Funny Business
Allen Rosenshine
Beaufort Books
c/o Author Marketing Experts (publicity)
PO Box 421156, San Diego, CA 92142
9780825305399, $24.95 www.midpointtradebooks.com
Funny Business: Moguls, Mobsters, Megastars, and the Mad, Mad World of the Ad Game is an uproarious anthology of stranger-than-fiction anecdotes from life in the creative world of the advertising business. Author Allen Rosenshine, who worked his way up to CEO of a major advertising corporation, tells of gently breaking bad news to mobsters, schmoozing with stars, warding off attempts to take him for a sucker, and many more madcap adventures. Funny Business is not a "how-to" book for would-be advertisers in the traditional sense; it's a slice-of-life with extra irony on top from an insider's point of view. An incredibly entertaining memoir from cover to cover, Funny Business is sure to delight readers of all walks of life with their recommended daily allowance of wit, wisdom, and mirthful laughter!
Potluck!
Toni Brandeis Streckert
Trails Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
145 North Commercial Street, Suite 100, Neenah, WI 54956
9781931599887, $16.95 www.bigearthpublishing.com 1-800-258-5830
Wisconsin author and farmer's market enthusiast Toni Streckert has compiled recipes from a series of local church and civic group cookbooks that, taken cumulatively, offer a kind of culinary window into Wisconsin traditions in "Potluck! Home Cooking From Wisconsin's Community Cookbooks". Enhanced with anecdotal stories, these are recipes that range from classic casseroles, to kugels, to mead loaf, to traditional desserts. There are also a great many new favorites that have made their way to Wisconsin tables. From Pepperoni Biscotti; Marinated Melon Salad; Trudy's Beef Burgundy; and Two-Sauce Lasagna; to Hot Sin Apple Bread; Sour Cream Chocolate Cookies; Zucchini Pie; and Dandelion Wine, "Potluck!" offers a wealth of good eating in celebration of Wisconsin's culinary heritage. All Wisconsin family and community library cookbook collections should include a copy of Toni Streckert's "Potluck!"
Golden Legacy
Leonard S. Marcus
Golden Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375829963, $40.00 www.randomhouse.com/kids
While this reference was published by the children's arm of Random House, it's reviewed here for its interest to any collector of Golden Books who wants more than a price guide. GOLDEN LEGACY: HOW GOLDEN BOOKS WON CHILDREN'S HEARTS, CHANGED PUBLISHING FOREVER, AND BECAME AN AMERICAN ICON ALONG THE WAY is so much more: it offers a history of the company, its line of books, and those authors and illustrators who created Golden Books, providing the background and depth needed to understand their value. No serious collector's library - especially those catering to Golden Books collectors - should be without it.
The Archimedes Codex
Reviel Netz & William Noel
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306815805, $27.50 www.dacapopress.com
THE ARCHIMEDES CODEX: HOW A MEDIEVAL PRAYER BOOK IS REVEALING THE TRUE GENIUS OF ANTIQUITY'S GREATEST SCIENTIST reveals a medieval prayer book which sold in 1998 for, $2 million at an auction - and nearly a decade later haws been entrusted to experts at Walters Art Museum, who are learning its real value. Its prayers - penned by a Christian monk around 1200 AD - were written over an earlier text - the lost works of Archimedes, the greatest mathematician of antiquity - and here spirituality and science join in a fine survey revealing the manuscript's importance. It's a key study not to be missed by any serious spirituality collection.
Sage-ing While Age-ing
Shirley MacLaine
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1416550410, $26.00 www.simonsays.com
SAGE-ING WHILE AGE-ING is a survey of the author's life as a thinker and seeker: here she reflects on this journey and the insights it's brought her over the decades, examining the personal and career milestones she's experienced to date. While prior fans of MacLaine's books are the most likely to relish her latest, newcomers also will find it a lively, interesting introspection worthy not only of spiritual libraries but for public library circulation.
Fugitive Denim
Rachel Louise Snyder
W.W. Norton & Company
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393061802, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com
FUGITIVE DENIM: A MOVING STORY OF PEOPLE AND PANTS IN THE BORDERLESS WORLD OF GLOBAL TRADE follows the lives and experiences of the globalized network involved in denim production, manufacture and marketing, considering the power of designer jeans marketing around the world and in different countries from Italy to Azerbaijan. In focusing on a single, popular product which has reached around the world, FUGITIVE DENIM succeeds in providing a wide-ranging survey of special interest not just to college-level holdings strong in global marketing and international trade, but to the general-interest lending library.
The Photography Shelf
The Lens Of Time
Cliff White & E. J. (Ted) Hart
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382370, $69.95 www.uofcpress.com 1-800-565-3770
Part of the University of Calgary Press unique 'Parks and Heritage' series focusing on North American national parks and historic sites, "The Lens Of Time: A Repeat Photography Of Landscape Change In The Canadian Rockies" is the collaborative Project of Cliff White and Ted Hart which compares yesteryear black-and-white photographs in side-by-side arrangement with contemporary full color photographs of the same landscapes, taken from the same positional perspectives, and revealing the changes that have taken place during the intervening 125 years. Enhanced with an informed and informative commentary text, "The Lens Of Time" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to professional, academic, and community library collections, and would prove of immense and particular interest to environmental activists and non-specialist general readers with an appreciation of Canadian Rockies landscapes -- then and now!
Photographer's Exposure Handbook
Jack Neubart
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780817459086, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com
There is no such thing as a 'perfect' exposure: it's up to photographers to thoroughly understand the process and take advantage of the techniques which lend to better photos, which goes far beyond the usual focus on f-stops and shutter speeds. Chapters discuss the basics but also show how to use light and exposure to improve compositions. Both digital and film photographers will find this a top pick, and public libraries catering to amateurs will find it an especially popular lend.
Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day
Philip Plisson
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780810994485, $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
Comprised of 365 full-color photographs taken by maritime photographer Philip Plisson (whose lifetime body of work includes more than 400,000 photographs and forty books), "Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day" features memorable images combined with sea-centric comments from a diversity of luminaries ranging from Albert Camus, to William Shakespeare, to Francis Bacon, to Herman Melville. Visually depicted are the oceans of the world in all of their diverse moods, states, and colors. From the sea's dream-like tranquility to its capacity for overwhelming violence, to images of waves and swells, to lighthouses, sails, and boats in an oceanic light, "Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day" is an original compendium that would grace any personal, academic, or community library collection -- and is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the sea and the ships that sail up it.
Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups
State Nationalities Affairs Commission
China Pictorial Publishing House
c/o China Books
360 Swift Ave., Suite 48, South San Francisco, CA 94080
9787800249563, $24.95 www.chinabooks.com
Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups is a gorgeous, full-color photographic showcase of people of the 55 minority ethnic groups found in China, from Mongolian, Tibetan, and Korean to Yao, Bai, and Li to Uzbek, Russian, and Tartar, and many more. (The majority ethnic group of China is of course the Han Chinese; their photographic portrayal is left to other books). Images often focus upon unique cultural practices and customs, from marriage ceremonies to traditional dress, food, and celebrations. A handful of basic facts and taboos for each culture are also briefly described, but the core appeal of Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups lies in its vibrant and unforgettable imagery. Celebrating peaceful integration and cultural exchange as well as the tapestry that is China itself, Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups is a joy simply to page through and highly recommended.
Holding Out And Hanging On
Thomas Neff
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217745, $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894
The devastation and aftermath of hurricane Katrina brought to light a truly American vulnerability as being one of the worst disasters of our time. But as they years have begun to pass, the plight of the survivors, once so prominent on the evening news and in the speeches of politicians, has faded back into obscurity and neglect. Baton Rouge photographer Thomas Neff seeks to restore public awareness of the continuing necessity for attention to rebuilding the lives and communities that were so badly damaged by compiling his black-and-white photographs, combined with forty-five days of interviews with the people affected by the hurricane in "Holding Out And Hanging On: Surviving Hurricane Kartrina". Showcasing some remarkable people living and trying to rebuild under exceptionally difficult circumstances, as well as photographically documenting the extend of the damages still awaiting the promised attention and resources from state and federal agencies, "Holding Out And Hanging On" is a clarion testament to the enduring human spirit as representative individual stories are told. Simply stated, every community library in the country should have a copy of "Holding Out And Hanging On" in their collections so that the politicians and the people will remember what happened, what was done, and what remains to be done.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Gem of the Ocean
August Wilson
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
9781559362801, $13.95 www.amazon.com
Broadway theater playwright August Wilson presents Gem of the Ocean, the first play in a ten-play cycle about the African-American experience during the modern twentieth century. Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, Gem of the Ocean follows a long-lived, fierce-willed matriarch and the two men she welcomed into her Hill District home: Solly Two Kings, who was born into slavery and served the Union Army in the Civil War, and Citizen Barlow, a man from Alabama seeking a better life. A richly textured exploration of the challenges faced in adapting to a new environment, no matter how many hardships one faced in the past, Gem of the Ocean is highly recommended.
The Philosophy Of Science Fiction Film
Steven M. Sanders, editor
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
9780813124728, $35.00 www.kentuckypress.com 1-800-839-6855
Expertly compiled and edited by Steven M. Sanders (emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Bridgewater State College, Massachusetts), "The Philosophy Of Science Fiction Film" focuses upon science fiction films in terms of their philosophical implications and issues including 'Engimas of Identity and Agency'; 'Extraterrestrial Visitation, Time Travel, and Artificial Intelligence; and Brave Newer World: Science Fiction Futurism. From Deborah Knight and George McKnight's 'What Is It to Be Human? Blade Runner and Dark City'; to Aeon J. Skoble's 'Technology and Ethics in The Day the Earth Stood Still'; to Jerold J. Abrams' 'The Dialectic of Enlightenment in Metropolis, "The Philosophy Of Science Fiction Film" offers erudite insights that are thoughtful and thought-provoking, superb examples of scholarship, and a seminal contribution to the study of science fiction films. "The Philosophy Of Science Fiction Film" is highly recommended for academic library collections, as well as the supplemental reading lists for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Cinematic Studies, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and Philosophy.
Clint Eastwood, Actor and Director
Leonard Engel, editor
University of Utah Press
1795 E. South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-9402
9780874809008, $21.95 www.UofUpress.com
Clint Eastwood, Actor and Director: New Perspectives is an anthology of essays by learned authors discussing Hollywood star Clint Eastwood, who has made a stand-out name for himself as a top-notch director through films such as "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby". Individual essays include "Mocking Success in 'Every Which Way but Loose'", "Irony as Absolution", "Mystic Moral Miasma in 'Mystic River'", and much more. The essays have a scholarly tone and a perceptive eye toward meticulous analysis of theme; Clint Eastwood, Actor and Director is especially recommended for film studies students and professionals who would learn from Eastwood's work, as well as cerebral Clint Eastwood fans.
A Jesuit Off-Broadway
James Martin, SJ
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
DeChant-Hughes Associates (publicity)
1440 North Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60622
9780829425826, $22.95 www.LoyolaBooks.org 1-800-621-1008
Jesuit priest James Martin presents A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage With Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions, a memoir recounting the six months during which he served as a theological consultant for the New York theater production of "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot", directed by Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and starring Sam Rockwell and Eric Bogosian. Even as Martin taught his charges about religion and spirituality, he learned about the amazing labor of love that is the theater, as well as the toll it takes upon a cast and crew to pour their blood, sweat and tears into a successful play. A wondrous journey into two worlds: the world of the stage and the inner world of the humanity's soul-searching questions.
Cinema of Obsession
Dominique Mainon and James Ursini
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
19 West 21st Street Suite 201, New York NY 10010
9780879103477, $24.95 www.halleonard.com
CINEMA OF OBSESSION: EROTIC FIXATION AND LOVE GONE WRONG IN THE MOVIES is an excellent recommendation for any library strong in film studies. It considers film images of love in its many darker sides, from violent obsession and star-crossed love to erotic undertones. Movies are described, analyzed, and include plenty of commentary and analysis in a survey perfect for college-level film studies collections. Black and white photos from movies liberally pepper the survey.
Rescue Me Uncensored
Dennis Leary & Peter Tolan
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557047915, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com 1-800-669-3903
Featuring an informative preface by Denis Leary and Peter Tolan, "Rescue Me Uncensored: The Official Companion" includes complete episode guides with music playlists of the first four seasons of this popular and successful television drama series. Tolan was nominated for Outstanding Directory for a Drama Series for the first season of 'Rescue Me', and Leary was nominated twice for an Emmy for Outstanding lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on 'Rescue Me'. Enhanced throughout with a profusion of full color photography of actors and scenes, "Rescue Me Uncensored" features a 'Role Call' of cast members. Of special note is article about 'The Leary Firefighters Foundation'. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781557047922, $29.95), "Rescue Me Uncensored" is especially recommended reading for the programs legions of fans across the country.
The Business Shelf
Private Label
Keith Lincoln & Lars Thomassen
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749450274, $39.95 www.koganpage.com 1-800-232-0223
"Private Label; turning The Retail Brand Threat Into Your Biggest Opportunity" is the collaborative work of Keith Lincoln (one of the world's leading authorities and corporate consultants on brands and global trends) and Lars Thomassen (whose 30 year career in advertising includes involvement with developing many major global brands). The focus on the advertising concept of a 'Private Label' that is the basis of a one trillion dollar industry world wide. Readers will learn about the facts and the myths associated with the concept of Private Labels, issues that are directly relevant to the establishing, maintenance, and exploitation of Private Labels, opportunities for brand owners, opportunities for retailers, and the commercial future of Private Labels in a highly competitive and increasingly global marketplace. Informed and informative, "Private Label" is especially recommended reading for entrepreneurs and corporate executives seeking to develop and expand their products as distinctive, premiere, and high-end.
Why We Talk
Bolivar J. Bueno
Creative Crayon Publishers
230 Kings Mall Court, Suite 142, Kingston, NY 12401
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists (publicity)
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
9780971481534, $24.95 www.phenixpublicity.com
In "Why We Talk: the Truth Behind Word-of-Mouth", retail advertising and marketing expert Bolivar Bueno (a partner in Nonbox consulting, an Orlando, Florida-based consumer insight think tank) lays out seven principles for creating memorable customer experiences that will prompt those customers to share with their friends and families those favorable impressions that successful commercial transactions produce. Businessmen and marketing directors will learn just what motivates a consumer or a customer to 'spread the word' about a company and its products -- producing an unpaid advertising benefit that can insure a prosperous bottom line to any corporate endeavor. "Why We Talk" is a solidly informative and 'reader friendly' addition to any personal, professional, corporate, academic, or community American Business Studies reference collection or supplemental reading list.
Reaching the Goal
John Arthur Ricketts
IBM Press
Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132333122, $29.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com 1-800-428-5331
REACHING THE GOAL: HOW MANAGERS IMPROVE A SERVICES BUSINESS USING GOLDRATT'S THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS explains not only the basics of TOC, but how it improves business performance, using experiences from IBM research to document using TOC in services businesses. From its basic principles to applications in different areas of business, TOC is thoroughly covered including guidelines on how to implement in an existing organizational structure, making this a fine pick for both college-level business libraries and libraries catering to managers.
The 4Cs of Truth in Communications
Isabelle Albanese
Paramount Market Publishing Inc.
950 Danby Road #136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780978660222, $24.95 www.paramountbooks.com
Any college-level collection strong in business marketing tools needs Isabelle Albanese's The 4Cs of Truth in Communications. It provides an easy guide on how to assess marketing communications efforts - and covers the common pitfalls in such communications. The coverage is barely a hundred pages but the lessons on how to identify and evaluate effective and non-effective communication processes are invaluable.
Working the Skies
Drew Whitelegg
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10003
9780814794081, $20.00 www.nyupress.org 1-800-996-6987
WORKING THE SKIES: THE FAST-PACED, DISORIENTING WORLD OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT is a fine choice not only for any business library focused on careers or aviation choices, but for general-interest collections. It covers the life of the flight attendant, surveying the realities of the modern job, offering experiences of flight attendants past and present, and offering behind-the-scenes stories of their special challenges. It's an excellent, lively survey certain to reach a wide audience.
A Class With Drucker
William A. Cohen, Ph.D.
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814409199, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org
Author William A. Cohen was a struggling young Air Force officer with no academic experience when he entered Drucker's PhD program in management, becoming the first graduate of Drucker's doctoral program. He used his newfound insights to further career and to gain a deeper insight into Drucker's approach and personality: A CLASS WITH DRUCKER reflects his experiences, expanding upon Drucker's lessons, revealing the teacher's personality through personal anecdotes, and providing fine tips on how Drucker's management tools continue to be applied in everyday business circles. Any business library needs A CLASS WITH DRUCKER.
The Go-Giver
Bob Burg & John David Mann
Portfolio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Kathryn Hall Publicist (publicity)
PO Box 1486, Ukiah, CA 95482
9781591842002, $19.95 www.us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515
The collaborative effort of Bob Burg (a top sales professional and successful public speaker) and John David Mann (author and business leadership authority), "The Go-Giver: A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea" is the story of Joe, an ambitious young man who seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar -- a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees as 'The Chairman'. Pindar introduces Joe to a series of 'go-givers' that include a successful restaurateur, a corporate CEO, a knowledgeable financial advisor, a real estate broker, and a man known simply as 'The Connector' who brought them all together. Between these men, Joe learns about the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and discovers how to open himself up to the power of giving as a means of success in business. Deftly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "The Go-Giver" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking success in the competitive marketplace of products, services, and ideas, as being informed and informative, as well as inspired and inspiring.
AdWords for Dummies
Howie Jacobson, Ph.D.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470152522, $24.99 www.wiley.com 1-800-225-5945
Internet marketing strategist and AdWords coach Howie Jacobson, Ph.D. presents AdWords for Dummies, a user-friendly manual to using Google AdWords to serve one's marketing needs. and attract the right kinds of visitors to one's website. Chapters discuss how to set up a starter edition AdWords account, uncover one's online market, choose the right keywords, craft attractive ads, improve one's ad campaigns through keyword management, follow up on prospects, apply conversion tracking to cut costs, common beginner errors when working with AdWords, and much more. AdWords for Dummies lives up to the solid reputation of the Dummies series by blending professional expertise with a simple and straightforward tutorial anyone can follow. A, $25 Google AdWords gift card rounds out this enthusiastically recommended aid to Internet marketing in the twenty-first century.
The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations
Lisa Guerin
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306910, $39.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775
One of the responsibilities of employers is to insure a safe and secure workplace. This necessitates dealing with employee accusations of harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, employee theft, and other challenges to the workplace security of employees -- whether the problem is perceived from emanating from management or other employees. Lisa Guerin, an attorney specializing is resolving workplace issues, has written "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations: How To Handle Employee Complains & Problems", a 350-page, 'user friendly' instruction manual for managers, human resources professionals, and business owners, on investigating and resolving common workplace issues in a manner that is fair, effective, and in adherence to federal laws and state regulations. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM with forms, sample polices, checklists, and other resources, "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations" is an informed and informative, offering step-by-step instructions on deciding whether or not to investigate a complain; taking immediate action if deemed necessary; selecting an investigator; planning the investigation; interviewing; gathering evidence; evaluating the evidence; taking appropriate action; documenting the investigation; and doing follow-up to insure future compliance. Simply stated, "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations" is an essential and basic reference for anyone charged with the responsibility of providing employees with a conflict-free work environment.
The World History Shelf
Mosaics in the Eternal City
Michael G. Sundell
Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
Arizona State University
P.O. Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983761, $39.00 www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs 1-480-965-5900
Professor Emeritus of Humanities Michael G. Sundell presents Mosaics in the Eternal City, a scholarly portrait of Rome between 400 and 1300 as gathered through study of the major works of its monumental public visual art that have survived: the mosaics in the apses, on the arches, and on the walls of eight churches. Drawing on recent findings in archaeology, art history, and the history of religion, Mosaics in the Eternal City explores the influence of pagan, Jewish, and Christian traditions on civic identity and public art, as well as the repercussions of religious and political conflicts and the demographic shifts in Rome over time. Written to be accessible to the informed general reader as well as the specialist, Mosaics in the Eternal City is enhanced with sixty-five color and six black-and-white illustrations, including maps, plans, archival drawings, and photographs of architectural and urban sites. A welcome addition to art history shelves.
Use History Like a Tool
Steven Levi
Silver Lake Publishing
3501 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
9781563437748, $19.95 www.silverlakepub.com
Use History Like a Tool: An Unconventional Guide To Reading the Past and Managing the Future is a different type of history book - one written to show students and adults alike the real value of history, and the lessons of history that can be applied to daily life. In particular, Use History Like a Tool shows how to tell the difference between positive, forward-thinking change and the endless, repetitive shuffle of stagnation, applying the lessons of history to accurately size up the condition of one's workplace (and possibly determine whether one has any chance of a good future staying in one's current workplace). "Using history as a guide, alas, there is no way to cut back on the weight attendance has in the workplace. Once deadwood is in place, it's hard to remove it. The key is to keep deadwood out of the system. This may mean refraining from hiring someone for a needed position. Think twice about whom you hire, even if it's for a janitorial position." Highly recommended.
The Trail Of 1858
Mark Forsythe & Greg Dickson
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550174243, $26.95 www.harbourpublishing.com 1-604-883-2730
Mark Forsythe is the long-standing host of CBC Radio One's 'BC Alamanc'. Greg Dickson was a journalist and producer at CBC radio and television for more than twenty years. Together they have collaborated to write "The Trail Of 1858: British Columbia's Gold Rush Past. In what was to become British Columbia, the non-aboriginal population was only about 700 in 1858 when gold was discovered along the shores of the Fraser River. Almost overnight some 30,000 prospectors (mostly American) descended upon the landscape and treated the territory as an extension of the United States. The colonial administration in Victoria was overwhelmed and the future of the area as a British possession was in doubt. But by the time the gold rush petered out about a decade after it had begun, the colony of British Columbia had come into existence and its destiny as a province of Canada was assured. "The Trail Of 1858" is the fascinating story of those turbulent times and showcases the personalities and issues through the use of period photography, anecdotal stories, and narratives drawn from fact and memory. The result is a very highly recommended book of Canadian history that is as informed and informative as it is engaging and entertaining.
The Genealogy Shelf
Flemish DNA & Ancestry
Guido Deboeck
Dokus Publishing
3850 North River Street, Arlington, VA 22207
0972552677, $45.00 www.dokuspublishing.com
"Flemish DNA & Ancestry" by Duido Deboeck is a genealogical history of three families down through five centuries utilizing both conventional and genetic genealogical research methods. A seminal genealogical case study illustrating how the new science of genetics can be of immense and practical value as a genealogical research technique, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" follows the featured families' complicated histories in business, migration, and war. Enhanced with an introduction to the Glanders-Flemish DNA Project, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" represents the first analysis of actual Flemish DNA records, as well as an informed and informative summary of the deep ancestry of people with Flemish roots. Very highly recommended as an addition to professional and academic library Genealogical Studies reference collections, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" could well serve as a template for similar genealogical studies of other ethnic lines of decent incorporating the new DNA technologies.
Finding Your Canadian Ancestors
Sherry Irvine & Dave Obee
Ancestry Publishing
360 West 4800 North, Provo, Utah, 48604
978-1-59331-316-6, $18.95 www.theancestrystore.com 1-800-531-1790
"Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide" is a superbly written and organized introduction for novice genealogists on tracing and recording their ancestry using Canadian genealogical resources. The information on Canadian genealogical records is organized by record type and then again according to province. Both government and ecclesiastical records, as well as Aboriginal, Acadian, and Loyalist records, are discussed. Of special note is the information provided about online resources, including the extensive holdings of Library and Archives Canada. Co-authored by genealogical research experts Sherry Irvine and Dave Obee, "Finding Your Canadian Ancestors" is the perfect introduction for aspiring and practicing genealogists wanting to utilize Canadian resources and records for their genealogical researches. Also very highly recommended for personal and genealogical library reference collections are two other specialized genealogical research guidebooks from Ancestry Publishing: David S. Ouimette's "Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide" (9781593312930, $14.95) and Kip Sperry's "A Guide To Mormon Family History Sources" (9781593313012, $16.95).
Family Roots Publishing Company
PO Box 830, Bountiful, Utah, 84011-0830
www.familyrootspublishing.com 1-801-949-7259
Genealogist William Dollarhide (co-author of the "Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 and author of five popular titles in genealogy) has created a new two-volume reference resource, "Census Substitutes & State Census Records". Volume One (1933194375, $32.95, #FR011) covers the Eastern States, while Volume Two (1933194383, $32.95, FR0112) covers the Western States. Taken together, this two volume set covers all the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The descriptive information is organized aby state, with each volume containing historical timelines, bibliographic descriptions of every colonial, territorial, and state census extant and available to genealogical research. Of special note are the hundreds of records that can be used as census substitutes. The Eastern States covers the Old Southwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic States, the Old South, the Old Northwest, and the Central Plains states. The Western States covers Texas, Oklahoma & the Indian Territory, California and Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii, Nuevo Mexico, the Mountain West, and the Oregon Country. A unique and invaluable resource, the two volume "Census Substitutes & State Census Records" is an invaluable contribution to the growing library of genealogical resource material and a core addition to any personal, professional, academic, community, and genealogical library reference collection.
The Education Shelf
Is Literacy Enough?
Catherine E. Snow, Michelle V. Porche, Patton O. Tabors, & Stephanie Ross Harris
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669148, $29.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775
Four literacy experts combine their experience to investigate why strong literacy skills are necessary but no sufficient to ensure students' academic success in Is Literacy Enough?: Pathways to Academic Success for Adolescents. Surveying a group of children from low-income families from preschool through high school, and charting the students' outcomes using test data of language and literacy skills as well as interviews and self-report data of motivation and engagement in a classroom setting, Is Literacy Enough? offers insight and revelations borne directly from controlled and diligent social science. Critical protective and risk factors key to students' success are analyzed, including the presence of academic and motivational support, poverty, whether a student attends multiple schools, family disruption, social-emotional difficulties, and much more. A serious and scientific-minded dissection of the elements necessary to help students reach their full potential, brimming with recommendations to enhance the quality of learning programs for adolescents.
The Courage to Teach
Parker J. Palmer
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
989 Market Street, 5th floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780787996864, $27.95 www.josseybass.com 1-800-225-5945
Now in its tenth anniversary edition, The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life is the testimony of veteran educator Parker J. Palmer, created to help fellow teachers take heart in the face bureaucratic systems that are sometimes outright hostile, among other obstacles. The Courage to Teach is centered upon the basic premise that truly good teaching comes not merely from technique, but rather is rooted in the identity and integrity of the instructor. Chapters tell of the critical importance of forming a connection with students, forming a positive community network, and the invaluable role of an indomitable spirit within teachers. An accompanying audio CD of a conversation with Parker J. Palmer and associates rounds out the inspirational guide by a passionate professional, for professionals seeking to revitalize their inner fire.
The Exchange Student Survival Kit
Bettina Hansel
Intercultural Press
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9781931930314, $21.95 www.interculturalpress.com 1-866-372-2665
The Exchange Student Survival Kit is a solid primer for foreign exchange students and host families alike. Now in a completely revised and updated second edition that includes references to the latest communications technology (e-mail, instant messaging, cell phones, online games, etc.), crucial advice with regard to personal safety, and notes concerning ongoing changes in society and family life that affect travelers, The Exchange Student Survival Kit covers everything from practical packing to learning to identify "red flag" emotions that are likely triggered by culture shock to preparing for reverse culture shock on the trip home. Peppered throughout with anecdotes of young people from various different nations adjusting to a new way of life, The Exchange Student Survival Kit is an absolute "must-read" for any prospective exchange student or host family.
The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists
Sonya Haskins
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764204432, $19.99 www.bethanyhouse.com 1-800-328-6109
Sonya Haskin draws upon her experience and expertise as a mother who homeschools her five children in writing and compiling "The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists". Accessibly organized by academic areas and subjects, there are more than 250 lists that will enable the homeschooling parent to customize and enrich unit studies, encourage and facilitate memorization work, as well as enabling parents to readily answer questions asked by their children in the course of their studies. These 'user friendly' lists about people, dates, mathematical formulas, word origins, etc., will substantially assist the sparking of curiosity and a desire to learn in the student -- and so much more! Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying CD that will enable any list in being printed out, "The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists" can be confidently recommended as an invaluable curriculum development aid and supplement for all homeschooling parents.
Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully
David H. Allsopp, Maggie M. Kyger, & LouAnn H. Lovin
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557668660, $29.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775
Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully: Solutions for Reaching Struggling Learners is a straightforward guide for mathematics educators of grades K-12 to instructing students challenged by learning disabilities, ADHD, or mild cognitive disabilities. Drawing upon experience-tested, research-based strategies, Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully discusses the common learning characteristics of students with learning difficulties, how to focus on the most important mathematical concepts and get the "big ideas" across, lesson plans and practical tactics for directly addressing students' learning barriers, how to analyze and improve one's own strengths and weaknesses, and much more. A smattering of black-and-white photographs, tables, and sample forms illustrate this step-by-step guide to teaching students what they most need to know about math from simple number operations to algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and more. Highly recommended for any educator responsible for teaching learning-challenged children, whether they teach at a public school, a private school, a summer school, or tutor in a private home.
The Effective Literacy Coach
Adrian Rodgers & Emily M. Rodgers
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807748015, $23.95 www.tcpress.com 1-800-575-6566
Assistant Professor Adrian Rodgers and Associate Professor Emily M. Rodgers present The Effective Literacy Coach: Using Inquiry To Support Teaching and Learning, a guide that goes a step beyond the nuts and bolts of day-to-day coaching in the search to understand how literacy coaching can breathe renewed life into instructional practice. Offering research-based strategies to improve the teacher-coach connection, The Effective Literacy Coach discusses how to guide group discussions, the art of asking the right question, how to get the most out of one-on-one coaching, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for remedial reading teachers, whether they work with children, teens, or adults.
The Well-Managed Classroom
Michele Hensley, M.S., Walter Powell, Susan Lamke, & Scott Hartman, M.S.
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010
9781889322919, $24.95 www.boystownpress.org 1-800-282-6657
Now in an updated second edition, The Well-Managed Classroom is a straightforward guide to maintaining a safe and motivational learning environment for young people. Written by authors who have trained teachers and school administrators as well as served the National Resource and Training Center at Girls and Boys Town, The Well-Managed Classroom offers strategies born from time-tested experience. Chapters cover how to connect with students, teach social skills as well as intellectual skills, encourage positive behaviors in students while correcting problem behaviors, partnering with parents and guardians, and much more. "In the event that a student not only refuses to leave the classroom, but also becomes increasingly violent or destructive, your best option is to get everyone else out. Moving students to a hallway, media center, or multipurpose room is preferable to attempting physical restraint or allowing the out-of-control student to show off his or her outrageous behavior in front of peers. Leaving the student alone may help de-escalate the behavior, and you will ensure that no one is at risk of getting hurt." Highly recommended.
Reading Assessment
JoAnne Schudt Caldwell
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street , New York, NY 10012
9781593855796, $28.00 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Reading Assessment: A Primer For Teachers And Coaches" by JoAnne Schudt Caldwell (Associate Dean of the College of Education and Leadership, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is part of The Guilford Press educational series 'Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy'. Professor Caldwell provides classroom teachers and reading coaches with the information and tools they require to engage in the complex process of assessing the reading skills and needs of students. Practical strategies are provided for assessing students' strengths and weaknesses with respect to their literacy; how to properly analyze the evidence gathered through observation and testing; and making appropriate instructional decisions accordingly. Of special note are the sections devoted to new tools for assessing early literacy, guidelines for choosing among these options, high-stakes testing; and alternatives to standardized measures. Enhanced with numerous illustrative examples, professional development activities, and reproducibles, "Reading Assessment" is a critically important instructional and should be a core part of professional and academic library literacy testing and instruction reference collections.
Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students
Karen R. Harris, et al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557667052, $34.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775
"Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is the collaborative effort of academicians and teachers Karen R. Harris, Steve Graham, Linda H. Mason, and Barbara Friedlander. Comprised of thoroughly 'user friendly' curriculum lessons ranging from twenty to 60 minutes each, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is designed to enable the classroom teacher to advance and enhance their student's writing skills such as constructing essays and writing reports for state competency tests; work with every phase of the writing process from initiation to revision; reinforce new writing strategies and skills through individual practice and in group instruction; develop critical self-regulation skills students can use independently; support effective instruction with step-by-step guidelines and optional scripts; and even train students to use effective mnemonic devices that are easily grasped and remembered. Enhanced with photocopiable support materials including cue cards, graphic organizers, sheets for graphing writing performance, an mnemonic charts, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is a very strongly recommended as a language arts and literacy curriculum and classroom instruction plan supplemental resource.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks
Carmine Prioli & Scott Taylor
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873347, $16.95 www.blairpub.com 1-800-222-9796
The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks is a fascinating examination of the wild horse herd that exists on an island at the remote southern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks. This wild animals are protected from direct human intrusion, and their natural herd behavior studied by scientists; at the same time, circumscribed "wilderness management" involving genetic testing and immunocontraception is necessary to prevent the herd from overgrazing its own food supply. Are these animals truly horses, or ponies? Did the originate from horses that were cast off from foundering Spanish galleons, or did they come to the island much more recently? Are they a threat to the island's ecology? Readily accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks offers a sweeping overview of perspectives and theories concerning the herd, the history of how it came to be protected, and why they are popularly beloved among visitors. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this "must-have" for equine fans.
Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming
Charni Lewis
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176576, $24.95 www.storey.com 1-800-827-8673
The lay-flat binding and emphasis on visual step-by-step photos makes for an excellent guide to horse handling and grooming in Storey's Barn Guide to Horse Handling and Grooming: Essential Techniques in a Hands-Free Format. From approaching and catching a horse to grooming, braiding, tack and more, tips are presented in clear large-sized photos and illustrations perfect for any newcomer to horse care and management - and perfect for libraries catering to the new or young horse owner, in particular.
Nature's Way
Marion Dusoir Ennes
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street , Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781879384736, $22.95 www.cypresshouse.com 1-800-773-7782
From 1986 to 1991, first-generation America, mother, socialworker, teacher, community leader, writer, and naturalist Marion Dusoir Ennes wrote essays that were published as feature columns in the New York Hudson Valley newspaper 'The Independent'. Her keen observations and detailed descriptions are exceptional in that she based her commentaries on science and personal values without lapsing into naive sentimentality. Expertly edited by Howard Ennes, the best of those essays has been collected into "Nature's Way: Observations Of A Good Earthkeeper" and made available to a much wider audience of appreciative readers far beyond the confines of the Hudson Valley. Of special note is that each reproduced article features a line drawing of the animal being described and discussed. Informed and informative, "Nature's Way" will prove to be of immense interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in nature, wildlife, and environmental issues.
Positive Training for Show Dogs
Vicki Ronchette, CPDT
Dogwise Publishing
PO Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778
9781929242467, $14.95 1-800-776-2665 www.dogwisepublishing.com
Author Vicki Ronchette, CPDT has worked with dogs for over twenty-two years. She offers her experience as well as the latest scientific research to dog handlers of all skill and experience levels in Positive Training for Show Dogs: Building a Relationship for Success. A no-nonsense guide to teaching show dogs how to behave in the ring, from raising people-friendly animals from puppyhood to teaching one's dog how to stack or gait to which pieces of equipment to use and more, Positive Training for Show Dogs walks the reader through necessary steps and guidelines with detailed text and numerous black-and-white photographs. Clear enough for novices yet packed with so many tips, tricks, and techniques as to be useful to seasoned professionals, Positive Training for Show Dogs is enthusiastically recommended for show dog owners everywhere.
The Fiction Shelf
The Book of Marie
Terry Kay
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881460827 1-800-634-2378 www.mupress.org
Written by Georgia Writers Hall of Fame author Terry Kay, The Book of Marie is a novel centered upon the fiftieth reunion of the Overton High School class of 1955. Protagonist Cole Bishop remained friends with high school classmate Marie Fitzpatrick well after graduation, yet has been struck by her surprisingly accurate predictions. Each of them witnessed America itself changing, sometimes violently; in 1962, a young black girl was killed at a civil rights demonstration, and the next day a Georgia home was burned. These and many more events reveal the at time painful tribulations a nation went through, as changes were made in the lives of whites and blacks alike. The Book About Marie is as much about individual bonds and knowing a place as home as it is about the turbulent spectrum of history, and evokes emotion, connection, heartbreak and hope. Highly recommended.
Swords Of Ice
Latife Tekin
Marion Boyars Publishers
24 Lacy Road, London, England, SW15 1NL
Meryl Zegarek Public Relations (publicity)
225 West 108 Street, Suite 901, New York, NY 10025
9789714531350, $14.95 www.marionboyars.com.uk
Translated from the Turkish language by Saliha Paker and Mel Kenne, "Swords Of Ice" by Latife Tekin (a major best-selling Turkish author) is the story of Halilhan Sunteriler, an aspiring entrepreneur who rescues a red Volvo from the scrap heap thinking that this will help him to be successful in his business ventures. Soliciting the help of his friend Gogi, as well as Halilhan's two younger brothers Hazmi and Mesut in this enterprise, the result is a tragi-comic hunt for money in the surreal world of commerce, complicated by unending family struggles, illicit affairs, and insights into the human condition. Part of a trilogy that includes "Dear Shameless Death" and "Berji Kristin: Tales From The Garage Hills" (both of which are also available from Marion Boyars Publishers), "Swords Of Ice" is a work of literary excellence and an exemplary example of contemporary Turkish fiction at its best.
Finesilver's Gold
Ruth Shalett Littman
Micah Publications, Inc.
255 Humphrey St., Marblehead, MA 01945
9780916288532, $18.00 www.micahbooks.com
Finesilver's Gold is a novel about two brave Jewish immigrants, based upon the diaries of the grandparents of author Ruth Littman. Over a hundred years ago, Jacob Finesilver sought to escape conscription into the Czar's army by walking from the Ukraine to the Klondike across the frozen Bering Sea. He nearly died during the perilous journey, and survived only by the kindness of an native Inuit rescuer. A year later, his betrothed braved the same deadly stretch of ice. Together, they marry in a new land and strive to hold on to their Jewish rituals and heritage, in a place where neither of them knows how to discern when Shabbat begins. An engrossing narrative of culture, survival, faith, and love, highly recommended.
The Cookbook Shelf
500 Soups
Susannah Blake
Sellers Publishing
81 West Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
9781569069783, $15.95 www.makefun.com 1-800-625-3386
A London-based food writer and editor, Susannah Blake's "500 Soups: The Only Soup Compendium You'll Ever Need" is one cookbook that truly lives up to its title! Featuring five hundred different kinds of soup, each with clear, easy-to-follow instructions that include tips on accompaniments, garnishes and toppings, "500 Soups" also includes an informative and comprehensive introductory section covering all the preparation and cooking in essentials such as soup-making techniques, equipment, soup stocks, and even troubleshooting. With variations on each of the showcased recipes and more than 120 full-color photographs illustrated a diverse variety of savory soups, "500 Soups" is a true gem of a cookbook and a welcome addition to personal and community library collections. It should also be noted that there are five other highly recommended '500' cookbook titles available from Sellers Publishing: "500 Chocolate Delights" (9781569069943, $15.95); "500 Pies & Tarts" (9781569069844, $15.95); "500 Appetizers" (9781569069769, $15.95); "500 Cupcakes" (9781569065976, $15.95); and "500 Cookies" 9781569065921, $15.95).
The Complete Idiot's Guide To The College Diet Cookbook
Shelly Vaughan James
AlphaBooks
c/o New American Library
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
9781592576807, $16.95 www.idiotsguides.com 1-800-847-5515
In "The Complete Idiot's Guide To The College Diet Cookbook", cookbook author and culinary expert Shelly Vaughan James has compiled a wealth of nutritional information, quick tips for cooking with electric skillets, microwaves, and other small appliances, and easy-to-understand explanations of common cooking terms and techniques with 150 quick and easy-to-make meals, snacks and desserts. Specifically designed for college students (notorious for living off of raman noodles and order-in pizzas), "The Complete Idiot's Guide To The College Diet Cookbook" is an ideal culinary reference for time stressed, budget limited, cramped quarter living students who would appreciate being able to make a Grab-n-Go Burrito, a Grilled Veggie Wrap, a Turkey and White Bean Chili, an Olive and Pimiento Tuna Salad; an Authentic Lasagna Micro-Quick; some No-Bake Peanut Butter Apple Cookies; or an Hawaiian Island Shake. Although specifically intended for the college crowed, "The Complete Idiot's Guide To The College Diet Cookbook" is also ideal for anyone living alone in the big city and wanting to learn how to cook create meals for themselves.
Grill It! Plank It! Wrap It! Smoke It!
Tiffany Haugen
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884169, $19.95 www.amatobooks.com
Spiral bound so as to lay flat on the kitchen counter for ease of use, "Grill It! Plank It! Wrap It! Smoke It!" is a compilation of recipes and culinary instructions for the principle ways of infusing the smoky essence of wood into appetizers, vegetables, meats, seafoods, desserts, marinades, rubs, salsas, and sauces. More than three hundred dishes, ranging from a Mediterranean-Style Sausage; to Cornbread-Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms; to Coconut-Coated Stone-Fruit Wraps; to Sweet Pacific Northwest Almonds & Pecans; to Apple-Smoked Trout with Avocado Cream; to Lemony Spinach Pesto, fill the illustrated pages of this impressive, 'kitchen cook friendly', and enthusiastically recommended cookbook which would make an ideal and unique addition to any family or community library cookbook collection!
Vietnamese Fusion
Chat Mingkwan
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
9781570672071, $14.95 www.bookpubco.com 1-800-695-2241
The distinctive local herbs and produce of Vietnamese cuisine has been heavily impacted French, Chinese, and Indian influences with respect ingredients and techniques. Now this culinary tradition has been further influenced and developed by Chat Mingkwan who transforms classic ethnic recipes into gourmet quality vegetarian dishes through utilizing customary Vietnamese seasons and ingredients, but substituting innovative animal-free alternatives for meat or fish in the recipes comprising "Vietnamese Fusion: Vegetarian Cuisine". After informing the kitchen cook about the characteristics of Vietnamese cuisine, soy products, and other ingredients fundamental to Vietnamese dishes including herbs and spices, vegetables and fruits, rice, noodles, wrappers, and seasonings, "Vietnamese Fusion" organizes the recipes themselves into sections on sauces, snacks and appetizers, soups and salads, main dishes, sweets and beverages. The easy -o-follow, step-by-step recipes themselves range from Sot Dau Phong (Peanut Sauce); to Canh Chua Thom (Hot-and-Sour Soup with Pineapple and Tamarind); to Nam Rom Nhung Dam (Mushrooms in Vinegar Fondue); to Banh Goi (Steamed Rice Cakes in Banana Leaves). Enhanced with color photographs of completed dishes, a list of references, mail order sources, an author biography, and an index, "Vietnamese Fusion" is especially recommended for personal and community library multi-ethnic and vegetarian cookbook collections.
The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook
Jeanne Besser and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD
American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street, Atlanta, GA 30303-1002
094423593X, $29.95 www.cancer.org
Healthy Eating can prevent cancer deaths, which is why the American Cancer Society is involved with the publication of The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook, a gathering of over a hundred tasty recipes paired with color photos. From Poached Salmon with Mango Salsa to Pepperonhi Tortilla Piza and Mushroom-Barley Soup, the collection surveys the basic elements of healthy eating, then provides jazzy, innovative new dishes to support healthier habits. Any general-interest collection strong in cookbooks and health will want this.
Quick Fix Meals
Robin Miller
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781561589470, $18.95 www.taunton.com
Home cooking needn't be time-consuming or complicated: not with Robin Miller's QUICK FIX MEALS, echoing her popular Food Network TV show and providing some 200 recipes which cook up in as little time as 15 minutes from start to finish. Full-page color photos liberally pepper recipes such as Grilled Steaks with Peppercorn Melange and Corn-Crusted Flounder with Spicy Pink Beans. Timesaver tips, prep pointers and more keep this an easy, appealing guide any beginning home cook - and many a busy gourmet - will relish. Libraries catering to home cooks will find this a popular lend, backed by the power of the popular TV show.
America's Best Lost Recipes
Cook's Magazine Editors
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
9781933615189, $29.95 www.americastestkitchen.com
Over a hundred kitchen-tested (and thus failsafe) heirloom recipes come not from a single source but from almost 3,000 home cooks across the country who participated in the Cook's Country Heirloom Recipe Preservaiton Project, which gathered recipes which had been in family archives for generations. Over 100 of the best old-fashioned dishes represent contest winners, so this is the cream of the crop: from Corn Dodgers to Bops, each recipe is prefaced with cultural history and often includes a color photo for further embellishment.
Lotus Asian Flavors
Teage Ezard
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794604927, $39.95 www.periplus.com
Teage Ezard's experiments in cuisine has won him international acclaim, and LOTUS ASIAN FLAVORS comes from Malaysian and Thai inspirations from roadside vendors - and from Chinese dim sum. What evolves is a wonderful collection of very different recipes perfect for ethnic-based cookbook collections seeking new directions. Lovely color photos accompany dishes such as Mu Shu Chicken in Lettuce Cups and Sour Fishball Soup with Green Papaya, offering up a host of innovative, fun dishes perfect for avid cooks who already know both basics and traditional fare.
The New Alaskan Cookbook
Kim Severson with Glenn Denkler
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
1570612692, $19.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com 1-800-775-0817
Alaskan restaurant critic and food writer Kim Severson, with the assistance of restaurant chef Glenn Denkler, has compiled more than 120 superbly crafted recipes in "The New Alaskan Cookbook: Recipes From The Last Frontier's Best Chefs", each of which reflects the very best of contemporary Alaskan cuisine. Featuring a Recipe List, an informative introduction, information about the chefs who contributed creations are featured, and 'A Not About The Recipes', the dishes are arranged in sections devoted to Appetizers; Soups, Salads and Sandwiches; Entrees; Side dishes and Beverages; Sauces, Stocks, and Other Basics; and Desserts. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes themselves range from Alaskan Seafood Chowder; Wild Alaska Snapper with Stir-Fry Vegetable Curry and Quick Fried Noodles; Grilled Kodiak Scallops with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; and Cured Oven-Roasted Duck Breasts with Dried Cherry and Green Peppercorn Sauce; to Roast Cornish hen with King Prawn; Twice-Baked Gorgonzola Potatoes; Sweet Onion Jam; and Yukon Sourdough Bread Pudding. Enhanced with two appendices (The Restaurants and Food Resources), "The New Alaska Cookbook" is a strongly recommended addition to any personal and community library cookbook collection!
Jenny Bristow USA
Jenny Bristow
The Black Staff Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9780856407895, $32.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677
A popular television cooking celebrity, Jinny Bristow has a very special ability to effectively combine simple 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions with an anecdotal introduction to her featured dishes showcasing classic American cuisine while utilizing traditional ingredients and techniques in "Jenny Bristow USA". The dishes range from Fresh Herb and Sweetcorn Fritters with Cranberry and Chili Ketchup; Maple-Glazed Chicken Wings; and Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Sweet Ginger, Soy and Spring Onion Glaze; to Rum and Pecan Sauce; Hazelnut and Cappuccino Brownies; and (an all time favorite!) Fruit and Nut Snickerdoodles. Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photographs of finished dishes, "Jenny Bristow USA" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any family or community library cookbook collections!
New World Provence
Alessandra Quaglis & Jean-Francis Quaglia
Arsenal Pulp Press
341 Water Street, Suite 200, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1B8
9781551522234, $22.95 www.arsenalpulp.com
There are reasons why French cooking enjoys a world-wide reputation for the excellence of its cuisine. Now the husband-and-wife team of Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia (proprietor-chefs of the immently respected Provence Mediterranean Grill and the Provence Marinaside restaurants in Vancouver, Canada) have compiled "New World Provence: Modern French Cooking For Friends And Family", a cookbook collection featuring an impressive series of simple but elegant recipes specifically designed for the palates and preferences of contemporary North Americans. Graced with beautiful full color photography of finished dishes, "New World Provence" recipes are enhanced with a succinct anecdotal introduction introducing the recipe, which then lists the necessary ingredients and a series of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions for preparing the dish. From such gourmet delicacies as Stewed Squid in Tomato Saffron Sauce, to such hearty fare as Warm Potato Salad with L'Ancienne Mustard Vinaigrette, to impressive entrees like Seared Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine & Peppercorn Jus, to dessert delicacies such as a Lemon Tart, "New World Provence" is an elegant and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Texas Hill Country Cookbook
Scott Cohen & Marian Betancourt
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762743759, $24.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495
The collaboration of Scott Cohen (Executive Chef of Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas and the Pesca restaurant on the River in the Watermark Hotel and Spa) and food critic and author Marian Betancourt, "The Texas Hill Country Cookbook: A Taste Of Provence" is a showcase compendium of French influenced contemporary Texas cuisine. Superbly enhanced throughout with full color images of finished dishes by award winning food photographer Ron Manville, the recipes are organized into chapters dealing with appetizers; salads and sandwiches; fish, meat, and poultry; vegetables and side dishes; desserts; glazes and rubs. Replete with insightful and practical tips for preparing these memorable dishes, of special note are the many suggestions having to do with presentation and plating. From Squash Blossom Roasted Corn Huitlacoche Soup; Young Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad; Roasted Chilean Sea Bass; and Texas Pecan-Crusted Chicken Skewers; to Texas Home Fries; Honey Lavender Ice Cream; Chocolate and Roasted pepper Cheesecake; and Barbecue Pepper Glaze, each of these 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes would grace any dining occasion with gourmet quality meals.
Dinnertime Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
Better Homes & Garden
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50336-0001
9780696236297, $19.95 www.meredithbooks.com 1-800-678-8091
With an enclosed spiral binding permitting its pages to open and lay flat upon a kitchen table or counter, the Better Homes & Garden specialty cookbook, "Dinnertime Easy Slow Cooker Recipes" showcases more than 400 wonderfully delicious, easy to prepare, appetite satisfying, palate pleasing dishes that can be made with minimal effort in a slow cooker or crock pot. Even the most novice of kitchen cooks can successfully prepare a diversity of different dishes using the step-by-step recipes for appetizers and beverages, soups and stews, slow cooked sides, meaty main dishes, poultry entrees, meatless main dishes, desserts, and 'Holiday Make-Aheads'. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to using the slow cooker for 'Small Batch Cooking'. From a Tex-Mex Casserole, to Moroccan Short Ribs, to Turkey Brats In Beer, to a Meatless Shepard's Pie, this simply outstanding cookbook is confidently recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
The Prairie Table Cookbook
Bill Kurtis & Michelle M. Martin
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
9781402210495, $29.95 www.sourcebooks.com 1-800-432-7444
Featuring more than one hundred recipes contributed by such luminary experts as Chef Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter's Restaurant), chef rick Bayloess (Frontera Grill), Executive Chef Paul Katz (Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse), Chef David Burns (Stadium Clube, Wrigley Field), and such legendary feef experts as Will rogers, Gene Autry, Dale Evans, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, and dodge City Mayor Jim Sherer, "The Prairie Table Cookbook" offers a culinary wealth of terrific recipes, including some favorites of Native Americans, pioneers, the U.S. Calvary, and trail riding cowboys of the old west. Also included along with the great recipes is the story of the Tallgrass Beef Company, the science underlying the great taste of grass-fed beef, historical photos, anecdotes, and stories drawn from cowboy life. Profusely illustrated throughout, the recipes range from Pemmican; Buffalo Tongue; Beef Jerkey; and Barbecue Style Meatloaf; to Texas Beef Tips; Filet of Beef Bourguignon; Mom's Recipe for Chicken Fried Steak; and Braised Tallgrass Beef Short Ribs Asian-Style with Baby Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Jasimine Rice. For appetite satisfaction, you can't beat the historic, gourmet quality, 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that comprise "The Prairie Table Cookbook"!
Blokes With Stoves
Margaret Watson
Rain Publishing
2025 Guelph Line, Suite 264, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7P 4X4
9781897381113, $17.99 www.rainbooks.com
Spiral bound enabling it to lay out flat on a kitchen counter, "Blokes With Stoves: Hot As You Like It" by Margaret Watson is a collection of terrific recipes that any guy (or gal) with basic kitchen skills can put together and serve up for friends, family, or simply themselves. After an informative and succinct introduction, followed by a glossary of terms in 'First Things First', the chapters are composed of recipes suitable for cooking with children; comfort foods; brunch lunch dishes; hot and spicy items; quick and easy meals; and (it wouldn't be a guy's cookbook without it) barbeque. Of special note are the chapters 'Clean Out the Fridge Day'; 'Out to Impress'; Breakfast in Bed'. The concluding chapter 'Baker's Dozen and a Bit' offers twenty-five pages of culinary delights. Unique, 'user friendly', and suitable for any kitchen cookbook collection, "Blokes With Stoves" is a particularly ideal choice for guys with limited budgets, demanding appetites, and novice kitchen skills!
Cooking With Marie
Marie Hejl
Bright Sky Press
340 South Second Street, Albany, TX 76430
9781933979106, $29.95 www.brightskypress.com 1-866-933-6133
Marie Hejl is a self-taught cook who grew up in a family of two working parents and three hungry brothers. Learning how to cook for her family as a young girl, Marie hosted her first cooking show ('Kid's Cooking') at the age of ten. She went on to host another cooking show as an adult some twenty years later. In "Cooking With Marie On Any Occasion", Marie draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in the kitchen to compile some of her favorite recipes. Each individual recipe is introduced with a brief anecdotal story with the dishes being organized into chapters dedicated to Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Starter Soups and Salads, Side Dishes, Main Courses, and Desserts. Designed specifically for busy young professionals, people who genuinely enjoy entertaining, cooking enthusiasts, newly weds, college kids, guys wanting to impress a date by cooking a special dinner, women who don't feel particularly comfortable in the kitchen, and anyone else who qualifies as a culinary novice, "Cooking With Marie" is an ideal introduction to preparing dishes that are as impressive as they are nutritious, and as 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are appetite satisfying for any and all dining occasions. From a Sunrise Coffee Cake that serves 8, to Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches which serves 4 to 8, to Simple Sweet Potatoes serving 4, to a Something-To-Celebrate Carrot Cake that serves 10, "Cooking With Marie" will prove to be a very popular and nicely illustrated addition to personal and community library cookbook collections!
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Age Of Bronze: Betrayal, Part One
Eric Shanower
Image Comics, Inc.
1942 University Avenue, Suite 305, Berkeley, CA 94704
9781582408453, $27.95 www.imagecomics.com
Artist and author Eric Shanower retells the story of the Trojan War in his unique graphic novel series "The Age Of Bronze". Shanower's opus is laid out incorporating the perspectives of both the Greeks and the Trojans. His artwork is visually detailed. His attention to accuracy in historical detail and minutia is truly impressive. His ability to make these historic characters speak in a modern linguistic style but still remain absolutely believable to the reader is the mark of a master storyteller. Complex, definitive, and memorable, Shanower is able to perfectly capture the basic drives, emotions, ambitions, loves, obsessions, jealousies, hardships, and human frailties of all the men and women, from bit players to center stage stars of one of the most popular sagas in all of human literature. As informed and informative as it is engaging and entertaining, "Age Of Bronze: Betrayal, Part One" is the first hardcover volume in this outstanding series and is enthusiastically recommended for school and community library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of history buffs and non-specialist general readers with an interest in this ancient history and the enduring recognizability of the human condition.
Ascend: Special Edition
Keith Arem
PCB Productions Inc.
5150 Amestroy Avenue, Encino, CA 91316
1600101372, $35.00 www.pcbproductions.com
"Ascend" by Keith Arem is the story of Sebastian, a young man who is tragically killed, only to find himself a reluctant draftee in the Purgatory Wars where he is reunited with his deceased brother Gideon -- who has become the most powerful angel in the Legions of heaven and plans to lead a coup to regain their family's power. Realizing he holds the key to ending this war in Heaven, Sebastian must face his brother before Gideon destroys the cycle of life on Earth. A superbly written and original story set in a post-apocalyptic heaven where Angles battle over 'harvested' human souls in the Purgatory Wars, "Ascend: Special Edition is also available in a hard cover edition (1600101380, $75.00), "Ascend: Special Edition" is a strongly recommended addition to personal and community library graphic novel collections and action/adventure fantasy reading lists.
Modern Masters Volume Fourteen: Frank Cho
Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614
9781893905849, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com
The latest in TwoMorrows Publishing's tribute series to great comic book artists of today, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen: Frank Cho is an in-depth interview with award-winning Korean-American comic writer and artist Frank Cho, known for his penchant for drawing monkeys, dinosaurs, and beautiful women. Author of the popular comic strip "Liberty Meadows" as well as acclaimed runs on the Marvel comic titles "Shanna the She-Devil", "Spider-Man", and "The Mighty Avengers", among other works, Cho brings a refreshing balance of action, humor, and unabashed love for his work to the comic page. In Modern Masters Volume Fourteen, Cho talks about the pressures to pursue more traditional careers rather than become a comic artist, his efforts to break into the industry, the creators who most influenced him, the creative storytelling process, life, the universe, and everything. "I was all geared to go to the Maryland Institute of Art until I visited the campus... It was a bunch of modern art nonsense - abstract art and splatter paint and weird stuff just for weird's sake. It wasn't an art school, it was basically a playground for pretentious rich kids." Illustrated with black-and-white samples of Cho's work and art pieces that inspired Cho, including some rare sketches from Cho's college days, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen is not only a "must-have" for any fan of Frank Cho's comics; it's pure fun to read for any comic lover.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Arc Marine
Dawn J. Wright, Michael J. Blongewicz, Patrick N. Halpin, & Joe Breman
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589480179, $47.95 www.esri.com
Assembled by expert researchers, Arc Marine: GIS for a Blue Planet is an advanced guide to working with marine research data in a geographic information system (GIS) using a new geodatabase model. Intended especially for oceanographers, fishery managers, and other marine scientists and researchers, Arc Marine explains its standardized marine data model (named "Arc Marine", hence the book's title) for ESRI's ArcGIS software. Chapters walk the reader through how to use the data structure to craft research results that lend themselves to quick and easy integration and collaboration with the work of other researchers. Full-color illustrations, including numerous computer screenshots, enhance Arc Marine. A detailed, no-nonsense discussion of an invaluable scientific tool, highly recommended for professionals in the field.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
The Prisoner and the Kings
William Sears
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2844
9781931847414, $12.00 http://books.bahai.us
Bahai teacher William Sears presents The Prisoner and the Kings: How One Man Changed the Course of History, a historical account of the Prophet Bahaullah, founder of the Bahai faith. Between 1867 and 1873, Bahaullah was a solitary prisoner in a Turkish penal colony who wrote a series of letters to kings and emperors, predicting the course of modern history with surprising accuracy. The Prisoner and the Kings examines what Bahaullah's letters have to say about the fall of kingdoms, the decline of religious institutions, all of which happened in his day, as well as what his predictions can tell us about humanity in the twenty-first century. An amazing account sure to fascinate readers of all faiths, especially recommended for Bahai religious history and college library shelves.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Way of Humility
Andre Louf, OCSO
Lawrence S. Cunningham, translator
Cistercian Publications
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5415
9780879070113, $10.95
Written by Cistercian Abbey monk Andre Louf and smoothly translated from the original French by theology professor Lawrence S. Cunningham, The Way of Humility is a serious-minded essay upon the nature of humility itself. Describing humility as an essential Christian virtue, seeking to reclaim this high quality as respected in ancient sources of the monastic tradition. Drawing upon selected primary texts including writings of the early desert fathers and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, The Way of Humility strives to enlighten the spirit as well as set guidelines for understanding an intangible human quality that nevertheless reflects the divine.
Queen Esther's Reflection
Ann Platz
New Hope Publishers
100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242-5235
9781596690127, $10.99 www.newhopepublishers.com
Queen Esther's Reflection: A Portrait of Grace, Courage, and Excellence is a thoughtful examination of the role Queen Esther played in God's divine plan, and the lessons that every Christian woman can learn from Queen Esther's ascent to grace. Chapters recount Queen Esther's story, then go on to show how Esther's experiences apply to modern women's lives, especially with regard to tending to one's marriage. Study guide questions for personal or group reflection enhance this wonderful discussion of gracious living for Christian daughters, wives, and mothers.
Ironies of Faith
Anthony Esolen
ISI Books
PO Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
9781933859316, $18.00 www.isibooks.org 1-800-526-7022
Anthony Esolen (Professor of English, Providence College) presents Ironies of Earth: The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature, a thoughtful examination of irony in Christian art and life. Ironies of time, power, and love are discussed, as are the insights and interpretations of classic authors: Augustine, Dante, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Mauriac, Milton, Herbert, Hopkins, Dickens, Dostoyevsky, and the anonymous author of the medieval poem "Pearl", among others. Esolen seeks to reveal the qualities of irony that deserve more than simply being pointed out - irony has the potential to transform worldviews and even bring redemptive laughter. A scholarly scrutiny that dares to define the virtually indefinable.
Living Loved
Peter Wallace
Seabury Books
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781596270657, $16.00 www.churchpublishing.org 800-242-1918
Vice President of the Atlanta, Georgia Alliance for Christian Media Peter Wallace presents Living Loved: Knowing Jesus as the Lover of Your Soul, a heartfelt tour of Jesus' overflowing love as seen in the scripture of the New Testament. Offering in-depth reflection upon Jesus' words, emphasizing on the glory of knowing, experiencing, and sharing His love, Living Loved quite literally lives up to its title. "When we live in his love, experience it as real, and let it overflow our hearts and spread to others, there can be no doubt that we too are disciples that Jesus loves."
Why I Still Believe the Gospel
Clarence Boomsma
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802827364, $12.00 www.eerdmans.com 1-800-253-7521
Author Clarence Boomsma served as a pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America for forty years. Why I Still Believe the Gospel is Boomsma's response to cultural and intellectual challenges to Christianity, as well as an honest accounting of his own crisis of faith. Boomsma's conclusion is that the cornerstone of faith lies in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A simple and straightforward rebuttal to modern denials that the resurrection of Jesus never happened, written with passion and abiding faith, Why I Still Believe the Gospel shines as a testimony directly from the soul.
Introduction to the Bible
Gregory W. Dawes
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814628355, $6.95 www.litpress.org 1-800-858-5450
Author Gregory W. Daws, a senior lecturer in religious studies and philosophy for the University of Otago New Zealand, has created Introduction to the Bible especially for novice students who might be put off by their first glance at the Bible's great length. Discussing how the Old and New Testaments came to be assembled, Introduction to the Bible offers an overview of the biblical history, thereby giving a framework by which the Bibles tales can be better understood, as well as a solid grounding in basic biblical vocabulary and concepts. "The modern biblical interpreter is inclined to judge the correctness of an interpretation by the method through which it is achieved... if one observes certain safeguards in dealing with the text, then one can be confident about one's result. The church fathers and medieval scholars, on the other hand, enjoyed a great freedom when it came to methods of interpretation... at the end of the day an interpretation was judged acceptable primarily on the basis of its content. St. Augustine, for instance, can accept the possibility of many legitimate interpretations, but only if they are all 'in harmony with our faith.'" Highly recommended for novice to intermediate biblical students and scholars.
The Battle for Rights in the United States Catholic Church
Kevin E. McKenna
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809144938, $19.95 www.paulistpress.com
Catholic collections strong in ministry resources and canon law provide an excellent survey of 19th century U.S. Catholicism, analyzing priest struggles for being both accepted and heard in the wider Catholic world church structure. Chapters survey canon law, Episcopal discipline, uniquely American facets of Catholicism, and more in a college-level analysis perfect for any collection strong in Catholic religion.
Martyr of the Amazon
Roseanne Murphy
Orbis Books
Walsh Building, Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757358, $18.00 www.orbisbooks.com
The murder in 2005 of an American nun focused world attention on poor formers in the Amazon and their struggles with developers: for it was Sister Dorothy who helped these farmers in their struggles both spiritually and socially - and who died for her ideals, which went beyond Christian advocacy. MARTYR OF THE AMAZON: THE LIFE OF SISTER DOROTHY STANG probes her world, influences and impact and is an excellent biographical survey recommended for any spiritual library.
Introduction to the Prophets
Thomas L. Leclerc
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Mahwah, N 07430
9780809144921, $27.95 www.paulistpress.com
INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPHETS: THEIR STORIES, SAYINGS AND SCROLLS introduces college students and adults to biblical stories about the prophets and teachings of the prophetic books of the Bible. The author's own background teaching undergrad and adult Bible study courses lends to an outstanding introduction, highly recommended for any college-level spiritual library seeking a fine introduction to the topic.
Wonder Women of the Bible
Brenda Poinsett
New Hope Publishers
100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242-5235
9781596690943, $14.99 www.amazon.com
Wonder Women of the Bible: Heroes of Yesterday Who Inspire Us Today is an inspirational discussion of notable female figures in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Discussing the biblical stories, including how God chose to involve each heroine in His holy plans, Wonder Women of the Bible offers a springboard of hope and a model for faithful living for Christian women of the modern day. From opening oneself to true wisdom and courage, as the Wise Women of Abel did, to preparing for battle when needed, as Deborah did, to embracing good works, as Dorcas did, Wonder Women of the Bible reveals a myriad of paths to self-improvement in both secular and religious spheres. An enlightening and spiritually uplifting guide.
Cradling My Heart
Cindy Zompetti
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781414108711, $11.99 www.winepressgroup.com
Author Cindy Zompetti seeks to share her breakthrough revelation in Cradling My Heart, the story of her journey from terrible depression to the peace and solace of God's love. Chapters teach the reader of her "Pain-to-Paper" method, that helped her deal with the suffering of losing her beloved mother, among other traumatic personal events. Written to help other readers let go of negative feelings, gain greater control over their own emotions, and feel the warmth of God's hands cradling one's wounded heart, Cradling My Heart is a spiritually uplifting and welcome addition to Christian household and church libraries.
The Poetry Shelf
O Woolly City
Priscilla Sneff
Tupelo Press
PO Box 539, Dorset, VT 05251
9781932195538, $16.95 www.tupelopress.org 1-800-283-3572
Priscilla Sneff presents O Woolly City, a compilation of brief, free-verse poetry interspersed with moments of stream-of-consciousness writing. Sneff earned the Kenyon Review Poetry Prize for O Wooly City when it was a manuscript; problems with publication have finally been resolved, allowing readers to savor the rich, yearning verses for themselves. Dancing across the fleeting moments of human life and the endless cycles of nature, O Wooly City alights the mind with the keen observations of a scientist and the reflective contemplation of the mystic. "Picture": Having rolled my old glance / Like an agate well out of my twenties, now / I'm wearing a mother's eye, and a broom then a mop / Waltzes past; it is / Hat-clap't with some capstan. O / Mirth! and mistressing that mirror, my / Daughter; her armful of frail sleeve, her face flushed with the warmth.
Stones In Our Pockets
Michael Salcman
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library
728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781893311947, $10.00, http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071
A physician, a brain scientist, an essayist on the visual arts, Michael Salcman is also a gifted poet who latest 43-page volume of verse, "Stones In Our Pockets" has been published and made available by Parallel Press. Several of his poems reflect his medical background, others are more philosophical in nature. But all of them are perfectly crafted gems comprising a thoughtful and thought-provoking chapbook of free verse poetry. 'Rilke in the Morning': We imagine dying as drowsiness/and death as dreamless sleep./To wake in the early morning/is not the same as not to sleep--/traffic first, then robins speak/a gray dawn, and small thoughts/like knives, nerve me to boil/water for tea and light a corner/to read an elegy for angels./Who is this pantherine being/who seeks meaning/in the death of roses?/A century of woe blooms/in his garden, a false spring/kills the forsythia. -- Also very highly recommended is Salcman's first published volume of poetry, "The Clock Made of Confetti" (Orchises Press, 2007).
First Things to Hand
Robert Pinsky
Sarabande Books
2234 Dundee Road, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40205
9781932511345, $9.95 www.sarabandebooks.org 1-800-283-3572
First Things to Hand is a free-verse poetry chapbook by teacher and prizewinning poet Robert Pinsky, contemplating the most elementary of ordinary items yet revealing the distinctions each object sheds upon the multifaceted human experience. Quickly absorbed yet promoting extended contemplation, First Things to Hand reveals the uniqueness within the mundane. "Photograph": Light-inscribed / Likeness // Vulnerable to light, / To the oils of the hand. // The paper sensitive / The dyes ephemeral // The very medium / A trace of absences. // Speed of the years / Speed of the shutter. // The child's father / Crouches level to her // With the camera and so / She crouches too. // Agile the dancer. / Little room // Of the camera, wide / Gaze of exposure- // Shiva the maker / Shiva the destroyer: // The flash of your hammer / Fashions the shelter.
Turkish Pears In August
Robert Bly
Eastern Washington University Press
705 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201
9781597660235, $19.95 http://ewupress.ewu.edu 1-800-508-9095
Previously only available to a select group of readers in a limited letterpress edition, the Eastern Washington University Press has republished "Turkish Pears In August: Twenty-Four Ramages", an enthusiastically recommended collection of memorable poetry by the Minneapolis-based poet Robert Bly. 'Ramage' is from the French word 'rameau' and echoed in the English word 'ramify'. Bly created a new poetic form and chose to call it 'Ramage' to signify the sensual, earthy, mystical, and vigorous life force of his new poetry. 'Lovers in the River': Peony blossoms open in starlight. The lovers/Cross the river carefully, secretly, secretly./All night horses stamp on the sandy island./Husbands feel uneasy tonight. Their wives/have gathered with Krishna in the river,/their bodies sweetened by glad bones./While David sings, stars fall into the sea; Uriah/Dies...It is the madness of the dark-faced God.
The Art Shelf
William Aiken Walker
August P. Trovaioli & Roulhac B. Toledano
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589805095, $50.00 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724
William Aiken Walker was born in 1838 in South Carolina and grew up to become one the South's most gifted artists. After serving in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, Walker traveled and painted throughout the South. Then sold his paintings to tourists in cities such as New Orleans, Charleston, and the communities that dotted post-civil war Georgia. Known for his paintings of black Southerners, he was also noted for his lush and vivid landscapes. Now in a new and expanded edition from the Pelican Publishing Company, "William Aiken Walker: Southern Genre Painter" is an informed and informative history of his life and work, enhanced with the inclusion of 157 color illustrations and 58 black-and-white paintings and drawings. A welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Art History reference collections, "William Aiken Walker: Southern Genre Painter" is an ideal memorial tribute to a truly talented 19th century American artist.
Connecting the Dots
Tyree Guyton, artist
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333204, $60.00 http://wsupress.wayne.edu 1-800-978-7323
Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project is the first thorough assembly of writings concerning this Detroit art installation, first created in 1986 by Tyree Guyton with the aim of transforming a decaying neighborhood scarred by crime, prostitution and gangs. With the ordinary materials around him (used toys, car parts, and debris) and his trademark affection for colorful polka dots, Guyton completely metamorphosed several homes and vacant lots on Heidelberg Street into a stunning art environment and one of the city's most well-known tourist attractions. Illustrated with full-color photographs. The transformation did not happen overnight; at first, some of Guyton's staunchest opponents were Detroit's leaders, who bulldozed his art on the claim that the buildings it decorated were safety hazards. Full color photographs illustrate this amazing tour of the power of art and one man's dedication to peacefully fight for a better neighborhood. Highly recommended as an inspirational addition to both public library and private artbook collections.
The Biography Shelf
Forging Fame
Craig Abbott
Northern Illinois University Press
2280 Bethany Road, DeKalb, IL 60115
9780875803760, $34.00 www.niupress.niu.edu 1-815-753-9905
Craig Abott (Professor Emeritus of Northern Illinois University) presents Forging Fame: The Strange Career of Scharmel Iris, the intriguing biography of poet, plagiarist, imposter, and forger Scharmel Iris, whose unusual self-aggrandizing life linked him to wide variety of writers and public figures ranging from T.S. Eliot to Salvador Dali to Eleanor Roosevelt. Forging Fame examines both the mundane details of Iris' life and the grandiose lies that Iris recklessly embraced to bolster his fame and his image of a neglected poetic genius. The result is the biography of a con man that once picked up, cannot easily be put down.
Poet, psychiatrist, and award-winning author Janine Canan presents Goddesses, Goddesses, a memoir comprised of essays recounting her encounters with visionary writers and poets. Among the individuals whose lives touched hers are Iris Murdoch, Else Lasker-Schuler, Marija Gimbutas, James Broughton, Diane Di Prima, Alma Villanueva, Ali Akbar Khan, Mata Amritanandamayi, and more. Poetic snippets written by these illuminating individuals intersperse the thoughtful discussion, fond memories, and moments of epiphany. An enlightening amalgam of reflections upon spirituality, feminism, the Great Mother, and the nature of love itself.
Witnessing History
Jennifer Zeng
Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9781569474211, $25.00 www.sohopress.com
Witnessing History: One Chinese Woman's Fight for Freedom is the true-life memoir of Zheng (Jennifer) Zeng, once a graduate of in science at the prestigious Beijing University and granted the honor Communist party membership, who was caught in the crossfire when the government chose to crack down on Falun Gong, the spiritual practice she followed. Sentenced without trial to indefinite term re-education through forced labor, she suffered beatings, electric prods, starvation, and sleep deprivation. After enduring months of being compelled under deplorable conditions to produce goods for sale in the U.S. market, she recanted her beliefs under the rationalization that a forced retraction had no validity. After her release, though, she came to terms with the realization that she had betrayed herself and her principles. Witnessing History is Zheng's own words, offered in testimony of the ordeal she endured and that thousands of other Falun Gong practitioners continue to suffer for their faith, and a necessarily harsh assault on a nation that does not respect civil rights or freedom of religion. Highly recommended.
The Right Place, The Right Time
Donald Peck
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253349149, $24.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796
Orchestral soloist and principal flute emeritus Donald Peck has toured the world with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; The Right Place, The Right Time: Tales of Chicago Symphony Days is his memoir of the inner workings of musical prestige. Packed with true tales of working with some of the greatest musicians and singers in the industry, as well as anecdotes about coping with guest conductors, making recordings, or even accepting "outside jobs" for one's music, The Right Place The Right Time reveals the ups, downs, quirks, and foibles of life as one professional artist among an interdependent team. Peck himself did not so much choose life in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as he was guided to it by fate; The Right Place, The Right Time is his testimony of a life touched by chance and fortune as surely as it was by music.
The Secret Life of a Snowbird
Len Schritter
Five Star Publications, Inc.
1193 392nd Road, Utica, NE 68456
9781589850743, $15.95 www.fivestarpublications.com
The Secret Life of a Snowbird: An Inside Look at Retirement in America's Sunbelt is the delightful memoir of Len Schritter, telling of how he and his wife chose to join tens of thousands of other "snowbirds" and migrate from blizzard-prone Idaho to retirement in sunny Arizona. From Len's introduction to the cult-like ritual of Wednesday night bingo, to the merciless inspections of the resort community's weed police, the ups and downs of Len's adjustment are recounted in gentle vignettes. A tongue-in-cheek accounting marked by insight into retirement community life as only an ex-potato farmer can see it, highly recommended.
The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor
Les Leopold
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392639, $40.00 www.chelseagreen.com
Blend insights into a CIA-connected labor union, an assassination attempt, and espionage and you have the story of one Tony Mazzocchi, a labor leader whose struggles to reveal toxic exposure of thousands of workers led to a fight that resulted in passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Any college-level holding strong in labor relations history or health issues in the workplace needs this survey of an early safety advocate.
Writing for Love and/or Money
Frank D. Gilroy
Smith & Kraus, Inc.
400 Bedford Street, Suite 322, Manchester, NH 03101
9781575255712, $19.95 www.smithandkraus.com 1-888-282-2881
Pulitzer-winning playwright Frank D. Gilroy presents Writing for Love and/or Money: Outtakes from a Life on Spec, a memoir of his life as a writer and a gambler, his service during World War II, and his double love affairs with failure and success. Composed entirely of brief vignettes strung together into a narrative whole - told in present tense, a technique that emphasizes the feel of the moment - Writing for Love and/or Money recounts the practical difficulties of writing to earn one's daily bread, whether as a journalist, a playwright, or a script writer, and the colorful ups and downs of a life boldly lived. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this unforgettable, flowing life story.
The International Studies Shelf
Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook
Ted A. Henken
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851099849, $55.00 www.abc-clio.com 1-800-368-6868
The newest addition to the ABC-CLIO 'Global Studies: Latin America & The Caribbean' series, "Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook", compiled and written by Ted Henken (a Fellow at the Bildner Center for Western Hemisphere Studies, CUNY Graduate Center, new York) and an academic specialist in Cuban Economics) provides a detailed overview of Cuba's geography and history, its economics and development, as well as its institutions, culture and society. Of special note is the Reference Section highlighting key events in Cuban history; significant people, places, and events; Cuban language, food, etiquette, and holidays; Cuba-related organizations, on-line publications, and websites. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a detailed index, "Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook" is an especially appropriate addition to academic and community library International Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Democratizing the European Union
Catherine Hoskyns & Michael Newman, editors
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412805698, $29.95 www.transactionpub.com 1-888-999-6778
Democratizing the European Union: Issues for the Twenty-First Century is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors addressing the European Union's "democratic deficit" and ways that might help resolve it. Individual essays include "Reconciling Suprastatism and Accountability: A View from Sweden", "How Democratic is the European Parliament?", "Controlling Monetary Union", "Democratization: A Constitutionalizing Process", and much more. Democratizing the European Union delivers into both abstract theory and modern real-life practice, and is enthusiastically recommended for college library shelves and anyone interested in the current and future state of the EU.
The Lost Years
Charles Enderlin
Other Press
2 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York NY 10016
9781590511718, $25.95 www.otherpress.com
THE LOST YEARS: RADICAL ISLAM, INTIFADA, AND WARS IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2001-2006 chronicles the Israeli and Palestinian conflicts and the loss of hope for peaceful resolution, and comes from an author who has met all Israeli and Palestinian leaders and secret negotiators on both sides. It follows the political calculations on both sides and exposes both political and military changes which had disastrous consequences for both sides, giving readers a clear picture of the problems involved in negotiating peace. General-interest libraries as well as those specializing in Middle East issues at the college level will find this an astute, probing analysis drawing together many facts and influences.
Useful Strangers: Ecuador and the United States
Ronn Pineo
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820329711, $24.95 www.ugapress.org
Any college-level collection strong in political histories of Latin American nations needs USEFUL STRANGERS, an in-depth and detailed coverage of changing relations between Ecuador and the U.S. From Ecuador's struggle for independence in the 1820s and 30s to modern times, USEFUL STRANGERS charts changing relationships between the countries, and how U.S. actions have resulted in unintended consequences for both nations. The U.S., Pineo maintains, has often disregarded Ecuador's structure and social divisions, which has fostered much misunderstanding. USEFUL STRANGERS analyzes these failures and re-considers them in light of modern times: political collections will find this an invaluable expose.
Under the Gun in Iraq
Robert Cole as told to Jan Hogan
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025559, $25.95 www.prometheusbooks.com
Author Robert Cole is a retired police officer and international police trainer, who adds his technical insights to this story of training Iraquis in handling security challenges. His survey of the realities of life in Iraq and the challenges facing local police offers an unusual stark, realistic portrait of daily life in the country, plenty of insights into why traditional Western strategies won't work, and makes for excellent, involving reading suitable not just for military libraries but for any strong in Middle East culture.
Everyday Subversion
Kerry Kathleen Riley
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
9780870138010, $69.95 www.msupress.msu.edu
"Everyday Subversion: From Joking to Revolting In The German Democratic Republic" by independent scholar and researcher Kerry Kathleen Riley, traces the evolution of the grassroots social movement in the former German Demoractice Republic (GDR) and its democratically spirited, ultimately subversive forms of communication that were practiced in resistance to the communist regime that dominated the country and its institutions until the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the eventual reunification of Germany as a truly functioning democracy. A superb body of original scholarship, "Everyday Subversion" is a seminal work enhanced with extensive notes, a selected bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it an informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking contribution to university and other academic library International Studies reference collections in general, and 20th Century German History supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Native American Shelf
The Rock Art of Arizona
Ekkehart Malotki
Kiva Publishing
21731 East Buckskin Drive, Walnut, CA 91789
9781885772381, $35.00 1-909-595-6833
Arizona is home to one of the largest and most diversity collections of rock paintings and engraving known to archaeology. These artistic expressions and pictographic communications are principally the work of paleo-indians. Author and rock art enthusiast Ekkehart Malotki has compiled more than 384 photographs in "The Rock Art of Arizona: Art For Life's Sake", a 200-page introduction to the functions and meanings of rock art so far as archaeologists can decipher them. Intrinsic works of beauty, often in peril of vandalism, "The Rock Art Of Arizona" is a timely, seminal, and invaluable contribution to the growing library of information on this unique from of human expression. "The Rock Art Of Arizona" is a strongly recommended addition to academic library Native American Studies reference collections, and will prove to be of immense interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in Native American Art, as well as North American Archaeology.
Silver + Stone
Mark Bahti
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
9781887896351, $40.00 www.rionuevo.com
Profusely illustrated throughout with full color photography, "Silver + Stone: Profiles Of American Indian Jewelers" by Mark Bahti (a renowned Southwestern scholar, writer and art dealer who drew upon his many years of personal experience and professional expertise) is the story of some sixty-five Native American artisans who have created a distinctive contemporary jewelry that blends tradition and innovation in combining gemstones with the sheen of polished silver. The result is an informed and informative compendium of biographical vignettes that will lead to a broader and more appreciative recognition for the quality and artistry of contemporary Native American jewelry. "Silver + Stone" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Native American Cultural Studies and Native American Art reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Gaming Shelf
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5M 1H2, Canada
www.masterpointpress.com
Jim Priebe's DOUBLE ELIMINATION: A BRIDGE MYSTERY (9781897106303, $18.95) is suitable for both general-interest libraries with strong mystery fiction holdings and for collections strong in bridge game books. It builds a mystery blending bridge moves with bodies, revolving around player Art, whose team is sent to help local police solve a bridge-related series of murders. Can Art balance family life and personal needs with a murder investigation? Danny Roth's HOW GOOD IS YOUR BRIDGE? (9781897106327, $18.95) provides a quiz book which allows for an assessment of one's own bridge game, with each chapter including a series of card play problems, allowing readers to assess their own skills while playing. Intermediate bridge players will relish this opportunity to learn new strategies and improve plays. Mark Horton's MISPLAY THESE HANDS WITH ME (9781897106280, $18.95) is for intermediate to advanced bridge players and comes from the lessons of one Terence Reese, one of the greatest bridge writers of all. The focus on logical lines of play that end in failure analyses faulty moves and illustrates common problems. All are top picks for any serious gamer's library or bridge player's collection.
Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker
Ken Warren
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119
1580421024, $19.95 www.cardozapub.com 1-800-577-9467
Next to Texas Hold'em, Omaha is acknowledged as the second most popular tournament poker game -- and often rivals Texas Hold'em in popularity among European players. A complex, high-action 'flop' game, Omaha Poker is one of the premier tournaments in the annual World Series of Poker. Now Omaha poker expert Ken Warren draws upon his many years of experience to write the "Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker: The Smart Player's Guide To Winning At Omaha". Warren deftly covers the rules and basics of play; provides more than one hundred illustrative sample hands, has compiled expert tables of Omaha odds, features forty hand selection guidelines and tips, includes forty-one tournament play tips, even offers applicable information on internet play! Of special note are Warren's comments on fundamental and money-making concepts for those seeking to become professional Omaha Poker players. There is even a useful glossary that will prove invaluable to the novice Omaha player. Ken Warren's "Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker" is a fundamental and strongly recommended addition to personal and community library Gaming & Card Playing reference collections.
Girl's Guide To Poker
Eliza Burnett
Hamlyn/Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9780600615910, 49.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com 1-800-805-5489
Poker, especially No Limit Texas Hold 'em, is an exclusive province of male players no more. Every local, regional, and national poker tournament is seeing more and more women entering the fray to pit their skills against their fellow players. Indeed, an increasing number of women are following the examples of outstanding female players Annie Duke, Cindy Violette, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Harman and Clony Gowan in becoming professional poker players and earn their living at Texas Hold 'em in both cash games and tournament play alike. Now poker enthusiast Eliza Burnett has written the "Girl's Guide to Poker" providing a comprehensive introduction to playing Texas Hold 'em, including the terminology and tactics of the game at all of its stages. Readers will learn when and how to call, check, raise, and fold. Often women will have an advantage over their male counterparts with a superior ability to read body language, calculate odds, and compete successfully in what once was a 'man's world'. Readers will learn basic strategy, intermediate strategy, and advanced strategy, how to analyze the game, as well as when, where, and how to go 'All In'. The "Girl's Guide To Poker" should be considered a 'must read' by women wanting to learn about (and try their hand at) the premier poker game that is Texas Hold 'em -- and has much of value for even the more experienced female player!
The Complete Chess Workout
Richard Palliser
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445329, $29.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495
A skilled and prolific chess writer, Richard Palliser is also an International Master with numerous tournament successes and in 2006 became the Join British Rapidplay Champion. Clearly, he brings his many years of experience and expertise to bear in writing "The Complete Chess Workout", a comprehensive training manual for chess tactics that will prove invaluable for aspiring chess players from the novice to the expert. Special note should be made that all of the featured 1200 chess puzzles designed to built chess playing skills have been checked by computer engines. Thoroughly 'player friendly', "The Complete Chess Workout is nicely organized into eight distinct chapters: Warming Up!; Attack!; Opening Tricks and Traps; Skill in the Endgame; Loose Pieces and Overloading; Fiendish Calculation; Test Yourself; and Solutions. A comprehensive course of chess instruction under one cover, "The Complete Chess Workout" truly lives up to its title and will prove to be a welcome addition to personal, academic, and community library chess instruction reference collections.
The Parenting Shelf
Is This A Phase?
Helen F. Neville
Parenting Press
PO Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98125
9781884734632, $22.95 www.parentingpress.com 1-800-992-6657
Featuring charming illustrations by Jenny Williams, "Is This A Phase?: Child Development & Parent Strategies, Birth To 6 Years" by health educator, pediatric advice nurse, inborn temperament specialist and researcher Helen F. Neville is a thoroughly 'parent friendly' guide to common behavioral issues with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. The advice ranges from having realistic expectations with respect to developmental milestones, to ways of making life easier until various phases are passed through, to reassurance about the range of normal development and when to get help, even instructional advice on how to talk about such issues as sex and death to a child. Of special note are the charts of quick information when a parent is short on time. "Is This A Phase?" is very highly recommended reading for all new (and not-so-new) parents having questions or concerns about kids and their quirks.
Positive Options for Children with Asthma
O.P. Jaggi, M.D., Ph.D.
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897934534, $12.95 www.hunterhouse.com 1-800-266-5592
Positive Options for Children with Asthma: Everything Parents Need to Know is a no-nonsense guide written especially for parents and caretakers of children who suffer from asthma, including severe asthma attacks. Written by asthma expert O.P. Jaggi, Positive Options for Children with Asthma discusses how to create an allergen-free environment, how to pre-empt attacks or lower their intensity, teaching a child about asthma medication and how to use it safely, enhancing a child's immunity and tolerance to allergens, teaching a child effective "belly breathing" technique, helping a child incorporate physical activity into their lives while successfully coping with exercise-induced asthma, and much more. An easy-to-use, absolute "must-have" for anyone responsible for an asthmatic child, and also a very practical guide for asthmatics of any age seeking to learn more about their condition and what to do about it.
Teaching Kids To Care
Bettie B. Youngs, et al.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745484, $16.95 www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009
The collaborative work of academician Bettie B. Youngs, clinical psychologist and philanthropist Joanne Wolf, business entrepreneur Joani Wafer, and cultural anthropologist Dawn Lehman, "Teaching Kids To Care: Nurturing Character And Compassion" focuses upon assisting parents to instill life-enhancing values into the characters of their children through the repeated practice of caring for others (and for themselves) through the five 'touchstones' of Interdependence, Connection, Perspective, Gratitude, and Inspiration. Of special note are the chapters devoted to 'Inspiring Testimonials from Kids Korps USA Experiences'; 'Kids Korps USA'; and 'Creating a Caring Epidemic in Your Community'. Enhanced with two appendices (Resources for Teaching Kids to Care and Suggested Reading), as well as extensive Endnotes, "Teaching Kids To Care" is thoroughly 'parent friendly' and highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Parenting Skills Development reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Literary Shelf
Kenneth Burke in the 1930s
Ann George and Jack Selzer
University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
9781570037009, $49.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress 1-803-777-5243
Ann George (associate professor, Texas Christian University) and Jack Selzer (professor of English, Pennsylvania State University) combine their insight in Kenneth Burke in the 1930s, a thoughtful study of author Kenneth Burke's work during the restless 1930s. Chapters examine how Burke's literary contribution reflected and influenced cultural history, and Burke's philosophy of the literary form. Of especial interest is Burke's association with intellectual communities of his era, including the leftists in the League of American Writers, activist contributors to "Partisan Review", southern Agrarians, the New Critics, and more. A scholarly, in-depth literary analysis of Burke's classic 1930's period work as well as an exploration of the principles and life of the man himself, ideal for college library literary studies shelves. Also highly recommended is Selzer's previous study of Burke, "Kenneth Burke in Greenwich Village: Conversing with the Moderns, 1915-1931".
The Best of Ogden Nash
Linell Nash Smith, Editor
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566637031, $28.95 www.ivanrdee.com
Over five hundred verses gathered from a wide collection of Nash's poems results in this, a definitive Nash anthology suitable not just for college-level poetry libraries, but for general-interest lending collections. While published works comprise the bulk of this anthology, some are lesser-known works which came to light in the Nash collection at the University of Texas at Austin, and from family letters and papers, making for an outstanding, rare collection of works essential for any definitive poetry library.
Selected Letters of Aldous Huxley
James Sexton, Editor
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566636299, $35.00 www.ivanrdee.com
Any college-level collection strong in Huxley literature needs SELECTED LETTERS: it's a powerful gathering of his personal and intellectual life in letters - most of them published for the first time - and is especially notable in light of the fact that of some ten thousand letters he wrote, only a fraction have previously been published - and that this volume comes nearly forty years after the first appearance of another volume of letters. These here have never been published, providing a fine new collection for any college-level library already strong in Huxley works, who would round out their offerings with nonfiction.
Desert Gothic
Don Waters
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587296241, $16.00 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736
Winner of the 2007 Iowa Short Fiction Award, "Desert Gothic" by Don Waters is a collection of superbly written short stories set against the desert backgrounds of Nevada and Arizona. The characters are memorable, the plots imaginatively original, the language beautifully rendered, and the cumulative effect clearly documenting Waters as a master storyteller. The individual stories comprising this outstanding and very highly recommended anthology include: What to Do with the Dead; Sheets; Mr. Epstein and the Dealer; Dan Buck; Mineral and Steel; Blood Management; Holiday at the Shamrock; The Bulls at San Luis; Little Sins; and Mormon in Heat. "Desert Gothic" is a welcome and impressive addition to personal, academic, and community library Contemporary American Literature collections and supplemental reading lists.
William Maxwell: Early Novels And Stories
Christopher Carduff, editor
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
9781598530162, $35.00 www.loa.org
The late William Maxwell (1908-2000) served for forty years as an editor at 'The New Yorker' magazine. An Illinois-boarn realist whose literary works provided his readers with 'windows' into small-town midwestern family life of the 1910 and 1920s, Maxwell's own mastery of American prose style was (and remains) unsurpassed by any of his contemporary including Eudora Welty, J. D. Slainger, John Updike, and Alice Munro (all of whom he was a first reader of their fiction in his professional capacity with 'The New Yorker'). Now his four early novels (Bright Centory of Heaven; They Came Like Swallows; The Folded Leaf; and Time Will Darken It) have been collected under one cover, along with nine of his early short stories, and his essay 'The Writer as Illusionist' which he wrote in 1955. "William Maxwell: Early Novels And Stories" is a valued and very strongly recommended addition to community, college, and university American Literature reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Tending The Heart Of Virtue
Vigen Guroian
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
0195117875, $35.00 www.oup.com/us 1-800-451-7556
First published in 1987, "Tending The Heart Of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken A Child's Moral Imagination" by Vigen Guroian (Professor of Theology and Ethics, Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland) illustrated and illuminates how fair tales and fantasies educate the moral imagination throughout childhood. Now in a new edition from Oxford University Press, a new generation of parents and teachers can benefit from what Professor Guroian has to say about the beneficial ethical and moral implications and embedded teachings in such literary classics as Pinocchio; The Velveteen Rabbit; The Little Mermaid; The Wind in the Willows; Charlotte's Web; Bambi; The Snow Queen; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Princess and the Goblin; and Prince Caspian. Of special note is Professor Guroian's bibliography essay that concludes this seminally informed and informative literary inquiry and study. "Tending The Heart Of Virtue" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to academic and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists in the fields of Literary Studies, as well as Philosophy & Ethics.
The Travel Shelf
Midwest: Getaway Guide
Rand McNally
Rand McNally & Company
8255 North Central Park, Skokie, IL 60076
9780528939600, $14.95 www.randmcna
