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The Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 9 September 2007 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Science Shelf Computer Shelf
Business Shelf Education Shelf Architecture Shelf
Cookbook Shelf American History Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Music Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Literary Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Gaming Shelf
Crafts Shelf Military Shelf Art Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Photography Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Gardening Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Ongoing Crisis Communication, 2nd Edition
W. Timothy Coombs
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412949927, $45.95 www.sagepublications.com

This new second edition of a classic updates crisis examples and case studies but retains its multi-disciplinary coverage to provide an integrated approach to crisis communication and the entire management process. The author uses three stages – precrisis, crisis, and postcrisis – to example how crisis management can prevent or reduce threats, offering practical guidelines suitable for emergency applications. An important college-level guide for both undergrad and graduate courses in public relations, management, or crisis communications.

Communicating Gender Diversity: A Critical Approach
Victoria Pruin DeFrancisco & Catherine Helen Palczewski
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412925594, $56.95 www.sagepublications.com

College-level collections strong in gender studies and psychology will find COMMUNICATING GENDER DIVERSITY an essential key to understanding how communication facilitates how people do gender. Here gender is linked to key ingredients in the communication process from both a social and cultural and a psychological standpoint, with chapters providing discussions, quotes from key sources, and backed by an accompanying cd-rom of exercises for further study.


The Science Shelf

Engineering Physics Fundamentals & Modern Applications
P. Khare & A. Swarup
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015261, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

A cd-rom of demos accompanies Engineering Physics Fundamentals & Modern Applications, a pick recommended for college-level collections and packed with a blend of physical law reviews and updated industry applications examples. Perfect for classrooms as well as college physics collections, it's designed to be used as either a text or a working engineer's reference, and includes detailed descriptions of everything from fiber optics to holograms and logic gates. Perfect for either a survey or a refresher course.

112 Mercer Street
Burton Feldman
Arcade Publishing
116 John Street, #2810, New York, NY 10038
1559707046, $26.00 www.arcadepub.com 1-800-759-0190

112 MERCER STREET: EINSTEIN, RUSSELL, GODEL, PAULI AND THE END OF INNOCENCE IN SCIENCE is edited by Katherine Williams, who offers up biographical sketches of these men and their revolutionary work. As World War II was ending Einstein invited three of his close friends to his home at 112 Mercer Street in New Jersey to discuss science, philosophy and current events: thus a series of historic meetings between Einstein, Russell, Pauli and logician Godel would change the world. This survey blends science, history and biography in a coverage perfect for college-level collections strong in science history.

The Soul in the Brain
Michael R. Trimble, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801884810, $35.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Connections between brain function, language, art and religion are considered with an emphasis on neuro-science perfect for either college-level collections strong in science, health or social science and for public lending collections alike. It was inspired by the writings of many of his patients – many of whom have epilepsy, psychosis or other affective disorders – and considers the underling science of how and why the human species has held strong religious beliefs and connections with art. An intriguing, lively survey.


The Computer Shelf

Implementing the IBM Rational Unified Process and Solutions
Joshua Barnes
IBM Press/Pearson
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0321369459, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

Software engineers interested in improving software development capability and maturity will appreciate this detailed book which relates best practices connected to the complete implementation cycle of IBM RUP, from implementation to mentoring. Here are keys to identifying process solutions, understanding maturity level goals, mapping 'end states' for maximum quality, and more – all packaged in a series of 'stepping stone' chapters which build knowledge and techniques. College-level collections catering to advanced software engineers will appreciate the depth and focus, here.

Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.samspublishing.com 1-800-428-5331

Pair a workbook with a cd and you have a 'starter kit' package geared to new users who need both text and visual reinforcement: perfect for classroom assignment or home study. LINUX STARTER KIT (067232962X, $39.99) covers all the basics pairing its quick start guide to a complete SUSE, Linux Distribution copy on DVD which includes Foxfire, the GIMP graphics editing tool, and more. Phil Ballard's AJAX STARTERKIT (0672329603, $39.99) achieves the same for Ajax. Both include source codes and tutorial references which pair cd programs with clear interactive instructions: a 'must' for any serious learner of Linux or Ajax.

Ubuntu Unleashed, 2nd Edition
Andrew Hudson & Paul Hudson
Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0672329514, $49.99 www.samspublishing.com

The second edition of the weighty UBUNTU UNLEASHED provides detailed, in-depth coverage of the Ubuntu Linux distribution for both Windows and Mac users, covering everything from everyday software and how to make Linux run more effectively to understanding Linux programming, web server administration, and how Ubuntu interacts. This is no lightweight introduction, but any serious collection specializing in Ubuntu Linux will find it a solid reference, including a DVD of full Ubuntu 7.04 distribution and the complete OpenOffice.org suite, along with numerous utilities.

The Principles of Beautiful Web Design
Jason Beaird
Sitepoint
424 Smith Street, Collingwood, VIC Australia 3066
0975841963, $39.95 www.sitepoint.com www.amazon.com

Plenty of books focus on how to build web sites, streamline them, and enhance them – but what about fine-tuning to create great designs? The Principles of Beautiful Web Design covers this, from the basics of a solid design and its implementation to using color schemes, textures, typography, and images more effectively. Chapters cover trends, common pitfalls, and more in a top pick which is a 'must' for any collection catering to web designers.

O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472

www.oreilly.comAjax can be added to existing web applications without redoing everything – and ADDING AJAX by Shelley Powers (0596529368, $34.99) is the perfect web programmer's guide to doing so with ease. Chapters not only cover methods of adding Ajax, but how to use Ajax to enhance an application, how to work with Ajax libraries and interactive elements, and how to understand the effects Ajax has on Web applications. Any web programmer's collection should have ADDING AJAX: it discusses easy integration of Ajax into existing systems and operations. Andy Oram and Greg Wilson edit BEAUTIFUL CODE: LEADING PROGRAMMERS EXPLAIN HOW THEY THINK (0596510047, $44.99), a unique collection of master classes in software design which will prove perfect not just for computer libraries, but for classroom assignment and independent study. Nearly forty master coders reconstruct project creation and coding challenges, considering basic best practices and times when rules must be bent or broken to achieve results. Any programmer involved in software engineering or design will welcome this survey of how the best coders think. David Sawyer McFarland's DREAMWEAVER CS3: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596510438, $44.99) is a powerful all-inclusive reference which is simply a 'must' for any computer collection strong in Dreamweaver patronage. From building your first site and posting it on the Web to adding interactivity with forms and building database-driven web sites, over a hundred pages of step-by-step tutorials is accompanied by insider's tips to make for one of the best Dreamweaver tutorials we've seen. Gary A. Donahue's NETWORK WARRIOR (0596101511, $44.99) is for network systems administrators and libraries catering to these advanced users: it begins where certification exams stop and continues the work of real world instruction on real Cisco networks, from understanding firewall theory and selling network improvements to management to IP design basics and best practices, NETWORK WARRIOR offers many insights based on the author's own real-world experiences. ESSENTIAL ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0 by Colin Moock (0596526946, $54.99) is for advanced programming libraries and for ActionScript web developers who seek a detailed reference on the topic. ActionScript 3.0 is a major upgrade to Flash programming: it's faster and more sophisticated and requires a deeper level of understanding – offered up by ESSENTIAL ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0 alone, making for an invaluable reference. Brian Culp's WINDOWS VISTA ADMINISTRATION: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE (0596529597, $49.99) is a problem-solving reference which is a 'must' for any network administrator. From working with hardware and software and solving common installation and use issues to personalizing and customizing Vista, chapters pack in black and white screen shots and provide plenty of technical details making this a weighty 'must' for any in-depth library catering to the latest network admin needs. Kenneth C. Feldt's PROGRAMMING FIREFOX (0596102437, $59.99) is recommended for advanced computer libraries catering to programmers: it blends a tutorial and a programmer's reference under one cover, covering XUL's interface and capabilities and including a review of Firefox technology, applications management, and more. Any designer working on standards-based Internet projects needs PROGRAMMING FIREFOX: it covers all the basics and encourages a more in-depth understanding of Firefox's potential. Jennifer Niederst Robbins' LEARNING WEB DESIGN, 3RD EDITION (0596527527, $44.99) is subtitled 'A Beginner's Guide to XTML, Style Sheets, and Web Graphics', and herein lies its power. Chapters covering these professional ideas tell everything needed to know how Web pages work and builds a foundation of knowledge, adding applications savvy and advanced topics on top. The book's been completely revised to show how to blend modern design practices into web site design and includes exercises and quizzes, also making it a top classroom assignment pick. An excellent addition to any serious college-level computer library. Christopher Wells' SECURING AJAX APPLICATIONS (0596529317, $49.99) makes a startling comment: using Ajax can increase the risks of existing security flaws in a web site. That said, SECURING AJAX APPLICATIONS fixes many problems, showing how to locate dangerous gaps and cover them early on. Basic security techniques and known vulnerabilities are examined in an overview of not just Ajax but the evolving web platform as a whole. Recommended for any library catering to Ajax students and programmers. Libraries will find compact and affordable the fine 'pocket references' produced by O'Reilly. Michael Fitzgerald's RUBY (0596514816, $9.99) provides an excellent quick programmer's reference to Ruby which is organized for speedy consultation. From lists of methods to predefined variables, RUBY POCKET REFERENCE is not only a top pick for libraries, but for working Ruby programmers who want a pocket at-a-glance guide. George Reese's MY SQL POCKET REFERENCE 2ND EDITION (0596514263, $14.99) covers Version 5.1 and provides SQL statements, functions, and insights into its variations and utilities. Explanations are accompanied by tables and examples for maximum efficiency. Both are fine programmer's guides.

Digital Principles & Logic Design
Saha & N. Manna
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Road, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015032, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

Students and practicing engineers receive a basic introduction to the common methods used to design electrical circuits using modern logic design techniques, so will find this an unusual combination of traditional teachings updated with modern logic sequencing and computer-aided tools. It's designed as a textbook, so college-level students and practicing engineers will find it most handy – but it covers all the basics, from Boolean algebra and logic gates to Karnaugh maps. An accompanying cd-rom includes simulations and third-party software, making this highly recommended for any in-depth, practicing engineer or student.

Application Acceleration and WAN Optimization Fundamentals
Ted Grevers Jr. & Joel Christner
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
1587053160, $60.00 www.ciscopress.com

IT organizations face pressure to increase productivity and improve application performance, and the two authors here review how network professionals face special problems in delivering applications to globally distributed workforces. From how accelerators are changing application business models to using NetFlow to baseline application requirements and leveraging WAN optimization technologies to improve applications, this is a top pick to advanced WAN optimization issues and guidelines, recommended for any collection strong in the topic.

Cubase 4 Tips and Tricks
Keith Gemmell
PC Publishing
O'Reilly & Associates
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9781906005016, $18.95 www.pc-publishing.com www.oreilly.com

Cubase 4 is one of the most powerful MIDI and audio production suites around, but to realize its many options and full strengths you need a guide on hand like Cubase 4 Tips and Tricks: one which addresses shortcuts, enhancements, and optimization in the recording and arranging world. CUBASE 4 TIPS AND TRICKS uses black and white screen shots and photos throughout to enhance understanding, making this a fine choice for programming and MIDI collections alike.

Project Management Success with CMMI
James Persse
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0132333058, $44.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS WITH CMMI: SEVEN CMMI PROCESS AREAS shows how to apply CMMI Level 2 to projects, programs, or processes. It's easy to follow and provides directions for implementing and customizing CMMI for any type of product or organization, covering both business and operational needs of project management and offering up not just technical specs, but real-world case studies and examples to support what works and why.

Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, 2nd Edition
Rickford Grant
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271527, $34.95 www.nostarch.com

Ubuntu is the Linux distribution for newbies and the item of choice for the non-computer-geek, and it's a winner for many. Now there's a handbook packed with insights on the program's tricks and methods, offering a hands-on, project-based guidebook for those who are thinking of switching to Linux, but don't know how. This edition's been updated for Feisty Fawn, the newest Ubuntu release 7.04, and offers tutorials of projects which cover all the topics related to installing and using Linux. Included is a companion cd which lets you try out Ubuntu 7.04 without making any changes to your computer, making for an outstanding method perfect for newcomers to Linux.

Continuous Integration
Paul M. Duvall with Steve Matyas, Andrew Glover
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
0321336380, $44.99 www.awprofessional.com

Any software developer who has spent days in 'integration hell' handling a complexity of software components will appreciate the invaluable information in CONTINUOUS INTEGRATION: IMPROVING SOFTWARE QUALITY AND REDUCING RISK. From the initial concept of CI and its practices to over forty CI-related practices from database integration to development, this book covers the entire cycle of CI development and surveys all kinds of events, repetitive processes, and more. An outstanding guide any serious software development library needs.

Teach Yourself Visually: Adobe Photoshop CS3
John Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0470114525, $24.99 www.wiley.com

If you're a 'visual learner' you can't go wrong with the 'Teach Yourself Visually' series, which uses color screen shots and visual clips to cover all the basics – here, of Adobe Photoshop CS3. From sidebars of information and full-color screen shot demos to step-by-step explanations, this approach is the item of choice for any who need specific visuals, and competes well and pointedly with text-oriented tutorials, making it a top pick for any library catering to beginners learning Photoshop CS3.


The Business Shelf

The Real Estate Developer's Handbook
Tanya Davis
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34474
9781601380340, $29.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Successful real estate developers are usually rich; but for every success story there's the story of those who run out of cash and fail. So any collection catering to real estate developers or investors will relish The Real Estate Developer's Handbook, a practical guide to cash flow specific to the real estate industry. From establishing a small real estate development firm and understanding principles of cash flow as they relate specifically to real estate industry needs and changes to increasing success, an accompanying cd-rom enhances understanding and implementation of advanced real estate topics: perfect for any collection catering to real estate professionals who would strike out on their own.

Real Estate Presentations That Make Millions
Jim Remley
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814474012, $18.95 www.amacombooks.org

Real estate professionals and libraries catering to them will find plenty of specific tips applicable to industry objectives in Real Estate Presentations That Make Millions, a guide produced by a real estate expert and author who became an agent at 19 years and made himself a master of the presentation, quickly becoming one of the top one percent of Realtors in the country. His book reflects years of speaking engagements on the topic and provides the tools and approaches readers need to deliver an effective, powerful presentation which will win listings and generate sales.

Power Points!
Harry Mills
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814474691, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

POWER POINTS! HOW TO DESIGN & DELIVER PRESENTATIONS THAT SIZZLE AND SELL focuses on presentations and speeches which add drama and sizzle to business pursuits, and pairs insights on PowerPoint with overall tips on public speaking to make for much more than your typical PowerPoint presentation handbook. From using calming techniques to overcome stage fright to adding stories and humor to spice a presentation, every business manager and any involved in making presentations or lending books to business professionals needs POWER POINTS!

Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism
Patricia Aburdene
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901
9781571745392, $16.95 www.hrpub.com

Both MEGATRENDS and MEGATRENDS 2000 were top bestsellers predicting shifts key to economic and business worlds alike: now MEGATRENDS 2010 documents the rise of 'conscious capitalism' and what corporate responsibility means to business trends and activities. Any business library or businessman interested in corporate change will appreciate the data and insights documenting corporate scandals and ethics transition points being fostered by grassroots efforts and managers. A top pick any business and public lending library must have.

Riches in Niches
Susan Friedmann, CSP
Career Press
P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149307, $21.99 www.careerpress.com

Plenty of business advice guides advocate finding a niche and marketing that specialty; but not many tell how to locate the factors which differentiate specialties from general trends, services and products. RICHES IN NICHES: HOW TO MAKE IT BIG IN A SMALL MARKET surveys the idea of the Expert, examines the techniques which lend to building a professional niche, and survey marketing strategies successfully used by entrepreneurs to present and solidify their expertise. A 'must' for any library strong in business or career guides.

Successful Time Management, 2nd Edition
Patrick Forsyth
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749448342, $17.50 www.kogan-page.co.uk

From getting organized and learning how to prioritize to categorizing time categories and learning how to handle and allot both idle and busy times, SUCCESSFUL TIME MANAGEMENT comes from The Sunday Times' Creating Success' series and packs in solid specifics on the entire process. While SUCCESSFUL TIME MANAGEMENT is a top pick for business libraries at all levels, it also crosses well into the general-interest public lending library, where it will attract any who would learn better time management skills.

Ads to Icons
Paul Springer
Kogal Page US
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749449365, $47.50 www.kogan-page.co.uk

There's a growing belief among ad industry pros that the possibilities of conventional advertising media approaches has been exhausted and new media challenges point the way to a different advertising approach, yet Ads to Icons: How Advertising Succeeds in a Multimedia Age is the first specific guide to modern media advertising which analyzes in depth how the industry has developed these new approaches. 50 advertising projects from around the world are considered in case studies showing different uses of advertising in the post-digital world, making for a solid reference for any college-level business library where advertising and marketing are top subjects.

The Non-Commercial Food Service Manager's Handbook
Douglas Robert Brown & Shri Henkel
Atlantic Publishing Group
1210 SW 23rd Street, Ocala, FL 34474
9780910627818, $79.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

College-level collections strong in food service, business, and economics alike – especially those with a strong focus in the hospitality industry – will appreciate The Non-Commercial Food Service Manager's Handbook, packing over 600 pages of detail on how to set up, operate and manage a successful food service operation. The entire process is covered here, from detailed menu plans and even floor plans and kitchen layout to food safety issues, dietary concerns for special clients, and managing staff and employees. An accompanying cd-rom packs in all the forms in the book, in pdf format.

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

Two new eBay guides are top picks for a wide range of libraries: from computer and business specialty collections to general-interest lending collections. Michael P. Lujanac and Dan W. Blacharski's HOW AND WHERE TO LOCATE THE MERCHANDISE TO SELL ON EBAY (9780910627870, $24.95) provides an unusual key on not just selling items – which is what most eBay guides do – but where to locate desirable items. 'Insider' information from experts provides keys to wholesalers, discounters, auctions, closeouts, overstocks, salvage items and much more. Dan W. Blacharski's EBAY'S SECRETS REVEALED (9780910627863, $24.95) is for any who would expand their eBay business by tapping into expert advice. From watching out for spyware and understanding search engine optimization to cross-selling techniques, this is designed to help eBay sellers expand upon basics. Both are top picks any eBay seller or library needs to move ahead.


The Education Shelf

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

Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy's SCHOOL COUNSELING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP: A SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESS (9781412941846, $27.95) is an item of choice for both college-level education collections and practicing school counselors. Here are strategies to support school counselors in various issues of underachievement and academic issues, from underlying social and family problems affecting performance to issues of racism and sexuality that could affect learning. From small-group activities for students to individual issues, SCHOOL COUNSELING TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP provides a winning set of examples and strategies. Sharon F. Rallis and Gretchen B. Rossman, et.al.'s LEADING DYNAMIC SCHOOLS: HOW TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT ETHICAL POLICIES (9781412915571, $30.95) offers a companion to PRINCIPALS OF DYNAMIC SCHOOLS AND DYNAMIC TEACHERS, reviewing the educational policy and helping decision-makers evaluate and analyze the policies that govern not just structure but functions of schools. Educators and collections catering to them receive a survey arranged by key issues which blends vignettes and research with policy reviews and more. From implementation of political principles and legal changes to confronting and debating over policies, LEADING DYNAMIC SCHOOLS is a key to designing successful school and community interactions. Susan R. Easterbrooks and Ellen L. Estes' HELPING DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING STUDENTS TO USE SPOKEN LANGUAGE (9781412927321, $71.66) focuses on young children who are learning spoken language and NOT sign language: this focus lends particular value to educators working with both hard of hearing and everyday students in classroom settings, with chapters providing models based on how infants and children learn spoken language. Real-world examples reinforcing teachings accompany analytical and framework viewpoints and conclude with chapter summaries, making this a valuable library reference and text recommended for student teaching classrooms and college-level educator's libraries alike. Robin Fogarty's TEN THINGS NEW TEACHERS NEED TO SUCCEED, 2ND EDITION (9781412936936, $18.95) comes from an international educator who explores ten high-impact strategies to help novice instructors succeed. From lesson design and assessment to classroom discipline and parent/teacher meetings, ten common challenges are surveyed in depth, making for a specific set of strategies teachers will appreciate. Donna Ogle's COMING TOGETHER AS READERS: BUILDING LITERACY TEAMS, 2ND EDITION (9781412954204, $32.95) is based on the idea that student growth in literacy is strengthened when all supportive factors are integrated into the effort. The author holds background as not only a teacher and professor but former president of the International Reading Association, and provides creative ideas for using university partnerships and family involvement alike to shape reading habits at all levels of education. Robert J. Sternberg and Elena L. Grigorenko's TEACHING FOR SUCCESSFUL INTELLIGENCE, 2ND EDITION (9781412955829, $32.95) is written by two internationally renowned educators and helps teachers with their classroom practice, offering lessons that promote successful intelligence. From sample unit plans and forty ready-to-use lessons backed with classroom examples to activities for teachers and students alike, this guide will find a place on the shelves of any serious educator.

Be a Teacher: You Can Make a Difference
Philip Bigler and Stephanie Bishop, Editors
Vandamere Press
PO Box 149, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
0918339707, $19.95 www.vandamere.com

Thirteen national award-winning teachers have contributed to BE A TEACHER, a guide for novices and prior educators alike. From special education needs and maximizing classroom impact to understanding what separates good teachers from mediocre, and understanding the joys of teaching, BE A TEACHER is the item of choice for educator libraries and especially for novices seeking expert advice from practitioners in the field.


The Architecture Shelf

The Green Braid
Kim Tanzer & Rafael Longoria, Editors
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780415415002, $43.75 www.routledge.com

THE GREEN BRAID: TOWARDS AN ARCHITECTURE OF ECOLOGY, ECONOMY AND EQUITY is a pick for any college-level arts or architectural library; It draws from over fifteen years of peer-reviewed essays and design awards published by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and provides writings that challenge and revise modern thinking on the topic. Scholarly essays come packed with design innovations, insights, and more.


The Cookbook Shelf

Tea Cuisine
Joanna Pruess with John Harney
Lyons Press
c/o Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
1592287417, $14.95 www.lyonspress.com 1-800-836-0510

Tea has long been recognized as a restorative, soothing agent for body and mind and other books have been written about tea, but TEA CUISINE offers up something different: a move to take tea from the teapot to the frying pan, soup kettle, and more. Recipes for tea-infused stocks, smoky meat loaf spiced with lapsang souchong tea, and more are unique, fun creations.

Farms & Foods of Ohio From Garden Gate to Dinner Plate
Marilou K. Suszko
Hippocrene Books Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
0781811724, $24.95 www.hippocrenebooks.com

Marilou Suszko visits neighbors and offers 123 recipes from their tables in this fourth edition to Hippocrene's 'state' series focusing on farm produce and regional culinary traditions. From a Roasted Heritage Turkey and Grilled Beaches with Berry Coulis to Asparagus with Red Peppercorn Dip and Autumn Salad with Maple Vinaigrette, any collection strong in regional American cuisine needs this different guide.

Fish Forever
Paul Johnson
John Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780764587795, $34.95 www.wiley.com

FISH FOREVER: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING, SELECTING, AND PREPARING HEALTHY, DELICIOUS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD is for neo-pros and chiefs who would choose sustainable seafood, and is written by the owner of the Monterey Fish Market in San Francisco who has supplied such seafood to some of the nation's best chefs. His guide blends an international recipe book with in-depth profiles of both fish types and discussions of fish health issues and concerns. Access to a range of fish types is required, but any library catering to patrons who love to cook seafood must have this, with its bright centerfold of photos and detailed fish cooking insights.

Cakes and Ale
Judy Spours
National Archives
Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, UK
1905615027 L14.99 www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/bookshop www.amazon.com

CAKES AND ALE: THE GOLDEN AGE OF BRITISH FEASTING uses antique ads and writings about the Victorian and Edwardian habits of throwing elaborate dinner parties to explore the rise of home cooking and the temptations of drinking outside the home, offering spicy chapters packed with lively social history. Any library strong in culinary history will relish the detail here, which blends an overall history of changing British eating habits with a survey of what impacted these changes.


The American History Shelf

Ghost Empire
Philip Marchand
Praeger
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275994171, $49.95 www.praeger.com

GHOST EMPIRE: HOW THE FRENCH ALMOST CONQUERED NORTH AMERICA is an outstanding survey which tells of explorer LaSalle, murdered by his own men but a key figure in claiming land for France in 1682. Had history not gone differently, a French-speaking empire might have extended a thousand miles beyond Quebec, Catholic in religion and strong in Native rights issues. In presenting the story of LaSalle's achievements and speculating on what could have been, an exciting alternative history is created which weaves past and present in a powerful account of conquest, culture and change. A top pick for both college-level American history collections and any general-interest public library strong in lively, thought-provoking American history surveys.

The Fabric of America
Andro Linklater
Walker & Company
104 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
0802715338, $25.95 www.walkerbooks.com

Today's borders and boundaries actually consist of a pattern of lines reflecting the politics of the U.S. and the values which were revealed as the U.S. grew. THE FABRIC OF AMERICA: HOW OUR BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES SHAPED THE COUNTRY AND FORGED OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY reflects these changes, offering a different kind of American history based not on dates and events so much as by laws and the desire of the people to protect place, property and rights. How early immigrants were Americanized by experiences within America's boundaries, how unity was created from diversity, and what decided lines of battle and borders is all covered in a revealing, evocative narrative perfect for any public lending library's American history section.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jewish Idea of Ethics and Morality
Sol Roth
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881259519, $25.00 www.ktav.com

College-level and scholarly collections strong in Jewish ethics and morality issues must have The Jewish Idea of Ethics and Morality: A Covenantal Perspective: it focuses on the 'social covenant' which much of Jewish morality is based upon, drawing connections between justice and mercy and outlining the rule of basic ethical principles as it affects moral decision-making processes. From codes of conduct unique to Jewish perspectives and teachings to relationships between religion and morality, THE JEWISH IDEA OF ETHICS AND MORALITY is a 'must' for any serious Judaic studies holding.

Cooking with the Kosher Butcher's Wife
Sharon Lurie
Struik
Struik House, 80 McKenzie Street, Cape Town 8001, SA
1770072969 www.struik.co.za www.amazon.com

From 'Lemon-Kicked Lamb Shanks' to 'Whole Meal in One', with pumpkin, corn, minced met, peas and more to be eaten after a hard day out on the game preserve, COOKING WITH THE KOSHER BUTCHER'S WIFE offers up a range of unique dishes perfect for all kinds of cooks at many levels of experience. Add color photos to the mix and you have a real winner.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

TV Year Volume 1
John Kenneth Muir
Hal Leonard Publishing
19 West 21st Street Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836841, $19.95 www.halleonard.com

The 2005-06 prime time TV season is captured in a fine survey of favorite shows which goes far beyond the usual synopsis of plot to provide behind-the-scenes gossip, interview excerpts, cast information and details for over 200 drama, comedy, reality and game shows. This is the first volume of a projected annual series: it provides outstanding show references AND includes notes on whether the series is available on DVD. A top pick for any general interest lending collection strong in TV guides.

How to Rehearse When There's No Rehearsal
Alice Spivak with Robert Blumenfeld
Amadeus/Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
0879103426, $19.95 www.limelighteditions.com

Actors and collections catering to them will find How to Rehearse When There's No Rehearsal a winner: it assists actors in all mediums including television and film and uses over forty years experience on theatre, film and television to provide actors with a step-by-step program for developing and building a character. From developing relationships and writing a preliminary character background to planning activities and action, this provides a winning set of insights on the entire process of honing characters and actor's skills.

The Voodoo That They Did So Well
Stefan Kanfer
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
156663735X, $24.95 www.ivanrdee.com

THE VOODOO THAT THEY DID SO WELL: THE WIZARDS WHO INVENTED THE NEW YORK STAGE is a top pick for any serious Broadway or musical theatre collection: it surveys Manhattan's musical theater history, bringing to life the major names of the industry and the stars of New York's Yiddish theater and placing their lives and achievements in context of a broader survey of Manhattan theatre history. An outstanding, lively history, this will appeal to any collection strong in Broadway history and analysis.


The Music Shelf

American Aria Encore
Sherrill Milnes
Amadeus Press/Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
157467160X, $22.95 www.amadeuspress.com

Libraries interested in opera star biographies will want to include AMERICAN ARIA ENCORE in their collections: it's been updated and revised, appears in a new paperback edition, and presents Met Opera star Sherrill Milnes' biography offering plenty of insights into not only her life, but the politics and processes of the opera world as a whole. From encounters with opera masters to behind-the-scenes politics and events, AMERICAN ARIA ENCORE is a fine, lively account.

The Rock & Roll Film Encyclopedia
John Kenneth Muir
Applause Theatre
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836930, $19.95 www.applausepub.com

Fifty years of rock n roll film history is considered in a reader perfect not just for film libraries but for general-interest collections where either film or modern music is of interest. General-interest audiences receive a reference packing in over two hundred reader-friendly A-Z entries which include synopses, cast listings, ratings, DVD availability and more. Also included are biographical entries of the stars and 'best and worst' lists. An excellent reference.

Making Music Videos
Lara M. Schwartz
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823083683, $22.95 www.watsonguptill.com

MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS comes from a veteran music director, producer and teacher whose book provides a one-stop source of information for any who would learn the behind-the-scenes methods of turning a visual concept for a song into a professional quality video. From understanding directors and key players behind music videos and how such are financed within a record label to working with production companies and compiling a cinematography team, MAKING MUSIC VIDEOS is packed with eye-opening insights perfect for any music or video production library holding.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Shadow of Solomon
Laurence Gardner
Red Wheel/Weiser Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1578634040, $18.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Collections strong in New Age topics in general and freemasonry history in particular will want to consider Laurence Gardner's THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON: it's a reader offering an insider's account of masonic history and the search the fraternity has conducted to locate its own lost secrets. The Masons have long been involved in world political events down to the founding of the U.S. and its constitution, which makes THE SHADOW OF SOLOMON of interest not only to new age holdings, but to any who would consider the process of American history.

Schiffer Publishing
4800 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

Three new additions to Schiffer's regional 'haunted' areas will delight any who love either reading about local hauntings or visiting places. Pamela K. Kinney's HAUNTED RICHMOND (9780764327124, $14.95) tells of various Virginia ghosts, from those who inhabit governor's mansions and theatres to a seafood tavern's ghostly resident. Fiona Broome's THE GHOSTS OF AUSTIN: WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (9780764326806, $14.95) tells of ghostly gamblers, Jack the Ripper's killing spree in Austin, and more. Thomas D'Agostine's HAUNTED RHODE ISLAND (0764323504, $12.95) charts vampires, wailing brooks, and even floating coffins. All are powerful tales not only fun to read, but including exact directions for locating each haunted area, making these perfect guides not only for libraries where patrons love a good ghost story, but for collections of travel guides, as well.

Composing Magic
Elizabeth Barrette
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149358, $14.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Bards used to heal the sick with song and verse: COMPOSING MAGIC: HOW TO CREATE MAGICAL SPELLS, RITUALS, BLESSINGS, CHANTS, AND PRAYERS uses examples to show finished compositions of each type, from chants to blessings and spells, offering magick practitioners tips on how to find topics, write a composition, and produce a polished end result key to a Pagan ritual. An outstanding guide new age holdings will find practical and specific.

Energy Work
Robert Bruce
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745408, $15.95 www.hrpub.com

Emotions help link individual psyches to primal energy sources, and ENERGY WORK: THE SECRET OF HEALING AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT uses a variety of current methods to achieve these links, offering newly revised methods for understanding and connecting with the body's energy system. Practice exercises are easy to understand and effective, while visualization techniques expand upon routines to offer more variety and insight: perfect for new age collections.

The Journey of Robert Monroe
Ronald Russell
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745330, $24.95 www.hrpub.com

Robert Monroe's name may sound familiar: he produced JOURNEYS OUT OF THE BODY in the 1970s to give New Age followers insights into the experience: her his life is revealed in a fascinating biography JOURNEY OF ROBERT MONROE: FROM OUT-OF-BODY EXPLORER TO CONSCIOUSNESS PIONEER – and it comes not from an outside researcher, but from an intimate friend. Monroe's research on alternative realities and his pioneering research in consciousness are charted in a blend of biography and new age insights, making for an excellent recommendation not just for New Age collections, but for any general-interest library catering to readers of psychology or mysticism.

Inner Traditions/Bear & Company/Destiny
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com

Michael Lamy's THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JULES VERNE: DECODING HIS MASONIC, ROSICRUCIAN AND OCCULT WRITINGS (1594771618, $19.95) reveals the science fiction writer's active participation in the occult community of his times in France – and how esoteric secrets can be found in his writings, from Rosicrucian secrets of immortality to Masonic initiation rites. An exact discussion and analysis of Verne's language choices reveals his wordplay, anagrams and even numerical combinations in a guide perfect for any interested in Verne's connections with the occult, and recommended for any library strong in Verne literary analysis as well as new age collections. Graham Phillips' THE END OF EDEN; THE COMET THAT CHANGED CIVILIZATION (1591430690, $16.00) details the shifts in social demeanor and religious thinking that helped shape the world in the wake of a massive comet which appeared in the sky in 1500 BC, when the comet 12P/Pons-Brooks' tail engulfed Earth. In the comet's wake cultures became more aggressive, abandoning prior peaceful ways and making wars – and monotheism arise. THE END OF EDEN details the comet's influences on these changes and also maintains the comet's tail held a chemical known to cause aggressive behavior. An intriguing 'must' new age collections will relish. Steven Sora's THE TRIUMPH OF THE SEA GODS: THE WAR AGAINST THE GODDESS HIDDEN IN HOMER'S TALES (159477143X, $18.95) could've been reviewed in our History Shelf section but is featured here for its concurrent attraction to New Age readers. Sora argues here that Homer's tales don't describe the commonly-held Mediterranean scenarios, but are adaptations of pre-Celtic myths detailing an Atlantic coastal war which took place off the Iberian Peninsula around 1200 BCE, and chronicled the rise of the seas as well. Ancient history collections and new age readers alike will find this alternative history description detailing the rise of sea peoples and the decline of the region's goddess-worshipping culture makes for fascinating reading. Ken Eagle Feather's TOLTEC DREAMING: DON JUAN'S TEACHINGS ON THE ENERGY BODY (1591430720, $16.00) explores different levels of the dream state, contrasting ordinary dreaming with 'dreaming awake' in which an active dreamer ascends to the Dream of Transcendence. All this is placed in context of the Toltec tradition and provides a fine, purposeful blend of history and new age 'how to' insights.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Blackwell Publishing
Box 570, Ames, IA 50010-0570
www.blackwellprofessional.com

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN SMALL ANIMAL MEDICINE by Alex Gough (9781405132527, $59.99) is for practicing vets and students interested in quick diagnosis strategies. It's designed to be a quick reference focusing on differential diagnosis, and lists major problems in small animal medicine and diagnoses from diverse findings from lab tests to physical examination. Color photos and protocols for selected diagnostic tests supplement technical information on the majority of presentations encountered in a vet's practice. Tables of signs and applied scores accompany charts and references. The second updated edition of Kevin Dolan's LABORATORY ANIMAL LAW: LEGAL CONTROL OF THE USE OF ANIMALS IN RESEARCH (9781405162821, $79.99) is written by the leading expert in the field and is the only guide to offer specific insights on the legal obligations of caring for lab animals. New additions to this update include details on new welfare legislation, expanded coverage of certificates of Designation, and emphasis on the actual applications of legal controls over research animals. Debra F. Horwitz & Jacqueline C. Nielson's FIVE MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: CANINE & FELINE BEHAVIOR (9780781757355, $89.99) joins others in the 'Five-Minute' series to offer up a manual perfect for practicing vets and college-level students. An alphabetical arrangement lends to quick reference while coverage outlines common behaviors in dogs and cats, from different types of aggression and ways of expressing anxiety to destructive behaviors. A CD-ROM of client handouts accompanies differential diagnostics, therapeutic techniques reviews, and contributing risk factors. Students also learn how to take and assess histories. Melinda D. Merck, DVM's VETERINARY FORENSICS: ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATIONS (9780813815015, $89.99) offers up a practical desk reference for vets, pathologists and investigators, integrating the resources needed to work on and investigate animal abuse cases. From crime scene investigation and forensic testing to compiling evidence that will hold up in court, VETERINARY FORENSICS offers a resource essential for animal cruelty investigators. All are top picks college-level veterinary school collections – and practicing vets – will find loaded with real-world applications and techniques.

Dreaming in Libro
Louise Bernikow
Lifelong Books/DaCapo
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
073821096X, $22.95 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737

A woman meets an abandoned boxer in a city park and spends a year discovering the dog's methods and requirements, then offering up the funny, lively memoir Dreaming in Libro, covering her entire eight years as her boxer's friend. From pet therapy to a summer in the Hamptons, DREAMING IN LIBRO: HOW A GOOD DOG TAMED A BAD WOMAN is a blend of love story and pet saga which invites general-interest readers and libraries strong in pet biographies.

Merle's Door
Ted Kerasote
Harcourt Books
15 East 26th Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10010
9780151012701, $25.00 www.harcourt.com 1-800-543-1918

Merle was a ten-month-old dog living on his own in the Utah desert, and Ted was over forty and searching for a puppy companion. The two discovered each other and the lessons learned between them about nature and humanity comprise MERLE'S DOOR: LESSONS FROM A FREETHINKING DOG. Included in the account are insights on the dog-human bond, how animals and humans communicate, and the latest wolf research explaining how sharing leadership with a dog can lead to a better companion relationships. An outstanding, heart-warming story, MERLE'S DOOR is a 'must' for any general-interest lending library where animal stories are treasured.

Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds
Carol Ekarius
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176675, $24.95 www.storey.com

From the ancient chicken breed Araucana, which appeared before Columbus, to one of the first domesticated breeds now endangered to common breeds, Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds provides a powerful guide packing in North American domestic and wild poultry and adding color photos throughout. Sidebars of detail include identifying characteristics and facts, while notes comment on how each breed was created and marketed, and its special attributes. Both casual poultry farmers to more serious breeders will find plenty of information in a book especially recommended for rural library holdings and any college-level collection strong in agriculture and farm management.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Andean Folk Knits
Macia Lewandowski
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue, New York NY 10016
1579909531, $14.95 www.larkbooks.com

Lovely bags and accessories based on Andean knitting traditions are covered in a unique guide holding over thirty knitting projects of Andean-based patterns. Experienced knitters receive both color photo examples and step-by-step instructions on creating unique Andean patterns which translate not only to these projects, but will be easily applied to any knitting endeavor. Libraries catering to experienced knitters, especially those with multicultural focus, will appreciate the many unique projects here.

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

Glorianne Cubbage's TWICE QUILTED: CONTINUOUS-LINE QUILTING DESIGNS (9781564777614, $26.95) offers up some twenty sets of patterns with over 40 designs in all for both traditional and themed motifs, and discusses the special attributes of continuous-line design. Instructions in this kit include directions on how to trace, transfer and sew the designs: while the box format lends more to personal quilter's acquisition than library lending, it does provide an outstanding instructional highly recommended for any newcomer to the continuous-line process. Jane Quinn's QUILTING IN THE COUNTRY: PROJECTS AND RECIPES TO CELEBRATE LIFE'S SPECIAL MOMENTS (9781564777256, $26.95) presents some sixteen projects from wall and lap quilts to ornaments and table decorations, and is a theme-oriented pick for any who would create unique quilts. Accompanying the quilt design suggestions are tips for parties and holiday celebrations and how to display and use the quilts for maximum advantage. Eva Wiechmann's CROCHETED PURSENALITIES: 20 GREAT FELTED BAGS (9781564777508, $19.95) offers stylish and easy felted purses which reflect both contemporary designs and simple, functional patterns. What differentiates this from the usual crochet purse book is an attention to the newer yarns and a felted appearance, which differs greatly from the usual open-holed crochet designs of competitors – and lends to modern fashion. Karen Thalacker's KNITTING WITH GIGI comes in both hardcover book (9781564777584, $16.95) and pattern box kit complete with yarns (9781564778161, $24.95) which lend well to beginners ages 8 and older who are just getting started – and for many an adult newcomers to knitting. The kit holds yarn, needles, and a softcover book with poems pictures and easy step-by-step directions, making it a perfect gift choice. The hardcover book includes 8 patterns and easy step-by-step instructions which works well for lending libraries. STORYBOOK SNUGGLERS: ONCE UPON A TIME (9781564777850, $12.95) by Cheryl Almgren Taylor is not for lending libraries so much as for quilters and those who would gift them on special occasions. A 'quilt in a packet' provides all the basics necessary for producing two quilts – a wall hanging and a lap quilt – and makes for a perfect gift. All are top picks for serious needlework collections.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Every Nonprofit's Guide to Publishing
Cheryl Woodard & Lucia Hwang
Nolo Press
950 Parker, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306583, $29.99 www.nolo.com

EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING: CREATING NEWSLETTERS, MAGAZINES & WEBSITES PEOPLE WILL READ appears in its first edition to offer nonprofits – and any library who would cater to them – an excellent reference to the most visible communication device of any nonprofit group. These publications can be used to raise money, attract new members, and promote causes; but before a nonprofit creates one, read EVERY NONPROFIT'S GUIDE TO PUBLISHING – it covers both pitfalls and best practices, including creating a budget, producing consistently high-quality content, and designing the publication for both print and website.

Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657
www.quilldriverbooks.com

Sue Fagalde Lick's FREELANCING FOR NEWSPAPERS: WRITING FOR AN OVERLOOKED MARKET (1884956688, $14.95) is a winner: it shows how to locate newspapers which use freelancers (as opposed to many who only use staff), how to pitch an editor for a story idea, how to interview and gain assignments, and more. Students of media studies and journalism will find it the perfect starting point for breaking into a notoriously difficult industry. Gene Perrett's THE NEW COMEDY WRITING STEP BY STEP (1884956661, $14.95) has been revised and expanded and includes inspiration and real-world experiences from the comedy profession. From a wealth of comedy-writing exercises to reinforce efforts to keeping a comedy notebook and getting ready to write, beginners new to the field have many tips on how to get started. Both are top picks for any collection strong in writer's guides; especially introductory studies.


The Literary Shelf

Dance Dance Revolution: Poems
Cathy Park Hong
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393064841, $23.95 www.wwnorton.com

The Dance Dance Revolution is a mythic story which takes the form of a poetic tale: here it took place in 1988 and the protagonist is a 'tour guide' of the Desert, a fictional resort city modeled after the world's finest hotels and capitals. Readers of epics like Dante's INFERNO will find this akin in structure and drama, offering up an invented language blending extinct English dialects with Latin, Spanish, Korean and other pidgins. No lightweight read, it's a pick for college-level collections specializing in modern literary poetic structure and is especially recommended for classroom assignment.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com

Definitive collections for avid collectors of fishing gear will not be complete without adding the fifth volume of Russell E. Lewis's Modern Fishing Lure Collectibles (9781574325331, $29.95), which continues Lewis' prior volumes offering identification and value guides to lures from the 1970s, 1980s and modern times. Packed with color photos of lures often in their boxes and new, paired with prices and including text descriptions and lure history, it's a top pick for any with an avid interest in fishing lures. Lar Hothem's RARE & UNUSUAL INDIAN ARTIFACTS: IDENTIFICATION AND VALUE GUIDE (9781574325416, $34.95) packs its pages with color photos of different Indian artifacts, and is a specialty item perfect for any lending library or collector where Native artifacts are researched and collected. It's difficult to find a reference as specific as this: each artifact is divided into category then analyzed for both history and collectible value. An outstanding reference for the Native American artifact collector. Don Jensen's HORSMAN DOLLS: THE VINYL ERA 1950 TO PRESENT (9781574325386, $29.95) includes a fine biographical sketch of Horsman and the dolls he created, then moves to the heart of the matter: color photos for identification and written descriptions which chart the changing styles, purposes and trends of these dolls. Any doll collector, particularly those of Horsman styles, must have this identification and value guide.

Razors: Identification and Values, 3rd Edition
Roy Ritche and Ron Stewart
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325508, $12.95 www.collectorbooks.com

It may seem too specific a subject for more general collector's reference shelves, but many collect razors and will find this specific guide to their identification and value and important reference. Black and white and color photos of selected antiques accompany charts and graphs of values packaged in a format perfect for take-along tote.


The Gaming Shelf

Leading Questions in Bridge
Sally Brock
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Drive, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
1897106181, $17.95 www.masterpointpress.com

The opening bid is one of the most important plays in bridge – and here to narrow the focus on this play is Leading Questions in Bridge, from a top player who addresses specifics such as whether to be an active or passive player, and how to lead trumps. Chapters are directed to intermediate players and discuss issues such as shortages, tricks, and more: perfect for any collection catering to serious bridge players.


The Crafts Shelf

Mixed Media Mosaics
Laurie Mika
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581809832, $22.99 www.fwpublications.com

MIXED MEDIA MOSAICS: TECHNIQUES & PROJECTS is an excellent pick for any working in polymer clay, whether it be producing jewelry, boxes, or mosaic tiles. Chapters discuss mica powders and how they can enhance mosaic efforts, survey techniques for creating molds and casting tiles, and provide a rich set of inspirations to delight mosaic crafters and libraries catering to crafts people and home artists.

Cool Jewels
Naomi Fujimoto
Kalmbach Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871162472, $19.95 www.kalmbach.com

COOL JEWELS: BEADING PROJECTS FOR TEENS packs in an outstanding set of step-by-step instructions paired with color photos and contributed by the author of BeadStyle Magazine. Techniques, tips and tricks pack a guide which tells how to turn beads into earrings, bracelets and more. Projects are illustrated by color photos, easy to produce, and perfect for beginners, making this a top pick for any library catering to teen crafters.

The Art of Polymer Clay: Creative Surface Effects
Donna Kato
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823013626, $19.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Ten years ago clay artist Donna Kato's first book ART OF POLYMER CLAY established her as an early authority on the topic: she's become a teacher and product designer since then, and her latest title The Art of Polymer Clay: Creative Surface Effects: Techniques and Projects Featuring Transfers, Stamps, Stencils, Inks, Paints, Mediums, and More expands the topic to the next level, featuring dozens of techniques for exciting surface effects and art options. Chapters cover everything from inkjet transfers onto clay surfaces to texturing and toner transfers. Any library strong in clay crafts needs this.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South Suite 806, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

Joining others in Osprey's 'Elite' specialty military titles is Ross Cowan's ROMAN BATTLE TACTICS 109BC-AD313 (9781846031847, $17.95) a powerful history of military forces and strategies during early Roman times. Any special-interest military collection strong in ancient battle history will find this an excellent survey of one of the world's finest military machines, including evidence for military traditions, battle campaigns, and color interpretations of tactical scenarios. Michael Thompson's GRANICUS 334 BC: ALEXANDER'S FIRST PERSIAN VICTORY (9781846030994, $18.95) is also a specialty recommendation for serious military history holdings; this focusing on Alexander's first great victory over the Persians, where his force of some 5,000 men routed a force of 20,000 Persian cavalry. Battle analysis here provides excellent specifics and insights perfect for collections strong in early military history. Greg VanWyngarden's ALBATROS ACES OF WORLD WAR 1 PART 2 (9781846031793, $20.95) provides a followup to Osprey Aircraft 32, the first volume of the two-part series examining the design and production of the Albatros aircraft series, and is recommended for prior owners of the first volume and for specialty collections in aviation or World War I history. Vintage black and white photos accompany specs on the craft. David Murphy's CONDOTTIERE 1300-1500: INFAMOUS MEDIEVAL MERCENARIES (9781846030772, $17.95) is for any specialty early history library, and focuses on Medieval military organization, recruitment, and strategy. Social, political and military history blend in a recommendation for specialty holdings. Andrea Molinari's DESERT RAIDERS: AXIS AND ALLIED SPECIAL FORCES 1940-43 (9781846030062, $23.95) details the organization and tactics of famous units in the UK, France, Italy and Germany who all developed irregular units to exploit unique battle conditions during World War II. Collections strong in World War II history will find it an excellent survey. Christopher Gravett's THE CASTLES OF EDWARD I IN WALES 1277-1307 (9781846030277, $16.95) is also a pick for collections strong in either early English or early military history. It surveys the strategy of one Edward I, who gathered a huge army and marched into Wales to subdue the rebel Welsh princes. His book examines the design, development and principles of defense of these Welsh castles and documents their daily life and events, using key sites and castle designs to provide a powerful survey. G. Edmundson, D. Ned, D. Parker, D. Thompson and S. VanBeveren's MODELLING THE TIGER I (9781846031700, $18.95) contributes to the 'Osprey Modelling' series offering modelers expect advice on how to model the Riger I, the most famous tank of World War II. Discussions of kits, after market products and history feature six different projects in a survey which will appeal to military libraries and crafts collections alike.


The Art Shelf

The Art of Pastel Painting
Alan Flattmann
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589804074, $35.00 www.pelicanpub.com

The art and technique of modern pastel is taught in a text which revises an original 1987 version to include the latest details on new technical advancements, plus new demonstrations and new paintings from the artist author, who was indicted into the Pastel society of America hall of Fame in 2006. From surface texture and lighting to basic painting and preservation concepts, The Art of Pastel Painting thus expands expertise and options and remains a standard, highly commended pick for any art library catering to amateur painters who would learn professional techniques.


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Nora Roberts' HIGH NOON (1423337298, $39.95) receives veteran narrator Susan Ericksen's smooth and seasoned voice, spiced by years of involvement on stage and in television, as it tells of one police lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara, a top hostage negotiator who defuses dangerous situations – including her agoraphobic mother. Romance evolves when she rescues one of Duncan's employees – but Phoebe isn't looking for romance, until a special threat leads her to his help – and his arms. Alafair Burke's DEAD CONNECTION (1423343379, $36.95) receives Christopher Lane's smooth voice as it tells of a rookie detective who goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan. To catch the killer Ellie must enter a world of stolen identities and place her own life in danger in a fast-paced, vivid mystery that comes to life under audio. Daniel Silva's THE SECRET SERVANT (159600035X, $38.95) receives Phil Gigante's background as an actor and producer with over 20 years experience in theatre as it returns with another story of Gabriel Allon, a master art restorer and officer of Israeli intelligence summoned to undertake a routine assignment to purge archives of a murdered Dutch terrorism analyst. His routine job turns deadly quickly in a spellbinding cat-and-mouse listen. Public lending libraries will appreciate these vivid audios.

The New Yorkers
Cathleen Schine
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598870909, $32.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532

Nicole Roberts lends drama and interest to the story of Jody, who falls under the spell of one Everett as he's walking her dog – and Everett, who has fallen in love with Polly's puppy. Canine romance, companions, and post-divorce angst blend in a funny story even dog haters will relish.

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

The party accompanying a Latin girl's coming of age or sweet fifteen celebration is one of the highlights of her life, and in ONCE UPON A QUINCEANERA (9780143142195, $39.95) author Julia Alvarez attends the 'quince' of a young Queens woman to relate the confusion and planning over this special event, including interviews with other quince girls and her own memories to trace the origins and enactment of the ceremony. A top pick for any public lending library, especially those strong in Latin culture. Kim Edwards' short stories in SECRETS OF A FIRE KING (9780143142638, $29.95) receives actress Bernadette Dunne's fine acting skills and smooth voice as they offer insights on individuals living on the edge of society, from a fire-eater and a juggler to a cleaning woman whose life is entwined with Marie Curie's. Love, enchantment and hardship blend in some outstanding surveys. Susan Vreeland's LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY (9780143142102, $39.95) receives Karen White's fine actress skills – she's worked extensively in film stage, TV and in commercials – which lend a gripping and smooth narrative style to this exploration of Renoir's masterpiece of the title's name. From issues of loyalty to changes in the art world, the story evolves from the viewpoint of Renoir and seven of the models in the painting, and reveals the social fabric of his times in a vivid, enlightening story. Tana French's IN THE WOODS (9780143142188, $39.95) receives Steven Crossley's fine stage and TV background which lends to his excellent and vivid narrative and dramatization skills in reading the story of suspense set in 1984, revolving around three missing children. One is found and has amnesia: twenty years later the boy is a murder squad detective with a secret that comes dangerously to life when a preteen girl is murdered in the same woods. Jane Green's SECOND CHANCE (9780143142171, $39.95) offers an excellent novel spiced by Rosalyn Landor's numerous credits in film TV and theatre and telling of one freelance journalist Paul, struggling to have children while wallflower Olivia finds herself single after her longtime lover walks out, and Saffron searches for love amongst the stars of L.A. The three gather when their mutual friend Tom is killed in a terrorist attack, then to discover the real powers of love and connections. All are vivid, involving audio listens.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Terri Persons' BLIND SPOT (9780739340615, $29.95) receives Coleen Marlo's excellent style, spied by years working in film, TV and theatre, as it tells of an FBI agent's gift of second sight, which makes her a special kind of investigator – and invaluable, especially when it comes to troubling cases involving quirky neighbors and dangerous alliances. Twists and turns of plot make for involving listening audio mystery fans will find delightful. Tawni O'Dell's SISTER MINE (9780739342015, $29.95) receives Renee Raudman's dramatic voice which is enhanced by her TV appearances and attention to high drama. Shae-Lynn drives a cab in a small town and has spent years carving out a career in a tiny coal mining town: now she's having nightmares, reliving the relationship with her brutal father, and trouble is emerging which may engulf her careful life. Both are excellent recommendations for avid audio listeners and lending libraries alike.


The Photography Shelf

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

Kevin Newsome's CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY: A PHOTOJOURNALISTIC APPROACH (9781584282068, $34.95) covers the idea of creating a range of fun, age-appropriate activities to result in unique and superior group portrait opportunities with kids. From working with special-needs children and varying age groups to developing effective shots and plans for setting up, CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY goes beyond the usual advice guide to address the facets which make for superior children's photos, as opposed to snapshots, making this a top pick for any pro photographer's library. Stephen A. Dantzig's SOFTBOX LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584282020, $34.95) tells how to use the softbox tool to produce superior photography lighting results, from understanding how softboxes work to their different sizes, shapes, and range of possibilities. Techniques range from producing glamour shots and interior images to using color temperatures effectively and modifying lighting with scrims and masks. Bill Hurter's CHILDREN'S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584282082, $34.95) covers all the basics of how to photograph children, from using studio lighting for formal and informal results to posing tips for all ages, age-specific psychological insights for talking to kids, and design techniques for making albums polished keepsakes.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

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

Andre Norton's MASKS OF THE OUTCASTS (1416521380, $7.99) tells of two outcasts: Troy, forced to hide in the wake of his employer's murder, and Nik, who has to hide his scarred face from the world until an offer to masquerade as an heir is tied to his recovery. The two hope to escape the slum which has been their lives – and unusual connections are drawn in this classic tale. Norton's DARK COMPANION (1416521194, $7.99) is vintage Norton writing at her best. It combines two of her classics – DARK PIPER and DREAD COMPANION – under one cover and tells of two very different heroes who battle evil in alien worlds. Her FROM THE SEA TO THE STARS (1416521224, $15.00) also provides two complete classics under one cover: SEA SIEGE and STAR GATE. SEA SIEGE tells of scientists who survive nuclear war only to find a strange set of sea creatures – intelligent – have been released to threaten the remainder of Mankind; STAR GATE tells of Star Lords, parallel universes, a lost Earth and wandering souls. Harry Turtledove's BRIDGE OF THE SEPARATOR (1416521395, $7.99) tells of one Rhavas, a pious and good man set to become the patriarch of an Empire when it falls into civil war and barbarians invade. Now he is in exile, evil has devoured his world, and he must re-consider his very beliefs in good and evil in this fine fantasy of epic changes. Eric Flint and David Drake's DANCE OF TIME (1416521372, $7.99) tells of an epic battle fought in the sixth century where evil has been put down – but is still ruled by a monster from the future which is part computer, part demon. New attacks are planned – and it's up to general Belisarius to fight an impossible battle against it. John Ringo's KILDAR (141652133X, $7.99) tells of Mike, who has always wanted to be a SEAL, but who is currently hated by every terrorist on Earth and many governments. Facing danger, the Ghost decides to come out of retirement – with dangerous results. William Keith's RETIEF'S PEACE (1416521356, $7.99) presents yet another Retief story of the diplomat who returns to action to thwart invaders and dangers to Terran diplomats. Retief may even face being expelled from the Corps for his efforts – but those who would thwart him find him even more deadly operating outside the law…Chris Dolley's RESONANCE (1416521348, $7.99) tells of an obsessive-compulsive mute and a girl who hears voices, who team up across alternate realities to address the problems of their unstable worlds. RESONANCE is outstanding, creating unique, believable protagonists from two worlds and compelling readers to follow along in an outstanding adventure. John Ringo's INTO THE LOOKING GLASS (1416521054, $7.99) tells of a huge explosion which destroys the University of Central Florida and which leaves doorways into another world in its aftermath. It's up to an esteemed physicist to investigate and to ultimately confront the demons these gateways will discharge from other worlds.

A Thousand Deaths
George Alec Effinger
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846479, $24.95 www.goldengryphon.com

Eight stories represent fine Sandor Courane thrillers, with the opening novel 'The Wolves of Memory' telling of a bleak Earth ruled by intelligent, near-human computers. Here Sandor is assigned three jobs for which he lacks skills – and is exiled to Planet D, a farm world, which he comes to consider a fine alternative to Earth. Courane keeps facing death in subsequent short stories in this collection – and always has a fun, unique answer to challenges. Science fiction fans will find it a winning story and any serious collection appealing to genre readers will want this.

The Mathematics of Magic
L. Sprague DeCamp & Fletcher Pratt
NESFA Press
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
1886778655, $26.00 www.nesfa.org

Harold is a psychologist who dreams of adventure, but when his boss develops a theory which lets a person transport himself into any world he can imagine, he finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime – one in which he travels through mythology's finest gods and adventurers. DeCamp and Pratt's 'Enchanter' stories follow his fantasy encounters and makes for engrossing, fun reading especially recommended for fantasy libraries also holding DeCamp's works.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Last Days of Democracy
Elliot D. Cohen & Bruce W. Fraser
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025047, $20.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

THE LAST DAYS OF DEMOCRACY: HOW BIG MEDIA AND POWER-HUNGRY GOVERNMENT ARE TURNING AMERICA INTO A DICTATORSHIP surveys how Constitutional promises and premises are being eroded by both private and federal special interests. The author is director of the Institute of Critical Thinking: his title charts events and places a call to action for any who value democratic ideals, and is perfect for both high school and college-level debates and collections strong in American political and social issues.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Pesticides: A Toxic Time Bomb in Our Midst
Martin J. Levine
Praeger Publishing
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
027599127X, $49.95 www.praeger.com

Pesticide exposure has long been a danger and studies have documented dangers to all levels of society, but what makes Pesticides: A Toxic Time Bomb in Our Midst so important for any college-level collection strong in health, safety, and agriculture as well as social issues is its comprehensive examination of pesticide use, its effects, and alternatives to pesticides. Insights on applied agricultural uses of pesticides and how people are exposed – primarily in the home – accompany charts of statistics and heavily footnoted references in an invaluable guide highly recommended for any collection strong in environmental awareness, safety, and social issues.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Earth & Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet
David Rhoades, Editor
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York NY 10038
0826428282, $24.95 www.continuumbooks.com

For centuries Christians have preached a domination of the earth, but EARTH AND WORD provides a difference: sermons from the Christian community which do not condone the destruction and conquest of the environment in the name of God. The voices of environmentalists, theologians, and activists such as Wendell Berry, John Cobb, and others explore connections between thinking religiously and thinking ecologically, and make for important considerations recommended for any Christian library.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Demystifying Islam
Dr. Ali Shehata
Elysium River Press
189 Magnolia Park Trail, Sanford, FL 32773
9780979119019, $15.99 www.elysiumriver.com

DEMYSTIFYING ISLAM: YOUR GUIDE TO THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION OF THE 21ST CENTURY introduces the basics of Islam and is a top pick for any non-Muslim seeking a foundation reference point for understanding. Chapters survey Quran scriptures, compare passages to Christian and other religious ideas, and consider everything from perspectives on Jesus to the Prophet Muhammed. Perfect for the general-interest spiritual collection seeking insights on Islamic beliefs.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Gold of Thrace
Aileen G. Baron
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
1590584309, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

Archaeologist Tamar is drawn against her will into a modern-day murder investigation when a member of staff at a Turkish excavation is murdered and a mosaic floor vanishes overnight from her site. She follows the floor to Switzerland, where two men seem like charmers – or dangerous villains – and draw her further into a quest for the roots of theft, deceit and murder. A gripping, moving and well-done story line evolves.


The Gardening Shelf

Peonies
Pamela McGeorge
Firefly Books Limited
66 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1H1
1554071682, $24.95 www.fireflybooks.com

Russell McGeorge's PEONIES is a bright, beautiful volume for gardeners who want to focus on the flower. History blends with practical gardening tips on how to grow a variety of peonies, from herbaceous varieties to tree peonies, along with details on how they can blend into an existing landscape or garden. Care directions cover everything from planting to dividing, moving, and troubleshooting common problems. Recommended for any gardening library.


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


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