who loves ghost stories.

2012 Biography of a Time Traveler
Stephanie South
New Page Books
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630650, $17.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Stephanie South brings readers an insight into the man behind a cultural phenomena in "2012: Biography of a Time Traveler". She tells the story of Jose Arguelles who was the originator of the idea of the Mayan prophecies and the 2012 prophecy. Tracing his history and how he came to his ideas and how it has taken many people by storm, South gives readers much insight into the man. "2012: Biography of a Time Traveler" is a must for any metaphysical reader.

Matrix Energetics
Richard Bartlett, DC, ND
Atria Books
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500
9781582702384, $14.00 www.beyondword.com

MATRIX ENERGETICS: THE SCIENCE AND ART OF TRANSFORMATION provides a hands-on guide to energy and change and comes from a doctor who discovered that a light touch coupled with focused intent could restore his clients on many levels. This provides tools and hope for hands-on change to any who would relish new body/mind connections and applied healing techniques: new age libraries in particular will find it engrossing.

Advanced Chi Nei Tsang
Mantak Chia
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594770555, $14.95 www.innertraditions.com

ADVANCED CHI NEI TSANG: ENHANCING CHI ENERGY IN THE VITAL ORGANS blends health with martial arts in a survey examining negative energies, stress, and the Advanced Chi Nei Tsang techniques used on reflex points to release energy blockages. New age libraries strong in chi energy health guides will find this specific and packed with color illustration anatomy examples throughout.

Stalking the Tricksters
Christopher O'Brien
Adventures Unlimited Press
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946
9781931882927, $18.95, www.adventureunlimitedpress.com

The tricksters still walk among us, but hide under many different names. "Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts, and 2012" discusses many elements of the metaphysical throughout the twenty first century. Discussing these mysteries that go by a whole assortment of names, "Stalking the Tricksters" is a fine and informative read to those who believe there is more to the world around them than what the mundane eye will see.

Power Animals
Steven D. Farmer
Hay House
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401903329, $24.95, www.hayhouse.com

Animals have always had traits connected to them, and people have drawn inspiration from those traits. "Power Animals: How to Connect with Your Animal Spirit Guide" is a guide to finding an animal one can link themselves with and finding motivation in that one can use in their everyday lives from that animal. A profoundly spiritual guide that encourages people to find the traits they have and how to emphasize them, "Power Animals: How to Connect With Your Animal Spirit Guide" is an intriguing and inspiring read that should not be ignored.


The Political Science Shelf

Camelot and the Cultural Revolution
James Piereson
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003-1239
9781594032585, $15.95, www.encounterbooks.com

Even though it happened four decades ago, the Kennedy Assassination still holds heavy weight on today's America. "Camelot and the Cultural Revolution: How the Assassination of John F. Kennedy Shattered American Liberalism"discusses the far reaching aspects of President Kennedy's assassination, and how Lee Harvey Oswald's merciless bullets shattered the progressive momentum that America had for the first half of the century. The aftereffects of the assassination continue to hold modern liberalism at a strange place to this day. An intriguing and fascinating dissection of the past forty-five years of liberal politics, "Camelot and the Cultural Revolution" is a scholarly and intriguing read, enthusiastically recommended.

The New Face of Government
David E. McNabb
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781420093872, $59.95, www.crcpress.com

Like a business is a synonym for efficiency. "The New Face of Government: How Public Managers are Forging a New Approach to Governance" is an intriguing text about revolutionizing the way government is run and how recent times have began incorporating these methods. A scholarly discussion, it runs down the changes on many levels of government from small communities up to the executive and legislative branches of the government. Structuring government like business, evaluating an officials performance, and the impact of technology are all subjects to consider. "The New Face of Government" is a read that must be read by politicians and government officials at any level to gain a better grasp at this revolution.

Ambition And Division
Steven E. Schier, editor
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, 5th floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
www.upress.pitt.edu/upressIndex.aspx
9780822960492, $27.95, www.amazon.com

The two-term administration of George W. Bush was fraught with controversy from its beginning, and those controversies continue down to the present day. Elected as a conservative (and through an electoral process requiring Supreme Court intervention), he engineered the passage of some of the most expensive social legislation such as the Medicare Prescription Bill, outraging his conservative constituency. Elected on a 'Family Values' platform, his failure to carry through with any of the conservative religious agenda items in his party's platform served to disappoint and alienate that key Republican electoral demographic. Although initially popular in his response to the attacks of 9/11, his administrations decision to engage in a war with Iraq was to prove disastrously unpopular with a majority of the American public. The final debacle was the perceived underestimation and mishandling of the American economic crisis that broke out in the final months of his administration. Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Steven E. Schier (Dorothy H. and Edward C. Congdon Professor of Political Science, Carleton College), "Ambition and Division: Legacies of the George W. Bush Presidency" is an impressive compendium of contributory commentaries on the history, legitimacy, governance style, foreign policies, domestic policies, and more. From the role of partisan Republican majorities, to the Bush Administrations judicial appointments and 'political litmus tests' for public office, "Ambition And Division" is a superbly informed and informative political survey. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Ambition And Division" is an essential and core addition to academic library Political Science reference collections in general, and supplemental reading lists specific to the George W. Bush presidential administration in particular.


The Music Shelf

The Everything Piano Book
Evan A. Copp
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
9781598699760, $19.95, www.everything.com

So many keys make it so intimidating. "The Everything Piano Book: From Popular Songs to Classical Music - Learn to Play in No Time" is a piano teaching guide that encourages would be piano players with simple and incrementally complex lessons for readers to help them slowly and steadily gain a grasp of piano playing. From the simplicity of Mary Had a Little Lamb to the complexities of Chopin, "The Everything Piano Book" comes with an accompanying CD to help students along, making for a solid and highly recommended package.

Louis Vierne
Rollin Smith
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576471791, $84.00, www.amazon.com

The Max B. Miller Book Award was created by The American Guild of Organists for the specific purpose of honoring works of seminal and academic importance in the field of organ literature, history, and performance. Academician and music historian Rollin Smith has won this prestigious award for "Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral", a comprehensive and seminal history of Notre-Dame Cathedral organist Louis Vierne (1870-1937) who served in that capacity for 37 years. A dedicated organist, Vierne was to die still at his console, leaving behind an impressive legacy of performances and catalogue of organ works. Of special note are the chapters dedicated to his American tour. Enhanced with informative and insightful contemporary anecdotal stories by those who worked with him, as well as others who were to be influenced by him, "Louis Vierne: Organist of Notre Dame Cathedral" is especially recommended as a core addition to academic library Music History reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for dedicated students of the organ in particular.

Opera: Composers, Works, Performance
Andras Batta
H. F. Ullmann
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780841603844, $69.99, www.amazon.com

Over the past four centuries of western musical development, the opera came to embody the most complex presentation by combining visual and auditory elements with storytelling to the point where, especially in the 19th century, it became the most popular public entertainment Europe had to offer it citizenry from commoners to the aristocracy. That popularity continued to hold sway during the 20th Century with radio and television broadening the audience beyond what opera halls could every hope to achieve. "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is a 928-page compendium showcasing 350 operatic works, 140 opera composers, and places them all within four hundred years of European cultural history reflecting the evolution and highlights of this distinctive musical form, forum and format. Impressively enhanced with the inclusion of a musical terms glossary, musical scores, a comprehensive index, and a profusion of period photographs and illustrations, "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is superbly organized and alphabetically arranged encyclopedia of detailed information that makes it ideal for opera buffs and musicologists. Simply stated, "Opera: Composers, Works, Performance" is an absolute 'must' for professional, academic, and community library reference collections.

Dylan: 100 Songs & Pictures
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10010
www.omnibuspress.com
9781846094460, $49.95, www.amazon.com

An icon of American music in the 1960s, Bob Dylan's music has been a culture shaping influence that continues to be felt to this very day. A poet, a songwriter, and a performer, Bob Dylan's unique style is distinctive. His personal life has always been somewhat reclusive and always private, despite his 'superstar' status and his legions of fans. Now Omnibus press has compiled an impressive biography of Dylan and his work that showcases full sheet music for his most significant songs, enhanced with photography and anecdotal stories that will have special appeal to fans of Dylan's songs, both those he's performed himself and those that other musicians have performed in the course of their careers. Superbly written and presented, "Dylan: 100 Songs & Pictures" is a 'must' for all Dylan fans, and a very highly recommended addition to academic and community library 20th Century American Popular Music reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

Kawaii Bento Boxes
Japan Publications
c/o Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
9784889962604, $18.95 www.kodansha-usa.com

KAWAII BENTO BOXES: CUTE AND CONVENIENT Japanese MEALS ON THE GO offers visual photos packed on every page to display Kawaii-style (i.e. very cute) bento box lunches. Lovely little boxes with food arranged artistically and often decorated make for easy and lovely 'fast food'. Recipes range from a Japanese Taco Sandwich Bento to Teddy Pancakes with small bear faces. A cunning, appealing presentation highly recommended for any lending library.

The Gastrokid Cookbook
Hugh Garvey & Matthew Yeomans
John Wiley & Sons
111 River St., Hoboken, NJU 07030-5774
9780470286456, $22.95 www.wiley.com

THE GASTROKID COOKBOOK: FEEDING A FOODIE FAMILY IN A FAST-FOOD WORLD is all about food appeal for modern kids and comes from two dedicated food fans who wanted to instill a sense of eating adventure in their kids. The two authors and their wives now have four kids under five - all of whom eat 'adult' fare and like to try new foods. Recipes here are designed to help broaden a child's tastes with food the entire family will relish. Highly recommended.

The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion
Sharon Rtyler and Ron Herbst
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764162411, $29.99 www.barronseduc.com

Over 6,700 entries cover everything from cooking tools and techniques to working with fish, vegetables and various cuts of meat in The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion. Packed with color sidebars of information, charts, and gilt-edged pages, this cook's companion is suitable for gift-giving and provides all the culinary basics under one cover.

Jewish Slow Cooker Recipes
Laura Frankel
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470260890, $24.95 www.wiley.com

Kosher recipes from easy to complex are presented in a fine slow cooker collection perfect for holiday and daily dishes. From traditional Shabbath Cholent to Garlicky Pot Roast and Sweet Potato Salad with Preserved Lemons, this packs in traditional and modern Jewish kosher fare in an outstanding presentation especially recommended for Jewish kitchens and libraries catering to Jewish cooks.

The Farmer's Wife Cookie Cookbook
Lela Nargi, Editor
Voyageur Press
400 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760335130, $15.99 www.voyageurpress.com

The Farmer's Wife's staff of experts has tested every one of these cookie recipes, and vintage photos from the magazine provide added appeal to a title packed with cookies from Ginger Creams to Swedish Allspice Cookies. These are quick recipes, easily produced - and sections dividing them by type - Christmas Cookies, Rolled Cookies, Drop Cookies - makes for quick look-up and easy home reference, highly recommended.

Vegan Lunch Box Around the World
Jennifer McCann
DaCapo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Book Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213576, $18.95 www.dacapopress.com

The author of VEGAN LUNCH BOX returns with over a hundred international vegan lunches kids will love, from an English vegetable kidney bean pie minus the usual steak to soba noodles, vegan Louisiana gumbo, and more. A fine pick for any vegan lunch, this will reach a wide age range.

Veggie Haven
Kentaro Kobayashi
Vertical Inc.
1185 Avenue Of the Americas, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10036
9781934287620, $14.95, www.vertical-inc.com

Cows were not a common sight in Japan, and their culture has spawned much in the way of vegetarian cooking. "Veggie Haven: Easy Japanese Cooking" is another entry in Kentaro Kobayashi's Easy Japanese Cooking series, providing many vegetarian dishes that are inspired by traditional or modern Japanese cooking methods. Everything from Tofu steak, Vietnamese Omelets, to Shiitake Stir Fry Donburi, "Veggie Haven" is a true treasure trove of cooking ideas that should be considered by many a vegetarian.

The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion
Sharon Tyler Herbst & Ron Herbst
Barron's Educational Series
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppage, NY 11788
9780764162411, $29.99, www.barronseduc.com

Humanity has had a love of food through its entire existence, and has come up with so many variations to cook it has become difficult to keep track of them all. "The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion" is a dictionary of sorts of food, outlining thousands of cooking terms and describing them thoroughly. With nearly seven thousand entries, anyone who wants to be able to understand the rarer terms of gourmet cooking and the not-so gourmet, should consider this reference. "The Deluxe Food Lover's Companion" deserves a place alongside the other cookbooks one may own.

The Illustrated Quick Cook
Heather Whinney
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780756655778 $35.00 www.dk.com

Featuring vivid, full-color photography on every page, The Illustrated Quick Cook is a solid guide to cooking at home on a strict time budget. Shortcuts for everyday meals, food for friends, drinks and much more are covered at length. The many ways to speed up meal preparation range from better organization of one's cupboard to "batch and freeze" techniques for making large amounts of food and preserving it, and selecting from recipes ranging from "no-cook" foods to those that require only a minimum of preparation and cooking. Of special note are the vegetarian options (vegetarian dinner recipes include such delights as "Chunky ratatouille", "Lemony dal", and "Zucchini stuffed with raisins, red onion, and pine nuts"). An easy-to-use resource enthusiastically recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of home-cooked food but has little time to spend - especially parents seeking to feed their children nutritious meals while balancing that responsibility with a demanding job!

The Multicultural Cookbook For Students, expanded edition
Lois Sinaiko Webb & Lindsay Grace Roten
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313375606, $32.95, www.amazon.com

Written and compiled by the team of culinary expert and former chef Lois Sinaiko Webb and ethnic foods enthusiast Lindsay Grace Roten, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" is now available in a new and expanded edition for the benefit of non-specialist general readers and aspiring culinary students. Offering hundreds of superbly selected recipes representing every country and every culture around the globe, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" is superbly organized on a regional basis and offers from one to three recipes each drawn from 150 nations. Of special note are the commentaries on food safety and sanitary kitchen practices. From cooking terminology to diverse culinary traditions from which individual dishes arise, "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" also provides readily available substitutions for the more exotic ingredients should that prove necessary. With recipes ranging from Algerian Couscous (Chicken Stew); to Vegetarian Hot Rice Salad; to Teed Kettle (Salmon Hash); to Ful Mesdames (Brown Fava Beans); to Chicken Fried Steak Texas Style with Cream Gravy; "The Multicultural Cookbook For Students" will prove a welcome and inspiring addition to any personal, professional, family, cooking school, or community library cookbook collection!

You Made That Dessert?
Beth Lipton
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.globepequot.com
9780762750085, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Whether it's the finishing touch to a great dinner, or a palate-pleasing treat for a celebratory occasion, there's nothing quite like a terrific home-made dessert. But not all of us are culinary experts or skilled dessert makers from scratch. That's why "You Made That Dessert?: Create Fabulous Treats, Even If You Can Barely Boil Water", a 216-page beautifully illustrated compendium of more than one hundred 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes compiled by Beth Lipton (a trained pastry chef and the food editor for 'All You' magazine) is such a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and family cookbook collections. With recipes ranging from Mom's Mexican Wedding Cookies; Sour Cream Coffee Cake; and Buttermilk Pie; to Honeyed Fudge; Ginger-Bourbon Peach Sauce; and Double Chocolate Croissant Bread Budding, "You Made That Dessert?: Create Fabulous Treats, Even If You Can Barely Boil Water" will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to consistently turn out truly remarkable range of memorable treats that will satisfy both the eye and the appetite.

My New Orleans: The Cookbook
John Besh
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740784132, $45.00, www.amazon.com

While New Orleans is primarily known for its jazz and Mardi Gras celebrations, it is also the home to a distinctive and popular culinary heritage. Showcasing a very special cuisine, "My New Orleans: The Cookbook" by Louisiana Chef John Besh combines down home stories drawn from Besh's own life and love of the city in which he has established four successful New Orleans restaurants that even Hurricane Katrina could not eradicate from the city's heritage. Profusely and colorfully illustrated, this outstanding compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Ragout of Crawfish over Fresh Pasta; Louisiana Shrimp and Andouille over Grits; Tempura-Fried Squash Blossoms with Crabmeat Stuffing; and Crispy Fried Oyster Salad with Louisiana Caviar; to Black-Eyed Peas with Louisiana Popcorn Rice; Fall Greens Salad with Blue cheese and Pumpkin Seed Brittle; Blake's Duck, Green Onion, and Chicken Sausage Gumbo; and Peach Upside-Down Cake. Of special note is the introduction in which Chef John Besh notes how he goes about cooking and lays out basic recipes for flavor bases that he often utilizes in preparing his New Orleans dishes. "My New Orleans: The Cookbook" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to professional, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Raw Food Quick & Easy
Mary Rydman
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578263066, $15.00, www.amazon.com

Every dietician notes that the typical modern American fast-food, microwave frozen food oriented diet is woefully insufficient when it comes to the consumption of fruits and vegetables. That's why nutrition and health consultant Mary Rydman draws upon her more than twenty years of professional and personal experience and expertise to compile and publish "Raw Food Quick & Easy: Over 100 Healthy Recipes Including Smoothies, Seasonal Salads, Dressings, Pates, Soups, Hearty Creations, Snacks, and Desserts". Each recipe is specifically designed for time-pressured kitchen cooks who, while not being able to spend extended time in the preparation of their family meals, nonetheless want to serve family and friends with healthy, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying fare. More than just a collection of recipes showcasing the culinary accomplishments to be gleaned from fruits and veggies, "Raw Foods Quick & Easy" also provides practical and useful information on soaking, sprouting, dehydrating, and storing raw foods, key tools and ingredients when dealing with raw foods in the kitchen, and even 'user friendly' advice on increasing vital nutrients through what we eat. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Food and Emotions'. Featuring recipes ranging from Cauliflower Cream Curry; Vegetable Crackers; and Sesame Fudge Cookies; to Angel Pudding; Tomato Olive Soup; and Buckwheat Crunchies, "Raw Foods Quick & Easy" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to vegetarian, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Another Dinner Is Possible
Mike & Isy
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
www.akpress.org
9781904859994, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Mike and Isy, members of a volunteer collective called 'Brighton's Anarchist Teapot mobile kitchen', that travels around the U.K. providing vegan, organic, non-GMO meals at mass-mobilizations, community festivals, wildcat strikes, and outdoor gatherings and, along with other Brighton activists, operate the Cowley Club, a collectively-run social center that hosts a bookstore and vegan cafe, have turned their experience and expertise to compiling a very special collection of vegan recipes which is now published as "Another Dinner Is Possible: Recipes & Food for Thought". With a sturdy ring binder that allows the cookbook to be laid out flat on a kitchen counter or table, "Another Dinner Is Possible" showcases 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for vegan soups, side dishes, salads, salsas, sauces, snacks, sweets, and breads. Of special note are the sections dedicated to Korean dishes and to Preserving. But more than just a cookbook, "Another Dinner Is Possible" also features informed and informative commentaries on how such ills of modern civilization as global warming and industrial agriculture affect our food supply; nutritional issues including the introduction of food to babies and vegan diets for children; cooking for large groups; wild foods; do-it-yourself brewing; food addictions and eating disorders; gardening; and more. Thoughtful and though-provoking, this impressive compendium of diverse vegan-friendly recipes is especially recommended as a timely and welcome addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book
Kelly Rudnicki
Surry Books
c/o Agate Publishing Inc.
1501 Madison Street, Evanston, IL 60202
www.agatepublishing.com
9781572841024, $19.95, www.amazon.com

We live in an age where increasing percentages of the population have allergies to different kinds and categories of food. Always serious, often these food allergies can become life-threatening. That's why food allergy expert Kelly Rudnicki's "The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book: Great Dairy-, Egg-, and Nut-Free Treats for the Whole Family" will prove to be a true culinary blessing for those with family members or friends having common allergies to dairy products, eggs, or nuts. Those allergies won't interfere with their ability to enjoy such wonderful baked treats as Blueberry Bran Muffins; Chocolate Chip Cookies; Classic Yellow Birthday Cake; Summer Blueberry Pie; Dairy-Free Chocolate Shake; and Chocolate-Soy Nut butter Candies! Colorfully illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "The Food Allergy Mama's Baking Book" is especially recommended for personal, family and community cookbook collections for those have (or must prepare meals for those who have) allergies to dairy, eggs, or nuts.

Entertaining In The Raw
Matthew Kenney
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423602088, $35.00, www.amazon.com

In every human culture from around the world there is a part of the local cuisine that utilizes the flavors and nutritional values of uncooked fruits, vegetables, and even some meats in dishes that please even the most gourmet of palates and satisfy even the most demanding of appetites. Now chef, restaurateur, caterer, and food writer Matthew Kenney has compiled an impressive number of raw food recipes draw from a number of diverse ethnic cultures and regional culinary traditions to create "Entertaining In The Raw", offering 'kitchen cook friendly' raw food dishes that include appetizers, tapas, main dishes, breads, sauces, and memorable desserts. From Beet Ravioli with Fava Bean Puree and Green Herb Oil; Lipstick Sweet Pepper and Basil Wrappers with Marinated Greens, Truffle Cream, and Marcona Almond Paste; Oyster Mushrooms and Hijiki Caviar with Leek and Brazil Nut Truffle Foam; and Avocado Tartare with Tamarind-Glazed Cherry Tomatoes, Black Sesame Pappadam, and Curry Froth; to Summer Squash Pancakes with Garlic Flower "Yogurt", Sweet Tomato Jam, and Crisp Fennel; Tacos de Tomates al Sol Con Crema Citric (Tomato Tacos with Citrus Cream); and Tricolor Sesame-Cashew Dumplings and Sweet Chile-Lime Sauce, "Entertaining In The Raw" presents wonderfully illustrated culinary dishes that will showcase any and all dining occasions from simple family meals to elegant celebrations, making it an ideal addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Vegan Yum Yum
Lauren Ulm
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
www.hcibooks.com
9780757313806, $18.95, www.amazon.com

"Vegan Yum Yum: Decadent (But Doable) Animal-Free Recipes for Entertaining and Everyday" by vegan culinary expert Lauren Ulm truly lives up to its title as a compendium of thoroughly kitchen cook friend, palate pleasing, and appetite satisfying vegan dishes that range from Vegetable Fried Rice; Carmelized Leek and Spaghetti Squash Polenta with White Sauce; Moroccan Spiced Root Vegetable Home Fries; and Lime Peanut Noodles with Seitan, Kale, and Carrots; to Honeydew Coconut Tapioca; Cannellini Bean Soup with Pan-fried Croutons; and Snickerdoodle Cookies. Whether the dish is Rainbow Rice and Beans or Soy Free Thai Tea with Fresh Coconut, each showcased recipe comes complete with a listing of all the ingredients and easy-to-follow step-by-step preparation instructions. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Vegan Yum Yum" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library vegetarian cookbook collections.

The Worry-Free Bakery
Kumiko Ibaraki
Vertical, Inc.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd floor, New York, NY 10036
www.vertical-inc.com
9781934287699, $14.95, www.amazon.com

One of the frustrations facing any weight conscious, dessert desiring, kitchen cook is where to find good recipes for terrific dishes that won't add on the pounds yet still serve to please even the most gourmet of palates. That's where Kumiko Ibaraki has drawn upon her years of experience and expertise as a chef, nurse, and nutrition counselor in "The Worry-Free Bakery: Treats Without Oil And Butter", to compile forty-five distinctively easy-to-prepare desserts fit for any and all dining occasions. The impressively diverse recipes range from Apple Muffins; No-Fry Donuts; Cream Sandwich Cookies; and Pumpkin Cheesecake Souffle; to Chocolate Brownies; Cheese and Pineapple Tart; Sweet Potato and Rum Raisin Ice Cream; and Mango Frozen Yogurt. Of special note is the section providing step-by-step instructions on such basic baking techniques as making meringue, whisking eggs, using the oven, removing a chiffon cake, making a cornet, and substitutes for the oil and butter required in so many traditional dessert recipes. Truly living up to its title, "The Worry-Free Bakery" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Petite Sweets
Beatrice Ojakangas
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
www.makefun.com
9781416207733, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Especially appropriate for parties, small bite-sized deserts can provide a truly gourmet touch to any and all celebratory events. That's why Beatrice Ojakangas' "Petite Sweets: Bite-Sized Desserts To Satisfy Every Sweet Tooth" is such a timely and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. Superbly illustrated throughout with the color photography of Roger LePage, "Petite Sweets" offers a range of delectable treats from Fresh Ginger Carrot Cakelets; Whoopie Pies; Chocolate Truffle Tarts; and Applesauce Crisp; to Chocolate-Dipped Cherries; Creamy Pumpkin Mini Mousses; Miniature Bread Puddings; and Crispy Cream Puffs. Palate pleasing and 'kitchen cook friendly', this compilation of miniature desserts is also especially commended to the attention of professional caterers as well.

101 Recipes For Microwave Mug Cakes
Stacey J. Miller
BPT Press
PO Box 834, Randolph, MA 02368-0834
S. J. Miller Communications (publicity)
10 Turning Mill Lane, Randolph, MA 02368
9780984228508, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, for today's busy, time-stressed homemaker, the invention of the microwave oven is second only to that of fire. From heating up TV dinners to turning out in a matter of minutes dishes from scratch that would take an hour or longer in a conventional oven, the microwave has earned a prominent place in every modern kitchen. But until now the application of the microwave to desserts and snacks has been fairly limited to heating up some store-bought treat. No more! Not with Stacey Miller's handy little compilation of make-your-own microwave treats she has collected within the covers of "101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes: Single-Serving Snacks in Less Than 10 Minutes"! Now moms who just don't have the time for traditionally baked cookies, cakes, muffins, or other baked pastries, can choose from 'kitchen cook friendly' microwave recipes ranging from Apple Raisin Microwave Mug Cake; Chocolate-Covered Peanut Microwave Cake; Berry Patch Microwave Mug Cake; and Cranberry Lemon Microwave Mug Cake; to Peach Butterscotch Microwave Mug Cake; Pumpkin Pie Microwave Mug Cake; Strawberry Cheesecake Microwave Mug Cake; and Watermelon Ginger Microwave Mug Cake. Particularly nice is the succinct one-paragraph descriptive 'Note' accompanying each individual recipe. Unique and very special, "101 Recipes for Microwave Mug Cakes: Single-Serving Snacks in Less Than 10 Minutes" will prove a popular addition to any and all personal and family kitchen cookbook collections!

Sushi: The Beginner's Guide
Aya Imatani
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, New York, NY 10016
www.imaginebks.com
9780982293966, $14.95, www.amazon.com

We've all seen and tasted them. Bite-sized raw fish creations brought to American palates from Asian culinary traditions. Now there is a compendium of recipes and instructions to enable even the most novice kitchen cook in turning out delectable, nutritious, palate pleasing and appetite satisfying sushi dishes suitable for even the most elegant of dining occasions. Compiled and written by professional caterer Aya Imatani (who draws her expertise from her own family's traditions (her father owned a sushi bar in Kobe, Japan), "Sushi: The Beginner's Guide" showcases more than fifty beautifully illustrated step-by-step sushi recipes from a distinctively Japanese cuisine that ranges from Magurotaku Saimaki (Tuna and Pickled Radish); to Saishoku Saimaki (Mixed Vegetables); to Unagi Kabayaki Nigiri (Steamed and Teriyaki-Broiled Eel); to Tamago Nigiri (Japanese Omelette). Of special note is the presentation of basic information ranging from the tools used in making sushi dishes, to the Japanese pantry, to making pickled ginger, to the uses of wasabi, to choosing a whole fish. Covering sauces, sushi rice, and all-vegetarian sushi dishes, "Sushi: The Beginner's Guide" is an ideal and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Eat Fresh Food
Rozanne Gold
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, NY, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781599904450, $17.99, www.amazon.com

Far too much of the typical adolescent diet is composed of fast foods, sugar drinks, and a paucity of fresh fruits and veggies. That's why "Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes For Teen Chefs" from award-winning chef, restauranteur, and cookbook author Rozanne Gold is such a welcome contribution to personal and family cookbook collections. Superbly illustrated throughout with full color photography by Phil Mansfield, "Eat Fresh Food" is specifically designed and intended to provide teenagers with nutritious, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, 'teen friendly' recipes that range from a Grape-and-Pignoli Breakfast Cake; to a Chickpea Burger with Fresh Mango Salsa; to a Crunchy Wasabi-Lime Salmon with Red Cabbage and Sugar Snaps; to a mouth-watering dessert like Olive Oil-Chocolate Chip Cookies! "Eat Fresh Food" is ideal for young kitchen cooks, but upon reflection, it is also a prime choice for another culinary demographic -- men who have never been trained or previously expected to cook for themselves, friends or family, and now find they need to.

The Pavlova Story
Helen Leach
Otago University Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781877372575, $40.00, www.amazon.com

A New Zealand culinary invention that became enormously popular throughout Australia, Pavlova is a large meringue dessert cake named after Anna Pavlova, the accomplished and internationally renowned ballerina. In "The Pavlova Story: A Slice Of New Zealand's Culinary History" by Helen Leach (Professor of Anthropology at the University of Otago) begins with the ballerina's visit to the Antipodes and adds a great deal of previously obscure or unknown information including the emergence of three different pavlovas, the contributions of a gelatine manufacturer, a Dunedin spinster, a bevy of housewives, and other New Zealand influences that created and transformed a fashionable afternoon tea cake into a truly iconic and generations spanning dessert. Enhanced with occasional illustrations by photographer Mary Brown, and featuring classic pavlova recipes, "The Pavlova Story" is a superbly written, informed and informative, making it highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in distinctive regional and cultural culinary traditions in general, and the pavlova tea cake in particular.


The Gaming Shelf

Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand
Barbara Seagram and David Bird
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106518, $19.95 www.masterpointpress.com

Any newcomer to bridge will welcome Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand, a fine survey for beginners covering the basic techniques of the game. The focus is on learning what play to make at what stage of the game: here two fine bridge teachers and authors explain how to make a plan as a declarer in an easy step-by-step process accessible by even bare-bones beginners. A top pick, highly recommended!

Banana-Grams!
Joe Edley
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014
9780761156352, $8.95, www.workman.com

Word play can be an endlessly entertaining thing. "Banana-Grams!: 575 Appealing Word Challenge That Will Drive You Bananas!" features a slew of puzzles for fans of the Bananagram, a growingly popular word game. From the original creators, they present a game that takes Scrabble, and offers new twists. "Banana-Grams!" is something that will provide countless hours of amusement.

Starting Out: The Scandinavian
Jovanka Houska
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445824 $25.95 www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

Written by Scandinavian chess opening expert Jovanka Houska, Starting Out: The Scandinavian is another of Everyman Chess' premier titles ideal for intermediate to expert chess players seeking to hone their skills. Covering all the main lines, Starting Out: The Scandinavian uses an abundance of sample games with diagrams to illustrate its points, techniques, and recommendations. Starting Out: The Scandinavian is especially recommended for any chess player who wants to try out the Scandinavian, or has to learn to defend against it! An excellent, in-depth resource from cover to cover, featuring an "Index of Variations" for quick reference.

The Little Black Book Of Brain Games
Suzanne Beilerson
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
www.peterpauper.com
9781593597689, $9.95, www.amazon.com

'Brain Teasers' are those cerebral puzzles and problems that take mental acuity and concentration to resolve and solve. They are also a great source of entertainment (and occasional frustration!). In "The Little Black Book Of Brain Games", author Suzanne Beilerson has collected an impressive variety of these little 'mental games' that include word-play, math-play, and logic-play challenges. Of special note is that she has also included the answers and solutions in the back of this little pocket sized compendium of pure fun that can be taken anywhere, anytime. "The Little Black Book Of Brain Games" is especially recommended for those who enjoy a challenge and see problem solving as a form of personal entertainment and an excellent way to pass the time.

Mysteries Of Magic: Book One
Mark Hall & Kevin Siembieda
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571493, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The newest addition to the Palladium Books role-play gaming library, "Mysteries Of Magic: Book One: The Heart Of Magic" is the cooperative work of master game-makers Mark Hall and Kevin Siembieda. This role-play compendium introduces the history, secrets, spells, familiars of wizards. Of special note are the commentaries on how magic works, wizards and warlocks, apprenticeships, guilds, spell books, and more. Packed from cover to cover with useful and useable information to enjoy hours and hours of role-play gaming, and specifically designed to be part of Palladium's 'Megaverse' adventure gaming system, "Mysteries Of Magic: Book One: The Heart Of Magic" is 96-pages of information, ideas, and illustrations, making it a highly recommended addition to any gamer's reference collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Field Guide to Songbirds of South America: The Passerines
Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor
University of Texas Press
Box 7819, Austin TX 78713-7819
9780292719798, $49.95 www.utexaspress.com

College-level collections strong in South American nature guides, particularly those possessing prior volumes in the series, will find "Field Guide to Songbirds of South America: The Passerines" continues the trend as an essential reference for professional ornithologists and birders: the only volumes to provide complete scientific coverage of the continent's passerines. It's hefty - over 700 pages - yet compact, so birders can take it into the field, and it extracts and updated the identification information from "The Birds of South America", with over a hundred color plates and 150 additional color illustrations of subspecies and females accompanying extensively updated color range maps and more. Very highly recommended as a 'foundation title' for any serious birder's library.

Animals on the Edge
Chris Weston
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500543825, $29.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

A few more kills by poachers, and many of these creatures could simply cease to exist. "Animals on the Edge: Reporting from the Frontline of Extinction" is a combination photography and wildlife book discussing these critically endangered creatures, with in-depth descriptions of each species and how close it is to extinction. Aside from the text are two-page, full color spreads of these animals - creatures which may not be long for our world. "Animals on the Edge" is a fine coffee table book and a gift perfect for any concerned about the world's fading species.

Animals Always
Mary Delach Leonard
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826218551, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Every major city has its zoo. Collections of animals both common and exotic, displayed for their educational and recreational value to the general public. Some zoos are also involved in environmental issues including the preservation of species. One of the country's premier zoos is that of Saint Louis, Missouri, now celebrating its centennial anniversary. This complex and popular zoo is fully showcased in "Animals Always: 100 Years At The Saint Louis Zoo" by St. Louis journalist Mary Delach Leonard. An impressively informed and informative compilation of anecdotal stories, beautiful photography both vintage and contemporary, fact-laden side bars, and more, "Animals Always" is a celebration of this public funded, fully modern and modernized animal zoo, complete with a River's Edge habitat, WildCare Institute, and behind-the-scenes perspective that casual visitors are not ordinarily privy to. Simply stated, "Animal Always" is highly recommended reading and would well serve as a template for the celebration of other major zoos and animal sanctuaries elsewhere around the country.


The World History Shelf

Loot
Sharon Waxman
Times Books
175 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
9780805090888, $17.00 www.henryholt.com

Any arts or general-interest lending collection will find lively and fun LOOT: THE BATTLE OVER THE STOLEN TREASURES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. For two centuries the West has plundered the treasures of the ancient world - LOOT brings to life the methods, logic, and history of this plundering of museums and offers many important insights into cultural and social interactions in the arts. Perfect for both arts and general lending library world history collections.

Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact
Alan Axelrod
Fair Winds Press
100 Cummings Center, Suite 406-L, Beverly, MA 01915-6101
9781592333752, $19.99, www.fairwindspress.com

They changed the world, but you've likely never heard of them. "Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact: The Turning Points in Our History We Should Know More About" tells the story of unsung wars and their lasting impact on the modern world. From failed rebellions to the United States' first foreign conflict, these wars massively changed the course of history but are usually mentioned briefly in textbooks, if at all. "Little-Known Wars of Great and Lasting Impact" is a core addition to military and history collections, enthusiastically recommended.

The Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land
Nicholas Morton
Boydell Press
668 Mt Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834779, $105.00, www.boydell.co.uk

For over a century, these men made their honor known to Christian Europe. "The Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land 1190-1291" traces the history of the order as it was founded when the Crusaders had Jerusalem in the Middle ages and grew throughout the nearby region and into Islamic lands. A scholarly analysis of the order which was originally meant only to serve as hospital units for injured Crusaders, they grew to become much more than that. Discussing their role in a wider scope of world history, Nicholas Morton applies his own expertise to create a very thorough history. "The Teutonic Knights in the Holy Land" is a wise addition to any community or college library collection focusing on the Crusades.

Prairie Metropolis
Esyllt W. Jones & Gerald Friesen
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
www.umanitoba.ca/ofmpress
9780887557132, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Winnipeg is one of the biggest city in Canada and has never stopped growing. "Prairie Metropolis: New Essays on Winnipeg Social History" is a collection of essays discussing the growth and history of the city of Winnipeg which made the earlier part of the twentieth century one of the most booming in all of north America. Telling the story of a big Canadian city, any trying to better understand Canadian culture will want to read. "Prairie Metropolis" is a top pick for urban history collections, especially those with a Canadian focus.

A History of Japan
Kenneth Henshall
Palgrave
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781403912725, $21.95, www.palgrave.com

Isolated from the world, even mostly isolated from its neighbors. "A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower" traces the history of Japan from its root in prehistory and the first people to set foot on the land across a land bridge from China to its time as a Superpower that challenged the world a little more than 50 years ago. A long, complete and comprehensive history of those involved, it's a solid overview of one of the more unique countries of the world. "A History of Japan" is a fine addition to any world history collection.

Iran
Monika Gronke
Markus Wiener
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558764446, $89.95, www.markuswiener.com

Persia, the Mongol Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Iran has been under many banners. "Iran: A Short History From Islamization to the Present" draws the long line of Iranian history from when Islam was introduced a millennia and a half ago to how Iran became the nation that it is today. An intellectual read that does well in outlining the deep cultural problems that Iran has had and how it has impacted the modern time, Monika Gronke does well in enlightening readers of Iran and its culture that will give people a greater understanding. Originally written in German, Steven Rendall does well in translating, making "Iran: A Short History" a top pick for history collections and any collection that promotes a greater understanding of Iran.

The Salt Smugglers
Gerard De Nerval
Archipelago Books
232 Third Street, #A111 Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780980033069 $16.00, www.archipelagobooks.org

When your government only lasts a short time, it's worthy of being mocked. "The Salt Smugglers" is a reprint and translation of the satire that criticized France in its nineteenth century second republic. The first time published in a complete compilation form in any language, this historical story is of strong interest to those who want a better understanding of post-Napoleonic nineteenth century France. "The Salt Smugglers" is a solid and recommended read for those who collect historical political satire and iconic books.

The Immortals
Nigel Cawthorne
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.mbipublishing.com
9780760337523, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Throughout recorded human history, the theme of warfare has been ubiquitous. The stories of warriors, generals, battles, and the clash of city states, kingdoms, and empires have provided inspiration, traditions, and cultural consequences that have shaped every generation. In "The Immortals: History's Fighting Elites" by military historian Nigel Cawthorne, major battles and epic clashes involving the most renowned and distinctive military forces are superbly showcased. These include the Persian Immortals of Darius; the Spartans of King Leonidas, the Roman Praetorian Guard, the Ninja, the Mongol Hordes, the Prussian Guard, the Stonewall Brigade, the Gurkas, the Green Berets, the U.S. Navy Seals, and a great many others. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Immortals" is informed, informative, 'reader friendly', and highly recommended for both academic and community library World History and Military History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Kennedy and the Berlin Wall
W. R. Smyser
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780742560901 $39.95 www.rlpgbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

Kennedy and the Berlin Wall is a close study of the Berlin Wall crisis that occurred during the presidency of John F. Kennedy. Drawing upon sources ranging from the author's own experience as an American diplomat in Berlin at the time of the crisis to personal interviews, memoirs, and documents from the former Soviet Union, East Germany, and America, Kennedy and the Berlin Wall reconstructs precisely what happened with a focus on two principal individuals - Kennedy and the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev's dismissive impression of Kennedy as a "boy in short pants" was openly manifested in the form of intimidation during the Vienna Summit in 1961. Kennedy was deeply concerned about the very real threat of nuclear conflict, and came to the conclusion that the Berlin Wall was "a hell of a lot better than a war." Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the events shaping its creation have strong historical lessons to impart to posterity - making Kennedy and the Berlin Wall a worthy addition to both public and college library history shelves.

Clio & the Crown
Richard L. Kagan
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801892943 $55.00 www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487

Richard L. Kagan (Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University) presents Clio & the Crown: The Politics of History in Medieval and Early Modern Spain, a close study of the official, commissioned histories of Spanish monarchies from the medieval era to the middle of the 18th century. From histories that focused primarily upon the monarch, to histories that studies the entire Spanish kingdom, to histories that exalted Spain's conquest of the New World, Clio & the Crown examines not only how the histories themselves changed, but also the lives of court chroniclers and the political workings that affected the censorship of official histories. Spanish monarchs sometimes went so far as to physically intimidate historians, destroy manuscripts and books, rewrite histories, or restrict history writing to authorized individuals only, seeking to consolidate power through control of knowledge. A solid guide to better understanding centuries-old secondary historical sources, Clio & the Crown is an invaluable addition to Spanish history and college library shelves. Highly recommended.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide, 2010 edition
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
9781574326321, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The value of any given antique or collectible is entirely dependent upon the economic force of supply and demand. Now in its 28th edition, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide", the 2010 edition of an annually published collector's guide, remains an indispensable price guide and reference for buyers, sellers, and collectors in establishing a frame of general and reliable reference. Profusely illustrated in full color, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide" is a 607-page reference that provides the novice collector with a 'Listing of Standard Abbreviations' that makes using this encyclopedic and alphabetically organized compendium thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended. Simply stated, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide" is an essential and core price guide reference for all manner of antiques and collectibles for both amateurs and professionals alike.

Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krausebooks.com

The eighth updated edition of David C. Harper, Editor's 2010 U.S. COIN DIGEST: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CURRENT MARKET VALUES (9780896898165, $16.99) is an essential pick for any interested in coin collecting. It includes a CD of details and lay-flat binding as its pages reference all types of coins in a handy presentation perfect for quick reference. Values at various grades are included as well as statistics on mint numbers. Any coin collector needs this - plus they also need his 2010 NORTH AMERICAN COINS & PRICES: A GUIDE TO U.S., CANADIAN AND MEXICAN COINS, 19TH EDITION (0896898369, $19.99). It provides newly updated prices and new coin issues for over 45,000 individual coins from early Colonial issues to modern times. Coins are listed in 11 grades and new chapters have been added for the new 2009 cents and six new 2009 quarters of the U.S. Over 3,000 black and white photos pack this primer.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance
Kaffe Fassett
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781600852596, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Drawing upon his years of experience in which his work has been acclaimed by American fashion designers and commissioned by the British Monarch, his newest needlecraft publication, "Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance: 20 Designs from Rowan for Patchwork and Quilting" continues to document him as one of the premier authorities on quilting today. The theme is presenting twenty new quilts that give homage to past quilting traditions with beautifully designed quilts showcased in display against colorful backgrounds of an Italian-style architecture found within a small Welsh village. Enhanced throughout with the beautiful full-color photography of Debbie Patterson, "Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance" offers 'quilter friendly' step-by-step instructions for each quilting project, and is therefore an elegant and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Square Magic Quilts
Michelle J. Linder
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574329940, $26.95 www.americanquilter.com

SQUARE MAGIC QUILTS tells how to create a dozen magical block units with just squares, showing how to use same-size squares to make 12 different units and then mix in nine-patch blocks. These quick and easy square quilts are perfect for beginners, making this an excellent quilter's pick.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Laura Farson's NEW TWISTS ON TWINED KNITTING; A FRESH LOOK AT A TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUE (9781564778703, $26.99) offers avid knitters a different approach to traditional techniques, offering a Swedish technique that produces richly textured fabrics. Over 20 accessories using this technique ranging from socks and hats to bags and blend contemporary designs with an old technique. Any knitter's library will find this a popular lend. Leah Fehr's QUILTING YOUR STYLE: MAKE-IT-UNIQUE EMBELLISHING TECHNIQUES (9781564779083, $26.99) provides a range of step-by-step quilting techniques, each with a 5" square as the building block to an embellishing style. The 'lesson' blocks can be used in a sampler quilt and teach how to learn pin tucks, beading, yo-yos and more. Quilter's libraries will find it a fine learning tool. Melinda Bula's CANDY CANE LANE: QUILTS AND MORE TO SWEETEN THE HOLIDAYS (9781564779243, $14.99) provides a fine seasonal collection of holiday quilts, presenting five projects with a range of seasonal motifs and bright examples. From appliqued felt stockings to wall hangings and quilts, this is a guide any quilter will find intriguing and fun.

Crochet Adorned
Linda Permann
Potter Craft
c/o Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307451965, $24.95 www.crownpublishing.com

CROCHET ADORNED: REINVENT YOUR WARDROBE WITH CROCHETED ACCENTS, EMBELLISHMENTS AND TRIMS packs in some 20 patterns and 200 stitches to pair crochet with embellishing existing clothing. The emphasis on crocheted flowers, trim and other accents makes it easy to quickly dress up a dull sweater or article of clothing and offers all the basics including a complete stitch reference for beginners, making this a fine pick for any basic library.

Artistic Photo Quilts
Charlotte Ziebarth
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571206008, $27.95 www.ctpub.com

Transform digital photos into fabric art with Artistic Photo Quilts, a survey on how to use camera, computer and cloth for special projects. From blending photos for special effects to using filters, brush tools, and making theme quilts, the author's experiences contribute to a fine guide.

Colour on Cloth
Ruth Issett
Batsford
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781906388348, $21.95 www.anovabooks.com

COLOUR ON CLOTH: CREATE STUNNING EFFECTS WITH DYE ON FABRIC tells how to use dye on fabric, offering easy techniques, photos of finished fabrics, and discussions of direct dyeing, layered dyeing, pattern dyeing, and more. Textile artist Ruth urges you to develop your own creativity throughout, offering color photos, charts, and discussions of a range of options and approaches. Any needlework or fabric art library needs this.

African Inspirations in Embroidery
Mary Sleigh
Batsford
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781906388324, $21.95 www.anovabooks.com

Striking images of African art become textile art using embroidery, dyeing and mixed media in a fine illustrated book covering color and the design process from African cultures and traditions. From techniques for dyeing and Seminole patchwork to stitching, embellishment and mixed media applications, this comes from a textile artist who provides a blend of patchwork and embroidery techniques. Any needlework library will find this a popular and unique pick.

Rowan's Greatest Knits
Kate Buller, Editor
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600852503, $24.95 www.taunton.com

ROWAN'S GREATEST KNITS: 30 YEARS OF KNITTED PATTERNS FROM ROWAN YARNS provides thirty patterns from the 1980s to the 2000s, and include their designer's profiles. Numerous color photos from Rowan Magazine, yarn replacement suggestions, and more make for a fine collection perfect for any needlework library catering to knitters.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Art Of Hojo Undo
Michael Clarke
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594391361, $22.95, www.amazon.com

Okinawa is home to an impressive martial arts legacy. In a martial arts context, the term 'hojo undo' means 'supplemental training equipment', and refers to the aides and accessories that martial artists use to build their strength, stamina, focus, speed, accuracy, and fighting techniques associated with karate. In "The Art Of Hojo Undo: Power Training For Traditional Karate" by Michael Clarke (Kyoshi 7th dan, Okinawan goju-ry), aspiring martial arts students will find practical warm-up exercises, illustrated instructions for building their own exercise equipment, and a whole lot more. With its thoroughly 'student friendly' and profusely illustrated text, "The Art Of Hojo Uno" is a unique and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Martial Arts reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Architecture Shelf

The Earth-Sheltered House: An Architect's Sketchbook
Malcolm Wells
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603581073, $24.95 www.chelseagreen.com

THE EARTH-SHELTERED HOUSE is a classic in sustainable-building books and comes from a legend in the area of environmentally responsible architecture, who offers a fine survey of tips and personal experiences designing a range of structures. Homey handwritten notes accompany black and white drawings and diagrams perfect for any library strong in alternative architecture and environmentally-conscious structures.

DeWalt Building Code Reference
American Contractors Exam Services
Delmar Cengage Learning
5 Maxwell Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065-2919
Craftsman Book Company (publicity)
6058 Corte Del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92011
9780977718399, $24.95, www.dewalt.com/guides

The law can be a tricky and fickle thing. "DeWalt Building Code Reference: The Ultimate Code Reference for Residential Construction" is a guide to dealing gingerly with building code laws that all too often land projects in limbo due to some obscure violation. Covering the countless aspects of construction and what one needs to prepare for, "DeWalt Building Code Reference" is highly recommended and should be on the shelf of anyone in the construction business.

Change Design, second edition
NBBJ
Ostberg Library of Design
c/o Greenway Communications
25 Technology Parkway South, Suite 101, Norcross, GA 30092
9780981898957, $59.95, www.amazon.com www.greenway.us

The architectural firm of NBBJ specializes in providing companies and organizations in both the private and public sectors with plans and designs for creating distinctive, artistic, and needs-based buildings for their corporate endeavors. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Change Design: Conversations About Architecture As The Ultimate Business Tool", from NBBJ is an informed and informative compilaton of essays, interviews, project case studies illustrating and exemplifying how architectural building designs, both exterior and interior, can transform a corporate image, operations, competitiveness, and staff work climate. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Change Design" is especially recommended for architectural students and is a core addition to professional and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections.

The New Solar Home
Dave Bonta & Stephen Snyder
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com 1-800-748-5439
9781423603900 $24.99, www.amazon.com

The New Solar Home reveals just how greatly solar homes have evolved from the PV-covered buildings of the 1980s. In the long run, a solar home can save one money, whether one lives in a large city, a suburb, or a remote rural location. Filled with stunning, full-color photography of the interiors and exteriors of solar homes, The New Solar Home is both a resource filled with inspirational ideas and a practical guide to different types of solar-powered systems one can incorporate into one's dwelling. A handy resource for anyone seeking to build a new home or remodel their existing one, enthusiastically recommended especially in today's modern era of rising fuel costs.

Creating Your Own Architectural Style
George D. Hopkins, Jr.
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807198, $49.95, www.amazon.com

While most of us, at one time or another, have dreamed of having a home specifically designed to our own specifications, life style preferences, and idealized imaginations, we haven't a clue how to go about implementing our architectural aspirations. That's why "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" by professional architect George D. Hopkins Jr. is such an invaluable instructional reference on the subject of planning and designing a home from the ground up. Sage advice and insightful commentary is provided ranging from choosing a central design concept, to vetting and choosing an architect, selecting a structural engineer, and what to expect and anticipate with respect to the construction process from beginning to end. Profusely illustrated throughout, enhanced with samples and examples of interior layouts, synopsis of diverse architectural styles, "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" is especially ideal for the non-specialist general reader who is contemplating having their own home built to their own specifications, needs, conceptual ideas, and budget limitations. Of special note is the inclusion of a pictorial glossary of architectural terms. "Creating Your Own Architectural Style" is a superbly presented and comprehensive reference that is highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Heavens and Hells of the Mind
Imre Vallyon
Sounding-Light Publishing Ltd.
c/o Warwick Associates Public Relations
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
www.soundinglight.com
9780909038304, $119.95, www.amazon.com

Consisting of a beautifully designed boxed set of four volumes, Imre Vallyon's "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" is an inspired and inspiring, descriptively detailed, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' analytical survey of the basic spiritual/religious concepts included in the teachings, practices, rituals, and scriptures of Christianity, Yoga, Zen Buddism, Tantra, Sufism, and the 'Warrior School'. "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" presents an articulate, exhaustive, thoughtful, and thought-provoking extended commentary on the contributions of meditation to obtaining a state of 'higher consciousness'. Of special note is a 2100-word lexicon of 'Wisdom Language'. A massive undertaking embodying an impressive degree of scholarship, "Heavens and Hells of the Mind" is a seminal and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Religion & Spirituality reference collections and study lists.


The Literary Shelf

Bearing the Mystery
Gregory Wolfe, editor
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802864642, $30.00, www.eerdmans.com

The mind of a short fiction writer bears the ability to get short and simply to the point. "Bearing the Mystery: Twenty Years of Image"is a collection of the journal's best short stories, poems, and works of visual art. Drawing from a cast of writers of those who are well known and those who should be known more, Gregory Wolfe presents a fine collection from a fine literary journal. "Bearing the Mystery" deserves its own place on any shelf dedicated to short fiction.

Kaleidoscope: Lenses on Reality
Robert F. Lawson & Carol S. Lawson
Chrysalis Books
Swedenborg Foundation Publishers
320 North Church Street, West Chester, PA 19380
9780877852407, $15.95, www.swedenborg.com

Six billion eyes in the world and very few of them see things the same. "Kaleidoscope: Lenses on Reality" is a collection of literary essays from a wide range of writers, comprising the sixteenth edition of the Chrysalis Reader, a series combing short fiction, poetry and memoir with on the topic of reality and its perception. "Kaleidoscope" is a fascinating and intriguing read that should not be overlooked.

Unsettled Remains
Cynthia Sugars & Gerry Turcotte
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580545, $38.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Despite the heavy influence from Great Britain and its American neighbors, Canada has a voice all its own in the literary world. "Unsettled Remains: Canadian Literature and the Post-Colonial Gothic" is a look at Canadian gothic and its influence on Canadian writers and their literary pursuits. A critical and scholarly discussion of this pattern of Canadian literature follows and provides much food for thought that will entice both English and American literary readers as well as Canadian ones. "Unsettled Remains" is a fine addition to any world literary studies collection.

J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives
Jeannette Baxter, editor
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704
9780826497260 $29.95, www.amazon.com

J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors discussing the works of contemporary British author J. G. Ballard, perhaps best knwon for "Empire of the Sun" and "Crash" (both of which received successful cinematic adaptations). Critical perspectives of Ballard's novels, short stories, and journalistic writing discuss his form, narrative style, and experimental ideas. The many themes prevalent in his work range from shocking violence to driving economic forces and turning wheels of history. Ballard's writing offers its own contributions to today's latest debates, particularly those involving politics and terrorism in a post-9/11 world. An invaluable resource especially for college students and literary scholars seeking to analyze and better understand Ballard's writing, J. G. Ballard: Contemporary Critical Perspectives is a "must-have" for college libraries.

Public Poet, Private Man
Christoph Irmscher
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umass.edu/umpress
9781558495845, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Every highschool English class will have some mention of the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882). No college or university English major will not have a working knowledge of one of America's 19th century icons of poetry. In "Public Poet, Private Man: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at 200", academician Christoph Irmscher (Indiana University - Bloomington) in celebration of what would have been the poet's 200th anniversary, draws upon original materials that are part of the Longfellow collections housed in Harvard's Houghton Library, as well as source documents (including drawings and photographs) archived in the Longfellow National Historic Site. The result is an impressively informed and informative literary biography showcasing Longfellow and his accomplishments within the contexts of family and friends. "Public Poet, Private Man" is a seminal contribution to the study of the poet in terms of his life and work which is very strongly recommended for personal reading lists and academic library reference collections.


The Nautical Shelf

Chapman Piloting & Seamanship
Charles B. Husick
Hearst Books
c/o Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
9781588167446, $59.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com

The nautical 'bible' Chapman Piloting & Seamanship has been completely updated and reviewed with new charts, photos and illustrations for its 66th anniversary edition, making it an ongoing foundation title for any serious nautical collection. Chapters have been fully updated with the latest U.S. regulations, fees and federal laws and cover everything from how to assist a stranded boat charts vs. maps, considering radar's pros and cons, and more. A 'must' reference.

Navigation Through the Ages
Donald Launer
Sheridan House
145 Palisade St, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092783, $23.95 www.sheridanhouse.com

From new developments in navigation to the early history of seafarers, Navigation Through the Ages explores navigational tools invented by different civilizations in different eras and packs in topics in a historical overview of navigation techniques. Emergency signaling, electronics, and ancient mariner skills are all covered in a lively, non-technical survey perfect for general-interest audiences and collections.

Disasters At Sea
Liz Mechem
Hammond
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780843708547, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The history of sailing ships is a history of great accomplishments and great tragedies. In "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks", Liz Mechem takes full advantage of Hammond's expert cartography to illustrate her informed and informative accounts of more than sixty stories of catastrophes at sea that occurred because of nature's storms, piracy, mutiny, and unexplained mysteries. From the disappearance of Kublai Khan's navy as they attempted the invasion of Japan, to the shipwrecks of the Caribbean, "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks" is a gripping read that is profusely illustrated throughout. Replete with such 'infobits' as to why women were considered bad luck aboard a ship, to superstitions prohibiting the carrying of a banana, to always boarding a ship with the right foot to avoid bad luck, "Disasters at Sea: A Visual History of Infamous Shipwrecks" is very highly recommended for school and community libraries in general, and the reading lists of anyone with an interest in the history of seafaring.


The Economics Shelf

Riches Among The Ruins
Robert P. Smith
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Jane Wesman Public Relations, Inc. (publicity)
322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10001
9780814410608, $24.95, www.amacombooks.org

You can make a fortune anywhere, you just need to know where to look. "Riches Among the Ruins: Adventures in the Dark Corners of the Global Economy" is the memoir and international finance advisory guide as he goes to the darker parts of the world. An intriguing read even without the international finance lesson, Smith's story is one of a mercenary turned economist and will keep you glued to the page as you pick up useful advice. "Riches Among the Ruins" is a riveting and enthusiastically recommended read.

U.S. Trade Issues
Alfred E. Eckes, Jr.
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598841992, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Economic trade is the life-blood of American commerce. A contributing factor to America's prosperity and a key component to economic reverses is the state of the country's trade with other nations. The newest addition to ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series is "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" by Alfred E. Eckes, Jr. (Ohio Eminent Research professor, Ohio University, Athens) begins with an informative background and history to American trade, then continues with an analytical survey of diverse problems and their negotiated solutions on issues ranging from the environment to human rights, to safety and sovereignty. Broadening out to a global framework, "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" addresses international partnerships, the World Trade Organization, the European Union, and more. Enhanced with a chronology and an impressive roster of biographical sketches of key men and women who have shaped and influenced American and International trade; key documents (including President Obama's trade agenda and policy priorities); a directory of trade organizations; an extensive listing of books, periodicals, journals, newsletters, films, video recordings, databases and interest resources germane to American trade issues; a glossary, and an index, "U.S. Trade Issues: A Reference Handbook" is an essential and core addition to both school and community library Economic reference collections, and is highly recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in American trade in the modern global economy.

Mortgages And Annuities
Yuri K. Shestopaloff
AKVY Press
142 Kennard Avenue, North York, ON, Canada, M3H 4M5
9780980966787, $57.95, www.amazon.com

"Mortgages and Annuities: An Introduction" by mathematician Yuri K. Shestopaloff was specifically written and designed for undergraduate students, their teachers, and financial industry specialists needing a solid grounding in the mathematical foundations and computations associated with the development, implementation, and interpretation of financial investment instruments and their underlying formulas that are commonly associated with the purchase of buildings and investments for retirement. Informed and informative, "Mortgages and Annuities: An Introduction" is replete with numerical examples, exercises, and illustrative problems making it especially appropriate as a curriculum textbook. Also very highly recommended for professional and academic library reference collections is Yuri K. Shestopaloff's "Mortgages And Annuities: Mathematical Foundations And Computational Algorithms" (9780980966770, $59.95).

John Wiley & Sons
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-3774
www.wiley.com

Ken Fisher with Lara Hoffmans' HOW TO SMELL A RAT: THE FIVE SIGNS OF FINANCIAL FRAUD (9780470526538, $24.95) covers embezzlement, fraud, and ways managers and financial people can detect both easily - and prevent it. Chapters offer practical advice in a resource considering recent and historic fraud cases, how they operated, and how they could have been avoided. Any business library and many a general lending collection needs this. The second updated edition of William Bonner and Addison Wiggin's THE NEW EMPIRE OF DEBT: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN EPIC FINANCIAL BUBBLE (9780470483268, $27.95) returns to the original treatise and prediction to reveal how the financial bubble plaguing the U.S. will soon end this society. From the shaky position of the U.S. to how government control has ravaged the business sector, THE NEW EMPIRE OF DEBT offers some frightening forecasts we all need to consider.


The Psychology Shelf

The Scientific American Day in the Life of Your Brain
Judith Horstman
Jossey-Bass
989 Market St., 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470376232, $25.95 www.josseybass.com

The Scientific American Day in the Life of Your Brain offers a 24-hour journal of what's happening in the brain as a human eats, sleeps, wakes up, fights, worries and more. It combines the latest cutting-edge research with new imaging techniques to provide a visual and verbal coverage of a range of mental considerations and is a fine pick for all kinds of libraries, from schools at the high school level on up to general lending collections.

The Role of Companion Animals in Counseling and Psychology
Jane K. Wilkes, RN, MAPPC
Charles Thomas, Publisher, Ltd.
2600 S. First St., Springfield, IL 62704
9780398078638 $29.95 www.ccthomas.com

The Role of Companion Animals in Counseling and Psychology: Discovering Their Use in the Therapeutic Process provides therapists and students alike with a key to understanding how companion animals can make a difference. Chapters describe human-animal bonds in assisted therapies and quote many research studies in the process of exploring the potentials of this bond. Any college-level psychology collection needs this.

Perfect Targets
Rebekah Heinrichs
Autism Asperger Publishing Company
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283-0173
1931282188, $23.95, www.asperger.net

Not that different from other children, they seem to attract more bullies than usual. "Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying" discusses Asperger's syndrome and how young children with the disorder have a higher tendency to be targets of the cruelty of bullies more often than other children their age. With plenty of wise tips and advice for parents to help their children cope with these situations, "Perfect Targets" is a worthwhile investment for parents and educators who want to help these children.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Michelle G. Craske
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433805486, $24.95, www.amazon.com

A slender 192-page volume, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" by Michelle G. Craske (Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA) informatively addresses this widely practiced form of therapy with respect to its history, theoretical concepts and applications arising from discoveries with respect to classical and instrumental conditioning. Focusing on behavioral and cognitive interventions dealing with maladaptive and dysfunctional behaviors, as well as the promotion of adaptive and functional attitudes affecting behavior, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" the newest addition to the American Psychological Association's outstanding 'Theories of Psychotherapy' series. Enhanced with a glossary of key terms, a listing of suggested readings, references, and an index, "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy" is strongly recommended reading for students and practitioners, and a core addition to academic library reference collections in Psychology & Psychiatry.


The Sports Shelf

Live All You Can
Jay Martin
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
9780231147941, $22.95 www.cup.columbia.edu

LIVE ALL YOU CAN: ALEXANDER JOY CARTWRIGHT AND THE INVENTION OF MODERN BASEBALL makes a case for Cartwright as the real inventor of baseball, belaying the popular idea that Doubleday achieved this. Cartwright was an avid ballplayer and his personal papers serve witness to how he used elements from various ball games to form positions and laws governing modern-day baseball. He worked to promote baseball nation-wide, and his efforts are detailed in a blend of biography and baseball history perfect for any sports library.

The Beckham Experiment
Grant Wahl
Crown Publishing
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307407870, $24.99 www.crownpublishing.com

THE BECKHAM EXPERIMENT: WHO THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ATHLETE TRIED TO CONQUER AMERICA tells of a European soccer champ who let the security of his home sport to begin a risky new venture in the U.S. His goal was to increase the popularity of soccer in this country and make himself known to Americans: THE BECKHAM EXPERIMENT follows his American experience and uses interviews with Beckham himself to spice a sports chronicle key for any serious soccer collection.

The Last Days of Shea
Dana Brand
Taylor Trade Publishing
c/o The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589794573, $16.95, www.rlpgtrade.com

Shea Stadium is truly an American icon. "The Last Days of Shea: Delight and Despair in the Life of a Mets Fan" takes a nostalgic look back at the home of the New York Mets for decades. A truly soulful look through the eyes of a Mets fan who remembers the stadium as a child. It tells the story of the stadium, its life, and its eventual deconstruction as the Mets moved to a more modern facility. "The Last Days of Shea" is a must read for any nostalgic Mets super fan or for collections on American icons.

The Team America Loves To Hate
Charles R. Warner
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313357046, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The New York Yankees is perhaps America's most iconic professional baseball team. But with respect to how they are perceived by the fans of other baseball teams, they are also quite likely the most reviled. The reasons are more than just the outcome of simple regional rivalries, but also arise from their relationship to New York City, corporate history, and New York Yankee fan behavior towards the teams and fan base of their opponents. Of special note is the epilogue 'Yankee Love and the new Yankee Stadium'. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notes and a comprehensive index, as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Team America Loves to Hate: Why Baseball Fans Despise the New York Yankees" by Charles R. Warner (Professor of Communications Studies, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) is a compelling read, the product of considerable and impressive research, and especially recommended to non-specialist general readers with an interest in professional baseball in general, and the New York Yankees in particular.


The Archaeology Shelf

Latrinae Et Foricae: Toilets in the Roman World
Barry Hobson
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715638507 $27.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Written by expert archaeologist Barry Hobson (who spent twelve seasons working at Pompeii, among his other archaeological labors) Latrinae Et Foricae: Toilets in the Roman World quite literally lives up to its title as an in-depth study of Roman toiletries - both single (latrinae) and multi-seater (foricae) commodes that formed part of their advanced sanitation system. Though toiletries all over the Roman Empire from Iberia to Syria, North Africa, and Hadrian's Wall are covered, especial note is paid to Pompeii, where many toilets were preserved along with evidence of how they changed over time. The historical discussion includes logical reasoning about questions of privacy, sewage, and waste disposal in the area, as well as health and diseases issues, even touching upon references to such matters in Latin literature and graffiti. An excellent resource offering a solid glimpse into a little-discussed aspect of ancient Roman culture.


The Botany Shelf

Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada
Ray S. Vizgirdas & Edna M. Rey-Vizgirdas
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657
9780874177893 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Biologist Ray S. Vizgirdas and former botanist and field biologist Edna M. Rey-Vizgirdas present Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada, an in-depth, species-by-species guide to wild plants including black-and-white illustrations of each specimen. Each entry includes a text description as well as the picture, a list of interesting facts (such as medicinal uses), and the plant's scientific name. Overview sections, appendices, a glossary, and a list of recommended additional reading round out this useful and informative field guide.


The Railroading Shelf

Allies of the Earth
Alfred Runte
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802
1931112525 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Allies of the Earth: Railroads and the Soul of Preservation challenges America to rethink why it has all but abandoned its railroad systems for fuel-devouring automobiles and air travel - while these other machines may be faster, their toll on the environment and fuel resources is also higher. There are also less tangible boons to rail travel, such as the opportunity to look out the train window, and the pleasure of absorbing the journey rather than simply hustling to the destination. Surveying both American and European rail history, author Alfred Runte makes a call for renewed interest in experiencing the beauty of the countryside, and restoration of the railroads that America has foolishly disregarded for too long. A thoughtful and thought-provoking account written from the soul, Allies of the Earth postulates some interesting ideas about the role railroads could play in promoting national conservation and economic sustainability.


The International Studies Shelf

Religion and Politics in the Middle East
Robert D. Lee
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Books
2465 Centrall Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344201, $35.00, www.westviewpress.com

The root of the Middle East's political problems lies in its religion... or does it? "Religion and Politics in the Middle East: Identity, Ideology, Institutions, and Attitudes" is a discussion of the Middle East and how each country's religion shapes its politics, or as Lee argues, how each country's politics shapes its religion. Offering a very balanced view at the Middle East's problems with separation of Church and State, "Religion and Politics in the Middle East" is a highly enlightening and scholarly read, a key addition to any world politics or religion collection.

Taiwan's Long Road to Democracy
Katutugu Yoshida
Edward Elgar
William Pratt House, 9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060
9781848440784, $115.00, www.e-elgar.com

The story of the two Chinas is one that is truly unique. "Taiwan's Long Road to Democracy: Bitter Taste of Freedom" tells the story of the Republic of China, more commonly referred to as its conventional and less confusing name of Taiwan. Discussing Taiwan's constant conflicts with mainland communist China, "Taiwan's Long Road to Democracy" is an intriguing and educational dissection of the Taiwan/China political system conflict and how Taiwan has gained its own identity and has become one of the most free countries in the world, Katutugu Yoshida provides a highly educational and informative read. "Taiwan's Long Road to Democracy" is a core and vital addition to any history collection focusing on Asian politics.

The Making of Modern Israel
Leslie Stein
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745644660, $25.00, www.politybooks.com

Israel was granted to the Jews without conquest in 1948. It doesn't mean they didn't have to fight for it. "The Making of Modern Israel: 1948-1967"discusses the state of Israel and the harsh conflicts it faced as such a young country. Marked by a divided internal system of the Arabs and Jews, hostile neighbors bringing a constant war through the first twenty years, and countless other problems, the first decades of the country were tremendously tumultuous. A riveting history, "The Making of Modern Israel" is a must for anyone who wants to understand Israel's origins.

Getting Out
Michael Walzer & Nicolaus Mills, editors
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812242164, $29.95, www.upenn.edu/pennpress

Unless Iraq is on its way to becoming the 51st state, the US Armed forces must depart at some point. "Getting Out: Historical Perspectives on Leaving Iraq" is a collection of essays of people looking back deep into history to gain a better understanding of how a an invader can leave a country better off when they found it. Looking at history's occupational blunders and successes, these minds provide many intriguing ideas, making "Getting Out" a fine and much recommended read.

Field Notes on Democracy
Arundhati Roy
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
www.haymarketbooks.org
9781608460243 $20.00, www.amazon.com

Field Notes on Democracy: Listening to Grasshoppers is an anthology of essays in which author Arundhati Roy (winner of the 2002 Lannan Foundation Cultural Freedom Prize) seeks to answer the question "Is there life after democracy?" More specifically, she examines how Hindu nationalism and neo-liberal economic reforms in India, which arose during the early 1990s, are currently transforming India into a police state. From the deliberate and systematic marginalization of religious and ethnic minorities, to the increased power of predatory corporations that engineer the displacement of the poor on a gigantic scale, to the August 2008 uprising of the people of Kashmir against India's military occupation, to a scrutiny of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Field Notes on Democracy is sharply critical in its exposure of the weaknesses and corruption in India's current model of government. A thought-provoking read, Field Notes on Democracy warns against the abuses of wealth and power in India's current governmental system, and the threat of impending disaster. Highly recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Moon Rise
Marilee Brothers
Bell Bridge Books
PO Box 67, Smyrna, GA 30081
9780982175699, $14.95, www.bellbridgebooks.com

World saving is just too much to put on the plate of a high school girl. "Moon Rise" is the second book of Marilee Brothers' Unbidden Magic series, following Allie Emerson, a girl prophesied to save the world. But the mundane pressures of high school life seem over rule it all, and the few breaks she does seem to get aren't breaks at all. "Moon Rise" is a fun fantasy for younger readers, especially those who enjoyed the first book.

A Practical Guide to Vampires
Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer
Mirrorstone
c/o Wizards Of The Coast, Inc.
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
www.wizards.com 1-800-821-8028
9780786952434 $12.95, www.amazon.com

Appealing to readers of all ages, A Practical Guide to Vampires is an illustrated, fantastic guide to these popular horror-movie monsters. Presenting the basics of vampire lore from anatomy (apparently vampires have withered internal organs and small lungs whose sole purpose is to provide air for speech, since they don't breathe) to basic physical and magical self-defense against vampires, to proper etiquette when invited to a vampire banquet. A delightful treasure trove of ideas, especially recommended not only for vampire fans, but also anyone interested in creating vampire stories, or leading a role playing game involving vampires. Also a joy to page through are previous books in the "Practical Guide" series, including "A Practical Guide to Monsters" and "A Practical Guide to Dragons".

Hunting Memories
Barb Hendee
ROC Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451462916, $15.00 www.penguin.com

HUNTING MEMORIES tells of Eleisha, who receives a communication acknowledging her status as a vampire and letting her know there are others like her in the world. The difference is - she's learned a way to draw blood from her victims without killing them - and her discovery will divide the existing vampire community in this tense thriller, recommended for any fantasy holding.

The New Space Opera
Gardner Dozois & Jonathan Strahan, editors
EOS
10 E. 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061562358, $15.99 www.eosbooks.com

This original anthology offers some fine space opera blending high drama with science fantasy. Short stories by Elizabeth Moon, Garth Nix, Mike Resnick, Sean and Tad Williams, and more pair original science and cutting-edge scenarios with high drama in a selection of adventures perfect for any science fiction library.

The Grave Thief
Tom Lloyd
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027805, $16.00 www.pyrsf.com

THE GRAVE THIEF is Book 3 of the Twilight Reign and tells of Lord Isak, haunted by the destruction of Scree and visions of his own death. His involvement with prophecy and destiny will change his course of action and meld a struggle for survival with a new understanding of battle choices in this ongoing book of the Twilight Reign, recommended for prior fans.

Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Jame has been reunited with her people after a huge adventure - but when she's expected to return to the normal life of a Kenecyr lady, she just can't do it. Shadow Assassins, outcast ghosts and more are on her trail - and her arrival at a noble military college to face competition reveals dangers and family secrets in P.C. Hodgell's SEEKER'S BANE (9781439132975, $14.00), a fast-paced adventure. Also highly recommended for any general science fiction library is Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's FLEDGLING (9781439132876, $24.00), a new Laiden Universe novel telling of a professor's daughter born in a 'safe' society where the popular is monitored for behavior dangerous to society. She's on a course to being declared a Danger due to her special physical problems - and becomes involved in politics and danger when an off-world journey takes her into new worlds. Plenty of twists and turns make for an involving story.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Courage to Feel
Rob Preece
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313
9781559393331 $14.95, www.amazon.com

Buddhist practitioner and psychotherapist Rob Preece presents The Courage to Feel: Buddhist Practices for Opening to Others, a guide to freeing oneself from what Preece refers to as "self-preoccupation" - the tendency to have one's actions strictly controlled by a narrow focus characterized by insecurity and isolation. Learning to disengage from this harmful and limited mentality frees one to enjoy a happier, more relaxed mind-set and engage more fully in positive relationships. The Courage to Feel presents both traditional Buddhist meditations and practices for awakening the mind such as tonglen, and also a Jungian perspective that suggests how Westerners may need to re-evaluate how they can benefit the most from these activities. An invaluable blend of the wisdom, helpful insights, and self-improvement practices of East and West, highly recommended.


The Science Shelf

Micro Mania
Jordan D. Brown
Imagine!
25 Whitman Road, Morganville, NJ 07751
9780982306420, $19.95, www.imaginebks.com

They're anywhere and everywhere. "Micro Mania: A Really Close-Up Look at Bacteria, Bedbugs, & the Zillions of Other Gross Little Creatures That Live In, On, & All Around You!" is a guide to the micro world that sits all around us , as well as all the things that humans seem to miss about the world around them. Magnifying this microscopic world, "Micro Mania" brings the disgusting to enlightenment. "Micro Mania" is a choice pick for science and educational collections aimed at younger readers.

Identification Guide to the Fossil Plants
Kevin R. Aulenback
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AL Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382479, $24.95, www.uofcpress.com

Animals weren't the only things to evolve over the aeons. "Identification Guide to Fossil Plants of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Drumheller, Alberta" is an investigation of the history of the plants of Horseshoe Canyon, and the fossils that let people try to figure out the surroundings of the dinosaurs and the state of the planet millions of years ago. Intriguing, scholarly, and essential to understanding the bigger picture, "Identification Guide to Fossil Plants" is an informed and informative read.

Roadside Geology of Minnesota
Richard W. Ojakangas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com 1-800-234-5308
9780878425624 $26.00, www.amazon.com

Illustrated with diagrams and black-and-white and color photographs throughout, Roadside Geology of Minnesota is a user-friendly guide to the striking geological sights available to Minnesota residents and tourists. From the Morton Gneiss (once believed to be the oldest rock on Earth), to the St. Peter Sandstone (one of the purest sandstones in the world) to the shorelines of Glacial Lake Agassiz (one of the largest glacial lakes known to have existed in North America), Roadside Geology of Minnesota covers a broad variety of sites and formations, giving a detailed yet highly accessible natural history of each. Amateur geologists and armchair travelers as well as Minnesota visitors are sure to enjoy this delightful tour of Minnesota's geological wonders. Also highly recommended are the many other volumes in the "Roadside Geology" series.


The Civil War Shelf

Rebels of the North
Grant Langdon
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780979086014, $10.89, www.atlasbooks.com

Slaves, trade tariffs, the reasons behind the Civil War were many. "Rebels of the North: How Land Policy Caused the Civil War" discusses another element to one of the darkest periods in America's history. Presenting another element to the conflict, of how the conflict over the western lands between the rich and the rising common man added fuel to the fires, he describes this element well. "Rebels of the North" is a solid read for anyone looking for greater insight on the causes of the civil war.

General Sterling Price and the Confederacy
Thomas C. Reyolds, author
Robert G. Schultz, editor
Missouri History Museum
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9781883982683 $24.95 www.mohistory.org

Before the Civil War, Sterling Price served in the Missouri State Guard. When America divided, Price was conditionally for the Union - he felt that the Union should not suppress the rights of individual states. Though he was a military leader for the South in the Civil War, he was not fully trusted by Missouri Governor Claiborne Jackson, Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds, or Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America. Price shared the hardships of war with his men, and fought with them in the battles of Wilson's Creek, Lexington, and Pea Ridge. Yet his autumn 1864 raid into Missouri failed to bring Missouri into the Confederacy, earning him Reynold's personal scorn. In 1867, Reynolds began to write his version of the war's events involving General Sterling Price; Reynolds' manuscript was never completed. General Sterling Price and the Confederacy presents this unfinished manuscript for public perusal for the first time. A treasure trove of firsthand information about Sterling Price (even if the author is understandably biased), and a glimpse into the workings of the Confederate government, General Sterling Price and the Confederacy is aptly clarified with notes by historian Robert G. Schultz, and is a welcome addition to Civil War reference shelves with a focus on primary testimonies.


The Wisconsin Shelf

The Master Cheesemakers Of Wisconsin
James Norton & Becca Dilley
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
9780299234348, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Wisconsin, due to its cultural and agricultural dairy farm legacy, was justifiably world famous for the quality and variety of its cheeses. Indeed, the making of cheese was a specialty brought over from Europe by immigrant settlers beginning in the 1850s, and continues to persist as an important economic contribution to Wisconsin's economic well-being. Profusely illustrated throughout, "The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin" is the collaborative project of James Norton and Becca Dilley who extensively interviewed dairymen, surveying the cheese plants that employ them, and profile forty three acknowledged Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary of cheesemaking terms, cheese factory touring opportunities, tasting notes, and suggested food pairings, "The Master Cheesemakers of Wisconsin" is an absolutely recommended addition to community library "Wisconsin History" reference collections, as well as the personal reading lists of anyone who has ever enjoyed the variety and quality of Wisconsin cheese.

Comics in Wisconsin
Paul Buhle
Borderland Books
33 Frederick Circle, Madison, Wisconsin 53711
9780981562032, $21.95, www.borderlandbooks.net

Comics and their ilk have had their place in the history of Wisconsin. "Comics in Wisconsin" is author of comics and comic enthusiast Paul Buhle offering his own insights on comics of all sorts as a tool for social change throughout Wisconsin's history. Drawing on work from many artists, there is much in the way of black and white reproductions throughout. "Comics in Wisconsin" is a must for anyone who wants to see the value in this wasted hobby on the minds of Wisconsinites.

Steam & Cinders
Axel Lorenzsonn
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870203855 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Steam & Cinders: The Advent of Railroads in Wisconsin is an extraordinary cultural history of the rise of railroads in early Wisconsin, from the first appearances of steam engines in developing Wisconsin communities to the railroad boom of 1855-1857, the bribery, corruption and political intrigue that accompanied the advent of railroads, the economic depression of 1858-1861 that bankrupted all Wisconsin railroads, their subsequent recovery, and more. A scattering of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrates this thoughtful account, sure to provide a wealth enjoyment for railroad lovers and Wisconsin history buffs alike. Highly recommended.

North Woods River
Eileen M. McMahon & Theodore J. Karamanski
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
9780299234249 $24.95, www.amazon.com

North Woods River: The St. Croix River in Upper Midwest History is a natural and historical biography of the St. Croix River and its valley, over the past three hundred years. Following the interplay of human settlement and the river's environment, while drawing lessons about how to most effectively conserve and manage wild waters (which so easily fall victim to pollution), North Woods River is an eminently accessible text that both lay readers and scholars will enjoy. A handful of black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this excellent addition to American history shelves.


The Library Science Shelf

The Accidental Librarian
Pamela H. MacKellar
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
www.infotoday.com
9781573873383, $29.50, www.amazon.com

Not every staff librarian set out to become a librarian or has the advantage of specific library training. Many a librarian must figure out how to stay abreast of the rapid technological advances in the realm of library science. Then there all the volunteers who find themselves (often because of community library budget cuts in these hard economic times) having to perform duties once reserved for professionally trained library staff members. That's why Pamela MacKellar's "The Accidental Librarian" is such a valuably informed and informative instructional guide and introduction to library principles, practices, and tools. Replete throughout with illustrative examples, practical tips, and useful exercises, "The Accidental Librarian" is an invaluable and highly recommended read for any library professional or volunteer seeking to improve their ability to serve their patrons.

The PLA Reader for Public Library Directors and Managers
Kathleen M. Hughes
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706845, $65.00, www.neal-schuman.com

The skills to run a public library change with the times, and the times have been changing fast. "The PLA Reader for Public Library Directors and Managers" is an updated collection of essays for librarians with all of the latest updates and knowledge that has come along as libraries have advanced over recent years. Many librarians chime in on such issues as better leadership, keeping communications strong, and the rise of Wikipedia like services. "The PLA Reader for Public Library Directors and Managers" is a read that many librarians should embrace to stay on the ball.

The Successful Library Trustee Handbook, second edition
Mary Y. Moore
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910030, $45.00, www.alastore.ala.org

Trust is a key part of the word 'trustee'. "The Successful Library Trustee Handbook" is the second edition of American Library Association's volumes on better trustee boards, explaining in depth the role of the trustee board, the importance of advocacy, its role in a libraries policies and how all of these affect the library's function and its future. Something to be brought along by a library administrator for their meetings, "The Successful Library Trustee Handbook" is enthusiastically recommended.

Graphic Novels
Martha Cornog & Timothy Perper, editor
Libraries Unlimited
130 Cremona Drive, PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591584780, $45.00, www.abc-clio.com

Graphic novels are more than just long comic books. "Graphic Novels: Beyond the Basics: Insights and Issues for Libraries" is a discussion of graphic novels and their place in standard libraries, which commonly do not carry comic books. Demographic concerns, censorship, and even administrative concerns, all are discussed in depth. Any librarian who wants to better understand the graphic novel and decide whether their library should begin to carry them needs to consider "Graphic Novels: Beyond the Basics" as an educational introduction and reference to the category.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Maverick Marketing
Lisa Messenger & Mel Carswell
Messenger Publishing
Suite 6, Level 6, 50 Holt St, Surry Hills
PO BOX H241, Australian Square, Sydney, 2000
claire@messengerpublishing.com.au
097755192X, 17.95, www.amazon.com

In "Maverick Marketing: Publishing For Passion And Profit", Lisa Messenger draws upon her years of experience and expertise as the Managing Director of Messenger Marketing and Messenger Publishing, working with aspiring authors and self-publishers with the processes and problems of marketing their books. The result is a truly 'reader friendly' compilation of sound advice on marketing, promoting, funding, distributing, and selling non-fiction books by self-published and small press published authors. From what to do in getting started, to traditional marketing resources like bookstores, to the securing and utilization of publicity and reviews, to employing modern marketing tools from email to websites, to talk shows and author appearances, and so much more, "Maverick Marketing" is informed and informative as it provides thoughtful and thought-provoking commentaries, advice, 'tips, tricks and techniques', that can be readily employed by even the most novice newcomer to publishing. Especially recommended to the attention of those new to publishing, "Maverick Marketing" also has a great deal of value as a 'refresher course' for those with some measure of experience in marketing books today.

How to Swat the Killer Bees Out of Your Writing
Nancy Owens Barnes
Rushing River
PO Box 95, Priest River, ID 83856
9780982390207, $8.95, www.rushriverpress.com

To Be, or not to be. The answer is not to be. "How to Swat the Killer Bes Out of Your Writing: Craft Your Passive Voice into Active Voice and Watch Your Writing Take Flight" is a guide to avoiding the nasty demon of amateur writers that is passive voice writing. Even the best story can be plagued with these mistakes, sabotaging one's work. "How to Swat the Killer Bes Out Your Writing" is a consideration for any aspiring author.

Bang the Keys
Jill Dearman
Alpha
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592579143, $16.95, www.penguin.com

Writing is something that's hard to casually pursue. "Bang the Keys: Four Steps to a Lifelong Writing Practice" is a book of advice for writers who want to more fervently and more reliably pursue their writing. Encouraging readers to take their best ideas and transform them into real things, Jill Dearman has many solid pieces of advice for readers. "Bang the Keys" is a top pick for those who want to hone their craft for the better.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit!
C. Pinherio & Nick Russell
Pineapple Publications
info@pineappleguides.com
9780982266007, $18.95

Self-publishing doesn't just have to be vanity publishing. "The Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit!: Start a Home-Based Publishing Company and Publishing Your Nonfiction Book with Create Space and Amazon" is a guide actually making money off one's work when publishing work by yourself. Outlining how to use Amazon's CreateSpace services, C. Pinherio & Nick Russel describe the process intricately and very well. "The Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit" should be strongly considered for anyone who wants to get their work out there.

The Well-Fed Writer
Peter Bowerman
Fanove
3713 Stonewall Circle, Atlanta, GA 30339
9780967059877, $19.95, www.wellfedwriter.com

The starving artist is not a stereotype one needs to live in. "The Well-Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less" is a guide to breaking into the lucrative and flexible world of freelancing as a writer in commercial venues. An absolute must consideration to anyone who wants to pave their way in life using their skills with a pen, "The Well-Fed Writer" is quite the guide for getting started when you're at square-one.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

They Were Just People
Bill Tammeus & Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218605, $24.95, www.press.umsystem.edu

The views of one megalomaniacal leader are not those of his people. "They Were Just People: Stories of Rescue in Poland During the Holocaust" is a story of those Europeans who stood against Nazi Germany's genocide by risking their own lives to protect their neighbors, friends, and strangers. This assortment of stories is a testament to the human spirit of goodness, and offers much personal history of those who resisted evil. "They Were Just People" is a solid addition to any Holocaust studies collection.

Hiding in the Spotlight
Greg Dawson
Pegasus Books
80 Broad St., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
The B&B Media Group (publicity)
7779 Park Trails, Fort Worth, TX 76137
9781605980454, $25.00, www.pegasusbooks.us

Survival leads people to do the strangest things, like perform for those they hate. "Hiding in the Spotlight: A Musical Prodigy's Story of Survival 1941-1946" is the intriguing true story Zhanna Arkashyna and her own unique tale of escaping the wrath of Nazi Germany. Under their very noses she became quite the star with her piano performances, hiding her Jewish heritage until freedom finally came. A moving and unique holocaust story, "Hiding in the Spotlight" is not one to be missed for Holocaust studies collections.


The Philosophy Shelf

Supervillains and Philosophy
Ben Dyer, editor
Open Court
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696691, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

What can world domination and interstellar death rays tell us about the human psyche? "Supervillains and Philosophy" is another delve into the Popular Culture and Philosophy series, this time focusing on the evil characters portrayed in modern fiction mediums with a knack for the over the top plots. From where their motives originate, the 'good' side of the bad, Ben Dyer presents quite a fresh way to looking at mad science and evil. "Supervillains and Philosophy" is an interesting and intriguing read all the way through.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Gordon L. Anderson
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788863, $19.95, www.paragonhouse.com

Has the United States departed its original intentions? "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" discusses the most basic principles of the United States Constitution and how they are being upheld in the modern arena of politics. With many ideas and thoughts, Gordon Anderson brings much to readers attention about how some rights have faded and others have shown. "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" is a read that blends politics and philosophy well, highly recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Wearing Smaller Shoes
Chip Haynes
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716575, $16.95, www.newsociety.com

Cutting back is not just something you do for the environment; it's what you do for yourself. "Wearing Smaller Shoes: Living Light on the Big Blue Marble" is a guide to making a difference on the environment by the power of cutting back. With many cheap, low tech solutions that can save the planet as well as save readers money, anyone who cares about the environment and saving the world as well as their wallet should consider "Wearing Smaller Shoes".

Fire Ecology
William L. Baker
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597261821, $95.00, www.islandpress.org

For forests, fire is not an agent of destruction, rather one of rebirth. "Fire Ecology in Rocky Mountain Landscapes" is a fine scholarly text emphasizing the very importance of something that is so often not thought about when one sees a raging forest fire - that it is part of the natural process and humanity must learn to be able to live with that. Discussing the invaluable importance of fire in the eco system, William L. Baker details it fully and how fire does well in helping plants and animals live more harmoniously with their surroundings. Thoughtful and informative, and enhanced with references, appendixes and indexes, any college environmental collection with a focus on the Rocky Mountains should make "Fire Ecology in Rocky Mountain Landscapes" a core addition to their collection.


The Humor Shelf

Over the Hill
Ed Fischer
Meadowbrook Press
5451 Smetana Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343
0881665371, $7.00, www.meadowbrookpress.com

With age comes wisdom, or what is commonly mistook for wisdom. "Over the Hill: And Loving It" is a collection of hilarious bits of wit and wisdom aside from charming cartoons from one nationally syndicated cartoonist in Ed Fischer. Drawing influences from countless others and providing their words in easy-to-read form, "Over the Hill: And Loving It" will bring a smile to the face of anyone who looks at middle age as a thing of the past.

Have a Good Laugh
Ron Isaacs
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801301, $8.95, www.ktav.com

Jewish people have always had their own particular brand of humor. "Have a Good Laugh: Jewish Jokes for the Soul" is a collection of Jewish humor in many forms packed into a single book. Earnestly honest, the humor within will make anyone laugh, regardless of their faith. "Have a Good Laugh: Jewish Jokes for the Soul" is a humor book that mocks areas that deserves it.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Skinny on The Housing Crisis
Jim Randel
Rand
265 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880
9780981893525, $12.95, www.theskinnyon.com

In tough times, one must arm themselves with knowledge to purchase wisely. "The Skinny on the Housing Crisis: What Every Homeowner and Homebuyer Needs to Know" is a guide to better understanding the current housing crisis and how to make purchases and selling without burning oneself on poor choices which shady businessmen commonly try to pass off. From understanding the terminology to dealing with legal issues, "The Skinny on the Housing Crisis" is full of valuable lessons investors need to equip themselves with.


The Criminology Shelf

Red Dog Rising
Jeff Schettler
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Road, Crawford, CO 81415
9781577791041, $12.95, www.alpinepub.com

With a super sensitive nose, the power of the Bloodhound is not something to underestimate. "Red Dog Rising" is the combination discussion of blood hound use in police work and memoir of retired K9 officer Jeff Schettler. Filled with exciting stories of being on the trail with his dogs, it's an intriguing read that will please both dog lovers and fans of detective work. "Red Dog Rising" is a must as such, for both criminology studies collections and canine studies reading lists that focus on the work of man's best friend.

Isadore's Secret
Mardi Link
The Univeristy of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472050796, $22.95, www.press.umich.edu

Brutal crimes are of special puzzle to detectives. "Isadore's Secret: Sin, Murder, and Confession in a Northern Michigan Town" tells the tragic story of a nun who was brutally murdered and buried beneath the very church she served in life. Covering this story of early twentieth century crime in depth with black and white photography peppered throughout, Mardi Link does well in telling this forgotten tale. "Isadore's Secret" is a top pick and highly recommended read that should not be missed by true crime readers.


The Social Issues Shelf

Sexuality and Socialism
Sherry Wolf
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859790, $12.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

SEXUALITY AND SOCIALISM: HISTORY, POLITICS AND THEORY OF LGBT LIBERATION comes from an associate of The International Socialist Review and is packed with analysis of questions of lesbian and gay people, offering essays considering the history and roots of oppression, the making of gender identity, and a history of the gay movement. A highly recommended pick for any library strong in issues of sexuality and freedom.

Helping Families and Communities Recover from Disaster
Ryan P. Kilmer & Collaborators, editors
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433805448, $69.96, www.apa.org

Hurricane Katrina devastated a region and taught the country countless lessons about disaster management. "Helping Families and Communities Recover from Disaster: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath" analyzes the Katrina disaster intricately and brings readers a very scholarly look at the events and what disaster management professionals should learn from it for future disasters. With both a material and psychological approach, Ryan Kilmer and his staff bring readers a very thorough approach to the mental side of dealing with disaster from children returning to school to facing losing it all. "Helping Families and Communities Recover from Disaster" is a core and extremely recommended addition to community and college library social issues and psychology collections.


The Interior Design Shelf

Speed Decorating
Jill Vegas
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5507, Newtown, CT, 06470-5507
9781600850332, $21.95, www.taunton.com

It doesn't take as long to go from wreck to paradise as one would think. "Speed Decorating: A Pro Stager's Tips and Trade Secrets for a Fabulous Home in a Week or Less' is a guide to speedy interior design for those who want to renovate their home now, instead of weeks or even months ahead. Jill Vegas is an award winning designer, and her thoughts and ideas are presented within alongside full color photographs of her work. "Speed Decorating" is of interest to any who wants more pizzazz in their home ASAP.


The Gardening Shelf

Growing Stuff
Black Dog Publishing
10A Acton St., London WC1X 9NG, UK
9781906155681, $24.95 www.blackdogonline.com

GROWING STUFF: AN ALTERNATIVE GUIDE TO GARDENING offers a practical gardener's guide for all spaces, sizes and budgets. Its projects are easy to follow, offer hints and recipes for windowsills, balconies, and full gardens in the city, and pack in entry-level projects and insider tips. Alternative approaches include guerrilla gardening and growing carrots in boots! Color photos throughout lend to a book that is truly a unique standout in the huge world of gardener's guides - and a top pick for any general lending library.

101 Best Plants for the Prairies
Liesbeth Leatherbarrow and Lesley Reynolds
Fifth House
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside
121 Harvard Ave., Suite 2, Allston, MA 02134
1894004302, $13.95

Climate is a rough obstacle for the enthusiastic gardener. "101 Best Plants for the Prairies"is a guide to gardening in the prairie, in particular the region between the border of the United States and Canada. Outlining many plants complete with full color photography, there is much for prairie gardeners to explore and consider for their hobby. Any gardener in the region ought to strongly consider "101 Best Plants for the Prairies" as a necessary addition to their personal libraries.


The Travel Shelf

The Ethical Travel Guide, second edition
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781844077595, $22.50, www.earthscan.co.uk

How does one keep one's soul while seeing the world? Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, "The Ethical Travel Guide: Your Passport to Exciting and Alternative Holidays" is a guide to bringing ethics into one's vacation planning and picking destinations that will not only benefit the traveler with experience, but enrich the local community and economies. So many destinations support some form of exploitation on some level, but Earthscan seeks to help travelers find guilt free destinations of many sorts, be it from hiking to romantic getaways. "The Ethical Travel Guide" is a top pick for those who want to travel but don't want to be part of the problem.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Motion 4
Mark Spencer
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321635299, $54.99 www.peachpit.com

APPLE PRO TRAINING SERIES: MOTION 4 shows how to create eight sophisticated projects including a 3D show promo, a DVD motion menu, and more using Motion 4's powerful features. Part of the Apple Pro Training series of self-paced tutorials, MOTION 4 packs in lesson and media files in a DVD-ROM and provides templates, insights on animation and motion graphics design, and much more in a fully revised classic keyed to Motion 4's latest features. A 'must' for any serious about animation and superior, polished results using Motion 4.

Getting the Money
Jeremy Juuso
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Bl. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907643, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Kevin Smith maxed out countless credit cards to get the money he needed for Clerks. "Getting the Money: A Step-by-Step Guide for Writing Business Plans for Film" is a guide to not following Smith's example, and planning out one's finances to get one's movie made without ruining one's credit rating. For those whose biggest obstacle to their film career is the almighty dollar, "Getting the Money" is a must.


The Parenting Shelf

Partnership Parenting
Kyle Pruett, MD & Marsha Kline Pruett, Ph.D.
DaCapo Lifelong Books
2300 Chestnut St. #200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780738213262, $15.95 www.dacapopress.com

PARTNERSHIP PARENTING: HOW MEN AND WOMEN PARENT DIFFERENTLY - WHY IT HELPS YOUR KIDS AND CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR MARRIAGE tells how to take advantage of different parenting styles, explains why kids need the influence of both Dad and Mom, and shows how couples can parent more effectively by noting and taking advantage of different styles. From rules for negotiation to appreciating a partner's contributions, this is packed with case histories, quizzes, questions and solutions to common co-parenting issues. Any parent's library needs this.

Get Out!
Judy Molland
Free Spirit Publishing
217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
9781575423357, $10.99, www.freespirit.com

The first step to saving nature is to appreciate nature. "Get Out!: 150 Easy Ways for Kids and Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future" is a guide for parents and children to get outside more and how they can have fun going out and saving the planet at the same time. Citing the countless benefits to more outside play for children, "Get Out!" is a top pick for any parent who wants the best for their children now and tomorrow.


The Library DVD Shelf

Dinosaurs Alive!
Michael Douglas, narrator
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
$19.98 www.image-entertainment.com www.dinosalive.com

Originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Dinosaurs Alive! is a DVD documentary that uses computer animation to bring mankind's discoveries about dinosaurs to life - from the revelation that "Oviraptor" was in fact a good parent who brooded over its eggs rather than a rapacious egg thief, to the story of a real-life "Indiana Jones" archaeology pioneer who braved desert bandits to bring home amazing fossil finds, to the shocking recent discovery that (flightless) velociraptors had feathers! The astonishing and scientifically accurate CGI is sure to thrill dinosaur lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Special features include a widescreen version, a "Making of" documentary shot in HD, and a bonus quiz. Also available in a Blu-ray version ($24.98), "Dinosaurs Alive" is a treat for dinosaur lovers everywhere and enthusiastically recommended for public library DVD collections. 40 minutes plus special features.

The Adventures of Werner Holt
Joachim Kunert
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Created in 1964 East Germany, The Adventures of Werner Holt is a classic movie on DVD about the senselessness of war. Two 17-year-old best friends, Werner Holt and Gilbert, are pulled out of school and drafted into Hitler's army. Gilbert becomes a fanatically loyal soldier, while Werner, fighting on the front lines, is disgusted by the cruelty of war and eventually enacts his revenge. As powerful today as it was over forty years ago, The Adventures of Werner Holt remains one of the most important German films ever created. Highly recommended. 164 minutes, black-and-white, German with English subtitles.

The American Brew
Roger Sherman
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
079367087X $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

The American Brew: The Rich and Surprising History of Beer is a documentary for the everyman, about how one of America's most popular drinks came to be. From alcohol in colonial days, to the rise and fall of prohibition, to the coming of microbrews and the financial success of national breweries, The American Brew covers it all. Interviews with industry experts and inside looks at innovations in brewing technology pepper this enjoyable DVD, sure to please beer lovers everywhere. 60 minutes, widescreen.

The Yes Men Fix the World
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

The Yes Men Fix the World is an extraordinary DVD following the true story of two political activists and the wild pranks they orchestrate in order to reveal the ecologically destructive side of corporate greed. When Andy impersonated a DowChemical spokesperson and managed to announce on BBC World News that Dow will finally clean up the site of the largest industrial accident in history (the Bhopal disaster), people worldwide celebrated the "news" - and Dow's stock value lost two billion dollars. This was when a brutal lesson about our modern market system hit home - the relentless focus on profits unfettered by local or global environmental regulations has made doing the right thing impossible! As the "Yes Men" try to get through to their corporate audience as well as the general public, their ultimate message is an inquiry as to why we have given the market more power than any other institution to drive our society, and how can this incredible power be held in check, much as the three branches of the American Government hold one another in check and balance? Highly recommended. 87 minutes, SDH captions.

Humble Pie
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943489 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Humble Pie is a charming movie following everyman Tracy Orbison (played by Hubbel Palmer), a Midwestern stockboy who writes poetry during shift breaks and daydreams of making more of himself. A burst of inspiration leads him to take an acting class by a pompous local master (wonderfully played by William Baldwin); then one chaotic mishap after another leads him to actively pursue his life's dreams rather than simply wait for them. From mentoring a young delinquent to standing up to his overbearing mother to dealing with his wallflower sister and preparing himself for the monumental hurdle that is the driver's license exam, Tracy's adventures reflect the daily challenges of life in this highly entertaining drama. Bonus features include deleted scenes and brief featurettes. 84 minutes, closed captioned.

Latin Music USA
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
$39.99 www.shopPBS.org

Latin Music USA is an amazing DVD documentary of some of the greatest American music composed by Latinos. The history of modern Latin music is traced through four episodes - "Bridges", following the rise of Latin jazz and its influence on rhythm & blues; "The Salsa Revolution" about the creation of salsa the rise (and fall) of the legendary Fania Records, "The Chicano Wave" in which a new generation of Mexican-Americans experienced rock and rhythm & blues and added their own cultural twist, and "Divas & Superstars" of Latin pop, ranging from Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Gloria Estefan to Daddy Yankee and rapper Pitbull, to "rock en Espanol" star Juanes. A celebration of great music styles, the people who composed unforgettable songs and the glamorous individuals who peformed them, Latin Music USA is a joy to watch and highly recommended for both Latin music lovers and public library DVD collections.

Harley's War: Hardcore All-Stars
Harley Flanagan & Cro-Mag
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$19.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

Harley's War: Hardcore All-Stars is a combination DVD & CD project from NYC Hardcore's godfather, Harley Flanagan. Featuring some of Cro-Mags' classic hardcore music as well as members of Bad Brains, Agnostic Front, Warzone, Murphy's Law, Sick of It All, and more, Harley's War combines classic video footage and wild playing into a blazing mix of alternative and punk, sure to leave its mark on the listener's mind and memory. An absolute "must-have" for fans of the genre. The tracks are "Hardcore 'NYHC-OG'", "Last Days", "Criminal 4 Life", "Parrisite", "Spirit of '77", "Urban Screams (C-squat)", "Skarred 4 Life", "Who Survived", "Don't Tread On Me", "Wake Up (Do Unto Others)", "Dead End Kids", "Why Don't U", "Intro", "Signs of the Times", "World Peace", "Show You No Mercy", "Malfunction", "Days of Confusion", "Street Justice", "Survival Of The Streets", "Don't Tread On Me", "Do Unto Others", "Last Days", "Crush the Demoniac", "It's the Limit", "Life of My Own", "Hard Times", and "We Gotta Know". 95 min, stereo.

Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$15.98 www.411videoinfo.com

International recording artist and NASM Certified Personal Trainer Susan Hyatt presents Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout, a fitness DVD featuring two 25-minute high energy workouts (with warm ups and cool downs). Easy-to-follow moves draw from a wide variety of fitness activities, from basic strength training to Russian Kettle bell exercises, jump-roping, yoga, ballet-style body sculpting and more. Filmed like a music video and featuring lively, original songs from Susan's bands, Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout lives up to its title and makes working out fun. A welcome addition to fitness and exercise DVD collections. 60 min.

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training
Jackie Warner
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Expert celebrity fitness and circuit training instructor Jackie Warner's workouts command up to $400 an hour in person; now her fitness guidance is available on DVD to all in "Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training". Designed for maximum efficiency, Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training focuses on weight loss and overall fitness - viewers can choose (or mix and match) between fifteen-minute "Total Body Circuit", "Abs Only Circuit", "Lower Body Circuit", or "Upper Body Circuit", or the forty-minute "Total Body Circuit". You don't have to be a celebrity to stay in shape like one, and this easy-to-follow DVD shows how! 57 minutes.

Real Bodywork
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 each www.411videoinfo.com www.realbodywork.com/yoga

Two DVDs from Real Bodywork offer yoga practitioners a guided workout and in-depth exploration of the wonders of Vinyasa Yoga. "Yoga: Gentle Vinyasa Flow with Zyrka Landwijt" (210 min.) is intended for beginner to intermediate practitioners, offering 6 routines, 23 pose lessons, and 3 1/2 hours of practice. Expert instructor Zyrka teaches the viewer how the poses interact and how to fully engage oneself in the experience of yoga, as well as basics of physically enacting it. "Yoga: Spirit of Vinyasa Flow with Deb Dobbin" (226 min.) is intended for intermediate to advanced practitioners, offering 3 sequences, 20 pose lessons, and 3 1/2 hours of practice. Offering a combined, flowing progress of routines, Yoga: Spirit of Vinyasa Flow explains in detail how to enact proper positions and warns against common mistakes. Both DVDs are highly user friendly, and serious Yoga enthusiasts are certain to enjoy them.

Bridgestone Multimedia Group
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 each www.411videoinfo.com www.gobmg.com

Fitness expert Karen Joy Allen presents three exercise DVDs that utilize her simple invention -"JoyFitstix", a pair of inexpensive short tubes that weigh less than a pound each; their moving, granulated cores increase the effort sustained by the muscle group being exercised for a more vigorous workout similar to one performed with heavier weights. "Cardio & Core Dance Blast" (9780740319167, 45 min.) emphasizes a time-efficient workout good for burning calories and toning muscles - the multi-level program provides a solid base for viewers of varying fitness levels, complemented by a strong abdominal workout. "Cardio Praise" (9780740319150, 40 min.) has an emphasis on high-energy gospel praise music and strength training in its enjoyable dance routines. "A Fun Workout For Kids" (9780740319174, 40 min.) lives up to its title with a cardio workout that kids can quickly pick up and enjoy. "A Fun Workout for Kids" is great for parents and children to share together, providing a positive example of incorporating exercise into a healthy lifestyle. Though meant for use with "JoyFitstix", all three DVDs provide a fine, solid workout even if one has no exercise equipment at all. Highly recommended.

Split Estate
Ali MacGraw, narrator
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
159458897X $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

Split Estate is a harrowing documentary of the predatory ruthlessness that fuels America's endless thirst for oil and gas. Men and woman who have lived on their land for generations lose almost all chance to make a living off their territory if they don't own the mineral rights; energy companies can and will drill for natural gas right outside a family's front door. Those directly affected by oil and gas companies' relentless incursion into the Rocky Mountains have little or no legal recourse to stop the assault on their land, their civil liberties, their health, or their quality of life. Above all, Split Estate is not only about the plight of the few - it is about the long-term health and environmental costs of America's addiction to oil, and drives home the need to find alternative energy sources here and abroad. Highly recommended. 76 minutes (with a 15 minute version also available for playback), SDH captions.

Break a Leg! An Introductory Guide to Stage Directing
Adrea Gibbs
Meriwether Publishing
PO Box 7710
Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7710
9781566081634 $34.95 www.meriwether.com

An informative 24-page booklet ideal for reviewing the covered material accompanies Break a Leg! An Introductory Guide to Stage Directing, a no-nonsense DVD resource for inexperienced stage directors (and assistant directors!), covering the basics of how to get the job done. Tips, tricks, and techniques for ensuring the smooth flow of rehearsals, guiding stage direction, helping actors put forth their best emotions, overseeing run-throughs and dress rehearsals, and more right up to opening night fill this practical and useful resource. Whether one is preparing for a future Broadway career or simply trying to get a community theater production going, Break a Leg! An Introductory Guide to Stage Directing is extraordinarily helpful and highly recommended. (It should be noted that Break a Leg! requires DVD-R compatibility in one's DVD player in order to play properly.)

Trucker
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
$26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Trucker is a DVD movie about an independent-minded truck driver Diane Ford, accustomed to enjoying a carefree life marked by one-night love affairs, hard drinking, and long haul days on the road. But her life changes dramatically when she suddenly has the responsibility of caring for her eleven-year-old son Peter - whom she has not seen since he was a baby. Peter's father is incapacitated in the hospital; now Diane's life is turned upside down, as she struggles with caring for a boy as distrustful of her as she is of him. Difficult choices lie ahead for her, and she must come to grips with a future that holds more challenges and pitfalls than she has ever imagined. A thought-provoking and emotionally moving saga about the culmination of a turning point in one's life, highly recommended. 93 minutes, closed captioned, rated R.

The English Surgeon
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831197 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

The English Surgeon is the award-winning documentary of a real-life hero - London brain surgeon Henry Marsh, who has strived for over 17 years to save lives in the Ukraine. Forced to work with outdated and sometimes malfunctioning equipment, Marsh has a powerful motivation for his work - his son was diagnosed with a brain tumor as a baby, and Marsh has never forgotten how dearly he needed help at the time. Now he gives freely of his skills and expertise to others; his calling is preserved in this absorbing and memorable presentation. Due to sometimes explicit medical scenes, The English Series may not be suited for particularly squeamish viewers, but deserves the highest recommendation to all others.

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
$19.98 DVD, $24.98 Blu-Ray www.image-entertainment.com www.mummiesfilm.com

Originally produced for showing in IMAX theaters, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is an amazing documentary about what modern science and archaeology have to tell us about the mystery of mummies - exquisitely preserved remains of ancient Egyptian citizens and kings. From the adventures (and hardships!) of excavating tombs, to the modern forensic science used to unlock mummies' secrets, to the extrapolated evidence of ancient Egypt's past and what it means for our understanding today, and even how knowledge gleaned from mummies affects medical science, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is utterly enthralling. Bonus features include a "making of" featurette shot in HD, a "Meet the Mummies" educational section, and a quiz. A beautifully filmed experience, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is highly recommended for Egyptology DVD shelves and public library collections. English/French/Spanish, widescreen, 39 minutes plus 22 minute "making of" featurette.

How Bruce Lee Changed the World
History Made Every Day
1422937410 $19.95 www.history.com www.shopaetv.com

How Bruce Lee Changed the World is a 'must' for any library strong in martial arts history. This DVD provides his who biography, from his birth in San Francisco to his mysterious death at the age of 32. It also follows how ancient martial arts were fostered by his films, and offer rare interviews and home movies from big martial arts film names. A 'must' for any serious martial arts or film collection.

History Made Every Day
www.history.com www.shopaetv.com

Libraries will find these outstanding DVDs popular picks, offering fine historical and biographical reviews. ART OF WAR (1422948137, $14.95) reviews Sun Tzu, who wrote ART OF WAR over 2,400 years ago. This special from History blends a biography of Sun Tzu with a survey of war's lessons and great battles in history and is a pick for any military library in particular. MANSON (1422950581, $19.95) reveals the mastermind of one of the most notorious murders in U.S. history, offering first-person accounts, footage, and a survey of a man who looks back at the nine months leading up to and including the murder of Sharon Tate. MYSTERIES OF THE FREEMASONS (1422951375, $19.95) provides a fine survey of the world's oldest secret society, reviewing codes, murder, and offering a blend of reenactments and expert interviews to survey Freemason history. Highly recommended.

Jeeves and Wooster: The Complete Series
Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry
A&E Videos
c/o A&E Television Networks
235 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017
1422940527, $59.95 www.aetv.com

Jeeves and Wooster: The Complete Series is a top pick for any who enjoy British mystery and humor, providing a fine collection telling of British aristocrat and bumbler Bernie and Jeeves, his hilarious resourceful valet who keeps him out of trouble. An outstanding presentation of British humor will keep viewers laughing.

10 Minute Solutions: Quick Sculpt Pilates
Andrea Leigh Rogers
Anchor Bay Entertainment
9042 Beverly Blvd #201, Beverly Hills CA 90210
01313165419 6, $24.97 www.xtendworkout.com

Any interested in a series of Pilates lessons that are NOT time-consuming or expensive will welcome this DVD kit, that comes with a toning ball and inflation device along with a DVD of techniques. It's easy to choose routines that are 10 minutes or under - and to easily inflate and deflate the ball for take-along toting.

10 Minute Solutions: Belly, Butt & Thigh Blasters
Jessica Smith
Anchor Bay Entertainment
9042 Beverly Blvd #201, Beverly Hills CA 90210
013131631791, $16.98 www.jessicasmith.tv

Jessica Smith holds certifications from various fitness academies, Powerhouse Pilates and more programs, and her 10 Minute Solutions: Belly, Butt & Thigh Blasters comes packaged with its own sculpting loop to demonstrate easy 10-minute routines for butt, thighs, tummy and belly flab. Any home exerciser needs this fine set of routines.

Summer Montabone, CSCS DVDs
$19.95 each www.summersfitness.com

TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING IN HOME OR TRAVEL provides innovative workout options using a ball, band or body weight. Total body conditioning with these options is broken down into easy techniques for training at home or on the road and provides busy professionals a total workout that can be done virtually anywhere. RESISTANCE BAND STRENGTH TRAINING IN HOME OR TRAVEL can be done with any small resistance band and offers a full course for upper and lower body workouts. From stretches to cardio routines, these bands offer keys to success!

Think and Get Slim: Natural Weight Loss
Esther and Jerry Hicks
Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401926557, $29.95 www.hayhouse.com

THINK AND GET SLIM offers a fine DVD program presenting the teachings of the channeled Abraham, who responded numerous times to workshops held between 2006 and 2008 on the topic of weight loss and consciousness. Abraham teaches how to modify thoughts in a Law of Attraction manner, rather than the usual diet/exercise routines: it's a fine addition to any weight loss program!

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel
Bridgestone Multimedia Group
804 N. 2nd Ave. E., Rock Rapids, IA 51246
9780740319181, $19.95 www.gobmg.com

Mandie and the Secret Tunnel is a video for all ages. Based on the best-selling Mandie books by Lois Gladys Leppard, it's set in the late 1800s and revolves around young Mandie Shaw, who just lost her father and sets out to find a new home, assisted by some Cherokee Indian friends. When strangers to a uncle's fortune show up to claim his estate, adventures and dangers evolve. A fine family viewing pick.

E1 Entertainment
22 Harbor Park Drive, Port Washington, NY 11050
www.kochvision.com

The complete first season of SANCTUARY (1417232259, $44.98) is offered in a fine 4-DVD set featuring the original series, following one Dr. Helen Magnus on her quest to study and protect legendary creatures that live with humans. Surround sound, widescreen selection, and numerous extras include audio commentaries on all 13 episodes with case and crew, bloopers, and more in a set not to be missed. MARY WHITE (1417231149, $14.98) is perfect for families with kids: it comes from a father who lost his teen daughter to a horseback-riding accident in 1921, and who celebrated her life with a newspaper editorial. MARY WHITE became a TV film and here offers White's reflections on his last year with Mary as they together fought against racial segregation and for women's rights. DAKOTA SKYE (1417232099, $24.98) also provides a fine family pick in telling of Dakota, cursed with the ability to see the truth in any lie she hears. She's seventeen and apathetic towards life - until Jonah shows her there's more than lies - and complicates her choices by being her boyfriend's best friend. CHRIS ISAAK: GREATEST HITS LIVE (1417232323, $19.99) is packed with lovely vocals and examples of some of his finest shows, and is a 'must' for any fans of the musician. From bonus track songs to haunting melodies and a fine live performance captured in high definition and mixed with surround sound, this brings the art of a live performance right into the living rooms of home listeners!


The Library CD Music Shelf

Notes Home
David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston
The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
20 Euro www.davidandjosh.com

The second album of Ireland's David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston, Notes Home is a re-imagining of classic swing jazz from 80 years ago, enhanced with the pair's personal touch and contributions of all-original songs. Recorded live in studio with very few retakes in order to capture the spirit of improvisation, Notes Home is a fast-paced, upbeat album of rollicking excitement sure to please any listener who loves the variety and expression of jazz. A welcome addition to public library as well as private jazz collections. The tracks are "The Latecomer", "Cap Mortola", "Silk", "Through the Night", "Place Carnot", "La Narbonnaise", "Minor Happiness", "Broadband Blues", "La Plage", "Waiting", "Wistful Thinking", "Pont Neuf", and "Sliding Scale". Also highly recommended for a joyful good time is the duo's previous album, "A Minor Happiness."

Ring Christmas Bells
With Brian Stokes Mitchell
Mack Wilberg, conductor
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
ldethman@deseretbook.com
$18.98 www.mormontabernaclechoir.org

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell lends his talents to a performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, along with bell choir of more than 100 individuals. Ring Christmas Bells is a live recording celebrating the holiday spirit with jubilation, featuring classic Christmas songs infused with the love and devotion of the performers. Highly recommended especially for holiday gift-giving to anyone who loved Christmas or bell choir music. The tracks are "Processional on 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'" (5:31), "Once in Royal David's City" (4:38), "The Christmas Song / A Crazy Christmas List (3:19), "The Friendly Beasts" (6:36), "Through Heaven's Eyes" (3:52), "I Saw Three Ships" (2:55), "Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?" (4:41), "Sleigh Ride" (3:05), "New Words" (4:21), "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (6:29), "Grateful" (5:43), "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" (1:56), "And the Glory of the Lord" (3:03), "Hallelujah" (3:45), and "Angels, from the Realms of Glory" (4:35).

Sting Like a Bee
Mike Longo Trio
Consolidated Artists Productions
290 Riverside Dr., Suite 11-D, NYC 11025
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$14.97 www.jazzbeat.com

Jazz pianist Mike Longo along with Bob Cranshaw on bass and Lewis Nash on drums present Sting Like a Bee, a music CD album of a dozen songs recorded live in studio - nearly all of them first takes with only a minimum of editing. A vibrant, living work brimming with the artists' passion for their music, Sting Like a Bee is sure to excite listeners and rekindle one's love of jazz in all its forms. The tracks are "Speak No Evil" (7:56), "Love For Sale" (9:13), "Daahoud" (3:52), "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" (4:49), "Someone to Love" (5:58), "Westside Story Medley" (7:50), Dance Cadaverous (8:14), "Morning" (5:14), "Speak Low" (6:48), "Bird Seed" (2:42), "Checked Bags" (5:33), and "Kush" (4:22). 72 minutes, 53 seconds. Also highly recommended is the trio's previous album, "Float Like a Butterfly."

La Part Du Feu
Le Vent du Nord
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$17.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Quebec's Le Vent du Nord (The Wind of the North) presents their latest album La Part Du Feu, the theme of which reflects its title about individuals contributing to a shared future. The songs on La Part Du Feu dig the foundation of Canada's history and musical roots, from "Octobre 1837" which remembers a French uprising against British rule, to the reconstruction of the lyrics to the song "Elise". A smoothly presented and unforgettable taste of Canada's musical culture, highly recommended for international music CD collections. The tracks are Lanlaire (4:49), Octobre 1837 (4:01), La Mine (3:31), Petit Reve V (2:04), Mamzelle Kennedy (4:03), Les Metiers (2:54), Elise (5:37), Le Coeur en Trois (3:48), Rossignolet (3:54), Montcalm (2:42), L'attente (4:21), Le Cavalier et la Belle (4:07), and Ecris-Moi (3:32).

Dance Mama!
Christine Vaindirlis
FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$14.99 www.flipswitchPR.com www.christinevaindirlis.com

Dance Mama! is a lively music album by Christine Vaindirlis, who puts no shortage of energy into her enthusiastic music. Her love of South African jazz (she was raised in Johannesburg) as well as traditional singing and dancing shines through in this vibrant and joyful album. A high-octane treat sure to get the listener raring and ready to go! The tracks are Home (5:38), "Call to Freedom" (6:22), "This Is My Place" (6:51), "Fighting or Surviving (5:12), "Should I Make You Pay" (4:18), "Dance Mama!" (7:37), "Tell Me" (9:14), "No More Drama" (5:02), and "Making It Home Someday" (6:27).

A Still Motion
Michael Samson
The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$12.99 www.MichaelSamson.com www.StillMotion.biz

The second album by solo pianist Michael Samson, A Still Motion is an instrumental work enhanced by brief, self-penned poems within the CD package. An absorbing and immersing experience, A Still Motion offers musical reflection upon the timeless interlude between moments, as well as the layered connections between human beings. A true delight to listen to, highly recommended for anyone who loves piano music. The tracks are "A Still Motion"(6:29), "Dream Not of Today" (4:36), "Beyond My Question" (5:35), "Echoes of the Stranger" (4:54), "Truth in Beauty" (6:32), "When Light Dances" (5:05), "The Edge of Forever" (4:25), "Where Ocean Meets Sky" (3:43), "Of Times Long Past" (6:47), "In the Music Box" (5:39), "After the Rain" (5:02), and "Words Left Unspoken" (7:21).

Illumination
Jamie Craig
Craig Sound Productions
PO Box 1246, Birmingham, MI 48012
CD, $TBA www.myspace.com/craigsounds

Illumination is the latest instrumental, jazz-rock album by keyboardist and composer Jamie Craig. Composed on the piano, Illumination reveals full-band sound through Craig's recordings on keyboards, synthesizers, and computers - the instruments emulated range from acoustic guitar, saxophone, flute, and organ to electric violin, English horn, trumpet, and percussion. An inspirational and uplifting album, perfect to listen to during one's morning routine or commute to lend a dash of vim and vigor to the day. The tracks are "Lost & Found" (4:47), "Midtown Saturday Night" (4:04), "Mirage" (4:58), "Illumination I" (4:24), "Illumination II" (4:03), "To Nola With Love" (4:43), "Reflections" (4:17), "San Juan" (4:18), "Voyager IX" (4:27), "H2OZone" (4:58), "Guardian Angel" (4:24), and "Sealed Fate" (4:23). 54:01 minutes.

Rain in July
Alex E. Smith, Cheevers Toppah, and Nitanis "Kit" Landry
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$24.49 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Rain in July is a wondrous audio CD collecting the choral harmonies of three excellent Native American vocalists. The spirit of their tribal backgrounds and their reverence for tradition reverberate in this beautiful and moving musical anthology. Highly recommended especially for Native American music collections, as well as anyone who enjoys the pleasant balance of dulcet vocal tones. The tracks are "Charles 'Neka' Logan's Song" (4:27), "Baby I Know" (3:35), "Rain in July" (7:32), "My Pow-Wow Thing" (4:07), "Swirling Smoke" (4:27), "Indian Angel" (4:10), "In My Heart" (4:47), "Could Be Mine" (2:48), "Just for Old Times' Sake" (3:46) and "True Melodies" (4:48). 45:08 min.

Origine Orients
Abaji
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$12.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Lebanese-born singer-songwriter Abaji presents Origine Orients, his latest trans-Mediterranean album in which he has opted to record all his songs in a single take, playing all the instruments himself, without overdubs. Bringing a whole new dimension to the concept of "one man band", Origine Orients comes to life with the amazing medley of instruments like the bouzouki combined with a bamboo flute and a daf drum. The music itself explores multiple cultures, from that of Abaji's Armenian grandfather to Turkish, Armenian, and Greek. A lively album of one man's unfettered passion for music and rhythm, Origine Orients is highly recommended for listeners of all walks of life as well as for community library collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection #10: Deus et Machina
Edgar Allan Poe, author
Christopher Aruffo, narrator
Acoustic Learning Inc.
215 Prospect Ave., Highland Park, IL 60035
9780980058161 $19.99 www.poeaudio.com

Read aloud by classically trained performer Christopher Aruffo, The Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection #10: Deus et Machina is the latest in a series of unabridged audiobook adaptations of Poe's complete literary works. Many of the tales in Deus et Machina have never before been released in audiobook form; all evoke Poe's mastery of suspense, intrigue, and plot twists. As with the previous installments in The Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, volume 10 is an unforgettable listening experience and deserves the highest recommendation to classic mystery/suspense fans and public library audiobook collections. The tales in this collection are "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar", "Mesmeric Revelation", "The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion", "The Power of Words", "The Colloquy of Monos and Una", "Von Kempelen and His Discovery", "Cabs", "A Moving Chapter", "Street Paving", "Wooden Pavement", "Try a Mineralized Pavement", "The Daguerreotype", "Anastatic Printing", and "A Chapter on Science and Art." 4 CDs, 4 hours 39 minutes.

The Sword of the Lady
S. M. Stirling, author
Todd McLaren, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781400106837 $54.99 www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

An unabridged audiobook adaptation of book six of S.M. Stirling's "Emberverse" serious, about a modern world in which technology - and most of the human population - has mysteriously been destroyed, The Sword of the Lady: A Novel of the Change follows Rudi Mackenzie in his travels across the former United States of America, in search of the mysterious event that so greatly transformed the world. When he takes up a mysterious, impeccably crafted sword, nothing around him will ever be the same again - and he will have to use his weapon to defend himself and those around him from the ruthless Church Universal and Triumphant. Fans of Stirling's work are sure to enjoy this latest installment, which - as it is from the perspective of one born into the Changed world - also makes a great jumping-on point for anyone new to the series. Former broadcaster and career voice-over actor Todd McLaren reads aloud this thrilling audiobook saga, perfect for adding another dimension of adventure to long road trips! Highly recommended. 17 CDs, 21.5 hours.

Hard Trail to Follow
Elmer Kelton, author
Jonathan Davis, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781428190610 $92.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Hard Trail to Follow is the audiobook adaptation of a Western novel by seven-time Spur Award winner Elmer Kelton. In this enthralling adventure, young Texas Ranger Andy Pickardjoins the hunt for a jailbreaker who murdered the local sheriff - a man Andy regarded as a close friend and father figure. Andy continues the hunt after others give up, but as he searches he comes across a puzzle - repeated reports of the fugitive felon's compassion and honor. A dramatic saga of difficult choices and shades of gray, highly recommended. 8 CDs, 8.75 hours.

The Book of the Maidservant
Rebecca Barnhouse, author
Susan Duerden, narrator
Listening Library, Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780739385531 $34.00 1-800-726-0600

Read by Rebecca Barnhouse (with an additional note read by the author), The Book of the Maidservant is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the debut novel of medieval literature expert Rebecca Barnhouse. Inspired by the fifteenth-century text "The Book of Margery Kempe" (which happens to be the first known autobiography written in English), The Book of the Maidservant follows Johanna, a serving girl in attendance to medieval holy woman Dame Margery Kempe. Though Dame Margery Kempe feels the pain of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, she is all but blind to the suffering around her. When Dame Margery Kempe embarks on a pilgrimage to Rome, the difficulties truly begin, culminating in a bitter fight that causes Dame Margery Kempe to abandon her own servants. A stranger in the strange land of Rome, Johanna must find her own path. A saga of hardship, adaptation, survival, inspiration, and ultimately the journey to redemption, The Book of the Maidservant is enthusiastically recommended. 6 CDs, 6 hours 45 minutes.

Brilliance Audio
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Jim Bond provides a seasoned voice and fine narrative viewpoint to Larry Dossey, MD's The Power of Premonitions (1423392957, $29.99), a survey of the possibilities of premonition and how to sense the future. Dr. Larry Dossey questioned the nature of coincidence during his first year of medical practiced when he experienced a week of premonitions about his patients - all of which came true. His inquiry blends research, science and personal insights in a fine, satisfying survey any general audio library or new age collection will relish. Health Geraham's THE DEATH DEALER (142339738X, $29.99) is a winner read by Fred Stella and Natalie Ross, who provide a fine narration to the story of a string of homicides mirroring an author's strange stories. Excellent tension and drama come to life under the dual narrative style. Terry Goodkinhd's WIZARD'S FIRST RULE (1423377923, $44.95) receives an excellent reading by Sam Tsoutsouvas who adds spice and stirring drama to this story of Richard, who encounters a mysterious woman in his forest sanctuary. Their relationship calls him to reach beyond his sword to a greater cause - a cause that will change their world. The TV series 'Legend of the Seeker' is based on this thrilling fantasy saga. John Irving's A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY (1423391632, $49.99) offers an unabridged reading by Joe Barrett in a fine story set in the summer of 1953, when two eleven-year-old best friends playing baseball are involved in a tragic death. The boy who hits the ball that kills his best friend's mother believes he's God's instrument - and his revelations provide frightening in this tense story. P.T. Duetermann's NIGHTWALKERS (1423336259, $36.99) receives veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth and engrossing voice as it tells of an ex-con, a mysterious stalker, and pranks gone bad. Cam will need all his abilities to stay alive and ahead of his stalker in this engrossing saga. Close in title but not in topic is Healther Graham's NIGHTWALKER (1423391241, $34.99), read by Tanya Eby Sirois and Fred Stella and telling of Jessy, who places a gambling bet that nets her a fortune. A man is murdered before her eyes and a private detective attracted to Jessy finds himself immersed in a puzzle in this riveting thriller. Suzanne Brockmann's HOT PURSUIT (1423342755, $38.99) receives Renne Raudman and Patrick G. Lawlor's fine dual narrative style as it tells of Alyssa, team leader of the nation's foremost personal security company whose latest challenge is to protect herself from a serial killer she's tracked for years. Intrigue and drama are especially lively under the dual narration. Chris Kuzneski's THE PLANTATION (1423389689, $29.98) receives veteran Dick Hill's fine voice and provides a swift action-packed survey of a number of disappearances of people across America of all ages. These are kidnappings researched years in advance with the idea of revenge, and it's up to Jonathan Payne to uncover the mystery of his girlfriend's abduction in this riveting thriller. Mary Alice Monroe's LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA (1423331230, $34.99) is narrated by Sandra Burr and provides a moving story of a woman struggling to prove that love never dies. Thirty years of love and sorrow blend in a powerful survey of romance, separations and hard times. Eric Jerome Dickey's RESURRECTING MIDNIGHT (1423345673, $36.99) receives Dion Graham's compelling, smooth voice and tells of an international assassin who is one of the most feared hired guns in the world. When Gideon is forced to take on an assignment that will lead him to Argentina in pursuit of a package sought by other assassins, a tense world adventure erupts. Very highly recommended. Alice Hoffman's TURTLE MOON (1441812458, $29.99) receives Sandra Burr's solid and experienced narrative style as it tells of a small town changed in May, when migrating sea turtles return to the town. A murder, a missing body, and a vanished pre-teen turns everything upside down in this thriller, brought to life in audio. John Updike's MY FATHER'S TEARS AND OTHER STORIES (1423397924, $29.99) receives Luke Daniels' professional acting voice to spice a final collection of short stories blending stories of the author's native Pennsylvania with stories of New England and travel abroad. These short features come to life in an outstanding presentation perfect for any collection including Updike classics. Saul Bellow's HENDERSON THE RAIN KING (142339349X, $29.99) receives Joe Barrett's fine voice as it provides a 50th anniversary audio edition of Saul Bellow's classic story of one man's spiritual quest to Africa. Listening to HENDERSON THE RAIN KING provides a perfect introduction to Bellow's abilities - and makes for a fine addition to any audio library covering classic writings. Nicci French's UNTIL IT'S OVER (1423343697, $34.99) receives Anne Flosnik's compelling voice spiced by her background as a stage and TV actress as it tells of Astrid, on her way home when her neighbor knocks her off her bike. The same neighbor is beaten to death hours after the accident - and Astrid finds herself too close to a series of murders. Joe R. Lansdale's BAD CHILI (1423384385, $29.99) receives a fine narration by veteran Phil Gigante as it provides a hilarious thriller centered around Hap, who wants to change his life until he finds himself wrongly fingered for murder. A fun thriller makes for an unusual combination of tension and laughter. Iris Johansen's DEADLOCK (1423329244, $36.99) receives Jennifer Van Dyck's warm voice and tells of Emily, a U.N. artifacts expert who finds herself in a dangerous struggle for survival when her crew comes under attack and she's held hostage by an evil captor. Chris Kuzneski's THE LOST THRONE (1423389565, $29.99) receives veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth voice as it provides a quick thriller with plenty of history and humor blended in. The combination when paired with audio is killer: fast action, twists of plot, and an excitement that just won't quit! David Ellis' THE HIDDEN MAN (142337925X, $29.99) receives actor Luke Daniels' professional voice and provides another thriller from David Ellis, this introducing Jason Kolarich, a Midwestern successful attorney struggling with a tragedy that threatens his life. A murder gives him pause in this fine thriller.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Dylan Baker provides a fine voice spiced with his acting expertise in James Patterson & Richard Dilallo's Alex Cross's Trial (9781600248535, $39.98), a survey of Alex, who reveals his family history and struggles for survival in the Ku Klux Klan era in the form of this novel of the times. Murder, love, and bravery are written in the voice of Detective Alex Cross and provide a riveting audio listen. J. Randy Taraborrelli's THE SECRET LIFE OF MARILYN MONROE (9781600246517, $29.98) receives Robert Petkoff's fine narrative style and tells of Norma Jeane Baker, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe, who built a flamboyant and brief career. Portraits of the women influential in the life of Monroe form her mother to her legal guardian are revealed in a biographical sketch that comes to life in audio. Teri Woods' ALIBI (9781600246432, $26.98) receives a vivid narration by Paula Jay Parker-Martin, who has contributed her skills to over twenty movies, and follows the experiences of two men who are robbing one of Philadelphia's biggest drug lords when plans go awry. A fine crime thriller evolves. Deborah Bedford and Joyce Meyer's ANY MINUTE (9781600246302, $29.98) receives Ellen Archer's award-winning voice and background as a narrator, actress and singer as it tells of Sarah, driven to success at any cost and wishing to do good in the world. When her car plunges off a bridge into a river, her spirit remains alive in this absorbing novel of a new life., $20 PER GALLON by Christopher Steiner (9781600246920, $29l.98) receives John Wolfe's fine film and TV background as it tells of a near future where the price of gas will rise for decades, changing our everyday life forever. From transport choices to timelines, this chronicles a very different world.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Frank Bruni's BORN ROUND; THE SECRET HISTORY OF A FULL-TIME EATER (9780143145240, $39.95) tells of the author's endless hunger, a family life of large-size Italian meals, and a relationship with food that proved a challenge for years. He was a new York Times restaurant critic in 2004 - and this brought him face to face with his relationship with food. This is a dual story of weight and culture and the evolution of a food critic, is na5rrated by the author, and will delight any food fan. Terry Goodkind's THE LAW OF NINES (9780143145233, $39.95) receives Mark Deakins' fine acting and stage voice as it tells of Alex, a struggling Midwest artist who inherits a huge expanse of land that turns him and his loved ones into a target. Danger everywhere makes for an involving, vivid story that comes alive in audio. Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor's TRAVELING WITH POMEGRANATES (9780143144953, $34.95) receives a dual narration by the authors and provides a touching memoir of a journey through Greece and France in an effort to reconnect the mother/daughters. Their journeys and their discoveries blend in a personal memoir and travelogue about spiritual growth, mother/daughter interactions, and more. An inspiring addition to any audio library.


The Christmas Shelf

Christmas in New Orleans
Peggy Scott Laborde & John Magill
Pelican
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589805606, $39.95, www.pelicanpub.com

Christmas has become more of a cultural tradition rather than a religious one. "Christmas in New Orleans" is a combination photobook and cultural study on how the people of New Orleans get into the spirit of Christmas. A long history stretching back from the Louisiana purchase and how the festivities have changed over the past hundreds of years. Although American by nature, New Orleans has always had their own way of doing things, and Christmas is no different. Packed cover to cover with full color photographs and historical reprints, "Christmas in New Orleans" is quite the coffee book table gift for anyone who loves Christmas, no matter the time of year.


The Mathematics Shelf

E-Z Algebra
Douglas Downing, Ph.D.
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764142577, $16.99 www.barronseduc.com

Barron's A-Z ALGEBRA offers a step-by-step review of numbers and systems, surveying the basic rules of algebra and offering chapter quizzes and checks for understanding. The result is a fine review for all ages packed with illustrations, cartoons, formulas and detailed explanations applying algebra to everyday life: perfect for any student!

Master Math: Pre-Calculus
Debra Anne Ross
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
1598639811, $17.99 www.courseptr.com

Joining others in the 'Master Math' series is this fine introduction on calculus, covering the basics of sets, functions and integrals. Basic formulas, principals, discussions of sequences and progressions, and step-by-step directions link formulas to everyday life and provide calculus students with an excellent foundation for progressing to the next step. The result is a 'must' for any high school or college collection where calculus is an introductory course, and for any student taking it.

The Manga Guide to Calculus
Hiroyuki Kojima, Shin Togami, Becom Co. Ltd.
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271947, $19.95 www.nostarch.com

This cartoon guide to calculus provides a satisfying answer for calculus learners who want an easier format than most math books allow for. It builds calculus instruction into a plot following one Noriko as she learns that calculus is more than just a difficult science class, surveying the patterns, economics and applications of calculus to real-world scenarios. Very highly recommended for any library where math or calculus is of interest, from high school and college to public lending libraries.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Muslim Women Reformers
Ida Lichter
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027164, $27.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

MUSLIM WOMEN REFORMERS: INSPIRING VOICES AGAINST OPPRESSION is an inspiring collection of Muslim women's stories from around the world, telling how they question ideology and culture and demand social and political rights and reforms. These reformers offer insights into how Muslim women live and survey a range of such reformers not just in the Middle East but around the world, revealing underlying trends and making for a 'must' buy for any Middle East or women's history library.

Islam, Fundamentalism and the Betrayal of Tradition, revised edition
Joseph E.B. Lumbard, Editor
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316666, $21.95 www.worldwisdom.com

Islam, Fundamentalism and the Betrayal of Tradition appears in a revised, expanded new edition offering essays by Western Muslim scholars on the nature of Islam and its modern applications. New to this edition is an essay on women's roles in Islam, an updated chapter on the true nature of the jihad, and newly revised chapters discussing Islam and world concerns. A 'must' for any spirituality collection considering modern Islamic concepts.


The Women's Studies Shelf

The Voice of Success
Joni Wilson
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814412807, $17.95 www.amacombooks.org

Written just for women, THE VOICE OF SUCCESS is an excellent business/self-help guide showing professional women how to adopt and nurture a strong voice. It comes from a vocal coach who has helped women across the country communicate more effectively, and it provides a range of tips on everything from defeating jitters and developing strong vocal power to understanding how hormones affect one's voice. A top pick for business and women's collections.


The Computer Shelf

Addison Wesley
501 Boylston St. #900, Boston MA 02116
www.informit.com/aw

Jim Marino and Michael Rowley's UNDERSTANDING SCA (0321515080, $44.99) is a key to service component architecture and a 'must' for any college-level library strong in software development. It offers a history of SCA's development, how it fits with other enterprise technologies, and offers a host of best practices for designing SCA applications. Highly recommended for software designers. Christian Collberg's SURREPTITIOUS SOFTWARE (0321549252, $59.99) packs in tips on security and tools for fighting software piracy and covers all the latest programs that both attackers and defenders use to analyze programs. From fingerprinting software to identify its author to tamper-proofing software with guards, strengthening content, and detecting code theft, this is a key acquisition for any serious software library, unparalleled in its content and coverage.

Google SketchUp for Site Design
Daniel Tal, ASLA
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470345252, $49.95 www.wiley.com

Google SketchUp for Site Design offers design professionals tips on how to use the SketchUp tools and functions to construct models of exterior spaces and architecture. Both architecture and computer graphics libraries will benefit from specific tips for beginners and advanced SketchUp users, offering insights on creating models that are easy to follow and optimized for computer performance. SketchUp exercises, models and discussions of how the 3D modeling application is linked with contracting and design makes for a fine survey.

Content Strategy for the Web
Kristina Halvorson
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley CA 94710
0321620062, $24.99 www.newriders.com

If your website is outdated and out of control, then Content Strategy for the Web is for you. It comes from the founder of a nationally renowned agency specializing in writing for the web and offers a business-related content strategy that's been tested and proven in the marketplace. From maintaining consistent and compelling content over time to getting practical staffing advice to keep it there, here's a book not to be missed.

The Process of Software Architecting
Peter Eeles and Peter Cripps
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
501 Boylston St. #900, Boston MA 02116
0321357485, $49.99 www.informit.com/aw

The Process of Software Architecting is for any library strong in software engineering, and provides a solid guide to architecting a software system. From the architect's role in creating reusable assets that fit into requirements present and future to how to architect in a complex system, The Process of Software Architecting is a pick for any advanced computer library.

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

Bruce C. Brown's GOOGLE INCOME (9781601383006, $24.95) packs in chapters of advice on understanding how Google works and how its ad capabilities can generate revenue. From how to best market a business using these tools to understanding common mistakes that can hurt selling and marketing approaches, GOOGLE INCOME is a fine addition to both business and computer collections and general-interest libraries. Stephen Woessner's SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION (9781601384430, $24.95) tells how to increase Google rankings and enhance site traffic using just 15 easy steps, from adding anchor links to content to creating custom page titles. It's an outstanding survey for any interested in search engine operations and how to improve business visibility online. T. Brian Chatfield's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WIKIS (9781601383198, $24.95) tells teachers, businesses and individuals how to set up and use wikis online using the wiki format. Ordinary people can load a Web site and start writing using these basics of writing a wiki. Chapters offer top strategies for wiki marketing and link wikis to search engine optimization.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

How to Win Your Case in Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer
Charlie Mann
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383068, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Why complain when the legal fees are higher than what's at stake? "How to Win Your Case In Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer" shows readers what they need to know about the legal jungle of small claims court, which in spite of the term, is no small task to deal with. A must read for those who want to file a complaint but are put off by legalese, "How to Win Your Case in Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer" is indispensable.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design