Prairie Plants of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
Theodore S. Cochrane, Kandis Elliot & Claudia S. Lipke
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, 3rd Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
0978959000, $35.00 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736
Written by Theodore S. Cochrane (Senior Academic Curator of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Herbarium), Kandis Elliot and Claudia S. Lipke (senior artists in the Department of Botany), Prairie Plants of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum is a beautiful guide featuring full color photography throughout. Each page of this lavish guide features a different plant, with descriptions of its leaves, flowers, fruits, range and habitats in Wisconsin, and other insights, not to mention multiple images of the species' leaves and flowers especially. A brief introductory section discussing prairies, a glossary, and an index round out this lavish reference, which is surely the next best thing to visiting the UW-Madison Arboretum in person.
Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin
Lynn M. Steiner
Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101
0760329699, $24.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454
Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photography, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" by Lynn M. Steiner (one of the Midwest's most respected garden writers with a life-long interest in native plants) is an essential instructional guide to successful native-plant gardening in Wisconsin. This is the first gardening and landscaping guidebook to focus specifically on the use of Wisconsin's native plants and native-plant communities in home gardens and landscapes. All the basic information is provided, including how to determine what level of native-plant landscaping is appropriate for where the garden is to be located in the Badger state. This thoroughly "user friendly" compendium of expert advice on the process of designing, implementing, and maintaining a natural garden includes plant lists, solutions to commonly encountered landscaping issues ranging from deer-resistant plants, to shade gardens, to water-wise gardens, what native plants work best in different garden styles, water gardens, rock gardens, humming bird gardens, butterfly gardens, and so much more. With descriptions of some 500 Wisconsin native-plant species, varieties, and cultivars of flowers, trees, shrubs, vines, evergreens, grasses, ferns, and groundcovers, "Landscape With Native Plants Of Wisconsin" is the definitive and strongly recommended reference for any Wisconsin gardener or landscaper wanting to utilize and incorporate Wisconsin native plants.
Cicero, Classicism, and Popular Culture
Marshall W. Fishwick, Ph.D, DPhil
The Haworth Press Inc.
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, New York 13904-1580
0789025922, $24.95 www.haworthpress.com
Written by Marshall W. Fishwick, Ph.D, DPhil, Cicero, Classicism, and Popular Culture examines the seminal contributions that Greek poet, philosopher, writer, and scholar Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) has made to Western civilization in general, and modern popular culture in specific. From parallels between Cicero and Jefferson, to how Cicero's efforts to help make Latin into a universal language influenced linguistic development across the globe, to analogies between Rome and America, Cicero, Classicism, and Popular Culture sifts through threads of history to reveal hidden patterns, connections, and lessons for both the present and the future. A handful of color plates illustrate this illuminating discourse, especially recommended for college library shelves.
Pyramid Texts
Gamal al-Ghitani
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9774160517, $17.95 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756
Editor-in-chief of the literary review 'Akhbar al-adah' and the author of six collections of short stories, Egyptian author Gamal al-Ghitani has written "Pyramid Texts", a novel that fully reveals his impressive abilities at story telling that blends Sufi mysticism and medieval Islamic history with the imagery and mystery those enigmatic monuments of Egyptian antiquity that are the only surviving member of the ancient seven wonders of the world. Designed so that a series of chapters, each of which is shorter than the last, represents a uniquely modernist style of narrative. Ably translated into English by Humphrey Davies, and made available to an American readership through the auspices of International Publishers Marketing, "Pyramid Texts" transcends cultures to provide a modern work of literary excellence that is a modern Arabic novel which is enthusiastically recommended for academic and community library collections in general, and enthusiasts of avant garde literature in particular.
Why Secret Intelligence Fails
Michael A. Turner
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1574888919, $18.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com
The revised edition of WHY SECRET INTELLIGENCE FAILS offers a primer of the U.S. intelligence community, blending a professional's examination of bureaucratic obstacles to collaboration between agencies with a survey of organizational structures and ways in which intelligence fails. It's a pick for any who would understand the intelligence community as a whole, going beyond the usual case study focus to consider underlying dysfunction. Any library strong in terrorist or intelligence studies will want this assessment.
Firefly Books Limited
155 East 34th Street Suite 5B, New York NY 10016
www.fireflybooks.com
Stephen A. Marshall's INSECTS: THEIR NATURAL HISTORY AND DIVERSITY (1552979008, $95.00) isn't for the general-interest holding so much as the college-level collection catering to entomologists or students of such. Insects of Eastern North America are the focus in a jam-packed colorful reference displaying insects within their order and including notes on their introduction, habitats, coloring and more. It's the professional's solid reference to identification and habits, making it a top basic reference pick for serious science libraries. The general-interest public will find more accessible Rob Kesseler and Wolfgang Stuppy's SEEDS: TIME CAPSULES OF LIFE (1554072212, $60.00). Alexandra Papadakis edits this stunning natural history of seeds, which uses an oversized format/presentation to display close-up photos and electron microscopy images of seed evolution. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew are involved in this reference's publication, which obtains some astonishing images and focuses on the diversity, design and function of seeds the world over. Rob Kesseler and Madeline Harley's POLLEN: THE HIDDEN SEXUALITY OF FLOWERS (1554072190, $60.00) represents a collaborative effort between an artist and a scientist who use an electron microscope to reveal the intricate structures and diversity of pollen. The sequence of events from pollination to fertilization and ways in which pollen affects daily lives is revealed in a gorgeous display of full-page close up images and facts: perfect for the general-interest collection.
The Psychology Shelf
The Haunted Self
Onno van der Hart, Ellert R.S. Nijenhuis, Kathy Steele
W.W. Norton
500 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393704017, $49.95 www.wwnorton.com
Those who have been chronically traumatized have a range of symptoms which make for difficult assessment and treatment by therapists: THE HAUNTED SELF: STRUCTURAL DISSOCIATION AND THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC TRAUMATIZATION is thus for college-level mental health holdings and practicing therapists who would identify and treat these issues, from daily living challenges to the recurrence of memories about a painful past. Three leading researchers and clinicians share their lessons from treating such individuals over sixty years of collective experience and provide a powerful set of insights for clinicians, students of clinical psychology and psychiatry, and any involved in mental health issues.
The Terrorism Studies Shelf
Inside the Red Zone
Mike Ferner
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275992438, $39.95 www.praeger.com
INSIDE THE RED ZONE: A VETERAN FOR PEACE REPORTS FROM IRAQ provides an account by a peace activist and journalist who visited the country just before the U.S. invasion in March 2003 and again a year later, visiting ordinary Iraqis, peace activists, soldiers and others working in the country. The result is a hard-hitting set of stories of a country often hidden from American view: accounts chronicling the daily life of Iraqis both urban and rural. INSIDE THE RED ZONE is essential for any thorough understanding of the psyche and structure of the nation, and is especially recommended for public lending libraries.
Fighting the War on Terror
James S. Corum
Zenith Press
c/o MBI Publishing Company
380 Jackson Street Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55101-3885
0760328684, $29.95 www.mbipublishing.com
Dr. Corum is one of the Army's top experts on counterinsurgency warfare: it's this background which packs FIGHTING THE WAR ON TERROR with lessons which need to be learned from the experiences of all sides. His book advocates spending more on training and lesson weapons and using the media to counter extremist propaganda. Chapters analyze lessons learned from experience and consider how they can be applied to future conflicts, making this a key acquisition for both military libraries and college-level holdings specializing in social issues.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Cocker Spaniel Handbook
D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.
Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764134590, $11.99 www.barronseduc.com
Written by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.: The Cocker Spaniel Handbook is a well-rounded guide packed with everything the reader needs to know about raising a happy and healthy cocker spaniel. From acquiring a dog or puppy, to the many types of Cocker Spaniels, to training, grooming and feeding, requisite exercise, common medical problems and diseases, and much more, The Cocker Spaniel Handbook is a solidly accessible primer, illustrated with color photographs on virtually every page. Enthusiastically recommended especially for first-time Cocker Spaniel owners.
The Language Of Dogs
Sarah Kalnajs
Dogwise Publishing
PO Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778
1929242409, $39.95 www.dogwisepublishing.com 1-800-776-2665
Expertly produced by Dogwise Publishing, "The Language Of Dogs: Understanding Canine Body Language And Other Communication Signals" by professional canine behaviorist and trainer Sarah Kalnajs is a two hour, thirteen minute, two disc, instructional DVD that draws upon extensive footage of a variety of breeds to show hundreds of examples of canine behavior and body language. Pet owners, veterinary students, animal shelter workers, and dog trainers will learn how to identify common behaviors including look-aways, freezes, submissive grins, tail flags, dog smiles, sneezes, shake-offs, urogenital check-outs, displacement behaviors, and so much more. Informed and informative, "The Language Of Dogs" is strongly recommended viewing by anyone owning, encountering, or having responsibility for the care of dogs. Other very highly recommended DVDs from Dogwise Publishing for pet owners and trainers include Sarah Kalnajs' "Am I Safe: The Art & Science of Canine Behavior Assessments (1929242417, $39.95); Ian Dunbar's "Give Them A Scalpel Y& They Will Dissect A Kiss: Dog Training: Past, Present & Future" (1929242387, $29.95); Ted Turner's "The ABC's Of Behavior Shaping: The Fundamentals Of Training; Proactive Behavior Management; Extinguishing Aggression And Other Problem Behaviors" (0977264815, $29.95); and "Brenda Aloff's Fundamentals: Foundation Training For Every Dog" (192924228X, $34.95).
Heartbeat For Horses
Laura Chester & Donna DeMari
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua WI 54548
1595434437, $29.95 www.willowcreekpress.com 1-800-850-9453
Compiled and co-edited by Laura Chester and Donna DeMari, "Heartbeat For Horses" is a compilation of impressive photographs combined engaging commentaries about girls and horses. The quotations and commentaries are drawn from forty-two writers that range from Chief Buffalo Cjhild Long Lance, to E. E. Cummings, to Charles Dickens, to James Herriot, to D.H. Lawrence, to Theodore Roosevelt. A very special blending of image and text, "Heartbeat For Horses" is particularly recommended reading for equine enthusiasts in general, any girl or woman who feels a special affection for the horse in particular.
Barbaro
Sean Clancy
Eclipse Press
PO Box 919003, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
1581501595, $25.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-582-5604
Not since the legendary Secretariat has any thoroughbred race horse captured the imagination of the public so swiftly and enthusiastically as Barbaro. His was a story of high achievement over great odds and the promise of a Triple Crown winner only to suffer a catastrophic racing injury that resulted in the shattering of his right hind leg. "Barbaro: The Horse Who Captured America's Heart" is also the story of a dedicated trainer, Michael Matz, and a veterinary science that brought the cutting edge of medical technology to the service of a badly injured and beloved animal. Profusely illustrated with full color photography throughout, "Barbaro" is a compelling read and especially recommended to horse racing enthusiasts in general, and Barbaro fans in particular.
Old Dog, New Tricks
David Taylor
Firefly Books
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo NY 14205
1554071976, $19.95 www.fireflybooks.com
OLD DOG, NEW TRICKS: UNDERSTANDING AND RETRAINING OLDER AND RESCUED DOGS is a 'must' for any with such an animal. Thousands of households adopt older dogs which come with previous training some wanted, some unwanted. Here's the key to behavior modification: it provides insights into understanding dogs, provides lists of considerations before bringing an older dog into the home, and most importantly covers training, from basic techniques to modification. An excellent guide which dog owners and public libraries will find important.
Blackwell Publishing
Box 570, Ames, IA 50010-0570
www.blackwellprofessional.com
Timothy B. Hackett and Elisa M. Mazzaferro's VETERINARY EMERGENCY & CRITICAL CARE PROCEDURES (0813823315, $49.99) offers both general practitioners and specialists a solid text on emergency procedures, breaking down key critical care procedures and using hundreds of photos and lists of supplies and complication potentials for each procedure. College-level students of veterinary science in particular will find it a solid text reference, making it a recommended pick for both classroom study and auxiliary reading. Andrew U. Luescher's MANUAL OF PARROT BEHAVIOR (0813827493, $79.99) is an essential addition to any college-level collection specializing in veterinary science, representing the first of its kind for students of parrot behavior and treatment. International experts on avian behavior join to explore both normal and abnormal parrot behavior, producing an authoritative team-researched text which covers all the basics. Andrew Luescher, DVM/Ph.D. is a Director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Purdue: his title is simply a 'must have' basic text on the subject.
The Computer Shelf
The Image Processing Handbook
John C. Russ
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
0849372542, $159.95 www.crcpress.com 1-800-272-7737
Image processing is used to improve the visual appearance and transmission of images to a the human eye. It also concerns the preparation of images with respect to measuring an image's features and structures. Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded fifth edition, "The Image Processing Handbook" by academician John C. Russ (Materials Science and Engineering Department, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina) "The Image Processing Handbook" features an informative chapter explaining which visual cues elicit a response from the viewer; descriptions of the latest hardware and software for image acquisition and printing including digital cameras; multichannel images and an analysis of their principle components; the issues of deconvolution, extended dynamic range images, and image enlargement and interpolation, and so much more. Enhanced with more than 2000 illustrations, and with the availability of a companion CD-ROM, "The Image Processing Handbook" is a seminal and essential addition to professional and academic library Computer Science and Electrical Engineering reference collections.
Software Testing Foundations
Andreas Spillner, Tilo Linz, Hans Schaefer
Rocky Nook Inc.
26 West Mission Street, Suite 3, Santa Barbar, CA 93101
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. (distributor)
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
1933952083, $44.95 www.oreilly.com 1-800-998-9938
Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Software Testing Foundations: A Study Guide For The Certified Tester Exam" is the collaborative work of Andreas Spillner (Professor of Computer Science at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences), Tilo Linz (President of the German Testing Board and the CEO of Imbus AG a leading service company for software testing in Germany), Hans Schaefer (President of the Norwegian Testing Board and an independent software consultant), who are among the founders of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). This instructive manual is specifically designed by acknowledged experts for personal self-study and provides all the necessary information required to pass the Certified Tester Foundations level exam as defined by the ISTQB. This new and thoroughly 'user friendly' edition covers both a test-first approach and risk-based testing., as well as the fundamentals of testing, testing and the software lifecycle, static and dynamic testing techniques, test management, and test tools. "Software Testing Foundations" is a critically important and core addition to professional and academic Computer Science reference collections.
The Apache Modules Book
Nick Kew
Prentice Hall
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0132409674, $49.99 www.prenticehallprofessional.com
Apache is more than a popular Web server; it's a versatile and complex platform covered well in THE APACHE MODULES BOOK, the first guide for developers who already work with Apache and want to make the most of its features. From code security and basic processing to C-based shortcuts and techniques, APACHE MODULES BOOK uses real-world code examples and techniques to provide an excellent manual of basics. Perfect for any serious programmer's Apache reference collection.
Rails Cookbook
Rob Orsini
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527314, $39.99 www.oreilly.com
Web programmers and practicing developers working with Rails will want this solution-oriented guide to building web 2.0 applications a guide packed with recipes for success from the basics of installing and using Rails to the latest applications. Learn how to work with an application's logic, how to test and debit a Rails application, and use Rails plug-ins with RAILS COOKBOOK: APPLICATIONS FOR RAPID WEB DEVELOPMENT WITH RUBY, which covers version 1.2 and will reach both programmers and serious programming libraries.
Building a Monitoring Infrastructure with Nagios
David Josephsen
Addison Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
0132236931, $34.99 www.awprofessional.com 1-800-428-5331
If you're a system administrator or college-level library with computer holdings catering to such an audience, then Building a Monitoring Infrastructure with Nagios is the item for you it tells how to work with Nagios, an open source monitoring tool, and introduces all the basics of Nagios for newcomers. Examples come from real world applications, working code can be easily mixed in, and discussions of data visualization and other advanced topics make for a handy reference.
Excel 2007 for Project Managers
Kim Heldman & William Heldman
Sybex
c/o Wiley Publishing
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
0470047178, $29.99 www.wiley.com
Combine the forces of Excel 2007, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and other tools to build a project step by step using Excel 2007 for Project Managers, an outstanding manual which blends key management skills and needs with Excel and other standard office routines. From setting up schedules and budgets to using network diagrams, scatter charts, and assigning teams through Excel, Excel 2007 for Project Managers represents one of the best books we've seen blending project manager objectives with real-world applications in the Excel 2007 environment.
Peachpit Press
1249 8th Street, Berkeley CA 94710
www.peachpit.com
HOW TO WOW WITH ILLUSTRATOR by Ron Chan and Barbara Obermeier (0321434544, $39.99) uses real-world projects and a step-by-step approach to teach the basics of producing polished Adobe Illustrator results. From the program's fundamentals and tips on creating and organizing files to using masks, blends and beyond to customize designs, HOW TO WOW WITH ILLUSTRATOR is an excellent and top pick for any collection serious about Illustrator basics. Adobe's PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS 5.0: CLASSROOM IN A BOOK (0321476743, $39.99) is billed as the 'fastest, easiest way to learn Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0', and as such it's a fine classroom or home study pick. The title comes from the notable series of software training workbooks, and ELEMENTS 5.0 delivers what it promises; eleven quick lessons covering all the basics, packed with tips and real-world applications and techniques. Color screen shots are a big hit, here, making it easy to follow lessons based on real screen samples. Douglas Ford Rea's PREVENTATIVE PHOTOSHOP (0321410963, $39.99) pairs tips on taking digital photos with Photoshop tips on manipulating them. Photographers who think they can fix anything 'later' using the program receive an unusual set of guidelines which tells how to minimize computer time by shooting digital images correctly in the first place. From shooting camera raw to turning off sharpening and learning how to read histograms, PREVENTATIVE PHOTOSHOP goes a step beyond most Photoshop guides and tells how to prevent problems before they get to Photoshop's screen. A top pick for any digital photographer.
The International Studies Shelf
The Americanization of Europe
Alexander Stephan, editor
Berghahn Books
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
184545085X, $75.00 www.berghahnbooks.com
Edited by Professor Alexander Stephen, The Americanization of Europe: Culture, Diplomacy, and Anti-Americanism After 1945 is an anthology of essays by scholarly authors examining the progressing phenomenon of Americanization amid nations across the Atlantic, a happening deplored by some and embraced by others yet persisting nonetheless. A backlash of anti-American sentiment has become increasingly apparent in European nations as well. Essays cover major powers such as Great Britain, France, West Germany, the former Soviet Union and Italy, as well as smaller nations such as Austria, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Poland. A sober examination of a diversity of the types of impact Americanization has had, from high culture to popular culture, lifestyle issues, and history of anti-American sentiment. A welcome and timely addition to college and public library international studies shelves.
Pop Culture Germany
Catherine C. Fraser & Dierk O. Hoffmann
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara CA 93116-1911
1851097333, $85.00 www.abc-clio.com
POP CULTURE GERMANY! MEDIA, ARTS, AND LIFESTYLE covers the social, cultural and artistic history of contemporary German culture and is a pick for any college-level collection covering European modern culture. It joins others in the 'Popular Culture in the Contemporary World' series, exploring all aspects of modern German art, entertainment and film and blending history with cross-cultural observation in an easy reference focusing on developments from 1970 to modern times. A specialty item and excellent addition to any comprehensive collection.
Terror in the Holy Land
Judy Kuriansky, Editor
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275990419, $49.95 www.praeger.com
TERROR IN THE HOLY LAND: INSIDE THE ANGUISH OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT offers up new analysis and psychological understanding of the ongoing and lasting traumas to the peoples on both sides, and is the first to blend analysis from both a social and psychological viewpoint in the process of describing conflicts and national identity crises. These essays cover everything from terrorism's impact to occupation's lasting conflicts, and provide a unique, multi-faceted survey of complex issues which goes far beyond the usual political focus. A top pick for any college-level collection strong in Middle East politics and psychology.
The Military Shelf
World Military Leaders
Mark Grossman
Facts On File, Inc.
132 West 31st Street, 17th floor, New York, NY 10001-2006
0816047324, $75.00 www.factsonfile.com 1-800-322-8755
Throughout recorded human history, the military leadership of a city state, a kingdom, or a nation has been a principle force in shaping events for better or for ill. A professional writer specializing in American and world history, Mark Grossman has compiled and organized "World Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary" which presents in an easily accessed, single volume, succinct profiles of influential military leaders from 3500 B.C.E. down to the present day. These were men whose military decisions and leadership influenced the course of history both in their own times and for subsequent generations. From Alexander the Great who conquered most of the known world of his era, to Dwight D. Eisenhower who lead the Allied forces against the Axis powers in World War II, to Charlemagne who began the process of European recovery in Europe from the chaos resultant from the collapse of the Roman Empire, to Napoleon Bonaparte, Decatur, Hannibal, Erwin Rommel, Robert E. Lee, Genghis Khan, George Washington, and hundreds of others, "World Military Leaders" is a strongly recommended addition to school and community World History and Military History reference collections, as well as a being a fascinating and informative browse for military and history buffs.
Army 101
David Axe
The University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
1570036608, $24.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress
Written by freelance journalist and war correspondent David Axe, Army 101: Inside ROTC in a Time of War is a straight-talk look at the state of the modern Reserve Officers Training Corps, and the lives of the college students who participate in them - in effect, minoring in the military while pursuing degrees in other fields. Drawn largely extensive interviews with ROTC recruits, Army 101 touches on everything from nighttime training exercises to the procedures and jargon of the ROTC classroom to the annual Ranger Challenge, a.k.a. "the varsity sport of ROTC". Of special note is how the war in Iraq affects ROTC recruitment and graduates; deployment in Iraq is sometimes even used as a punishment for egregious offences. "In 2004, when the situation in Iraq begins to turn south and the media start asking questions, Cadet Command issues 'public affairs guidance' to all ROTC units. The twenty-eight-page document advises cadets and cadre to be wary of reporters and even provides stock responses to potential questions [such as] Q: Should the US have taken military action against Iraq? A: Our national leaders must decide the question of whether or not the US should take military action. It would clearly be inappropriate of me to attempt to second-guess them." An unbiased, insightful look into the trials and challenges facing America's "civilian soldiers", especially recommended for anyone considering joining the ROTC.
M4 Sherman At War
Michael Green & James D. Brown
Zenith Press
c/o MBI Publishing Company
380 Jackson Street Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
076032784X, $19.95 www.mbipublishing.com
Military specialty libraries strong on World War II history won't want to miss M4 Sherman At War, a survey of a tank which played a key role in every aspect of the battles, enabling the Allies to manufacture enough units to overwhelm the superior German tanks they faced. The design and employment of a tank which beat the odds is reviewed in chapters packed with vintage black and white photos, cut-away diagrams, and historical and design facts: a fascinating, involving read.
A Bridge At Arnhem
Charles Whiting
Magna Large Print Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
0750526688 $32.50 www.ulverscroftusa.com 1-800-955-9659
One of the largest military operations in the World War II European theatre was 'Operation Market Garden', an Allied offense that included a massive airborne strike against Nazi-occupied Holland. The purpose was to create a corridor through which Allied troops could bypass the German 'Siegfried Line', and invade the enemy homeland to defeat the Germans and bring down Hitler and his Nazis before Christmas. The military action was led by the First British Airborne Division (an elite unit known as the Red Devils) whose assignment was to seize the bridge across the Lower Rhine at Arnhem. But despite all the Allies could do, Operation Market Garden ended as a victory for the German forces. Now with "A Bridge At Arnhem", military historian Charles Whiting has written the complete story of this key military engagement that was to decisively affect the entire outcome of the operation. Included are the British officers who planned the operation and their assigned units who paid a blood price for the mistakes those planners made. This large print edition of "A Bridge At Arnhem" is especially recommended for community library Military History collections and would have particular appeal for older male readers who require a large print format.
In The Fire Of The Eastern Front
Hendrik C. Verton
Helion
c/o Casemate
1016 Warrior Road, Suite C, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
187462254X, $49.95 www.casematepublishing.com 1-610-853-9131
"In The Fire Of The Eastern Front: The Experiences Of A Dutch Waffen-SS Volunteer On The Easter Front 1941-45" is the personal memoir of Hendrick C. Verton and reveals a perspective on the battlefields of World War II that is not often encountered by an American readership. Verton includes his recruitment, training, and frontline service experiences as he saw service with the 5th SS Panzer Division 'Wiking" and then later with the SS Regiment Besslein. Verton touches upon the general politics of the day and explains how Dutch views of the Third Reich changed radically over the years of the war. Verton also covers that founding of the Waffen-SS, the recruiting of Dutch volunteers like himself, and why many non-German European volunteered to fight and imperil their lives for Germany and Adolph Hitler. Verton's stories of fighting in pitch battles, surviving 50 degree blow zero weather, transporting men and equipment over terrain that would range from quagmires to frozen ground is as compelling as it is informative. Exceptionally well written and impressively candid, "In The Fire Of The Eastern Front" is a welcome and recommended addition to the growing library of World War II military memoirs and autobiographies.
Civil War Fathers
Tim Pletkovich, Editor
Vandamere Press
Box 149, Saint Petersburg, FL 33731
0918339693, $24.95 www.vandamere.com
CIVIL WAR FATHERS: SONS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN WWII tells of eight American families whose fathers fought in the Civil War, and whose sons and daughters fought in World War II. It evolved from an interview project with middle school children and blossomed to embrace two generations of military experience, providing an unusual focus on the Civil War through the eyes of children listening to their father's stories, and World War II through these same children as grown-up participants. A fascinating dual history evolves, offering military readers new insights based on experience: perfect for both specialty and general-interest military holdings.
Cobra II
Michael R. Gordon and General Bernard Trainor
Vintage Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1400075394, $16.00 www.vintagebooks.com
COBRA II: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ is finally in paperback, offering the national best-selling story to collections looking for affordable lending copies of one of the top books on the Iraq War. Unique access to still-secret documents blend with interviews with top field commanders and reviews of the army's own policies and procedures to make for a vivid, definitive title which still stands heads and shoulders above the many competing books on the topic.
The Utility of Force
General Rupert Smith
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0307265625, $30.00 www.aaknopf.com 1-800-726-0600
"War no longer exists" states author/general Rupert Smith, who spent some forty years in the British Army and retired in 2002. Indeed, confrontations between mass national armies are unlikely to occur, replaced by diplomatic efforts that hold more promise than military force. Modern examples from armed interventions that have failed to deliver resolution show why modern conflicts need a different kind of analytical focus one that blends political and military events rather than a traditional model of warfare fought on battlefields. Coming from a seasoned general, THE UTILITY OF FORCE: THE ART OF WAR IN THE MODERN WORLD holds much hope for the modern world and is a pick not just for military libraries but for general-interest lending collections and college-level holdings strong in social issues, as well.
Future Weapons
Kevin Dockery
Berkeley Caliber
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0425212157, $24.95 www.penguin.com
FUTURE WEAPONS comes from a former military sniper who offers an eye-opening viewpoint of advanced technology and military might, combining a history of technology and its military applications with an examination of the present and future of modern combat technology. Military libraries as well as general-interest collections will find it an intriguing, top pick examining all facets of weaponry use, ethics, and technological applications, peppered with black and white photos and including discussions of past and modern experimentation.
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com
Brad E. Kelle's ANCIENT ISRAEL AT WAR: 853-586BC (1846030366, $14.95) is a fine pick for both in-depth college-level Middle East history holdings and specialty military collections with strong sections in early military force. It covers the complex kingdom of Ancient Israel and 200 years of constant warring between kingdoms and neighbors, and considers both the social and political relationships involved and the military conflicts. While a specialty item, it promises vivid reading for any studying early wars and military conditions. Mark Stille's US NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS 1942-45 (1846030374, $15.95) tells of the US Navy's principal weapon against Japan during the Pacific War, following forces, battles, and including artwork detailing ship interior and exterior features. From ship origins to design and construction, NAVY AIRCRAFT CARRIERS provides an excellent survey important for any collection strong in Navy weaponry.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Consciousness Is All
Peter Francis Dziuban
Blue Dolphin Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959
1577331605, $19.95 www.bluedolphinpublishing.com
Philosophy student and communications field expert Peter Francis Dziuban presents Consciousness Is All: Now Life Is Completely New, a radical reexamination of the fundamental nature of reality and human consciousness. Though founded in the writings and talks of Dr. Alfred Aiken, Consciousness Is All is unique in its precept that consciousness is the sum total of all there is - that nothing exists outside of or beyond consciousness. Thus consciousness is not a higher Self, but rather the only Self. Consciousness Is All refutes the idea that there is a would-be secondary self seeking reunion with an indeterminate "god", bur rather insists that the One Self is inclusive Wholeness and Perfection, encompassing all. "The fact that the One Consciousness is all the consciousness there is, leaves no lesser consciousness to need a teacher or way-shower. This instant, Consciousness leaves no other to be plodding or plotting; none to need awakening or spiritualizing. One Self leaves no second self to co-operate (meaning operate along with) the One. Consciousness leaves no other to reject, or even accept what It already is." A revolutionary treatise, sure to prove fascinating to anyone involved in the study of metaphysical and spiritual theories.
A Search In Secret Egypt
Paul Brunton
Larson Publications
4936 Route 414, Burdett, NY 14818
0943914981 $110.00 www.larsonpublications.org
Beautifully and profusely enhanced with the inclusion of 270 full color and black/white vintage and contemporary photos, maps, and diagrams, "A Search In Secret Egypt" by the late Paul Brunton (1898-1981) presents a wealth of information and insights that the author has compiled over his more than 70 years of studied inquiry into the metaphysics and religion of ancient Egypt. Originally published in 1936 and long out of print, "A Search In Secret Egypt" has been brought out in a very special illustrated edition by Larson Publications and once again made accessible to students of Egyptian antiquity and esoteric mysteries as revealed in the archaeology of ancient shrines and temples. This is also an engaging story of a personal spiritual adventure as Brunton addressed penetrating questions concerning Egyptian beliefs, rituals and monuments. A 'travelogue of discovery', Paul Brunton's "A Search In Secret Egypt" is very strongly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Egyptology reference collections, as well as to students of metaphysics in general, and Egyptian religious studies in particular.
Sacred Number and the Origins of Civilization
Richard Heath
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771316, $16.95 www.InnerTraditions.com
Sacred Number and the Origins of Civilization: The Unfolding of History through the Mystery of Number covers sacred numbers and ratios to be found throughout history, revealing the origins of synchronous numerical occurrences and joining discoveries in astronomy and religion alike. From ancient theme parks and earth models to early angels, SACRED NUMBER AND THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION draws many important connections.
The Templar Pirates
Ernesto Frers
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771464, $14.95 www.destinybooks.com
When the Vatican condemned the Order of the Temple in 1312, many who escaped took to sea intent on revenge on the Church. The missing Templar fleet later reappeared in the Mediterranean and later the Caribbean and posed a threat to the Church's maritime commerce. THE TEMPLAR PIRATES tells the story of the birth and conduct of piracy on the New World seas, providing an important link between Templar history and Church interactions and piracy as a whole. Any collection strong in Templar or Catholic history will find this absorbing and unusual and many a general interest library will find it interesting for its insights on early pirates, as well.
Real Energy
Phaedra & Isaac Bonewits
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564149048, $15.99 www.newpagebooks.com
REAL ENERGY: SYSTEMS, SPIRITS, AND SUBSTANCES TO HEAL, CHANGE, AND GROW offers a wide range of strategies for understanding the science, history and mysticism of energy also called 'psi', 'prana' and 'divine power'. It teaches the basics of how to work with the energies such as the four Elements, crystals and animals, with chapters offering specific energy practices and applications. REAL ENERGY is a wide-ranging survey which embraces different disciplines on the topic and is a recommended pick for any serious new age library.
Fiona Horne's WITCH: FIONA HORNE'S GUIDE TO COVEN MAGIC (0738710342 , $14.95) comes from a celebrity witch who moved to Hollywood, there to apply her nature-based spirituality to the fast-paced, material culture of Hollywood. WITCH follows her journey, and discusses the basics of how to form a coven that's the right fit for all even applying modern party basics such as Witch-inspired tea parties and Goddess gatherings to the mix of options. An inspiring, revealing account evolves, perfect for the young modern witch who wants insights into how to form a modern coven. Rabbi Geoffrey W. Dennis' THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JEWISH MYTH, MAGIC AND MYSTICISM (0738709050, $24.95) provides a unique encyclopedia devoted entirely to Jewish mysticism and folklore. Jewish esotericism is the oldest continuous occult tradition in the West, but this encyclopedia represents the first comprehensive treasury of such teachings drawing from Jewish scripture, Talmud, Kabbalah and other esoteric Judaic branches. Over a thousand alphabetical entries include extensive cross-referenced notes, plus a complete bibliography and glossary of terms. Both are top picks for any new age collection.
The Celtic Way of Seeing
Frank MacEowen
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315413, $14.95 www.newworldlibrary.com
New age collections strong in Celtic spirituality will welcome THE CELTIC WAY OF SEEING: MEDITATIONS ON THE IRISH SPIRIT WHEEL. It surveys ideas of Celtic visions, opening with a history of the spiritual divisions of Ireland and the four directions, then providing orientations to these four directions and discussions of the focal points that bind them to meditations. An excellent guide for any interested in Celtic visionary practices.
The Education Shelf
How to Reach & Teach All Students - Simplified
Elizabeth Breaux
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Suite 106, Larchmont, NY 10538
1596670428, $26.95 www.eyeoneducation.com
Elizabeth Breaux shares her 20 years of experience with "at-risk" students in How to Reach & Teach All Students - Simplified, a guide for teachers that emphasizes the importance of being able to connect with students in order to effectively instruct them. Chapters discuss how to make a good first impression, the power of accentuating the positive through thanks and praise, the importance of being sufficiently assertive to keep control of one's classroom and enforcing consequences, how to avoid power struggles, successful real-life teaching strategies, using rubrics for assessment, and much more. Each chapter has sections devoted to simply "what works" and "what doesn't work", making How to Reach & Teach All Students - Simplified readily accessible and to-the-point for teachers of all skill and experience levels. Highly recommended.
The Essentials of Science Grades K-6
Rick Allen
ASCD
1703 Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
1416605290, $23.95 www.ascd.org
The Essentials of Science Grades K-6: Effective Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is a no-nonsense guide especially for elementary school teachers. Chapters include interviews with award-winning elementary science teachers and science education experts, guides to planning a curriculum of essentials, how to motivate students in science, assessment tools, current trends in elementary science education and much more. "When devising a science curriculum, schools should focus on getting all students to understand the big ideas for the topic studied. Curriculum designers can use backward design to align assessment and instruction with those big ideas. Because big ideas often rest on other big ideas and prior knowledge, outlining a progression of required prior understanding can also help teachers keep moving toward an important concept without getting bogged down by secondary factoids that may divert students from essential learning." A handful of black-and-white photographs and illustrations round out this practical-minded resource.
Drawing upon her more than thirty years of professional experience in performing and teaching dance to young children, Connie Bergstein Dow presents "Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn!", a compendium of thirty-eight creative and fun movement lessons that will help kindergarten-aged children build their large and fine motor skills while supporting emergent skill development that includes their social skills, physical abilities, cognitive skills, and readiness for introductions to literacy, math and science within a classroom setting. Fun, effective, thoroughly 'kid friendly', and a welcome addition to preschool, early childhood, and kindergarten programs, "Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn!" highly recommended for parents, daycare workers, classroom teachers, and home schoolers.
Family Literacy Experiences
Jennifer Rowsell
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
1571104917, $18.00 www.stenhouse.com 1-800-988-9812
A work professional expertise by Jennifer Rowsell (Assistant Professor of Literacy Education, Rutgers Graduate School of Education), "Family Literacy Experiences: Creating Reading And Writing Opportunities That Support Classroom Learning" is the perfect supplement to formal school reading skill development curriculums that parents and tutors can employ to reinforce, underscore, and develop a child's ability to read fluently and with comprehension. Organized around genres that utilize books, magazines, blogs, movies, zines, the Internet, television, music, comics, text messaging, newspapers, rap lyrics, video games, collector cards, and other elements of popular culture, to demonstrate, motivate, and enhance a child's reading skills and abilities. Fun, informative, effective, "Family Literacy Experiences" is especially recommended for parents dedicated to assisting their child to become literate by incorporating the visual, the written, the audible, and physical movement into the process of understanding what they are reading.
Interventions For Reading Success
Diane Haager, Joseph A. Dimino, Michelle Pearlman Windmueller
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557666784, $49.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775
The collaborative work of Professor Diane Haager (Charter College of Education, California State University, Los Angeles), Joseph A. Dimino Research Associate, Instructional Research Group, Signal Hill, California), and Michelle Pearlman Windmueller (Elementary School Administrator, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles, California), Interventions For Reading Success" offers an extensive series of lessons in reading and literacy. Each lesson takes from 20 to 30 minutes and focuses upon early literacy issues such as phonological awareness, the alphabetic principles, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Enhanced with more than one hundred 'learning friendly' activities and interventions (including goals, materials, word lists, and teacher steps), "Interventions For Reading Success" includes guidelines, assessment and intervention planning guidance, 75 photocopiable take-home activities parents can use to reinforce their child's basic reading skills, and practical tips for teachers on implementing intervention in the classroom setting. A comb-bound book that lays open on a flat surface for each of use, "Interventions For Reading Success" is a welcome and recommended resource for classroom teachers working with student from kindergarten through the third grade to develop and improve their reading skills.
Math Games & Activities From Around The World
Claudia Zaslavsky
Chicago Review Press
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
1556522878, $14.95 www.chicagoreviewpress.com 1-800-888-4741
Featuring more than seventy 'kid friendly' math games, puzzles, and projects from all over the world, "Math Games & Activities From Around The World" by Claudia Zaslavsky is 160 pages of fun, math skill developing exercises that will have enormous appeal for children ages 9 and older. Children will engage in the use of geometry to design game boards, probability to analyze games of chance, logical thinking to devise gaming strategies, and more. From Tic-tac-toe (first played in ancient Egypt), to Nine Men's Morris (once played in England with living pieces), and Mankala the oldest and most popular game in the world. From building a model pyramid to working maze-like African network puzzles, "Math Games & Activities From Around The World" is a unique and welcome supplemental addition to school math and logic skill development curriculums. Also very highly recommended for classroom and homeschool curriculums is Claudia Zaslavsky's companion book, "More Math Games & Activities From Around The World" (155652501X, $14.95) featuring seventy more games, puzzlers and projects ranging from Mongolian 'Jirig', to Sudan's 'Little Goat Game', to the game of 'Achi' from Ghana.
Students With Disabilities and Special Education Law, 23rd Edition
Center for Education & Employment Law
PO Box 3008, Malvern, PA 19355
1933043199, $159.00 www.amazon.com
From school liability and private tuition to issues of student records and privacy and samples of awards and damages, the 23rd updated edition of Students With Disabilities and Special Education Law is a 'must' for any college-level library specializing in either education or law. Chapters survey federal and local court decisions, evolving issues in special education and placement, and due processes related to special education law, making this a 'must' reference for any special education or legal holding.
The Business Shelf
How To Write Better Business Letters
Andrea B. Geffner
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764135392, $14.99 www.barronseduc.com 1-800-645-3476
Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, "How To Write Better Business Letters" by Andrea B. Geffner is a complete and 'user friendly' guide to the art and science of writing effective and professional business letters. "How To Write Better Business Letters" provides clear and helpful information for making optimal use of word processing software in business correspondence, as well as communicating professional on the Internet through email. Enhanced with more than seventy examples of model letters (including credit applications, letters of inquiry, orders for goods and services, formal business announcements, letters of recommendations, direct marketing sales promotional letters, and more), "How To Write Better Business Letters" is a complete and strongly recommended reference for inexperienced and novice business personnel, and has a great deal of value in refreshing and enhancing the letter writing skills of even the more experienced entrepreneur or business manager.
Payback
James P. Andrew & Harold L. Sirkin with John Butman
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1422103137 $29.95 www.hbspress.org
Written by professional consultants James P. Andrew and Harold L. Sirkin, Payback: Reaping the Rewards of Innovation is a solid guide to the difference between having a good idea and turning that idea into financial reward. Payback puts forth the argument that the biggest challenge facing most companies today is their need to increase returns from their innovation spending. Introducing a concept called the "cash curve", Payback explores the fundamental factors that affect how much financial return will be netted. From how and when it can be profitable to apply innovation to noncash goals (such as the acquisition of new knowledge or enhancement of the company's brand), to models that accurately assess financial, technical and market risks to the relative advantages and disadvantages of the integration, orchestration, and licensing models and when to employ each, Payback is a reservoir of solid, high-stakes insight into skilled decision making. As valuable for innovative small business owners as for managers of grand enterprises.
Communicating Globally
Wallace V. Schmidt, et.al.
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412913179, $37.95 www.sagepublications.com
College-level libraries strong in business and global communications won't want to miss COMMUNICATING GLOBALLY: INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS. It provides an interdisciplinary review using different business and communication sources to analyze and contrast viewpoints on world communication processes, global leadership, and processes that affect international business. From understanding the processes of communication and miscommunication to insights into how to do business abroad given differing cultural perspectives, COMMUNICATING GLOBALLY offers many important, key concepts essential for global business success.
A Game as Old as Empire
Steven Hiatt, Editor
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
1576753956, $24.95 www.bkcurrents.com
A GAME AS OLD AS EMPIRE: THE SECRET WORLD OF ECONOMIC HIT MEN AND THE WEB OF GLOBAL CORRUPTION comes from the author of the best-selling CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN and expands upon the prior book's theme. Where CONFESSIONS was fueled by the author's revelations of economic secrets, A GAME AS OLD AS EMPIRE is joined by other journalists and investigators who tell their own stories of a world-wide web of deliberate corruption, even narrowing topics down to specific countries and how they've been subverted. The result is a revealing survey which expands well upon the popular theme of CONFESSIONS and which deserves a spot in any academic or community library's business, economics, or social issues collection.
The Specialty Shop
Dorothy Finell
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
081447442X, $21.95 www.amacombooks.org
Any who have dreamed of owning more than the ordinary retail store will find plenty of practical tips and insights in THE SPECIALTY SHOP: HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN UNIQUE AND PROFITABLE RETAIL BUSINESS. The author spent the last twenty years researching the most successful and interesting shops across the U.S., Europe and Australia: her international approach combines the insights and applied experience of over thirty successful owners and provides plenty of practical advice for would-be owners. Perfect for any specialty business library or general-interest lending library collection.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Nancy Cornwell's 90-Minute Fleece
Nancy Cornwell
Krause Publications
c/o F&W Publications Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
0896894088, $24.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966
Showcasing forty-five, do-it-yourself, needlecraft projects (including multisized ladies' and children's vest patterns) designed for the novice seamstress and anyone pressed for time, "Nancy Cornwell's 90-Minute Fleece" uses 'No-fuss fleece' material which is a fabric that sewers can utilize to expedite making projects ranging from pillows and throws, to scarves, capes and vests. Each project is beautifully illustrated in color and features 'user friendly', step-by-step instructions from beginning to end. If you enjoy making clothing and accessories by hand, but are constrained by demanding schedules, the add "Nancy Cornwell's 90-Minute Fleece" to your needlecraft reference shelf!
Quilt Mavens: Perfect Paper Piecing
Deb Karasik & Janet Mednick
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
1574329197 $24.95 www.aqsquilt.com
The collaborative work of quilting experts Deb Karasik and Janet Mednick, "Quilt Mavens: Perfect Paper Piecing" provides clear and easy to follow, step-by-step, fully illustrated instructions for creating perfect paper piecing for making distinctive quilts. Specifically designed to enable even the most novice beginner to make perfect narrow, sharp spikes, the 'quilter friendly' patterns will create stunningly beautiful and seemingly complex quilts utilizing the 'Mavens' method of construction. Along with offering an informed and informative text that is profusely supported by illustrations, "Quilt Mavens: Perfect paper Piecing" includes an accompanying CD containing all the patterns represented making it a perfect and highly prized addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft and Quilting reference collections.
Knit & Crochet Combined
Monette Lassiter Satterfield
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
0871162407, $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com 1-800-533-6644
Knitting and crocheting are usually seen as two distinctly different and separate needlecraft skills. Now needlecraft expert and project designer Monnette Lassiter Satterfield draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to provide a compendium of fifteen 'do-it-yourself' patterns that combine both knitting and crocheting to create wonderfully colorful, useful, and sturdy garments and accessories that are veritable works of fabric art. The projects range from stoles and wraps, to shrugs and vests, to hats and socks. Superbly illustrated in full color, each project features easy knit and crochet patterns stitches that can be accomplished by even the most novice of needlecraft beginners. A unique and core addition to any personal, professional, or community library Neelecraft reference collection, "Knit & Crochet Combined: Best Of Both Worlds" is enhanced with a 'Basics" section that provides a guide to materials and illustrates every stitch and technique required by the proffered projects.
Babies & Toddlers
XRX Books
PO Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
1933064064, $15.95 www.knittinguniverse.com 1-800-722-2558
An enthusiastically and confidently recommended addition to personal and community library knitting project and instructional reference collections, "Babies & Toddlers: A Knitter's Dozen" is a profusely illustrated compilation of twenty-four 'user friendly' knitting patterns for variety of home-made garments for preschoolers that ranges from hats and sweaters to blankets and toys. Each 'how to' pattern provides a visual image of the pattern along with step-by-step instructions and techniques for accomplishing the garment. "Babies & Toddlers" will teach the needlecrafter how to go about accomplishing double-knit, entrelac, cables, felting, lace, stranded color, and intarsia. The featured sizes will enable even the most novice knitter to produce garments to fit children from 3 months to 4 years. XRX Books is a premier publisher of needlecraft instruction books and manuals. Needlecraft enthusiasts would be well advised to visit their website at www.knittinguniverse.com for a complete listing of all of their many excellent titles on knitting and other needlecraft activities.
Thimbleberries Quilts For My Sister's House
Lynette Jensen
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
1890621579 $27.95 www.landauercorp.com 1-800-557-2144
Lynette Jensen is the author of many fine quilting and lifestyle decorating books and enjoys a solid reputation for her needlecraft skills in quilting communities and organizations around the world. In "Thimbleberries Quilts For My Sister's House" she brings to bear her many years of experience and expertise to present twenty-two new and exciting quilting projects for decorating with flea market finds and collectibles. The projects range from quilts and wall hangings, to pillows and table runners. Employing the latest fabrics and colors from Thimbleberries, dozens of decorating ideas are showcased and illustrated with more than four hundred full-color photographs and images. An enthusiastically recommended addition to both professional and community library needlecraft reference collections, "Thimbleberries Quilts For My Sister's House" is so well organized and 'user friendly' that even the most novice beginner can successfully accomplish any and all of these impressive quilting projects.
Martingale & Company
20205 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Sherrill Kahn's CREATIVE EMBELLISHMENTS FOR PAPER, JEWELRY, FABRIC AND MORE (1564776166, $27.95) addresses the issue of how to add style to craft projects with shrink plastic, rubber stamps and foam. Here are dozens of embellishments to be made from paper, fabric and plastic alike, to create glitzy additions to quilts, journals and other projects. Over a hundred color photos accent step-by-step project ideas perfect for the creative artist looking for a handbook of finishing touches and innovations. Jennifer Rounds and Catherine Comyns' A DOZEN ROSES: BEAUTIFUL QUILTS AND PILLOWS (1564776891, $26.95) offers some eight quilt projects from a sampler and baby quilt to a coverlet, plus four coordinating pillow designs to be used with such quilts. Packed with full-page photos of finished quilts, inspirational roses from real-life, and diagrams and patterns, A DOZEN ROSES comes filled with different ideas and variations perfect for quilters who love flowers. Ionne McCauley and Sharon Pederson's COLOR FOR THE TERRIFIED QUILTER: PLAIN TALK, SIMPLE LESSONS, 11 PROJECTS (1564777227, $26.95) offers a step-by-step formula for choosing color for quilts, blending practical techniques and guidelines with easy exercises and 11 projects to teach the basics of using the color wheel. From making up mock-up blocks before committing fabrics to sewing to mixing dark and light fabrics for maximum effect, COLOR FOR THE TERRIFIED QUILTER is packed with fine project ideas which teach the foundations of color. All are key picks any needlework library needs.
The Homeowner's Shelf
Home Makeovers That Sell
Sid Davis
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814473733, $15.00 www.amacombooks.org
Plenty of books tell how to buy and sell homes and others how to remodel; but for a specific book on getting the most from a remodel project, HOME MAKEOVERS THAT SELL is the item of choice. Here are tips based not on home renovations but on over twenty years of experience as a real estate broker; from creating curb appeal by replacing shrubs and refinishing a driveway to using accent lights to make the most of a home's natural beauty. Any involved in home renovations and home sales needs this, so public libraries will find it a popular lend.
The Gardening/Landscaping Shelf
Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver
Fern Marshall Bradley
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
1594863083, $19.95 www.rodale.com
In "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver", lifelong organic gardener Fern Marshall Bradley has knowledgeably compiled and skillfully organized a wealth of practical, applicable, 'user friendly' advice and instruction on dealing with pests, diseases, weeds, and other problems that beset the vegetable garden. The solutions to these diverse issues that vegetable gardens must commonly deal with are based on the cutting edge of horticultural research and offer gardeners hundreds of organic and natural solutions for plant disease, pests, and weed problems. From polytape and mesh fences, to deer repellents, to flea beetle infestations, "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver" offers safe, effective remedies that will enhance a vegetable garden's performance producing healthy, bountiful, 'bumper crop' yields. If you have a vegetable garden of your own, you need to avail yourself of the "Rodale's Vegetable Garden Problem Solver", Fern Marshall Bradley's essential 'how to' manual.
Step By Step Landscaping
Better Homes & Gardens
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3203
0696230828, $24.95 www.meredithbooks.com
Over a thousand inspirational photos accompany these step-by-step outdoor landscape ideas, which appear in a new updated edition of a classic coverage. From swimming pool options and decks and patios to handling slopes and tricky problem areas, STEP BY STEP LANDSCAPING comes packed with both building and planting tips and will be an excellent pick for homeowners who want to transform their outdoors environments.
How to Build Your Own Greenhouse
Roger Marshall
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
158017647X, $24.95 www.storey.com
Any who would build a greenhouse will find HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE: DESIGNS AND PLANS TO MEET YOUR GROWING NEEDS offers up the hope of year-round gardening as it explores a range of greenhouse designs and options, from simple cold frames to elaborate freestanding tropical constructions. Chapters cover basic freestanding and extension designs for greenhouses, include lean-tos and garden shed blends, and discuss not only construction of independent structures, but how to incorporate them into an existing home. From floor to ceiling options, HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN GREENHOUSE covers it all, includes design tips and basic plans, and is a pick for any library strong in homeowner's or gardener's construction references.
The Travel Shelf
France
Nicola Williams, et al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
174104233X, $24.99 www.lonelyplanet.com 1-800-275-8555
Written by a team of six authors (Nicola Williams, Oliver Berry, Steve Fallon, Catherine Le Nevez, Daniel Robinson, and Miles Roddis) with 23 combined years of living in France, the seventh edition of Lonely Planet's travel guide France is as high-quality as ever, packed with up-to-date research, 184 maps, and a handful of color photographs. From locations and descriptions of restaurants, hotels, and businesses, to a solid primer on adapting to French culture, to historical insights, transportation tips, recommended tours and trails, an extensive index, and even unique touches such as the URLs of France's most popular bloggers, this updated and expanded seventh edition of France is a "must-have" for anyone determined to make the most of their visit to this proud nation. Readers can even visit www.lonelyplanet.com for additional daily updates!
Travel North Carolina
Carolyn Sakowski, et al.
John F. Blair Publisher Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston- Salem, NC 27103
0895873370, $19.95 www.blairpub.com
Now in an completely updated and significantly expanded third edition, "Travel North Carolina: Going Native in the Old North State" is a comprehensive guide written by Carolyn Sakowski, Sunny Smith Nelson, Anne Holcomb Waters, Angela Harwood, John Tarleton, and Sue Clark, a team of longtime residents of the Tar Heel State. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this compendium with sections organized by geography, listing seasonal events, places to eat, historical sites, museums and science centers, inns and bed-and-breakfasts, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for business and pleasure travelers alike, "Travel North Carolina" is an essential planning guide to get the most out of a trip to this diverse and fascinating state from an afternoon's outing, to a weekend getaway, to an extended vacation.
Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan
Dianne L. Durante
New York University Press
838 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10003-4812
0814719872, $18.95 www.nyupress.org
Manhattan's streets and parks are packed with historic monuments, and some fifty of them are included in OUTDOOR MONUMENTS OF MANHATTAN: A HISTORICAL GUIDE, which offers up background history, surveys of American sculptors, and analysis of each sculpture, its influences, and its history. A 'must' for any Manhattan resident or library seeking background information on the area's best outdoor monuments to use as either a take-along travel tote or a study.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Inside World Religions
Kevin O'Donnell
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
0800638891, $24.00 www.fortresspress.com
A beautifully and profusely illustrated single volume survey, the world religions represented include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Baha'i, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, and Jainism, "Inside World Religions: An Illustrated Guide" by Anglican priest Kevin O'Donnell presents a truly panoramic introduction to diverse religious traditions. Informed and informative, "Inside World Religions: An Illustrated Guide" features a 'reader friendly', informed and informative text that will provide a sound basis for non-specialist general readers to acquire a basic understanding of the fundamentals with respect to the major religions of the world. Enthusiastically recommended reading, "Inside World Religions" is an ideal addition to personal, school, and community library "Religion & Spirituality" reference collections.
Peacemakers in Action
David Little, editor
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
0521618940, $24.99 www.cambridge.org 1-800-872-7423
Edited by David Little, Peacemakers in Action: Profiles of Religion in Conflict Resolution is an anthology of profiles of people of faith worldwide with the courage and morality to work peacefully and put their faith into action. From Friar Ivo Markovic in Bosnia and Herzegovina to nonviolent deputy minister of defense Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge of South Africa to Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye in Nigeria and more, the profiles span nine nations beset with strife and reveal how true believers can apply their religion to create a positive dialogue and help build world peace through peace within. Peacemakers in Action does not restrict itself to any one religion, and offers real-life examples to the positive effects faith can bring to the parts of the world in most dire need of peacemaking. Especially recommended for college and university libraries.
Misbehavin' Monarchs
Barbara J. Essex
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
0829816550, $16.00 www.pilgrimpress.com
Written by ordained United Church of Christ minister Barbara J. Essex, Misbehavin' Monarchs: Exploring Biblical Kings of Questionable Character is bible study guide that especially focuses upon renowned biblical monarchs and lesser known kings - their leadership styles, the women in their lives, the prophets who were active during their reigns, and what the Bible itself says about war. Monarchs profiled include Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Samuel, Jeroboam, Hoshea, and more. An introductory chapter offers Bible study techniques, and the text itself discusses biblical literature themes and concepts at length with a wealth of background information chosen to make the material more accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Questions for study and reflection, a closing chapter about preaching and teaching, and a resource list round out this excellent supplement for individual or group Bible study.
Lord, I Give You This Day
Kay Arthur
Waterbrook Press
c/o Random House
12265 Oracle Boulevard #200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
1400071607, $14.99 www.randomhouse.com
If you're seeking a 365-day devotional packed with religious inspiration, LORD, I GIVE YOU THIS DAY is the item of choice, blending brief readings of Biblical passages with prayers designed to reinforce spirituality throughout the day. The author is a renowned Bible teacher and has co-founded Precept Ministries International: her devotional offers important analysis perfect for any spirituality library or personal collection.
Something There: The Biology of the Human Spirit
David Hay
Templeton University Press
300 Conshohocken State Rd. Suite 670, West Conshohocken, PA 19428
1599471140, $19.95 www.templetonpress.org
The human spiritual side is real and not an illusion: this is often a contention of spirituality titles but here the idea comes from a trained zoologist who uses his research and background to blend modern attitudes drawn from surveys and polls with results from his investigative work with a late zoologist Alister Hardy and over thirty years of personal research. The idea is that spirituality is a built-in, biologically structured dimension of all humans: any serious spirituality holding will appreciate the reasoned, logical arguments which support his contention, and many a college-level collection in social science and psychology will also find this a unique, inviting and authoritative approach.
Jesus After the Crucifixion
Graham Simmans
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1591430712, $18.00 www.bearandcompanybooks.com
Jesus didn't die on the cross: instead he survived and went to southern France to live with wife Mary: this radical and thought-provoking idea proposed by researcher Graham Simmans offers up a new reason for the spread of Christianity by Jesus himself. Chapters consider Jesus's survival of the crucifixion and use Coptic and Jewish sources to examine Christian philosophy and how it spread through Europe.
The Land, the Bible, and History
Alain Marchadour and David Neuhaus
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458
082322659X, $40.00 www.fordham.edu
A Catholic view of the Holy Land is presented in this scholarly study The Land, the Bible, and History, which comes from two biblical scholars and priests living in Jerusalem who analyze the Holy Land both as a concept and as a piece of political and social history. In blending a through analytical reading of the Christian Bible and referencing the Land promised by God and the evolution of local attitudes towards it, THE LAND, THE BIBLE, AND HISTORY provides some important points on Catholic thinking both past and present, making for a fine pick for any spirituality holding, especially those strong in Catholic sentiments.
Voices from the Margin
R.S. Sugirtharajah, Editor
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756864, $35.00 www.orbisbooks.com
The third revised, expanded edition of VOICES FROM THE MARTIN: INTERPRETING THE BIBLE IN THE THIRD WORLD represents a major revision of a powerful resource, adding some sixteen new essays and a new section on postcolonial readings of scripture to a survey of Third World applications of Biblical passages and teachings. Some essays are specific to given cultures, such as those on Japan: others are more general and combine an analysis of Biblical passages with insights into Third World economics and social condition. Any college-level spirituality collection will find it an excellent guide applying Biblical concepts to Third World concerns perfect for missionaries.
The Asian Jesus
Michael Amaladoss
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
1570756619, $22.00 www.orbisbooks.com
Nine selected images from Asian literature, culture and religion can offer new insights into Jesus, and THE ASIAN JESUS offers a different kind of interpretation perfect for understanding both differing cultural perceptions and ideas of Jesus. Jesus has been depicted, for example, as guru, satyagrahi, avatar and even a danger: Biblical quotes and spiritual reflection blend in a fine guide perfect for any serious Christian library; especially important for those seeking a cross-cultural representation of Jesus.
Athiest Universe
David Mills
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
1569755671, $14.95 www.ulyssespress.com
A religious explanation is unnecessary to explain the universe's beauty and diversity; that's the foundation premise of ATHEIST UNIVERSE, which uses logic to rebut arguments which claim to 'prove God'. It's unusual to see such a precise scientific argument which includes discussions of the definition of atheism, myths of creation, and the meaning of life without God: a fascinating discussion is fostered which invites reflective reading and makes this an item of choice not just for spirituality holdings, but any public library lending collection.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Zombiemania
Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg & Andrew Hershberger
Telos Publishing LTD.
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside, LTD
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135-3303
1845830032, $22.95 www.telos.co.uk 1-800-387-9776
Entertainment writers Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg & Andrew Hershberger present Zombiemania: 80 Movies To Die For, a guide especially for zombie movie connoisseurs. From "28 Days Later" to "Night of the Living Dead" to even movies that are not overtly about zombies overrunning the world such as "Pirates of the Caribbean", Zombiemania offers all the juicy, flesh-rending morsels a zombie movie lover could want. From a plot synopsis, to notes on continuity or logical quirks, to cast lists, behind the scenes tidbits, black-and-white photographs, notes on ideas borrowed from other movies and where cast members appeared before, critical analyses, and much more, Zombiemania provides an in-depth portrait of the 80 zombie movies it profiles. An additional title index with over 550 films described and cross-referenced (taking alternate titles into account) rounds out this first-rate guide, especially recommended as a Halloween giftbook.
Commercial Theater Institute Guide to Producing Plays and Musicals
Frederic B. Vogel and Ben Hodges, Editors
Applause Theatre
c/o Hal Leonard
19 W. 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836523, $19.95 www.applausepub.com
Any who want to put on a play will find the decades of experience of the Commercial Theatre Institute lends to working knowledge and real-world applications, collecting for the first time the cream of the crop of advice from the professionals who participate in an annual intensive program in New York. Chapters include interviews and contributions from over thirty such professionals as they explore everything from fundraising and Broadway and off-Broadway productions to community theatre and sponsorship and co-production opportunities. This excellent survey will appeal to any interested in commercial play production's nuts and bolts as well as to those libraries specializing in community drama and theatre efforts.
The Sports Shelf
A Great Teammate
Randall Swearingen
Sports Publishing L.L.C.
804 North Neil St., Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
1596701943, $16.95 www.SportsPublishingLLC.com 1-877-424-2665
The late Mickey Mantle (who passed away in 1995 after a lifetime of noted achievements) is one of the most respected, admired, and accomplished men to ever play the game of professional baseball. The story of his life and successes both on and off the field are the subject of Randall Swearingen's "A Great Teammate: The Legend of Mickey Mantle". Swearingen writes about Mickey Mantle with a special enthusiasm and expertise that arises from personally having met him a year before his death, becoming an avid collector of Mickey Mantle memorabilia, creating a website dedicated to Mickey Mantle (www.mickeymantle.com), and himself playing baseball from his youth down to the present day where, at the age of 53, Swearingen still plays in the Houston Men's Senior League. Enhanced with a comprehensive appendices providing Mickey Mantle's lifetime baseball statistics, "A Great Teammate" is a 'must read' for anyone who has ever thrilled to a game with Mantle playing, or who have themselves ever stood at the plate with bat in hand.
Twenty Affordable Sailboats to Take You Anywhere
Gregg Nestor
Paradise Cay Publications
Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
0939837722, $19.95 www.paracay.com
The design, construction, and specifications of different affordable sailboats are surveyed here in Twenty Affordable Sailboats to Take You Anywhere: a perfect pick for any general-interest public library where boating is a patron's hobby. These are in-depth reviews of each of twenty comfortable, seaworthy sailboats which range in size from 30-38 feet and focus on boats still readily available in the used boat market, making this of special interest and very useful to any would-be boater.
The Audiobook Shelf
Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio
Lincoln Child's DEEP STORM (0739332759, $29.95) receives Scott Brick's vivid reading and tells of a naval doctor summoned to a remote oil platform in the ocean to help diagnose a strange medical condition spreading through the rig. His arrival reveals a deeper danger affecting a research facility built two miles under the surface and leads Dr. Crane to Deep Storm and its dangerous discovery in this gripping thriller which is a heart-stopper from start to finish. Lisa Unger's SLIVER OF TRUTH (0739341839, $29.95) receives Broadway actress Jenna Lamia's acting strengths as it tells of Ridley Jones, who finds herself at the center of a global network of crime simply by picking up a few envelopes of prints at a photo lab. The photos will change and challenge her life and may even destroy it unless she can find out their truth. Both are exceptional listens public libraries will find popular lends.
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859
Christopher Pike's FALLING (1423332776, $38.95) enjoys William Dufris's strong background as an audio narrator and producer as it tells of a thwarted love's diabolical scheme which causes him to disappear, in charge of his ex-girlfriend's infant son. FBI agent Kelly, recovering from an attack by a serial killer, faces her own abandonment at the same time: the two broken personalities will find each other linked in this unusual story. Stephen White's DRY ICE (1423328795, $38.95) receives Dick Hill's veteran 'golden voice' as it tells of a killer who is created from scratch. One man holds the secrets from Alan's past those not even his wife know and a dangerous psychological game evolves. Heather Graham's THE DEAD ROOM (1423331648, $36.95) enjoys veteran narrator Joyce Bean's smooth voice and background as a voice talent as it tells of one archaeologist Leslie, who has come to terms with her fiancι's death in a blast and who finds herself left with an ability to communicate with ghosts. Her return to the site of the explosion for her own answers will offer clues to the truth and new dangers alike. Mary Alice Monroe's SWIMMING LESSONS (1423331052, $36.95) receives Mary Alice Monroe's own reading which spices the lively story of a mentor's influence on the next generation. Three women who have experienced loss find friendship and support together one summer as turtle season begins. Lisa Jackson's ABSOLUTE FEAR (1423315154, $38.95) receives veteran Joyce Bean's narrative prowess and tells of Eve, who was nearly killed one night and suffers from amnesia. Her incomplete memory of events has caused her lover Cole to escape a murder charge and now a new series of murders is beginning which only Eve can stop if she can remember essential details. All are excellent audio listens.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Mystery of Christ
Rev. John Behr
St. Vladimir's Press
575 Scarsdale Rd., Crestwood, NY 10707
0881413062, $16.95 www.svspress.com 1-800-204-2665
Reverend John Behr (Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary) presents The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death, a scholarly approach to Christian theology, penned in a systematic manner that answers quandaries that have arisen in theological and scriptural studies in recent centuries. Beginning with the Passion narratives, The Mystery of Christ discusses how holy scripture itself can be searched to find Christ, how Christ is born within those souls who are born again in the Church, and how His word becomes his new incarnation through the words and actions of those who glorify God. An inset selection of color plates illustrates this rich theological examination, open to Christians of all backgrounds despite its scholarly format.
Even the Demons Submit
Loren L. Johns & James R. Krabill, editors
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683
0936273402, $15.95 www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447
Even the Demons Submit: Continuing Jesus' Ministry of Deliverance is an anthology of essays by deliverance ministers, psychologists, pastors, biblical scholars, missiologists, anthropologists, and individuals who have experienced deliverance. The essays themselves are not entirely discrete; some represent direct, specific and personal responses to other essays. Formats of writings range from scholarly precision to pastoral reverence, yet an overall theme of the importance and power of doing God's work in the battle against evil prevails amid individual writings such as "Demonization and the Therapeutic Community", "The systemic spirit of the family", "Trusting Jesus When Quick Fixes Elude Us", case studies, and much more. A thoughtful addition to Christian dialogue shelves.
The Practical Prophet
Bishop Ken Untener
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Mahwah NJ 07430
0809144298, $19.95 www.paulistpress.com
Catholic Bishop Ken Untener presents The Practical Prophet: Pastoral Writings, an anthology of inspirational and challenging essays especially for Christian ministers. The writings included are divided into the categories "Vision and Creative Imagination", "Liturgy and the Word", "Ministry of Mercy", "Consistent Ethic of Life", "Ministry of Prophet", and "The Wider Church". Each section is introduced by one of the author's trusted advisors. A plain-spoken tone, and a binding call to bring the church back to its roots form a solid common thread between diverse topics in this excellent and thought-provoking resource. The Practical Prophet is as timely and modern-thinking as it is spiritual, addressing serious present-day concerns as well as theological issues. "Day after day we read reports of past abuse by priests. This is the most agonizing experience I have ever had. It's not a thorn in my side. It's a sword in my soul. The pain comes from knowing that some youngsters have been hurt. The pain also comes from knowing that you have suffered as a member of the Catholic Church. It's on my mind every waking hour." Highly recommended.
Gospel Connections for Teens
Corey Brost, CSV
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
0884896412, $4.95 www.smp.org
Written by Corey Brost, a priest with the Clerics of Saint Viator, Gospel Connections for Teens: Reflections for Sunday Mass Cycle C is a guide meant to help Christian teens prepare for Sunday Mass. Divided into sections consisting of a Gospel passage, a plain-terms discussion of the passage, and questions for reflection. Each section can be absorbed in twenty minutes or less, making Gospel Connections for Teens ideal for young Christians trying to keep up with a hectic schedule. "If a word or phrase from the Gospel grabs your heart, sit quietly for several minutes, repeating it to yourself and asking God to show you how it applies to your life. Or, reflect and possibly journal on the following question: Does your fear of failure ever stop you from taking risks for your faith?" Though intended especially for Catholic teens, Gospel Connections for Teens is a superb spiritual resource for Christian readers of all ages, and its broad selection of Gospel insights is sure to appeal to Christians of any denomination.
What Can I Do?
Barbara A. Glanz
Augsburg Books
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
0806653272, $13.99 www.augsburgfortress.org
Written by certified speaking professional Barabara A. Glanz, What Can I Do?: Ideas to Help Those Who Have Experienced Loss is a guide to comforting friends, family members, acquaintances, and anyone else in one's life who has experienced the crushing loss of a loved one. Chapters offer practical advice and heartfelt recommendations, from ways to celebrate the life of the person who passed on to creating traditions that keep memories of loved ones alive. "When someone is grieving, they have no thought of themselves; they are simply in survival mode, so doing something that brings them joy and focuses simply on them is a precious gift. Present them with a gift certificate for a massage, facial, manicure, or pedicure to help soothe their soul and brighten their spirits." Though there are occasional religious references, What Can I Do? is an inclusive, highly recommended guide intended for readers of all Christian denominations and all backgrounds.
Touching the World
Dan McKanan
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
0814631754, $14.95 www.litpress.com
Written by Dan McKanan (associate professor and chair of the theology department, College of Saint Benedict at Saint John's University), Touching the World is an eye-opening exploration of two contemporary Christian movements that reach out to serve the world and share their transformative potential. One is Camphill, inspired by Rudolf Steiner's vision of Christianity, which hosts a worldwide network of schools and villages, and the Catholic Worker movement, which today includes nearly two hundred houses of hospitality and rural farms. Touching the world applies a combined theological and ethnographic approach to its study of these movements' successes and limitations, and the positive value that Christian communities can have in the world. A deeply spiritual and uplifting account.
A Monastic Vision for the 21st Century
Patrick Hart, OSCO, editor
Cistercian Publications
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5415
0879070579, $15.95 www.amazon.com
A Monastic Vision for the 21st Century: Where Do We Go From Here? is an anthology of serious-minded essays by a variety of authors, including monks and theology professors, discussing the role of monasteries - particularly Roman Catholic Cistercian monasteries - in the modern-day world. Autobiographical reflections, spiritual insights, practical considerations, theological ponderings, and much more fill these thoughtful essays, and speculations on the future of Western monasticism. Highly recommended, especially for theology and Christology students and professionals. "We live in a culture where many scientists are so taken up with the very real achievements of recent times, that they are distorting its human significance by interpreting the data to fit the ideology of materialism. Cistercian life has a contribution to make to society as well as to the Church in this context by assuring that spirituality is rooted in the reality of the created cosmos precisely by using such discoveries to implement the contemplative program outlined in more general terms by St. Bernard and his associates."
The Original African Heritage Study Bible
Cain Hope Felder, General Editor
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
0817015124, $50.00 www.judsonpress.com 1-800-458-3766
Under the expert editorship of Cain Hope Felder, "The Original African Heritage Study Bible: King James Version" is enhanced with special annotations providing a unique African/Edenic perspective to the primary source document of Christianity. A unique and highly recommended edition of the King James translation, "The Original African Heritage Study Bible" provides the reader with an interpreted Scripture as it relates to persons of African descent. Included study features include introductions to each book of the bible, highlighted scripture references of African/Edenic presence, 64 pages of full-color photographs, illustrations and maps, an identification of African martyrs and saints, women of African lineage, maps of ancient Africa, a glossary of biblical proper names, a major subject index, and the words of Jesus Christ printed in red. The product of meticulous and rigorous biblical scholarship, readers of "The Original African Heritage Study Bible" will be privileged with a special appreciation of the Holy Bible's inherent multiculturalism.
First Voyage Of The Apostle Thomas To India
James Kurikilamkatt
Asian Tradition Corporation
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
81-7086-359-7, $12.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756
In a Malabar tradition arising from the first century of the common era, the apostle Thomas reached Kodungallur in Kerala in 52 AD where he began preaching the new religion of a risen Christ or savior named Jesus of Nazareth. Assuming this tradition is historically accurate, the question arises as to where he was ministering and teaching during the preceding two decades between the death of Jesus in about 33 AD and his arrival in Kodungallur. There is another tradition concerning Thomas about his going to the northern provinces of India and preaching to the communities there. "First Voyage Of The Apostle Thomas To India" by James Kurikilamkatt (a priest belonging to the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle) explores that early tradition and addresses the issue of Christian communities and Pakistan and India having the same apostolic patrimony of St. Thomas. A work of impressively detailed scholarship and commentary, "First Voyage Of The Apostle Thomas To India" is informed and informative reading which is readily and enthusiastically recommended to the attention of students of early Christian movements in general, and the life of St. Thomas the Apostle in particular.
Intervarsity Press
Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
www.ivpress.com
Two excellent titles take spirituality into the modern age with hard-hitting topics certain to reach younger Christians. Efrem Smith and Phil Jackson's THE HIP-HOP CHURCH: CONNECTING WITH THE MOVEMENT SHAPING OUR CULTURE (0830833293) provides an important survey which advocates reaching spiritual souls through their own language the music of hiphop. From understanding hiphop culture to bringing it into the church, any involved in a church and seeking to involve urban youth must have THE HIP-HOP CHURCH: it's an inspirational survey of how to reach out in an alternative manner. Craig A. Evans' FABRICATING JESUS: HOW MODERN SCHOLARS DISTORT THE GOSPELS (0830833188) examines New Testament writings and why the majority of scholars do not and should not accept a range of claims, from Jesus' involvement with Mary Magdalene to his possible connections with Gnostics. Chapters probe 'alien contexts', 'diminished deeds', and more in a study essential for any modern scholar of New Testament teachings.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Baen Books
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
Take suspense and blend it with science fiction using the short story format and you have a set of truly gripping adventures, as represented in Keith Laumer (Eric Flint, Editor)'s The Long Twilight and Other Stories (1416521097, $14.00). From a final combat between two forces in an uncontrolled experimental power plant that threatens Earth to a detective who is given devices to aid his investigation which seem far beyond any Earthly technology, this collection holds an outstanding selection of vivid plots and action, and is a top pick for any serious science fiction collection. Eric Flint's GRANTVILLE GAZAETTE III (1416509410, $25.00) continues the story of a small town from 20th century West Virginia which is hurled back in time to 17th century Europe. Here's a collection of new stories including a new one by creator Eric Flint himself which provides a series of encounters based on this premise, from American teens who change history through financial efforts to a woman who seeks sanctuary within Grantville's world. As a strong novel of alternate history/fantasy, it's a winner. Steve White & Shirley Meier's EXODUS (1416520988, $26.00) offers up a fine sequel to THE SHIVA OPTION, and fans of this prior book will be the most likely enthusiasts for its ongoing saga. Here decades have passed and the original warriors of the 'battle against the bugs' have grown complacent. How can they win against aliens who know they will be reincarnated when they die? Fast action and gripping drama makes EXODUS a pick for any who enjoyed THE SHIVA OPTION. David Weber's OATH OF SWORDS (1416520864, $15.00) tells of one Bahzell Bahnakson, part of a race renowned for uncontrolled rages and inability to be civilized. Add in a vengeful prince, a hostage bond, and interference with a war God's agenda and you have a fast-paced fantasy packed with plenty of 'sword and sorcery' action perfect for fantasy lending libraries.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Diabetes Travel Guide
Davida F. Kruger
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402364, $14.95 www.diabetes.org 1-800-342-2383
Now in a completely updated and significantly expanded second edition, "The Diabetes Travel Guide" by Davida F. Kruger is the ideal resource for anyone with diabetes who needs to travel for purposes of business or pleasure. The perfect planning resource for trips ranging from across town to across the country, "The Diabetes Travel Guide" covers medical needs, snacks, a physicians note, and other essentials for the diabetic. Whether traveling by car, bus, train, ship, or plane, whether visiting a city or camping out in the wilderness, "The Diabetes Travel Guide" will prove indispensable to insuring the safety and health of the diabetic traveler. Sized to fit nicely into a coat pocket or a purse, and enhanced with website information, phone numbers, charts on adjusting medication, insulin issues, and even translations of common phrases in several different languages in case of an overseas emergency, "The Diabetes Travel Guide" is strongly recommended for anyone having (or traveling with someone having) diabetes-based health concerns.
The Weight, Hypnotherapy and You Weight Reduction Program
Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.
Crown House Publishing Limited
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5 Bethel, CT 06801
1845900316, $44.95 www.chpus.com
Certified clinical hypnotherapist Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D. presents The Weight, Hypnotherapy and You Weight Reduction Program: An NLP and Hypnotherapy Practitioner's Manual, a guide written to help hypnotherapy practitioners seeking give their clients a fully-scripted, ready-to-use weight reduction program. Chapters cover the eight sessions of the Weight, Hypnotherapy, and You program from stopping emotional eating with stress reduction to making sensible food choices, boosting motivation to exercise and more, how to enhance success by coaching stuck clients and recommendations for follow-up sessions, and a wealth of tips, tricks and techniques. Though intended for hypnotherapists, the sound principles behind adopting a healthier lifestyle are quite universal. An accompanying CD includes copies of useful handouts such as a Client Workbook with take-home readings and assignments. Highly recommended for professional hypnotherapists.
Kiss Dieting Goodbye
Elliot Young
Harvest House Publishing
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
0736918957, $11.99 www.harvesthousepublishers.com 1-800-547-8979
Written by certified personal trainer Elliot Young, Kiss Dieting Goodbye: Embracing a Whole New Way to Lose Weight explains why "quick fix" dieting doesn't work - and what truly does. Kiss Dieting Goodbye teaches the reader how to accomplish long-term positive transformations. Tips, tricks and techniques for portion control, embracing a more active lifestyle, healthy recipes, true stories and much more make Kiss Dieting Goodbye a "must-read" for anyone tired of starving themselves only to see all the weight they lost come right back.
To Die Well
Sidney Wanzer, MD & Joseph Glenmullen, MD
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0738210838, $24.00 www.dacapopress.com 1-800-242-7737
TO DIE WELL: YOUR RIGHT TO COMFORT, CALM, AND CHOICE IN THE LAST DAYS OF LIFE comes from a leader in the right-to-die movement, and a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist who offer insights on turning points in a dying patient's life: one when no reasonable expectation of a cure is possible, the second involving hastening death the subject of this book. TO DIE WELL focuses on patient rights, physician involvement, and how to stay in control of advance directives. It promises to be an essential addition not just for medical libraries, but for general-interest collections.
The World History Shelf
A Concise History Wales
Geraint H. Jenkins
Cambridge University Press
100 Brook Hill Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994-2133
0521530717, $24.99 www.cambridge.org
Written by Geraint H. Jenkins (Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies), A Concise History of Wales is a compilation of up-to-date historical research as well as current discussions concerning Wales and what it means to be Welsh. The result is a thorough chronicle of the history of Wales and Welsh people from 383 to 2006 A.D. Of particular interest is the methods by which the Welsh resourcefully preserved their culture and heritage despite Anglo-Norman conquest, pestilence, volatile economic fluctuations, and more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations grace this thoughtful overview, researched with the meticulous exactitude worthy of scholars yet accessible to lay readers as well.
Brief Romanian Military History
Calin Hentea
The Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
0810858207, $55.00 www.scarecrowpress.com 1-800-462-6420
Romanian armed forces colonel Calin Hentea presents Brief Romanian Military History, a concise chronology and summary of conflicts in Romania from the 6th Century BC to the modern day. Thirty-five pages are devoted to the chronology alone; then, each chapter is divided into numerous short sections that describe a specific event, discovery, advance in military technology, or other turning point in Romanian Military History. Notes and a handful of black-and-white photographs and illustrations embellish this serious-minded, fact-heavy reference, ideal for world military history and reference shelves.
Heresy, Culture, and Religion in Early Modern Italy
Ronald K. Delph, Michelle M. Fontaine, & John Jefferies Martin, editors
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112584, $49.95 http://tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802
Heresy, Culture, and Religion in Early Modern Italy: Contexts and Contestations is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors examining religious reform movements on the Italian peninsula during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Individual works examine "The Turbulent Life of the Florentine Community in Venice", "Making Heresy Marginal in Modena", "Legal Remedies for Forced Monachization in Early Modern Italy", and much more. An index for quick reference rounds out this thoughtful and multidimensional scrutiny of a critical turning point in Christianity's historical evolution.
Cities of the Middle East and North Africa
Michael R.T. Dumper & Bruce Stanley, Editors
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911]
1576079198, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com
CITIES OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: A HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA is a top pick for the high school to college-level collection where courses in Middle Eastern or North Africa are given. A full overview of each city's historical path offers a depth of coverage not seen in more general titles, examining everything from local politics to local culture and blending in debates and controversies on every issue affecting each city. Over fifteen academic contributors from around the world lend insights to an outstanding reference.
Scourge of the Seas
Angus Konstam
Osprey Publishing
443 park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
1846032113, $24.95 www.ospreypublishing.com
Scourge of the Seas: Buccaneers, Pirates and Privateers examines the myths and realities of pirate life, examining the stories of adventure on the seas, the biographies of practicing pirates throughout history, and considering pirate ships and vivid battles alike. Other books on pirate history may offer the same viewpoint with a less detailed perspective: SCOURGE OF THE SEAS covers not just events and personalities, but is packed with details about ships, weaponry, codes of behavior, and holds plenty of color photos throughout. A top pick for collections seeking more than a casual coverage.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers
Shel Horowitz
AWM Books
16 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA 01035
0961466634, $24.95 www.frugalmarketing.com/shop.html
Shel Horowitz is an accomplished professional consultant and practitioner in the art and science of small press publishing. Shel draws upon many years of hard won experience and expertise to write and publish "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers", a 292-page compendium of descriptive commentary, advice, tips, techniques, resources, instructions, and examples of how an author can go about successfully marketing their book in a highly competitive and often volatile marketplace. Shel has included seven different marketing models that authors can draw upon to create inexpensive yet very effective websites as part of their overall book marketing strategy. Also included are two complete, full-length marketing plans that are actually based on two of Shel's author clients. Examples of eight actual press releases and six successful media pitches are provided as templates. Exemplary anecdotal stories drawn from some forty-one authors and publishers, plus about a dozen publishing industry experts, provide aspiring authors with real-life examples of what they can do to promote and marketing their book regardless of genre. Enhanced with a 16-page resource appendix listing dozens of useful books, website, publications, book coaches, organizes, etc., "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" can be considered an informed, user friendly, 'how to' book marketing seminar/workshop in a single volume. Of special note are Shel's commentaries on why books (and their authors) fail in bookstores, online marketing, and operating profitably in a market where only about ten percent of self-published and small press titles sell more than 1000 copies. It should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is favorably cited on seven occasions within the pages of "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers". Nevertheless, there is no conflict of interest when strongly recommending "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" to the attention of 'midlist' authors of major publishing houses who find themselves shouldering the burden of promoting and marketing their books, self-published authors who have established their own imprint, authors who utilize the services of Print-On-Demand (POD) companies to turn their manuscripts into finished books, as well as authors whose books are published by small presses and niche publishers. "Grassroots Marketing For Authors And Publishers" is the ideal reference manual for anyone having to promote a book with little or no available capital for publicity and promotion. Indeed, studying Shel's advice and instructions carefully could well make the difference between commercial success or failure for an author or a publisher.
Fairy Tales For Writers
Lawrence Schimel
A Midsummer Night's Press
16th West 36th Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10018
0979420806 $6.50 www.amidsummernightspress.com
"Fairy Tales For Writers" is a virtually unique entry into the Midwest Book Review's monthly book review column 'The Writing/Publishing Shelf' which is usually devoted to 'how to' books and manuals for aspiring writers and novice publishers. This small, slender, imaginative, hilarious, and all-to-true 30-page collection of poetry by Lawrence Schimel wonderfully and artfully reflects the almost archetypal hopes, ambitions, frustrations, passions, and processes of writing for publication. Here in a kind of poetic folklore format are 'the new writer who encounters a wolf along the path to publication'; the writing workshop member who must always be 'the fairest of them all'; the writer who for the sake of love gives up her own special voice; the shy, anonymous author who slips away before the end of the reading only to be remorselessly tracked down by the editor wanting to publisher her work. Everyone who has ever put pen to paper, and the tried to submit that paper to a publisher, will recognize the poetically expressed truths in Lawrence Schimel's superb little book, "Fairy Tales For Writers". As the last line on the last page of this marvelous little gem has it: "Sometimes there is a happy ending, even in publishing."
Bulletproof Book Proposals
Pam Brodowsky & Eric Neuhaus
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
1582973679 $14.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966
For every 100 book proposals submitted to publishers by hopeful authors, two will make it and the other ninety-eight will not. That's why literary agent Pam Brodowsky and successful author Eric Neuhaus teamed-up to create a 'how to' manual of instruction and advice to help aspiring writers seeking to break into print better the odds against them. The first part of "Bulletproof Book Proposals" addresses the book proposal writing process through clear instructions and exercises, along with a ten-step approach designed to teach the author how to craft an overview of their writing project that is clear, concise, and engaging; conduct a thorough competitive-book analysis; define primary and secondary markets, and write effective chapter outlines and summaries. The second part of "Bulletproof Book Proposals" presents twelve real-life book proposals that were successful in getting published. Also featured are informative commentaries from the authors and agents of those proposals, as well as the editors who accepted them for publication. "Bulletproof Book Proposals" is a complete, 'user friendly', and strongly recommended do-it-yourself seminar workshop in the creation of effective, successful, profitable book proposals a skill that is a fundamental necessity for anyone seeking to create a professional writing career for themselves. Also very highly recommended from Writer's Digest Press are two other references for aspiring authors: "The Glimmer Trains Guide To Writing Fiction" (1582974462, $19.99) and Bill Brohaugh's "Unfortunate English: The Gloomy Truth Behind The Words You Use" (1582974438, $18.99).
Writing a Great Movie
Jeff Kitchen
Loan Eagle
c/o Watson-Guptill Publishing
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823069788, $19.95 www.watsonguptill.com
Theory blends with applied instruction in WRITING A GREAT MOVIE, which offers a manual of tools for aspiring screenwriters. From learning how to set theme and understanding basic dramatic situations to working up demo plots and understanding when to stop, WRITING A GREAT MOVIE moves from basics to advanced techniques and will find a home on the shelf of any serious 'how to' library.
Let's Get Creative: Writing Fiction That Sells
William F. Nolan
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956505, $14.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com
William F. Nolan is the successful author of more than eighty works of fiction and so brings to "Let's Get Creative: Writing Fiction That Sells" a very special expertise based on personal experience and hard work. Writing with a much appreciated clarity and occasional touches of human, Nolan covers getting started as a writer, where ideas can (and do) come from, the critical value and necessity of a story's climax, the use of dialogue, 'characterization-within-action, the art of revising a manuscript, the value of humor, achieving a personal writing style, employing all five senses in the art and craft of writing fiction, developing conflict to create and hold reader interest, 'hooking the reader', the differences between writing short stories and full length novels, shifting between prose and script writing, handling rejection (the inevitable lot of even the most accomplished and successful authors), and dealing with publishers and literary agents (also inevitable for aspiring writers seeking to become or continue as successfully published authors). A superbly presented and informative introduction 'how to' manual to the art, craft and realities of writing fiction, "Let's Get Creative: Writing Fiction That Sells" is a 'must' read for the novice author and has a great deal to recommend it to even the more seasoned fiction writing as well.
The Large Print Shelf
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com 1-800-955-9659
Every community library should maintain a large-print collection for the benefit of their older patrons in need of the large print format in order to enjoy reading for pleasure and recreation. Ulverscroft Large Print is the primary source for large print books in both fiction and non-fiction categories. One of the Thorpe imprints is especially designed to interest an adult male readership through providing large-print editions of western novels as part of the highly recommended 'Lindford Western Library' series. Among the most recent western novel titles issued are Corba Sunman's "Marshal Law" (1846176646); Ben Nicholas' "Badlanders" (1846176638 ); Jack Holt's "Hot Lead Range" (184617662X); Mark Bannerman's "Fury At Troon's Ferry" (1846176212); John Dyson's "The Bonanza Trail" (1846176239); Ben Coady's "Ponderfoot's Dollars" (1846176220); E.C. Tubb's "The Gold Seekers" (1846175887); and Alan Irwin's "The Long Search" (1846176247). Another truly excellent large print series of western novels distributed by Ulverscroft are the Dales Large Print editions of Lance Howard's "Johnny Dead" (1842625098 ); J.P. O'Donnell's "Man From Pine Ridge" (1842625101); Terry Murphy's "Danger In The Desert" (184262511X ); Elliot James' "Hot Spur" (1842625047); and Jack McKenzie's "Second-Shot Sullivan" (184262508X). Individuals and community librarians seeking to enhance their large-print book collections for visually impaired or limited readers are strongly advised to visit the Ulverscroft website at www.ulverscroftusa.com for a total listing of their hundreds of excellent large-print titles in all genres and categories.
The Library DVD Shelf
Wallis & Edward
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
AMP-9276, $24.99 www.acornmedia.com
Edward, Prince of Wales was first in line for the British throne when he first met Wallis Simpson and her husband Ernest. They were Americans visiting in England on business when Edward and Wallis began what seemed to be just another affair in Edward's long string of mistresses. When Edward became King of England after his father's death, his affair with Wallis escalated with her divorcee from her husband. Edward was adamant that he would married Wallis and make her his Queen, despite her status as a twice divorced American woman of common background. The scandal rocked all of England and resulted in the only time a British monarch would renounce his throne in order to marry the woman he loved. "Wallis & Edward" is a brilliant BBC production of a royal love that would change history on the eve of the second world war. Truly tour-de-force performances are provided by every member of the multiple cast. The costumes and sets are picture perfect. This 94-minute film is now available in a DVD format allowing for the addition of an interview with writer Sarah Williams, production notes, a production photo gallery, an historical photo galley, and cast filmographies. A simply brilliant, informed, and entertaining production, "Wallis & Edward" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library DVD collections.
The Real Middle Earth
Sir Ian Holm, narrator
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
9781568392346 $24.95 www.janson.com
The Real Middle Earth is an amazing documentary that takes the viewer on a tour of the real-world locations that inspired the fantastic settings of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy "The Lord of the Rings", later adapted into popular feature films by director Peter Jackson. From the heritage of European languages that Tolkien drew from to enrich the fantastic languages of Middle Earth, to the real "Dead Marshes" known as the Great War battlefields of the Somme to Saxon burial sites, Warwick and Oxford, and much more, The Real Middle Earth is a singularly inspirational and captivating tour. Bonus features include a profile of Stephen Raw, the official mapmaker of "The Lord of the Rings"; a profile of the prosthetics team behind "The Lord of the Rings" special effects, and extended interviews with Tolkien scholars Helen Armstrong, Patrick Curry, and John Garth. A "must-have" for any true Tolkien fan. 105 minutes, color.
Cowboys, Indians & Lawyers
Julia Dengel
Walking Shadow Productions & KUED
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
DVD $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764
"Cowboys, Indians & Lawyers" is an informed and informative documentary that follows the conflict between to opposing groups over the use and control of the free-flowing waters of the Animas River in Colorado. A dam project called ALP had been authorized by Congress some 30 years ago and was intended to help white farmers irrigate desert lands but it had never been built. The plans for the construction of the dam gain new impetus when it becomes part of a massive development plan that includes coal mines, power plants, and housing developments. That when the Southern Ute Indian tribal leadership's alliance with the developers comes into conflict with Sage Remington (a radical Southern Ute Activist) and his supporters that include white environmentalists. "Cowboys, Indians & Lawyers" is a 57 minute documentary by Julia Dengel that is especially recommended viewing for students of Native American studies, environmental studies, and political science. Also highly recommended for academic and community library Native American Studies collections from Bullfrog Films are the DVD documentary "When Is Enough, Enough?: The Appetite For Oil" (which is the story of a small Cree band in Alberta, Canada, and their struggle with major oil companies for control of their tribal lands which lies atop one of the world's richest oil tar sands deposits), and the DVD documentary "Homeland: Four Portraits Of Native Action" telling the story of how nearly all 317 of the Native American reservations in the U.S. are threatened by environmental problems ranging from toxic waste and strip mining, to oil drilling and nuclear contamination.
The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
Fair Winds Press
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
1592332285 $24.99 www.411videoinfo.com
Nutritionist Jonny Bowden presents The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, a guide for readers of all backgrounds that does not shy away from controversy. From why milk-off-the-supermarket-shelf is questionable (pasteurization destroys many nutrients, plus factory farmed cattle tend to be fed unhealthy diets with massive doses of antibiotics) to the value of blueberries as a memory-promoting food to the antioxidant properties of peanuts, and healthy foods such as Goji berries that readers may be unfamiliar with, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth is sure to dispel common misconceptions and encourage better food choices and eating habits. The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth is not a vegan or vegetarian book, as it promotes the value of eggs, grass-fed beef, and certain types of seafood, but the majority of ingredients listed are fruits or vegetables. Full-color photographs and a frank discussion of food controversies - including those for which there is not enough evidence to support proof one way or the other - round out this practical and solidly honest guide. Highly recommended.
Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
WGBH
c/o SSA Public Relations
148 Madison Avenue, 16th floor PH-1, New York, NY 10016
9781593757052 $29.95 1-877-807-2622
Co-produced by BBC and WGBH Boston, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre is a 2-DVD movie adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's classic novel about strong woman and the buried secrets she must confront. After surviving a miserable childhood, Jane Eyre accepts a governess p
