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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 27, Number 11 November 2017 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Christmas Shelf Science Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Cookbook Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Music Shelf Travel Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Automotive Shelf Woodworking Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf Education Shelf
Photography Shelf Gardening Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Business Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Political Science Shelf Gaming Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Biography Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Technology Shelf Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf Aviation Shelf
Hunting/Fishing Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Civil War Shelf
Sports Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
International Studies Shelf Art Shelf Psychology Shelf
Agriculture Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Autism Shelf
Genealogy Shelf Architecture Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Military Shelf Parenting Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Number One Observatory Circle
Charles Denyer
Cambridge Klein Publishers
PO Box 8338, Atlanta, GA, 31106
www.cambridgeklein.org
9780998764207, $49.99, HC, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Quietly situated on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) in our nation's capital lies Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the vice president of the United States. Built in 1893, the handsome and stately Queen Anne-style home is surrounded by a forest-like setting, complete with lush greenery, wildlife, and the serene sounds of nature, yet sits just footsteps away from the bustling traffic on Massachusetts Avenue. From never-before-seen photos to candid conversations with former vice-presidents, family members, political power players of their time, and others, "Number One Observatory Circle: The Home of the Vice President of the United States" by Charles Denyer (a federal cybersecurity and national security expert, and a noted vice-presidential historian) brings to life untold stories and memorable moments of the three-story, green-shuttered mansion covered in layers of off-white paint, and the people who were privileged to call it home. A unique history of a political residence, "Number One Observatory Circle" is an extraordinarily informative and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library collections.

Good Arguments
Richard A. Holland Jr. & Benjamin K. Forrest
Baker Academic
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780801097799, $17.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Richard A. Holland Jr. (Assistant Professor of Apologetics and Theology at Liberty University School of Divinity in Lynchburg, Virginia) and Benjamin K. Forrest (Associate Dean of the College of General Studies and Professor of Christian education at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia), "Good Arguments: Making Your Case in Writing and Public Speaking" offers a brief introduction to making effective arguments helps readers to understand the basics of sound reasoning and to learn how to use it to persuade others. Practical, inexpensive, and easy-to-read, "Good Arguments" enables students in a wide variety of courses to improve the clarity of their writing and public speaking. "Good Arguments" will equip readers to formulate firmly grounded, clearly articulated, and logically arranged arguments, avoid fallacious thinking, and discover how to reason well. "Good Arguments" is supplemental text that is especially suitable for use in Christian colleges and seminaries and includes classroom discussion questions. Whether preparing sermons for the pulpit, opinion pieces for publication, or a persuasive book on any given social or political issue, "Good Arguments" will prove to be exceptionally 'user friendly' in tone, organization and presentation. While very highly recommended for community, seminary, and academic library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that "Good Arguments" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

New Views
Alastair Bonnett
Aurum Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781781316399, $35.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

From charting energy networks to revealing new and emerging lands, measuring human migration to assessing the planet's ant populations (and including the phenomena we have little control over such as lightning strikes or asteroid impact) each one of the 52 maps comprising "New Views: The World Mapped Like Never Before: 50 Maps Of Our Physical, Cultural And Political World" by Alastair Bonnett (Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University) prompts its readers to question, wonder and look again at our rapidly changing and often surprising world. Divided into three thematic sections: Land, Air and Sea; Human and Animal, and Globalisation, "New Views" offers a fresh and truly global portrait of our intricately fascinating planet. Impressively and exceptionally informative, "New Views" is unreservedly recommended for community, school, college, and university library collections. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "New Views" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.29).

Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader
Hans Finzel
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.davidccook.com
9780781414623, $22.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Dr. Hans Finzel knows from personal experience the key success factors in every effective leader's journey. "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader "is the sequel to his popular book, "The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make". That book is about what to avoid. This one is about what to master. In "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader ", he outlines the positive traits and skills every new leader should master. "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader" shows readers: The two most important words in a leader's vocabulary; The skills a leader needs to communicate effectively; Why today's effective leaders lead with vulnerability; The contrast between servant leadership and slave leadership; How to lead with both passion and humility; The difference between making a mark and leaving a legacy. Exceptionally well written, impressively 'real world practical' in scope and reference, "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader" will prove to be of especial interest and value for new leaders in business, education, ministry, and the church with respect to how to lead well while loving what they do. As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader" is unreservedly recommended for corporate, community, and academic library collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "Top Ten Ways to Be a Great Leader" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside
Basil Mahon
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633883314, $26.00, www.amazon.com

The Forgotten Genius of Oliver Heaviside: A Maverick of Electrical Science tells of a pioneer in electrical science in the early 1920s whose contributions led to advancements in communications and modern electrical engineering. Despite the fact that his name is seldom mentioned in modern science circles, his ideas formed the foundation to many electrical science concepts, and the story of his life and achievements is finally given the recognition it deserves in a book that is packed with important details. No science holding should be without this biography, which also presents a discussion of the evolution of electrical engineering as a science.


The Christmas Shelf

It's Christmas Time
Balsam Range
balsamrange.com
Mountain Home Music Company
$10.00 mountainhomemusiccompany.com

It's Christmas Time is an EP music album perfect for getting into the festive holiday spirit. Music group Balsam Range with the Nashville Recording Orchestra perform both contemporary and beloved traditional Christmas songs with aplomb. It's Christmas Time is a choice pick for playing at Christmas parties, or to liven up the holidays at home or in the car. The tracks are "Christmas Lullaby" (3:16), "The First Noel" (3:06), "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" (2:13), "I'm Going Home, It's Christmas Time" (3:07), "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (2:39), and "Jingle Bells" (3:18).


The Science Shelf

Hubble's Universe, second edition
Terence Dickinson
Firefly Books Ltd.
50 Staples Avenue, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada L4B 0A7
www.fireflybooks.com
9781770859975, $35.00, HC, 332pp, www.amazon.com

The first edition of "Hubble's Universe" displayed 300 pages of high-resolution celestial portraits selected by bestselling astronomy writer Terence Dickinson from the initial 22 years of the Hubble Space Telescope's exploration of distant galaxies. With the telescope now at the apex of its imaging capabilities, this newly revised and expanded second edition adds still another chapter featuring more than 36 completely new images, including the first publication of a four-page fold-out of the Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to Earth, revealing more than one million individual stars. Thanks to Dickinson's expertise with Hubble's history and discoveries and his access to top Hubble scientists for insight and accuracy, the text of "Hubble's Universe" includes facts and tidbits not found in any other study of this iconic space-based instrument. Combined with 330 brilliant images, the clear, succinct and illuminating narrative brings to life the fascinating forces at work in the universe, making "Hubble's Universe: Greatest Discoveries and Latest Images" an absolutely essential and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Astronomy collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the Hubble telescope that this new edition of "Hubble's Universe" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.49).

Biofuels from Food Waste
Antoine P. Trzcinski
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781138093720, $69.95, HC, 135pp, www.amazon.com

According to the UN's Food & Agricultural Organization (FAO), one third of food produced globally for human consumption (nearly 1.3 billion tons) is lost annually. Food waste has often been incinerated with other combustible municipal wastes for possible recovery of heat or other forms of energy, however, incineration is not cost-effective, and can cause air pollution. Due to its organics- and nutrient-rich nature, food waste could be viewed as a useful resource for production of high-value platform chemicals through fermentation. "Biofuels from Food Waste: Applications of Saccharification using Fungal Solid State Fermentation" by Antoine P. Trzcinski (who developed a novel process for producing biogas from municipal solid waste and for the treatment of landfill leachate, and as a Senior Research Fellow in the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute continued working on solid waste treatment such as waste activated sludge and wastewater treatment in anaerobic membrane bioreactors) examines the bioconversion of food wastes to energy and the recent developments in ethanol, hydrogen, methane, and biodiesel production from food wastes. Exceptionally well written, documented, organized and presented, "Biofuels from Food Waste" is especially recommended as a curriculum supplemental studies textbook and an essential and critically important addition to professional, college, and university library Biofuel collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Biofuels from Food Waste" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $58.69).

Ethnobotany of India
T. Pullaiah, K. V. Krishnamurthy, Bir Bahadur, eds.
Apple Academic Press
c/o CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781771885508, $169.95, HC, 516pp, www.amazon.com

Part of the five volume "Ethnobotany of India" series from Apple Academic Press, "Ethnobotany of India: Western and Central Himalayas" covers the ethnobotanical aspects of many plants of the region. Collaboratively compiled and edited by the team of T. Pullaiah (a former Professor at the Department of Botany at Sri Krishnadevaraya University in Andhra Pradesh, India, where he has taught for more than 35 years); K. V. Krishnamurthy (who is a former Professor and Head of Department, Plant Sciences at Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli, India, and is at present an adjunct faculty at the Institute of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Bangalore); and Bir Bahadur, PhD, (Chairman and Head of the Department, and Dean of the Faculty of Science at Kakatiya University in Warangal, India), "Ethnobotany of India: Western and Central Himalayas" covers the ethnic diversity of people; ethnic food plants and food preparation; ethnomedical aspects of plants; psychedelic plants and their possible link to soma, a vedic ritual drink whose plant origins are a mystery; ethnoveterinary medicinal plants; ethno-conservation practices; and biodiversity heritage sites. Also included are the details of the plants used, their scientific names, the parts used, and how the plants are used, providing the what, how, and why of plant usage. "Ethnobotany of India: Western and Central Himalayas" is well illustrated with 20 color and 67 b/w illustrations. While very highly recommended for academic library Ethnobotany collections and supplemental studies reading lists, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Ethnobotany of India: Western and Central Himalayas" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $124.17).


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

What Are You Laughing At?
Brad Schreiber
Allworth Press
www.allworth.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781621536000, $16.99, PB, 280pp, www.amazon.com

With more than seventy excerpts from such expert prose and screenwriters as Woody Allen, Steve Martin, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., as well as unique writing exercises for all situations, "What Are You Laughing At?: How to Write Humor for Screenplays, Stories, and More" is a basic and comprehensive tutorial will teach aspiring authors how to write humor prose for any literary form, including screenwriting, story writing, theater, television, and audio/radio. Additionally, novice writers are given sage advice on different tactics for writing comedic fiction versus comedic nonfiction. Some of the topics discussed in "What Are You Laughing At? include: Life experience versus imagination; How to use humor to develop theme/setting, character, and dialogue; Rhythm and sound of words; Vulgarity and bad taste, Of special note is the information provided on how to market humor prose in the digital market. Thoroughly revised and updated, and with new information on writing short, humorous films, "What Are You Laughing At?" is extraordinarily 'user friendly' in organization and presentation. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for the personal instructional reference lists of aspiring writers that "What Are You Laughing At?" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.57).

Bring Your Fiction to Life
Karen S. Wiesner
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440349829, $17.99, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com

Karen Wiesner is an accomplished author with 113 titles published in the past 18 years, which have been nominated for or won 134 awards, and has 39 more releases contracted for spanning many genres and formats. In "Bring Your Fiction to Life: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity" to teaches aspiring authors on how to build a solid narrative structure and layer in lush, textured scenes to create a story that rings true. "Bring Your Fiction to Life" explains how to: Master the three-dimensional aspects of characters, plots, and settings using detailed sketches that define the past, present, and future aspects of each element; Develop complex opening, resolution, and bridge scenes that expertly lead readers through your fictional world: Construct and analyze an outline for your manuscript, using tools and techniques to analyze scenes that lack dimensionality: Brainstorm, research, and draft efficiently and effectively, and juggle multiple projects with ease. Packed from cover to cover with story-development charts, worksheets, and checklists, "Bring Your Fiction to Life" when enable even the most novice and inexperience of writers just how to craft a vivid story world that readers (and publishers!) will instantly recognize as remarkable. While especially recommended for both community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Bring Your Fiction to Life" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Make a Scene, revised edition
Jordan Rosenfeld
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440351419, $17.99, PB, 264pp, www.amazon.com

Scenes are the building blocks for any work of fiction, basically they are the DNA sequence that makes a novel un-put-downable and unforgettable reading experience. When writers are able to craft effective, engaging scenes, they can develop a complete, cohesive story -- and a mesmerizing experience for readers. Now in a significantly revised and newly expanded edition, "Make a Scene: Writing a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time" by Jordan Rosenfeld takes aspiring writers step-by-step through the elements of strong scene construction and demonstrates how the essential aspects of a compelling story (including character, plot and dramatic tension) function within the framework of individual scenes to give momentum to the whole narrative. "Make a Scene" show how to: Craft an opening scene that hooks readers and foreshadows conflict; Develop various scene types--from contemplative to suspenseful to flashback--that are distinct and purposeful; Establish characters' intentions within a scene that drive the plot; Transition into new scenes by clearly establishing details of setting, character, and point of view; Create resonating climactic and final scenes that stay with readers long after they've finished your story. This newly revised and expanded edition includes brand-new examples, an increased focus on advancing plot and character development, making it an essential part of any personal, community, or academic library's Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Make a Scene" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.31).

Grammar For People Who Hate Rules
Kathleen A. Watson
Ruthless Editor Press
www.RuthlessEditor.com
9780997664607, $8.95, PB, 166pp, www.amazon.com

Writing and grammar expert Kathleen Watson, fondly known as The Ruthless Editor, has nearly three decades of experience in the corporate and academic worlds. As a fiction and non-fiction book editor, she has helped many authors hone their writing skills. In "Grammar For People Who Hate Rules: Killer Tips From The Ruthless Editor" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to create an succinctly comprehensive instruction manual focusing on the effective use of grammar in writing and speaking. The easy-to-follow tips in "Grammar For People Who Hate Rules", enhance this straightforward guide that will provide practical 'real world' help in avoiding many of today's common word and punctuation errors. Even if English is one's original language (and even more so for those to whom English is a secondary language) English grammar and usage can be (and all to often is) confusing! Even the best writers sometimes pause to consider word and punctuation choices. Whether writing for work, for school, for publication, or even creating a knockout profile for LinkedIn or a dating website -- "Grammar For People Who Hate Rules" will bring the reader quickly up to speed with respect to today's English grammar. Writers will build their reputation as they build their mastery, impressing their clients, their boss, their professor, their editors, -- or maybe even their potential spouse! Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Grammar For People Who Hate Rules" is thoroughly 'user friendly' in content and tone, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Grammar For People Who Hate Rules" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).

Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018
Cris Freese, editor
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440352683, $29.99, 416pp, www.amazon.com

For anyone wanting to write or illustrate books for children ranging from preschool to young adult, this new 30th edition of a true publishing industry bible, "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018" is an absolute must as practical reference and resource. Listing thousands of book publishers, magazines, contests, literary agents, and more, "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018" features a webinar by literary agent Jennifer De Chiara on writing query letters that will prove invaluable. Additionally, "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018" is replete with basic, 'real world' advice contributed by both debut writers and award-winning authors. Of special note throughout is a wealth of 'how to' tips on the craft of writing, as well as a one-year access to the children's publishing content at www.writersmarket.com. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Cris Freese (who is the managing editor for Writer's Digest Books, as well as the editor of "Guide to Literary Agents"), "Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market 2018" is unreservedly and wholeheartedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Writing/Publishing instructional reference and resource collections.

Fearless Writing
William Kenower
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440349836, $16.99, PB, 230pp, www.amazon.com

Whether you're a fledgling writer or a veteran with years of experience, fearlessness (that elusive blend of self-acceptance, confidence, and curiosity) is the defining quality of those who find fulfillment and success. Truly fearless authors banish writer's blocks with ease, receive critiques gracefully, and infuse their passion for the craft into every word they write. Filled with insightful wisdom and practical advice, "Fearless Writing: How to Create Boldly and Write with Confidence" by William Kenower (who is a popular blogger and sought-after writing teacher and has inspired writers for many year) teaches aspiring writers how to thrive as a writer, no matter their genre or career path. "Fearless Writing" shows how to: Find and enter a Flow state in which writing is a natural, deeply satisfying process; Quiet both internal and external critics and embrace the inherent value in your work; Use love, emotional engagement, and curiosity as the guiding principles for what you write and how you share it with others; Overcome rejection, procrastination, and other obstacles that stifle literary creativity. From the blank page to the first draft, and from querying to marketing, the writing life is filled with challenges, roadblocks, and new experiences. "Fearless Writing" is an indispensable, 'real world practical', instructional reference for building a lifelong literary career in the process. While very highly recommended for community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Fearless Writing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Writing Voice
Writer's Digest Editorial Staff
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440349126, $18.99, PB, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Writers bring a unique and diverse set of skills to their work: One author might write outstanding characters, while another might dazzle with dialogue. While it isn't necessary that a writer master every aspect of the craft in order to succeed, the one quality required of every successful writer is have a compelling, original voice. This 'writer's voice', which is often difficult to define and even more difficult to master, is what transforms writing from the pedestrian to the powerful. The collaborative project of the editorial staff of Writer's Digest Books, "Writing Voice: The Complete Guide to Creating a Presence on the Page and Engaging Readers" is an effective compendium of instruction and advice drawn from best-selling authors and instructors like Donal Maass, Adair Lara, Paula Munier, Dinty W. Moore, James Scott Bell, and many others. Also included are exercises, techniques, and examples for making prose stand out, be it fiction or memoir. "Writing Voice" explores the unique way you write; studies the distinctive styles of other writers to create your own voice; provides understanding of the nuances of voice, including the importance of word choice; will develop the right voice for working in a particular genre; enable the crafting of excellent narration that will keep readers coming back; materially aid in choosing the proper voice for nonfiction. Constructing the voice that fits your particular style as a writer, as well as your audience, is paramount to crafting memorable, original work. "Writing Voice" gives the aspiring writer the fundamental tools to not only create that voice but to perfect it. While a core addition to both community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Writing Voice" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Write Naked
Jennifer Probst
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
www.writersdigest.com
9781440347344, $16.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Jennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. Her work has been translated in more than a dozen countries, has sold over a million copies, and was dubbed a "romance phenom" by Kirkus Reviews. In "Write Naked: A Bestseller's Secrets to Writing Romance & Navigating the Path to Success" she reveals her pathway to success, from struggling as a new writer to signing a seven-figure deal. "Write Naked" intermingles personal essays on craft with down-to-earth advice on writing romance in the digital age teaches how to: Commit to your current work-in-progress, get focused, and complete it on schedule; Reveal raw emotions and thoughts on the page to hook your readers; Assemble a street team to promote and celebrate your books; Overcome writer's block with ease; Develop themes that tie together your books and series; Write the most difficult elements of romance--including sex scenes--with skill and style. Regardless of the genre, every novelist faces the difficult task of creating authentic characters and an engaging plot. But attempting to break into the hotter-than-ever romance genre, which is constantly flooded with new titles and fresh faces can feel impossible. This is where "Write Naked" comes in with both example, advice, tips, tricks and techniques that comprise Jennifer's 'real world practical' lessons and craft advice that every writer needs in order to carve out a rewarding career -- especially as a romance novelist. While an extraordinary and specialized addition to community and academic library Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all aspiring romance novelists that "Write Naked" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Cookbook Shelf

The Cozy Table
Dana DeVolk
The Countryman Press
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.countrymanpress.com
9781682680926, $24.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

In "The Cozy Table", Dana DeVolk draws upon her years of experience and expertise as a professionally trained chef who blogs at This Silly Girl's Kitchen to assembly a simply outstanding compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly recipes for dishes that will accommodate dining for one, two, or a small gathering of friends or family and make the meal truly memorable. Beautifully illustrated throughout, the recipes comprising "The Cozy Table" range from a Romaine Wedge Salad; Slow Cooker Chunky Beef Stew; Caprese Pizza; and Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Corn Bread Crust; to Hasselback Sweet Potatoes; Fried Apple Crumble; German Chocolate Brownie Bites; and Classic Red Velvet Cupcakes. Of special note is the section devoted to Sauces 'N' Condiments. A delight to browse through and plan menus with, "The Cozy Table" is unreservedly recommended, especially for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The Cozy Table" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

The Royal Chef at Home
Darren McGrady
Bright Sky Press
2365 Rice Blvd., Suite 202, Houston, TX 77005
www.brightskypress.com
9781942945529, $32.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

An actual Royal Chef, Darren McGrady was the personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, and in that capacity had curated and created delicious, easy recipes that add an elegant touch to any meal without requiring hours of laboring in the kitchen. He has compiled a culinary treasury of such recipes in the beautifully illustrated pages of "The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining". These are thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for dishes that will prove perfect for entertaining no matter what the time of year -- all dining occasions including midday lunches and brunches, teas, indoor and outdoor sit-down and buffet dinners, and cocktail parties. "The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining" is also organized by season with events including a Children's Easter Egg Roll, Valentine's Day for Two, a proper Sunday dinner, Christmas open house, and Thanksgiving. Of special note are the tips on ingredients, substitutions, and alternatives, making "The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining" an easy but comprehensive "go-to" party-planning resource -- including the five page, 'real world practical', "Notes on Entertaining". Simply stated, "The Royal Chef at Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining" will prove to be an enduringly popular and unique addition to family, personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Simple Real Food, second edition
Amanda Cushman
Privately Published
www.amandacooks.com
9780615214863, $24.95, 156pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Simple Real Food" provides an illustrated culinary compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that even the most novice of family chefs can take advantage of to prepare truly memorable dishes that are as palate pleasing as they are appetite satisfying. The delicious and nutritious recipes range from Vegetable Samosas; Arugula Watercress Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette; Asian Chicken with Soy Sesame Glaze; and Grilled Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Onion Relish; to Pork Tenderloin with Soy Ginger Glaze; Grilled Corn and Roasted Red Pepper Salad; Tempeh Saute with Miso Dressing; and Stuffed Acorn Squash with parsley Walnut Pesto. Of special note are the recipes for Chocolate Biscotti and Pear Almond Tart. Each individual recipes includes serving size, a list of ingredients, cooking procedures. A delight to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, "Simple Real Food" is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer
Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell, Bonnie Garcia
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerbooks.com
9780800730550, $14.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative project of Susie Martinez (who is the elementary director of Southern Gables Church in Littleton, Colorado), Bonnie Garcia (who is a graduate of Grace College, a pediatric nurse, and the busy mother of three sons), Vanda Howell (who attended Colorado State University, is a real estate appraiser, and now serves as the administrator for the performing arts ministry at her church and sings on the praise team), "Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead" is an exceptionally well organized and presented compendium of recipes for palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook friendly dishes that can be frozen and served at any convenient meal time. The recipes range from Kansas City Hot Wings; Orange Beef Lettuce Wraps; North Woods Wild Rice Soup; Grilled Turkey Breast with Peanut Sauce; and Baked Steak in Tangy Tomato Sauce; to Sassy Sloppy Joes; Aunt Clara's Dutch Apple Pie; Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies; Gooey Caramel Cinnamon Rolls; and Western Slope Peach Cobbler. A delight to browse through and inspiring to plan meals with, "Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead" is a truly extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer: Great-Tasting Meals You Can Make Ahead" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Best Simple Suppers for Two
Laura Arnold
The Countryman Press
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.countrymanpress.com
9781682680360, $14.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Best Simple Suppers for Two: Fast and Foolproof Recipes for One, Two, or a Few" is an impressive culinary compendium compiled by Laura Arnold. An inherently fascinating collections of recipes to browse through, and inspiring to plan menus with, the quick and easy dishes range from a Grilled Corn Fiesta Salad; Honey-Lime Skewers; Blackened Tilapia with Mango; and Portobello Burgers; to Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches; Baked Penne with Ricotta; Watermelon Salad with Feat & Mint; Flank Steak with Easy Chimichurri; and Shrimp Jambalaya. Of special note is an entire section of recipes devoted to vegetarian dishes. Of particular value to any home chef with limited time available for cooking a meal for themselves and/or a loved one, "Best Simple Suppers for Two" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Best Simple Suppers for Two" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Sushi Art Cookbook
Ken Kawasumi
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805314371 $18.95 amazon.com

Sushi Art Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Kazari Maki Sushi lives up to its title as a full- color, in-depth how-to guide to creating sushi rolls that dazzle and delight with their beauty. Individual photographs illustrate virtually every step of each sushi creation (and there are often a dozen or more steps in total), breaking down the Japanese tradition of edible art into a process that is thoroughly accessible to cooks of all skill and experience levels. Additional resources include a chart of sushi rice guidelines (which lists how to create mild, standard, sweet, or strong sushi rice), a list of standard sushi ingredients with possible substitutions, and much more. Sushi Art Cookbook is a joy for connoisseurs to browse, and a "must-have" for anyone interested in trying their hand at creating sushi! Highly recommended.

MaryJane's Cast Iron Kitchen
MaryJane Butters
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423648031, $24.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

MaryJane Butters publishes MaryJanesFarm magazine, runs a successful organic farm, and manages several product lines. In "MaryJane's Cast Iron Kitchen" she draws upon her years of culinary experience and expertise to create a compendium of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes that all have one thing in common -- being prepared with a cast iron cookware. Beautifully and profusely illustrated from cover to cover, the recipes range from Canadian-Bacon Mini Quiches; Chicken Puffs with Onion Sauce; Ham & Lima Bean Soup; and Meatloaf Patties; to Beef, Zucchini & Polenta Mini Casseroles with Marinated Broccoli Sprouts; Pan-Seared Steaks with Pomegranate Mushroom Sauce; Mini Apple Pies; and Baked Churros. A pleasure to browse through and inspiring to plan menus with, "MaryJane's Cast Iron Kitchen" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "MaryJane's Cast Iron Kitchen" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The 8G Cookbook
Dawn Russell
Random House UK
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
388 Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781848095076, $20.00, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com

A health advocate, entrepreneur, mother, wife and former model, Dawn Russell had a family that did not want to eat its greens. So she developed 8GREENS: a blend of spinach, kale, spirulina, blue-green algae, barley grass, wheat grass, chlorella and aloe vera that tastes great and passed the test of her husband and two children. She worked with five chemists, three manufacturers and 263 prototypes to get a thumbs-up from this very picky, but very normal, focus group sitting in her own kitchen. As a result, "The 8G Cookbook" is a beautifully illustrated culinary collection that contains more than 40 delicious recipes that all incorporate this blend of greens to make everyday cooking taste fantastic and ensure that you, and those you love, are getting the most important green ingredients into your diet. It also features Dawn's own inspiring story and the hard-earned knowledge she gathered along the way. Diagnosed with stage 3 lymphatic cancer at 25, Dawn traveled the world meeting medical and nutritional experts on her journey back to health. It was this research and personal experience that led her to develop this mix of what she found to be the most important greens for internal health. "The 8G Cookbook" is the easy and delicious way to get everyone on the path to a green, happy and healthy life. Although a British publication, "The *G Cookbook" Includes U.S. measures for American kitchen cooks. Simply stated, "The 8G Cookbook" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Tapas: Classic Small Dishes From Spain
Elisabeth Luard
Grub Street Cookery
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781910690345, $17.95, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Elisabeth Luard is an award-winning food writer and a winner of the much coveted Glenfiddich Trophy and is one of the most highly respected cookery writers in Britain today. She is one of the leading authorities on European food and cooking. Her fifteen years spent living in Spain provided the experience and inspiration for "Tapas: Classic Small Dishes From Spain". Tapas are the wonderfully tempting little dishes of food that are traditionally served with sherry in southern Spain. Beautifully simple, tantalizingly delicious and easy to prepare, they are perfect for all kinds of occasions. The recipes and suggestions in superbly organized and presented culinary collection of kitchen cook friendly recipes aptly demonstrate how simple ingredients can be quickly transformed into mini feasts designed to delight the senses. Among the showcased recipes are Hot Bread with Olive Oil and Garlic; Fried Green Peppers; Monkfish Kebabs; Pork Medallions with Lemon and Marjoram; Spiced Meat Pasties; and Salt Cod Fritters.. In addition there is plenty of helpful advice including a selection of menus that show how to combine tapas to provide meals for every occasion including spring, summer, autumn and winter parties, children's tapas party, vegetarian tapas party and a no-cook tapas menu. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Tapas: Classic Small Dishes From Spain" is a unique and very special addition to family, personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Tapas: Classic Small Dishes From Spain" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

Bollywood Kitchen
Sri Rao
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544971257, $25.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

The popularity of Indian food has grown immensely in recent years -- and for good reason. It's perfectly suited for people who love bold flavors, as well as those looking for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free meals that don't skimp on taste. But as Sri Rao points out in Bollywood Kitchen, most Americans have probably never tasted genuine Indian food. Home-cooked Indian-American food is surprisingly simple to make, using ingredients readily available in your local grocery store. In "Bollywood Kitchen: Home-Cooked Indian Meals Paired with Unforgettable Bollywood Films", Sri Rao showcases authentic Indian dinner menus and brunch menus, menus for kids and menus for cocktail parties. Along with each healthy and easy-to-prepare meal, Sri has paired one of his favorite Bollywood movies. Every one of these films is a musical, packed with dazzling song-and-dance numbers that are the hallmark of Bollywood, beloved by millions of fans all over the world. Sri will introduce each film to you, explaining why you'll love it, and letting you in on some juicy morsels from behind the scenes. "Bollywood Kitchen" will have immense appeal to film buffs and ethnic Indian cuisine enthusiasts. Featuring gorgeous film photographs and colorful tablescapes, "Bollywood Kitchen" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Bollywood Kitchen" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Leon Happy Soups
Rebecca Seal & John Vincent
Conran
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781840917598, $19.99, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

Leon, the naturally healthy fast food chain, was founded on the twin principles that food can both taste good and do you good. In "Leon Happy Soups", culinary experts John Vincent and Jane Baxter bring together 100 all-new, all-smiles soup recipes for all the family. Alongside the recipes, the beautifully illustrated "Leon Happy Soups" is packed with tips and tricks for added extras. These simply outstanding and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' soup recipes range from Roasted Red Pepper; Sicilian-Style Spicy Chicken Meatball; and Red Lentils with Spinach, Yogurt, Pomegranate & Crispy Onions; to Perky Pea & Mint; Chilled Cherry Soup; and Cardamom-Spiced Roasted Peach. Of special note are the chapters devoted to soup toppings (Crunchy Tops & Swirly Swirls); sides (including breads and rolls); and broths. Whether it's a simple soup to take to the office, or something more elaborate for supper with friends, "Leon Happy Soups" is a must-have kitchen cookbook shelf staple and will prove to be an enduringly favorite addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Aging Well with Diabetes
Editorial Staff
Bottom Line Inc.
c/o Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781492650713, $19.99, PB, 368pp, www.amazon.com

Diabetes is epidemic in the United States, especially if among men and women over the age of 50. Even if you're already being diligent about your health, a diagnosis can feel like an overwhelming extra burden. The editors of Bottom Line Inc. present "Aging Well with Diabetes: 146 Eye-Opening and Scientifically Proven Secrets That Prevent and Control Diabetes", which is the first instructional manual for mature men and women who are seeking to prevent and control diabetes with insight drawn from over 500 of the world's top health experts. "Aging Well with Diabetes" provides easy access to the trusted collection of information on a vast array of topics, including: Foods that fight diabetes; Weight loss and exercise essentials; Heart health and blood pressure secrets; Natural treatments and the right tests. Whether hoping to get better control of diabetes, or facing the first shock of a diabetes diagnosis, "Aging Well with Diabetes" will enable you to confidentially and successful deal with diabetes while living live to the fullest. Of special note are the chapters devoted to 'Delicious Diabetes-Friendly Recipes' and 'Complications: What Diabetes Can Cause'. While strongly and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Health/Medicine collections in general, and Diabetes supplemental reading lists in particular, it should be noted that "Aging Well with Diabetes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Person-Centred Healthcare Research
Brendan McCormack, et al.
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781119099604, $63.95, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

"Person-Centred Healthcare Research" is a compendium of 18 erudite and insightful articles that collectively provide an innovative and novel approach to exploring a range of research designs and methodological approaches aimed at investigating person-centred healthcare practice within and across healthcare disciplines. With contributions from internationally renowned experts in the field, this engaging resource challenges existing R&D methodologies and their relevance to advancing person-centred knowledge generation, dissemination, translation, implementation and use. It also explores new developments in research methods and practices that open up new avenues for advancing the field of person-centred practice. "Person-Centred Healthcare Research" will: Enables students, practitioners, managers and researchers to gain a solid understanding of the complexity of person-centred thinking in research designs and methods; Explores the theories and practices underpinning a topical subject within current healthcare practice; Is edited by an internationally recognized team who are at the forefront of person-centered healthcare research. While unreservedly recommended as a critically important addition to college and university library Health/Medical collections, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Person-Centred Healthcare Research" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $41.59).

How to Help Your Friend with Cancer
Colleen Dolan Fullbright
American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-1002
www.cancer.org
9781604432244, $12.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Written by Colleen Doan Fullbright (who is a writer who was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer in late 2000), "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" is specifically intended to help anyone wanting to support a friend, family member, or colleague with a diagnosis of cancer. All to often we are afraid that we will say or do the wrong thing. "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" will provide the 'real world practical' guidance needed to be the best friend we can be, every step along the way. "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" offers more than 100 practical tips and suggestions anyone can use to help a friend get through the cancer experience. From diagnosis, through treatment, and after treatment ends, "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" provides tips for expressing concern and helping in practical ways throughout a friend's cancer experience. Simply stated, every hospital, medical clinic, community, and academic library should have a copy of "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" in their collection. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "How to Help Your Friend with Cancer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).

The Meaty Truth
Shushana Castle & Amy-Lee Goodman
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781629144276, $24.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of food industry and human health experts Shushana Castle and Amy-Lee Goodman, "The Meaty Truth: Why Our Food Is Destroying Our Health and Environment - and Who Is Responsible" is an impressively informed and informative expose of the massive problems caused by the American population's food supply. Water, meat, and milk and other dairy products are filled with toxins, antibiotics, untested growth hormones, ammonia, and animal pus and manure. The current conditions of the food production industry must drastically improve, and until they do, it is absolutely vital to monitor what you eat. "The Meaty Truth" takes a hard-hitting and documented look at what America is putting into its food, the negative effects this has on the world, and the best ways to make healthy, informed decisions about eating. As the antibiotic age ends, the rise of pandemic diseases is approaching. Approximately half of the illnesses that claim American lives today are related to what we eat, and our health-care system is focused on treating the sick, not preventing illnesses from occurring. To fix our health problems, to continue feeding the world's ever-growing population, and to save our planet from ecological destruction, we can no longer avoid making changes to how American meat and dairy are produced. A thoroughly 'reader friendly' guide that is applicable to anyone's lifestyle, "The Meaty Truth" is remarkably noteworthy and singularly special addition to both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for students, academicians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Meaty Truth" is also available in a paperback edition (9781510719668, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.97).


The Music Shelf

Completing the Circle
Bud Beyer
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638
www.giamusic.com
9781622771035, $19.95, PB, 196pp, www.amazon.com

"Completing the Circle" is amazing and practical account based upon author Bud Beyer's years of experience while working with musicians from around the world and beginning with Northwestern's own legendary conductor, John Paynter. The topics covered in "Completing the Circle" include musicianship as communication, memorization, the art of practice, the act of performance, and the connections between musicians and audiences. Central to "Completing the Circle" are the creative exercises specifically designed to help musicians reconnect emotionally to themselves, to their colleagues, to their work, and to their audiences. An impressively informative and exceptionally well written, organized and presented study, "Completing the Circle" is a truly remarkable and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Music History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Blues from the Bayou
Julian C. Piper
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455623099, $24.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Writer and blues guitarist Julian C. Piper is the reviews editor for Acoustic magazine. Since hearing Muddy Waters as a teenager, he has been passionate about blues music. "Blues from the Bayou: The Rhythms of Baton Rouge"is his intensely personal and entertaining account that provides the reader with a snapshot of Blues from an outsider welcomed into the inner circles of Southern Blues icons. In his early forties, Englishman Julian C. Piper spent a year abroad at Louisiana State University studying and played blues primarily at the Blues Box in Baton Rouge. There he met many of the musicians with whom he conducted interviews between 1987 and 1988. Those interviews form the basis of "Blues from the Bayou". Through his close friendship with Blues Box owner Tabby Thomas and his son Chris, Piper collected stories of blues luminaries including Silas Hogan, Robert Pete Williams, Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, Lonesome Sundown, Chris Thomas King, Lightening Slim, and many more. An inherently fascinating and informative read from cover to cover, "Blues from the Bayou" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library American Music History collections in general, and American Blues Music supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for music students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Blues from the Bayou" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.14).

Billy Vera: Harlem to Hollywood
Billy Vera
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
www.halleonard.com
9781617136627, $29.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Born into a white, suburban family, Billy Vera fell for black music as a child and started down a winding performer's path that would buoy him the rest of his life. In the sixties, Vera paid his bills by songwriting (for other artists) through the day and playing mobbed up clubs at night. By 1967, as Newark burned on the other side of the Hudson, he and gospel singer Judy Clay, the first interracial duet to perform at the Apollo, tore the house down with a little ditty he wrote for himself: "Storybook Children," a commercial hit produced by Atlantic Records. Through the seventies, popular taste shifted drastically. As blue-eyed soul went out of fashion, Vera, like many other musicians, found himself scrounging for survival gigs, but one crucial difference set him apart: he abstained from the drugs and drink that fueled and eventually claimed so many of his contemporaries. As that decade sputtered to a close, a woman by the name of Dolly Parton recorded Vera's "I Really Got the Feeling" and hit number one on the charts. Riding the tide of this unexpected attention, Vera hightailed it to Los Angeles, formed a new band, Billy and the Beaters, and charted twice before the close of 1981 with songs from their eponymous album recorded live at the Roxy. Five years later, one of these minor hits, "At This Moment", was featured in several episodes of NBC's Family Ties . The song rocketed up the charts and a 42-year-old Vera found himself with his very own number one single. Nine visits to Carson and an American Bandstand appearance later, Vera tasted many other flavors of success: acting both on- and off-camera, producing records, and reissuing his own work. Today, with a star on the Hollywood Walk and Fame and a Grammy in tow, Billy Vera is finally prepared to share his journey in the pages of "Billy Vera: Harlem to Hollywood". Exceptionally well written, organized and presented (including two sections of black-and-white photos), "Billy Vera: Harlem to Hollywood" is a 'must read' for his legions of fans and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library American Music History collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Billy Vera: Harlem to Hollywood" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.91).


The Travel Shelf

A Guide to Lincoln's Eighth Judicial Circuit
Guy C. Fraker
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809336166 $21.95 www.siupress.com

A Guide to Lincoln's Eighth Judicial Circuit is a unique travel guide for history scholars and enthusiasts. Chapters meticulously retrace the prairie roads Lincoln traveled and the towns he regularly visited during the twenty-three years that he practiced law on the Eighth Judicial Circuit in east central Illinois. Peppered with maps and color photographs, A Guide to Lincoln's Eighth Judicial Circuit will appeal to armchair travelers as well as tourists, and offers amazing insights into the conflicts and conundrums Lincoln confronted during his younger years, all of which would help prepare him for his years as President during the American Civil War. Highly recommended.

Cool Tokyo Guide
Abby Denson
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9784805314418 $14.99 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Thoroughly accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, Cool Tokyo Guide: Adventures in the City of Kawaii Fashion, Train Sushi and Godzilla is a travel guide in the format of a full- color graphic novel. Chapters cover Tokyo-centric survival skills (such as how to use different types of Japanese toilets), tips for staying at a Tokyo hotel, recommended historical and cultural sites to visit, and much more. "I strongly suggest that you buy Ghibli Museum tickets. Start looking 4-5 months in advance on JTB's website. Fans of animation and comics will want to check this out for sure, and tickets sell out fast." Cool Tokyo Guide is a "must-read" for anyone planning their once-in-a-lifetime trip, and also a delightful browse for armchair travelers!

Japan Traveler's Companion
Rob Goss
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805313886, $16.95, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Rob Goss is an award-winning British writer and long-term Tokyo resident focusing on Japan, travel writing, and creative writing that ranges from short fiction to short-form poetry. In "Japan Traveler's Companion: Japan's Most Famous Sights From Okinawa to Hokkaido" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to shows tourists and other visitors where to experience the country's rich culinary traditions, pop culture, Samurai heritage, and so much more. Delving beyond the scope of traditional guidebooks, "Japan Traveler's Companion" showcases the insider's Japan, offering detailed itineraries for each region as well as: Information on the country's 100 most important tourist sights, including 22 UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Illustrated introductions to Japanese cuisine, popular culture, and Samurai history; A map of each region with suggested walks; Tips for getting off the beaten path and finding Japan's lesser-known treasures, such as the contemporary "art island" of Naoshim and Yakushima's breathtaking flora and fauna. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout with hundreds fo full color photos, "Japan Traveler's Companion" is an ideal resource to plan truly memorable experiences with the culture, history, and beauty of the Japanese islands. A fascinating and informative browse for the armchair traveler, "Japan Traveler's Companion" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library World Travel instructional reference and guide book collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Ancestral Medicine
Daniel Foor
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781591432692, $20.00, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Offering a practical guide to understanding and navigating relationships with the spirits of those who have passed, "Ancestral Medicine: Rituals for Personal and Family Healing" by Daniel Foor (who is a licensed psychotherapist and who holds a doctorate of psychology degree), details how to relate safely and effectively with your ancestors for personal, family, and cultural healing. He provides exercises and rituals, grounded in ancient wisdom traditions, to help you initiate contact with your ancestors, find supportive ancestral guides, cultivate forgiveness and gratitude, harmonize your bloodlines, and assist the dead who are not yet at peace. He explains how to safely engage in lineage repair work by connecting with your more ancient ancestors before relating with the recently deceased. He shows how, by working with spiritually vibrant ancestors, individuals and families can understand and transform intergenerational patterns of pain and abuse and reclaim the full blessings and gifts of their bloodlines. Ancestral repair work can also catalyze healing breakthroughs among living family members and help children and future generations to live free from ancestral burdens. "Ancestral Medicine" provides detailed instructions for ways to honor the ancestors of a place, address dream visits from the dead, and work with ancestor shrines and altars. "Ancestral Medicine" also offers guidance on preparing for death, funeral rites, handling the body after death, and joining the ancestors. Of special note is that "Ancestral Medicine" explains how ancestor work can help us to transform problems such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and religious persecution. While highly recommended for both community and academic library Metaphysical Studies and Contemporary Psychology Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers that "Ancestral Medicine" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic
Diana L. Paxson
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578636105, $22.95, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Odin is arguably one of the most enigmatic and complex characters in Norse mythology. Revered since the Viking Age, Odin has been called the greatest of the gods -- the god of words and wisdom, runes and magic, a transformer of consciousness, and a trickster who teaches truth. He is both war god and poetry god, and he is the Lord of Ravens, the All- Father, and the rune master. "Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, and Norse Magic" by Diana L. Paxson (a writer, priestess, and teacher who has been studying and teaching Germanic mythology and religion for nearly 30 years) is the first book on Odin that is both historically sourced and accessible to a general audience. "Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic" explores Odin's origins, his appearances in sagas, old magic spells, and the Poetic Edda, and his influence on modern media, such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Each chapter features suggestions for rituals, exercises, and music, so readers can comprehend and become closer to this complicated god. Based on a Viking-era mythology, "Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic" provides a complete portrait of Odin and draws on both scholarship and experience to provide context, resources, and guidance for those who are drawn to work with the Master of Ecstasy today. While unreservedly and strongly recommended for both community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Viking Mythology supplemental studies lists in particular, it should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Keys to Perception
Ivo Dominguez Jr.
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578636204, $18.95, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Many different systems and traditions of magic, divination, spirituality, and esoteric religion exist, but at their core, they share the need for practitioners to safely and successfully experience the reality that lies beyond the physical senses. "Keys to Perception: A Practical Guide to Psychic Development" by Ivo Dominguez Jr. (who is currently serves as one of the Elders of the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, a Wiccan syncretic tradition that draws inspiration from Astrology, Qabala, the Western Magickal Tradition and the folk religions of Europe) is a collection of proven and tested methods, rituals, and systems that will help you deepen and clarify your capacity to sense and understand the rich worlds beyond the veils of the ordinary. The material comprising "Keys to Perception" derives from decades of work by Ivo and his students and offers the reader practical techniques for increasing psychic aptitude and ability. There are also techniques to manage empathy and psychic sensitivity so that they are gifts rather than burdens. Methods featured include chanting and working with crystals, chakras, oils, herbs, and potions, as well as a variation on the Middle-Pillar Ritual. An inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from beginning to end, "Keys to Perception" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections. For the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that "Keys to Perception" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Automotive Shelf

Professional Driving Techniques, fifth edition
Anthony J. Scotti
PhotoGraphics Publishing
www.securitydriver.com
9780982973035, $22.95, PB, 298pp, www.amazon.com

"Professional Driving Techniques" by Anthony J. Scotti is an impressively well written, organized and presented instructional textbook that walks you step by step through the intricacies of the Driving System -- the Driver, the Vehicle and the Driving Environment. You'll learn how to maintain your vehicle (and its driver) in optimum condition for taking to the road, and how to maintain vehicle control in both everyday and emergency situations in a variety of road and weather conditions. Newly added for this updated and expanded features for this fifth edition include: Crash Prevention Systems; Tire Pressure Monitoring; Security; Potholes Covers; How to recognize the five major accident situations and the human and mechanical failures that usually cause them. Of special note are the sections on: The basics of vehicle dynamics and why the vehicle sometimes does what it wants to do, not what the driver wants it to; The finer points of vehicle control in everyday driving (timing, maneuvering, spotting hazards) and in emergency situations such as when there are five seconds or less between the driver and a potentially serious situation; How to operate the controls with precision, accuracy, and in the proper sequence; The necessity of both mental and physical readiness and the adverse effects of fatigue and stress; Road Rage, Braking and Traction Systems, including Electronic Stability Control, Air Bags, Seat Belts and Child Safety Seats; plus Safe Driving and Auto Maintenance Tips. "Professional Driving Techniques" is an ideal driver education curriculum textbook. Also very highly recommended for driver education curriculums is Anthony Scotti's "Driver's Education Teacher's Guide For Use With Professional Driving Techniques" (9780979381324, $35.00).

Formula One - The Real Score?
Brian Harvey
Veloce Publishing
www.veloce.co.uk
9781787110274, $70.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

"Formula One - The Real Score?" by Brian Harvey fills the gaps in Formula 1 records. The 70 years of F1 can be neatly divided into two eras at January 1980. At that point the terms "Grand Prix" and "World Championship' became synonymous. Until then, over half of F1 races were not included in the Championship for the spurious reason that each country should have just a single race. This does a disservice to the achievements of drivers of the Fangio, Moss, Clark and Stewart era and even more-so to the four pre-championship years which began in 1946. When a commentator says "Rosberg's 16th win equals the F1 wins of Stirling Moss" this is manifestly untrue. If the same drivers, in the same cars, compete at the same tracks, and over a similar distance, then each race deserves to have its place in the records as a "Championship quality" event. "Formula One - The Real Score?" includes such races alongside contemporary Championship races and, combined with known figures since 1980, produces what can surely be accepted as "The Real Score" of Formula 1. An absolutely essential read for Formula One racing fans, "Formula One - The Real Score?" is impressively illustrated, written, organized and presented, making it unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Automotive Racing History collections in general, and Formula One supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Woodworking Shelf

Woodland Craft
Ben Law
GMC Publications
www.thegmcgroup.com
9781861089366, $35.00, HC, 216pp, www.amazon.com

Drawing upon his many years of experience and expertise as a woodsman, "Woodland Craft" by Ben Law is a profusely illustrated celebration the splendor of wood in the form of 'user friendly' wood-crafting projects that range from simple woven panels, to making a functional yurt, to an array of easy-to-follow projects that include crafts for the farm, garden, wood fuel, building and domestic use. In fact, there's something here to satisfy all your project desires! Green wood (wood that has been recently cut and is therefore still moisture-rich) is the predominant material used in the projects featured in this essential guide for craftsman of all levels. With "Woodland Craft" woodworking enthusiasts will be inspired to work with one of nature's most beautiful and classic materials with the look and feel, and even scent, that no other natural material can provide. With "Woodland Craft" woodworking enthusiasts wil learn all they need to know about tools and devices, both old and new. Of special note is the handy directory of tree species and the identification of the best uses for each. Exceptionally well written, illustrated, organized and presented, "Woodland Craft" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition for personal, professional, community, and academic library Woodworking instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for woodworking students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Woodland Craft" is also available in a paperback edition (9781784943967, $25.00).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Hook's Tale
John Leonard Pielmeier
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com
9781501161056, $25.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Long defamed as a vicious pirate, Captain James Cook (a.k.a Hook) was in fact a dazzling wordsmith who left behind a vibrant, wildly entertaining, and entirely truthful memoir. His chronicle offers a counter narrative to the works of J.M. Barrie, a "dour Scotsman" whose spurious accounts got it all wrong. Now, award-winning playwright John Pielmeier is proud to present this crucial historic artifact in its entirety for the first time. Cook's story begins in London, where he lives with his widowed mother. At thirteen, he runs away from home, but is kidnapped and pressed into naval service as an unlikely cabin boy. Soon he discovers a treasure map that leads to a mysterious archipelago called the "Never-Isles" from which there appears to be no escape. In the course of his adventures he meets the pirates Smee and Starkey, falls in love with the enchanting Tiger Lily, adopts an oddly affectionate crocodile, and befriends a charming boy named Peter -- who teaches him to fly. He battles monsters, fights in mutinies, swims with mermaids, and eventually learns both the sad and terrible tale of his mother's life and the true story of his father's disappearance. A deftly written and inherently fascinating read from beginning to end, "Hook's Tale" is unreservedly recommended for community library collections and is a 'must' for the legions of Never Never Land fans. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Hook's Tale" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99). Librarians should be aware that "Hook's Tale" is also available in a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Brilliance Audio, 9781543601466, $14.99, MP3).

Chimera
C.D. Bell
Chooseco
www.cyoa.com
www.weregirl.com
9781937133580 $17.99 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

The sequel to "Weregirl", Chimera: A Weregirl Novel is written especially for young adults, yet fantasy connoisseurs of all ages will enjoy this character-driven story of a strong-willed teenage girl who has unexpectedly become a werewolf. In Chimera, Nessa Kurland has gained more strength and control over her transformations, but her life becomes more complicated when her mother is arrested by the FBI and held without bail. Anti-wolf sentiment has spread in her hometown in the wake of wolf attacks, and the shadowy corporation Paravida has unwittingly released genetically mutated wolves into the woods. At the crux of science and magic, a war is brewing, with Nessa at the center of the gathering storm! A captivating read with a self-reliant heroine, Chimera is a choice pick for public library fantasy collections and personal reading lists. Also highly recommended is the previous novel, "Weregirl" (9781937133559 $17.99 hc / $9.99 Kindle).

Sputnik's Children
Terri Favro
ECW Press
www.ecwpress.com
9781770413412, $16.95, PB, 360pp, www.amazon.com

Cult comic book creator Debbie Reynolds Biondi has been riding the success of her Cold War era - inspired superhero series, Sputnik Chick: Girl with No Past, for more than 25 years. But with the comic book losing fans and Debbie struggling to come up with new plotlines for her badass, mutant-killing heroine, she decides to finally tell Sputnik Chick's origin story. Debbie's never had to make anything up before and she isn't starting now. Sputnik Chick is based on Debbie's own life in an alternate timeline called Atomic Mean Time. As a teenager growing up in Shipman's Corners (a Rust Belt town voted by Popular Science magazine as "most likely to be nuked") she was recruited by a self-proclaimed time traveller to collapse Atomic Mean Time before an all-out nuclear war grotesquely altered humanity. In trying to save the world, Debbie risked obliterating everyone she'd ever loved (as well as her own past) in the process. Or so she believes -- present-day Debbie is addicted to lorazepam and dirty, wet martinis, making her an unreliable narrator, at best. All the more impressive when considering that "Sputnik's Children" is author Terri Favro's debut as a science fiction novel, this narrative driven, remarkably original, and inherently compelling read is unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sputnik's Children" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.59).

The Sorcerer's Appendix
P. J. Brackston
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781681775302, $25.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Gretel has never had any time for sorcerers, considering them nothing more than show-offs with questionable fashion sense. It is with some reluctance and a deal of grumpiness, then, that she agrees to look into the matter of a murdered magician. All that is left of him is a grisly remnant, which the police quack confirms is the murdered man's appendix. What has become of the rest of him is baffling the local constabulary, the Sorcerers' Society, and, not least, the hapless trickster's widow. As Gretel delves into the facts behind his disappearance she discovers no shortage of suspects. In fact, just about everyone she meets had reason for wanting the odious man dead. Her only clue points in one disturbing direction: the deep dark forest. So it is that Gretel, with a reluctant Hans as porter, must trek into the woods of her childhood trauma, braving all manner of discomforts and dangers -- not least of which is a terrifying reminder of her past. The latest title in author P. J. Brackston's simply outstanding fantasy action/adventure 'A Brothers Grimm Mystery' series "The Sorcerer's Appendix" is an original and unfailingly entertaining read that is unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated fantasy fans that "The Sorcerer's Appendix" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Loved
P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast
Blackstone Publishing
31 Mistletoe Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
9781538431122, $18.99, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

It's Zoey's 18th birthmas and the Nerd Herd has been scattered across the country busily adulting for almost a year when Stark calls them back to Tulsa to surprise Z. But all is not well in T-town. Strange, dark signs are appearing -- could it be possible Neferet is stirring? Not willing to chance disaster striking again, Zoey calls on her newly reunited friends to circle with her and add a layer of protection over Neferet's grotto jail. Easy-peasy, right? Wrong. Nothing at the House of Night is ever as it seems. With rabid red vampyres closing in, Zoey and the Nerd Herd must come together again and battle evil. But a year is a long time. Have these old friends grown too far apart? When the world fractures and allies become enemies, will darkness devour friendships or will light save those she's loved? "Loved" is the debut first novel in what promises to be an outstanding 'A House of Night' series by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast. This is the stuff of which block-buster Hollywood movies and award-winning television mini series are made of. While very highly and unreservedly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Loved" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.79). Librarians should be aware that "Loved" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9781538430002, $29.95, CD).


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Booking In
Jack Batten
Dundurn
c/o The Dundurn Group
3 Church Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5E 1M2
www.dundurn.com
9781459736917, $16.99, PB, 328pp, www.amazon.com

Fletcher Marshall is a Toronto antiquarian book dealer, internationally respected in the business. One night, someone blows the safe in his office and makes off with the contents, which include an infamous forged first edition of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnets from the Portuguese that is in itself a collector's item. Fletcher, who was still in the process of verifying the book, doesn't even know whether it was the real thing or a clever forgery (of a forgery). But rather than summon the cops to investigate the theft, he turns to his pal Crang, the nervy criminal lawyer, hoping he can retrieve the books before their owner gets wind of the crime. The owner happens to be the richest woman in Canada and a tough cookie who could ruin Fletcher's career. Crang gets on the hunt, learning much about the trade in musty books and the lucrative business it makes for forgers. Just as he seems to be getting close to answers, a shocking development makes things much more complicated -- and a great deal more dangerous! Another deftly crafted mystery from the pen of Jack Batten, "Booking In" will prove to be a popular addition to every community library Mystery/Suspense collection and is a 'must' for fans of the mystery-solving criminal lawyer. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Booking In" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.38).

Montreal Noir
John McFetridge & Jacques Filippi, editors
Akashic Books
232 Third Street, #A115, Brooklyn, NY 11215
www.akashicbooks.com
9781617753459, $15.95, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the team of John McFetridge and Jacques filippi, "Montreal Noir" is an anthology showcasing brand-new stories by Patrick Senecal, Tess Fragoulis, Howard Shrier, Michel Basilieres, Robert Pobi, Samuel Archibald, Genevieve Lefebvre, Ian Truman, Johanne Seymour, Arjun Basu, Martin Michaud, Melissa Yi, Catherine McKenzie, Peter Kirby, and Brad Smith. One of the newest additions to the outstanding Akashic Books 'Noir' series, "Montreal Noir" is a simply outstanding short story collection that will have very special appeal for dedicated mystery buffs. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Montreal Noir" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Ploy
Marilyn Jax
Beaver's Pond Press
7108 Ohms Lane, Edina, MN 55439
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781592987528, $26.00, HC, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Private investigators Claire Caswell and Gaston ''Guy'' Lombard have cracked many high-profile cases in the past, but when Claire's friend Charlotte dies in a mysterious car crash in Miami things get personal. With the stakes higher than ever before and only a hunch to go on, the sleuths begin a painstaking investigation by scouring the wreckage, searching for evidence of foul play where there appears to be none. When they uncover a pattern of strikingly similar incidents (and a seemingly unrelated case becomes inexplicably linked) it is up to the investigators, with the help of their intern, Jin Ikeda, to unravel this bewildering mystery. What happened to Charlotte was no accident. And as Claire and Guy get closer to the truth, their snooping efforts turn deadly dangerous. "The Ploy" is genuinely entertaining 'whodunit' that holds dedicated mystery buffs captive with a wealth of knotty twists and turns, suspects who are anything but what they seem, and answers that are just out of reach. Revealing author Marilyn Jax's genuine flair for the genre, "The Ploy" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.

House of Shadows
Nicola Cornick
Graydon House
195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007
http://graydonhousebooks.com
9781525811388, $15.99, PB, 464pp, www.amazon.com

In the winter of 1662, Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, is on her deathbed. She entrusts an ancient pearl, rumored to have magic power, to her faithful cavalier William Craven for safekeeping. In his grief, William orders the construction of Ashdown Estate in her memory and places the pearl at its center. One hundred and fifty years later, notorious courtesan Lavinia Flyte hears the maids at Ashdown House whisper of a hidden treasure, and bears witness as her protector Lord Evershot (desperate to find it) burns the building to the ground. Now, a battered mirror and the diary of a Regency courtesan are the only clues Holly Ansell has to finding her brother, who has gone missing researching the mystery of Elizabeth Stuart and her alleged affair with Lord Craven. As she retraces his footsteps, Holly's quest will soon reveal the truth about Lavinia and compel her to confront the stunning revelation about the legacy of the Winter Queen. A deftly crafted historical mystery novel by a master of the genre, Nicola Comick's "House of Shadows" is unreservedly recommended and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "House of Shadows" is also available in a digital boook format (Kindle, $9.99). Librarians should note that "House of Shadows" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, (9781538472019, $39.99, CD).

The Outfit: Blood and Ashes
Matthew P. Mayo
Five Star Books
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432832421, $25.95, HC, 310pp, www.amazon.com

Life at the Barr-McGee ranch has settled into a pleasant lull of work and rest for members of The Outfit. Life should be good . . . but big Rafe Barr stews about his wife and son's murderer, and leaves to search for resolution, revenge, reckoning. Meanwhile, Black Jack Smith attends a high-stakes poker tournament in Santa Fe, where he encounters southern gambler Colonel Rufus Turlington the Second, and his powerful covert Brotherhood of the Phoenix. The group plans to make good on its rallying cry: "The South shall rise from the ashes, reborn!" in a brutal public lynching -- with visiting President Ulysses S. Grant as its swinging centerpiece. Returning to the ranch after dealing with the vicious killer, Knifer, and his midget partner, Plug, in Denver, Rafe and Cookie discover a cryptic telegram from Jack, something about a phoenix, a word that conjures specters from their secret-agent war days. The men ride for Santa Fe with Doc in tow, driving his latest invention, Ethel the War Wagon. Stakes are high and the men bet all in hopes they aren't too late to save the President of the United States, and prevent the rebirth of a scourge long thought dead. It's up to Rafe, Cookie, and the rest of the outfit to extinguish the rising flames of villainy and hatred. Another riveting western from the pen of Spur Award winning author Matthew P. Mayo, "The Outfit: Blood and Ashes" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Outfit: Blood and Ashes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).


The Fiction Shelf

13 Months in Vietnam
Bill Kroger
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
http://www.blackrosewriting.com
9781612969268, $17.95 PB, $6.99 Kindle, www.amazon.com

The majority of Vietnam stories take place mid-war after the fighting has begun. Relatively few start in the early phases of the war, when soldiers were professional Army enlistees who viewed themselves differently, and whose experiences were substantially dissimilar from soldiers who followed in their footsteps. 13 Months in Vietnam reveals those early years as it follows a squadron who travels the country in 1963, before the major shooting begins. The first thing to note is that because of this pre-war story, the action is quite different than the usual Vietnam-era saga. Although it is penned by an enlisted soldier who spent 13 months in Vietnam traveling from Saigon to near the North Vietnam border, and is thus based on true events, it also incorporates a sense of place, people, and social and political perspectives which are quite different from the typical in-country story line. Readers who seek a gritty, first-person perspective that fully embraces the evolutionary growth of boys to men under battle conditions, and who want a better-rounded view of the culture and experiences of Vietnam than battle scenes alone, will find 13 Months in Vietnam more than fits the bill for a thought-provoking, extraordinary survey of responsibilities, worries, and the culture and social atmosphere of 1960s Saigon.

Pistolero
Paul Bedford
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444830385, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 288pp, www.amazon.com

With his own hand-picked gang, deadly and ruthless gunman Brett Dalton is hired to assassinate President Ulysses S. Grant as the president embarks on a re-election campaign across the western states. The President will be travelling via the Union Pacific Railroad, and when his locomotive stops to take on water at an isolated pumping station, the lethal plot will be launched. With hostile Lakota also planning to attack the train, it is up to Thaddeus McEvoy, a special investigator in the newly formed Department of Justice, and his partner Jud Parker, to save Grant's life. A true master of the western genre, Paul Bedford has written an original and gripping action/adventure story with "Pistolero" -- a novel that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library collections generally, and the personal reading lists of all dedicated western novel fans in particular!

Garrett's Trail To Justice
Terrell L. Bowers
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444830392, $20.99, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Dayton Garrett is a roving trouble-shooter, taking on jobs from town-taming to bringing down a counterfeiting ring. Charged with searching for a missing child, he fetches up in Shilo, where his attorney brother Knute provides him with helpful information - and requests a favour in return. Alyson Walsh has been convicted of murder in a kangaroo court, and faces the noose in two days' time. Knute wants her broken out of jail while he endeavors to get her a fair trial - and Dayton is just the man for the job. But what starts out as a simple and relatively straight forward task of finding a lost child and rescuing an unjustly condemned woman because down right complicated when Dayton stumbles across a child slavery ring and the pleading eyes of a small girl. A riveting western of the first order, this large print edition of "Garrett's Trail To Justice" by Terrell L. Bowers is an especially recommended addition to community library Western Fiction collections and a 'must' for the personal reading lists of truly dedicated fans of deftly crafted action/adventure western novels.

The Western Star
Craig Johnson
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780525426950, $28.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Sheriff Walt Longmire is enjoying a celebratory beer after a weapons certification at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy when a younger sheriff confronts him with a photograph of twenty-five armed men standing in front of a Challenger steam locomotive. It takes him back to when, fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam, then-deputy Walt accompanied his mentor Lucian to the annual Wyoming Sheriff's Association junket held on the excursion train known as the Western Star, which ran the length of Wyoming from Cheyenne to Evanston and back. Armed with his trusty Colt .45 and a paperback of Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", the young Walt was ill-prepared for the machinations of twenty-four veteran sheriffs, let alone the cavalcade of curious characters that accompanied them. The photograph (along with an upcoming parole hearing for one of the most dangerous men Walt has encountered in a lifetime of law enforcement) hurtles the sheriff into a head-on collision of past and present, placing him and everyone he cares about squarely on the tracks of runaway revenge. Another terrifically entertaining read from the pen of author Craig Johnson, "The Western Star" is a 'must' for the legions of Longmire fans and is unreservedly recommended for community library fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Western Star" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should be aware that there is a complete and unabridged audio book edition of the "The Western Star" (Recorded Books, 9781501962592, $34.99, CD).

The Captivating Lady Charlotte
Carolyn Miller
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregel.com
9780825444517, $14.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com

Lady Charlotte Featherington is destined for great things on the marriage market. After all, as the beautiful daughter of a marquess, she should have her pick of the eligible nobility when she debuts. She, however, has love at the top of her list of marriageable attributes. And her romantic heart falls hard for one particularly dashing, attentive suitor. Sadly for Charlotte, her noble father intends her betrothed to be someone far more dull. William Hartwell may be a duke, but he knows he was Charlotte's father's pick, not the young lady's own choice. And the captivating Lady Charlotte does not strike him as a woman who will be wooed by his wealth or title. While she has captured his heart, he has no idea how to win hers in return--and the betrayal and scandal his first wife put him through makes it difficult for him to believe that love can ever be trusted. His only hope is that Charlotte's sense of responsibility will win out over her romantic notions. Can a widowed duke and a romantically inclined lady negotiate a future and discover love beyond duty? Will they be able to find healing and hope from the legacy of grace? Another superbly crafted Regency romance from the pen of Carolyn Miller, "The Captivating Lady Charlotte" is an extraordinary and consistently entertaining read from cover to cover. While very highly recommended for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Captivating Lady Charlotte" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49). Librarians should be aware that there is also a large print edition of "The Captivating Lady Charlotte" (Thorndike Press, 9781432839628, $30.99, 533pp).

Just Look Up
Courtney Walsh
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496421487, $14.99, PB, 416pp, www.amazon.com

After tirelessly climbing the ranks of her Chicago-based interior design firm, Lane Kelley is about to land her dream promotion when devastating news about her brother draws her back home -- a quaint tourist town full of memories she'd just as soon forget. With her cell phone and laptop always within reach, Lane aims to check on her brother while staying focused on work which her eclectic family doesn't understand. Ryan Brooks never expected to settle down in Harbor Pointe, Michigan, but after his final tour of duty, it was the only place that felt like home. Now knee-deep in a renovation project that could boost tourism for the struggling town, he is thrilled to see Lane, the girl he secretly once loved, even if the circumstances of her homecoming aren't ideal. Their reunion gets off to a rocky start, however, when Ryan can't find a trace of the girl he once knew in the woman she is today. As he slowly chips away at the walls Lane has built, secrets from his past collide with a terrible truth even he is reluctant to believe. Facing a crossroads that could define his future with Lane and jeopardize his relationship with the surrogate family he's found in the Kelleys, Ryan hopes Lane can see that maybe what really matters has been right in front of her all along if only she'd just look up. "Just Look Up" by Courtney Walsh is an compelling and consistently entertaining romance novel by a master of the genre. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary Romance Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Just Look Up" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.68).

The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues
Edward Kelsey Moore
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
www.henryholt.com
9781250107947, $28.00, HC, 320pp, www.amazon.com

When a late life love affair blooms between Mr. Forrest Payne, the owner of the Pink Slipper Gentleman's Club, and Miss Beatrice Jordan, famous for stationing herself at the edge of the club's parking lot and yelling warnings of eternal damnation at the departing patrons, their wedding summons a legend to town. Mr. El Walker, the great guitar bluesman, comes home to give a command performance in Plainview, Indiana, a place he'd sworn (and for good reason) he'd never set foot in again. But El is not the only Plainview native with a hurdle to overcome. A wildly philandering husband struggles at last to prove his faithfulness to the wife he's always loved. And among those in this tightly knit community who show up every Sunday after church for lunch at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, are the lifelong friends, known locally as "The Supremes" -- Clarice, facing down her longing for, chance at and fear of a great career; Barbara Jean, grappling at last with the loss of a mother whose life humiliated both of them, and Odette, reaching toward her husband through an anger of his that she does not understand. A deftly written and consistently compelling read from cover to cover, "The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues" offers a rich narrative tapestry that results in one of those novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While unreservedly recommended, especially for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). Librarians should note that "The Supremes Sing the Happy Heartache Blues" is also available in a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Macmillan Audio, 9781427294920, $45.99, CD).

Fall from Grace
Libby Sternberg
Bancroft Press
PO Box 65360, Baltimore, MD 21209
www.bancroftpress.com
9781610882064, $25.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Eli Baine has sinned. Spectacularly. When he's caught using a prostitution ring, the news blasts across print and broadcast media: the son of a reality TV evangelical clan, whose Christian lifestyle is showcased regularly in Baine Family Values television episodes, is exposed as a hypocrite. Carted off to rehab, Eli chafes at being lumped in with molesters and serial adulterers. But when he escapes to visit his wife, Ruth, he finds no solace there. She can hardly bear to look at him, let alone admit him back into her life with their infant child. This sets Eli off on a hard journey toward redemption, understanding and reconciliation. His first stop is at a mainline Protestant church that embraces him with tolerance and support, but where he must endure counseling from a "she-priest" and an ultimate betrayal by someone who'd offered a helping hand. Meanwhile, Ruth herself sets out on a healing path, being counseled by a new, young pastor at her parents' fundamentalist church who offers her more than just spiritual guidance. Both Eli and Ruth wander in the wilderness of heartbreak, distrust, and eventual tragedy until they finally transform into different individuals who can see the light of hope and love in their marriage and their lives. A deftly crafted, inherently compelling, and unfailingly entertaining read by a master of the storytelling arts, Libby Sternberg's "Fall from Grace" is unreservedly recommended and certain to be an enduringly valued addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Fall from Grace" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.69).

South Pole Station
Ashley Shelby
Picador USA
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10010
www.picadorusa.com
9781250112828, $26.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

These are some of the questions that determine if you have what it takes to survive at South Pole Station, a place with an average temperature of -54 degrees F and no sunlight for six months a year. Cooper Gosling has just answered five hundred of them. Her results indicate she is abnormal enough for Polar life. Cooper's not sure if this is an achievement, but she knows she has nothing to lose. Unmoored by a recent family tragedy, she's adrift at thirty and (despite her early promise as a painter) on the verge of sinking her career. So she accepts her place in the National Science Foundation's Artists & Writers Program and flees to Antarctica, where she encounters a group of misfits motivated by desires as ambiguous as her own. The only thing the Polies have in common is the conviction that they don't belong anywhere else. Then a fringe scientist arrives, claiming climate change is a hoax. His presence will rattle this already-imbalanced community, bringing Cooper and the Polies to the center of a global controversy and threatening the ancient ice chip they call home. Written with considerable humor, "South Pole Station" is an impressively crafted and consistently engaging read from cover to cover. Revealing author Ashley Shelby's genuine flair for originality and compelling narration, "South Pole Station" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "South Pole Station" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250112811, $16.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Law and Vengeance
Mike Papantonio
SelectBooks, Inc.
87 Walker Street, Suite B1, New York City, NY 10013
www.selectbooks.com
9781590794364, $24.95, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Gina Romano is a highly successful trial lawyer with Bergman/Deketomis, a firm dedicated to protecting the public by exposing and penalizing corporate crooks and their allies in government. Well into her thirties, Gina hasn't overcome the anger and defensiveness resulting from a bizarre and traumatic childhood. As she contemplates whether to marry solid, attractive and loyal veterinarian Bryan Penn or to send him packing, the murder of a friend and mentor, Angus Moore, turns her life into a quest for vengeance. In consort with partner Nick Deketomis, Gina runs headlong into a life and death struggle against weapons manufacturers, a gun rights lobbyist, psychopathic Chicago police, a hi-tech genius assassin, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Still, the most formidable and dangerous enemy she faces is herself. A skillfully crafted suspense novel by a gifted novelist, "Law and Vengeance" by Mike Papantonio firmly grips the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end. Simply stated, "Law and Vengeance" is an extraordinarily entertaining and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.

Something Like Happy
Eva Woods
Graydon House
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9781525811357, $26.99, HC, 432pp, www.amazon.com

Annie Hebden is stuck. Stuck in her boring job, with her irritating roommate, in a life no thirty-five-year-old would want. But deep down, Annie is still mourning the terrible loss that tore a hole through the perfect existence she'd once taken for granted -- and hiding away is safer than remembering what used to be. Until she meets the eccentric Polly Leonard. Bright, bubbly, intrusive Polly is everything Annie doesn't want in a friend. But Polly is determined to finally wake Annie up to life. Because if recent events have taught Polly anything, it's that your time is too short to waste a single day -- which is why she wants Annie to join her on a mission. One hundred days. One hundred new ways to be happy. Annie's convinced it's impossible, but so is saying no to Polly. And on an unforgettable journey that will force her to open herself to new experiences -- and perhaps even new love with the unlikeliest of men -- Annie will slowly begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, there's still joy to be found in the world. But then it becomes clear that Polly's about to need her new friend more than ever. Annie will have to decide once and for all whether letting others in is a risk worth taking! A deftly written and consistently engaging read by a genuinely gifted novelist with an impressive flair for originality, "Something Like Happy" is one of those rare novels that will linger in the mind and memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf. While unreservedly and very strongly recommended for community library fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Something Like Happy" is also available in a paperback edition (9781525811999, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Into a Dark Frontier
John Mangan
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G, Longboat Key, FL 34228
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781608092611, $26.95, HC, 323pp, www.amazon.com

In the near future, Africa collapses into an enormous failed state, leaving the continent lawless and severely depopulated. For most, the breakdown brings horror, but for others the outcast, the desperate, the criminal, and the insane -- it allows unparalleled opportunity: a new frontier of danger and unlimited possibility. In America, ex-Navy SEAL Slade Crawford, emotionally crippled after twenty years of front line combat, the dissolution of his marriage, and the accidental death of his son, is falsely accused of terrorism. Slade flees to Africa to build a new life and escape his past, but he is captured by an enigmatic American colonel, Gary Kraven, and blackmailed into tracking down a blood cult that is rampaging across the sub-Sahara. Struggling to stay alive and to free himself from Kraven's grasp, Slade pursues the cult across the lawless African frontier. He soon learns that nothing is as it seems and that he is standing at the epicenter of a global struggle that will determine the course of history. Slade must decide whether to fight for his life or his honor -- he can't have both. A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "Into a Dark Frontier" is an extraordinary novel that showcases author John Mangan's genuine flair for originality and ability to deftly construct a truly memorable story. While very highly recommended, especially for community library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Into a Dark Frontier" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Education Shelf

Growing Global Digital Citizens
Lee Watanabe Crockett & Andrew Churches
Solution Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com
9781945349119, $29.95, PB, 164pp, www.amazon.com

"Growing Global Digital Citizens: Better Practices That Build Better Learners" is practical guide that explores how to transform education through the concept of global digital citizenship (GDC). Embraced by thousands of schools, global digital citizenship practices empower students to effectively and ethically participate in and contribute to the digital world around them. "Growing Global Digital Citizens" provide a clear path for establishing a global digital citizenship program in your school and give guidance on how K 12 teachers and administrators can grow global citizens who are respectful and responsible critical thinkers equipped with the 21st century skills necessary for an interconnected world. "Growing Global Digital Citizens" is deftly written guidebook will allow you to: Discover the characteristics and 21st century skills of global digital citizens and what these citizens stand for; Consider the limitations of conventional acceptable use policies and instead embrace ethically driven digital citizenship agreements; Learn how to address the various stakeholder communities involved in developing students into global digital citizens; Use tools, rubrics, and resources for gauging the effectiveness and progress of your global digital citizenship practices; Review digital citizenship agreements for students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as for professionals and the wider community. Featuring an eleven page listing of References and Resources, as well as a three page Index, "Growing Global Digital Citizens" is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Educational Policy & Practices collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of teachers, administrators, school board members, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Growing Global Digital Citizens" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.45).

Teaching Statistics: A Bag of Tricks
Andrew Gelman & Deborah Nolan
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780198785699, $95.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Students in the sciences, economics, social sciences, and medicine are required to take an introductory statistics course. And yet statistics can be notoriously difficult for instructors to teach and for students to learn. To help overcome these challenges, Andrew Gelman (Professor of Statistics and Professor of Political Science and Director of the Applied Sciences Center at Columbia University) and Deborah Nolan (Professor of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley), have put together "Teaching Statistics: A Bag of Tricks". Based on years of teaching experience "Teaching Statistics: A Bag of Tricks" provides a wealth of demonstrations, activities, examples, and projects that involve active student participation. Part I presents a large selection of activities for introductory statistics courses and has chapters such as 'First week of class'-- with exercises to break the ice and get students talking; then descriptive statistics, graphics, linear regression, data collection (sampling and experimentation), probability, inference, and statistical communication. Part II gives tips on what works and what doesn't, how to set up effective demonstrations, how to encourage students to participate in class and to work effectively in group projects. Course plans for introductory statistics, statistics for social scientists, and communication and graphics are provided. Part III presents material for more advanced courses on topics such as decision theory, Bayesian statistics, sampling, and data science. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Teaching Statistics: A Bag of Tricks" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to academic library collections in general, and would prove to be an enduringly valued supplementary text book for Statistics Education curriculums. For students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it should be noted that "Teaching Statistics: A Bag of Tricks" is also available in a paperback edition (9780198785705, $32.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.35).

Write This Way from the Start
Kelly Boswell
Maupin House
c/o Capstone Press
151 Good Counsel Drive, Mankato, MN 56001
www.capstonepub.com
9781496608413, $24.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

The beginning of each school year presents classroom teachers, home schooling parents, and the conductors of writing workshops with fresh starts and opportunities. How will they build community and create a culture that values thinking, learning, and risk-taking? How can they create a safe environment where all young learners feel welcome and valued? Particularly for in the task of teaching writing, it is of the utmost importance that students are launched into the world of writing in a way that engages them and helps to build their confidence. In"Write This Way from the Start: The First 15 Days of Writer's Workshop", Kelly Boswell draws upon her years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, literacy coach, and district literacy specialist to share a variety of ways to kick-start the school year or to initiate a writer workshop, and invite students and participants to engage in meaningful, purposeful and joyful writing experiences. Exceptionally well organized and presented, informative and 'real world practical', "Write This Way from the Start" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Teacher Education and Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Your 2018 Guide to College Transfer: 90 School Profiles
Nancy Lee Sanchez
Kaplan Educational Foundation
750 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.kaplan.com
9781506233918, $19.99, PB, 354pp, www.amazon.com

The Kaplan Educational Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, seeks to eliminate barriers to higher education for overlooked and underserved students and develop them as world leaders and advocates for their communities by providing a comprehensive array of financial and academic support, transfer admissions, advising and leadership skills development. They have now published "Your 2018 Guide to College Transfer: 90 School Profiles" by Nancy Lee Sanchez (Executive Director for the Kaplan Educational Foundation) that profiles top transfer schools in the U.S., and also highlights the best schools for underrepresented, first-generation, non-traditional age, community college, military-affiliated, DACA, and undocumented students contemplating transfer, as well as students with children. "Your 2018 Guide to College Transfer" reveals what makes a student successful during the admissions, transfer, and enrollment processes, and how to achieve that success in transfer from one college to another. Whether a student, a parent, a guidance counselor, or a college adviser, Kaplan's map offers a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide to navigating the complex landscape of college transfer. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Your 2018 Guide to College Transfer" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and academic library Educational Resources instructional reference collections.

Powerful Book Introductions
Kathleen Fay, Chrisie Moritz, Suzanne Whaley
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
9781625310507, $30.67, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com

Effective book introductions during guided reading set the stage for young readers to navigate new texts independently and successfully and often shape the outcome of small-group lessons. Many teachers struggle with decisions about what these introductions should address, what they should include, and how to conduct them. "In Powerful Book Introductions" literacy leaders Kathleen Fay, Chrisie Moritz, and Suzanne Whaley speak to these concerns by taking a close look at the purposeful planning that goes into preparing for this small but vital part of today's guided reading lessons. Through relatable classroom examples and the wisdom of their shared teaching experiences, the authors show you how to: Select texts for your small-group lessons specifically based on your students' needs; Amplify meaning making from the first moments of your guided reading book introductions and maintain this emphasis; Introduce visual and structural information as a way to support your readers in meaning making. No matter where you are in your understanding of guided reading, "Powerful Book Introductions" will help you as you learn to craft student-centered, meaning-driven book introductions that prepare your readers for success. The importance of instilling in a student a love of reading for both recreational and information acquiring purposes cannot be understated. Toward that ultimate educational goal, "Powerful Book Introductions: Leading with Meaning for Deeper Thinking" is unreservedly recommended for academic library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies lists, as well as community library collections where it can be made available to home-schooling parents.


The Photography Shelf

Villager Jim's Garden Wildlife
Villager Jim
White Owl
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781526706713, $39.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Over the past few years, Villager Jim has been avidly photographing wildlife in his own garden as well as in the beautiful countryside that surrounds his home. Birds, bees, and a whole host of other flora and fauna that share Villager Jim's garden in the tiny Peak District village of Foolow, are featured in "Villager Jim's Garden Wildlife" which is a truly stunning book of beautiful full color photographs. Bobbin Robin is just one of the regular visitors to the garden; she and her friends have a huge social media audience, with tens of thousands of viewers. Now anyone can open up "Villager Jim's Garden Wildlife" to see the daily goings on of these wildlife friends in some of Jim's very best pictures taken in this beautiful setting. They illustrate the close relationship Jim has formed with some of the regular wildlife visitors to his garden. His quirky captions capture the mood and spontaneous character of each individual shot and are an essential element of what makes Villager Jim's pictures so special. While unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Photography collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of both photography fans and gardening wildlife enthusiasts that "Villager Jim's Garden Wildlife" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.97).

The Spirit of the Mountains
International Mountain Summit
Firefly Books Ltd.
50 Staples Avenue, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada L4B 0A7
www.fireflybooks.com
9781770859807, $40.00, HC, 296pp, www.amazon.com

The International Mountain Summit (IMS) is an independent and international festival of mountaineers, alpinists, climbers and other mountain enthusiasts and photographers established in 2009 by Markus Gaiser and Alex Ploner. The annual IMS Photo Contest draws participation from more than 12,000 photographers in nearly 100 countries. "The Spirit of the Mountains" is a compendium of the best photographs submitted to the International Mountain Summit (IMS) photography contest from 2011 to 2016. More than 160 stunning images display mountains around the world in their many manifestations from the violent spectacle of a volcanic eruption to a flower-painted valley. Above them all lies the eternal universe, now clouds, now stars, in darkness and light, embellished with northern lights, rainbows, or slashes of lightning. But more than all of that, "The Spirit of the Mountains" is a heart-stopping reminder that humans are absurdly insignificant in nature's design. A magnificent volume of truly memorable images, "The Spirit of the Mountains" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Photography collections.


The Gardening Shelf

The Wildlife Gardener
Kate Bradbury
White Owl Books
www.whiteowlbooks.co.uk
c/o Pen & Sword Books (distribution)
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526712899 $29.95 pbk / $19.77 Kindle amazon.com

The Wildlife Gardener is a practical, easy-to-follow guide to creating a helpful habit for wildlife in one's own garden. Chapters cover how to ensure one's garden provides shelter, food, and water for natural creatures; the optimal nectar and pollen plants to grow; the do's and don'ts of bird feeding; organic methods to keep pests under control; and more. Ten step-by-step projects, a mini field guide to identify the wild creatures attracted to one's garden, and plenty of photographs, The Wildlife Gardener is a pleasure to browse and highly recommended especially for nature enthusiasts.

Worms at Work
Crystal Stevens
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780865718401, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Worms at Work: Harnessing the Awesome Power of Worms with Vermiculture and Vermicomposting belongs in science and gardening collections alike, as well as many a culinary collection, as it provides gardeners with a guide to making better soil using worms. Newcomers to the concept of making sure soil is rich for plant growth may be surprised at this notion of worm management, but it's long been a staple of organic gardening and farming methods. Here, it's covered in a basic primer that's easy to understand and filled with basic knowledge about fertilizing a garden and encouraging worm health. Newcomers to organic gardening must have this easy survey which avoids the usual confusion inherent in a topic too often given only a chapter in a more complex overview of gardening approaches.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Wild Horse Country
David Philipps
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393247138, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, and Future of the Mustang follows the history of wild horses in America and threats to the wild mustang's continued existence, following all aspects of the mustang as a horse, an American icon, and an animal which has long been persecuted because of their population and special management issues. The dysfunctional system of rounding up wild horses and maintaining them in non-wild holding centers in the Midwest only exists because wildlife managers, government agencies, ranchers, and wild horse advocates can't agree on what to do with them. This history traces the roots and fundamentals of these conflicts and provides a powerful survey key to understanding the background and current plight of the wild mustang in a wide-reaching survey highly recommended for any wildlife or equine collection.

Shark Bytes
John Bantin
Fernhurst Books
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781909911451, $30.60, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The popular image of sharks, reinforced by the movies, is one of a dorsal fin cleaving the surface as it rushes to its next kill -- but this is a very limited and limiting caricature. There are over 500 species of sharks, most of whom are far more frightened of humans than vice versa. "Shark Bytes: Tales of Diving with the Bizarre and the Beautiful" by John Bantin (an experienced scuba diver and the former Technical Editor of the long-established Diver magazine) is an impressively beautiful book in which as a diving veteran he recounts many tales of his diving with several species of sharks and other marine animals over the last 4 decades. Accompanied by his own stunning photography, the captivating, spectacular and sometimes shocking encounters show the reader what it is like to get up close and personal to these bizarre and beautiful creatures. The sharks covered range from the great whale sharks to the small blacktip reef shark, in locations extending to all corners of the globe. "Shark Bytes" is an extraordinary and informative read from cover to cover, making it an especially recommended addition to both community and academic library Pets/Wildlife collections in general, and Shark oriented supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Shark Bytes" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $25.48).

Doggy Desserts
Cheryl Gianfrancesco
Lumina Media
http://luminamedia.com
Fox Chapel Publishing Company (distributor)
9781621871712, $10.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Cheryl Gianfrancesco is an avid cook. She is also the owner of LMG1, formerly Kooper's Products, an Internet business supplying recipes and health information for dogs. In "Doggy Desserts: 125 Homemade Treats for Happy, Healthy Dogs" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to offers dog owners a compendium of easy-to-make recipes for treats to spoil (and nourish) their pampered pooches. Beautifully photographed and designed, "Doggy Desserts" presents easy-to-do, fun recipes divided into six categories: cookies, bars, drop cookies, cakes, muffins, and frozen treats. For dog owners who are concerned about controlling what's in their dogs' food or who are looking to find low-cal, low-fat options for their slightly plump pups, "Doggy Desserts" provides many tasty options. From carob peanut butter crunch balls, sweet potato biscuits and liver oatmeal bones to granola bars, apple sauce spice cake, and watermelon dog sherbet, owners will be tempted to try each of these delectable delights before serving to their dogs. Dog owners looking to feed their dogs healthy homemade treats will find: How to make your own tasty, wholesome doggie snacks and desserts; More than 125 easy-to-do recipes; Goodies your dogs will not only enjoy but are also good for them; Healthy, tasty, and easy to make with ingredients commonly found around the house; Strategies to avoid preservatives and ingredients that can irritate sensitive canine tummies and cause allergies and other health problems; Low-cal, low-fat options for overweight dogs; Sections on cookies, bars, drop cookies, cakes, muffins, and frozen treats. An absolute 'must' for anyone and everyone that has a beloved canine companion, it should be noted that "Doggy Desserts" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.73).


The Business Shelf

The Complete Guide to Selling a Business, fifth edition
Fred S. Steingold
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.nolo.com
9781413324549, $34.99, PB, 488pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated fifth edition featuring all the latest tax considerations, "The Complete Guide to Selling a Business" is packed from cover to cover with practical advice and invaluable insights (as well as dozens of key legal forms) shows the non-specialist general reader how to: get a business ready to sell; value assets; set the best price for a business; find the right buyer; anticipate and resolve tax issues; negotiate a payment plan; limit personal liability; work with lawyers, accountants, and brokers; and close the deal and transfer the business to its new owner. Of special note is the provision of 'real world practical' advice on marketing the sale of any kind of business. Impressively informative, exceptionally 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "The Complete Guide to Selling a Business" is an absolute 'must' as an instructional reference for anyone contemplating the sale of a business and should be a core addition to all community and academic library Contemporary Business Management collections.

Let the Story Do the Work
Esther K. Choy
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
9780814438015, $24.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

With respect to conducting business, if you incorporate a story, then people will remember your message. But when you get down to crafting one, there's nothing easy about it. While material for stories surrounds us, few people are skilled at sharing personal anecdotes and even fewer know how to link them to professional goals. Whether you want to stand out in the interview process, add punch to a presentation, or make a compelling case for a new initiative, "Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success" shows you how to mine your experience for simple narratives that convey who you are, what you want to achieve, and why others should care. Packed with enlightening examples, "Let the Story Do the Work" explains how to find the perfect hook, structure your story -- and deliver it at the right time in the right way. You'll discover how to use stories to: Capture attention; Engage your audience; Change minds; Inspire action; Bring facts and data to life; Clarify challenging concepts; Pitch persuasively; Fundraise effectively, and so much more. Never underestimate the power of a great story. Learn to leverage the elements of storytelling -- and turn everyday communications into opportunities to connect, gain buy-in, and build lasting relationships by giving "Let the Story Do the Work" a careful read and applying the 'real world practical' tips, tricks and techniques. While unreservedly recommended for both community, corporate, and academic library Business Management instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for business students, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Let the Story Do the Work" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). Librarians should be aware that "Let the Story Do the Work" is also available in a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Brilliance Audio, 9781536663228, $14.99, MP3 CD).

Lead Right for Your Company's Type
William E. Schneider
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
9780814437995, $27.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

From turf wars to low morale, most companies attempt to cure what ails them with the latest management fad -- and fail. They are treating the symptoms while ignoring the true problem. Success starts with knowing the kind of business you're really in. In "Lead Right for Your Company's Type: How to Connect Your Culture with Your Customer Promise" William E. Schneider (a consulting psychologist and co-owner of Corporate Development Group) deftly argues that every enterprise falls into one of four categories as dictated by their customer promise: customized (e.g. ad agency), predictable and dependable (e.g utility company), benevolent (e.g. educational institution), and best in class (e.g. high-tech company like Apple). When leadership practices fit the customer promise and company type, the organization thrives. But apply the wrong practices and the mismatch pulls the enterprise apart. Example after example exposes the fallout: A small arts college destabilized by top-down rules designed for a predictable and dependable company; A mid-tier retail chain derailed by leadership demands for superior products instead of reliably low prices; A software giant brought to its knees by prioritizing profits over innovation. Insightful and 'real world' practical, "Lead Right for Your Company's Type" offers proven tools and five-step process will help any corporate executive diagnose their organization's ills -- and stop them at their source. While very highly recommended for both community, corporate, and academic library Business Management collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of entrepreneurs and business managers that "Lead Right for Your Company's Type" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.37). It should also be noted that "Lead Right for Your Company's Type" is available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781536663198, $14.99, MP3 CD).

Fearless Growth
Amanda Setili
Career Press Inc.
12 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470
www.careerpress.com
9781632651075, $17.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Businesses today operate in a volatile and ever changing marketplace. Packed with practical examples, tools, and guidance, "Fearless Growth: The New Rules to Stay Competitive, Foster Innovation, and Dominate Your Markets" by Amanda Setili (who is President of the strategy consulting firm Setili & Associates, whose clients include Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, and Walmart) provides new rules to enable any company to adapt faster, move faster, and grow faster. Corporate executives and entrepreneurs will learn how to: Capitalize on uncertainties in their market, rather than letting those uncertainties slow them down; Leverage the talent, assets, technology, and data that exist outside the company; Get in sync with customers, gain early insight into changing needs, and bring the right solutions to market; Open the floodgates of employee creativity, empowering employees to respond quickly and effectively to emerging opportunities. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Fearless Growth" is an extraordinary and 'real world practical' read that is unreservedly recommended for anyone charged with the responsibility for a company's success in today's unstable world. While no corporate, community, or academic library Business Management instructional reference collections should be without a copy of "Fearless Growth", it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, business owners, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject it is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.60). Librarians should note that "Fearless Growth" is also available in a complete and unabridged audio book edition (Brilliance Audio, 9781543639506, $19.99, MP3).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Radiant Quilts
Elsie M. Campbell
Landauer Publishing
3100 100th Street, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
Fox Chapel Publishing Company (distributor)
9781935726982, $22.95, PB, 80pp, www.amazon.com

"Radiant Quilts: Stunning Quilts from Simple Shapes" by quilting expert Elsie M. Campbell offers a complete guide to making gorgeous scrap quilts using just one, two, or three simple repeated shapes. "Radiant Quilts" has a design emphasis on color and value working together to create the illusion of depth and light; offers comprehensive information about tools and techniques; features instructions on 3 cutting methods: cutting with scissors and templates, rotary cutters and rulers, and die cutters; and provides practical guidance on both hand- and machine-piecing. "Radiant Quilts" uses triangles, clamshells, half-hexagons, strips, and diamonds to make 9 start-to-finish, stash-busting projects ranging from stunning table runners to a gorgeous king-sized quilt. With simplicity as the basis for each piece or block, "Radiant Quilts" shows how color, value, and contrast can work together to create the illusion of depth and light. Of special note is Campbell's explanation of how to make fabric decisions that produce wonderfully luminescent quilts. "Radiant Quilts" provides cutting instructions for three methods: cutting with scissors and templates; rotary cutters and rulers; and die cutters. Inspired and inspiring, "Radiant Quilts" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections for quilting enthusiasts.

Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com

Two fine new additions to this series are top picks for quilters at all levels of expertise, offering specific focus and discussions that lend to quilting new projects. Katja Marek's Distinctive Dresdens (9781604688528, $26.99) presents nearly thirty blocks in six sample projects and shows how Dresdens can be done either via sewing machine or hand, using English paper piecing. Both processes are covered in a colorful survey of piecing techniques that are specific to Dresden patterns and which translate to unique, beautiful productions. Karen M. Burns compiles the blocks in I Love Star Blocks: 16 Quilts from an All-Time Favorite Block (9781604688566, $24.99) which come from a number of quilt designers who use start blocks in both traditional and innovative, new ways. This makes the book accessible to all quilters who want to learn about star blocks and how to incorporate them into a project. Color photos supplement patterns, materials lists, cutting instructions, and assembly specifics.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Kirby 100
Jon B. Cooke & John Morrow, Editors
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490786, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Kirby 100 gathers black and white and color cartoon panels from some of the top modern comics artists today, creating a celebration of comic illustrator great Jack Kirby as it celebrates his centennial anniversary. Over two hundred pages in full color gathers tribute artwork, memories, discussions of Jack Kirby's lasting influence in the comic illustration and pop culture worlds, and provide moving stories and insights that even some Kirby fans may not know. Anyone with more than a casual interest in Jack Kirby as well as many a newcomer to his name will find Kirby 100 a keepsake edition that gathers material supporting the extent of his lasting impact on cartooning and comics.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Manga Classics
Mark Twain, author
Adapted by Crystal S. Chan
Art by Kuma Chan
Udon Entertainment
www.mangaclassics.com
9781772940169 $24.95 hc
9781772940176 $17.99 pbk amazon.com

Part of the "Manga Classics" series that faithfully adapts timeless works of great literature to black-and-white graphic novels drawn in the style of manga (Japanese comics), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Manga Classics is a new way to experience this beloved work of high adventure and biting social satire by legendary American author Mark Twain (1835-1910). Although the original novel has occasionally been criticized or even banned for its use of racial slurs, such condemnation is short-sighted at best. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a biting satire of the innate racism and dehumanization embedded in the slaveholding American South, and deserves to be recognized as a groundbreaking anti-slavery and anti-racism book. The Manga Classics vision is beautifully drawn, with expressive characters, yet stays extremely close to the original narrative chapter by chapter (one of very few deviations from the novel is that Huck doesn't smoke tobacco in the adaptation). The story follows young Huckleberry Finn, who escapes from his abusive father by faking his own death, and befriends the runaway slave Jim. Together they meet robbers and rapscallions; would-be slave catchers; viciously feuding families; and much more. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Manga Classics is worthy of the highest recommendation for public and school library collections, as well as personal reading lists.

The Stories of Edgar Allen Poe: Manga Classics
Edgar Allan Poe, author
Adapted by Stacy King
Art by Virginia-Nitouhei, Chagen, Pikomaro, Uka Nagao, and Linus Lui
Udon Entertainment
www.mangaclassics.com
9781772940206 $24.95 hc
9781772940213 $17.99 pbk amazon.com

Part of the "Manga Classics" series that faithfully adapts timeless works of great literature to black-and-white graphic novels drawn in the style of manga (Japanese comics), The Stories of Edgar Allen Poe presents five of the American author's best-known tales of horror and suspense, each drawn by a different artist. The stories are "The Tell-Tale Heart", the confession of a mad murderer; "The Cask of Amontillado", a chilling revenge story; "The Raven", Poe's classic poem about a lover's grief over the loss of his beloved; "The Masque of the Red Death", which personifies the horrors of plague; and "The Fall of the House of Usher", a saga of illness, mental degeneration, and destruction. Each adaptation brilliantly captures the dark spirit of the original work, offering a new way to experience these classics. The Stories of Edgar Allen Poe: Manga Classics is highly recommended especially for public and school library graphic novel collections.

For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library, Volume One 1979-1982
Lynn Johnston
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxton Road, San Diego, CA 92106
www.idwpublishing.com
9781631409820 $39.99 amazon.com

For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library, Volume One 1979-1982 is a hardcover compilation of the first three years of the popular, long-running newspaper comic strip For Better or For Worse, about the trials and travails of an ordinary family. The strip is especially well known for how it showed the family age and children grow up in real time; the in first three years, baby Elizabeth grows into a toddler and learns how to talk. Meanwhile husband John has to balance work as a dentist and home life as a father, while wife Elly eventually becomes a student while looking after the needs of her family and lending a ear to her friends when they need it. "Elly: 'You didn't really appreciate me going out on the town last night, did you? But it's perfectly all right for you to go out 'till all hours with the boys!' John: 'That's different. When I'm out... I know where you are!'" For Better or For Worse: The Complete Library, Volume One is a treasure sure to prove a popular lend for public library collections, and makes an excellent gift to anyone who loves a good laugh and gentle, slice-of-life humor.

Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day
Berkeley Breathed
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxton Road, San Diego, CA 92106
9781684050970 $19.99 www.idwpublishing.com

Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day is a new compilation of Bloom County comic strips, brimming with over-the-top craziness and outright absurdity. From Bill the Cat's helpful advice about how to tell the difference between a zombie cat and a normal cat (zombie cats don't poop in a box), to Opus' tryout for the MetLife mascot role, to a sick little boy's adoption of a crippled shelter dog, Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day blends wild humor with heartwarming positive affirmations. Bloom County: Brand Spanking New Day is sure to prove a popular pick for public library collections, and is highly recommended for personal reading lists or holiday gift-giving.

Celebrating Snoopy
Charles M. Schulz
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449487881, $75.00, HC, 560pp, www.amazon.com

Cartoonist Charles Schulz is a pop culture legend. He was the hand and heart behind 50 years of Peanuts, which featured one of the world's most beloved and recognizable cast of cartoon characters, until his death in 2000. One of the most beloved of those characters was a dog named Snoopy. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Foreword by Michael Cavna ("ComicRiffs" columnist for The Washington Post) and an Introduction by Steve Martino (who was the director for The Peanuts Movie), the publishing firm of Andrews McMeel has published"Celebrating Snoopy", an elegant boxed hardcover volume that is packed from cover to cover with memorable Snoopy strips drawn from each of Peanuts' five decades, making this collection not only a heartwarming tribute, but also a true collector's item. Unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated Peanuts fans, it should be noted that "Celebrating Snoopy" would be an enduringly popular and appropriate Memorial Fund acquisition for community and academic library collections.

Monet: Itinerant of Light
Salva Rubio and EFA
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
www.nbmpub.com
9781681121390 $24.99 amazon.com

Monet: Itinerant of Light is a hardcover, full-color graphic novel biography of Claude Monet (1840-1926), a founder of French Impressionist painting. Monet's passion for his art estranged him from established academic and professional channels, because their rigid requirements stifled his vision. This made it very difficult for Monet to earn a living through his talent; Monet spent much of his life in poverty, struggling to support his wife and children. In the course of his life he experienced friendship, love, and tragic loss. Monet: Itinerant of Light takes some mild poetic license for the sake of storytelling, and is not intended to be a strictly historic biography, yet its candid and essentially accurate depiction of Monet's life reveals the human side of a legendary classical artist. Monet: Itinerant of Light is highly recommended, especially for public library graphic novel collections.

Renegade: Martin Luther
Dacia Palmerino, author
Andrea Grosso Ciponte, illustrator
Plough Publishing House
151 Bowne Drive, PO Box 398, Walden, NY 12586 USA
www.plough.com
9780874862072, $19.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Told in a graphic novel format, "Renegade: Martin Luther" is the story of Martin Luther's personal battles with disillusionment and doubt culminate in a cry for freedom during a time of rampant corruption and superstition within the Roman Catholic Church. Luther's revolt against Rome with the nailing of ninety-five theses to the church door in Wittenberg; his time spent incognito at Wartburg Castle, where he famously throws an inkpot at the devil; his seditious translation and publication of the Bible in the language of the people; his scandalous marriage to former nun Katharina von Bora; and, in later years, his ugly tirades against peasants, Anabaptists, and Jews are fully recounted. Each chapter of Luther's life comes vividly to life thanks to cutting-edge graphic techniques of the impressively gifted artist Andrea Grosso Ciponte, and the meticulous historical research and compelling writing Dacia Palmerino, "Renegade: Martin Luther" is impressively informative and unreservedly recommended as an introduction to the life and work of one of the most influential leaders of the early years of the Protestant Movement and the founder of the Lutheran church.

Spooky & The Strange Tales: Monster Inn
Carine-M and Elian Black'more
IDW Publishing
2765 Truxton Road, San Diego, CA 92106
9781631409349 $19.99 www.idwpublishing.com

Spooky & The Strange Tales: Monster Inn is a hardcover, gothic graphic novel, set in magical kingdom of Fairy Tales, featuring the exceptionally strange princes Spooky. The cursive-style text and charming illustrations bring this fantastic story of creepy monsters and twisted fairy tales to life. Spooky & The Strange Tales: Monster Inn is highly recommended for readers of all ages, and for public library collections.

Satania
Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
www.nbmpub.com
9781681121437 $24.99 hc / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Satania is a striking, full-color graphic novel that reinterprets the classic premise of descending into the layers of Hell. Charlie is a woman whose scientist brother has disappeared in his quest to prove the existence of Hell. Determined to find and rescue him, Charlie descends into the depths of the Earth with a handful of associates who have their own motives - including a clergyman and a fellow scientist eager to put her brother's theories to the test. The subterranean world they find is Satania - bizarre, horrific, multifaceted, ever-changing, and enveloped in a macabre beauty. Satania is also deadly, and pushes Charlie's survival instincts to the razor's edge! Captivating to the final page, Satania is highly recommended for older teen and adult graphic novel connoisseurs due the presence of some nudity and mature situations.

Streak of Chalk
Miguelanxo Prado
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
www.nbmpub.com
9781681121161 $19.99 amazon.com

Streak of Chalk is an award-winning, full-color graphic novel by celebrated Spanish comic artist Miguelanxo Prado. Now in a re-released edition with new pages and a gallery of never-before- seen material, Streak of Chalk follows a lone traveler who visits a nearly-deserted island. He becomes intensely smitten with a beautiful, mysterious woman; he instinctively feels wary of the local innkeeper's reserved son; and he befriends a seagull, naming it "Lucas". Then two callous, aggressive louts arrive to stir up trouble. But how much of the lovestruck traveler's perceptions are real, and how much are simply his imagination run wild? Vivid and compelling, Streak of Chalk keeps the reader fascinated to the very end. It should be noted that Streak of Chalk is intended for mature readers due to scenes of nudity, sexual situations, and violence.


The Audiobook Shelf

Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization
Brian Fagan, author
Read by Shaun Grindell
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781541406612 $44.99 www.tantor.com

Archaeologist Brian Fagan presents Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization, a fascinating history of fishing for sustenance (as opposed to fishing for sport). Unlike agriculture, which encouraged stationary farms, fishing for food pushed individuals and civilizations to search for new and better fishing grounds. Fishing-related technology prompted the creation of better boats, and fish itself (when dried and salted) was an excellent, long-lasting source of nutrition for travelers, traders, and conquering armies. This unabridged audiobook edition of Fishing: How the Sea Fed Civilization, fluidly read by award-winning audiobook narrator Shaun Grindell, is fascinating, edifying, and enthusiastically recommended for public library collections and personal audiobook lists. 11 CDs, 13 hours.

The Assembled Parties
Richard Greenberg
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
$29.95 www.latw.org

The Assembled Parties is a "theater of the mind" audiobook of a full-cast performance of an award-winning play. The story opens with a Christmas dinner in 1980, shared by a secular, well- educated Jewish family. Yet buried grudges bubble to the surface, and the legacy of the family's bitter acrimony is acutely evident twenty years later, in the year 2000, when the dinginess of the formerly opulent apartment reveals how severely the family fortunes have declined. An intensely character-driven drama, The Assembled Parties is a choice pick for public library and personal audiobook collections. 2 CDs, 1 hour 47 min. Also highly recommended is "Seven" (2 CDs, 2 hours 11 min), an audiobook rendition of a theater anthology of seven brief, documentary-plays by seven different female authors around the globe; each performance is an inspiring true story about efforts to improve the lives of women.

Lost Boy
Christina Henry, author
Samuel Roukin, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
9781501952470, $17.95

On an island lives a boy called Peter and his band of merry lost boys, young forever. That is unless they get sick or killed by pirates or eaten by crocodiles, or fall victim to the many-eyes, or unless (inexplicably) they grow old. For some of them do grow old, and nobody knows why. One of these boys is called Jamie, and he was the first boy that Peter ever brought to the island. Jamie's lived there for longer than he can remember, and it's not all fun and games. Peter thinks the boys are replaceable, that if one dies or grows up, he can swap in another from the Other Place, the place where he collects new playmates. Jamie looks out for the boys and takes care of them. He does everything Peter does not. Jamie tries to keep them alive because to him they matter. When Peter steals a boy named Charlie who is too young, Jamie takes the boy under his wing. But Peter won't have that, for nobody will ever take Jamie from him. Ever. "Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook" turns the classic fantasy tale of Peter Pan upside down and inside out, revealing the unforgettable and true origin story of Captain Hook. This complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook" is impressively narrated by Samuel Roukin and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections and an absolute 'must' for the legions of fans that have heretofore only been exposed to a Disney version of Never Never Land and the eternal boy who lives there still. (7 Discs, 7.75 Hours).

The Lunar Cat
Lynne Truss, author
Mike Grady, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781501967795 (CPO557), $TBA, www.recordedbooks.com

When you are an inoffensive retired librarian with bitter personal experience of Evil Talking Cats, do you rescue a kitten from the cold on a December night? Do you follow up news items about cats digging in graveyards? Do you inquire into long-ago cats who voyaged around the world with Captain Cook? Well, yes. If you are Alec Charlesworth, that is precisely what you do-with unexpected and terrifying consequences. Superbly narrated by Mike Grady, and flawlessly produced by Recorded Books, "The Lunar Cat" by Lynne Truss offers an original, unabridged, and exceptionally entertaining 'theatre of the mind' experience and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal and community library fantasy fiction audio book collections. (6 CDs, 6.25 Hours).

Seeing Red: A Novel
Sandra Brown, author
Read by Victor Slezak
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478916826 $35.00 amazon.com

Now in an unabridged audiobook rendition brought to life through the superb performance of Victor Slezak, Seeing Red: A Novel is a modern thriller brimming with twists and turns. Kerra Bailey is a television journalist seeking an interview with Major Franklin Trapper, a reclusive national hero. She induces The Major's son, former ATF agent John Trapper, to make it happen... but when the interview turns into a weaponized ambush, Kerra and John must search for the killers before both of them are silenced for good! Exciting and suspenseful, with a taut dynamic between the two lead characters, Seeing Red is highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. 12 CDs, 13 hours.

Ripper
Stefan Petrucha
Graphic Audio
7520 Standish Place, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20855
www.graphicaudio.net
9781628514476, $19.99, CD, www.graphicaudio.net

Carver Young dreams of becoming a detective, despite growing up in an orphanage with only crime novels to encourage him. But when he is adopted by Detective Hawking of the world famous Pinkerton Agency, Carver is given not only the chance to find his biological father, he finds himself smack in the middle of a real life investigation: tracking down a vicious serial killer who has thrown New York City into utter panic. When the case begins to unfold, however, it's worse than he could have ever imagined, and his loyalty to Mr. Hawking and the Pinkertons comes into question. As the body count rises and the investigation becomes dire, Carver must decide where his true loyalty lies. Full of whip-smart dialogue, kid-friendly gadgets, and featuring a then New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt, "Ripper" is an audio book edition of a unique novel by Stefan Petrucha that challenges everything you thought you knew about the world's most famous serial killer. Acted out with an enormously talented caste whose performances are enhanced further with the inclusion of music and sound effects, this Graphic Audio edition of "Ripper" is a flawless produced, compelling and unfailingly entertaining 'theatre of the mind' experience from beginning to end, making it unreservedly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections. (7 CDs, 8.5 Hours).


The Library CD Shelf

Stardust
Kerani
Kerani Music Production
$15.00 CD / $11.00 download cdbaby.com

Recorded with a symphonic orchestra, a mixed vocal ensemble, and a wide range of synthesizers, Stardust is a cosmically inspired, space-themed album by award-winning New Age pianist, keyboardist, and composer Kerani. The sweeping flow of music inspires wonder for the grand majesty of the universe, in this extraordinary and highly recommended contribution to personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Stardust" (6:09), "Cosmic Sunrise" (7:42), "Rosetta" (8:07), "Perpetuum Mobile" (6:12), "Beyond" (6:25), "The Next Step" (5:16), "Infinity" (5:49), "Gravity" (6:19), "Worlds Unknown" (6:34), and "Stars (Remix)" (5:31).

From the Darker Seasons
Jeff Pearce
www.jeffpearcemusic.com
Privately Published
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

From the Darker Seasons is an new age album by award-winning music artist Jeff Pearce, featuring his signature ambient guitar stylings. Inspired by contemplating the seasons of fall and winter, From the Darker Seasons stirs the soul with its thoughtful reflections on the beauty of natural renewal through the quieter, colder months. Highly recommended! The tracks are "A Walk Through the Leaves" (4:13), "Sun on Frost" (2:42), "Constellations" (6:13), "The River in Late Autumn" (4:57), "Downdrift" (10:31), "Midnight Snow" (4:29), "A Long Winter's Sleep" (17:45), and "Cold Comfort" (3:29).

Resonance
Peter Kater
New Earth Records
PO Box 3388, Ashland, OR 97520
www.newearthrecords.com
$15.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Resonance is an astonishingly beautiful, instrumental new age album, performed with piano, synthesizers, gongs, chimes, and sampled strings. Music artist Peter Kater has created a free- folding soundscape, fluid and moving like waves lapping at the ocean shore. Resonance is a choice pick for new age connoisseurs, highly recommended. The tracks are "Resonance" (5:17), "Twilight Star" (6:37), "Echo Inside" (9:00), "Night's Cavern" (9:47), "One Flame" (6:21), "Venus in Pisces" (9:11), "Rebirth" (9:57), and "Resonance (Reprise)" (3:55).

Bahaghari
Lea Salonga
GLP Music
https://www.glpmusic.nyc
$14.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

Bahaghari (meaning "Rainbow") is an album of traditional songs from the Philippines, representing the island nation's three cultural regions and numerous languages. Singer and Broadway star Lea Salonga, who speaks Tagalog fluently, brings these beautiful pieces to vivid life with a stellar vocal performance. Bahaghari is a treasure for both personal and public library multicultural music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are "Pobreng Alindahaw" (3:08), "Paruparong Bukid" (1:55), "Tinikling" (2:37), "Atin Cu Pung Singsing" (2:31), "Bahay Kubo" (2:38), "Magtanim ay di Biro" (2:24), "Ili Ili Tulog Anay" (2:33), "Matud Nila" (3:46), "Sarung Banggi" (3:02), "Leron Leron Sinta" (2:04), "Pamulinawen" (3:29), "Si Filemon" (1:35), "Sitsiritsit Alibangbang" (1:37), "Sampaguita" (3:16), and "Waray Waray" (2:49).

Onwards
Mile Twelve
www.miletwelvebluegrass.com
Privately Published
$TBA CD / $9.99 download cdbaby.com

Boston-based quintet Mile Twelve (guitarist Evan Murphy, bassist Nate Sabat, banjo player BB Bowness, award-winning fiddle player Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, and mandolin player David Benedict) present their debut full-length album Onwards, a celebration of Appalachian bluegrass. The original songs energize the spirit, embodying the joy of country bluegrass while borrowing a smattering of inspiration from indie rock, old-school jazz, or other stylings as suits the moment. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Onwards", "Call My Soul", "Sunny Side of Town", "The Mararet Keene", "Soldiers and Sailors", "Wickwire", "The Day You Left", "Ace of Hearts", "In the Shade", "You Don't Even Know It Yet", "Old Tom", and "Settle Down Blues".

River of January
Dave Zinno Unisphere
Whaling City Sound
$TBA whalingcitysound.com

River of January is a Latin jazz album that adventures off the beaten path, sweeping the listener away in a stellar journey. Lively and exciting, the songs rouse the listener's spirit and showcase the performers' talents for creativity and improvisation. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Babycakes" (8:27), "Remember When" (7:54), "Feir a Hippie" (6:43), "Inverno Sem Rio" (7:39), "Little Lilli" (10:52), "Recife Blues" (6:45), "Wichita Lineman" (6:47), "South End Blues" (6:08), "Rapanui" (3:41) and "Um a Zero" (3:28).

Stone & Sky
Crowd Company
Vintage League Music
$TBA vintageleaguemusic.com

Critically acclaimed eight-member funk soul group Crowd Company presents Stone & Sky, a resonating funk soul album distinguished by smooth, powerful vocals supported by heady funk rhythms. Rapturous and richly textured, Stone & Sky is a "must" for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. The tracks are "Take Off The Crown" (3:23), "Saw You Yesterday (4:33), "Can't Get Enough" (3:36), "Soar" (5:19), "Fever" (3:14), "Away With You" (3:23), "Let Me Be" (4:25), "Getting The Groove" (2:08), "Fast Forward" (3:25), "Summer" (4:07), "The Spark" (6:20), "Blind Pig" (2:56), and "Station 77" (3:28).

Solstice/Equinox
Diana Panton
www.dianapanton.com
Privately Published
$12.99 CD / $9.99 download

Solstice/Equinox is the eighth album by two-time JUNO award-winning jazz artist Diana Panton. Featuring Panton's ethereal vocals and haunting solos, the original songs revolve around the themes of turning seasons, reflecting the cycles of love and life. An enriching, vibrant soundscape, Solstice/Equinox is enthusiastically recommended to connoisseurs of quality original jazz. The tracks are "They Say It's Spring", "The Heather on the Hill", "Up Jumped Spring", "That Sunday, That Summer", "Estate (Summer)", "Manhattan", "La Fin Des Vacances", "September in the Rain", "Tis Autumn", "September", "Cloudy Morning", "I Like Snow", and "By the Fireside".


The Library DVD Shelf

Murder on the Orient Express
Adapted from the novel by Agatha Christie
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$19.99 www.acornonline.com

Murder on the Orient Express is a DVD re-release of the British television adaptation of the (in)famous murder mystery by celebrated author Agatha Christie. The story follows the intrepid investigator Hercule Poirot aboard a luxury train. When an unsavory businessman is stabbed to death, Poirot searches for the culprit. Could the killer have stowed aboard in the night, or could the killer be one of the train's passengers? A masterpiece of suspense and deduction, Murder on the Orient Express is a "must" for connoisseurs of the genre, and sure to prove a popular library lend. 98 min., SDH subtitles.

Gray Matters
A documentary by Marco Orsini
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Gray Matters is a DVD documentary about Irish architect and furniture designer Eileen Gray (1878-1976), well known for her pioneering work in modernism. Her striking decorations designs earned her critical acclaim before she became an architect. Though much of her work was done privately, her visionary creations have been re-discovered and command extraordinary market prices today. Gray Matters is a fascinating glimpse into the life of an extraordinarily talented woman, and is highly recommended especially for public library DVD collections. 76 minutes.

The Good Karma Hospital, series 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

The Good Karma Hospital, series 1 is a medical drama set in a vibrant coastal town in southern India. Dr. Ruby Walker (played by Amrita Acharia) has taken a job in a foreign land to escape a ruined relationship and a stressful career in the UK. Instead of a modern urban clinic, she is assigned to the overcrowded, underfunded Good Karma Hospital run by the imposing Dr. Gabriel Varma (Amanda Redman). The eccentric locals, including her secretive colleague and the nearby beach bar owner, do little to put her mind at ease! But the Good Karma Hospital just might be the new turn in life that she needed. The Good Karma Hospital is recommended for mature viewers due to strong language, nudity, and graphic medical situations. Bonus material includes 21 min. of behind-the-scenes featurettes and a photo gallery. 6 episodes, 287 min. plus bonus.

Humans 2.0
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-ray www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Humans 2.0 is the uncut, complete United Kingdom broadcast version of a science fiction drama (based on the Swedish science fiction saga "Real Humans"), set in a near-future world where artificial humans ("synths") have begun to gain consciousness, and a mysterious organization is hunting them. Can the remaining self-aware synths be protected, and if so, how? Contemplative and compelling, Humans 2.0 induces the viewer to think carefully about the true nature of consciousness. Bonus material includes 56 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes. Humans 2.0 is enthusiastically recommended for science fiction connoisseurs, and sure to prove a popular public library lend. 8 episodes on 3 discs, approx. 394 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Vera, set 7
Starring Brenda Blethyn
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$59.99 www.acornonline.com

Vera, set 7 continues the long-running, smash hit British detective drama series, featuring the ill- tempered female detective Vera and her efforts to solve vicious murders in rural Northumberland. Set 7 consists of four episodes, each one a self-contained mystery - "Natural Selection", about the death of a wildlife ranger; "Dark Angel", in which DCI Vera Stanhope seeks justice for a dead drug addict; "Broken Promise", about the suspicious falling death of a gifted university student; and "The Blanket Mire", where Vera must unearth the life secrets of an 18-year-old found buried in the moors, in order to track down the killer. Vera, set 7 is a "must- see" for connoisseurs of the genre, highly recommended. Vera, set 7 is suggested for mature viewers, due to scenes of violence. 4 episodes on 4 DVDs, 372 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Marcella, season 1
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$49.99 www.acornonline.com

Marcella, season 1 is the DVD debut of a British detective drama, featuring a separated female detective who has returned to the force after a career break to raise her children. Detective Sergeant Marcella Backland is troubled by the seeming resurface of a serial murderer, known as the Grove Park Killer. But the tumultuous changes in Marcella's personal life, culminating in the abrupt end of her marriage, have left her devastated and prone to bouts of extreme rage. When a person close to her estranged husband is murdered, Marcella fears that she could have been involved! Suspenseful to the end, Marcella, season 1 is highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre. It should be noted that Marcella, season 1 is intended for mature viewers due to coarse language, graphic violence, disturbing images, and sexual situations. 8 episodes on 2 DVDs, 378 min., SDH subtitles.

Tendu Toning: Ballerina Strong
Featuring Rachel Speck
SpeckFitness
$19.99 speckfitness.com

Tendu Toning: Ballerina Strong is the second fitness DVD by Rachel Speck that shows viewers how to combine the toning of ballet with the strength of body building to sculpt a superb physique without investing in years of ballet training (ballet shoes are not required either). Simple ballet steps along with the use of inexpensive weights and resistance make for a superb body-shaping experience! Tendu Toning: Ballerina Strong includes squats, pulses, plies, cursty lunges, arabesque penches, chest presses, and combinations to work as many muscles as possible. Highly recommended for fitness buffs! 1 hour.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Worn Out by Obedience
Ron Moore
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802415387, $14.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com

Many Christians have a deep desire to "turn the corner" in their walk with Jesus. Some don't know where to start, others are held back by the past, and still others are blinded or calloused by sin. King David, the man after God's own heart, experienced this very thing, and in "Worn Out by Obedience: Recovering from Spiritual Fatigue" he is presented as a spiritual mentor. David is both flawed and on fire. He is the person we are and the person we want to be. In studying his extended stay in Ziklag (1 Samuel 27 - 30), readers will see how God often molds our hearts in seasons of brokenness, loneliness, and disappointment -- sometimes even in our disobedience. Written specifically for members of the Christian community who find themselves spiritually weary, discouraged, or exhausted, "Worn Out by Obedience" will help them to keep going -- or start moving. Of special note are the signs of spiritual fatigue and instructions on how to avoid them. God uses all our experiences both good and bad to form Christ in us. With its message of God's great grace of rescue, recovery, and restoration, "Worn Out by Obedience" is unreservedly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliation. It should be noted that "Worn Out by Obedience" is also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.01).

The Good Book
Deron Spoo
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.davidccook.com
9780781414418, $22.99, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com

"The Good Book: 40 Chapters That Reveal the Bible's Biggest Ideas" by Deron Spoo (who is the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma) offers a user-friendly guide to the Bible's biggest ideas. A chapter from the Bible accompanies each chapter of the book, which helps readers understand the context and content of the Scripture passages in a way that can open the whole Bible. Designed as a forty-day journey through forty key chapters of the Bible, "The Good Book" will appeal to those who already love and read the Bible regularly as well as to those who are just beginning their Christian journey. "The Good Book" is a great evangelism tool for explaining the major themes of Scripture to those who want to know more about God, Jesus, and the core beliefs of Christianity; gives new believers an overview of the Bible and lays a framework to help them understand Scripture passages; helps longtime Christians rediscover the basic themes of Scripture and experience these truths in a new way; and encourages Scriptural literacy as it pushes readers to read both one chapter of the book and one chapter of the Bible each day for forty days. "The Good Book" is ideal for individuals, and it can also be used by small groups in an eight-week church-wide program or a forty-week journey that focuses on one Bible chapter each week. "The Good Book" will help people understand and live by the transformative truths of the Bible. While very highly recommended for all members of the Christian community, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Good Book" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

In the Beauty of Holiness
David Lyle Jeffrey
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802874702, $49.00, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com

Beauty and holiness are both highly significant subjects in the Bible. "In the Beauty of Holiness: Art and the Bible in Western Culture" by David Lyle Jeffrey (Distinguished Professor of Literature and the Humanities at Baylor University, Waco, Texas) is comprehensive study of Christian fine art and explores the relationship between beauty and holiness by integrating aesthetic perspectives from the ancient Hebrew Scriptures through Augustine, Aquinas, and Kant, down to contemporary philosophers of art. From the walls of the Roman catacombs to the paintings of Marc Chagall, visual art in the West has consistently drawn its most profound and generative inspiration from biblical narrative and imagery. Jeffrey guides readers through this artistic tradition from the second century to the twenty-first, astutely pointing out its relationship not only to the biblical sources but also to related expressions in liturgy and historical theology. Lavishly illustrated throughout with 146 masterworks, reproduced in full color, "In the Beauty of Holiness" is ideally suited to students of Christian fine art, to devotees of biblical studies, and to non-specialist general readers wanting to better understand the story of Christian art through the centuries. A masterpiece of religious and artistic scholarship, "In the Beauty of Holiness" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a twelve page listing of images, a twenty-seven page bibliography, and a fourteen page index. Exceptionally informative and impressively well organized and presented, "In the Beauty of Holiness" is unreservedly recommended for personal, church, seminary, community, and academic library Christian Studies, Biblical Studies, and Art History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Paulos Mar Gregorios: A Reader
K. M. George
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781506430164, $79.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

K. M. George served as moderator of the WCC Programme Committee (1998-2006), as executive secretary of the NCC-India, and as principal and professor at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, India. He was also professor at the Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Switzerland (1989-94). He is a priest of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India and is currently director and Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Chair of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam as well as director of the Sopana Orthodox Academy, Kottayam, India. In "Paulos Mar Gregorios: A Reader" he has compiled selected writings of Paulos Mar Gregorios, a metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India and a former President of the World Council of Churches. "Paulos Mar Gregorios: A Reader" deals with his thought in the areas of ecumenism, orthodox theology, philosophy, interfaith dialogue, and philosophy of science. "Paulos Mar Gregorios: A Reader" will be of special value to the students of ecumenism, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, Indian philosophy, interdisciplinary studies, and holistic education. Inspired and inspiring, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Paulos Mar Gregorios: A Reader" is unreservedly recommended for personal and academic library Orthodox Christian collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Political Science Shelf

From Oligarchy to Republicanism
Forrest A. Nabors
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th St., Columbia, MO 65211
www.umsystem.edu/upress
9780826221353 $45.00 hc / $36.00 Kindle amazon.com

Forrest A. Nabors (Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Alaska) presents From Oligarchy to Republicanism: The Great Task of Reconstruction, a scholarly analysis of the American Civil War, and especially the Reconstruction afterward. From Oligarchy to Republicanism argues that the Confederacy was in fact an oligarchy - a nation ruled by a small group (wealthy slaveholders) - and that the goal of the Civil War and Reconstruction was to return American governance to a true Republic, ruled by representatives of all the people. Evidence for this claim includes the provision that slaves counted as three-fifths a human for representation, which shifted the balance of power from areas with few slaves to areas many slaves; the forced conscription of non-slaveholder whites into unpaid "slave catcher" patrols to hunt down escaped slaves; and much more. Nabors also examines the writings and speeches of Republicans in the Thirty-Eighth, Thirty-Ninth, and Fortieth Congress (1863-69) to better understand their political view of the antebellum South. Unlike scholars who postulate that black citizenship was the central concern of these Republicans, Nabors reveals that Southern oligarchy (which was inextricably entwined with slavery) was the central issue of their era. From Oligarchy to Republicanism is highly recommended especially for public and college library political science and American history collections.

American Cities And The Politics Of Party Conventions
Eric S. Heberlig, Suzanne M. Leland, David Swindell
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438466392, $90.00, HC, 243pp, www.amazon.com

"American Cities And The Politics Of Party Conventions" is the collaborative project of Eric S. Heberlig (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Suzanne M. Leland (Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte), and David Swindell (Director of the Center for Urban Innovation and Associate Professor in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University) and is an impressively informative study on the competitive solicitations of how cities have gone about trying to hosting major political conventions, the often unexpected side affects of those competitions and their aftermath, as well as how the major political party conventions have essentially evolved into day long infomercials. A notable work of original scholarship, "American Cities And The Politics Of Party Conventions" features thirty pages of Appendices, twelve pages of Notes, a sixteen page Bibliography, and a six page Index. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "American Cities And The Politics Of Party Conventions" is extraordinarily informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking read and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental studies lists.

Votes from Seats
Matthew S. Shugart & Rein Taagepera
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9781108417020, $99.99, HC, 343pp, www.amazon.com

Take the number of seats in a representative assembly and the number of seats in districts through which this assembly is elected. From just these two numbers, "Votes from Seats: Logical Models of Electoral Systems" by Matthew S. Shugart (Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Davis, and an Affiliated Professor of the University of Haifa, Israel) and Rein Taagepera holds (Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of California, Irvine, and Professor Emeritus, Skytte Institute, University of Tartu, Estonia) show that it is possible to deduce the number of parties in the assembly and in the electorate, as well as the size of the largest party. Inside parties, the vote distributions of individual candidates likewise follow predictable patterns. Four laws of party seats and votes are constructed by logic and tested, using scientific approaches rare in social sciences. Both complex and simple electoral systems are covered, and "Votes from Seats" offers a set of 'best practices' for electoral system design. The ability to predict so much from so little, and to apply to countries worldwide, is an advance in the systematic analysis of a core institutional feature found in any democracy, and points the way towards making social sciences more predictive. Set against today's emotionally charged issues of Russian misinformation attacks seeking to manipulate the 2016 and subsequent election cycles, and the Gerrymandering case currently in front of the U. S. Supreme court, "Votes from Seats: Logical Models of Electoral Systems" is a timely and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Political Science collections in general, and Electoral Systems supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers that "Votes from Seats: Logical Models of Electoral Systems" is also available in a paperback edition (9781108404266, $31.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.90).

In America: Tales from Trump Country
Caitriona Perry
Gill Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780717179534, $36.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com

Becoming news herself after her encounter with Trump in the Oval Office, Caitriona Perry is an award-winning Irish journalist and Washington correspondent who has earned a reputation as a reliable source of truth. In "In America: Tales from Trump Country", she goes beyond the news reports and delves into the American heartland where she witnessed the rise of Trump at first hand. Bringing to the table the voices of those who voted for Trump, Hillary Clinton's so-called 'basket of deplorables', the ones whose opinions didn't coalesce with acceptable mainstream discourse, Perry reveals just what is really happening in America right now. You may already know why some people didn't vote for Donald Trump; by reading "In America: Tales from Trump Country", you will now find out why some people did. It is interesting to note that Perry was one of the first journalists to suggest that Trump could actually win. Impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "In America: Tales from Trump Country" is a timely and much appreciated contribution to the growing library of Trump Era political science studies. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "In America: Tales from Trump Country" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.49).


The Gaming Shelf

A Taste of Bridge
Jeff Bayone
Master Point Press
205-214 Merton Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4S 1A6
www.masterpointpress.com
9781771400343, $19.95, PB, 215pp, www.amazon.com

Jeff Bayone is the owner of Honors Bridge Club in New York, which may be the world's biggest club. He has been teaching bridge for more than 40 years. With "A Taste of Bridge" Jeff draws upon his years of experience and expertise to create a comprehensive instructional for beginners that consists of a series of six lessons that have started thousands of people on the road to enjoying the world's most popular card game. "A Taste of Bridge" is intended to give the reader a taste of bridge, and whet the appetite for more. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Taste of Bridge" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal and community library Bridge instructional reference collections.


The Interior Design Shelf

Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book
Better Homes and Gardens
c/o Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9781328944986, $25.00, HC, 432pp, www.amazon.com

The "Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book", was originally published in 1956 and would go on to another ten editions over the years, becoming the new home bible for injecting class, style (and the occasional misguided cowboy wallpaper) into American homes. While exploring numerous styles, the main theme of the book is the on-trend mid-century modern sensibility, a style as appropriate today as it was six decades. Based upon the classic design concepts, "Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book" is once again available to a new generation of appreciative homeowners and is filled from cover to cover with hundreds of full-color period photos, dozens of adorable illustrations, and decorating tips and tricks that are both helpful and nostalgic. "Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book" remains a fun classic that is here reproduced exactly as it looked and read in the 1950s, making everything old, new once again. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Interior Design reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Better Homes and Gardens Decorating Book" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Biography Shelf

First Founding Father
Harlow Giles Unger
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306825613 $28.00 hc / $18.99 Kindle amazon.com

Journalist, educator, and historian Harlow Giles Unger presents First Founding Father: Richard Henry Lee and the Call to Independence, a biography of Richard Henry Lee, one of America's lesser-known yet vital founding fathers. Indeed, Lee is arguably the first Founding Father - he worked with Samuel Adams to organize intelligence networks to spy on British troop movements, joined George Washington and Patrick Henry at the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia to back a total trade embargo on British goods, and made the resolution before Congress in 1776 to sever ties with Britain. Congress approved Lee's resolution, and dubbed Lee the Father of American Independence. During the Revolutionary War, Lee almost singlehandedly supervised the fledgling American nation's military, foreign, and financial affairs, doing his best to secure Washington's troops the supplies they needed. Despite his crippled hand, Lee personally went into battle to stop a British landing along Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. After the Revolution, Lee won election to the U.S. Senate and fought to amend the Constitution with a Bill of Rights to limit federal powers and secure the people's liberty. Researched and indexed with scholarly accuracy, yet accessible to readers of all background, First Founding Father is highly recommended especially for public and college library biography collections.

The Ranger Ideal Volume 1
Darren L. Ivey
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574416909 $39.95 hc / $31.96 Kindle amazon.com

The Ranger Ideal Volume 1: Texas Rangers in the Hall of Fame, 1823-1861 is an extensively researched biography of the first seven inductees into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. Each individual served honorably in Texas before the Civil War; volume 1 examines the lives of Stephen F. Austin, "the Father of Texas" who established the fundamentals of Ranger service; John C. Hays, Ben McCulloch, Samuel H. Walker, William A. A. "Bigfoot" Wallace, John S. Ford, and Lawrence Sul Ross. The Ranger Ideal Volume 1 draws upon primary sources and secondary sources known for their veracity, and does not include apocryphal stories with little or no supporting evidence. A vivid glimpse into a dangerous, bygone era that required men of courage and valor to step forth, The Ranger Ideal Volume 1 is sure to enthrall lay readers and historians alike. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History collections.

Red Robinson: The Last Deejay
Robin Brunet
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
9781550177695, $29.95, HC, 196pp, www.amazon.com

"Red Robinson: The Last Deejay" by Robin Brunet details the life and career of Red Robinson, wh was one of Canada's most celebrated pioneers of rock and roll. Robinson began spinning hits while in high school in the early 1950s, laying the foundation for what would become a glamorous, impossible-to-stop and ultimately fulfilling career that has made him a household name west of the Rockies. Raised by a single mother, Robinson worked as a delivery boy to help support the family. From such humble beginnings, he developed a strong work ethic and unflappable moral core that enabled him to pursue a career that has endured. Here is the account of how Robinson pranked his way into his first radio job. Readers will be delighted by behind-the-scenes stories from close encounters with Vancouver's visiting celebrities, like the time Robinson spent an hour with Elvis Presley in the BC Lions dressing room talking cars, women, movies and opera, or when Robinson nearly killed Roy Orbison and Bobby Goldsboro in a 1962 Grand Parisienne convertible while speeding to catch the Nanaimo ferry. Robinson's vast career highlights are remarkable, from introducing The Beatles to the stage, ushering Randy Bachman to the status of superstardom, and as part of EXPO '86, presenting The Legends of Rock'n'Roll featuring Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Righteous Brothers. Red Robinson recalls the highs, hurdles and triumphs of a celebrated time in rock-and-roll history, presented by the man who dug into the guts, glory and glitz that only a champion of the frontlines of music really can. An exceptionally informative, impressively well organized and presented account of an inherently interesting man, "Red Robinson: The Last Deejay" is an unreservedly recommended addition to community library Contemporary Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Red Robinson: The Last Deejay" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $20.99).

High School Dropout
Butch Rutt
Waldorf Publishing
2140 Hall Johnson Road 102-345, Grapevine, TX 76051
www.waldorfpublishing.com
9781944783532, $16.95, PB, 424pp, www.amazon.com

In his autobiography "High School Dropout: Stories of a Navy Pilot", Butch Rutt takes the reader through the stories of his life. These are stories of family, friendship, and fortitude. Against all odds, being a high school dropout from a broken family, Butch earned his College Degree and Navy Pilot Wings within a four and a half year period. He flew P-3 Orion airplanes during the Cold War, joined the U.S. Customs Service as a Special Agent and Pilot fighting in the war on drugs in Central and South America, and later flew commercially for Northwest Airlines. Butch takes the reader on journeys through difficult and trying times, while showing them that there is no substitute for hard work and perseverance. Exceptionally well written, impressively candid, and ultimately inspiring, "High School Dropout: Stories of a Navy Pilot" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "High School Dropout: Stories of a Navy Pilot" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

Playing with Dynamite: A Memoir
Sharon Harrigan
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612482101, $16.95, PB, 248pp, www.amazon.com

Sharon Harrigan's father was larger than life, a brilliant but troubled man who blew off his hand with dynamite before she was born and died in a mysterious and bizarre accident when she was seven. The story of his death never made sense. How did he really die? And why was she so sure that asking would be dangerous? A series of events compel her to find the answers, collecting other people's memories and uncovering her own. Her two-year odyssey takes her from Virginia to Detroit to Paris and finally to the wilds of northern Michigan where her father died. There, she discovers the real danger and has to confront her fear. "Playing with Dynamite: A Memoir " is about the family secrets that can distance us from each other and the honesty that can bring us closer. It's about a daughter who goes looking for her father but finds her mother instead. It's about memory and truth, grieving and growing, and what it means to go home again. An inherently compelling read from cover to cover, "Playing with Dynamite: A Memoir" is an extraordinary, exceptional, deftly crafted and multilayered account that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Playing with Dynamite: A Memoir" is available from the Truman State University Press in a digital book format (Kindle, 9781612482118, $9.99).


The Self-Help Shelf

The Decision Makeover
Mike Whitaker
http://mikewhitaker.com
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
www.greenleafbookgroup.com
9781626344266, $21.95, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

In "The Decision Makeover: An Intentional Approach to Living the Life You Want", by Mike Whitaker (a lifelong and successful entrepreneur who is an expert on personal and professional decision-making, turnarounds, and strategic planning) offers a thoughtful and strategic approach for choosing wisely in all aspects of your life whether it's about money, career, education, health, friends, or family. With his background in both business and psychology, Whitaker deftly lays out a decision-making process that gives you the power to achieve your dreams. He even explains what to do if you've made some poor decisions along the way, so that you can move ahead without regret. Whitaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between small and big decisions, and shows why defining your essential goals is the key to overcoming the roadblocks that can derail your progress. He reveals: Why your next decision could change your life forever; Why you make bad decisions; How to avoid self-destructive decision-making; How to proceed confidently toward future decisions. Filled with engaging anecdotes and interactive exercises, "The Decision Makeover" provides all the tools required to finally achieve all that you want. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Decision Makeover" is unreservedly recommended as a life-changing, life-enhancing read from cover to cover. While especially appropriate for community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Decision Makeover" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Thinly Effect: Lighten Up Your Life
Kristin Sollenne
Waldorf Publishing
2140 Hall Johnson Road 102-345, Grapevine, TX 76051
www.waldorfpublishing.com
9781684192540, $18.95, PB, 200pp, www.amazon.com

As a culinary star and Food Network Judge, chef and nutritionist, Kristin Sollenne has made headlines for her contemporary food philosophy, lightened-up Italian fare, and approachable cooking tips, with regular appearances on CBS, NBC, Food Network and FOX. Kristin hosts her own show on the Health and Wellness Network, called Wellness Confidential. Sollenne, a honoree of Zagat's Top 30 under 30, has cooked for Taylor Swift, Seth Rogan, Ed Sheeran and the entire SNL cast. Kristin is the founder of Thinly, a healthy sustainable lifestyle company empowering everyone to feel their best. In "The Thinly Effect: Lighten Up Your Life" Kristin maintains that 'Thinly' is a mindset. It's how you think, eat, feel and love. By thinking Thinly you ll have clarity, confidence and an overwhelming sense of empowerment to design the life you ve always dreamt of. Thinly was born out of a desire to help people become their best self. In "The Thinly Effect" Kristin takes you along on her own personal transformation journey, and in doing so, guides you to become the best version of yourself. "The Thinly Effect" teaches you various states of complete physical, mental and social well being as Kristin shares personal stories and brings humor and life to "The Thinly Effect". While very highly recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Thinly Effect" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).


The Technology Shelf

X-Ray Repair, third edition
Joseph J. Panichello
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
http://www.ccthomas.com
9780398091910, $49.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "X-Ray Repair: A Comprehensive Guide to the Installation and Servicing of Radiographic Equipment" reflects the often difficult to predict advances in the field of radiology. The most notable change relates to the way images are recorded and stored. Film and film processing, which had been used in the field since the very beginning, are becoming a thing of the past. Radiography has progressed dramatically to using digital technology, and that is the focus of this new edition. A goal of this text has always been to prepare the student who wishes to enter the x-ray servicing profession. This third edition focuses on equipment currently in use and to address the latest in digital imaging. In addition, with new illustrations and a revised chapter order, "X-Ray Repair: A Comprehensive Guide to the Installation and Servicing of Radiographic Equipment" is more approachable to students and includes chapters on the history and development of radiographic equipment; types of equipment found in the general radiographic room; fundamentals of radiography; safety practices in servicing; installation processes; preventive maintenance; image quality; troubleshooting and repair; theory, service, maintenance, and calibration of tomographic equipment; and the servicing, electronic calibrating, and troubleshooting of mammography units. In addition, there is expanded discussion on mobile x-ray units, paired with digital receptors, a growing trend in x-ray services. "X-Ray Repair: A Comprehensive Guide to the Installation and Servicing of Radiographic Equipment" is further enhanced with many illustrations, including some new to this edition. The text continues to serve as a unique and timely universal manual for x-ray service and biomedical engineers and students as well as a helpful resource for radiologists. Impressively well written, organized and presented, "X-Ray Repair: A Comprehensive Guide to the Installation and Servicing of Radiographic Equipment" is an especially recommended addition to professional, technical college, corporate, and academic library instructional reference collections.

Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications
Sunipa Roy, Chandan Kumar Ghosh, Chandan Kumar Sarkar
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781138032736, $159.95, HC, 350pp, www.amazon.com

Nano particles have created a high interest in recent years by virtue of their unusual mechanical, electrical, optical and magnetic properties and find wide applications in all fields of engineering. "Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications" is an edited volume that presents the latest trends and updates in nanogenerators, thin film solar cells and green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with a focus on nanostructured semiconductor devices. Of special note is an exclusive chapter on electrical transport of nanostructure explains device physics for material properties for reduced dimensions. Additionally, the text of "Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications" deftly describes the functionality of metallic nanoparticles and their application in molecular imaging and optical metamaterials. Piezoelectric nanogenerators has been touched upon from the energy perspective as well. Key features of "Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications" include: Organized contents on Nanogenerators, VOC sensing, nanoelectronics, and NEMS; Discusses eco-friendly green synthesis methods for metallic nanoparticles; Touches upon low power nano devices (e.g. nanogenerators) for energy harvesting with quantum mechanical study; Thin film/heterojunction based high efficiency solar cell addressed aimed at reducing global energy consumption. Comprised of eighteen erudite articles by experts in their fields, "Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications" is unreservedly recommended as a vital and core addition to professional, corporate, college, and university library Nano Technology collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Nanotechnology: Synthesis to Applications" is also available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $146.41).

Power Grid Resiliency for Adverse Conditions
Nicholas Abi-Samra
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630810177, $124.00, HC, 280pp, www.amazon.com

Nicholas Abi-Samra is the president of Electric Power & Energy Consulting (EPEC) and an adjust professor at University of California San Diego. He received his engineering degree from American University of Beirut. In "Power Grid Resiliency for Adverse Conditions" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of extreme weather and the possible effects of climate change on the power grid. The impact and restoration of floods, winter storms, wind storms, and hurricanes as well as the effects of heat waves and dry spells on thermal power plants is explained in detail. Power Grid Resiliency for Adverse Conditions" explores proven practices for successful restoration of the power grid, increased system resiliency, and ride-through after extreme weather and provides readers with examples from super storm Sandy. Exceptionally informative and deftly organized, "Power Grid Resiliency for Adverse Conditions" is unreservedly recommended as an essential, core addition to professional, governmental, corporate and academic library Power Engineering & Technology collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

From LTE to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G
Moe Rahnema & Marcin Dryjanski
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630814533, $137.52, HC, 372pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Moe Rahnema (who has served as the lead R&D engineer, design and development engineer, technical trainer and consultant for GTE Labs, Motorola, Hughes Network Systems and LCC International and Marcin Dryjanski (who is the cofounder of Granmetric and currently serves as an external contractor at Huawei Technologies), "From LTE to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G". a practical 'hands-on' new resource that presents LTE technologies from end-to-end, including network planning and the optimization tradeoff process. "From LTE to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G" examines the features of LTE-Advanced and LTE-Advanced Pro and how they integrate into existing LTE networks. Students and professionals will find in-depth coverage of how the air interface is structured at the physical layer and how the related link level protocols are designed and work. "From LTE to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G" is a complete and comprehensive resource that highlights potential 5G solutions as considered in releases 14 and beyond, the migration paths, and the challenges involved with the latest updates and standardization process. The latest volume in the simply outstanding Artech House 'Mobile Communications' series, "From LTE to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G" is a critically important and highly recommended addition to professional, corporate, governmental, and academic library instructional reference collections.

Understanding GIS: An ArcGIS Pro Project Workbook, third edition
David Smith, et.al.
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
www.esri.com/esripress
9781589484832, $79.99, www.esri.com/esripress

The updated third edition of Understanding GIS: An ArcGIS Pro Project Workbook is the only GIS reference to cover the step-by-step creation of a GIS project from start to finish, and comes packed with charts, instructions on making calculations and using data, opening and using project tools, making parameters for real-world models, and more. Exercises, step-by-step directions, color photos and GIS examples throughout, and discussions of data preparation for different kinds of projects make this reference a powerful recommendation for any ArcGIS newcomers who wants to get up and running with a workbook packed not just with information, but step-by-step processes and common connections to real-world applications.


The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf

Fever-Tree: The Art of Mixing
Fever Tree
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784721893, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Fever-Tree: The Art of Mixing Simple Long Drinks & Cocktails from the World's Leading Bars packs in over 125 long drink and cocktail recipes unique to Fever-Tree, created by the world's top bartenders. This means that the concoctions won't have common to other recipe collections, but offers many unique drinks based on classic and contemporary recipes that pair mixers with botanicals. From a Panacea with rum, lemon juice, honey, various bitters and Ginger Beer to Lemon Berry Fever made with vodka, blackcurrent liqueur, lemonade and lemon peel, this cocktail book offers a spirited collection to any who want to know more about cocktails.

Session Beers
Jennifer Talley
Brewers Publications
www.brewerspublications.com
9781938469417, $19.95, PB, www.amazon.com

Session Beers: Brewing for Flavor and Balance is for any interested in brewing beer, whether professional or novice, and features over twenty session beer recipes along with discussions of session beer making. These are beers of moderate strength which are lower in alcohol and higher in flavor, attracting craft brewers who adapted stronger classic beers to the added benefit of more flavor and less alcoholic impact. Brewers receive recipes, discussions of how to obtain beer balance, and will appreciate the many insights into breweries known for producing session beers.

The Way of Whisky
Dave Broom
Michael Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784721428, $50.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Since 2002 (the year it appeared on export markets) Japanese whisky has been consistently winning major international spirits awards. As export production increases and export markets (the USA and France in particular) open up to embrace the quality of these fine malt whiskies, all eyes are on Japan. Award-winning author and internationally recognized whisky expert Dave Broom has visited Japan 25 times in the past 12 years, studying and learning about its whiskies. In this major study he shares his personal journey around Japan's whisky distilleries and the unique whisky culture of the country. Each individual chapter details the history of the distillery in question, its production and current whiskies (with tasting notes). "The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky" considers along the way why Japanese whisky is different, questions of tradition vs innovation, and how whisky links with many aspects of Japanese culture. Breathtaking photography from Kohei Take leads the reader deeper into the philosophy behind the drink, making "The Way of Whisky" is a must read for any whisky lover, whisky drinker, whisky collector or Japanophile. Simply stated, "The Way of Whisky" is unreservedly recommended and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and academic library Food & Beverage collections.

Larousse Wine
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600635093, $60.00, HC, 656pp, www.amazon.com

A beautifully and profusely illustrated volume, "Larousse Wine" provides comprehensive coverage of the wine-producing regions of the world. Each individual section begins with it a informatively descriptive presentations of the area, with the major districts, rivers, and cities being highlighted. A short history and analysis of each region follows, with a discussion of the types of wines produced in each district, the specific oenological properties that make the region unique, and the appellations of the area. Boxes and features throughout also cover a vast range of subjects such as the origins of wine, how to read a wine label, how to choose and buy a wine, whether to decant wine, the proper storage of wine, how to taste wine, and even the great wine waiters of the world. An absolute 'must' for novice wine enthusiasts and seasoned wine aficionados, there is something if significant information value for everyone in the pages of "Larousse Wine". Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Larousse Wine" is unreservedly and wholeheartedly for personal, professional, community, and academic library Food & Beverage collections.


The Aviation Shelf

Boeing 737: The World's Jetliner
Captain Dan Dornseif
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764353253, $59.99, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com

First launched in 1965, the Boeing 737, by many measures, is the most successful and long-standing jetliner in the history of aviation. Profusely illustrated from cover to cover, "Boeing 737: The World's Jetliner" by Dan Dornseif (a Boeing 737 captain for a major airline, with nearly seventeen thousand hours in aircraft ranging from jetliners to small antique aircraft) provides an in-depth look into the story of this extremely significant jetliner and the environment that has contributed to this amazing story. Many of the actual people who designed, marketed, and flew this airplane have contributed greatly to this aviation history, with widespread quotes throughout. "Boeing 737: The World's Jetliner" is a definitive study that is enriched with many photographs and drawings that are published for the first time and take the reader deeper into the story. Included in "Boeing 737: The World's Jetliner" is a technical chapter that defines the systems and provides a detailed pilot's walk-around. For the hobbyist, a well detailed, pictorial chapter demonstrates the building of airliner models, and provides many techniques for new and experienced modelers alike. An extraordinary and exceptionally informative read from beginning to end, "Boeing 737: The World's Jetliner" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Aviation History collections in general, and Boeing 737 supplemental studies reading lists in particular.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

The Hunting Book
Oliver Dorn
teNeues Publishing
350 Seventh Avenue, Suite 301, New York, NY, 10011
www.teneues.com
9783961710171, $95.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

While a necessity in earlier times, hunting today provokes heated discussion between people for and against this most ancient of activities. Regardless, the cadre of hunters only seems to grow. "The Hunting Book" by Oliver Dorn (the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the hunt magazine, Halali) brings the passion and excitement that fills the heart of the hunter. An acknowledged a specialist in hunting-related matters, Dorn provides unique photos and informative text as he discusses the historical origins of the hunt and explains its place in today's world. "The Hunting Book" introduces well-established top companies (as well as newcomers) to the industry and shares top tips for hunting equipment and accessories ranging from handmade guns, to custom-fitted hunting clothing. "The Hunting Book" also covers the best hunting grounds around the world and why various VIPs enjoy the sport of hunting. Selected tasty wild game dishes underscores the message that hunting also serves a culinary purpose. "The Hunting Book" invites the reader to experience everything special about the hunt and share the fascination that it still inspires today. Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, impressively informed and informative, expertly written, organized and presented, "The Hunting Book" is an extraordinary read from cover to cover -- and would be an appropriate and highly recommended selection as a community or academic library Memorial Fund acquisition selection.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Capitalist Code
Ben Stein
Humanix Books
www.humanixbooks.com
9781630060848 $19.99 amazon.com

The Capitalist Code: It Can Save Your Life and Make You Very Rich! is a financial self-help guide by conservative economist Ben Stein, known for his professional writings on finance, his deadpan acting in television and movies, and for being one of the major busters of the junk-bond frauds of the 1980s. Stein sharply disputes liberal claims that "capitalism is evil" or "the system is rigged against the middle class", and instead emphasizes the importance of taking full advantage of capitalism in order to secure a comfortable retirement. Under the capitalist system, any individual can invest money in stocks of limited-liability corporations, and the individual investor will not be held liable for any of company's debt - only the money spent to purchase the stocks is at risk, nothing more. This simple and elegant system allows people of all walks of life to benefit from investing in stocks and bonds (a diversified portfolio is crucial, so that one bad stock choice won't necessarily wipe out one's entire investment fund). Stein emphasizes the importance of investing for the long term, and not trying to use the stock market as a get-rich- quick scheme. Also present are tax-saving tips, pitfalls to avoid when preparing for retirement, lies that economics professors commonly tell their students, a glossary and index, and much more. Highly recommended!


The Civil War Shelf

Texans at Antietam
Joe Owen, Philip McBride, and Joe Allport
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781625450227 $28.95 $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Texans at Antietam: A Terrible Clash of Arms, September 16-17, 1862 offers a wealth of primary sources written or spoken by Confederate soldiers of Hood's Texas Brigade, who fought for the Confederacy in the battle of Antietam during the American Civil War. Here are official reports, diary entries, interviews, newspaper articles, letters to family at home, and even testimonials of Union soldiers who fought against soldiers of Hood's Texas Brigade. A handful of black-and-white photographs, endnotes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this superb historical treasury, highly recommended for public and college library Civil War shelves.


The Sports Shelf

Amazing Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline
Steve McMichael, Phil Arvia, and John Mullin
Sports Publishing
www.sportspubbooks.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781683581192 $19.99 hc / $0.99 Kindle amazon.com

Former Chicago Bears defensive player Steve McMichael, award-winning author Phil Arvia, and award-winning sports journalist John Mullin present Amazing Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline: A Collection of the Greatest Bears Stories Ever Told, an anthology of highlights from the celebrated football team that lives up to its title. From tense overtime games to Ditka's notorious locker room tirades to behind the scenes glimpses of a dedicated and driven team, Amazing Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline is a "must-read" for Bears fans! Highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

Resistance to the Spanish-American and Philippine Wars
Charles Quince
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9781476669748 $35.00 pbk / $18.99 Kindle amazon.com

In 1898, after the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor, pro-war arguments in the American press induced public opinion to favor fighting what would become the Spanish- American War. However, not of all America were war hawks; Resistance to the Spanish- American and Philippine Wars presents the views and voices of those members of the American public who tried to halt the conflict. Analyzing anti-war arguments that preceded the Spanish- American War and persisted through the war in the Philippines, Resistance to the Spanish- American and Philippine Wars distills news articles, letters to editors, opinion pieces, and other mouthpieces of the anti-war groups who tried and failed to stop a war with Spain. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American history collections.

Predicting Pearl Harbor
Ronald J. Drez
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781455623150, $29.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com

While it's common to say that the most predictable thing about the next war is its unpredictability, "Predicting Pearl Harbor: Billy Mitchell and the Path to War" by author, lecturer and historian Ronald J. Drezz reveals that this did not apply to the run-up to war with Japan. From Commodore Matthew Perry's voyage into Japanese waters in 1853 to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States and Japan were on a collision course. The saga is here brought to vivid life using primary source documents, memoirs, and firsthand testimonies of those who lived during that era. It was Gen. Billy Mitchell who recognized the signs and foresaw the eventual showdown between the two nations twenty-eight years before the tragedy of Pearl Harbor, but his spot-on predictions were dismissed out of hand. Discover one of the most exciting periods in American history through General Mitchell's prescient reports, providing new insight into an ages-old conflict. Even more than fifty years later, the question of whether or not President Franklin D. Roosevelt knew ahead of time that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor -- an even that plunged American into World War II. An inherently fascinating, informative, documented, and compelling read from beginning to end, "Predicting Pearl Harbor" is a welcome and valued contribution to community and academic library 20th Century American History collections in general, and World War II supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Predicting Pearl Harbor" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.18).

American Freemasonry
Alain de Keghel
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781620556054 $30.00 hc / $19.99 Kindle amazon.com

American Freemasonry: Its Revolutionary History and Challenging Future is both an in-depth history and a thoughtful sociological appraisal of Freemason fraternal organizations in America, with comparisons made to French Freemason organizations. Two of the greatest differences are that unlike French lodges, American lodges prohibit women from membership (although para- Freemason organizations that allow female members have been established) and that belief in God is a prerequesite for membership in American lodges. These factors and others have caused a stark decline in Freemasonry membership over time, especially in the context of changing American demographics and immigration patterns. Author Alain de Keghel (who served as chair of Supreme Council of the Grand Orient of France from 2002 to 2008) examines ways in which the principles of Freemasonry could become relevant to American society once again, centuries after Freemasons played notable roles in the American Revolution. Extensive appendices, a bibliography, and an index round out this highly recommended contribution to public and college library American History shelves.

Journal of the American Revolution Annual Volume 2016
Westholme Publishing
904 Edgewood Road, Yardley, PA 19067
www.westholmepublishing.com
c/o Pen & Sword Books (distribution)
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781594162534 $35.00 allthingsliberty.com

Journal of the American Revolution Annual Volume 2016 is part of an annual series published by the online resource allthingsliberty.com, collecting research by a diverse array of professional historians and peer-reviewed articles written by experts in American Revolution studies. The annual volume 2016 gathers the journal's finest contributions from the previous year, offering an excellent overview of recent scholarly findings and historical understanding of America's founding. Individual writings include "A Fast Ship from Salem: Carrying the News of War", "Benjamin Franklin's Failed Diplomatic Mission", "Russia and the American War for Independence", "Enlisting Lasses: Women Who Aspired to be Soldiers", and many more. Journal of the American Revolution Annual Volume 2016 is a welcome contribution to public and college library history collections, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

The Life of Saint Clement: A Translation of La Vie de Seint Clement
Daron Burrows
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866985437, $65.00, HC, 270pp, www.amazon.com

In "The Life of Saint Clement", Daron Burrows (a Fellow of St. Peter's College and Associate Professor of Medieval French, University of Oxford) presents the first translation of the Vie de seint Clement, an early-thirteenth-century Anglo-Norman verse narrative which combines versions of the Pseudo-Clementine Recognitiones and Epistola Clementis ad Iacobum and of the Passio Petri et Pauli of Pseudo-Marcellus. With its stirring account of the separation and reunion of the family of Pope St Clement I, and of his adventures in the company of St Peter as he battles against the heretical necromancer Simon Magus, "The Life of Saint Clement" stands as one of the longest and most memorable vernacular hagiographical texts composed in medieval Britain. A truly exceptional work of seminal scholarship, "The Life of Saint Clement: A Translation of La Vie de Seint Clement" is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Medieval Studies reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

Eastern Front in World War II
Will Fowler
Amber Books
c/o Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781782745594, $29.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

With 30 million soldiers and civilians killed, the Eastern Front proved to be World War II's bloodiest conflict. Drawing on rare photographs from the Ukrainian State Archive, "Eastern Front in World War II: Hitler's Russian War in Photographs" presents a unique and visually outstanding account of one of history's most ferocious campaigns, telling the story from the perspective of ordinary men and women, both military and civilian, who took part in the struggle. Although major battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk are covered in some depth, "Eastern Front in World War II" focuses on individual soldiers' points of view, with attention paid to irregular forces such as partisans and Cossacks. Each individual chapter charts the progress of the war on land, air, and sea, and each photograph is put in context with detailed captions. Expertly written and featuring more than 450 rarely seen photographs, "Eastern Front in World War II" is a simply outstanding visual history that will appeal to anyone interested in 20th century military history. An inherently fascinating and impressively informative visual study, "Eastern Front in World War II" is an especially recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library World War II Military History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The International Studies Shelf

Restless Continent
Michael Wesley
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468312980, $27.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The world has never seen economic development as rapid or significant as Asia's during recent decades. Home to 60% of the world's population, this restless continent will soon produce more than half of the world's economic output and consume more energy than the rest of the globe combined. But surprisingly little hard thinking has been done about the future of Asia. "Restless Continent: Wealth, Rivalry, and Asia's New Geopolitics" by Michael Wesley (Professor of International Affairs and Director of Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University) deftly examines the economic, social, political and strategic trends across the world's largest continent, presenting a modern day roadmap for thinking about not only Asia's future, but also how it affects the entire world. Professor Wesley is one of the world's leading experts on Asian and international affairs and insightfully examines the psychology of countries becoming newly rich and powerful, and explores the "corridors of blood" -- the geography and politics of conflict and he makes a case for how to avert a plunge into dispute, conflict, or even war. There is therefore no more important challenge to policymakers, academics, and the public then understanding the drivers of Asia's new geopolitics. Impressively informative, exceptionally well written, featuring a map of Asia's strategic geography, eighteen pages of endnotes, and an eleven page index, "Restless Continent" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Contemporary International Studies collections. If should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Restless Continent" is available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.74).

Cultural Borders of Europe
Mats Andrewn, Thomas Lindkvist, Ingmar Sohrman, Katharina Vajta, eds.
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
www.berghahnbooks.com
9781785335907, $120.00, HC, 218pp, www.amazon.com

The cultural borders of Europe are today more visible than ever, and with them comes a sense of uncertainty with respect to liberal democratic traditions: whether treated as abstractions or concrete realities, cultural divisions challenge concepts of legitimacy and political representation as well as the legal bases for citizenship. Thus, an understanding of such borders and their consequences is of utmost importance for promoting the evolution of democracy. "Cultural Borders of Europe: Narratives, Concepts and Practices in the Present and the Past" (the newest volume in the 'Making Sense of History' series provides a wide-ranging exploration of these lines of demarcation in a variety of regions and historical eras, providing essential insights into the state of European intercultural relations today. Comprised of twelve erudite and impressively informative articles by experts in the field which are deftly organized into four major sections: The Challenges of Religious Borders; Linguistic Borders in Practice; Mental Spaces and Barriers; Scholars Making Borders, "Cultural Borders of Europe" also features figures and tables, an informative introduction, a seven page Index, and two page listing of all thirty volumes in the outstanding Berghahn Books 'Making Sense of History' series. A seminal work of scholarship throughout, "Cultural Borders of Europe" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library Contemporary International Studies collections.


The Art Shelf

Fauna: The Art of Jewelry
Patrick Mauries & Evelyne Posseme
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500519981, $24.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

The animal kingdom has been a source of inspiration for jewelers since the days of antiquity. Chosen for their symbolism, beauty, or personality, "Fauna: The Art of Jewelry" showcases a whole menagerie of creatures has been depicted in gemstones and precious metals, ranging from fantastical dragons, griffins, and sphinxes to wild beasts such as boars and big cats, to the delicate forms of birds, fish, and even insects. The 130 pieces featured in the pages of "Fauna: The Art of Jewelry" have been specially selected from the magnificent jewelry collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and brooches by legendary names such as Boucheron, Falize, and Lalique. They stretch from the Renaissance revival of the nineteenth century to the elegant lines of Art Nouveau and beyond, through to the playful naivety of modernist designs by Jean Lurcat and Line Vautrin. Beautifully photographed by renowned photographer Jean-Marie del Moral, "Fauna: The Art of Jewelry" is second title in the series that began with "Flora" and is packed from cover to cover with clever and witty works of art that will delight all lovers of jewelry and nature. Illustrated with more than 100 full color photographs, "Fauna: The Art of Jewelry" is an inherently fascinating and impressively informative volume that is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Art History collections in general, and Art Jewelry supplemental studies lists in particular.


The Psychology Shelf

A Formal Theory of Commonsense Psychology
Andrew S. Gordon & Jerry R. Hobbs
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9781107151000, $94.99, HC, 584pp, www.amazon.com

Commonsense psychology refers to the implicit theories that we all use to make sense of people's behavior in terms of their beliefs, goals, plans, and emotions. These are also the theories we employ when we anthropomorphize complex machines and computers as if they had humanlike mental lives. In order to successfully cooperate and communicate with people, these theories will need to be represented explicitly in future artificial intelligence systems. The collaborative work of Andrew S. Gordon (Research Associate Professor of Computer Science and Director of Interactive Narrative Research at the Institute for Creative Technologies at the University of Southern California) and Jerry R. Hobbs (Chief Scientist for Natural Language Processing, Information Sciences Institute, and a Research Professor, University of Southern California) "A Formal Theory of Commonsense Psychology: How People Think People Think" provides a large-scale logical formalization of commonsense psychology in support of humanlike artificial intelligence. It uses formal logic to encode the deep lexical semantics of the full breadth of psychological words and phrases, providing fourteen hundred axioms of first-order logic organized into twenty-nine commonsense psychology theories and sixteen background theories. Providing an in-depth exploration of human commonsense reasoning for artificial intelligence researchers, linguists, and cognitive and social psychologists will serve as a foundation for the development of humanlike artificial intelligence, "A Formal Theory of Commonsense Psychology" is an ideal curriculum textbook and unreservedly recommended for academic library Contemporary Psychology collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "A Formal Theory of Commonsense Psychology" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $57.49).

Prescriptions for Children With Psychological and Psychiatric Problems, fourth edition
David F. Bogacki, et al.
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
http://www.ccthomas.com
9780398091828, $42.95, PB, 278pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, "Prescriptions for Children With Psychological and Psychiatric Problems: A Consultant's Desk Reference" is intended to fill a specific need of school and clinical psychologists, guidance counselors, social workers, school personnel, and graduate students with respect to medicines appropriate for use with children experiences psychology and/or psychiatric problems. This newly revised edition of "Prescriptions for Children with Psychological and Psychiatric Problems" now features several new chapters that collectively reinforce what experienced psychologists know -- that even the best prescriptive intervention will be ineffective if the teacher, parent or primary caregiver dealing with the child who is disabled is resistant to changes or too reluctant to help the child. An ideal supplemental curriculum textbook, "Prescriptions for Children With Psychological and Psychiatric Problems" is especially recommended to the attention of child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, child neurologists, and nurse practitioners working with children. Of special note is the inclusion of a fourteen page Bibliography and a fourteen page Index. Simply stated, this new fourth edition of "Prescriptions for Children With Psychological and Psychiatric Problems" is an essential, core addition to both college and university library Contemporary Psychology/Psychiatric reference collections.

Psychological Treatment of Patients With Cancer
Ellen A. Dornelas
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433828058, $54.95, PB, 159pp, www.amazon.com

Mental health providers working in oncology encounter a broad spectrum of patients and situations. From innumerable forms of disease at various stages of progression, to the wide range of medication side effects and varying prognoses, cancer treatment is incredibly complex. And practitioners (just like the patients they serve) can be easily overwhelmed. "Psychological Treatment of Patients With Cancer" by Ellen A. Dornelas (who is the director for cancer clinical research at Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute in Connecticut and associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine) offers a succinct but comprehensive guide to psycho-oncological practice. Designed to build a foundation of knowledge that tackles the depth and breadth of the field, this volume includes a range of psychological interventions aimed at helping patients cope with cancer treatment. Individual chapters describe assessment and treatment of common problems including depression, anxiety, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, and cover broader themes in cancer care including the impact on families. Brief, easy to digest, and highly approachable, "Psychological Treatment of Patients With Cancer" is an essential resource for practitioners and advanced graduate students in the field of psycho oncology. While an absolute 'must' for medical school, college and academic library Contemporary Psychology collections in general, and Cancer Treatment supplemental studies reading lists in particular, it should be noted for psychology and medical students, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject, the "Psychological Treatment of Patients With Cancer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $38.99).


The Agriculture Shelf

Urban Soils
Rattan Lal & B. A. Stewart, editors
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781498770095, $179.95, HC, 422pp, www.amazon.com

Urban soils are composed of geological material that has been drastically disturbed by anthropogenic activities and compromised their role in the production of food, aesthetics of residential areas, and pollutant dynamics. Properties of urban soils are normally not favorable to plant growth the soils are contaminated by heavy metals and are compacted and sealed. Therefore, the quality of urban soils must be restored to make use of this valuable resource for delivery of essential ecosystem services (e.g., food, water and air quality, carbon sequestration, temperature moderation, biodiversity). Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences Series, "Urban Soils" explains properties of urban soils; assesses the effects of urbanization on the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and water and the impacts of management of urban soils, soil restoration, urban agriculture, and food security; evaluates ecosystem services provisioned by urban soils, and describes synthetic and artificial soils. Knowledgeably compiled and co-edited by Rattan Lal, (Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science and Director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, The Ohio State University) and B.A. Stewart (Director of the Dryland Agriculture Institute and a distinguished professor of soil science at West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas), "Urban Soils" is comprised of eighteen deftly organized and presented articles by experts in the field, making it unreservedly recommended for professional, corporate, governmental, and academic library Agricultural Science collections in general, and Soil Sciences supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Urban Soils" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $151.07).

This Blessed Earth
Ted Genoways
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393292572, $26.95, www.amazon.com

This Blessed Earth: A Year in the Life of an American Family Farm follows a family through a year of farm life from fall to fall, moving beyond more studied and intellectual assessments of family farms to get at the nuts and bolts of small-scale production. When the Hammond family inherited 50 cows, 50 sows, and 300 acres, they entered into serious farming and also absorbed the realities of weather, yields, crop prices, profits, climate change, changing trade policy impacts on crops, and much more than they'd bargained for. Their revelations and experiences form the foundation of more than a personal memoir about farming to consider the bigger picture of traditional farming operations and the many challenges they face. Anyone interested in farming challenges who wants a combination of personal and political perspective will relish this survey's multifaceted approach.


The Literary Studies Shelf

A History of Children's Books in 100 Books
Roderick Cave & Sara Ayad
Firefly Books Ltd.
50 Staples Avenue, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada L4B 0A7
www.fireflybooks.com
9781770859579, $29.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Roderick Cave is a print historian and librarian who has worked with rare book collections and developed information science courses in libraries and universities around the world. In "A History of Children's Books in 100 Books" he draws upon his years of experience and expertise to take a global perspective and trace the development of the children's book genre from ancient stories, such as Aesop's Fables and the Indian Panchatantra, through the Puritan primers of the 17th century to the Harry Potter series and books as technology. "A History of Children's Books in 100 Books" is about children's books as cultural artifacts, as well as the texts they contain, and the industry and society that produced them. It covers aspects of selection, design, production and marketing of books for children. For the most part, illustrations are key components of children's stories, visualizing fantastic scenes and making them instantly recognizable, and such artwork is beautifully reproduced throughout. As inherently fascinating as it is impressively informed and informative, "A History of Children's Books in 100 Books" is an extraordinary literary study that is unreservedly recommended for both academia and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject. A uniquely thoughtful and thought-provoking read from beginning to end, "A History of Children's Books in 100 Books" is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections.


The Autism Shelf

Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective
Elizabeth B. Torres & Caroline Whyatt, editors
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781482251630, $139.95, HC, 408pp, www.amazon.com

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, impaired verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then regress. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent in early childhood, typically before age three. Collaborative compiled and co-edited by Elizabeth B. Torres (Psychology Department, Rutgers University) and Caroline Whyatt (Psychology Department, Rutgers University), "Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective" is comprised of twenty-seven informative articles by experts in the field that collectively present the movement approach to autism in a comprehensive way, integrating scientific methods and results with the experience of affected people, ways to improve their experiences, and the societal integration of autism. "Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective" will assist readers in understanding how people with autism think differently, based on how they move and are moved differently, and how, on the basis of this novel understanding, a better fit is possible between people with autism and their often non-autistic context. A seminal volume of simply outstanding scholarship, "Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective" is unreservedly recommended as a critically important and core addition to professional and academic library Autism collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of psychology students, academia, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the subject that "Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $95.96).


The Genealogy Shelf

Tips & Quips for the Family Historian
Elizabeth Shown Mills & Ruth Brossette Lennon
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806320410, $14.95, HC, 173pp, www.amazon.com

"Tips & Quips for the Family Historian" is a treasury of wise words and insightful sayings for everyone who pursues genealogy. Whether you are a researcher in need of inspiration, or a speaker or writer in search of a zinger to punctuate your thoughts, "Tips & Quips for the Family Historian" can be your muse. The sayings and writings found here are divided into no fewer than 86 categories relevant to genealogists. Categories from Analysis, Ethnic Research, and Genetic Genealogy, to the Internet, Land, and Names; and from Photographs, Plagiarism, and Proof, to Research, Sources, and Tax Records. It's easy to find just the quip you need from the book's detailed table of contents, or you can search the author index or consult the glossary of key words at the back. The collaborative effort of genealogists Elizabeth Shown Mills and Ruth Brossette Lennon, "Tips & Quips for the Family Historian" is entertaining, inspiring, and informative, making it that rarity among genealogy books -- bedside reading. Here are just one example: Ancestors: "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root." -- Chinese Proverb. Simply stated, "Tips & Quips for the Family Historian" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Genealogy instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Architecture Shelf

Essential Sustainable Home Design
Chris Magwood
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780865718500, $39.99, www.amazon.com

Essential Sustainable Home Design: A Complete Guide to Goals, Options, and the Design Process provides a step-by-step guide to help builders work through the process of designing and construction a sustainable structure, and is recommended for home builders who want an overview of key ideas and basic guidelines combined with the mechanics of putting a project together. From materials and systems options to basic building science applications and logistics, locating alternative materials, and understanding how home systems work, this is a 'must' for those who have some basic home building or construction savvy who want insights on concrete sustainable approaches.

Essential Sustainable Home Design
Chris Magwood
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780865718500, $39.99, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Essential Sustainable Home Design: A Complete Guide to Goals, Options, and the Design Process", Chris Magwood (Co-Founder and Director the Endeavour Centre for Innovative Building and Living and Co-Editor of the Sustainable Building Essentials series from New Society Publishers) deftly walks potential homebuilders through the process starting with key concepts, principles, and a project vision that will guide the house to completion. "Essential Sustainable Home Design" includes: How to clarify your ideas and create a practical pathway to achieving your dream; A criteria matrix to guide design, material, and systems decisions; Creating a strong, integrated design team and working with professionals and code officials to keep the project on track from start to finish; Key building science concepts that make for a high-performance, durable building; Primer on building logistics, material sourcing, and protocols to ensure that the initial vision for the project comes to fruition; One-page summaries and ratings of popular sustainable building materials and system options. Ideal for owner-builders and sustainable building contractors working with clients aiming to design and build a sustainable home, "Essential Sustainable Home Design" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly valued addition to professional, community, and academic library Contemporary American Architecture collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Essential Sustainable Home Design" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $31.19


The Philosophy Shelf

What Is Philosophy?
Giorgio Agamben
Stanford University Press
425 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA 94063-3126
www.sup.org
9781503602205, $55.00, HC, 136pp, www.amazon.com

In attempting to answer the question "What Is Philosophy?', Giorgio Agamben (a contemporary Italian philosopher and political theorist whose works have been translated into numerous languages) does not address the idea of philosophy itself. Rather, he turns to the apparently most insignificant of its components: the phonemes, letters, syllables, and words that come together to make up the phrases and ideas of philosophical discourse. A summa, of sorts, of Agamben's thought, "What Is Philosophy?" consists of five essays on five emblematic topics: the Voice, the Sayable, the Demand, the Proem, and the Muse. In keeping with the Agamben's trademark methodology, each of the individual essays weaves together archaeological and theoretical investigations: to a patient reconstruction of how the concept of language was invented there corresponds an attempt to restore thought to its place within the voice; to an unusual interpretation of the Platonic Idea corresponds a lucid analysis of the relationship between philosophy and science; and of the crisis that both are undergoing today. In the end, there is no universal answer to what is an impossible or inexhaustible question, and philosophical writing (a problem with which Agamben has never ceased to grapple with) assumes the form of a prelude to a work that must remain unwritten. An impressively thoughtful and thought-provoking read, of special note is the appendix entry 'The Supreme Music. Music and Politics', as well as the inclusion of a four page Bibliography and a two page Index. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Philosophy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "What Is Philosophy?" is also available in a paperback edition (9781503602212, $18.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.19).


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Shooting Better Movies
Paul Dudbridge
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932719, $26.95, PB, 252pp, www.amazon.com

A one-stop film school, "Shooting Better Movies: The Student Filmmakers' Guide" by British director, producer, cinematographer, and educator Paul Dudbridge is simply packed from cover to cover with 'real world' practical information, tips, techniques, and advice covering all aspects of filmmaking as gathered from the author's years of experience working in short films, features, commercials, and music videos, as well as delivering workshops and lectures to film students of all ages. Everything the aspiring film maker needs to know, from generating an idea to delivering a finished film, is accessibly laid out in an informal and easy to read style. Covering everything from script formatting, choosing lenses, and location scouting, to where best to put the camera to film your scenes, working with actors, recording sound, and editing your shots, "Shooting Better Movies" is a complete course of instruction under one cover. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library film making instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for film students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Shooting Better Movies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.66).


The Military Shelf

In the Shadows of Victory II
Thomas D. Phillips
Casemate
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612005461 $32.95 hc amazon.com

In the Shadows of Victory II: America's Forgotten Military Leaders, The Spanish-American War to World War II is the second volume in a series about the accomplishments of great American military leaders whose achievements have been overshadowed or downplayed in the public's consciousness. From the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century, In the Shadows of Victory II tells the story of 20 worthy yet oft-overlooked individuals. In the Shadows of Victory II also notes the lesser-known yet exemplary actions of leaders whose particular renown is closely associated with a specific war (such as John J. Pershing, who is best known for his World War I service while his leadership in the Philippine Insurrection is largely forgotten). A list of references, a selected bibliography, and an index round out this welcome contribution to public and college library military history shelves. Also highly recommended is the first volume of the series, "In the Shadows of Victory: America's Forgotten Military Leaders, 1776-1876" (9781612003603, $32.95).


The Parenting Shelf

Raise Your Kids to Succeed
Chris Palmer
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781475829839, $59.99, HC, 168pp, www.amazon.com

Chris Palmer is a father, speaker, author, and wildlife film producer, who gives speeches and workshops on a variety of topics, including how to achieve success and productivity, how to parent effectively, and how to motivate and engage students. In "Raise Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know" he lays out a thoroughly 'parent friendly' instruction manual that is deftly organized into three major sections: Create a Strong Foundation for Learning; Give Your Child a Head Start at Home; Support Your Child at School. Of special note is what Palmer offers concerning helping a child resist bullying, the importance of reading with a child, creating family traditions and rituals. Impressively informed and informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Raise Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know" also includes six pages of Notes and an eight page Index. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Parenting instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Raise Your Kids to Succeed: What Every Parent Should Know" is also available in a paperback edition (9781475829846, $27.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.49).


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia, fifth edition
Judith Miller, Editor
Miller's/Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784723651, $55.00, www.amazon.com

The fifth edition of Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia is a fully updated reference that was first published in 1998 to much acclaim, and updates values, definitions, and information on antiques and collectibles for both professional dealers and general-interest collectors. Seeking to cover all areas of traditional collecting, readers can expect discussions about furniture, glassware, jewelry, art, sporting memorabilia and more, all presented in an encyclopedia format organized by main subject, subdivided by type, and cross-referenced for other areas of interest. An international team of some 40 consultants and writers contributed to this discussion, which includes good-sized, clear color photos throughout, color sidebars of key facts, and histories about each piece's introduction and design. This extensive all-in-one reference is especially recommended as a library pick for any patron looking at any aspect of general collecting.


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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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