Wisconsin Gardens & Landscape
Mary Lou Santovec & Rick Santovec
Trails Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
145 North Commercial Street, Suite 100, Neenah, WI 54956
9781931599894, $19.95 www.bigearthpublishing.com 1-800-258-5830
Although best known as the Dairy State because of its historic importance for the production of milk and cheese, Wisconsin is also home to more than one hundred public gardens, memorable landscapes, nature preserves, and impressive plant nurseries. Now for the first time these diverse horticultural sites of interest have been organized into a superlatively illustrated guide book by Madison resident Mary Lou Santovec and her photographing husband Rick. Each of these remarkable Wisconsin horticultural sites comes with complete directions on getting to them, as well as descriptions of what each of them have to offer the visitor. Enhanced with directories of Wisconsin garden and plant clubs, master gardeners, specialty gardens, and so much more, this beautiful guidebook is a 'must' for Wisconsin gardeners, horticulturalist, and naturalists, as well as the non-specialist general reader who would like to enjoy the beauty and diversity of gardening in Wisconsin. This seminal itinerary of Wisconsin horticultural sites is organized geographically into Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. Each entry also includes an 'info block' description that includes the county, address, phone number, directions, admission fee (if any), access availability hours, and amenities such as the availability of street parking, food, sanitation facilities, etc. Ideal for planning excursions for day-trips, weekend getaways, or vacation travels, "Wisconsin Gardens & Landscapes" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Wisconsin Travel and Wisconsin Gardening/Horticultural reference collections.
Grandpa Ranney's Stories
Julia Richards Cechvala
Goblin Fern Press
6401 Odana Road, Suite B, Madison, WI 53719
9781595980571, $16.95, www.goblinfernpress.com 1-888-670-2665
After they are gone, how many of us end up wishing that we had had the presence of mind to record those long-ago conversations with our grandparents when they would tell us stories of their own lives and times, hardships and accomplishments, the places they'd been to and the people they'd met. A journalist by training and inclination, Julia Richards Cechvala did exactly that and compiled the stories her octogenarian grandfather told her about his history and the history of their ancestors. Here are personal stories of what life for the early settlers of Wisconsin was like, including the heartache of losing a farm during the Great Depression, the difficulties and joys of being a UW-Madison during the 1930s, tales of trials and triumphs, loss and love. Occasionally illustrated with historic black-and-white photos, "Grandpa Ranney's Stories" reads like you were sitting in the room across from an articulate, thoughtful, humorous man whose intrinsically interesting memoir showcased an ordinary life lived through extraordinary times. From beginning to end, "Grandpa Ranney's Stories" is a fascinating and highly recommended read -- and would well serve as a template for others to record the life stories of their own aging kinfolk while they are till here to tell them.
Wisconsin Cheese
Martin Hintz & Pam Percy
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762744893, $16.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495
Long known as America's 'Dairy State', Wisconsin has a long and distinguished history of cheese making that includes such standards as cheddar, blue, and Swiss, as well as specialty cheeses. The collaborative work of dedicated Wisconsin cheese enthusiasts Martin Hintz and Pam Percy (who reside on five acres in suburban Milwaukee where they raise two Saanen dairy goats, raise vegetables, chicken and quality, in addition to writing books and articles on travel, history, and food), "Wisconsin Cheese: A Cookbook And Guide To The Cheeses Of Wisconsin" is a 272-page celebration of Wisconsin's contribution to cheesemaking, including more than 100 thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes showcasing the nutrition, flavors, and diversities of cheese. From Milk Chocolate Cheesecake; Wisconsin Cheddar Scones with Smoked Turkey; and Open-Faced Sandwich Layered with Wisconsin Baby Swiss, Eggplant, and Peppers; to Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Warm Goat Cheese Rounds; Morels and Eggs 'En Cocotte' with Parmesan Cheese; and Corn-Stuffed Tomatoes with Wisconsin Muenster Cheese, "Wisconsin Cheese" is a series of culinary celebrations that will satisfy any appetite and please any palate. Of special note is the section devoted to 'The Great Wisconsin Cheeseburger' (especially the recipe for Wisconsin Turkey Pizza Burger!). Enhanced with black-and-white photography and historical info bits about Wisconsin cheesemakers, "Wisconsin Cheese" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to Wisconsin community library cookbook collections in general, and cheese lover culinary reference shelves in particular!
Zero Days
Barbara Egbert
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1306
9780899974385, $15.95 www.wildernesspress.com
In 2004 the authors began a six-month journey to hike the length of the pacific Crest Trail with their ten-year-old daughter. Their family adventures comes to life in ZERO DAYS, which recounts their physical and mental challenges, the special obstacles and benefits which were derived from making a family effort, and their newfound discovery of family values. An inspiring read of physical and mental challenge, ZERO DAYS is a wonderful addition to any general-interest library, whether it be a collection specializing in outdoors and nature books or one catering to parents.
Where Men Hide
James B. Twitchell
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231137355, $19.95 www.columbia.edu/cu/cup
Ken Ross' black and white photos pepper an excellent survey of male habitats and their diminishing appearance and qualities, considering the history of 'virtual caves' men have gone to escape, bond, or conduct business. Major historical and literary figures and their escape routes are considered in a survey of mythical and historical places which considers the past and present of male haunts and retreats. Any library strong in sociology at the college level will find this an important acquisition.
The Way of the Explorer
Dr. Edgar Mitchell with Dwight Williams
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781564149770, $16.99 www.newpagebooks.com
In February 1971 Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell sensed the deliberate plan in the creation of the cosmos and space: for over thirty years he would explore the mystery of human consciousness, leaving NASA to form the Institute of Noetic Sciences and researching a theory that could explain consciousness and science alike. His memoir comes to life in THE WAY OF THE EXPLORER: AN APOLLO ASTRONAUT'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE MATERIAL AND MYSTICAL WORLDS, which appears in a revised edition to appeal to new audiences.
Harnessing The Wheelwork Of Nature
Thomas Valone, editor
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
Integrity Research Institute (author)
5020 Sunnyside Avenue, Suite 209, Beltsville, MD 20705
www.IntegrityResearchInstitute.org
1931882045, $16.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
It has only been in the last few decades that Nikola Tesla has been recognized for as innovative genius and inventor whose contributions to science made him the equal (and to some the superior) of such contemporaries as Edison and Marconi. Compiled and edited by electronics engineer, physics instructor, and patent testing expert Thomas Valone, "Harnessing The Wheelwork Of Nature: Tesla's Science Of Energy" is 332-page compendium of expert commentators on Tesla's contributions to our understanding of electricity, wireless power transmission, as well as his inventions such as the Homopolar Generator, and Tesla's Ionizer and Ozonator (with implications for indoor air pollution). Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Selected Tesla Patents'. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography, a glossary of Tesla technology terms, and a comprehensive index, "Harnessing The Wheelwork Of Nature" is a seminal contribution and a welcome, enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library History of Science collections in general, and Nikola Tesla supplemental reading lists in particular. Also very highly recommended for students of Nikola Tesla, alternative energy, physics, and related matters is magazine "Future Energy", published by Thomas Valone and the Integrity Research Institute.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Great Big Butter Cookbook
Diana von Glabn, editor
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762431694, $19.95 www.runningpress.com 1-800-345-5359
Butter is one of the oldest dairy products know to man, going back as an ingredient in prepared dishes to at least 2000 BC. With the assistance of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, "The Great Big Butter Cookbook: Because Everything's Better With Butter", compiled and edited by culinary expert Diana von Glabn presents the kitchen cook with an enthusiastically recommended, 500-page compendium of more than 300 recipes showcasing the benefits of butter in making everything from snacks, soups, and salads, to entrees, desserts, and sauces! Enhanced with full page color photography of finished dishes, the recipes range from Herbed Smoked Gouda Rice Squares; Cherry Ladder Coffee Cakes; Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich; and Blue Cheese Potato Pancakes with Hot Spiced Apple Compote; to Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Sauce; Veal Parmigiana; Butterscotch Cookies with Brown Butter Icing; and Pumpkin Five-Spice Butter, "The Great Big Butter Cookbook" offers a wealth of 'kitchen cook friend' recipes for dishes that would satisfying any appetite and please any palate while showing off the nutritious, delicious, culinary benefits of butter!
The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook
Joyce Hendley
The Countryman Press
PO Box 478, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881507782, $16.95 www.countrymanpress.com 1-800-245-4151
The days when a diagnosis of diabetes condemned to a life of the bland and the unappetizing are long gone. Compiled from the pages of 'Eating Well' magazine by Joyce Hendley and the publication's editorial staff, "The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook: Delicious Recipes And Tips For A Healthy-Carbohydrate Lifestyle" fully lives up to the promise of its title by offering a culinary wealth of diabetes-friendly recipes that are as delicious as they are nutritious and dietarily sound. Beginning with the encouraging introduction that 'Eating Well: It's Not Dieting', followed by 'Diabetes 101: The Essential Facts', and 'Food Matters: Eating to Manage Diabetes', "The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook" presents a compendium of information about calorie counts and menus as well as food and exercise diaries. Then the individual recipes are organized into chapters of 'Healthy Starts', Muffins & Breads, Snacks & Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Vegetarian Main Dishes, Chicken & Turkey, Fish & Seafood, Side Dishes, Sauces & Condiments, Desserts & Treats. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from a Greek Potato & Feta Omelet; to a Spicy Mushroom & Rice Soup; to Grilled Rosemary-Scented Chicken; to Citrusy Couscous Salad with Olives; to a One-Bowl Chocolate Cake! Enhanced with a Glossary, a Resources list, 'Healthy Pantry Essentials', Ingredient Notes, Cooking tips, and an Index, "The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook" is an ideal addition to personal and community library cookbook collections for diabetics -- and anyone else seeking to prepare and consume nutritionally healthy, appetite satisfying, palate pleasing meals.
Dinner
Jody Vassallo
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Advantage Publishers Group
5880 Oberlin Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92121-0653
9781592238149, $12.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com 1-800-788-3123
For the true gourmet and connoisseur of fine dining, what is set before us at dinner time can make or mar our entire day. Directly addressing the need for dishes that are as nutritious and 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are appetite satisfying and palate pleasing is Jody Vassallo's "Dinner". Part of the acclaimed Marie Claire series of cookbooks, "Dinner" arranges beautifully illustrated recipes arranged in chapter dedicated to 'Quick Ideas', Noodles and Pasta, Seafood, Poultry, Meat, Vegetables, and Desserts. From such delicacies as Green Tea Noodles with Scallops; to sophisticated entrees as Chili Longuine with Chermoula Chicken; to hearty fare like Beer-Battered Fish with Chunky Fries; to gourmet items such as Cabernet Beef with Lentils; to perfect meal time desserts like Passion Fruit Custard Potsk, "Dinner" will prove to be an instant favorite on any family cookbook shelf, and will prove a welcome and popular addition to community library cookbook collections.
The Professional Bartender's Handbook
Valerie Mellema
Atlantic Publishing Company
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9780910627955, $21.95 www.atlantic-pub.com
Collections catering to culinary professionals, especially bartenders, will find here an excellent handbook which offers tips and tricks to running a bar, big or small. From recipes for nearly 1,500 different cocktails, shooters and even some non-alcoholic drinks to tips on developing drink promotions and refining presentation, The Professional Bartender's Handbook should be on the shelves of any library catering to food professionals.
Little Box of Quilter's Chocolate Desserts
That Patchwork Place
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue, NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564777959, $19.95 www.martingale-co.com
Pair chocolate dessert recipes with the quilt blocks that inspired them and you have a fine blend of some 20 chocolate pies, cakes and more that go well with 20 block 'recipes' of easy diagrams. Cooks will find this as appealing as quilters, making this a fine gift-giving choice for that quilter-cook who loves both hobbies.
Tibetan Cooking
Elizabeth Esther Kelly
Snow Lion Publications
605 West State Street, Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14850
1559392622, $19.95 www.snowlionpub.com
TIBETAN CUISINE is the first book of Tibetan cuisine to offer a range of dishes from traditional home cooking to celebratory recipes for religious ceremonies. From a Jalapeno and Blue Cheese condiment dish to easy Egg Soup and Steamed Greens, dishes are accompanied by discussions of Tibetan culture and ceremonies.
Gluten Free and Easy
Robyn Russell
Sellers Publishing
81 West Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
9781569069967, $16.95 www.makefun.com 1-800-625-3386
Wife, mother, and author Robyn Russell has had celiac disease for fourteen years; she doesn't let it stop her from preparing delicious and healthy meals. Gluten Free and Easy is Russell's compilation of mouth-watering recipes, each with featuring easy-to-follow instructions and a full-color, full-page photograph. From French potato salad, to tortiche (a quiche with a tortilla crust), Thai style chicken balls, curried sweet potato cakes with raita, almond biscotti, san choy bau, chicken with leek in white wine sauce and much more, the recipes draw from culinary traditions around the world and include a healthy dash of creativity; the one thing in common is that they are all gluten-free (sometimes relying on ingredients such as the misnamed "glutinous rice flour" of Asian supermarkets, which contains no gluten). Over ninety recipes ideal for pleasing all manners of tastebuds fill this superb cookbook enthusiastically recommended for gluten-intolerant individuals everywhere.
BBQ Joints
David Gelin
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423602187, $15.95, www.gibbs-smith.com 1-800-748-5439
The true and dedicated barbecue connoisseur well knows and appreciates the complexities and subtleties involved in this very special culinary genre. Ordinary folk just know that barbeque tastes good! In either case, "BBQ Joints: Stories And Secret Recipes From The Barbeque Belt" by David Gelin will prove to be a source of fascination, inspiration, and great eating. Alphabetically organized by southern states ranging from Alabama to Texas, "BBQ Joints" is a compendium of restaurants and eateries that are presented with anecdotal stories, addresses, phone numbers, monochromatic photographs, and terrific recipes that showcase the variety and diversity of the barbeque -- including some legendary side dishes and desserts! From Woody's Barbecued Rice (Woody's Bar-B-Que, Arkansas); Simmie Nichols' B-B-Q King Pig Ear Sandwich (B-B-Q King, Georgia); and Smokehouse Bob's Patricia Newton's Sweet Potato Pie (Smokehouse Bob's, Oklahoma); to Katy Garner's Hog Heaven Fruit Cobbler (Hog Heaven, Tennessee); Denice Janow's Austin's BBQ Macaroni Salad (Austin's BBQ & Catering, Texas); and Elvis's Pound Cake (Starlight Grill, Alabama), "BBQ Joints" ably serves as a tour guide planner for the true and traveling barbeque enthusiast. Of special note is the 'Build Your Own Pit' chapter. "BBQ Joints" is a unique, informative, and highly recommended addition to the cookbook collection of any and all barbecue fans.
Skinny Bitch In The Kitch
Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762431069, $14.95 www.runningpress.com 1-800-345-5359
Even supermodels (and those who aspire to supermodel figures) have to eat. For that matter, so does everyone else. Now Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin have compiled "Skinny Bitch In The Kitch", a impressive and diverse collection of 'kitchen friendly' vegan oriented recipes that are as palate pleasing as they are figure friendly. After a very funny introduction, Freedman and Barnouin continue a humorous approach to their chapter headings from 'PMS (Pissy Mood Snacks)' to 'Skinny-Ass Salads'. The recipes range from Quesadillas with Beans, Soy Cheese, Guacamole, and Salsa; Edamame Three-bean Salad; and East Coast Lasagna; to Tamari-roasted Root Vegetables with Cashew Millet; Veggie Enchiladas; and Buttery Shortbread Cookies. A compact and enthusiastically recommended culinary compendium, "Skinny Bitch In The Kitch" is a perfect resource for menu planning any occasion from late night snacks to multiple course formal dining.
8 Degrees Of Ingredients
Melisa K. Priem
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781592982141, $24.95 1-952-829-8818
One of life's genuine pleasures for the true food lover in search of great culinary experiences is to browse the pages of a really fine cookbook. The hunt for suitable cuisine that would be as nutritious as it is delicious for those who must be mindful of food allergies is especially challenging. There are currently about 12 million Americans who are diagnosed as having a significant food allergy that could imperial their health -- and even their lives. That is where Melisa Priem's "8 Degrees Of Ingredients" is a particularly impressive compendium of 250 hypoallergenic recipes specifically designed to be used in behalf of those who have been diagnosed as having to avoid eight common allergens (wheat, soy, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish. But because these things must be avoided does not condemn any such diagnosed person from preparing and consuming dishes that would please any palate and satisfy any appetite. "8 Degrees Of Ingredients" showcases recipes that range from Honey-Roasted Chickpeas; Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes; Pork Fried Rice; and Chicken Enchiladas; to Chilled Broccoli Salad; Beef Burgundy; Veal Marsala; and Blueberry Peach Cobbler. Especially for those with food allergies, but terrific for anyone that enjoys making great meals featuring 'kitchen cook friendly' menus, "8 Degrees Of Ingredients" is an ideal and recommended addition to any personal, family, and community cookbook collection.
Arabian Delights
Amy Riolo
Capital Books, Inc.
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102559, $20.00 www.capital-books.com 1-800-758-3756
The culinary legacies of Arabian cuisine can be as common as humus and as exotic as a sweet orchid drink. There are several different (albeit complimentary) regional sources of Arbaian cuisine which Amy Riolo informatively details in the beginning of "Arabian Delights: Recipes & Princely Entertaining Ideas From The Arabian Peninsula", a compendium of authentic, step-by-step, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, combined with menu ideas, and an 'Entertaining Timeline'. Organized into three major sections (Palatial Feasts; Special Ceremonies; Simpler Delights), the sixteen individual chapters range from a Royal Wedding Reception; to a Yemeni Sabbath Luncheon; to a Jeddah Red Sea Picnic. Enhanced with a Glossary, a 'Where to Buy Guide, a Bibliography, and an Index, "Arabian Delights" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library ethnic and specialty cookbook collections.
Recipe Of The Week: Burgers
Sally Sampson
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470169445, $16.95, www.wiley.com 1-800-225-5945
America's favorite food in the opening decade of the 21st century isn't the hot dog or mom's apple pie -- it is the hamburger in all its variations and diversities! The latest addition to the popular Wiley cookbook series 'Recipe of the Week', veteran cookbook author and hamburger authority Sally Sampson has compiled 52 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that will provide a different style hamburger every week of the year. Accompanied by the superb full-page sized color photography of Yunnee Kim, each recipe notes how many burgers it will make, a brief word of personalized introduction by Sally, the ingredients for the condiment and the burger it goes on, easy and well presented step-by-step instructions for its preparation. From Beef Burgers with Soy and Lemon; to Curried Chicken Burgers with Chutney; to Spicy Chipotle Turkey Burgers; to Lamb Burgers with Herbs; to Cuban Style Pork Burger, to Caramelized Onion and Chickpea Burgers, this is a fabulous collection of gourmet quality burgers that goes quantum leaps beyond anything a fast food join can turn out. "Recipe Of The Week: Burgers" is a welcome addition to any personal, family, or community specialty cookbook collection. Also very highly recommended are two earlier Wiley cookbook collections by Sally Sampson: "Recipe of The Week: Kabobs" and "Recipe Of The Week: Cookies"!
A Taste Of Wyoming
Pamela Sinclair
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
9781560374589, $24.95, www.farcountrypress.com 1-800-821-3874
Sometimes cookbooks can be as much fun to simply browse through as they are inspiringly instructive to prepare meals from. Such is the case for Pamela Sinclair's compendium of Cowboy State recipes and Paulette Phlipot's full page, full color photographs that comprise A Taste Of Wyoming. Of special note is the 'Guidelines for Recipes' which is for the benefit of the novice high altitude kitchen cook and baker. The recipes themselves are organized into sections devoted to Breakfast & Brunch; Appetizers & Snacks; Salads & Sides; Soups & Stews; Main Courses; Desserts & Sweet Treats. The photography is as spectacular as the dishes are enticing. Contributed by some of the best chefs from some of the finest dining establishments Wyoming has to offer, the recipes range from Blue Ribbon Caramel Cinnamon Rolls; Pancetta-Wrapped Chicken Livers; Winter Root Vegetable Hash; and Blue Corn Tortilla Soup; to Bison Tenderloin with Blue Cheese Sauce; Roast Duck Breast with Apple and Sun-Dried Cranberry Chutney; Sea Scallops with Frizzled Spinach, Carrots, and Citrus Beurre Blanc; and Sour Cream Cherry Pie. A Taste Of Wyoming is a truly elegant, gourmet quality, kitchen cook friendly, culinary collection that would grace any personal, professional, or community library cookbook collection.
Cooking Big Game
Scott Haugen & Tiffany Haugen
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884077, $29.95 www.amatobooks.com
Aborigines from the dawn of human kind have hunted big game for food (and used every part of the animal from hide to hoof to antler). Modern hunters would be well advised to hunt big game for more than just trophies, these are animals whose meat, properly prepared, can provided dishes that would grace any dining occasion from simple family meals to elegant celebratory occasions. The trick is in knowing how best to prepare big game for the table. That's where "Cooking Big Game" by the husband and wife team of Scott and Tiffany Haugen comes in. This is a spiral bound (so it can lay flat upon the kitchen counter or table for easy use) compilation of superbly illustrated, step-by-step recipes for making delicious, nutritious dishes from venison, bear, and wild pig. Each of these different meats have thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes organized into seven groupings: Steaks, Strips & Cubes; Stews & Soups; Ground; Planked; Roasts & Fillings; Jerky; Marinades, Rubs & Stock. Enhanced with the inclusion of general 'Game Care & Preparation' advice, cooking tips, 'Time-Savers', recipe notes, an Index and a Cooking Method Index, "Cooking Big Game" is an invaluable instruction manual for the novice, and holds a great deal of value for even the more experienced chef. Anyone who hunts big game needs a copy of "Cooking Big Game" as a core addition to their personal and family cookbook collection.
Grandma's Back To Basics All Natural More Than Just A Cookbook
Teresa Thompson
Dorrance Publishing Company
701 Smithfield Street, 3rd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3906
9780805962864, $22.00, www.dorrancepublishing.com 1-800-788-7654
The typical American diet today is dominated by processed foods that come equipped with all manner of chemical constituents, additives, preservatives, and substitutions. This has been particularly difficult for those with food allergies, those wanting to avoid the long-term health and medical problems associated with overly processed foods, and basically pursue a course of natural foods that are as nutritious as (properly prepared) they are delicious. One of the enduring ironies is that natural foods, even organically grown foods in season, can be significantly less expensive that their processed counterparts. Compiled for the novice kitchen cook, and holding a great deal of value for experienced family cooks as well, "Grandma's Back To Basics All Natural More Than Just A Cookbook" is a compilation of advice, notes, helpful hints, and recipes that will prove appropriate for all dining occasions from simple family meals to elegant celebratory occasions. The recipes range from beverages, breads, and breakfast, to desserts, sandwiches and soups, to sauces, vegetables, and main dishes. "Grandma's Back To Basics All Natural More Than Just A Cookbook " is an ideal and highly recommended addition to any and all personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Being Vegetarian
Frankie Avalon Wolfe
AlphaBooks
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
9781592576821, $18.95 www.penguin.com 1-800-847-5515
Now it a newly revised, updated and expanded third edition, "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Being Vegetarian" continues to be a premier instructional guide for aspiring vegetarians enhanced with the inclusion of almost one hundred, 'kitchen cook friendly' non-meat recipes for dishes that would grace any dining occasion, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite. Of special note is the inclusion of nutritional advice focused on keeping meat-eating habits in proper balance; tips for helping non-vegetarian family members and friends to understand the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle; finding vegetarian options at grocery stores, restaurants, and when eating while traveling. The recipes range from such staples as Vegan Gravy, to popular dishes like Veggie Bean Chili, to ethnic fare such as Tofu Tamale Bake, to such party fare as an Eggless Potato Salad. Each individual recipe includes along with a list of ingredients and cooking instructions, an 'info block' noting the number of serving portions, servicing size, and prep time. Especially recommended for practicing and aspiring vegetarians, "The Complete Idiot's Guide To Being Vegetarian" is an ideal addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
Regional Greek Cooking
Dean Karayanis & Catherine Karayanis
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781811460, $24.95 www.hippocrenebooks.com 1-212-685-4371
For most Americans, Greek cuisine is pretty much limited to gyros and baklava. But "Regional Greek Cooking", a compilation of authentic Greek recipes by the husband and wife team of Dean and Catherine Karayanis clearly demonstrates that Greek cuisine has a breadth, depth, and diversity that reflects centuries of culinary influences from around the Mediterranean, including key regions of mainland Greece; the Saronic, Ionian, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Aegean, and Sporades islands; Asia Minor, and Cypress. Of special note are the individual chapters composed of Greek beverage recipes. The recipes themselves range from Saragli ti Alexandroupoli (Walnut Phyllo Roll Alexandroupolis); to Patates me Dendrolivano e Thimari (Potatoes with Rosemary or Thyme); to Keftedes sto Furno meh Domates ke Vasiliko (Baked Meatballs with Tomato and Basil); to &Yia Yia's Koulourakia (Grandma's Easter Cookies). Enhanced with a glossary of Greek cooking terms and ingredients, 'Wrapping Dolmades', and a comprehensive Index, "Regional Greek Cooking" is a welcome, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library multi-cultural and ethnic cookbook collections.
Rosalind Creasy's Recipes From The Garden
Rosalind Creasy
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804837682, $34.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com
Rosalind Creasy is a renowned gardening authority and the author of the acclaimed instruction guide "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping". Now she has compiled a superbly illustrated compendium showcasing a culinary wealth of recipes featuring vegetables, fruits and herbs that can be grown in anyone's garden. There are two hundred easy-to-prepare, kitchen-cook-friendly recipes -- each of which is as nutritious as they are delicious. The individual recipes are organized into sections featuring herb blends and salad dressings, salads, soups and starters, vegetable dish entrees, meat, poultry and seafood dishes, side dishes, drinks and desserts. From exotic items like flower butters (Nasturtium Butter and Rose Butter) to such diet friendly items as Fennel Salad with Red Peppers; appetite satisfying entrees such as Savory Bread Pudding with Sorrell and Baby Artichokes; to terrific 'dinner enders' like Baked Apples with Cherries and Hazelnuts, "Rosalind Creasy's Recipes From The Garden" is a cornucopia of edible garden products prepared to satisfy even the most gourmet appetite and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!
The Library Science Shelf
Managing Library Employees
Mary J. Stanley
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555706289, $59.95 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657
A school or community library is more than just a brick-and-board structure housing books on its shelves, it is also a group of people, professionals and volunteers, who work together to make those books as accessible as possible to the students, patrons, and communities they serve. The latest addition in the Neal-Schuman 'A How-To-Do-It Manual' series of instructional guides, "Managing Library Employees" by Mary J. Stanley (Director of Human Resources, Indiana University and Purdue University, Indianapolis) focuses specifically on the management responsibilities of library directors and supervisors. A basic and highly recommended primer, "Managing Library Employees" is a compendium of real-world tested advice, strategies, tips, techniques, recommendations, and illustrative examples, as well as ready-to-use templates, sample documents, letters, and checklists. The text is accessibly organized in a Question & Answer format and cover covers all of the pertinent issues ranging from writing job descriptions and conducting interviews, to enhancing staff job satisfaction and motivation, to setting up a 403(B) or a 401(K) plan, to the legal implications of disciplining or terminating a staff member, to downsizing the staff when necessitated by budget cuts. Like all corporate and non-profit agencies, office politics will inevitably occur, that will ensure that "Managing Library Employees" will continue to have relevance and importance as a reference resource for both the novice as well as the experienced library director.
75 Outrageous Ways Librarians Can Impact Student Achievement In Grades K-8
Laurie Thelen
Linworth Publishing
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586832328, $39.95 www.linworth.com
School and community librarians play an essential role in the education of children. In "75 Outrageous Ways Librarians Can Impact Student Achievement In Grades K-8", teacher and school librarian Laurie Thelen draws upon her years of experience and expertise to create an impressive and 'user friendly' compendium of seventy-five standards-based, fun and skill-building lessons designed to be taught in the school library using activities that range from involving an entire community, to focusing on a specific grade level of student or a particular subject area. Library media specialists will find "75 Outrageous Ways Librarians Can Impact Student Achievement In Grades K-8" to be ideal as a curriculum supplement resource and to also function as an assessment tool based on the national standards (included at the end of each activity). The benefits of these individual activities includes motivating students, inspiring collaboration, and improving learning skills and achievement, making "75 Outrageous Ways Librarians Can Impact Student Achievement In Grades K-8" a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to home-schooling curriculums as well as public, private, and parochial school library media center reference resources.
Story Celebrations
Jan Irving
Libraries Unlimited
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9781591584322, $35.00 www.lu.com
An essential service in the eyes of parents, 'Story Hour' is a popular mainstay of school and community libraries for children of all ages from preschool through eighth grade. "Story Celebrations: A Program Guide For Schools And Libraries compiled by former children's librarian Jan Irving is an instruction and guide manual for creating library story telling programs for children in grades 4 through 8. Comprised of ten chapters, each of which focuses upon a particular theme or study area, "Story Celebrations" offers annotated lists of selected books along with two complete programs for each designated theme. Included are step-by-step instructions, materials lists, reproducible patterns, scripts and stories to make each Story Hour a unique experience that is as fun as it is informative. In addition to school and community library story hours, these reading lists, puzzles, arts, crafts, writing exercises and more, make "Story Celebrations" ideal for home-schooling and after-school programs, as well as a traditional classroom curriculum supplement.
Transforming Library Service Through Information Commons
Russell Bailey & Barbara Gunter Tierney
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909584, $55.00 www.alastore.ala.org 1-866-746-7252
Whether it is an academic library serving scholars and students, or a community library in service to the general public, libraries are institutional resources indispensable to the economic and democratic health of the nation. That's the principle reason that traditionally oriented collections of printed publications (books, magazines and periodicals) has been expanded to include electronic resources such as CDs, DVDs, and the Internet. A compilation of twenty case studies collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Russell Bailey (Library Directory, Providence College, Rhode Island) and Barbara Bunter Tierney (University of North Carolina - Charlotte), "Transforming Library Service Through Information Commons" showcases the information commons model that library patrons can utilize for the gathering and dissemination of information, and which librarians can employ with respect to integrating research, teaching, and learning utilizing the opportunities provided by the new digital age. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extended bibliography and a glossary, "Transforming Library Service Through Information Commons" is especially recommended as a Library Science curriculum supplement and as invaluable reading for librarians and administrators seeking to establish and maintain an information commons model for their institutions.
The Poetry Shelf
Hallelujah Blackout
Alex Lemon
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
9781571314314, $15.00 www.milkweed.org 1-800-520-6455
Written by co-editor of "LUNA: A Journal of Poetry and Translation" Alex Lemon, Hallelujah Blackout is a collection of energetic poetry that plays up both the good and the bad of the human condition. Applying a variety of meters, the verses practically shout out their intensity, in this electrically charged reading experience. "Souvenirs from the Unraveling": The owner's manual mother gave me / Taught me everything I needed to know / Up to this point, so I didn't realize / It was too late until they phoned / About organ donation. Then came the dull / Ache of heartburn. Then the parade of mice. / I tried to rid myself of the infestation / By walking miles with a sandwich board. / I wished everyone a terrific stay. Cars passed, horns honked wildly. / Many folks gave me the finger.
The Headless Saints
Myronn Hardy
New Issues Poetry & Prose
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974760, $14.00 www.wmich.edu/newissues
Written by award-winning African-American poet Myronn Hardy, The Headless Saints is an anthology of free-verse poetry that memorializes those who survived human cruelty throughout history. Some poems are directly from the perspective of those who survived losing loved ones to invasion and colonization; others address the creation of the first ghetto, or the aftermath of other atrocities committed against people of color. A haunting yet exceptional testimony against the evils of genocide in all its forms. "The Living": White gold crowns on water green / swirls into cobalt light pierces. // Coral broken a heart with exposed / valves arteries veins severed by currents. // Seaweed circles legs but will not pull / another body under. This time it drags // a living man to shore.
Things I Must Have Known
A.B. Spellman
Coffee House Press
27 North Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781566892117, $16.00 www.coffeehousepress.org 1-800-283-3572
The first full-length collection of poetry by African-American jazz commentator A.B. Spellman, Things I Must Have Known is shines with seasoned humor, unforgettable imagery, and compelling rhythm. Truly a work of poetry for music lovers, Things I Must Have Known captures the fleeting moments of audiovisual experience in emotionally expressive verse. "Groovin' Low": my swing is more mellow / these days: not the hardbop drive / i used to roll but more of a cool / foxtrot. my eyes still close / when the rhythm locks; i've learned / to boogie with my feet on the floor / i'm still movin', still groovin' / still fallin' in love
Shedding Skins
Adrian C. Louis, editor
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25,
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138232, $15.95 www.msupress.msu.edu
Edited by Lovelock Paiute Tribe member Adrian C. Louis, "Shedding Skins: Four Sioux Poets" collects selected free-verse poems from four Lakota (a.k.a. Sioux) poets -- Trevino L. Brings Plenty, Steve Pacheco, Joel Waters, and Luke Warm Water. Each poet offers his own perspective upon their heritage, legacy, and the difficulties of grappling with modern social issues including homelessness, poverty, urban decay, and depression. A singularly poignant and relevant work of contemporary Native American literature. "It Is Called a Chow Line": I see them every morning / waiting for breakfast / in a line along a building / wrapping around the city block. / Homeless men and women / smoking cigarettes, / nipping at bottles, / wiping rain from brow. / They squat or stand, / then the line moves / into the soup kitchen. / The meal is free. / It is warm inside / as they sit at tables, / swiping S.O.S. with / a flaky biscuit, / and blow before / sipping on their hot coffee. / During the meal / there is laughter, / a small prayer is answered. / They stay as long as they can / until they walk the streets / and sleep somewhere out of the rain.
Kamikaze Commotion
Cathryn Cofell
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library
728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
9781893311954, $10.00 1-800-636-0071
A well crafted poem can evoke an emotion, engender a reflection, create an atmosphere, generate contemplation, or any combination of these. Cathryn Cofell's poetry as representatively compiled in "Kamizkaze Commotion" are just such examples of what superbly composed and highly recommended free verse can accomplish within the 'theatre of the mind' of her readers. 'The Day Phil Hartman Died': think about getting lost. Staring at a map for solace,/confusing cities with rivers,/backroads with borders.//Think about a battle at breakfast./rising like fat in a stew,/that morning dew of fried meat/lingering for long weeks after.//Think about a broken jaw./Set against what you meant to say,/this loss of words so trivial,/words stuck forever in your teeth.//Think about Jesus with no laugh track./Haunting a silent drafty space,/peeing with the door open,/whole body rigid, cocked for prayer.
Factory of Tears
Valzhyna Mort, author
Elizabeth Oehlkers Wright and Franz Wright, translators
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, Washington 98368
9781556592744, $15.00 www.coppercanyonpress.org
The first ever bilingual Belarusian/English book published in the United States, Factory of Tears is the debut American publication by poet Valzhyna Mort, translated into English by Elizabeth Oehlkers Wright and Pulitzer prize-winning poet Franz Wright. Chronicling the vibrant coming-of-age of an emerging nation, Factory of Tears touches upon the re-emergence of cultural heritage and national identity, and the sometimes contentious fallout from such resurrections. A one-of-a-kind work of passion and insight. "Origin of Tears": tears / this is when / your heart is sweating / in the mine of the thorax / never seeing the sun // do you feel the heart's back aching? / do you feel the heart's chest aching? // tears / this is when / the heart spits in your eyes.
Secular Eden
Harry Clifton
Wake Forest University Press
PO Box 7333, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
9781930630369, $15.95 www.wfu.edu/wfupress
In a time of literarily impoverished general American culture, the art and craft and articulate passion of poetry is alive and well. Harry Clifton's compilation of his poetry published by the Wake Forest University Press, "Secular Eden: Paris Notebooks 1994-2004" is evidence that deftly crafted poetry is still being published and made available to readers who value and appreciate how poetry can best express impressions of the world in which we live. Clifton left his native Ireland to travel the world (like so many other young Irishmen born in the 1950s), eventually to return to a new Ireland that had evolved into a multicultural sophistication unknown just a few decades earlier. Highly recommended and thoughtful reading, "Secular Eden" is a body of his verse that focuses upon his impressions while visiting the legendary capital and diverse people of France with competing and conflicting elements of religious tradition and perspectives of modern secular culture. 'Theft of a Leather Jacket': Theft of a leather jacket, fifty francs/And a set of keys. Report it at the desk--/No need for police, no need for the local bank/To change our in-code. Little risk/In a city of millions, in the small hours,/Of the ultimate stranger, the thief in the night,/A wandering moonbeam, highlights in his hair,/Suddenly standing before us, life a fright/Or an apparition, killing for metro fare/Or conscience money, chemicals or food./For sexual favours, anything we share,/Loving each other, dealing in stolen goods.
Aching For Tomorrow
Frank L. Meyskens, Jr.
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744685, $14.00 www.danielpublishing.com 1-800-662-8351
Well crafted poetry can stimulate, can sooth, can lift the spirit, can inspire the soul. "Aching For Tomorrow" is a compilation of the poetry of Frank L. Meyskens Jr. who began writing poetry in his third year of medical school as a buffer against the enormous emotional toll initiated by one of his first patient encounters. Two years later he stopped writing poetry thinking that he had advanced enough in his medical career that the emotional solace provided by his poetry writing was no longer needed. The death of one of his patients some thirty years later compelled him to turn again to poetry as an aid in dealing with the impact of terminal cancer on his patients lives -- and the lives of those around them. The result is "Aching For Tomorrow", a collection of powerful free verse poems that are powerful, universal expressions that can benefit us all when we are confronted with the impact of suffering and death in our lives and they lives of those we love. 'Gentile Tears for Hannah Szenes': You did not die in vain sixty years ago/at the age of twenty-three. You did not roll the dice/and lose as you thought you had.//By doing what was right/the tyrant was vanquished/And Jews know a better day/until the next monster appears.//Your still shining face, your bravery, courage, hope/pierce my heart and make me angry that/it is with the blood of the young/that wars are won or lost.
Another World Instead
William Stafford, author
Fred Marchant, editor
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555974978, $24.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077
Another World Instead: The Early Poems of William Stafford 1937-1947 is an anthology of vintage free-verse poetry by teacher, award-winning author, and poet William Stafford. The poems have been chosen from Stafford's earlier works by poet, teacher, and former Marine officer (one of the first to be honorably discharged as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War) Fred Marchant. Many of the poems date back to the World War II era; Stafford was a conscientious objector during this time, assigned under penalty of law to work in Civilian Public Service camps, a type of internal exile within his own country. Nearly all the poems in Another World Instead have never before been published - now their tale of a committed pacifist and fledgling poet living in a time of war can be told. Highly recommended. "Fate": More steadfast than a truck / Along a narrow street / A minute looks for you / Until you meet.
The Crisp Day Closing On My Hand
Jeanette Lynes
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580255, $14.95 wlupress.wlu.ca
Poetry is as diverse in its form and format as it is in expressional content and emotional articulation. It can be as ephemeral as a moment or as enduring as the recorded history of human kind. The latest addition to the impressive Laurier Poetry series from Wilfrid Laurier University Press, "The Crisp Day Closing On My Hand" is a compilation of the poetry of M. Travis Lane (Honorary President of the Writers' Federation of New Brunwick and a Life Member of the League of Canadian Poets) as selected and with an informative introduction by Jeanette Lynes (Associate Professor of English, St. Francis Xavier University and co-editor of 'The Antigonish Review). Lane has long established her reputation as a major Canadian poet through the publication of eleven books of poetry and the achievement of several prestigious awards for her writings. This newest collection of her verse will aptly serve to introduce a major literary talent to a new generation of readers. 'The Gift from the Bad Fairy': This is the curse, that we do not sleep/and let the rose briars hide us, but our hope/awakes each morning to be pricked.//I sew this page, the needle hurts, is bone,/is flesh, is permanent. If we could sleep,/the future like a fairy prince suck out/the dead bee's mortal sting and change the world/to roses...//But it is, roses, every morning/when we wake. I take my housework up again,/and find again the secret thorn/the sick rose nourished every day.//What makes us thing the heart breaks once? It breaks/all day. It breaks like rain. All that I did/not want to bear has to be borne, and what I mend/has to be mended all over again.//Do we learn to be glad there is still pain?
No Starling
Nance Van Winckel
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295987354, $25.00 www.washington.edu/uwpress 1-206-543-4050
Award-winning poet Nance Van Winckel presents No Starling, a brief yet evocative selection of poems utilizing a variety of rhythms and soundscapes. Subtly community-building in its reminders of human responsibilities for each other and the world at large, No Starling touches upon spiritual and political issues alike, singing aloud in a crystal clear voice that deserves to be heard. "Leastways": The ship had a bar, listing. A porthole / awash. Loyal drinkers swearing they'd seen / the giant squid. Sheer genius, they said, / to survive the millennia, the depths. // I blinked into that window at only / my face... all splash and dissolve. // Days under the white sails, over / cruel swells. Days taken / like aspirin. Hard little fact / of the body: if it goes down, / I go. And the bar raised. The bar / tilted. A tentacles here-on portends / a hereafter. I hang on. Rain clouds / pretend to take the lead.
The Travel Shelf
The Traveler's Web
Randolph Hock
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9780910965750, $19.95, www.infotoday.com 1-800-300-9868
Any traveler knows the internet is packed with important destination resources; but the trick is wading through the Web to locate the best information - and that's where THE TRAVELER'S WEB: AN EXTREME SEARCHER GUIDE comes in. Chapters provide both general and country-specific guides to travel by plane, train, ferry or foot, and offer special sections for seniors, handicapped and special needs travelers. Explanations of different kinds of reservation sites and processes offers clear definitions of opportunities around the world.
Bad Karma
Tamara Sheward
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9780897335652, $17.95 www.academychicago.com 1-800-248-7323
The next best thing to traveling is to read a well crafted travelogue -- plus you don't have to experience the dubious joys of crowded flights, strange foods, sanitation challenges, and personal encounters with 'swindlers, sleaze balls and sanctimonious hippies' yourself. In the case of "Bad Karma: Confessions Of A Reckless Traveller In Southeast Asia", Tamara Sheward has done it for you! With the humorous flair of a Maureen Dowd and the articulate storytelling skills of a Studs Terkel, Tamar Sheward is an experienced world traveler whose trek through Southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia with her friend Elissa are recounted with a 'you are there' intimacy that is particularly vivid, energetic, witty, occasionally bizarre, and always entertaining. A highly recommended addition to community library Travel & Travelog collections, "Bad Karma" is especially appropriate and appealing for those who prefer to do their roaming of the world as an armchair traveler in the comfort of their own home.
Time Out: Chicago
Time Out New York
475 Tenth Avenue, 12th floor, New York, NY 10018
Publishers Group West (distributor)
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.timeoutnewyork.com
9781904978572, $19.95 www.pgw.com 1-800-788-3123
Chicago is a terrific place to visit whether for business or for pleasure, for a weekend or a week. For those who live in or around the Windy City, it's possible to spend every day of the year exploring its sights and cultural resources. But whether a casual traveler or a interested resident, taking full advantage of what Chicago has to offer will require an expert travel guide and resource manual -- and that's where "Time Out: Chicago" truly comes into its own. This 336-page compilation of information begins with a succinct overview of the city's history, architecture, politics, music, and sports. Then it goes on to feature places to go, things to do, sights to see, events to participate in, that will keep the vacationer or resident happily occupied with experience the very best that the city has to offer from fine dining, to memorable accommodations, diverse recreations, and so much more. Enhanced with photographs, maps, and recommendations for day trips out of town, "Time Out Chicago" is comprehensive, portable, 'user friendly', and an ideal trip planning resource. Also very highly recommended as a companion guide is "Time Out Chicago: Eating & Drinking" (9780979398438, $9.99) which focuses specifically on 1500 of the city's best restaurants and bars.
Safari Guide Kenya
Dave Richards and Val Richards
New Holland Publishers
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781845375584, $19.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495
Printed on high-quality paper and featuring full-color photography, Safari Guide Kenya is a part of the "Globetrotter" travel guide series, written especially for travelers looking to make the most of a Kenyan safari. Chapters cover recommended parks to visit, walks and hikes to take, and safety tips, providing detailed maps, a gallery of animal illustrations, checklists for game viewing and bird watching, travel tips, and more. An easy-to-use index rounds out this solid supplement for any Kenyan visitor with a yearning to see the rugged beauty of nature firsthand.
The Native American Shelf
Reflections on American Indian History
Albert L. Hurtado, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138961, $29.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377
Edited by professor Albert L. Hurtado, Reflections on American Indian History: Honoring the Past, Building a Future is an anthology of five essays by American Indian history scholars discussing key themes of Native history. The five crucial forces contemplated are Indian identity, tribal acknowledgment, sovereignty, oral tradition, and cultural adaptation. A vibrant revelation of Native history continues to impact Native life to this day, written and presented in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, and especially recommended for college libraries and Native History course reading lists. "...for most tribes, the blood quantum limitation will either markedly decline or be eliminated. Indeed, conversations with tribal enrollment agents indicate that since growing numbers of current tribal members' children currently are ineligible for enrollment, most tribes who still retain a one-quarter minimal blood quantum now are reconsidering their requirements. Some tribes have attempted to increase blood quantums, and others oppose lowering blood quantum restrictions for economic reasons, but they seem to be swimming against a rising tide of intermarriage that is unlikely to ebb."
Engraving the Savage
Michael Gaudio
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
9780816648474, $22.50 www.upress.umn.edu
Engraving the Savage: The New World and Techniques of Civilization is an art history study of the effect that the early images and engravings of North American Indians had on establishing the "visual prototype" of North American Indians in the minds of European and Euro-American readers. Paying particular attention to the early engravings of Carolina Algonquian Indians, created in 1585 by British painter-explorer John White and engraved in 1590 by Flemish publisher and printmaker Theodor de Bray, Engraving the Savage reveals how the image of the "savage other" as an intellectual and ideological concept was engendered. An in-depth scrutiny of how art and perception reinforced one another; though the topic discussed is specifically that of visual portrayals of Native Americans, the deeper precepts of human perception as shaped by art are broad-ranging in the extreme. A welcome addition to both art history and Native American studies shelves.
Magic Weapons
Sam McKegney
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557026, $28.95 www.umanitoba.ca/uofmpress 1-800-565-9523
Magic Weapons: Aboriginal Writers Remaking Community after Residential School is a survey of what writings by Canada's indigenous population have to say about the destructive legacy of its residential school system, including the system's attacks on native culture and its negative repercussions as embodied in domestic violence, poverty, alcoholism, drug abuse, and high suicide rates. The individual writings studied include Anthony Apakark Thrasher's prison compositions, and Tomson Highway's "Kiss of the Fur Queen". A harsh indictment of the weaknesses of "assimilationist" policy, noting the incidences of "survival narratives" among those who made it through residential school, Magic Weapons is an invaluable political as well as literary commentary, persuasively arguing that indigenous life writings are culturally formative in ways beyond simple disclosure. A highly recommended addition to Native American studies shelves.
The Elk Way
Elk Soldier
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
CD, $15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141
The Elk Way is a music CD of Native American pow-wow songs recorded live in Green Bay. Elk Soldier Drum Group refers to well over a dozen men, women, and children who combined their talent in the tradition of their Ihanktowan heritage. The resulting songs resonate with strength and vibrancy, offering a positive message of pride in Native heritage to all listeners. A fold-out insert lists the song lyrics in both their original language and in English translation. Highly recommended as a worthy addition to Native audio collections, and the next best thing to being honored with the invitation to witness a pow-wow in person. The tracks are E-Unit (3:42); E-Time (3:58); Cree Love II (4:08); Lightning McQueen (2:28); Lil' E (3:22); Mike One Star (2:11); My World (4:55); Oscar The Grouch (5:30); Smooth E (3:50); Stomp The Yard (6:38); The Raven Strut (2:34); and The Way of the Soldier (4:44). 48 minutes 50 seconds.
The Education Shelf
Break The Bully Cycle
SiriNam S. Khalas
Good Year Books
PO Box 91858, Tucson, AZ 85752-1858
9781596471191, $19.95 www.goodyearbooks.com 1-888-511-1530
School shootings and other violent incidents occurring in public high schools over the past decade have brought the perennial problem of abusive bullies to the public's attention and are no longer looked upon as acceptable (or even tolerable) youthful or adolescent behavior. "Break The Bully Cycle: Intervention Techniques & Activities to Create A Respectful School Community" by SiriNam S. Khalsa (Inclusion Coach and Mentor Teacher for the Springfield School District, Massachusetts) is an instructional manual for classroom teachers, building and district administrators, and school staff personnel seeking to create and maintain a school environment free of violence and abuse. A compendium of research-based advice for containing and dealing with the pervasive problem of bullying behavior, "Break The Bully Cycle" presents possible reasons students become violent, what the early warning signs are, as well as strategies and tactics to use with potentially violent students. The object of "Break The Bully Cycle" is to help not only the victims of bullying, but through behavioral changes, help the bullies as well. Simply stated, if there had been access to instructional manual such as "Break The Bully Cycle", there well may have never been a Columbine.
Smart Sex Stuff For Kids 7-17
Carole Marsh
Gallopade International
PO Box 2779, Peachtree City, GA 30269
9780635066459, $14.99 www.gallopade.com 1-800-536-2438
Just as children must become literate in reading and capable in mathematics if they are to succeed in today's complex and rapidly evolving world, so they must also become knowledgeable about matters of sex well beyond the simple rudiments of human 'plumbing'. Once the isolated province of parental responsibility, sex education for children ages seven to seventeen is now recognized as requiring the joint and cooperative participation of parents, teachers, and the children themselves. An expert and an author in the field of sex education for children, Carole Marsh has now written "Smart Sex Stuff For Kids 7-17: Practical Information & Ideas For Kids, Parents & Teachers", a compendium of information, advice, suggestions, and commentary that will prove invaluable in developing sex education curriculums, as well as parent-child discussions on this sensitive but necessary subject. The text is particularly 'reader friendly' and illustrated with cartoon-like artwork as everything from 'Recipe for a Baby', to 'Master Bation', to 'The Dating Game', to Sex Abuse/Rape, to the issues of pregnancy, abstinence, safe sex practices, love, morality and ethics. From the basic 'facts of life', to the emotional and social ramifications of being sexually active, to 'smart strategies' for boys and girls from puberty through adolescence, "Smart Sex Stuff For Kids 7-17" is an invaluable and strongly recommended resource and reference. Two other titles from Gallopade International on this topic by Carol Marsh which are also very highly recommended include: "A Period Is More Than A Punctuation Mark!: Smart Sex Stuff For Girls" and "Sperm, Squirm & Other Squiggly Stuff!: Smart Sex Stuff For Boys".
Craft Lessons
Ralph Fletcher & Joann Portalupi
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571107060, $20.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812
Teaching children how to write is one of the fundamental tasks of all community schools be they public, private, or parochial. Now in an expanded and updated second edition, "Craft Lessons: Teaching Writing K-8" is the collaborative work of professional writer Ralph Fletcher and classroom teacher Joann Portalupi, who have worked with teachers and children from New York City to Hilo, Hawaii. A curriculum supplement and mainstay of writing teachers, this newly augmented edition features seventeen additional craft lessons (many based on veteran teachers' observations about typical student writing), revisions to previous published craft lessons (model texts that have gone out of print and replaced with current titles, as well as expanded resource materials sections); new thinking about teaching elements of craft and the reading-writing connection; and two new indexes. Comprising a total of ninety-five lessons specific to developing student writing skills, "Craft Lessons" continues to be an impressive collection of strongly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly' curriculum resource material.
Creating Welcoming Schools
JoBeth Allen
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
International Reading Association
PO Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714-8139
9780807747896, $23.95 www.reading.org www.tcpress.com
JoBeth Allen (Professor of Language and Literacy Education, University of Georgie) presents Creating Welcoming Schools: A Practical Guide to Home-School Partnerships with Diverse Families, a useful resource that explains how schools and diverse families across America have entered into constructive partnerships to improve student learning. Intended for teachers, parents, and school administrators, Creating Welcoming Schools covers such options as writing cultural memoirs, inviting dialogue at the conference table, engaging families in classroom projects, collaborating for more democratic schools and a more democratic society, and much more. "Evidence of learning may come from other teachers or adults who know the learner. If the child has a gift in art or music or physical education, or is working as an assistant in the library, invite that teacher for the conference. These teachers cannot go to every conference of every child, but they are rarely invited to any. What does that say about what we value?" Highly recommended.
The Essentials of Science, Grades 7-12
Rick Allen
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416604136, $23.95 www.ascd.org 1-800-933-2723
For America to survive and thrive in a constantly evolving global market place it's grade school and high school students must be well grounded in a basic science curriculum. Over the past several decades, science curriculums at the secondary level have been founded upon textbooks, lectures, rote memorization, and lab demonstrations. A direct result of the diminishing global stature of America with respect to science and technology that the demand (as exemplified by the onset of NCLB-mandated science testing) grew for improved educational tools and student performance scores in the sciences. One result is that secondary school science teachers are confronted with an array of challenges that must be met and mastered if recent trends of the downward trend of student and graduate science scores is to be reversed. That is the rationale behind "The Essentials Of Science, Grades 7-12: Effective Curriculum, Instruction, And Assessment" by Rick Allen. Part of the ASCD 'Priorities in Practice' series, "The Essentials of Science, Grades 7-12" instructs the instructors how they can make use of research within the cognitive sciences to foster critical thinking skills and provide students with a deeper understanding and appreciation of scientific concepts and their applications; using 'backward design' to create greater coherence in their curriculums; initiate innovative ideas for implementing scientific inquiry within the classroom environment; apply holistic strategies when addressing complex problems with respect to the problems related to such issues as an achievement gap, equity, and resources of the science classroom; as well as create and implement strategies for dealing with day-to-day as well as NCLB assessments. Of special note is how professional learning communities and mentoring can help teachers in reexamining and improving their curriculum development skills and classroom instruction practices. "The Essentials of Science, Grades 7-12" should be considered essential reading for student teachers considering a position teaching science at the secondary-level, as well as an indispensable, core addition to academic library and teacher education reference collections.
"A Land We Can Share"
Paula Kluth & Kelly Chandler-Olcott
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557668554, $24.95, www.brookespublishing.com
It takes some adaptation to the curriculum and some insights on the part of the reading instructors, but autistic students can be literate students. "A Land We Can Share: Teaching Literacy To Students With Autism" is the collaborative work of Paula Kluth (consultant, teacher, author, and advocate in Oak Park, Illinois) and Kelly Chandler-Olcott (Associate Professor, Syracuse University Reading and Language Arts Center, Syracuse, New York) and specifically designed to teach the teacher of an autistic student in grades K-12 how to implement researched-based practices in reading and writing instruction (including those consistent with Read First recommendations); plan effective lessons that build on their student's strengths, interests, and individual needs; design a classroom environment that promotes literacy learning for all students while addressing the individual needs of mainstreamed autistic students; assess students who do not (or cannot) show their literacy learning in tradition fashion; and how to include autistic students in a wide range of classroom literacy activities. Superbly co-written, organized and presented, "A Land We Can Share" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and should be considered essential reading for all teachers at the primary and secondary levels having to work with autistic students within a classroom environment.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com
Current research shows a positive relationship between successful professional learning communities and student achievement, and Shirley M. Hord and William A. Sommers's LEADING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (9781412944779, $31.95) is directed to educators who wish to develop a PLC program to enhance both. Chapters include quotes, common obstacles, and learning activities to reinforce lessons in leadership and school culture for students and educators alike. An excellent guide highly recommended for working professional educators. The second edition of Mike Milstein and Doris Annie Henry's LEADERSHIP FOR RESILIENT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES (9781412955942, $33.95) is a practical, powerful guide to creating healthier school environments, offering an interactive workbook format packed with successful strategies. The workbook builds on the first edition, updating exercises, case studies, and reproducibles in a workbook format perfect for practicing school leaders and teachers. A fine pick for any teacher's library. Lew Smith's SCHOOLS THAT CHANGE (9781412949521, $38.95) profiles some eight schools cross the country using specific examples and insights on how change happens. From measuring change and analyzing why some schools change while others don't to developing professional approaches to foster change, this guide will reach principles and school leaders interested in using solid strategies for effecting change. Robert Ramsey's DON'T TEACH THE CANARIES NOT TO SING: CREATING A SCHOOL CULTURE THAT BOOSTS ACHIEVEMENT (9781412948944, $28.95) is an outstanding analysis of what 'school culture' is, how it works, and why it's important to develop. Student performance and staff efforts pair with parental engagement and community support in such a process, creating a 'culture' which is dynamic, interactive and positive: here's how to build it, with real-world examples adding vision and insights. Cicely Anne Rude's HOW TO SUCCEED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER: EVERYTHING YOU NEED FROM START TO FINISH (9781412944755, $23.95) packs in details to help substitute teachers create a positive learning experience in a new or temporary classroom setting. From eight key tips for classroom management to details on networking, pay, permits and more, substitutes receive plenty of tested and real-world examples both inside and outside the classroom environment. Roger Pierangelo and George Giuliani's 100 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS (9781412917902, $25.95) is for K-12 special education teachers and any teacher interested in the process: it uses an easy question/answer format to examine concepts of special education strategies, program eligibility, safeguards, transitions from school to adult life, and evaluation procedures. The result is an essential pick for any library including special education topics in its collection. Randi Stone's BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING WRITING: WHAT AWARD-WINNING CLASSROOM TEACHERS DO (9781412924610, $22.95) gathers models for success from classrooms and tested best practices for elementary to high school learners, condensing these tips into a guide which shows how to successfully teach all levels of students. Ideas and lesson plans that produce clear results make for an excellent teacher's handbook and education library reference. Allan G. Harrison and Richard K. Coll edit USING ANALOGIES IN MIDDLE AND SECONDARY SCIENCE CLASSROOMS (9781412913331, $36.95) and comes from a team of science experts who offer over 40 teacher-friendly analogies for biology, chemistry, physics and earth and space studies. Teachers not only receive analogies: they receive details on how they work, when, why, and how to use these models to further an understanding of scientific foundations. JOYFUL LEARNING: ACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS (9781412941747, $30.95) by Alice Udvari-Solner and Paula Kluth provides a resource for K-12 teachers who wish to create an active, collaborative learning environment. Here is a blend of classroom theory with applied facts, using classroom-tested examples and clear guidelines to help teachers create and assess the results of such an environment. From assisting individual learners to integrating results into a wider classroom atmosphere, JOYFUL LEARNING offers many specifics, making it a perfect pick for practicing teachers. Rona F. Flippo's PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TESTING AND DOING BETTER IN SCHOOL (9781412953740, $33.95) is another essential pick for any education collection. It packs in charts, checklists, Internet resources and sample exercises for teachers to use with students, using research-based practices to help students develop more effective study and organizational skills. From preparing for SAT and other exams to taking tests more effectively, PREPARING STUDENTS FOR TESTING is packed with clear strategies making this a 'must' both for practicing educators and education libraries catering to them. Susan Penny Gray and William A. Streshly's FROM GOOD SCHOOLS TO GREAT SCHOOLS: WHAT THEIR PRINCIPALS DO WELL (9781412948999, $31.95) provides school leaders with a formula for examining school leadership and change. From qualities which are shared by superior schools and leaders to applying leadership principles and school-tested routines, FROM GOOD SCHOOLS TO GREAT SCHOOLS is packed with insights.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Mission and Menace
Robert Jewett
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress Publishers
100 Fifth Street, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1210
9780800662844, $22.00 www.augsburgbooks.com 1-800-328-4648
Mission and Menace: Four Centuries of American Religious Zeal is a highly skeptical examination of the impact of Christianity on American history from the colonial era to the modern day. From the role of the "Indian captivity narrative" in popular culture and its evolution into the modern-day superhero story that substituted other villains for nefarious portrayals of Native Americans, to the Civil War interpreted as a conflict over the Bible and millennial mission, to the rise of religious replacement and escapism during the Great Depression and World War II, to the triumph of zealous nationalism over prophetic realism during the Vietnam War and more, Mission and Menace critically analyzes religion's influence on American perception and policy, particularly focusing upon the repercussions of fundamentalist religion. "American millennialism, whether evangelical or liberal, tends to encourage intolerance, which was particularly manifest during the Second Great Awakening and the First World War. In the belief that one's group has the only correct view about the thousand-year kingdom, there is a tendency to reject compromise, which is the essence of constitutional systems of checks and balances. This surfaced with particular intensity after 1980. Gridlock in government, which naturally results from such intransigence, was increasingly welcomed... This theology sees every compromise with America's adversaries as a betrayal of divine trust; every effort to achieve arms control and to reduce the danger of accidental nuclear wars is a sellout to the demonic powers." A scathing indictment, nonetheless astutely written and persuasively presented.
Before Dallas
Nicholas P. Cafardi
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
0809105802, $27.95 www.paulistpress.com
The American Catholic church faces its greatest challenges from the clergy sexual abuse scandal and its ongoing impact in modern times, even though it has long recognized the problem over its long history. Canon law has been devised to handle such cases, but modern Church leaders favor therapeutic solutions over such precedents - and BEFORE DALLAS: THE U.S. BISHOPS' RESPONSE TO CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN examines these solutions and their lasting effects on victims, social and spiritual mores alike.
The New Christians
Tony Jones
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
DeChant Hughes & Associates (publicity)
1440 North Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60622
9780787994716, $22.95 www.josseybass.com 1-800-225-5945
Christianity has been in a state of evolution, change, flux, and internal conflict every since the very first Christians emerged out of the synagogues of Jerusalem two thousand years ago. A doctoral fellow in practical theology at the Princeton Theological Seminary, author, speaker, and seasoned observer of the American religious landscape Tony Jones has written a seminal work exploring the emergent frontier of Christianity in the opening decade of the 21st Century in "The New Christians: Dispatches From The Emergent Frontier". Providing an informed, informative, and exceptionally well written survey of the more adventurous Christian communities around the world, "The New Christians" reveals a religious movement that is not based on the usual Left-Right political, economic, social, and cultural divides that have marked previous fractions of the Christian church. Simply stated, this is a new form of Christian community that difference in both substance and ideology from such previous ecclesiastical movements that gave rise to Protestantism from Catholicism, or even earlier than that, the Catholic Churches of the West from the Orthodox Churches of the East. "The New Christians" is enthusiastically recommended reading (especially for non-specialist general readers with an interest in religion, spirituality, church history, and current trends with in today's diverse Christian communities) and a seminal contribution for academic and community library Christian Studies and Religious History reference collections.
The Apologetics Study Bible
Chuck Colson, et al.
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
www.bhpublishinggroup.com
9781586400248, $39.99 1-800-251-3225
For Christians of all denominations and affiliations, the Holy Bible is the bedrock document of their faith. Being universally acknowledged in its importance, the necessity to be as informed as possible about what the Bible teaches and what it is necessary to understand in this secular age, "The Apologetics Study Bible" was created with contributions form Chuck Colson, Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, J. P. Moreland, and many other scholars to help non-specialist general readers address such major questions and issues as the existence of God, the concept of evolution, the evidence underlaying the believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, personal destiny, and the paradox of evil in a world under the influence of a benevolent deity. "The Apologetics Study Bible" features introductions and notes for each of the 66 books comprising the Bible, more than 130 informative articles, biographical sketches of renowned Christian apologists, a timeline of Christian apologists and their works, thematically relevant archaeological charts, five full color maps, and an extensive annotated bibliography. Of special note are the 'Twisted Scripture Notes' addressing common ways that Scripture has been distorted by some heretical groups contrary to historic and traditional Christian teachings. A truly impressive work of biblical scholarship, "The Apologetics Study Bible" is confidently recommended for personal, seminary, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Bible Speaks Today: New Testament CD-ROM
John R. W. Stott, editor
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830824489 (Windows) , $115.00
9780830824496 (Macintosh), $115.00 www.ivpress.com 1-800-843-9487
The Bible Speaks Today: New Testament is a massive CD-ROM archive of all 22 volumes of "Bible Speaks Today" series concerning the Christian New Testament, ideal for self-study or as a reference. From "The Message of Matthew" and "The Message of the Sermon on the Mount" to "The Message of John's Letters" and "The Message of Revelation", each study guide strives for accuracy, contemporary relevance, and accessibility to readers of all backgrounds. The "Libronix" search engine makes looking up specific Biblical concepts a snap! The CD-ROM also contains the Accordance 7.4 Bible software, a free KJV Bible, and complete documentation. Available in both Windows and Macintosh editions, The Bible Speaks Today: New Testament CD-ROM is a bargain reference and resource particularly ideal for pastors, church leaders, librarians and Sunday school teachers.
Solidarity Will Transform the World
Jeffry Odell Korgen
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570757440, $16.00 www.orbisbooks.com
Solidarity Will Transform the World: Stories of Hope From Catholic Relief Services is an inspirational collection of true anecdotes about the people served by Catholic Relief Services. CRS programs of microcredit in Mexico and India have helped men and women create small businesses and jobs for their fellow countrymen. CRS trains people to become caregivers to those with HIV/AIDS in Zambia, and peacemakers in Rwanda; the production of Fair Trade Exchange coffee brings hope for prosperity to Nicaragua. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this uplifting testimony to how religious charity can have a positive effect upon the world at large, literally helping people to help themselves as well as fostering the spiritual rewards of faith.
Against Ratzinger
Anonymous
Antony Shugaar, translator
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
9781583227664, $14.95 www.sevenstories.com 1-800-596-7437
Skillfully translated from the original Italian by Antony Shugaar, Against Ratzinger is a close study of the message of the current Catholic Pope, Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), scrutinizing his life and theology as well as comparing him to his predecessor Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II). Though written from an intellectual standpoint, Against Ratzinger is sharply critical of the narrow-minded aspects to Ratzinger's doctrine. Against Ratzinger has much to criticize Ratzinger upon, such as his collaboration with the Axis during World War II, his tendency to depict masturbation or consensual adult homosexual relationships as morally objectionable as pedophilia, his blindness to the ills caused by unchecked population growth in his stance against contraception, and more. Yet the greatest criticism of all is the revelation of how he has subverted philosophical reason to champion Christianity and Christians as the sole hope of combating negative social issues or societal decline in Europe, adamantly refuting the possibility that nonbelievers could also be a creative, moral, ethical, or revitalizing force. "We should reject Joseph Ratzinger's claim to philosophical authority because... he has stealthily purloined from the field of rational research its essential nucleus and objective. By defining (but never proving) the partiality and inadequacy of human reason as it has been used in modern times against the authenticity of the Christian narrative, unprovable by definition, the pontiff denies truth the opportunity to offer itself up to rational inquiry. To judge from the feeble response of many professional philosophers to the pope's strategic move, philosophy - inasmuch as it is a quest for truth - truly seems dead." Highly recommended as a solidly argued counter-argument to the values and the system of thinking that Ratzinger promotes.
Song Of The Talanton
Claire Brandenburg
Conciliar Press
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076
9781888212907, $15.95 www.conciliarpress.com 1-800-967-7377
Music and music-making have been an integral part of the Christian experience from the very beginning of the Christian movement some two thousand years ago. A 'Talanton' is a long portable wooden board (or occasionally a fixed metal bar), usually featuring decorative or carved ends and has been used in monasteries for centuries as a means of calling the faithful to prayer. A wooden mallet striking the talanton, makes a loud (tonk) sound. Deftly written and beautifully illustrated by Claire Brandenburg, "Song Of The Talanton" takes the reader to the moment of sunrise and a pilgrim visiting a women's monastery hears this ages-old, rhythmic talanton call to worship. Accompanied by a superbly recorded audio CD featuring a reading of the story by the author, songs by Eikona, and more, "Song Of The Talanton" is unique and especially recommended for young children and their families.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Abraham's Journey
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800045, $25.00 www.ktav.com
ABRAHAM'S JOURNEY is the ninth in the series MeOtzar HoRav: Selected Writings of Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik, and focuses on the life and spirituality of the founding father of the Jewish people. His history and faith is revealed through an analysis of Biblical verses, rereadings of classical commentary, and revelations that will please any Judaic studies library.
Journeys To A Jewish Life
Paula Amann
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580233170, $19.99 www.jewishlights.com 1-800-962-4544
For the last three thousand years of recorded history, the Jewish people have had to struggle against the temptation of assimilation with respect to the cultures that bordered them as a nation and then within which they were embedded during the two thousand years of the diaspora. Usually it was the hostility of the majority cultures that helped to keep the Jewish cultural identity intact. In the United States, while anti-Semitism has always been present to some degree, it is the more general climate of tolerance and religious diversity that has made answers to the question of 'Why be Jewish' especially imperative for new generations of Jewish men and women. In "Journeys To A Jewish Life: Inspiring Stories From The Spiritual Journeys Of American Jews", Paula Amann (former news editor of the 'Washington Jewish Week' and a former staff writer at B'nai Brith International) has compiled a series of highly recommended and personal accounts by men and women who had to discover the necessity of living a Jewish life in a secular America, including their participation in a Jewish spiritual community, adopting and adapting Jewish teachings, rituals, and life-styles, the needs of family and the duties of observance. As informed and informative as they are inspired and inspiring, these are personal, anecdotal, illustrative examples that will well serve as templates for others seeking their own enduring answers to the questions of religious identify as a Jew in America today.
The Art Shelf
Edge of the Sublime
Jamie Bennett
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952844, $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com
American enamelist Jamie Bennett established an international reputation in 1986 when he produced a line of jewelry using electroformed shapes and rich colors and blended in cultural influences from Morocco, Turkey and more. This catalog represents a retrospective exhibition sponsored by Fuller Craft Museum of Brockton, Massachusetts and pairs three introductory essays with a discussion of the artist's work and life. An exhibition history and bibliography round out the presentation of color photo displays, making for a top pick art libraries in general and those interested in jewelry will find engrossing.
Robert Kipniss: Paintings 1950-2005
Robert Kipniss
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555952808, $60.00 www.hudsonhills.com
Robert Kipniss is perhaps best known for painting memorable landscapes, created from memory, unpopulated, and presenting an almost poetic expression of light, color, and form. Enhanced with an informative foreword by E. John Bullard (Montine McDaniel Freeman Director of the New Orleans Museum of Art) and an informed essay by Richard J. Boyle (former director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and an Adjunct Professor of Art History at Temple University, Philadelphia), "Robert Kipniss: Paintings 1950-2005 is a coffee table style art book showcasing 117 paintings of this talented printmaker and impressively sophisticated artist over the past fifty-five years of his work. Also very highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library American Art History reference collections is the previous volume of his work: "Robert Kipniss: Intaglios 1982-2004" (Hudson Hills Press, 2004).
Gerhard Richter: Red, Yellow, Blue
Helmut Friedel
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
9783791338606, $49.95 www.prestel-usa.com 1-888-463-6110
No one who considers themselves to be truly knowledgeable about trends in contemporary art will be unfamiliar with the name and work of Gerhard Richter, one of the most influential, innovative, and acclaimed painters of the past four decades. Enhanced with informed and informative essays on Richter and his art by Helmut Friedel and Robert Storr, "Gerhard Richter: Red, Yellow, Blue" is a coffee table art book compilation showcasing more than 100 color plates and three gatefolds of Richter's series of paintings that he created in 1973 for the lobby of the BMW headquarters in Munich. A welcome and core addition to any professional, art school, and academic library 20th Century Art History collection, "Gerhard Richter: Red, Yellow, Blue" is especially recommended to students of abstract painting in general, and Richter's seminal, groundbreaking techniques and imagery in particular.
Albert Paley: Portals & Gates
M. Jessica Rowe
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
9780979811104, $35.00, www.landauercorp.com 1-800-557-2144
Next to cave wall paintings, sculpture is the oldest known form of human artistic expression and has been a part of every culture in recorded human history. "Albert Paley: Portals & Gates" is an annotated compendium of 150 magnificently reproduced color plates of 150 examples of sculptures by Albert Paley, beginning with his first major commission (Portal Gates) for the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institutes in Washington D.C., to his most recent work (Transformation) displayed at the Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. The theme of these sculptures is that of diverse depictions and interpretations of portals, gates, and other key works over his thirty year career in which he has created more than sixty major works of art for public institutions and private corporations. Edited by M. Jessica Rowe (an established contemporary art expert and former curator of several national and international exhibitions), "Portals & Gates" is enhanced with informed and informative commentaries by Lynette L. Pohlman, Gregory L. Geoffroy, William L. Clark, and Mark C. Engelbrecht. Of special note is the inclusion of a Chronology and a Checklist that students of Palye's work will find invaluable. "Albert Paley: Portals & Gates" is a seminal study and a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Art History & Sculpture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits
Ilona Bray
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413307481, $24.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775
Just as money is the life-blood of governments and private enterprise corporations, so it is essential to carrying out the mandates of non-profit organizations as well. Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real-World Strategies That Work" by Ilona Bray draws upon her years of experience and expertise serving a variety of nonprofit agencies in every managerial capacity from development director and staff attorney to department manager and advisory council member to create a 496-page compendium of superbly organized and presented information, jargon-free advice, case examples, and illustrative comments from more than forty experienced and successful fund raisers who work in the non-profit sector. An ideal guide, readers will learn how to work with individual donors, plan special fund raising events, successfully compete in the solicitation of grants from foundations and corporations, obtain and exploit media coverage, utilize the Internet as a fundraising tool, start side businesses to create additional revenue streams, develop effective print materials (brochures, newsletters, annual reports), and a great deal more. Of special note are the eleven appendices offering fundraising worksheets for everything from sample cost analysis to press release templates. "Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits" should be a core reference work and a part of every community library and non-profit agency collection, and is an especially recommended study for non-specialist general readers having a responsibility to raise funds for their particular non-profit group.
The Library DVD Shelf
Housewife, 49
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
AMP-8041, $24.93 www.acornmedia.com
World War II was to change the lives of everyone who lived through it. The story begins in 1939 as England is in the process of entering World War II. Nella Last is an ordinary middle-aged English housewife and mother of two adult sons whose desperately unhappy marriage and suppressed life has resulted in driving her into such a dark depression that she seems to be suffering form some early form of senile dementia. But through the ensuing years, Nella discovers amidst the demands of war on the homefront that she is capable, that she can accomplish useful things despite an unsupportive husband, unaware children, class snobbery of other women, and her own deep seated, long-standing insecurities and low self-esteem. As is usual with a British theatrical production, the cast is uniformly impressive, the costuming and set designs are authentic in every detail, the production values are superb, the story (written by Victoria Wood who plays the principle role of Nella) is fully engaging from beginning to end. With a total running time of 93 minutes, "Housewife, 49" (based upon a true story) is a unique and emotionally rewarding experience for the viewer and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library DVD collections.
Dance for Camera 2
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
DVD $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Dance for Camera 2 is a DVD collection of award-winning short dance films from around the world. Ranging from sensual bedroom gyrations to the portrait of a mad aristocrat, these films unabashedly celebrate movements of the human body. The short films are "Boy" (UK), "Burst" (Iceland), "Cargo" (Canada), "Case Studies from the Groat Center for Sleep Disorders" (US), "Horses Never Lie" (Canada), "Motion Control" (UK), and "The Duchess" (US). A sumptuous feast for the senses. 50 minutes, color and black-and-white.
Argentina: Turning Around
Melissa Young and Mark Dworkin
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594586977, $225.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764
Intended for adult viewers as well as young viewers in grades 9-12, Argentina: Turning Around is an educational film that looks at Argentina's economic recent past and present. In the 90's Argentina sought to become part of globalization, yet its economy fell apart. All was not lost - the people turned to one another in a remarkable grassroots organizational effort. The de facto sequel to "Argentina: Hope in Hard Times", Argentina: Turning Around re-examines worker-run factories, and delivers the insights of journalists, economists, and unemployed workers. As new models of politics, labor, and community are tested and enacted, a nation strives to make good on its worthy promise of a better life for all its citizens. Ideal for social or Latin American studies classes, Argentina: Turning Around is a fascinating glimpse into the Argentina's increasingly bright future. 37 minutes, closed captioned, English & Spanish.
The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets
V.I.E.W. Video
34 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
0803022094, $19.98 www.view.com 212-674-5550
The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets is a DVD presentation of seven ballet dances performed by the stars of the Paris Opera Ballet, within the largest theater building in the world. The dances are "Escamillo", "Le Petit Pan", "Bambou (extract)", "Grande Pas Classique", "Rixe", "Une Femme", and "The White Swan (Swan Lake)". A medley of classical tradition, enhanced with DVD bonus features such as performer biographies and video performance from the Paris Opera Ballet Company, The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets is a superb example of the art and a welcome addition to any ballet lover's collection. 66 minutes.
Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts
Gabrielle Reece & Mike Monroe
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
DVD $14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts features six 15-minute workouts designed by Gabrielle Reece and her personal trainer Mike Monroe, following the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Offering a month-by-month pregnancy workout program covering the first and second trimesters, as demonstrated by Gabrielle Reece while carrying her second child, Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts is an excellent baby or bridal shower gift. An inexpensive exercise ball, fitness band, and small hand weights are recommended but not required, and all pregnant women should consult their physicians before embarking on an exercise program - but if the physician OKs it, then Fit & Healthy Prenatal Workouts is definitely one of the best workout options available! A second DVD in the series covering the third trimester and post-natal recovery is forthcoming. 150 minutes, color.
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
Richard Widmark, narrator
Gene Feldman, director
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
9781568392443, $24.95 www.janson.com
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend is a DVD biography beloved movie star and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Focusing on her passionate if somewhat tumultuous life rather than the seamy rumors about her and her tragic death, Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend includes highlights from her greatest movie moments in films such as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "How to Marry a Millionaire", "Some Like It Hot", and more. Extra features include a photo gallery, a "meet the producers" segment, and an interview with director Gene Feldman. An upbeat tribute that pays homage to the unforgettable pop culture contribution of a Hollywood icon. 115 minutes, color (some black-and-white scenes).
Just the Facts Cake Decorating
Chef Rick Forpahl
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571754644, $49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003
Just the Facts Cake Decorating with Chef Rick Forpahl is a straightforward DVD introduction to the art and fun of cake decoration. Chef Rick Forphal walks viewers through proper hand positions, how to use the tools and equipment, and specific techniques such as shell, sweet pea, and writing. Forpahl also assembles a carrot cake, teaching through example. An excellent, easy-to-follow primer for educational or personal use, highly recommended for viewers in grade 10 or older, not to mention adults! 20 minutes, closed-captioned.
Mindfreak
Criss Angel
A&E Videos
c/o A&E Television Networks
235 East 45th Street New York , NY 10017
1422906353, $84.42 www.aetv.com
The complete Season 3 of the hit series featuring Criss Angel captures all his stunt performances and mystic episodes from the third season making it a hit for prior fans who have seen the series. All 20 episodes star a range of scenes, include Criss' celebrity guests, and host additional scenes and features. An outstanding set of illusionist specials.
The Social Issues Shelf
Bilingualism And American National Unity
Margot Kinberg & Peter Serdyukov
The Edwin Mellen Press
PO Box 450, Lewiston, NY 14092-0450
9780773455382, $99.95, www.edwinmellenpress.com
The struggle with having to deal with more than one language in American cultural history and society goes back to the very beginnings of European settlement on the North American continent. Not only was their the Europeans having to deal with Native American languages in all of their diversity, but among the Europeans themselves were the struggle of linguistic dominance between English and French; English and German; English and Spanish; even English and Yiddish. Today the issue of English linguistic primacy is a contentious one while immigration continues to bring bilingual and multilingual issues into every aspect of American society from schools to workplaces to governmental services. The collaborative work of linguists and academicians Margot Kinberg and Peter Serdyukov, "Bilingualism And American National Unity: the Pros And Cons Of Immersion Education" focuses upon bilingualism and multilingualism in a global age; various theoretical models of bilingualism; ESL (English as a Second Language) theory and practice in education; and bilingualism and Second Language instruction issues in a workplace setting. Enhanced with the inclusion of Appendices, a Bibliography, and an Index, "Bilingualism And American National Unity" is a seminal contribution of exceptional scholarship which is very highly recommended for professional and academic library Linguistic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Winsor McCay's Little Nemo In Slumberland
Winsor McCay
Checker Book Publishing Group
2044-A South Alex Road, West Carrollton, OH 45449
1933160217, $49.95 www.checkerbpg.com
Throughout the 20th century, newspaper comic strips have been a staple of American popular culture. Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo In Slumberland" was a color comic strip that debuted in the New York 'Hearld' on October 15, 1905 and achieved an immense popularity almost overnight. It continued to be published until December 1913, when McCay was pressed by his editor to suspend the series in order to concentrate on editorial cartooning. In August 1924 McCay revived the comic strip and it ran for an additional three years. Now the Checker Book Publishing Group has brought out a photomechanical reprint in full color of all of the strips from the first episode in 1905 though August 15, 1909. Also included in this impressive first volume are forty-three strips comprising 'Tales of the Jungle Imps', as well as samples of original promotional material, play bills, posters, early Nemo merchandising, and more. Of immense nostalagic interest and a superb example of early American newspaper cartoon strips, "Winsor McCay's Little Nemo In Slumberland; Volume One" is also highly recommended because it makes available to a whole new generation of readers the wonderful adventures of Nemo, Flip, The Princess, and a cast of memorable characters.
Innocent
Shawn Granger
King Tractor Press
PO Box 7732, La Verne, Ca 91750
9780978748630, $14.99 www.kingtractorpress.com
The graphic novel as a literary form within American popular culture has truly come of age. Ably assisted by a team of five talented artists, three letterers, two designers, two cover artists, and an editor, Shawn Granger's "Innocent" is a compelling story of an angel of retribution who befriends a psychopathic mortal. The angel Innocent finds himself hard pressed to keep his psycho friend David focused on killing only those who really deserve to be murdered, and leaving the innocent well enough alone. A sophisticated story featuring characters that are intrinsically interesting and a bit more than casually sophisticated, "Innocent" is the first volume of a graphic novel series that can be confidently recommended to the attention of science fiction and fantasy fans in general, and graphic novel buffs in particular -- and will lead readers in both groups looking eagerly toward the next installment of this debut effort.
Maison Ikkoku, volume 15
Rumiko Takahashi
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
9781421502793, $9.95 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042
Now available on in an "editor's choice" reprint edition with a new cover, the fifteenth and final volume Maison Ikkoku concludes the slice-of-life romance between Godai and Kyoko, with a thoroughly satisfying wrap-up of their story as well as that of their rambunctious, out-of-control neighbors. Though the issues of love, relationships, and responsibility take the dramatic center stage, the situation comedy elements are neither gone nor forgotten; the well-known "goddess of manga" Rumiko Takahashi pens Maison Ikkoku's finale with her usual flair for wit and insight. Maison Ikkoku carries the highest possible recommendation, as a heartwarming saga that resonates so strongly with the ups and downs with real life that it is worth rereading again and again.
The Parenting Shelf
Key Porter Books
Six Adelaide Street East, 10th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1H6, Canada
www.keyporter.com
Two excellent picks offer parents a fine set of activities guides perfect for sharing in play. Dr. Roni Cohen Leiderman and Dr. Wendy Masi's 365 ACTIVITIES YOU AND YOUR CHILD WILL LOVE: PLAY IDEAS TO THRILL YOUR THRIVING PRESCHOOLER! (9781552638611) packs in hundreds of ideas for kids between the ages of 3 and 6: play topics which improve logical thinking, introduce kids to science and promote a better vocabulary, and teach math, reading, and more. Parents will find these tips easy to duplicate and offer a rich introduction into the learning potentials of play. Gymboree's A TO Z ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS: ENRICH YOUR CHILD'S WORLD OF PLAY WITH FUN ACTIVITY CARDS (9781552639276) offers a series of creative activities and illustrations on thick activity cards accompanied by a play guide. Ages 1-4 years will find these activity cards bright, durable and compelling.
Mothers & Daughters: That Special Bond
Susan Beilenson
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
9781593598938, $9.95 www.peterpauper.com
It is one of life's ironies that children only come to truly appreciate their parents when they become parents themselves. The relationship between mothers and their daughters is truly something special and to be celebrated. That is the premise underlying "Mothers & Daughters: That Special Bond", a series of photographs and quotations compiled by Susan Beilenson that illustrate that very special relationship. The photographs of celebrity moms and their daughters (a few of whom grew up to become celebrities in their own right) is the perfect visual augmentation to a wealth of memorable observations by equally memorable women. The quotations are nicely organized into three main sections: Daughters Talk about Their Mothers; What Mothers Say about Their Daughters; and The Mother-Daughter Relationship. "Mothers & Daughters: That Special Bond" is an ideal gift for Mother's Day, as well as Birthdays, Holidays, and any other such family-oriented celebratory occasion. 'I pray that I may be all that my mother would have been, had she lived in an age when women could aspire and achieve.' -- Ruth Bader Binsburg, Supreme Court Justice.
The Sociology Shelf
Social Stratification
David B. Grusky
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780813343730, $60.00 www.westviewpress.com 1-800-242-7737
Even America is not immune to the forces that give rise to class warfare. Now in a thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded third edition, "Social Stratification: Class, Race, And Gender In Sociological Perspective" by David B. Grusky (Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Poverty and Inequality, Stanford University) continues to be the primary text comprising contributions by leading academicians and researchers on the issues associated with poverty and inequality within the United States. Part 1 is 'Gloom, Doom, and Inequality', an informed and informative introduction to the general subject and co-authored by Professor Grusky and Manwai C. Ku. Part 2 is comprised of eight contributions examining the 'Forms and Sources of Inequality'. Part 3 presents a series of contributions with respect to 'The Structure of Contemporary Inequality'. Part 4 covers 'Inequality at the Extremes'. Part 5 focuses upon 'Generating Inequality'. Part 6 is on 'Race and Ethnicity' with Part 7 addressing 'Gender Inequality'. Part 8 studies 'The Consequences of Inequality'. Part 9 concludes with thoughtful and thought-provoking contributions on 'The Future of Inequality'. A standard text for more than a decade, this new third edition of an impressive body of sustained and seminal scholarship continues to insure that "Social Stratification" is an invaluable and emphatically recommended, core addition to professional and academic library Sociological Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Computer Shelf
Cisco Networking Simplified, 2nd Edition
Jim Doherty, Neil Anderson & Paul Della Maggiora
Cisco Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
1587201992, $39.99 www.ciscopress.com
Cisco reference libraries and those catering to Cisco operators will find engrossing this updated visual explanation of modern networking technologies in general and Cisco's networking capabilities in particular. Students and IT professionals receive a visual display packed with color diagrams and clear explanations which examine networking from small to large systems, discussing how they work, how to build and design superior networks, and how to secure them. Highly recommended for any college-level collection where Cisco networks and systems are discussed.
Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista
Paul McFedries
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789737779, $39.99 www.quepublishing.com
Computer libraries strong on Windows Vista networking for beginners will relish this fine guide to creating, configuring and administering a small network using Windows Vista computers, making it a pick capable of crossing boundaries into the small library's reference holding as well. From how to assess and purchase network hardware to putting routers, cable and connections to work, Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista holds everything needed to create a secure computer network, and includes intermediate networking tasks from making remote connections to troubleshooting typical problems.
Software Teamwork
Jim Brosseau
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
0321488903, $39.99 www.awprofessional.com
SOFTWARE TEAMWORK: TAKING OWNERSHIP FOR SUCCESS is a practical guide to improving the human interactions which go into software development. Years of work with a range of teams contribute to tester/developer author Jim Brosseau's expertise and insights. His book shows how to take small, tested routines and strategies and apply them to the whole team and its wider purposes, making for a set of realistic development routines which provide solid results. Business and computer libraries alike need his approach to software team development.
Information Security
Philip Alexander
Praeger Publishers
c/o Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313345586, $44.95 www.praeger.com
The problem with building a better mousetrap is that sooner or later, somebody will come along and build a better mouse. The history of computers is also a history of computer crime. Data is valuable and so inevitably someone will try to hack it. Computers are important (even vital) so someone sooner or later will want to do them mischief -- even if its just for the perverted fun of it. Therefore the unrelenting, unflagging, unending necessity for securing computers and the data they contain from hackers and thieves. "Information Security: A Manager's Guide To Thwarting Data Thieves And Hackers" by Philip Alexander (Information Security Officer for Wells Fargo Bank) writes with an impressive, comprehensive, experience-based expertise to specifically enable corporate managers at every level to understand and deal with the diverse security issues associated with their computer systems and data bases. From issues of security policy and standards, to network and DMZ design, to authentication and authorization, to security issues associated with mobile employees, hackers, snoops, viruses, data privacy laws, overseas outsourcing, and more, "Information Security" is a complete instruction manual that is as informed as it is informative. Up-to-date, 'reader friendly', and comprehensive, "Information Security" is strongly recommended reading for anyone with a management responsibility that includes data security and computer usage, as well as a core addition to professional, corporate, academic, and community library Computer Science & Security reference collections.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
The Art Of Video Production
Leonard Shyless
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781412916752, $64.95 www.sagepub.com 1-800-818-7243
One of the great pick-up lines was for a man to encounter a woman and declare "You ought to be in the movies and I can make you a star!". Advances in video technology have made it possible for anyone to produce a video -- but it still takes training and know-how to make one that is worth the investment of time, capital, and energy into its production. "The Art Of Video Production" by Leonard Shyless (Associate professor, Department of Communication, Villanova University and former Director of the Video Production Lab) is a single volume, 534-page instruction manual covering every aspect of what goes into making a video. While covering all of the basic principles and essential skills, "The Art Of Video Production" also addresses the new digital technologies necessary for crafting and creating effective video content. Enhanced with six interviews with industry professionals that range from network, freelance, and independent producers, to directors, writers, and editors, "The Art Of Video Production" is a veritable compendium of practical advice, insights, and tips for aspiring videographers. Professor Shyless covers the video production process, video as a means of communication, and how television works, as well as the specific elements and techniques of video production including lighting, camera usage, audio, graphic and set design, field production, editing, scripts, producing, directing, and performing. Each chapter concludes with a 'Questions for Review' to insure the reader has grasped the information presented. Deftly written, effectively organized, and enhanced with a Glossary, a Bibliography, and an Index, "The Art Of Video Production" would make an ideal textbook for video production courses, as well as being a core addition to personal, professional, telecommunications industry, academic, and community library video production instructional reference and resource collections.
An Actor's Work
Konstantin Stanislavski
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780415422239, $35.00 www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com
Jean Benedetti provides the modern translation of this classic text on actor training, a recommended pick for any college-level collection strong in drama theory and actor training. His offers a more accurate new translation of the classic, critiquing Method acting and its legacy and putting Stanislavski's two-volume work back under one cover as he originally intended. The result is a clearer, more revealing legacy than the prior translation, and deserves a spot in any serious college-level acting library.
Palestinian Cinema: Landscape, Trauma, and Memory
Nurith Gertz and George Khleifi
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253220073, $24.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796
Palestinian Cinema: Landscape, Trauma, and Memory is a one-of-a-kind collaboration between an Israeli scholar and a Palestinian scholar tracing the development of Palestinian cinema, with especial attention paid to its response to political and social evolutions. Chapters reveal that the worse social, political, and economic positions become, the more Palestinian cinema intertwines itself with the national struggle. Palestinian cinema creates its national narrative against the Israeli narrative, and the bitter reflection between the two viewpoints sadly echoes the greater resentment and hostility between the two peoples sharing the same territory. In particular, the films of Michel Khleifi, Rashid Masharawi, Ali Nassar, and Elia Suleiman are discussed, as well as roadblock movies in general. "To a large extent, the new directors have joined forces to protect Palestinian unity and identity in the face of the threat of extinction. Thus, they express, even more intensely than their predecessors did, the strengthening national consciousness and identity vying with familial, regional, pan-Arabic, class, or gender identities. In their films, they strive to construct a single national unity, which is strong and secured, by integrating different sections, groups, minorities, and political stances." A 'must-read' for anyone with an interest in Palestinian cinema and what it has to tell us about the culture from which it comes.
The Philosophy Shelf
Lessons from a Materialist Thinker
Samantha Frost
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804757485, $21.95 www.sup.org
Part of the "Cultural Memory in the Present" series, Lessons from a Materialist Thinker is a philosophical treatise on political theory as contemplated by Samantha Frost (Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and the Gender and Women's Studies Program at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign). Drawing upon Thomas Hobbes' well-known if dark concept of the brutal self at war with all others, as juxtaposed with a Cartesian view of the self split into the mind and the body, Lessons from a Materialist Thinker questions tacitly occurring assumptions humans make about themselves as well as the common, negative view of Hobbes' insights. Elucidating upon Hobbes' materialist ontology, Lessons from a Materialist Thinker suggests that Hobbes in fact offers a new means of understanding the fundamental concepts of self-consciousness, reason, agency, power, freedom, and responsibility. "...Hobbes's ethics does not require that we actually like one another or that we truly respect or appreciate one another. When the laws of nature dictate peace, they do not demand that we be loving and generous in our hearts. Rather, they teach us that the minimum condition of our interactions is a perceptible or visible commitment to ending overt hostility." A welcome contribution to philosophical studies shelves, especially for its insights into the border where philosophy and politics meets concepts of sociology and anthropology.
The Music Shelf
The Musician's Guide to the Road
Susan Voelz
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780823077762, $16.95
Touring musicians and those wishing a glimpse into the experiences of an artist's life on the road will find Susan Voelz's THE MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE ROAD: A SURVIVAL HANDBOOK AND ALL-ACCESS BACKSTAGE PASS TO TOURING a fine reference reflecting the author's years of road experience with John Mellencamp and other famous acts. The focus is on how to prepare for and conduct a tour, and covers everything from leasing a tour bus and understanding bus etiquette to getting paid, road romances, and a return to off-road living. Any musician contemplating hitting the road, and any library catering to musicians, must have this.
