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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Winston Churchill Reporting: Adventures of a Young War Correspondent
Simon Read
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780306823817 $26.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com
Winston Churchill Reporting: Adventures of a Young War Correspondent is the true-life story of
a lesser-known period in the life of British statesman Winston Churchill (1874-1965). Today
Churchill is best known as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940-1945 (during
the harrowing years of World War II), and again from 1951-1955. But before Churchill was a
politician who made history, he was a journalist who reported history in the making. When
Churchill was in his 20s, he established a reputation as not only a talented war reporter, but also
as a strong-willed soldier. Extensively researched, rich in detail, and enhanced with notes, a
bibliography, and an index, Winston Churchill Reporting is worthy of the highest
recommendation for public and college library biography collections.
On the Origin of Superheroes
Chris Gavaler
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609383817 $18.00 www.uiowapress.org
Chris Gavaler (assistant professor of English, Washington and Lee University) presents On the
Origin of Superheroes: From the Big Bang to Action Comics No. 1, an extraordinary tour of the
pop culture mythology of superheroes - including their secret identities, disguises, iconic
symbols, origin stories, superhuman powers, and sense of nobility and duty. These key tropes
existed ages before Superman's comic book debut; they appear in mythology, folklore,
philosophy, even revolutionary manifestos throughout human history. A handful of
black-and-white illustrations, a bibliography, and an index enhance this enlightening analysis,
created to be thoroughly accessible to cultural studies scholars and superhero fans alike.
The Penny-Pinching Prepper
Bernie Carr
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612434872 $12.95 www.ulyssespress.com
The Penny Pinching Prepper: Save More, Spend Less and Get Prepared for Any Disaster lives up
to its title as a combination money-saving and disaster-preparation guide. From economizing on
food costs, to ensuring one has access to potable water in a crisis, to what is needed in a first aid
kit, hygiene and personal care considerations, and more, The Penny-Pinching Prepper is
invaluable. "Discard any canned foods that are bulging or corroded; they are unsafe to eat and
may cause botulism... Also, use your senses when you open canned food. If it looks or smells
strange or even a little "off," it is best to discard it." A host of inexpensive DIY disaster-prep
projects round out this user-friendly, potentially lifesaving reference and resource.
The Quotable Amelia Earhart
Michele Wehrwein Albion, editor
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
9780826345622 $24.95 www.unmpress.com
The Quotable Amelia Earhart is an anthology of memorable words from pioneer aviator Amelia
Earhart (1897-1937), the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She was courageous,
ambitious, and a record-breaker, in an era when all three traits were considered "unfeminine".
Though she is most remembered for her tragic disappearance during the last leg of her
round-the-world flight in 1937, she deserves to be memorialized for her hard work, dedication,
and foresight. Her quotes reveal a practical-minded woman ("When you graduate be sure you go
on and have a career; don't get married as soon as you get out of school.") who believed that
women should proudly live up to their fullest potential in the workplace, many decades before
this belief became widely accepted in America. "[A woman's] place is wherever her individual
aptitude places her. There is no such thing as men's work or women's work." A handful of quotes
by others about Amelia Earhart, as well as brief notes, a bibliography, and an index for quick
reference round out this inspirational compilation.
Chilled
Tom Jackson
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781472911438, $27.00, www.bloomsbury.com
Chilled: How Refrigeration Changed the World and Might Do So Again comes from a science
writer who provides a global history of refrigeration and considers not just the science involved,
but the historical and social changes it brought with it. One could anticipate a scholarly approach
with such a subject; but the pleasure of Chilled lies in its lively, unassuming tone and scope that
presumes no prior knowledge of neither scientific principle nor human history. General-interest
readers thus will enjoy a lively consideration that includes such unexpected details as what
refrigeration actually does and how it moves beyond kitchens and food preparation into realms of
engineering and particle science. The result is a fun pursuit recommended for any with an interest
in refrigeration's impact on the world.
The Human Age
Diane Ackerman
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393351644, $15.95, www.wwnorton.com
The Human Age: The World Shaped By Us blends social history, natural history, science, and
environmental concerns in a discussion that considers humankind's impact on nature and the
environment and its possible futures, and is a wide-ranging survey that documents international
efforts to help animals and live in harmony on the planet, as well as forces at work against such
ideals. Studies, vignettes about individuals and organizations, and a dazzling array of social and
scientific revelations creates an absorbing story perfect for science, social issues, and leisure
readers alike!
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writer's Market: Deluxe Edition 2016
Robert Lee Brewer, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.WritersDigest.com
9781599639420, $49.99, www.amazon.com
The "Writer's Market Deluxe Edition 2016" is an 896 page compendium that focuses upon where
aspiring writers can sell what they write. It should be noted that a special features is the inclusion
of a one-year subscription to www.WritersMarket.com. With it, aspiring writers will gain instant
access to more than 7,500 listings for book publishers, magazines, contests, literary agents, and
more -- complete with daily updates. Beyond the listings, aspiring writers will find all-new
material devoted to the business and promotion of writing, including tips from six-figure
freelancers, ideas on how to create a productive home office, and apps that make freelance
writing easier. Plus, novice writers will learn how to build relationships in the publishing
business, use video to promote their work, and remove inevitable obstacles from their path to
freelance writing success. This new edition includes: a pay-rate chart; a book publisher subject
index; a lists of professional writing organizations; sample query letters; exclusive access to the
webinar "How to Build an Audience and Business With Your Writing" from Robert Lee Brewer,
editor of Writer's Market. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, the "Writer's Market: Deluxe
Edition 2016" should be considered an essential addition to personal, professional, community,
and academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections. In full disclosure it must be noted
that the a guaranteed review by the Midwest Book Review is part of the Writer's Digest Books
first place award package in their annual writing contest divisions and has been for a number of
years now.
The Write Prescription
Judith Hannan
Archer Books
601 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001
www.archerlit.com
9781941729038, $17.95, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Judith Hannan is the author of "Motherhood Exaggerated" (CavanKerry Press, 9781933880273,
$21.00 PB, $9.99 Kindle), her memoir of discovery and transformation during her daughter's
cancer treatment and her transition into survival. In "The Write Prescription: Telling Your Story
to Live With and Beyond Illness" Hannan draws upon her personal and professional experience
to provide the reader with an impressively written, organized and presented instructional guide
and manual for setting down in a publishable format their own experiences when dealing with a
serious illness or life-threatening injury afflicting themselves or a loved one. "The Write
Prescription" is deftly arranged in three major sections: Getting Started; Parting the Curtains,
Setting the Scene; Inside the System. Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Introduction
and 'How To Use This Book" commentary; "The Write Prescription" is further enhanced for the
non-specialist general reader with Quick Prompts; An Ending and a Beginning: Where are You
Now?; After the First Draft; and a Bibliography. Thoroughly informed, informative, and
completely 'user friendly' from beginning to end, "The Write Prescription" is very highly
recommended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference
collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Write Prescription" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games
Robert Denton Bryant & Keith Giglio
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615932290 $24.95 www.mwp.com
Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games is a practical, user-friendly guide to a specialized
type of writing - storytelling in the constantly evolving art form of video games. Unlike
traditional novel writers, video game writers must collaborate with a potential multitude of
programmers, designers, and artists, adapting their interactive story to suit the overall needs of
the game while delivering an immersive experience that "pulls in" the game player. Chapters
discuss "The No-Act-Fits-All Structure of Video Games", "Writing a Great Playable Character",
"Building Your World with the Narrative Design Toolbox", "We Can't All Be Batman: On
MMO's and Multiplayer", and much more. Thoroughly accessible to writers of all backgrounds,
Slay the Dragon: Writing Great Video Games is an absolute "must-have" for any potential writer
in the game industry - from independent game creators to mobile game writers to those seeking
opportunities to contribute to triple-A, big-budget console and computer game titles. Highly
recommended!
Stop Talking & Start Selling Your Book
Terrance Zepke
Safari Publishing
PO Box 4881, Greensboro, NC 27404
9780990765370, $9.95 pbk / $4.95 Kindle, 140pp, www.amazon.com
Terrance Zepke is an award-winning and best-selling author of twenty-eight fiction and
nonfiction books of. In "Stop Talking & Start Selling Your Book" nicely distills with wit and
wisdom what he has learned for his own experience and expertise a series of invaluable 'tips,
tricks and techniques" about successfully selling what a self-published author has to offer in a
very highly volatile and competitive marketplace. Self-published authors and novice small press
publishers will learn twenty-five different ways to increase sales on Amazon.com; fifteen various
places for selling a book; utilizing fringe markets; the use of paid promotions, getting media
interviews; 'The Real Deal with Book Reviews'; author platforms; acquiring and exploiting free
publicity; and a great deal more. Simply stated, "Stop Talking & Start Selling Your Book" (also
available in a Kindle edition for $4.99) should be a part of every author's personal instructional
reference collection -- even the authors being published by the big New York houses of the
publishing world! Full disclosure: there is a positive listing of the Midwest Book Review as a
recommended book review resource on page 29.
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200
Blue Ash, OH 45242
WritersDigest.com
Three titles from Writer's Digest Books are superb picks for both aspiring and professional
authors. Donald Maass' "The Breakout Novelist" (9781582979908, $24.99) is an all-inclusive
guide, spiral-bound for ease of reference while working. Maass, an experienced author and
literary agent, presents strategies that generations of authors have applied to craft sublime fiction,
from core elements (character-building, plot navigation, etc.) to advanced techniques involving
point of view, suspense, and the application of voice. Exercises for practicing these techniques
round out this excellent resource. Rebecca McClanahan's "Word Painting: The Fine Art of
Writing Descriptively, Revised Edition" (9781599638683, $18.99) is a specialized guide to
mastering the art of evocative writing, from improving one's personal powers of observation to
crafting standout metaphors to seamlessly incorporating vivid descriptions into stories, essays, or
poems. Enhanced with exercises, Word Painting is a superb self-teaching tool. Chuck
Sambuchino's "Get a Literary Agent" (9781599638010, $17.99) focuses on a practical aspect of
becoming a successful author - securing an effective literary representative, which is virtually
required if one desires the best possible deal with a traditional publisher (particularly in the case
of large, established publishing houses). From a step-by-step walkthrough of the submission
process and learning how to create polished query letters or book proposals, to forming a solid
partnership with one's agent and avoiding common pitfalls, "Get a Literary Agent" is invaluable.
All three guides are worthy of the highest recommendation.
The Computer Shelf
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com, www.informit.com/aw
Len Bass, Ingo Weber and Liming Zhu's DevOps: A Software Architect's Perspective
(9780134049847, $39.99) joins others in the SEI Series in Software Engineering and comes from
three leading architects who discuss the issues of DevOps and its potential for software
development and monitoring. Any software engineer interested in this up-and-coming,
revolutionary feature will learn about how it could require major changes in system architecture
and IT, how to design new systems to work with DevOps, and how to understand these impacts
across various platforms and development stages. Three real-world case studies are presented to
discuss everything from impact and business plan adjustment to integration and design concerns,
with chapters covering monitoring processes, major transition concerns, and advanced concepts
such as the design of Sourced Group CDP frameworks. The result is highly recommended for
any technical software engineering collection; especially those looking for DevOps-specific
insights. Michael Hartl's Ruby on Rails Tutorial, 3rd Edition (97801340777703, $49.99) belongs
in any programmer's collection and comes from a leading Rails developer who teaches the basics
of Rails for an audience of programmers who may hold little prior familiarity with the program.
It relies on the basic best practices of web development to teach the elements of Rails
environments and how to build Rails applications, and it includes Ruby programming skills
basics, keys to applying techniques to real-world issues, and tackles web development processes
using a solid Rails framework. Sample code, methods, and models come with resources and
discussions designed to impart the basics to an audience who wants to absorb the basics of better
web design through Rails.
The Education Shelf
Teaching Undergraduate Science
Linda C. Hodges
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781620361764 $29.95 www.styluspub.com
Linda C. Hodges (Director of the Faculty Development Center, University of Maryland,
Baltimore County) presents Teaching Undergraduate Science: A Guide to Overcoming Obstacles
to Student Learning, a straightforward resource created especially for science and engineering
faculty stymied by disengaged and dispirited undergraduate students. Hodges offers new methods
to better understand the daily struggles that students undergo, and evidence-based teaching
strategies. Chapters discuss ways to motivate and help students learn on their own, as well as
learn from problem solving, laboratory work, and research; teaching students to write like
professional scientists; making choices in what to teach and how to teach it; and much more. For
example, a common roadblock for teachers who assign science problems in homework or testing
is that their students will "plug and chug", plugging in the first equation that seems appropriate,
without thinking about or learning from the problem. "Problem solving does not automatically
help students learn content... Teaching problem solving as a process through a combination of
modeling behavior, homework strategies, and class activities can indeed deepen students'
conceptual understanding and promote their critical thinking abilities." Highly
recommended.
Specific Learning Difficulties
Diana Hudson, author
Jon English, illustrator
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849055901 $19.95 www.jkp.com
Specific Learning Difficulties: What Teachers Need to Know is a guide for educators with
specific chapters focusing on individual learning disabilities: dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia,
dyspraxia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and
Asperger syndrome, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Additional chapters offer more
information on how to help learning disabled students with organizational skills, as well as
exams and revision. Tips, tricks, techniques, and practical suggestions make Specific Learning
Difficulties invaluable for every teacher, tutor, coach, or educator who works with learning
disabled students. "How can I spot a student with dysgraphia? The student is probably bright and
eloquent but consistently hands in work that looks untidy and is well below the quality that you
would expect. If you watch them write, you may notice that the process can be laborious and
their posture and pen grip look awkward. They are slow to copy from the board or from a book
and they may complain of an aching hand."
Put College to Work
Kat Clowes, M.B.A.
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781610352536 $18.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com
Written especially for millennials by professional college and career planner Kat Clowes, M.B.A.
(herself a millennial), Put College to Work: How to Use College to the Fullest to Discover Your
Strengths and Find a Job You Love Before You Graduate lives up to its title as a
practical-minded career guide especially for students applying to or attending college. Chapters
discuss how to determine one's aptitudes and passions, time management, how to choose one's
courses for a career game plan, financial aid, and post-graduate pursuits including internships,
volunteering, graduate school, job fairs, skilled networking, resume crafting, the wise use of
social media, and much more. "Although you might think I'm getting a commission from
LinkedIn (I'm not), I can't emphasize enough how great a tool it can be for you as a high school
or college student. It takes a lot of the leg work out of networking, making connections,
researching industries, and looking for future job opportunities." In these tough economic times
with a scarcity of good-paying jobs, soaring college costs, and crushing student debt, Put College
to Work is sincerely needed and highly recommended.
Worth Writing About
Jake Wizner
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781625310484, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com
Teachers face many barriers revolving around memoir writing, especially when it comes to
adolescents, so having guidelines and fresh approaches as in Worth Writing About: Exploring
Memoir with Adolescents will prove a short cut for educators who want to address common
challenges specific to memoir writing work with adolescents. From students who believe they
don't have enough background material to write about their lives to those who don't like
revealing themselves on paper, this memoir unit shows how to approach all kinds of students
with strategies that work. The result is a handbook packed with details on how to overcome
barriers to memoir writing, highly recommended for any teacher working with adolescents.
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com
Ann Myers and Jill Berkowicz's The Stem Shift: A Guide for School Leaders (9781483317724,
$30.00) provides educational leaders with a basic examination of the STEM system and how it
applies to preparing students for colleges and careers, and it pairs case studies with discussions of
STEM models that work. The perfect audience for this discussion will be school administrators
who would apply keys to how and what children learn to larger questions of how shifts in
operating principles happen and how STEM's particular brand of education fosters a greater
awareness of choices and opportunities in students, better preparing them for the world outside
the classroom. The result is a powerful analysis highly recommended for any educator serious
about taking school leadership and direction to the next level based on STEM's unique
opportunities and perspectives. Dwayne D. Williams' An RTI Guide to Improving the
Performance of African American Students (9781483319735, $24.00) provides a step-by-step
guide to implementing evidence-based strategies for improving this group's school and testing
performance, and takes into account cultural bias and issues, RTI model specifics, and
adjustments needed to identify and address disparities in the educational system. Four core
characteristics are identified in instruction and culture, and then move into the specifics of the
classroom's processes as a whole. The result is a 'must' for any working with African American
students in diverse settings who want to apply RTI basics to this group in a fair and effective
fashion. Catlin R. Tucker's Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards With
Technology Grades 6-12 (9781483358970, $29.95) provides a powerful survey of how to
combine efforts of classroom student success with Common Core standards and requirements,
and provides specific recommendations for free apps, tech tools, guidelines and formulas for
translating a Common Core standard into a grade-specific, subject-oriented curriculum, and how
to apply classroom-tested routines. Packed with classroom experiences, reprodicibles, and
activities and templates, view Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards With
Technology as, quite simply, a 'must have' reference.
The Audiobook Shelf
Magic Shifts
Ilona Andrews
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781480640316, $29.99, www.amazon.com
After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate (the former Beast
Lord Curran Lennart) are adjusting to a very different pace. While they're thrilled to escape all
the infighting, Kate and Curran know that separating from the Pack completely is a process that
will take time. But when they learn that their friend Eduardo has gone missing, Kate and Curran
shift their focus to investigate his disappearance. Eduardo was a fellow member of the Mercenary
Guild, so Kate knows the best place to start looking is his most recent jobs. As Kate and Curran
dig further into the merc's business, they discover that the Guild has gone to hell and that
Eduardo's assignments are connected in the most sinister way. An ancient and powerful enemy
has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it before it takes their city apart
piece by piece. With exceptional production values, this complete and unabridged audio book
edition of "Magic Shifts" continues author Ilona Andrews thrilling action/adventure Kate Daniels
fantasy saga. Dramatically narrated by Renee Raudman, "Magic Shifts" is enthusiastically
recommended for all fantasy fans in general, and community library audio book collections in
particular. (11 CDs; 14 hours, 17 minutes).
And West is West
Ron Childress, author
Read by Graham Halstead
Highbridge Audio Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781622318797 $34.99 www.highbridgeaudio.com
And West is West is a frightening, politically charged novel about corrupt systems and ruthless
consequences. Jessica is an Air Force drone pilot in Nevada, ordered to launch a missile against a
suspected terrorist halfway across the world even though she realizes innocent women and
children will become casualties of the strike. Ethan is a Wall Street "quant", a number-cruncher
who devises an algorithm that exploits and worsens international financial instability for
short-term gain. Jessica and Ethan are both minor players, forced to shoulder the consequences
for cruel deeds they had little control over. Suspenseful and thought-provoking, And West is
West is a choice pick for public library audiobook collections. 9 CDs, 10.75 hours.
Summer Moonshine
P. G. Wodehouse
Blackstone Audio
c/o Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
DD18078, $27.96, www.recordedbooks.com
The hideous Walsingford Hall is home to an odd assortment of coves. The vile premises belong
to Sir Buckstone, who is in a little financial difficulty. So for a little monetary help he puts a roof
over the heads of people like (among others) Tubby Vanringham, the adoring slave of the
coldhearted Miss Whittaker. His brother Joe has fallen head over heels for Sir Buck's daughter
Jane. She, however, only has eyes for Adrian Peake, who has already formed a liaison with the
terrifying-but superbly wealthy-Princess Dwornitzchek. Is there no end to the confusion?
"Summer Moonshine" is a P. G. Wodehouse classic British comedy brought vividly to life in a
true 'theatre of the mind' experience by the expert narrative skills of Jonathan Cecil. With
flawless production values, this complete and unabridged audio book is very highly
recommended for community library collections and to the attention of all P. G. Wodehouse fans.
(8 CDs, 7.5 Hours).
Legal Heat
Sarah Castille, author
Read by Charlotte Kane
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494518684 $39.99 www.tantor.com
Legal Heat is the unabridged audiobook edition of a steamy romance between members of
opposing counsel. Katy Sinclair is a professional on the brink of becoming a partner at her
high-powered law firm, but when she tracks a witness to a sex club, she can't resist a passionate
encounter with the bartender. Then she learns that the man who set her senses on fire is her
opponent for the most important case of her career! But when her pursuit of justice in the
courtroom leads to death threats, her antagonist on the job just might be her most devoted
protector off the clock. Sexy and exciting, Legal Heat captures the listener's rapt attention to the
very end. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.
Alert
James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478928010, $35.00, www.hachetteaudio.com
Alert comes to life in audio under the voices of Danny Mastrogiorgio and Henry Leyva,
presenting an engrossing Michael Bennett novel that features a shocking daylight murder by
killers who seem unafraid of identification or pursuit. New York detective Bennett suspects this
threat is just the beginning of a new brand of danger threatening not just some individuals but all
of New York City, so he's facing a threat with much wider-ranging ramifications than one perp
could hold. Action comes to life in a well-done audio presentation and the dual narrative style
provides plenty of it here, making Alert a special recommendation for listeners who want high
drama from their mysteries.
The Library CD Shelf
Fats Waller Revisited
Dick Wellstood and his "Friends of Fats"
With Jane Harvey on Vocals
Classic Jazz Recordings
50 Executive Blvd., Elmsford, NY 10523
www.innercityjazz.com
$16.95 www.cdbaby.com
Fats Waller Revisited is an album celebrating the music of African-American jazz pianist,
composer, singer, and comedic entertainer Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (1904-1943). Dick
Wellstood and his "Friends of Fats" along with vocalist Jane Harvey bring Waller's classic jazz to
life with full musical performances including piano, tenor sax, trumpets, guitar, clarinet, bass,
and drums. An ebullient, vivacious collection, Fats Waller Revisited is a treasure for jazz
connoisseurs and enthusiastically recommended for public library music CD collections. The
tracks are "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" (4:17), "I've Got a Feeling I'm
Falling" (2:23), "Squeeze Me" (4:01), "S'Posin'" (3:10), "Two Sleepy People" (4:31), "Ain't
Misbehavin' (I'm Saving My Love For You)" (3:43), "Honeysuckle Rose" (4:23), "I Can't Give
You Anything But Love" (5:04), "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie" (3:28).
Musique de Nuit
Ballake Sissoko and Vincent Segal
Six Degrees Records
PO Box 411347, San Francisco, CA 94141-1347
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
$9.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com
French cellist Vincent Segal and Malian kora expert Bailake Sissoko present Musique de Nuit,
an exquisitely beautiful music CD recorded outside Bamako (the capital of Mali), with ambient
noises on the edge of hearing smoothly incorporated into the virtuoso performance. Evoking the
almost mystical experience of an impromptu, late-night jam session, Musique de Nuit inspires
the listener to muse, reflect, and explore. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Nia Ndou"
(6:34), "Passa Quatro" (4:52), "Balazando" (6:26), "N'ka Palema" (7:52), "Diabaro" (5:16),
"Super Etoile" (3:55), "Prelude" (1:12), "Samba Tomora" (3:51), and "Musique de Nuit"
(2:42).
Banda de los Muertos
bandadelosmuertos.com
Barbes Records
barbesrecords.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$10.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Brooklyn-based Mexican brass band Banda de los Muertos presents their eponymous debut
album, celebrating Spanish language, Mexican culture, and the hard work of immigrants who toil
day in, day out for a fresh start on life. Powerful and exhilarating, Banda de los Muertos is a
"must-have" for brass aficionados! The tracks are "Cumbia de Jacobo" (4:53), "El Sinaloense / El
Jalisciense" (4:24), "La Puerta Negra" (2:18), "El Toro Viejo" (2:18), "Tragos Amargos" (3:28),
"Culiacan" (3:17), "Las Nubes" (3:41), "El Paso" (2:47), "Te Quiero Tanto" (4:54), "Ay
Mexicanita" (3:07), "Tu Recuerdo y Yo" (3:24), and "Arriba Mi Sinaloa" (2:47).
Love Will Find a Way
Mike Love
www.mikelovemusic.com
Privately Published
c/o Press Junkie PR
$16.00 download www.itunes.com
Love Will Find a Way is a reggae album by Mike Love that embraces the Rastafari philosophy of
"one love", and resonates with the concept that unconditional love is vital to human beings,
especially amid the threats posed by overpopulation, climate change, and the frightening rise of
corporate power. The extensive song lyrics (written in a booklet that accompanies the physical
album) speak a message of togetherness, harmony, and conservation. Love Will Find a Way is a
treasure for reggae connoisseurs, and highly recommended for both personal and public library
music collections. The tracks are "Time to Wake Up", "Good News", "Can't Take it With You
When You Go", "Let it Rain", "I Love You", "Gonna Make It", "No Regrets", "Step Lightly",
"Roll River Roll", "Advaya's Song", and "Love Will Find a Way".
Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio
Gerry Gibs, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron
With guests Roy Hargrove and Cassandra Wilson
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
$12.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Recorded live in studio, Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio is an album of pop covers from the
50s and 60s, enlivened with a jazz twist and artfully performed by Grammy-nominated group
The Thrasher Dream Trio. Evoking fly-high fantasy, fond memories, and fancy flourishes, Gerry
Gibs Thrasher Dream Trio reaches out to listeners of all ages and backgrounds. The tracks are
"Wives and Lovers" (6:09), "The Summer Knows" (6:01), "The Look of Love" (4:35),
"Spartacus Love Theme" (3:38), "On A Clear Day" (6:45), "The Surrey With The Fringe On
Top" (3:54), "Alfie" (6:28), "Watch What Happens (instrumental)" (5:23), "Theme From A Man
And A Woman" (3:34), "Cast Your Fate To The Wind" (3:24), "What Are You Doing The Rest
Of Your Life?" (5:46), "More (from Mondo Cane)" (4:21), "Watch What Happens (vocal)"
(4:06), "Music To Watch The Girls Go By" (4:15), "Girl Talk" (4:44), and "Charade" (4:28).
Also highly recommended is the Dave Liebman Group's jazz album, "The Puzzle" ($17.77 CD /
$8.99 MP3).
Safe in Your Arms
Scott Cossu
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
c/o RS Promotions (publicity)
$12.97 CD/ $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
Safe in Your Arms is an album by New Age composer, pianist, and recording artist Scott Cossu.
Many of the tracks have long been "out of print", and are at last reproduced for a new generation
of connoisseurs to cherish. Re-recorded with contributions from guitarist Van Manakas, alto
flutist Ann Lindquist, and flutist John Croarkin, these acoustic, ringing songs evoke gentle
memories and a sense of wonder. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Safe in Your Arms"
(4:14), "Angel Steps" (2:50), "Fawn" (5:12), "Little Sunshine Girl" (3:36), "Purple Mountain"
(4:59), "Sweet Pea Lullaby" (4:13), "Gwenlaise" (4:34), "Starlit Walk" (4:02), "A Child's Eyes"
(3:33), "Akaka Falls" (4:55), "Christo's Theme" (3:57), and "Sanctuary" (5:29).
The Ascent
Amy Faithe
Privately Published
c/o RS Promotions (publicity)
$15.00 CD / $12.99 download www.cdbaby.com
The Ascent is the debut album by artist and rising star Amy Faithe, featuring her dulcet vocals
and a magical, new age soundscape. An ethereal beauty permeates this soul-stirring treasury.
Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of the genre. The tracks are "The Moment"
(10:10), "Daybreak" (6:42), "Serenity's Call" (10:12), "Peace Be Mine" (10:12), "The Ascent"
(10:01), "Who Am I?" (8:45), and "Only in my Dreams" (8:32).
Low Lily
Low Lily
Privately Published
www.lowlily.com
c/o 58 North PR
$15.00 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
Liz Simmons (vocals, guitar, percussion), Lissa Schneckenburger (vocals, fiddle), and Flynn
Cohen (vocals, guitar, mandolin) are the string and vocal trio Low Lily (formerly Annalivia),
well known for their knack for infusing American folk music with both traditional and modern
influences. Low Lily's self-titled EP draws upon musical stylings from bluegrass to Irish, English,
New England, and Old Time Appalachian to create a stellar performance of four original and two
traditional songs that blend the finest musical and storytelling qualities. Highly recommended!
The tracks are "House Carpenter" (3:35), "The Girl's Not Mine" (3:07), "Northern Spy" (2:57),
"Adventurer" (4:58), "All Roads Lead To You" (3:25), and "Cherokee Shuffle/Lucky"
(5:02).
Dreams of India
Tom Teasley
T & T Music
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
$14.97 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
Dreams of India is an instrumental album (aside from some vocal percussion) with roots as a
guided meditation soundtrack; it evolved into a soundscape reimagining of the classic epic of the
Mahabharata, India's ancient saga of love and war. Evocative and profound, Dreams of India
resonates in the mind and spirit. The tracks are "Om Tat Sat" (4:44), "Whispers in the Wind"
(5:32), "Breath of Smoke" (3:41), "Fire Dance" (3:42), "Indra and Arvasu" (3:10), "Mask of
Vritra" (3:49), "Silver Rain" (3:34), "Sacrifice" (4:40), "Dance for Arvasu" (4:41), "Sketches of
India" (3:27), "Namaste" (3:24), "Fists of Karna" (3:00).
Amonafi
Daby Toure
www.dabytoure.com
Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
$15.00 CD / $9.99 MP3 www.cumbancha.com
Amonafi (meaning, "Once Upon a Time" in the West African language Wolof) is the new music
album from African-born artist Daby Toure, who cherishes his dual nationality of both
Mauritania and France. His music transcends tradition and borders, connecting with elements of
folk, soul, and Afropop. His songs speak of dreams of the past, the joy of simple life in an
African village, the nightmare of being unable to find work, the hardship that women have faced
in society, and more. Thought-provoking and soulful, Amonafi is a welcome addition to
international music collections. The tracks are "Woyoyoye" (2:34), "Amonafi" (2:57), "Kiba"
(3:49), "Oma" (2:36), "Emma" (3:06), "Little Song" (3:06), "If You" (2:25), "Khone" (2:40),
"Kille" (3:13), "Debho" (3:36), "Mina" (3:40), "Soninko" (3:00), and "Ndema" (3:31).
The Library DVD Shelf
The Story of Women and Power
Written and presented by Amanda Vickery
Athena Learning
c/o Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724421 $34.99 www.acornonline.com
The Story of Women and Power is a documentary about women's fight for equality in Britain,
from the mid-1600's onward. Brave individual women profiled include Mary Wollstonecraft,
dubbed "the mother of feminism"; Hannah More, who quested for ways that women could enter
public life; suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst; and more. Viewers witness a livestock
market where men once sold their wives at auction; learn of an early march for women's rights in
1649; and discover a notorious incident in 1738 when the Duchess of Queensberry crashed the
House of Lords. Modern-day woman's activists advocate that the fight for full equality is not yet
completed, in this fascinating and enlightening chronicle enthusiastically recommended for
public library DVD collections. 3 episodes on one DVD, 182 min., widescreen, SDH
subtitles.
The Code Season 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
$39.99 www.acornonline.com
The Code Season 1 is a multiple award-winning political thriller with an ensemble cast including
Lucy Lawless, David Wenham, and Adam Garcia. Far in the Australian outback, two joy-riding
teenagers in a deadly crash kick off a series of events that could potentially reveal closely
guarded secrets of the government. Internet journalist Ned Banks (played by Dan Spielman) and
his brilliant yet disconnected brother Jesse (Ashley Zukerman) encounter smartphone footage of
the accident, making them targets amid a web of intrigue. A suspenseful, high-tech drama with
twists and turns, The Code will keep the viewer guessing! Highly recommended especially for
connoisseurs of the genre. Bonus material includes 30 min. of behind-the-scenes featurettes. 6
episodes on 2 DVDs, 341 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Therese Raquin
Adapted from the novel by Emile Zola
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722304 $29.99 www.acornonline.com
Therese Raquin is a DVD adaptation of the scandalous French novel by Emile Zola. The titular
Therese Raquin is a young woman (played by Kate Nelligan) trapped in a loveless marriage to
her simpleminded first cousin, Camille (Kenneth Cranham). A love affair blossoms between
Therese and Camille's childhood friend Laurent (Brian Cox). As passion between the two
Therese and Laurent flourishes, they plot to do the unthinkable for their love; but the price for
their desperate choice may be far more horrifying either of them imagined. Suspenseful and
distinguished by emotionally heightened performances, Therese Raquin is highly recommended.
3 episodes, 166 min., SDH subtitles.
Just Walk: The Burn to the Beat Walk!
Leslie Sansone
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Just Walk: The Burn to the Beat Walk! is a fitness DVD in the "Just Walk" series for all ages.
Even those who are brand new to an exercise regimen can join in and have fun! These walks
encourage cardio from a starter speed to a "super walker" speed by increasing the beat of the
catchy, up-tempo music. Just Walk: The Burn to the Beat Walk! opens with a 20-minute, 3 mph
"Easy Beat Mile", moves to the 15-minute, 4 mph "Brisk Beat Mile", and culminates in the
12-minute, 5 mph "Super Beat Mile", encouraging the viewer to to move more like a runner! A
bonus "After the Burn" segment offers toning exercises for the arms, thighs, backend, and core.
Accessible and user-friendly, Just Walk: The Burn to the Beat Walk! is enthusiastically
recommended. 75 min.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Earth Flight
Janet Edwards
Pyr
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781633880986, $17.00, www.pyrsf.com
Earth Flight tells of Jarra, who gains fame in her effort to garner respect for those left on Earth,
but who faces political unrest and further fame and danger when the first alien artifact to be
discovered involves Jarra in a mission that might take her away from earth. But as one of those
'left behind' who can't leave, how can she go - and if she doesn't, the artifact and its promise will
be lost. A gripping narrative makes for a series of impossible scenarios that is hard to put down
and satisfyingly compelling and different.
Magic Shifts
Ilona Andrews
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780425270677, $25.95, www.penguin.com
Magic Shifts provides a fine Kate Daniels novel with an unusual premise: magic is coming and
going in waves in post-Shift Atlantic, leaving mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate far from
their Pack and vulnerable to battles. When their friend vanishes, the two must not only
investigate his disappearance, but handle the crippling waves of change that not only affect their
world but have led to the emergence of a dangerous new enemy. Fans of novels about magic will
relish this vigorous, fast-paced story that rests firmly on the appeal and strength of an unusual
world and two compelling protagonists.
Lord of Janissaries
Jerry Pournelle and Roland J. Green
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476780795, $15.00, www.baen.com
If Lord of Janissaries sounds familiar, with its stories of a soldier and his men who are
abandoned in hostile territory when aliens land, that's because this collection consists of three
novels of military sci-fi classics presented under one cover. The advantage, especially for
newcomers, lies in an uninterrupted saga that doesn't require multiple book acquisitions to prove
appealing. Newcomers, especially, will relish this approach, as the adventures of Captain Rick
and his crew, who embark on new careers as mercenaries for aliens on a distant planet, come to
life.
Stars Wars FAQ
Mark Clark
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781480360181, $24.99, www.applausebooks.com
Stars Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies would
ordinarily have appeared in our film section, but is featured here because any sci-fi fan holding a
special affection for Star Wars will find this a winner. It compiles facts and questions about the
original trilogy from the books and movies and offers insights from early screenplays that were
never used to discussions of the stories, film highlights, the rise of Star Wars fiction, and
imitators and parodies. Analysis provide discussions and insights of particular interest to prior
Star Wars viewers and fans and fill in many details on plots, characters, filming and screenplay
production that wouldn't ordinarily be seen by even collectors and prior fans, making this a 'must'
for movie-goers and sci-fi followers alike.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Daniel Port Omnibus 2
Peter Rabe
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781933586663, $23.95, 338pp, www.amazon.com
Peter Rabe aka Peter Rabinowitsch, (1921 - 1990), was a German American writer who also
wrote under the names Marco Malaponte and J. T. MacCargo (though not all of the latter's books
were by him). Rabe was the author of over 30 books, mostly of crime fiction, published between
1955 and 1975. The newest addition to the outstanding 'Stark House Noir Classics' series,
"Daniel Port Omnibus 2" is comprised of three of Rabe's best crime fiction stories: The Cut of
the Whip; Bring Me Another Corpse; Time Enough to Die. Enhanced with an informative
introduction by Rick Ollerman (The End of Daniel Port), "Daniel Port Omnibus 2" will be of
immense interest to crime noir novel enthusiasts and will prove to be an enduringly popular
addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections.
Parchment and Old Lace
Laura Child
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425266687, $25.95, www.penguin.com
Parchment and Old Lace provides a fun 'scrapbooking' mystery complete with tips and recipes,
and tells of a quandary when author and scrapbook shop owner Carmela discovers a bride-to-be
murdered in a cemetery. This puts a quash on supper, the upcoming wedding, and more, and
when the victim's sister asks Carmela to help, it becomes a journey into the enemies of Isabelle's
past and a killer who might strike again. How does scrapbooking fit into all this? Child weaves a
masterful story filled with engrossing twists and turns that makes for a riveting story, hard to put
down.
Murder, She Wrote: The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain and Renee Paley-Bain
Obsidian Mystery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
97804515477361, $23.95, www.penguin.com
Murder, She Wrote: The Ghost and Mrs. Fletcher provides another book based on the TV series
and tells of an old friend and real estate agent who undertakes to sell one of Cabot Cove's oldest
properties. The 1800s building is in terrible shape and comes with an intriguing story.
Unfortunately, it also appears to come with a ghost, challenging even professional agent Eve's
sales abilities and turning into a deadly reality when a premonition comes true. Was the death
natural, or contrived? An engrossing murder mystery revolving around ghosts, murder, and
intrigue creates a spell-binding plot suitable for newcomers and old fans alike - even those who
have never seen or heard of the TV series.
The Cookbook Shelf
Make It Easy
Jane Lovett
New Holland Australia
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781847739230, $24.99, www.amazon.com
"Make It Easy" is a beautifully illustrated and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly" 192 page
compendium of simple, nutritious, palate pleasing and appetite satisfying dishes that can be
prepared in advance, that making cooking for friends and family a stress-free and fun experience.
Ranging from simple starters to quick suppers to more elaborate meals, all the dishes are
contemporary, seasonal and fresh and aim to keep ingredients to a minimum. Ranging from
Twice-Baked Roquefort Souffles; Salmon En Croute with Lime and Coriander Sauce;
Mediterranean Rack of Lamb Platter; and Vietnamese Herby Chicken with Nutty Green Rice
Salad; to Raised Pork Pie; Roast Butternut Squash with Blue cheese, Parma Ham and Walnuts;
and Ginger Creams with Pistachio Brittle, "Make It Easy" is an impressive collection of recipes
deftly organized by category: Simple soups and starters; Meat, poultry and seafood; Weekend
lunches; Desserts; Quick salads, nibblies and drinks. Also available in a paperback edition
(9781504800549, $19.99), "Make It Easy" is highly recommended for personal, family, and
community library cookbook collections.
Seasons To Taste
Jonathan Bardzik
Story Farm
www.jonathanbardzik.com
9780990520597, $40.00, www.amazon.com
"Seasons To Taste: Farm-Fresh Joy For Kitchen & Table" by professional storyteller, cook, and
author Jonathan Bardzik is a gorgeously illustrated, 320 page culinary compendium of delicious,
nutritious, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes arranged and presented by the seasons of
Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from a
Wild Rice cider Pilaf; Apricot Chile Glazed carrots; Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Frittata; Sirloin,
Asparagus & Portabella with Bearnaise; and Honey & Chive Glazed Pork; to Cantaloupe Soup
with Cherry Red Wine Syrup; Sauteed Chard with Mexican Chorizo; Curried Zucchini Red
Pepper Soup; Turnip Potato Latkes; Gram's Red Cabbage with Beer Braised Brats; and Pumpkin
Lamb Sausage Pizza. Of special note are the succinct commentaries that accompany each recipe.
A pure pleasure to browse through and exceptionally practical to plan menus with, "Seasons To
Taste: Farm-Fresh Joy For Kitchen & Table" is very highly recommended for personal, family,
professional, and community library cookbook collections.
Celebrate: Food, Family, Shabbos
Elizabeth Kurtz
Feldheim Publishers
208 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, NY 10954
http://www.feldheim.com
9780692450277, $34.99, www.amazon.com
Shabbat, also known as Shabbos, is Judaism's day of rest and seventh day of the week, on which
religious Jews remember the Biblical creation of the heavens and the earth in six days and the
Exodus of the Hebrews, and look forward to a future Messianic Age. An integral part of Shabbos
is the family meal. "Celebrate: Food, Family, Shabbos" by Elizabeth Kurtz is a beautifully
illustrated, 352 page culinary compendium showcasing 'kitchen cook friendly' kosher dishes
appropriate for the weekly Shabbos observance and celebration. The recipes range from
Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Fig-Shallot Marmalade; Velvety Corn Soup; Roasted Chicken with
Shiitake Mushrooms and Artichokes; and Root Bear Braised Beef Ribs; to Acorn Squash Stuffed
with Jeweled Israeli Couscous; Chocolate Caramel Pecan Pie; Pearl Barley Salad with Roasted
peppers, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives; and Red Velvet and Cream Cheese Brownies. A pure
pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, "Celebrate: Food, Family,
Shabbos" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library
cookbook collections.
Besh Big Easy
John Besh
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449469177, $25.00, 224pp, www.amazon.com
John Besh (James Beard Award-winner) is a renowned chef, the owner of nine restaurants, the
host of John Besh's Family Table on public television, and the author of the bestselling
cookbooks "My New Orleans", "My Family Table", and "Cooking from the Heart". His latest
cookbook is "Besh Big Easy: 101 Home Cooked New Orleans Recipes", a 224 page, beautifully
illustrated compendium showcasing some of the very best examples of New Orleans cuisine. The
thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Crabmeat Spinach Dip; Honey Island
Chanterelle Soup; Duck Camp Shrimp & Grits; and Roasted Brussels Sprout Salad; to
Grandaddy's Skillet Corn Bread; Pan-Roasted Blackfish with Crab Butter; Cajun Stuffed
Porkchops; Jenny's Crawfish-Stuffed Chicken; and Stone Fruit Rice Pudding. Of special note are
the succinct comments accompanying each recipe. "Besh Big Easy: 101 Home Cooked New
Orleans Recipes" is a 'must' for the legions of John Besh fans, and will prove to be an enduringly
popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook
collections.
Spiralize!
Beverly Lynn Bennett
Books Alive
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
97811553120520 $11.95 www.BookPubCo.com
Illustrated with full-color photography throughout, Spiralize! Transform Vegetables and Fruits
from Ordinary to Extraordinary is a cookbook that teaches the reader how to "spiralize"
vegetables and fruits, effectively transforming them into gluten-free pasta. An introductory
chapter walks one through the basics of choosing and using a spiralizer, and the recipes include
"Tater-Wrapped Vegan Sausages", "Garden Vegetable Noodle Soup", "Lemon-Walnut Parsnip
Pasta", and much more. Spiralize! is a treasure for people on a gluten-free diet, or those who are
interested in low-calorie, low-carb, healthy alternatives to pasta.
The Almond Milk Cookbook
Alan Roettinger
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
9781570673269 $12.95 www.BookPubCo.com
Whether one is lactose intolerant, allergic to soy, vegan, or simply interested in trying something
new, The Almond Milk Cookbook is a great introduction to enjoying an alternative to dairy and
soy-based milks. Over 100 recipes show how the light, palatable flavor of almond milk can be
used to create tasty, creamy delights, with the pleasant bonus that almond milk has a high
concentration of vitamins and minerals, and no cholesterol or saturated fat. A brief introduction
to almond milk, as well as starter recipes for Basic Almond Milk, Rich Almond Milk, Almond
Cream, and Basic White Sauce kick off this user-friendly guide. Advanced almond milk recipes
include Chocolate-Raspberry Smoothie (among other smoothie recipes), Spiced Butternut
Squash Soup, Tomato-Pepper Dressing (perfect for livening up one's salad), Vegetable Pot Pie,
Mixed Berry Cobbler, Mocha Chip Ice Cream, and much more. A superb specialty
cookbook!
The Fish Sauce Cookbook
Veronica Meewes
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449468699 $19.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
The Fish Sauce Cookbook: 50 Umami-Packed Recipes from Around the Globe is a unique
cookbook that features homemade fish sauce, and other useful sauces that can be crafted with
homemade fish sauce such as Caramel Miso Glaze and Apple Relish. Further recipes include
dishes that incorporate flavorful sauces, including soups and salads (such as Thai Hot and Sour
Coconut Chicken Soup), vegetable sides (such as Warm Brussels Sprout Slaw with Asian Citrus
Dressing), meat entrees (such as Vietnamese Caramel Chicken), seafood entrees (such as
Zucchini Tofu Shrimp Frittata with Fish Sauce) and more. Interspersed with color photography
as well as tips, tricks, and techniques, The Fish Sauce Cookbook is a choice pick for any
interested in learning more about exotic flavors. Advice on the proper care and storage of this
popular yet briny ingredient is also present for fish sauce novices.
Cookies & Beer: Bake, Pair, Enjoy
Jonathan Bender
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449470883 $19.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Cookies & Beer: Bake, Pair, Enjoy offers a hot new culinary pairing: baked cookies and craft
beer. Savory cookie recipes offer the perfect complements to recommended craft beers. For
example, a recipe for "Chef Amy's Chocolate Chip Cookies" is recommended for serving with
Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout, since "Milk stouts are sweet and creamy. With the
right chocolate chip cookie, they're the missing link between milk and beer." Occasional
full-color photographs intersperse the cookie cookbook with tasty twist!
Edible Gifts
Jane Lyster
New Holland UK
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781780090436, $14.99, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Jane Lyster is a working artist who can turn her hand to almost any craft or food project. She has
recently launched Making, a magazine for contemporary crafts in the home, and has contributed
to a variety of food publications in the UK as well as working on food sets for major films. Now
she presents "Edible Gifts", a 176 page compendium showcasing beautifully presented recipes
for an impressive variety of homemade and hand-wrapped sweets, snacks, and drinks suitable for
all gift-giving and dining occasions. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' in presentation and
instruction, "Edible Gifts" begins with an informative Introduction and a two-page section on
Materials; followed by 'The Food Gifter's Workshop'; Presentation Techniques; Sweet Gifts; Not
So Sweet; Drinks; and concludes with Christmas Gifts that range from Edible Gift Tags, to
Christmas Tree Biscuits, to a Gingerbread House. Also available in a paperback edition
(9781504800297, $14.99) is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, professional,
and community library instructional reference collections.
Pregnant Women's Weird Cravings Cookbook!
Teri Brown
Crary Publications
5233 Painted Pebble Street, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89081
www.CraryPublications.com
9780974343846, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Every woman going through a hormone driven pregnancy will, sooner or later, experience
wanting certain and specific foods -- often in weird combinations. Although it has the word
'cookbook' in it's title, Terri Brown's "Pregnant Women's Weird Cravings Cookbook!" contains
only one recipe (Spaghetti Sauce a' La Marotta). Instead, the "Pregnant Women's Weird Cravings
Cookbook!" is a 160 page compilation of color photograph pictures of different food pairings
known to be desired in pregnancy and ranging from Rice Krispies with Strawberry Ice Cream on
Top; to Hot Dog with Chili, Slaw, and Jalapenos; to Baked Beans and Salad Dressing on a
Cheese Sandwich; to Sour Cream and Onion Chips Dipped in Applesauce. Simply fascinating to
merely browse through, every woman who ever bore a child will recognize and appreciate this
strange cornucopia of food pairings, blends, and combinations. It should be noted that "Pregnant
Women's Weird Cravings Cookbook!" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.49).
The Backyard Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How
Andrea Chesman
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612122045, $19.95, www.storey.com
There's a lot of talk on the market about farm-to-table eating and using fresh ingredients, but
many cookbooks lack specifics on how to properly prepare and preserve the fresh foods being
advocated - which is different from obtaining a vegetable cookbook. Enter The Backyard
Homestead Book of Kitchen Know-How, a compendium of kitchen skills that tells how to mill
flour, make cheese, preserve meats, and more: information usually seen in homesteading guides
rather than cookbooks. Don't expect your usual recipe guide; but do expect a focus that includes
charts and tips on everything from how to roast a duck and make maple syrup from a tree to
using poultry shrink bags, pressure canners, and how to preserve the pick of the harvest for
tomatoes, strawberries, and more. While the guide offers plenty of recipes, the focus is on using
homegrown abundance: access to a blossoming garden or farm and an interest in utilizing fresh
ingredients year-round are the only prerequisites to an appreciation of this intersection between
recipe and technique.
The Masters at Home: Recipes, Stories & Photographs
MasterChef
Absolute Press
Scarborough House, 29 James Street West, Bath, UK, BA1 2BT
http://www.absolutepress.co.uk
Bloomsbury Press (distributor)
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781472904117, $35.00, www.absolutepress.co.uk
The Masters at Home: Recipes, Stories & Photographs deserves ongoing mention and
recommendation as a fine synthesis of stories, recipes and photos centered around master chefs
from around the world who share their three favorite recipes here. These enjoy photos by David
Loftus in a collection that includes the chef's background, snapshots from their homes, and
details on their cooking; so don't expect just a collection of recipes, but something that toes the
line between autobiography, culinary history, and recipe book. Loftus's full-page and smaller
color photos pepper nearly every page while dishes such as Frozen Pea Puree and hearty lamb
and barley Scotch Broth will prove easily accessible to home cooks. The result is a fine survey
recommended for any culinary collection.
Summer Cooking
Chicago Tribune
Agate Surrey
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841710, $24.95, www.agatepublishing.com
Summer may be over, but Summer Cooking: Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Picnics, Patios, Grilling
and More is not: it's just getting started. While summer fare would seem to be filled with
barbecues, cookouts, outside dinner parties, and light fare, it also hosts portable appetizers, quick
salads and sides, and light beverages designed for warmer temperatures. Another note: the
Chicago Tribute is one of the few newspapers that still runs its own test kitchen; so all these
dishes have been tested and tasted by food writers and staff members. From Asian Summer Rolls
which came to Chicago via a Laotian immigrant who began her own establishment to Angie
Johnson's Pasties, English in origin but packed with flavors and a hand-carried format that lend
to quick meals for busy readers, this is a selection of internationally-influenced summer dishes
not to be missed!
The Gardening Shelf
The Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, and Herbs from Containers, second edition
Lizz Shepherd
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620230145, $14.99, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "The Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, and Herbs from Containers: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply" by container gardening expert Lizz Shepherd is a 288 page compendium of practical 'do-it-yourself' information presented in eleven thematic chapters: Why Garden in Containers?; What Should I Grow?; Choosing and Preparing Containers for Growing; Tools; Soil and Amendments; Start with Seeds or Start with Plants?; Growing Herbs in Containers; Growing Vegetables in Containers; Growing Fruits in Containers; Growing Flowers in Containers; Maintaining Your Plants. Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Introduction; an encouraging Conclusion; an appendix (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map; a four page Bibliography; a two page Author Biography; and a three page Index, "The Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, and Herbs from Containers" is complete course of instruction and particularly recommended to the attention of the non-specialist general reader with an interest in container-based gardening. This new edition of "The Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Flowers, Fruits, and Herbs from Containers" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community and academic library Gardening instructional reference collections.
Grower's Guides
Red Hot Chili Grower
Kay Maguire
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781784721022, $14.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com
Red Hot Chili Grower: The Complete Guide to Planting, Picking, and Preserving Chilis narrows
the gardening and cooking focus to all kinds of chilis, from Scotch Bonnet to Hungarian Hot
Wax, and provides step-by-step instructions that begin with sowing seeds and growing chilis to
harvesting and using them. While instructions for pickling and preserving the capsicums are
included, Red Hot Chili Grower's wealth of details will especially delight gardeners who want a
step-by-step focus on growing chilis and handling common problems. There are charts,
checklists, photos and illustrations, and most of all, an attention to the particular growing needs
and challenges of different kinds of chilis. At-a-glance information includes heat, sowing
instructions, growing needs, and key cuisines and dishes that use each chili. The result is a
powerful, specific recommendation for any grower who wants a focus on chilis.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Cervantes's Eight Interludes
Edited and translated by Charles Patterson
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10010
9781495013034 $16.99 www.halleonard.com
Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) is the legendary Spanish author of the classic novel "Don
Quixote", but he was also an accomplished playwright. Cervantes's Eight Interludes is an
anthology of eight of Cervantes' brief, comedic plays originally published in 1615. ("Interludes"
were originally meant to be performed in between acts of longer plays, but each stands out well
on its own). The plays are rife with raucous characters from the more questionable layers of
Renaissance Spanish society, including pimps, prostitutes, con artists, hicks, adulterous wives,
incensed husbands, and more. Superbly translated into modern English, Cervantes' Eight
Interludes is eyebrow-raising, raucous, and thoroughly accessible to contemporary readers.
Inside the Rise of HBO
Bill Mesce, Jr.
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786497867, $29.95, www.mcfarlandpub.com
Inside the Rise of HBO: A Personal History of the Company That Transformed Television traces
the evolution and impact of HBO TV on the industry and offers a wide-ranging coverage that
considers the state of the industry before the launch of Home Box Office in 1972 and in the
decades since. HBO changed the playing field of television and fostered a new era of premium
cable television programming, and Inside the Rise of HBO documents the events that
transformed media starting with a single cable channel. One might expect such a coverage to
come from a reporter's viewpoint, but this actually comes from one who spent nearly thirty years
at Home Box Office in various corporate capacities, and who also served as a screenwriter. His
unique perspective makes for the ideal coverage of events from an insider's perspective and
makes for a powerful account of the advent, evolution and golden age of paid television. No
media collection should be without this thorough, detailed history.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
The Story of Lee, Volume 2
Sean Michael Wilson & Nami Tamura
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing
New York, NY 10038
9781561639731 $11.99 www.nbmpub.com
The Story of Lee, Volume 2 is a black-and-white graphic novel continuing the travels of a young
woman from Hong Kong. Lee has fallen in love with the handsome student Matt, and acquired a
visa to visit the land of her dreams - the United Kingdom. Yet amid the palpable excitement are
new pressures, such as the difficulty of navigating an unfamiliar city, troubles understanding the
thick Scottish or other accents of the locals (especially when Lee is still struggling to master
English as a second language). Will the stress of life as an expatriate destroy Lee's blossoming
love affair with Matt? And why does Matt's friend Richard seem so jealous of Lee's and Matt's
relationship? Lee's wise and insightful Uncle Jun also turns up, in this thoughtful drama about
finding balance in one's life. Highly recommended for older teen and adult readers, due to
occasional mature situations and references.
The Incredible Herb Trimpe
Dewey Cassell and Aaron Sultan
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490625, $34.95, www.twomorrows.com
Any avid comics reader who knows the character Wolverine or Captain Britain already knows
the work of illustrator Herb Trimpe: now here's a survey of his life and art which pairs interviews
with the man himself alongside those of his contemporaries and even his son. All this blends
with black and white images and color illustrations to capture the life of the man, his place in
comic book history, and the many creations he worked on, from comic books to iconic figures.
As with others from this publisher, the idea goes beyond representing covers and art to delve into
the creator's influences and life, with a powerful blend of interview insights, autobiography, and
art making it a 'must' for any cartoon or graphic novel enthusiast.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Pharmacology For Women's Health, second edition
Mary C. Brucker & Tekoa L. King
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
9781284057485, $99.95, www.jblearning.com
Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Pharmacology for Women's Health" is
collaborative compiled and co-edited by Mary C. Brucker (Assistant Professor, Adjunct
Nurse-Midwifery/WHNP Program, Georgetown University, Washington, DC) and Tekoa L.
King (Health Sciences Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, University of California - San
Francisco). Offering a unique 1212 page text that discusses pharmacology as it specifically
relates to women's health issues, the "Pharmacology For Women's Health" provides cutting edge
information that reflects the changing field of pharmacology. "Pharmacology For Women's
Health" includes new pharmacological agents for common conditions, changes in indications, the
use of vaccines, updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
for treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and the effects of the Affordable Care Act.
"Pharmacology For Women's Health" also includes new resource boxes in each chapter for easy
access to more information. Informed and informative, "Pharmacology For Women's Health" is
impressively well organized and presented, making it an ideal textbook for Medical Studies and
Nurse Practitioner academic curriculums, as well as Women's Health Issues supplemental studies
reading lists. No medical school or university library Health/Medicine reference collections can
be considered complete or up to date without the inclusion of "Pharmacology For Women's
Health".
The Plant-Based Journey
Lani Muelrath
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781941631362 $16.95 www.benbellabooks.com
Award-winning teacher and certified behavior change specialist Lani Muelrath presents The
Plant-Based Journey: A Step-by-Step Guide for Transitioning to a Healthy Lifestyle and
Achieving Your Ideal Weight, a practical-minded, science-supported, five-step guidebook for
transitioning to a plant-based diet. Chapters discuss how to get one's kitchen and pantry ready,
how to smoothly adjust to the lifestyle change, how to keep to a plant-based dietary lifestyle on
the road or with friends and family (who can be well-meaning but improper "food pushers"), and
more. Suggested meal-plan templates, more than 20 recipes, and an index round out this superb
choice for aspiring vegetarians and vegans, or anyone just looking to reduce their consumption of
expensive, high-cholesterol animal products.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
Two in-depth art therapy coverages are top recommendations for mental health practitioners,
artists interested in art therapy, and collections catering to them, and break the larger topic of art
therapy into two easily-digestible surveys. Art Therapy with Physical Conditions edited by
Marion Liebmann and Sally Weston (9781849053495, $39.95) covers physical conditions from
cancer to colitis and broadens the definition to cover homelessness, chronic conditions, and
learning disabilities, and provides articles discussion the philosophical, spiritual, psychological
and health issues of art therapy from the perspectives of the therapists who explain how their
work is perceived and used by a wide variety of groups. Art Therapy with Neurological
Conditions, also edited by Marion Liebmann and Sally Weston (9781849053488, $39.95) gathers
insights from specialists who work with dementia, epilepsy, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and
more, and describes how the conditions are approached in the art therapy environment, and how
it's worked in rehabilitation efforts. The broad definitions of approaches and conditions lends to
the inclusion of articles that present quite a diverse range of perspectives and ideas, making both
these collections of central importance to any art therapist or practitioner who would better
understand how the therapy is applied and how and why it works with these specific groups.
The Art Shelf
Romaine Brooks: A Life
Cassandra Langer
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299298609, $26.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu
Romaine Brooks: A Life documents the achievements and life of an expatriate American painter
who has largely been represented as a bigot, and fills in many gaps in information about Brooks'
real personality, struggles, and creations, up to her death in 1970. More so than most artists,
Brooks earned many myths and a reputation that wasn't always positive. This book comes from
decades of the author's research on her life, times, and works and offers a well-rounded
discussion key to any college-level arts library.
The Islamic Studies Shelf
Meeting the Ideological Challenge of Islamism
Anna Bekele and Patrick Sookhdeo, editors
Isaac Publishing
6729 Curran Street, McLean, VA 22101
9780991614592 $15.00 www.isaac-publishing.us
Five learned contributors (Patrick Sookhdeo, Robert R. Reilly, J. Michael Waller, Anna Bekele,
and Stephen Ulph) present informed and informative essays about the challenging problem of
Islamic extremist ideology. How can the worldview, methodologies, and motivations of violent
Islamist groups be effectively countered? In a modern era when globalized information (and
misinformation!) coexists with sectarian violence, territorial war, and a growing refugee crisis,
Meeting the Ideological Challenge of Islamism is desperately needed and worthy of the highest
recommendation for public and college library Islamic Studies shelves. The individual essays are
"The Role of Religion in the Battle Space since 9/11", "Information Operations: Successes and
Failures", "The Muslim Brotherhood: Doctrine, Strategy, Operations and Vulnerabilities",
"Islamist Activism through the Lens of Social Science", and "The Importance of Progressive
Arab Reformers".
The Christian Studies Shelf
Church On Purpose
Adam L. Bond & Laura Mariko Cheifetz, editors
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
www.judsonpress.com
9780817017569, $15.99, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Adam L. Bond (an ordained minister in the American
Baptist Churches USA, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and
American Baptist liaison at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union
University in Richmond) and Laura Mariko Cheifetz (an ordained minister in the Presbyterian
Church who also serves as the executive director of church and public relations at Presbyterian
Publishing Corporation), "Church on Purpose: Reinventing, Discipleship, Community, &
Justice" is a 160 page compendium covering such topics as discipleship issues such as Sunday
school, intergenerational worship settings, and evangelism; redefinition of community through
strategic planning, ecumenical partnerships, and communication in a larger world; and pursuit of
justice through inclusion of the poor and the prisoner. Recognizing the generational shift within
congregations across the country and anticipating areas of church life that require attention or
reform, "Church On Purpose" offers possibilities for new directions within Christian
communities as it: Challenges the church to consider alternative ways to doing church in order to
strengthen and grow congregations; Offers practical strategies that address key areas of
congregational health; Explores the core themes of community, discipleship, and justice with
emerging Christian leaders of diverse denominations, generations and vocations. Thoroughly
'reader friendly' in content, commentary, organization, and presentation, "Church On Purpose" is
very highly recommended, especially for Baptist clergy and laity. For personal reading lists it
should be noted that "Church On Purpose" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.64).
The Complete Francis of Assisi
Jon M. Sweeney, editor and translator
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
www.paracletepress.com
9781612616889, $24.99, www.amazon.com
Saint Francis of Assisi was born October 3, 1226 as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but
nicknamed Francesco and became an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's
Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of St. Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis for
men and women not able to live the lives of itinerant preachers. Francis is one of the most
venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history. "The Complete Francis of Assisi: His
Life, The Complete Writings, and The Little Flowers" is a 416 page compendium comprised of
an annotated account of his life and all of his surviving writings ably edited and translated into
English for an American readership by independent scholar, author, and culture critic Jon M.
Sweeney (who has been the editor-in-chief of the Massachusetts-based Paraclete Press since
2004). Deftly organized and presented with insightful commentaries, "The Complete Francis of
Assisi" is enhanced with the inclusion of a five page listing of succinctly presented biographical
sketches of the Franciscan Friars; a two page listing of suggestions for further reading. A truly
impressive work and 'reader friendly' work, "The Complete Francis of Assisi" is very highly
recommended for community, church, and academic library Christian Studies and Christian
Biography collections in general, and Franciscan History supplemental studies lists in particular.
For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Complete Francis of Assisi" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($18.95).
Standing Firm
Jesse Yow
Concordia Publishing House
3558 South Jefferson Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63118-3968
www.cph.org
9780758649218, $19.99, 244pp, www.amazon.com
We need only watch the evening news to see that Christians encounter hostility and subtle
persecution with the U.S. as well as experiencing open persecution in other parts of the world.
Christians are called by Jesus to turn the other cheek, but in what other ways would God have us
respond? "Standing Firm: A Christian Response to Hostility and Persecution" provides biblical
perspectives to help understand the challenge of persecution and how God promises to guide,
use, and sustain us. Indeed, "Standing Firm" covers such issues as: The biblical perspective on
hostility and persecution; How God would have us respond; Recent trends of hostility and
persecution toward Christian in the United States and worldwide; Positive options for a respond
reflecting the Gospel and life under God's grace. What kinds of hostility do Christians
encounter?; When does hostility spill over into persecution?; What are the underlying roots
found in sin, spiritual warfare, and opposition to Christ?; How can examples from Scripture
improve our understanding of persecution?; What are God's priorities, and how does that
motivate Christians?; How does God support and encourage us during times of difficulty?; and
ultimately, How can we respond? Exceptionally well written, organized, and presented,
"Standing Firm" is very highly recommended to the attention of all members of the Christian
community regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be noted that "Standing Firm"
is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Agents of Babylon
Dr. David Jeremiah
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414380520, $24.99, www.tyndale.com
Dr. David Jeremiah is a noted Christian prophecy expert and a senior pastor in California, and
uses the Book of Daniel to explore the results of living in godless times in Agents of Babylon:
What the Prophecies of Daniel Tell Us about the End of Days. The author takes the prophecy
contained in the Book of Daniel and offers an in-depth examination in language that will appeal
to general-interest Biblical readers, building the Biblical story into something that is readily
understandable and applied to modern times and modern issues. This takes the form of a
dramatization of events in Daniel paired with a closer analysis of the Scripture behind the story
and, finally, a wider-ranging discussion of underling Biblical concepts. The result is a powerful
survey highly recommended for both Bible study students and general Christian readers.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Beautiful Days, Holy Days
Avraham Peretz Friedman
Compass Books
PO Box 3091, Linden, NJ 07036
9780986177408, $25.95, 264pp, www.amazon.com
The life and excitement that should animate a truly fulfilling and enjoyable Jewish holiday
experience is often difficult to find in today's increasingly secular world. The very essence and
meaning of Jewish holidays are elusive to many. Their pious beauty and spiritual brilliance
(which are the very heart and soul of the holidays in the Jewish calendar), tend to get lost in its
many details. "Beautiful Days, Holy Days: The Majesty and Profundity of the Jewish Holidays"
is a 264 page compendium of informed and informative commentary that will reveal dimensions
of the holidays that infuse them with life and meaning, and will make their observance
experiences of growth and satisfaction. "Beautiful Days, Holy Days" will provide new
approaches to Jewish holidays, an enhanced appreciation for the richness of the Torah's language,
insights into the relationship between God and Man, novel ideas to share with friends and family,
as well as a wonderful addition to the holiday table! Thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization
and presentation, "Beautiful Days, Holy Days " is an inherently fascinating and thoroughly
absorbing read from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for synagogue, community,
and academic library Judaic Studies reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading
lists that "Beautiful Days, Holy Days " is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.99).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Rock That Quilt Block: Weathervane
Linda J. Hahn
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604602043, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com
Rock That Quilt Block: Weathervane comes from an author with an interest in taking traditional
patterns a step beyond the norm, and teaches quilters how to create new designs from standard
ones. Instructions break the block into segments that can be paired, changed, or moved around to
create new patterns. Nine completed quilts are included for further inspiration and variations on
themes, making Rock That Quilt Block: Weathervane a special attraction and recommendation
for quilters used to traditional patterns and interested in something different.
One-Skein Wonders for Babies
Judith Durant, Editor
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612124803, $18.95, www.storey.com
One-Skein Wonders for Babies joins other 'One-Skein Wonders' series titles; this with a focus on
clothing for babies, which ranges from blankets and hats to booties and toys. All are knittable by
any who understand basic knitting directions, and all provide a wide range of projects and
options suitable for quick and easy knitting and gift-giving. The result is a top recommendation
for any knitter who wants to produce baby clothes from one skein!
The Anthropology Shelf
Excluded Ancestors, Inventible Traditions
Richard Handler, Editor
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299163945, $29.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu
Excluded Ancestors, Inventible Traditions: Essays Toward a More Inclusive History of
Anthropology represents Volume 9 in the 'History of Anthropology' series and belongs in history
and science shelves alike as it surveys the works of lesser-known scholars who created
memorable studies but were marginalized due to race, gender, citizenship, or English language
proficiency. It offers essays to remedy this formerly exclusionary history, presenting both the
careers and the works of notable anthropology historians and considering how the discipline
evolved as many of the anthropologists' works were discounted or discredited. From rumors and
stories about their credentials, studies, and personas to how their work was dismissed, Excluded
Ancestors remedies many problems in the discipline and provides college-level readers with
scholarly observations not just about the individuals in question, but about the nature of
anthropological investigation as a whole.
The Technology Shelf
GIS Research Methods
Sheila Lakshmi Steinberg and Steven J. Steinberg
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
www.esri.com
9781589483781, $79.99, www.amazon.com
GIS Research Methods: Incorporating Spatial Perspectives is a college-level text describing how
researchers in different science disciplines can apply GIS techniques to their research methods,
and offers a basic introduction that teaches how to blend spatial thinking and GIS technology into
research analysis. From digital data sources and GIS-based analysis methods to taking research
and data results and incorporating them into policies and findings, this is a specific focus that is
recommended for science and social science collections alike; especially those looking to
understand how public participation may be sparked by GIS-supported results. From field
research to analysis and evaluation efforts, GIS Research Methods adopts a wide-ranging
perspective and approach that doesn't rely on a particular program's version or incarnation to
prove successfully accessible.
The American History Shelf
Lion in the Bay
Stanley L. Quick with Chipp Reid
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612512365 $32.95 www.nip.org
Lion in the Bay: The British Invasion of the Chesapeake, 1813-14 is a heavily researched, close
analysis of the Chesapeake Bay conflict during the War of 1812. During the war, the British
adopted a strategy fo raiding the Chesapeake area in order to turn local residents against the
Madison administration and divert regular soldiers from the Canadian campaign, but was this
plan ultimately successful? The American response to the Chesapeake incursion was
unfortunately plagued with incompetence; how could it have been improved, or provided a better
defense? Thorough notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this thoughtful and
thought-provoking examination of American military history, and its lessons to be learned for the
future.
Their Lives, Their Wills
Amy M. Porter
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896729322, $39.95, www.ttupress.org
Their Lives, Their Wills: Women in the Borderlands, 1750-1846 belongs in American history
and women's issues collections alike, and uses the form of the will and last testament to explore
women's lives and challenges. It may be surprising to some to note that these early wills
contained rich history and insights into many facets of frontier life obscured in other places; but
the collection proves that when such works are examined along with historical background and
other data such as census information and travel accounts, a bigger picture emerges which
contrasts sharply with male perceptions of life in the late Spanish and Mexican colonial
communities of Texas and northern Mexico. The result is a powerful, highly recommended
survey that no college-level women's history or studies holding should be without!
The World History Shelf
The Italian Baroque Table
Tomasso Astarita
ACMRS Publications
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866985109, $59.95, 308pp, www.amazon.com
Impressively informed and informative, "The Italian Baroque Table: Cooking and Entertaining
from the Golden Age of Naples " is a unique and very welcome contribution to the popular
Italian culinary and cultural traditions during the 1600s. Deftly organized by academician and
historian Tomasso Astarita into two major sections (The Fat of the Land: Cooking Without
Limits; Lean Cuisine: Cooking for Lent), "The Italian Baroque Table" is enhanced with the
inclusion of an informative introduction (Antonio Latini and Italian Cooking); numerous
illustrations, a ten page listing of Works Cited; an eight page Index of Ingredients; and an
eighteen page Index of Names and Places, "The Italian Baroque Table" is a masterpiece of
original and seminal scholarship that is enthusiastically recommended for community and
academic library 17th Italian History reference collections and supplemental studies reading
lists.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Jewish Noir
Kenneth Wishnia, Editor
PM Books
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
97814629631110, $17.95, www.pmpress.org
Jewish Noir: Contemporary Tales of Crime and Other Dark Deeds belongs in Jewish literature
and general fiction collections alike, and gathers a unique set of stories by Jewish and non-Jewish
literary writers from Marge Piercy to Harlan Ellison and S.J. Rozan. The focus is on crime
stories, but within this genre the tales are diverse and wide-ranging, identifying issues of
anti-Semitism and offering additional discussion points surrounding the history and evolution of
ethnic prejudice and Jewish social experience. The result is a powerful discussion highly
recommended for Jewish history, culture, and literary readers alike; as well as for general noir
crime story readers who want more of a literary approach to the topic.
The Business Shelf
The Devil's Advocate Guide to Planning Your Business Website
Elaine Meszaros
EMGraphics, LLC
www.emgraphics.net
9780996354301 $9.99 pbk / $4.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
The Devil's Advocate Guide to Planning Your Business Website is not a computer or HTML
manual, leaving such material to other, more technical resources. Instead, it is a "must-read" for
any start-up business, regardless of whether the proposed website is to be created personally,
internally, or with the aid of an outside professional. The "Devil's Advocate" reference in the title
alludes to an accessible, reader-friendly, and extensive tour of common pitfalls - website
mistakes that can potentially cripple or destroy a business in today's increasingly online-driven
economy. Chapters discuss practical considerations to keep in mind when building, updating, and
advertising one's website. Highly recommended!
Selling to Heroes, Villains and Geeks
Jill M. Lewis
Anime Vendor
animevendor.com
9780996453608 $24.95 pbk / $19.95 Kindle www.amazon.com
Selling to Heroes, Villains and Geeks: An Insider's Guide for New Anime Vendors is a guide
written especially for business vendors seeking to break into the market of anime, comic book
and sci-fi conventions. Chapters present the cardinal rules of such a business, a "battle plan
blueprint" of what prospective vendors need to do, and an "infinite launch sequence" that walks
vendors through getting their business off the ground and ready to sell at their first convention.
From paying the lowest possible shipping costs for one's inventory, to common and easily
avoided pitfalls, Selling to Heroes, Villains and Geeks is packed with no-nonsense tips, tricks,
and techniques. "A vendor selling expensive collectible toys decided 'cash only was going to be
his policy at the beginning of a large convention. On Friday, the second day of the convention, he
realized he was losing several hundred dollars in daily sales by only accepting cash. The onsite
ATMs, as usual, quickly ran out of money." A "must-have" for any businessperson seeking to
break into potentially lucrative pop culture convention sales!
A Crowdfunder's Strategy Guide
Jamey Stegmaier
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
9781626564084, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com
A Crowdfunder's Strategy Guide: Build a Better Business by Building Community comes from a
veteran of seven successful Kickstarter campaigns that have raised over, $1.4 million, and
gathers over forty stories of both successes and disasters in the crowdfunding world. More than a
how-to guide to Kickstarter, it discusses the basics of how to treat contributors and backers, from
communications and updates to soliciting feedback and opinions along the way. If only one book
on crowdfunding strategy were to be chosen, it should be this one: from money-back guarantees
and creating rewards to diversification, this is a top pick highly recommended for any who want
to not just investigating crowdfunding, but understanding the factors that lead to its success or
failure.
The Science Shelf
Decoding the Language of Genetics
David Botstein
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard
Woodbury NY 11797-2924
9781621820925 $79.00 www.cshlpress.com
Geneticist and teacher David Botstein presents Decoding the Language of Genetics, a resource
written especially for scientists and physicians taken aback by the technical terminology
omnipresent in the science of genes. Chapters explain how traits and diseases are inherited, how
genes are organized into the genome, and how cells function according to their genetic code. The
text is meant to be accessible to scholars of other disciplines, so a basic familiarity with the
fundamentals of life science is presumed. "Most mutations, especially those that result in a
simple recessive (loss-of-function) phenotype, consist of simple changes in DNA sequence, most
commonly single base-pair substitutions. Generally, the consequences of such mutations are
deleterious, especially when they occur in sequences that encode proteins." Decoding the
Language of Genetics is an invaluable study aid and research tool for students and professionals
alike, and highly recommended for public and college library collections.
The American Sea: A Natural History of the Gulf of Mexico
Rezneat Milton Darnell
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781623492823, $75.00, www.tamupress.com
The American Sea: A Natural History of the Gulf of Mexico comes from an author who worked
for more than a decade researching the Gulf of Mexico's natural evolution. This represents not
only his own work, but that of his graduate students, research into government agency research,
and the overall ecological literature on the area. That doesn't mean that The American Sea is just
for scientists alone: it incorporates history, geology, meteorology, and more under one cover and
it includes photos of deep water and other organisms along with maps, works of art, and more.
The oceanography information is well done, the research transcends most natural histories to
embrace facets of other disciplines, and the result is a powerful survey highly recommended not
just for college-level science collections, but for any holding strong in Gulf of Mexico history as
a whole.
The Crafts Shelf
Jewelry Making 1-2-3
Karin Van Vorhees
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9781627001809, $21.99, www.jewelryandbeadingstore.com
Jewelry Making 1-2-3: 45+ Simple Projects comes form an author and teacher who uses easy
basic foundation skills combined with bead-working information and materials lists to help
newcomers create professional-looking finished pieces. From beads and knots to using spacers,
discussions assume no prior jewelry-making skills nor any familiarity with design or materials
and explain everything for beginners, making for a collection especially useful for those with
minimal tools, skills, and background in jewelry.
The Agriculture Shelf
Gubbeen
Giana Ferguson
Kyle Books
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, England, SW1V 1DX
http://www.kylebooks.com
9781909487246, $35.00, www.kylebooks.com
Gubbeen: The Story of a Working Farm and Its Foods is a standout in many ways; not the least
of which is an unusual focus on an Irish family farm's productions of some fifty different types of
food plus Gubbeen cheese, which has received awards and international acclaim. It's not too
often that a cookbook embraces a tribute to a particular product or a single farm, so Gubbeen
stands in a class by itself both for using four perspectives of the farm's family owners to explore
its meaning and operations, and for including recipes that use the farm's produce. Readers can
enjoy Gubbeen in several ways: as a memoir of a family's culinary heritage and achievements,
and as a cookbook replete with recipes for such dishes as Roast Garlic and Chorizo Soup or
Cardamom Shortbread.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Feng Shui from the Inside, Out
Victoria Pendragon
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781940265094 $16.00 pbk / $9.99 Kindle www.ozarkmt.com
Professional residential and commercial Feng Shui consultant Victoria Pendragon presents Feng
Shui from the Inside, Out, a guide that emphasizes that in order for Feng Shui to benefit the
practitioner, they must be ready to take advantage of the good fortune that comes their way.
Blending Feng Shui tenets with a do-it-yourself technique called "Sleep Magic" to revitalize
one's outlook and approach to tackling difficult problems, Feng Shui from the Inside, Out is both
inspirational and transformative. "Multitasking does not bring the body peace and it hampers its
ability to bring your mind peace, and when I say peace what I am talking about is a condition of
significantly reduced stress. Stress releases something called cortisol into the body. Cortisol
breaks down the body. Cortisol ages organs of the body. Anything you can do to simplify your
life will reduce stress levels and since life comes with stressful challenges that you have no
control over whatsoever, taking control where you can, helps." Feng Shui from the Inside, Out is
enlightening and thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, including Feng Shui
novices. Also highly recommended is Pendragon's previous metaphysical and spiritual self-help
guide, "Sleep Magic" (9781886940277, $12.00).
The Self-Help Shelf
Tame Your Inner Critic
Della Temple
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738743950 $15.99 www.llewellyn.com
Tame Your Inner Critic: Find Peace & Contentment to Live Your Life on Purpose lives up to its
title as a guide to transforming negative thoughts into positive ones. Peppered with specialized
exercises and meditations, Tame Your Inner Critic reveals one's inner power to improve
everyday interactions, personal relationships, and overall quality of life. Both psychological
qualities ("Releasing Negative Self-Talk") and metaphysical qualities ("Chakras and Your Life
Force") are discussed at length in this excellent self-help guide. "...there is only one thing you can
change in a relationship, and that is your attitude. You can decide how you react when your boss
hands you a task that needs to be completed immediately. Only you can decide if you become
aggravated or angry, whether you cuss and scream or whether you remain calm and
unruffled."
The Biography Shelf
Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism
John Norris
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780525429715 $28.95 www.penguin.com
Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism is the biography of Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist Mary McGrory (1918-2004), well-known for her syndicated column and her fearless
criticism of those in power. From her first assignment covering the Army-McCarthy hearings, to
her columns mourning President Kennedy's death and her controversy-stirring criticism of
President Bush in the wake of the September 11th attacks, Mary McGrory: The First Queen of
Journalism covers the storied career of a woman who defied glass ceilings. Bobby Kennedy
consulted with her; Lyndon Johnson tried to seduce her; and Nixon put her on his infamous
"enemies list". Yet her personal life sometimes bore a high price for her tireless work. Enhanced
with notes, a bibliography, and an index, Mary McGrory: The First Queen of Journalism is highly
recommended for public and college library biography collections.
The Missing Kennedy
Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff
Bancroft Press
PO Box 65360, Baltimore, MD 21209
9781610881746 $27.50 www.bancroftpress.com
Penned by the niece Sister Paulus, of Rosemary Kennedy's primary caregiver for thirty-five years,
The Missing Kennedy: Rosemary Kennedy and the Secret Bonds of Four Women is a remarkable
biography about a little-known member of the celebrated and politically powerful Kennedy
family. Rosemary (Rosie) Kennedy (1918-2005) was the first daughter of a wealthy Bostonian
couple, and older sister to President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator
Ted Kennedy. Rosie had intellectual disabilities, and was a slow learner prone to emotional
outbursts. She underwent one of America's first lobotomies; her father Joseph Kennedy was
assured that the operation would normalize Rosie's life, but instead it dramatically worsened her
condition. She was isolated from her family in a Catholic-run home for the mentally ill in rural
Wisconsin; doctors had warned that any family visits would be disruptive to Rosie. Yet after
Joseph Kennedy's stroke in 1961, the Kennedy family resumed face to face contact with Rosie.
The Missing Kennedy is a testimonial grounded in the private notes of Sister Paulus and author
Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff's personal visits to Rosie. Nearly one hundred never-before-seen
black-and-white photographs round out this unforgettable true-life story.
Forks in the Trail
Jack Ward Thomas
Boone and Crockett Club Collection
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
www.booneandcrockettclub.com
9781940860145 $24.95 www.amazon.com
Forks in the Trail: A Conservationist's Trek to the Pinnacles of Natural Resource Leadership is
an extraordinary memoir by hunter, horseback rider, and field biologist Jack Ward Thomas, who
served as chief of the U.S. Forest Service from 1993-96. He presents a vivid account of the life
experiences in the natural world that motivated him, as well as his harrowing years on the top
environmental job. His tenure included a fracas over the habitat of endangered spotted owls, and
the tragic deaths of 14 wildland firefighters in 1994. Profound, poignant, and unforgettable,
Forks in the Trail is a testimony of not only conservation, but also love and respect for nature
itself. Also highly recommended is Thomas' "Wilderness Journals: Wandering the High
Lonesome" (9781940860169, $24.95), a journal-style memoir that focuses on Thomas'
adventures amid the panoramic American West, and Thomas' "Hunting Around the World: Fair
Chase Pursuits from Backcountry Wilderness to the Scottish Highlands" (9781940860183,
$24.95), a candid testimony of responsible hunting and ardent conservationism.
Between Two Flags
Anthony G. Russell
Merrion Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781785370014 $65.00 www.isbs.com
Between Two Flags: John Mitchel & Jenny Verner is the true-life story of a difficult yet loving
marriage buffeted by the politics of mid-nineteenth century Ireland and America. John Mitchel
and Jenny Verner's courtship was hotly contested by both families; their elopement and marriage
was close to if not quite scandalous. Their story spans Ireland's Great Famine, revolution,
deportation, the American Civil War, Feminism, and Home Rule. Author Anthony Russel
examines their travels, the tragedies of their family life, and does not shy from portraying a
negative aspect of their lives: their wholehearted support of the institution of slavery. As
fascinating as it is edifying, Between Two Flags is highly recommended.
After the Wind
Lou Kasischke
Good Hart Publishing LC
PO Box 274, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
www.afterthewind.com
9781940877006 $17.00 hc / $7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
After the Wind: 1996 Everest Tragedy, One Survivor's Story is the personal testimony of author
Lou Kasischke, a survivor of Rob Hall's 1996 Mount Everest Expedition. An ill-fated confluence
of events made the area near the summit of Everest into a deathtrap disaster of legendary
proportions. Kasischke's miraculous account of survival is paired with the love story of his
connection with his wife Sandy. Intense and profound, After the Wind is highly
recommended.
The Sports Shelf
Playing Time
Kevin McNutt
African American Images
P.O. Box 1799, Sauk Village, IL 60412
www.AfricanAmericanImages.com
9780910030175 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Playing Time: Tough Truths About AAU Basketball, Youth Sports, Parents and Athletes offers
straight, no-nonsense information about Amateur Athletic Union basketball programs. There is a
focus on the African-American sports community, which is particularly well-known for
passionately embracing basketball, but Playing Time's message is invaluable for parents,
coaches, teachers, and student athletes of all backgrounds. Author Kevin McNutt, whose
involvement in youth sports as a college scholarship basketball player, referee, coach, and parent
spans over five decades, candidly answers frequently asked questions. How realistic is the dream
of an athletic scholarship? How should parents and a young athlete approach the dilemma of
choosing between a junior varsity or varsity team? (Junior varsity team membership is less
prestigious, but a young athlete may have more opportunity to play the game on a junior varsity
team instead of a varsity team). When is transferring schools for the sake of an athletic program
justifiable? "...especially in the black sports community, having a second dream outside of
athletic success is viewed by some parents as counterproductive and a distraction to the prodigy
keeping his eyes on the athletic prize. This is wrong. They can coexist. It is not an either-or
proposition. In truth, this tunnel vision thinking reflects your low self-esteem and low
expectations to believe your child can concentrate on only one goal." Playing time is an absolute
"must-read" for anyone involved with the AAU, and highly recommended.
The Large Print Shelf
The Country Doctor's Choice
Maggie Bennett
Magna Large Print Books
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780750541084 $35.50 www.ulverscroftusa.com
The Country Doctor's Choice is a dramatic novel presented in large print format for ease of
reading. Set in the small British market town of Everham during the Profumo affair (a 1963
scandal during which John Profumo, the Secretary of State for War, was forced to admit to an
past, improper sexual relationship with a nineteen-year-old aspiring model), The Country
Doctor's Choice is a tale of winding intrigue and star-crossed love. Dr. Leigh McDowall, medical
registrar, is taking a refresher course in obstetrics; he finds himself attracted to Dr. Shelagh
Hammond, obstetric surgeon, but she is involved in a relationship and caring for her terminally
ill mother. Meanwhile Reverend Derek Bolt finds himself harassed with unwanted attention from
a female parishioner, and confides in headmaster Jeremy North. A confluence of conflicting
wills, strong characterization, and building tensions, The Country Doctor's Choice holds the
reader's rapt attention from cover to cover.
The Fiction Shelf
I am Coyote
Geri Vistein
Tilbury House, Publishers
12 Starr Street, Thomaston, ME 04861
9780884484660 $16.95 www.tilburyhouse.com
Penned in the spirit of animal-perspective classics such as "Watership Down", I am Coyote is an
original novel about the life and struggles of a female coyote. She must brave extreme cold,
hunger, and danger, in her search to find a stable life, and eventually a mate with who she can
raise a new generation of coyotes. I am Coyote makes every effort to be as scientifically accurate
as it is adventurous and engrossing; through Coyote's life story, the reader learns more about the
complex family bonds of these animals who have come to replace wolves (which were
effectively exterminated a century ago) as a keystone predator that the eastern United States
ecology sorely needed. Highly recommended!
The Humor Shelf
Celebrating Peanuts: 65 Years
Charles M. Schulz
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449471828 $45.00 pbk www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Celebrating Peanuts: 65 Years is a deluxe paperback compilation of specially chosen strips from
the long-running, universally beloved "Peanuts" newspaper comic created by Charles M. Schulz
(1922-2000). In addition to these selected highlights (with all the chosen Sunday strips
reproduced in full color), Celebrating Peanuts: 65 Years intersperses occasional snippets of
appropriate comments by Schulz himself concerning his life's work, as well as a brief overview
of each decade noting major changes of the strip, such as its introduction of a black character,
Franklin, in 1968. Schulz's own words reflect, "...I had always thought that black people might
feel I was [adding a black character] in a patronizing or condescending manner. Then, I received
two letters from black fathers asking that Peanuts be integrated. That was the turning point." The
complete run of Peanuts is far too large to fit into even this gigantic volume (well over 500 pages
long!), but Celebrating Peanuts is a wonderful way to page through the evolution, the highlights,
and the most cherished memories of Schulz's creative legacy. Highly recommended, especially
for gift-giving and public library collections.
Simon's Cat: Off to the Vet
Simon Tofield
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617754029 $27.95 www.akashicbooks.com
Simon's Cat: Off to the Vet is an entirely wordless graphic novel about the (mis)adventures of
Simon's fluffy white cat, its adopted grey kitten sibling, their hapless human caretaker, and the
raucous local wildlife. The black-and-white cartoony comics (with occasional color comics)
bring these delightful and exuberant adventures to life, from the kitten's ferocious battle with a
stuffed snake, to Simon's Cat's attempt to lure birds into his mouth with a clever sunflower
disguise! Witty and wonderful, Simon's Cat: Off to the Vet is a treat for cat lovers or anyone who
loves laughter. Also highly recommended are the previous Simon's Cat collections, "Simon's Cat
in Kitten Chaos" (9781617751585, $15.95) and "Simon's Cat vs. The World" (9781617751882,
$15.95).
How to Toilet Train Your Cat & 61 Other Ill-Conceived Projects
Portable Press
PO Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
c/o Printer's Row Publishing Group
www.printersrowpublishinggroup.com
9781626863606 $14.95 http://bathroomreader.com
How to Toilet Train Your Cat & 61 Other Ill-Conceived Projects is part of the Uncle John's
chuckle-inducing series of "bathroom literature". Although every activity is presented with
step-by-step instructions, it should be emphasized that feline toilet training is the ONLY project
herein that should even be considered for actual practice. All other "projects" are for
entertainment purposes only and emphatically must NOT be done by any layperson, ever. This
includes such eyebrow-raising undertakings as "How to Make a Shrunken Head" (a methodology
practiced by certain warlike and tribal peoples in human history), "How to Make Condoms" (the
use of which is absolutely not guaranteed to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted
infections),"How to Pump Your Own Stomach" and more. A disclaimer warns "we are not
legally responsible if you are dumb enough to actually attempt these tasks", since some of them
are illegal, and many of them are life-threatening to the point of suicidal. But for pure edification,
perhaps more than any bathroom reader ever wanted to know, How to Toilet Train Your Cat &
61 Other Ill-Conceived Projects is unmatched!
The Travel Shelf
Death Valley National Park
Jenna Blough
Moon Handbooks
c/o Avalon Travel
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
c/o Publishers Group West (dist.)
9781631210099 $16.99 moon.com
Part of the superb Moon Handbooks travel guide series, Death Valley National Park is a
user-friendly travel guide to the breathtaking landscape of salt flats, sand dunes, and gleaming
marble canyons that is Death Valley. Peppered with maps and color photography, Death Valley
National Park includes detailed directions, recommended hikes to abandoned mining camps and
isolated ghost towns, scenic backcountry roads, wildlife refuges, local attractions beyond the park
such as the Amargosa Opera House and the Trona Pinnacles, and much more. A "must-have" for
tourists, nature lovers, and sightseers eager to experience this amazing national park
firsthand!
The Poetry Shelf
Words in Passing: A Selection of Formal Verse
E. M. Schorb
New Formalist Press
http://theformalist.org
9788361769996, $22.95, www.amazon.com
"Words in Passing: A Selection of Formal Verse" is a 196 page compendium showcasing E. M.
Schorb's remarkable gift for poetry. Replete with deftly crafted verses that will linger in the mind
and memory long after the book itself is finished and set back upon the shelf, "Words in Passing:
A Selection of Formal Verse" is very highly recommended for personal, community, and
academic library American Poetry & Poets collections. 'The Good Ones': I guess the good ones
stay with everyone, / the ones we knew who made us proud to know / them at some point
somewhere beneath the sun, / but, to the good, I think, the others go / into a fading place and so
are lost, / the others who were not so good to know. / The pain of course stays like an ugly ghost.
/ But I suppose in time it too will go. / I could name names, but only of the good, / the ones I
knew that I was proud to know. / They are the heros of my life. I would / keep them forever fresh,
not let them go. / It isn't hard to keep the two apart, / the heroes and the zeros of the heart.
The International Studies Shelf
Japan's Postwar Military and Civil Society
Tomoyuki Sasaki
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781472525550 $112.00 www.bloomsbury.com
After Japan's defeat in World War II, its "peace constitution" renounced war as a sovereign right
and outlawed the nation from having war potential. However, Japan maintained a world-class
military organization dubbed the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Japan's Postwar Military and Civil
Society is an in-depth scrutiny of the relationship between civilian Japanese society and the SDF,
from the 1950's to the present day. Chapters discuss SDF recruitment, its work in civil
engineering and disaster relief, anti-SDF litigation, state financial support for communities with
SDF bases, and much more. A thoughtful, scholarly account, heavily researched with extensive
notes and an index, Japan's Postwar Military and Civil Society is a welcome addition to
international studies shelved and college library collections.
The Civil War Shelf
"To Prepare for Sherman's Coming"
Wade Sokolosky and Mark A. Smith
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611212662 $27.95 www.savasbeatie.com
"To Prepare for Sherman's Coming": The Battle of Wise's Forks, March 1865 scrutinizes a battle
late in the American Civil War. At the time of the Battle of Wise's Forks, the Confederacy was
running out of food and resources, and its morale was draining away. Confederate General
Braxton Bragg clashed with Major General Jacob D. Cox, in a bold plan devised by Confederate
General Joseph E. Johnston to buy precious time. Bragg successfully halted Cox at Wise's Forks
for four days, giving Johnston the opportunity he needed to prepare for the much larger Battle of
Bentonville. Occasional black-and-white photographs and maps illustrate this meticulous
accounting of a battle of key strategic importance, that may well have significantly prolonged the
war. Enhanced with a bibliography and an index, "To Prepare for Sherman's Coming" is a
welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and public library Civil War and military
history shelves.
The Political Science Shelf
Anything for a Vote, revised and updated edition
Joseph Cummins
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
9781594748325 $19.95 www.quirkbooks.com
Now in a revised and updated edition with chapters on the 2008 and 2012 elections, Anything for
a Vote: Dirty Tricks, Cheap Shots, and October Surprises in U.S. Presidential Campaigns lives
up to its title as a chronicle of political mudslinging (and much, much worse!). Every American
presidential campaign is contemplated, all the way back to the time of founding President George
Washington (who had to oversee a divisive political quarrel between Alexander Hamilton's
Federalists and Thomas Jefferson's Republicans). Chronicling incidents of foul language, sordid
behavior, outright slander or libel, and even electoral fraud, Anything for a Vote reminds the
reader that "dirty politics" in America is nothing new - not that it deserves to be quietly tolerated!
Anything for a Vot is highly recommended, especially for public library political science
collections. "Among other things, according to Conyers, Republicans engaged in a deceptive
direct-mail practice called 'caging' to trim Democratic voters off the rolls. In the summer of 2004
the GOP, using ZIP codes, sent registered letters to 200,000 newly registered voters in urban
areas more likely to vote for Kerry. Thirty-five thousand people who had refused to sign the
letters or whose mail came back marked "undeliverable" were knocked off the voter rolls just
two weeks before the election."
The Senator from New England: The Rise of JFK
Sean J. Savage
Excelsior Editions
c/o State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438457031, $34.95, 362pp, www.amazon.com
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29, 1917 - November 22, 1963), commonly referred to by
his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United
States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. The Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty, the establishment of the Peace Corps, developments in the Space Race, the building of
the Berlin Wall, the Civil Rights Movement, and increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War
all took place during his presidency. But before he became president of the United States, he was
a young senator from Massachusetts. "The Senator from New England: The Rise of JFK" by
Sean J. Savage (a political analyst for the news media, and a Professor of Political Science at
Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana) is a 362 page compendium organized into ten
informative chapters (JFK and Massachusetts Politics; JFK and New England Economics; JFK
and the St. Lawrence Seaway; JFK and the Politics of 1956; JFK and the 1958 Elections; JRK
and the Politics of 1959; From New England to the Nation: 1960) that follows the political
evolution and progress of Kennedy that was to one day see him in the most powerful political
office the nation has to offer. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Photo Gallery; a list of
abbreviations; an informative Preface and Epilogue; a thirty-three page Photo Gallery; fifty-six
pages of Notes; a sixteen page Selected Bibliography; a four page list of Photographic Credits;
and a thirty-seven page Index, "The Senator from New England: The Rise of JFK" is an
impressive and seminal work of scholarship. Very highly recommended for community and
academic library 20th Century American Political Science reference collections in general, and
JFK supplemental studies reading lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "The Senator from New England: The Rise of JFK" is also available in a Kindle edition
($24.07).
The Military Shelf
Storming the City
Alec Wahlman
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574416190 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
Storming the City: U.S. Military Performance in Urban Warfare from World War II to Vietnam
examines the nightmare problem of urban warfare, and how the American military confronted it
in four specific mid-twentieth century battles: Aachen 1944, Manila 1945, Seoul 1950, and Hue
1968. American forces were ultimately successful in each battle due to two key factors:
transferable competence and battlefield adaptation. Yet overall tactical performance declined in
each of these battles. What lessons can be learned from these episodes of military history, and
how can they aid American military forces in a future where the landscape of the world, and
therefore also warfare, is increasingly urbanized? Enhanced with extensive notes, a bibliography,
and an index, Storming the City is erudite, analytical, and carries within the potential to save
soldiers' lives.
The Archaeology Shelf
The Neanderthals Rediscovered, revised edition
Dimitra Papagianni and Michael A. Morse
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500292044 $16.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Now in a revised and updated edition, The Neanderthals Rediscovered: How Modern Science is
Rewriting Their Story examines what archaeological research, including advances in DNA
technology, has revealed about the Neanderthal - a species very similar to homo sapiens, that
appears to have evolved in Europe parallel to homo sapiens in Africa. The latest evidence reveals
that Neanderthals were more like us that one might guess; they buried their dead, cared for the
sick, hunted large animals, used red pigment, and had a spoken language. Both species journeyed
into Asian territory, but the Neanderthals became extinct in prehistory. Was their extermination
due to maladaption, inbreeding, or violent conflict with homo sapiens? Does the presence of a
small amount of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans imply that interbreeding took place, and if
so, then during what prehistoric period did this happen? Black-and-white and a handful of color
photographs illustrate this fascinating survey, thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds
and highly recommended especially for public library archaeology collections.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Career Success in Health Care, third edition
Bruce J. Colbert & Elizabeth D. Katrancha
Delmar Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengagebrain.com
9781285866888, $92.95, 302pp, www.amazon.com
Developing interpersonal skills and establishing a "brand" as a professional early in a medical
student's academic career will directly affect their future success. With its unique "worktext"
format, this newly revised third edition of "Career Success in Health Care: Professionalism in
Action" will help to sharpen interpersonal skills to showcase the reader as a top-performing
student as well as a top-quality job candidate. Drawing from their many years of teaching,
clinical experience, and conducting workshops concerning the behavioral domain, Bruce J.
Colbert (Associate Professor and Director of the Allied Health Care Department at the University
of Pittsburgh at Johnstown) and Elizabeth D. Katrancha (Assistant Professor of Nursing at the
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown) have created a work-text packed from cover to cover with
real-life examples, clear direction, and step-by-step assistance in assessing the reader's current
state of professionalism and creating effective action plans for improvement. Equipping the
reader with both academic and life skills, "Career Success in Health Care" will enable the reader
to reach his or her full potential. Very highly recommended for community, medical school, and
academic library Jobs/Careers reference collections in general, and Health Care career
supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Career
Success in Health Care" is also available in a Kindle edition ($37.50 Rental, $73.49
Purchase).
The Language Studies Shelf
Hmong Picture Dictionary
Mao Amy Yang-Lee
Master Communications
2692 Madison Road, Suite N1-307, Cincinnati, OH 45208
www.master-comm.com
9781604801590, $19.95, 72pp, www.amazon.com
Hmong Picture Dictionary was specially created for home and educational setting among Hmong
families and at schools. Whether a self learner or as part of a school classroom curriculum, the
"Hmong Picture Dictionary" will be valuable resource for inter-generational communication and
relation development among the Hmong in English speaking countries. The dictionary features:
Brief History of the Hmong; Tone Markers; Consonants; Vowels; Tone combination; The Body
and helpful phrases; Clothing; Numbers and helpful phrases; Colors and helpful phrases;
Motions/Emotions with simple sentences; Fruits and helpful phrases; Vegetables; School;
Animals; At Home; Location; Nature; Types of Weather; Seasons and helpful phrases; The
Market; Family / Relations; Opposites; Traveling Phrases; Verb List; Hmong Names; and a
Complete Index. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, the "Hmong Picture Dictionary" is very
highly recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease
Douglas W. Esson
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com
9781118840771, $129.99, www.amazon.com
The "Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease" by Douglas W. Esson (a
board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and clinical director at Eye Care for Animals in
Tustin, California), provides an image-rich resource for diagnosing and treating ophthalmic
conditions in clinical practice. This 344 page compendium deftly presents more than 600
high-quality color photographs depicting commonly encountered ocular conditions in dogs and
cats Included are multiple images for each disease to show varying presentations Organized for
easy reference, covering the most commonly encountered conditions first, "Clinical Atlas of
Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease" specifically designed for daily use in a busy clinical
setting, thereby allowing practitioners to quickly find and compare images as they see their cases.
Of special note is that the "Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease" provides a
concise summary of the most clinically relevant information on diagnosing and managing
ophthalmic disease. The "Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease" should be
considered an essential, core addition to professional, veterinary clinic, and academic library
Veterinary Medicine reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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