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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 25, Number 3 March 2015 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Criminology Shelf Travel Shelf
Research Shelf Computer Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Education Shelf Cookbook Shelf Business Shelf
Crafts Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Art Shelf
Psychology Shelf Agriculture Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Fiction Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Sports Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf Hobby Shelf
Photography Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Woodworking Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Fashion Shelf Geology Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Poetry Shelf
Gardening Shelf Mathematics Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
International Studies Shelf Military Shelf Biography Shelf
Library Science Shelf Autism Shelf Egyptology Shelf
Wisconsin Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things
Text by Nailhaus Publications, Inc.
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway
White Plains, NY 10601
9781621452126 $17.99 www.rdtradepublishing.com

Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things is a fascinating compendium of 2,317 unorthodox yet practical uses for everyday household items. From using baking soda to control dandruff, to how club soda can make pancakes and waffles fluffier, to sanitizing a kitchen cutting board with the cut half of a lemon, to wrapping a tennis ball in sandpaper and using it to refinish furniture, Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things lives up to its title and then some! Highly recommended, especially for do-it-yourself enthusiasts on a budget.

The Kindness Diaries
Leon Logothetis
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
9781621451914 $24.99 www.rdtradepublishing.com

The Kindness Diaries: One Man's Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World is the true-life memoir of author Leon Logothetis' international journey to experience and spread kindness. Traveling on a yellow motorbike with a sidecar, he journeyed from Los Angeles across the United States, through Europe, India, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and back to LA. He depended on the kindness of strangers for shelter, food, and gas, and worked to give back to these Good Samaritans any way he could - providing schooling, building homes, and helping individuals toward their dreams. An extraordinary travelogue about love, purpose, and the will to help make the world a better place, The Kindness Diaries is highly recommended.

Heraclix and Pomp
Forrest Aguirre
Underland Press
c/o Resurrection House
9781630230012 $24.95 resurrectionhouse.com

The debut novel of globetrotting author and World Fantasy Award-winning editor Forrest Aguirre, Heraclix and Pomp: A Novel of the Fabricated and the Fey is a dark fantasy about two unlikely escapees from a vile necromancer. Heraclix is the necromancer's Frankenstein-like creation, sewn together from the corpses of troubled men; Pomp is a fairy who can bend time, and thought herself immortal - until the necromancer came within a hair's breadth of killing her. Escaping with their lives, the two embark on a journey from Vienna to Prague, Istanbul, and possibly even the gates of Hell, in search of answers about their own identity. Pomp worries about her own newfound mortality, and Heraclix is troubled by what he might have been before his unnatural rebirth. And what of the necromancer who menaced them both? He just must have found a way to achieve the horrifying prospect of immortality through mass sacrifice! Witty, adventurous, and thoughtful, Heraclix and Pomp is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of quality, original fantasy. Also highly recommended is Mark Teppo's "Rudolph!" (9781630230050, $15.00), a fantastic holiday saga about the efforts of a reindeer, an elf, and Santa to fulfill one last Christmas wish - bringing back little Suzy Anderson's father, even if they must defy the host of heaven.

The Shipwrecked
Fereshteh Nouraie-Simone, editor
The Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781558618688, $18.95, www.feministpress.org

"The Shipwrecked: Contemporary Stories by Women from Iran" is a smorgasbord of cultural encounters, with each short story featuring a never-before-published work by an Iranian woman. These stories come from women who write both within Iran and from outside of it as exiles or expats, and offers a wide range of perspectives. From the only remaining cultural hub in a small town, the Mermaid Cafe, which exists where all others have been shut down by the government and story providing a child's eye perspective on its final demise and its effects on his world and the community at large to a tale of being "alone and helpless in a cold and spiritless house" in 'The Maid', these sagas are first-person reflections of what it means to live in modern Iran, and they adroitly explore the cultural boundaries of its traditions and people. Plenty of nonfiction stories (including memoirs) have attempted to capture this feel; but the advantage to "The Shipwrecked" is because it's coming from so many contributors and perspectives, achieving a well-rounded gathering of voices which represents various insights into Iranian culture and society that a singular voice or experience simply couldn't capture. Yes, it's fiction: but rooted in Iranian traditions as these stories are, it's a recommendation for any who want literary fiction thoroughly steeped in cultural observation.

Going Veggie
Trudy Slabosz
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612433950 $17.95 www.ulyssespress.com

Going Veggie: The 30-Day Guide to Becoming a Healthy Vegetarian may seem like another vegetarian cookbook, but it's got a unique touch: it's the only color recipe book that offers step-by-step dishes designed to help make the transition to a completely vegetarian lifestyle, and it comes from a blogger and longtime vegetarian who tells how to achieve this goal. It's more than another recipe collection (too many have done this over the years): it's a 30-day program to wean participants off meats and invite them into a flavor-filled world that pairs delicious dishes with tricks for acquiring the essential proteins needed from plants, rather than animals. From listings of fruits and vegetables by season to ideas for lighter meals such as Pita Pockets with Carrot Falafel and Creamy Harissa Sauce, Going Veggie is filled with ideas for new vegetarians, kid-approved dishes, and notes on difficulty levels and protein contents, making for a perfect transitional title in a format most vegetarian cookbooks don't provide.

Passionate Nutrition
Jennifer Adler, MS, CN with Jess Thomson
Sasquatch Books
1904 Third Ave, Suite 710, Seattle, WA 98101
9781570619458 $23.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com

Passionate Nutrition: A Guide to Using Food as Medicine from a Nutritionist Who Healed herself from the Inside Out is a prime example of what happens when autobiography blends with health insights, and tells of Jennifer Adler's life as she emerged from a background of poverty to develop an innovative and successful nutrition practice. More than an autobiography, though, Passionate Nutrition invites reader to rethink one's relationship with food and its impact on health, and uses the backdrop of Adler's life to show how healthy editing is more than just providing physical nutrition to the body: it's about adopting better perceptions of food's importance to life, and incorporating better habits that don't involve punishment or guilt. "We also get so caught up in what other people say is healthy that we forget to listen to our own bodies' wisdom. If we know, for example, that we feel okay when we eat white bread but experience agonizing cramps when we eat whole-wheat bread, we shouldn't eat whole-wheat bread." You'd think some of these basic concepts would be self-explanatory; but indeed, there's so much guilt over food (in American society in particular) that sometimes it takes a special voice such as Jennifer Adler's to break through the 'shoulds' of the health food industry to arrive at a program for personal well-being based on a combination of nutrition principles and its particular applications to each person. This is what makes Passionate Nutrition a standout: it pairs information with a focus on individual well-being and encourages not a set approach, but a flexible mind-set that any can use to customize their own protocols.


The Criminology Shelf

Spam Nation
Brian Krebs
http://krebsonsecurity.com
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781402295614 $24.99 www.amazon.com

Cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs used to work at the Washington Post, until the newspaper tried to turn his focus away from cybercrime. Unwilling to surrender his chosen field of journalism, Krebs created his own website dedicated to cybercrime investigation, KrebsonSecurity.com. Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime - from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door is the culmination of Krebs' years of research and contact with insiders, particularly those in the seamy underworld of cybercrime. Krebs (who had to teach himself Russian, among other skills, in the course of his investigation) reconstructs the history and evolution of shadowy computer networks that inundate email users with endless spam, hawk cheap medications (that may or may not contain poisonous ingredients), process payments for illegal child pornography, flood business websites with denial-of-service attacks, spread malware that enables identity theft, and much more. A preponderance of cybercrime in the mid-2000's onward can be traced to Russian criminal organizations, which Krebs unmasks and demystifies. Spam Nation is more than a modern criminal history; it's also a call to arms for each individual to take action against relentless spammers. Something as simple as ensuring that all the programs one uses are up-to-date with the latest security patches goes a long way! "Whatever you do, don't store your list of passwords on your computer in plain text. That's like handing your identity over to cybercriminals if your computer gets hacked." Spam Nation deserves to be on the shelf of every public and college library, and is worthy of the highest recommendation.


The Travel Shelf

All Aboard, fourth edition
Jim Loomis
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
9781569761762, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a completely updated and expanded fourth edition, "All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide" by veteran train travel expert Jim Loomis is a 384 page compendium that will prove to be an invaluable aid for planning train trips anywhere and everywhere the rails run in North America. "All Aboard" reveals what train travelers can expect on board their selected trains; what the best routes and lowest fares would be to their chosen destinations; the creation of memorable rail itineraries; as well as the basics of railroading and the future of train travel in the 21st Century. This newly revised edition includes a new chapter about eight major railway stations, and is updated throughout with new information and photographs. "All Aboard" discusses Amtrak's new locomotives and Viewliner sleeping cars, changes in rules regarding pets and bicycles on American trains, and much, much more, making it the ultimate guide to American train travel and its unique history and culture. Very highly recommended as a personal train travel reference and guide, it should be noted that "All Aboard" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Convergence: A Voyage Through French Polynesia
Sally-Christine Rodgers
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780986217104, $24.95, www.paracay.com

"Convergence: A Voyage Through French Polynesia" is a multi-faceted book that has the rare ability to reach well beyond a sailing audience. It's refreshing to note the balance between text and color photos in this large-format armchair narrative. Packed with full-page color photos that capture the life and culture of French Polynesia, Convergence isn't just a beautiful coffee table book, it's a highly readable, personal account of one woman's travels, as she observes and experiences life at sea, the Polynesian peoples, the ecology of the islands and more. Exploring the history of these fabled islands, the author reminisces about her father's travels in 1930s Polynesia, reflecting on what has changed and what remains the same. Ever passionate about the oceans and their conservation, she offers readers a colorfully close encounter with the beauty of and threats to the ocean environment. Convergence will attract and educate cruisers, armchair travelers, and readers of ecological issues alike.


The Research Shelf

Scholarly Metrics Under the Microscope
Blaise Cronin and Cassidy R. Sugimoto
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874991, $49.50, www.infotoday.com

Scholarly Metrics Under the Microscope is a weighty reference recommended for any interested in bibliometrics - the quantitative analysis of publications, authors, and book-related concepts. Lest this sound like a specialty item, it should be mentioned that bibliometrics is actually a hot topic in university, research, government and some corporate circles, and this book gathers together a wealth of writings on the topic from papers previously published in journals across disciplines. It covers not only the process of assembling and assessing performance metrics, but provides a critical approach to the use and applications of such metrics as they apply to scholarship and research. Any interested in learning more about exactly how these metrics are applied in real-world scenarios will find this a complex and revealing survey.


The Computer Shelf

iPad For Seniors For Dummies
Nancy C. Muir
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118944387 $24.99 www.dummies.com

Part of the acclaimed "For Dummies" series that is deliberately designed to aid readers of all backgrounds, and also available as an ebook, iPad For Seniors For Dummies is a user-friendly guide to getting the most out of one's iPad or iPad Mini. iPad for Seniors presents simple instructions with full-color photographs/screenshots to demonstrate how to set up an iPad, work with Siri, use the Reminders and Calendar feature to stay organized, take photos and video, create music playlists, shop for and download apps, find and read iBooks, and much more. A handy index rounds out this excellent resource, especially recommended for anyone buying their first iPad!

Beyond Big Data
Martin Oberhofer, et al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133509809, $34.99 (PB), www.amazon.com

Big Data is a broad term for data sets so large or complex that they are difficult to process using traditional data processing applications. Challenges include analysis, capture, curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, and information privacy. The collaborative work of data analysis experts Martin Oberhofer, Eberhard Hechler, Ivan Milman, Scott Schumacher, and Dan Wolfson, "Beyond Big Data: Using Social MDM to Drive Deep Customer Insight" is a 272 page compendium devoted to Master Data Management (MDM) concepts, techniques, components, functions, interactions, value relationships, technologies, targeted contextual marketing, employee productivity, and more. Of special note are the sections focused on avoiding privacy and ethical pitfalls, and emerging MDM trends. An extraordinarily informed and informative introduction to big data management, "Beyond Big Data: Using Social MDM to Drive Deep Customer Insight" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Data Analysis instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Beyond Big Data: Using Social MDM to Drive Deep Customer Insight" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.39).

Perl By Example, fifth edition
Ellie Quigley
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133760811, $49.99 (PB), www.amazon.com

Perl is a family of high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic computer programming languages. The languages in this family include Perl 5 and Perl 6. Now in a fully updated and expanded fifth edition, "Perl By Example" by academician and Perl expert Ellie Quigley is an 888 page instruction manual that now includes Modern Perl approaches to using data types, operations, conditions, subroutines, packages, modules, references, pointers, files, objects, and more; features many new examples, covers automation, testing, and data extractions; offers a tutorial on writing object-oriented Perl with the Moose object system; provides an introduction to Dancer (a power web application framework designed to replace CGI); as well as updated code examples throughout. Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Perl By Example" is highly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Computer Science collections. It should be noted that "Perl By Example" is also available in a Kindle edition ($31.19).

The Java Tutorial, sixth edition
Raymond Gallardo, et al.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134034089, $54.99, 864pp, www.amazon.com

Java is a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers write code that runs on one platform while not needing to be recompiled to run on another. Java applications are typically compiled to byte-code that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture. Java is, as of 2015, one of the most popular programming languages in use, particularly for client-server web applications, with a reported 9 million developers. Now in a fully updated and expanded sixth edition, "The Java Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics" is an ideal instruction manual and guide for anyone wanting to become proficient in using Java and/or taking on of the Java SE 8 certification exams. Very highly recommended for professional and academic library Computer Science collections, it should be noted that "The Java Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics" is also available in a Kindled edition ($25.49).

Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04
Matthew Helmke
Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780672338373, $54.99 (PB), www.amazon.com

Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux operating system, with Unity as its default desktop environment. It is based on free software and named after the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu (literally, "human-ness"), which often is translated as "humanity towards others" or "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity". Development of Ubuntu is led by UK-based Canonical Ltd., a company owned by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth. Canonical generates revenue through the sale of technical support and other services related to Ubuntu. The Ubuntu project is publicly committed to the principles of open source development; people are encouraged to use free software, study how it works, improve upon it, and distribute it. "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04" by Matthew Helmke (who served on the Ubuntu Forum Council from 2006 to 2011) is a 912 page compendium that is enhanced with the including of a DVD that includes the full Ubuntu 14.10 distribution for 64 bit computers, as well as the complete LibreOffice office suite and hundres of additional programs and utilities. An essential instructional guide and manual for Ubuntu users, "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04" ranges from configuring and customizing the Unity desktop; to administering and running Ubuntu from the command line; to providing secure remote access and configuring a secure VPN; to learning the basics about popular programming languages including Python, PHP, Perl, and new alternatives such as Go and Rust; learning about Ubuntu's work toward usability on touch-screen and phone devices, and so much more. An essential addition professional, and academic library Computer Science reference collections, it should be noted that "Ubuntu Unleashed 2015 Edition: Covering 14.10 and 15.04 " is also available in a Kindle edition ($25.49).

Microsoft Powerpoint 2013 Pocket Primer
Theodor Richardson
Mercury Learning
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781938549908, $29.95, www.merclearning.com

Microsoft Powerpoint 2013 Pocket Primer joins others in the new Pocket Primer series to review the major concepts of using Microsoft PowerPoint 2014, and uses a blend of written instruction supported by tutorial videos to achieve its goals. A companion disc includes these videos, which reviews all the basics of building a PowerPoint platform and provides keys to using it in both Windows and Mac environments. From developing media-enhanced presentations and adding sound to videos to customizing PowerPoint for greater efficiency, this pocket primer is packed with step-by-step information that assumes no prior knowledge and tells how to create a powerful presentation with a minimum of special tools or ability.

CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com

Angela Tinwell's THE UNCANNY VALLEY IN GAMES & ANIMATION (9781466586949, $99.95) charts advancements in animation and the common pitfall of a character with human likeness and audience aversion to too much realism in gaming, and it traces the phenomenon, known as the Uncanny Valley, and offers insights into how to overcome this problem and how to diagnose design flaws in human-like characters in digital worlds. It synthesizes the literature about the Uncanny Valley, explains its psychological foundations, and considers how facial expression and other facets can be applied to overcome the issues, and it also provides a new theory to compliment other writings on the subject, making this a 'must' for gaming programmers, covering both prior surveys and new ideas. Cristina Videira Lopes's EXERCISES IN PROGRAMMING STYLE (9781482227376, $39.95) uses term frequency to create a series of exercises reinforcing the mechanics of writing programs and creating systems, and is a recommendation for any programmer interested in how raw code translates to applications. It contains over thirty styles for writing the term frequency task, placing them in categories for easier associations and explaining each style's applications using sample programs from real-world scenarios. The pros and cons of each style and its coding will teach programmers more than the basics, and include both the historical development of the style and its uses. Programmers who want to develop better strategies and techniques will find this an excellent survey. Jesus Rogel-Salazar's ESSENTIAL MATLAB AND OCTAVE (9781482234633, $69.95) covers two programs in one book: a task that might at first appear counter-productive, as single books have already appeared with in-depth instructions for each program. But this is not intended to replace such books - it assumes only the minimum of knowledge about programming and math and it offers a step-by-step discussion of two languages used for solving complex math problems. Attention is given to code that can be used with either program, while examples and exercises reinforce the results; especially for first-time users. It's rare to find a discussion of programming and math that is so accessible to low-level programming readers: having both programs under one cover, in this case, provides a fine foundation for advancement. Nicholas Bernhardt Zeman's ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR 3D MODELING, RENDERING, AND ANIMATION (9781482224122, $59.95) provides a basic overview of skills applying 3D modeling to animation efforts, and focuses on both concepts and their applications in the 3D modeling world. Chapters offer a historical background coverage of the techniques and methods of 3D processes before delving into the mechanics of skills building and animation development: this allows relative newcomers to understand both the process and its evolution. Examples come from Autodesk Maya, are accompanied by exercises to reinforce the concepts, and provide a basic foundation for modelers, animation programmers, and any involved in 3D applications. P.A. Simionescu's COMPUTER-AIDED GRAPHING AND SIMULATION TOOLS FOR AUTOCAD USERS (9781482252903, $129.95) is a recommendation for college-level readers who already have a basic foundation in Autocad and who seek a textbook of processes and computer programs that addresses common problems in data visualization, simulation applications, function randomization processes, graphical representations of math variables, and more. It's a set of tools with advanced techniques and applications and not only describes plotting programs, but includes them with the book. Engineers and technicians who want a coverage driven by computer code and specific to problem-solving will find this a valuable compendium of details.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Best of Circle of Nine
Janet Houts & Jean Ann Wright
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9781935726692, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Quilt making continues to be a practical, creative, and popular needlecraft skill. From a number of outstanding books devoted to quilt making, "Circle of Nine and Quilting: A Circle of Nine", is new 96 page compilation gives showcasing patterns and instructions for fourteen of the most popular quilt projects. Quilt makers will learn the fundamentals of the Circle of Nine setting allows them to design a multitude of unique and beautiful quilts using favorite blocks. One simple setting with variations, sample spacers and sample blocks help even the most novice quilt maker get started on the path to creating their own original quilts. No two quilts will ever look alike though the setting is the same. Includes Circle of Nine construction techniques and setting scheme diagrams. Featuring easy-to-follow, complete instructions and enhanced with hundreds of clear diagrams and illustrations, "Best of Circle of Nine" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Knitted Rabbits
Val Pierce
Search Press USA
1338 Ross Street, Petaluma, CA 94954-1117
www.searchpressusa.com
9781844488674, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Toy rabbits are always popular, and have been for many years. With their long ears and cute, fluffy tails, they are loved by children and adults alike. "Knitted Rabbits" by needlecraft expert Val Pierce contains a wide variety of rabbits to knit, from fun and quirky, to cute and cuddly. Each rabbit has its own distinctive look and personality, and they come in a range of shapes, sizes and styles to suit knitters of all tastes and abilities. There are twenty patterns to choose from, and each one is accompanied by a beautiful, full-colour photograph of the finished rabbit, clear instructions, and a comprehensive list of the yarns, needles and embellishments you need. At the start of "Knitted Rabbits" there are general notes on basic knitting techniques, the abbreviations used, materials and equipment, making it ideal for beginners as well as more experienced knitters. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections is Val Pierce's "20 To Make: Knitted Bears" (9781844484829, $9.95); "20 To Make: Crocheted Bears" (9781844486335, $9.95); and Little Bears To Knit & Crochet" (9781782210085, $15.95).

Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com

Kathy Brown's TAKE 5 FAT QUARTERS: 15 EASY QUILT PATTERNS (9781604684179, $24.99) offers quilters new designs that use five fat quarters paired with different background fabrics for innovative quilt ideas, and provides some fifteen keys to using fat quarters in a range of styles. Kathy Brown's designs are pieced and quilted by others while step-by-step notes accompany large- and small-sized color photos with discussions of cutting, construction and assembly. Quilters looking for new uses for fat quarter stashes will find this an easy introduction. Jen Lucas' SOCK-YARN SHAWLS II: 16 PATTERNS FOR LACE KNITTING (9781604684766, $24.99) is especially recommended for newcomers to lace knitting, and provides a new selection of patterns for sock yarns based on the previous book. Here are more designers to appeal to beginners to advanced lace knitters, offering patterns that apply to all kinds of shawl sizes and shapes. Many of the shawls can be knitted from one skein, which makes them even easier. The attention to progressive detail allows for an approach that any can access and learn from; especially beginners or newcomers to lace knitting who want to build skills based on projects. Add color photos, patterns, and step-by-step instructions that require only a basic familiarity with knitting itself and you have a project book that will appeal to a wide audience.


The Education Shelf

Reaching Students
Nancy Kober
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309300438, $39.95, 256pp, www.amazon.com

"Reaching Students: What Research Says About Effective Instruction in Undergraduate Science and Engineering" is specifically focused on teaching and the learning process for undergraduate students in the fields of science and engineering. Focusing on the disciplines of astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, geosciences, and physics, "Reaching Students" offers an invaluable introduction to classroom strategies. Concrete examples and case studies illustrate how experienced instructors and leaders have applied evidence-based approaches to address student needs, encouraged the use of effective techniques within a department or an institution, and addressed the challenges that arose along the way. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Reaching Students" is especially recommended for any charged with teaching science and engineering in introductory and upper-level courses, small and large classes, lectures and labs, and courses for majors and non-majors alike. Practical, 'user friendly', informed and informative, "Reaching Students" is strongly recommended for academic library Education Studies instructional reference collections.

Corwin
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

The second updated edition of Glenn E. Singleton's COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE: A FIELD GUIDE FOR ACHIEVING EQUITY IN SCHOOLS (9781483383743, $36.95)offers a revised edition recommending systemwide plans for changing districts, schools and classrooms into institutions that support all students in achieving their best, and explains how candid conversations about race can lead educators to understand how and why students don't achieve across the board. From its new 'radical autobiographies' that come from the experiences of 'Courageous Conversation practitioners to new case studies on a public school district that has used this system to successfully implement a complete framework for change and success, this adds links to videos describing the work, updated implementation exercises, new activities and checklists for success, and much more. The result is a top pick for any follower of the Courageous Conversations system and especially for those who want newly revised techniques and approaches to success. Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson's THE MINDFUL SCHOOL LEADER: PRACTICES TO TRANSFORM YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SCHOOL (9781483303086, $24.95) takes the concept of mindfulness a step further in applying it to the school system and a school leader's efforts. It pairs profiles of such 'mindful' school leaders who apply this specific process to the educational system with exercises readers can try, guidance to properly applying their results, and resources that include mindfulness apps and more. Mindful school leaders work more efficiently in the school system structure: while most books on the topic of mindfulness are general, this title's specific applications to an educational structure will prove of particular interest to leaders who want to hone the finer role of leadership. Monica Neagoy's PLANTING THE SEEDS OF ALGEBRA: EXPLORATIONS FOR THE UPPER ELEMENTARY GRADES 3-5 (9781412996617, $38.95) is all about showing teachers how to introduce basic algebra skills as a way of seeing the world, and provides both theoretical and practical methods of introducing algebra into those grades. From how to incorporate some basic introductory algebra concepts into common math to moving ahead to link these math ideas with basic relevant experience and observations, this provides a set of new teaching methods designed to help build a predisposition for understanding algebra by incorporating it into both daily life and common math.


The Cookbook Shelf

The PlantPure Nation Cookbook
Kim Campbell
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781940363684 $19.95 www.benbellabooks.com

One doesn't have to be a vegetarian to thoroughly enjoy vegetarian food! Featuring over 150 plant-based recipes, The PlantPure Nation Cookbook: The Official Companion to the Breakthrough Film is a compendium of extensively tested recipes, each of which is 100% planet-based and promotes health through the nutrition of a whole-food diet. Color photography and user-friendly instructions showcase delights such as Fluffy Whole Wheat Pancakes, Southwestern Bean Salad, Reuben Casserole, Zucchini Cakes, Chocolate-Avocado Pudding, and much more. Behind-the-scenes details from the popular PlantPure Nation film further enhance this superb choice.

Bob's Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook
Camilla V. Saulsbury
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778805007 $24.95 www.robertrose.ca

Illustrated with multiple inset sections of color photography, Bob's Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook is a treasury of 281 whole-grain recipes from Bob's Red Mill - a company devoted to making gluten-free flours, cereals, baking mixes, and grains for over thirty years. Cooking tips accompany virtually every recipe, and an extensive introduction guides cooks of all skill and experience levels to the art of maintaining a gluten-free pantry. A "must-have" for anyone who is intolerance of gluten; the pervasive problem of cross-contamination means that the best way to eat gluten-free is to cook one's own meals!

Gluten Free Around the World
Aviva Kanoff
No Potato Press
217 Etak Dr., Brainerd, MN 56401
c/o Stuart Schnee PR
9780988910409 $29.99

Illustrated with gorgeous full-color photography, Gluten Free Around the World is a hardcover cookbook featuring gluten-free recipes from a vast diversity of human cultures. Categorized by their ingredients or role in a meal ("sides", "vegetarian", "poultry", etc.) these dishes feature user-friendly instructions and taste-tempting flavors! Sample recipes include "Sweet Potato Leek Soup", "Lemon Jerra Rice", "Pasta with Spinach & Arugula Pesto", "Mediterranean Chicken", "Churros", "Irish Apple Cake" and much more. Gluten Free Around the World makes a wonderful giftbook for any adventurous cook, whether or not they follow a gluten-free diet!

The Gluten-Free Family Cookbook
Susan O'Brien
Lifelong Books
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738217482, $17.99, www.amazon.com

Gluten is a protein composite found in wheat and related grains, including barley and rye. Gluten gives elasticity to dough, helping it rise and keep its shape and often gives the final product a chewy texture. Gluten is used in cosmetics, hair products, and other dermatological preparations. Gluten is also the cause for allergy related digestion problems in a growing percentage of the general population. Compiled by gluten avoidance expert Susan O'Brien, "The Gluten-Free Vegetarian Family Cookbook" is a 248 page compendium showcasing some 150 gluten-free, kitchen cook friendly recipes for everyday dining including entrees, side dishes, desserts, snacks, and more. The palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes range from Protein Breakfast Bars; Slow Cooker Lentil Vegetable Soup; Teriyaki tofu Fajitas; and Stuffed Green Bell Peppers; to Brussels Sprouts with Maple and Mustard Glaze; Grilled Pesto-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms; Coconut Macaroons; and Parmesan Kale Chips. Of special note is the Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie! Certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The Gluten-Free Vegetarian Family Cookbook" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.70).

Superfoods At Every Meal
Kelly Pfeiffer
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
Dalyne Miller Public Relations
9781592336524, $21.99, www.amazon.com

Superfood is a marketing term used to describe foods with significant health benefits. Examples of declared 'superfoods' are Quinoa, Chickpeas, Kale, Sweet Potatoes, Honey, Coconut Oil, Greek Yogurt, Walnuts, Eggs, and Blue Berries. Compiled and presented by health food blogger Kelly Pfeiffer, "Superfoods at Every Meal: Nourish Your Family with Quick and Easy Recipes Using 10 Everyday Superfoods" is a 176 page compendium comprised of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes showcasing superfood ingredients in a palate pleasing, appetite satisfying variety of dishes. The recipes range from Banana Nut Pancakes; Quinoa Breakfast Tacos; Hummus Meatloaf; Tuscan Kale Soup; and Green Monster Smoothies; to Walnut-Crusted Sea Scallops; Sweet Potato Black Bean Quesadilla; 7-Layer Greek Dip; and Chocolate Silk Pie. Enhanced with the inclusion of full color photographs of finished dishes, "Superfoods at Every Meal: Nourish Your Family with Quick and Easy Recipes Using 10 Everyday Superfoods" is as much fun to browse through as it is inspiring to plan meals from. Very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that Superfoods at Every Meal: Nourish Your Family with Quick and Easy Recipes Using 10 Everyday Superfoods" is also available in a Kindle edition ($12.49).

Noodle Kids
Jonathon Sawyer
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
Dalyne Miller Public Relations
9781592539635, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by Chef Jonathon Sawyer (owner of the Cleveland, Ohio restaurant The Greenhouse Tavern), "Noodle Kids" is a 144 page compendium comprised of fifty 'family friendly' recipes that everyone in the family can participate in preparing. The recipes range from Ricotta Gnocchi with Squash and Garlic Sauce; Tofu and Udon Soup; and Roasted Chicken Ramen; to Farmer's Cheese and Pot Roast Pierogi; Macaroni Casserole; and Classic Potato Gnocchi with Catcher's Italian Meat Sauce. Of special note are the sections on Cooking with Kids; How to Throw a Ravioli Party; and How to Throw a Family Rock-and-Summer-Roll Celebration. An ideal addition to family and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Noodle Kids: Around the World in 50 Fun, Healthy, Creative Recipes the Whole Family Can Cook Together" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.69).

Better Homes and Gardens Baking Step by Step
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9780544456174, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Better Homes and Gardens is the fourth best selling magazine in the United States. Its current editor-in-chief is Gayle Butler. Better Homes and Gardens focuses on interests regarding homes, cooking, gardening, crafts, healthy living, decorating, and entertaining. They are also a premier publisher of cookbooks. Profusely and beautifully illustrated in full color throughout, "Better Homes and Gardens Baking Step by Step" is their latest culinary compendium offering 376 page of recipes and basic baking instruction tips that will enable even the most novice of kitchen cooks to turn out quality dishes that would grace any dining occasion, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite. The recipes range from Snickerdoodles; Sour Cream-Walnut Date Cake with Tangerine Sauce; Apple-Cranberry Dessert; and Cherry Cobbler; to Chocolate-Mascarpone Raspberry Pie; Lemon-Pistachio Bites; Easy-Chocolate Almond Croissants; and Cinnamon-Nut Bread. A complete course in the baking arts under one cover, "Better Homes and Gardens Baking Step by Step" is an essential and very highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should also be noted that "Better Homes and Gardens Baking Step by Step" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).

Lighten Up, Y'All
Virginia Willis
Ten Speed Press
c/o Crown Publishing Group
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
9781607745730, $24.99, www.amazon.com

The cuisine of America's southern states is a distinctive and readily identifiable aspect of southern culture. Compiled and presented by Virginia Willis (a cookbook author, columnist for FoodNetwork.com, and a contributor to the magazine 'Southern Living' magazine, "Lighten Up, Y'all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome" is a 232 page, profusely illustrated compendium composed of classic southern comfort food recipes that are as palate pleasing and appetite satisfying as they are kitchen cook friendly! The recipes range from Crab and Celery Remoulad Wraps; Grilled Potato Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette; Cream Corn-Stuffed Tomatoes; and Braised Collards in tomato-Onion Gravy; to Pan-Seared Fish Stakes with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil; Pulled Pork Tenderloin with Red Pepper Vinegar Sauce; Quick and Easy Turkey Chili; and Multigrain Pecan Waffles. As much fun to browse through as it is to plan menus with, "Lighten Up, Y'all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Lighten Up, Y'all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.84).

Living A Real Life With Real Food
Beth Warren
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781626365711, $24.95, www.amazon.com

More than just another cookbook, "Living a Real Life with Real Food: How to Get Healthy, Lose Weight, and Stay Energized -- the Kosher Way" is a 336 page illustrated compendium that combines dietary and nutrition information for optimum human health with a selection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, kitchen cook recipes -- each of which is in full compliance with Judaic kosher rules. "Living A Real Life With Real Food" is deftly organized into four major sections: The Kosher Real-Food Diet Foundations; You Are What You Eat: Detailed Look into Real Foods; Living a Real Life with Real Food; and Applying What You've Learned (the recipe collection) The recipes range from a Syrian Potato Salad; Pesto Crusted Salmon; Veggie Burger; and Fennel Soup; to Popcorn with Dark Chocolate Drizzle; Hummus with Peanut Butter; Beef Goulash; and Artichoke Gibbon. While "Living A Real Life With Real Food" is an invaluable and enduringly useful addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Living A Real Life With Real Food" is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).

Love Fed
Christina Ross
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781940363325 $19.95 www.benbellabooks.com

Love Fed: Purely Decadent, Simply Raw, Plant-Based Desserts is cookbook of delectable and nutritious desserts compatible with a raw-foods vegan diet! Various recipes feature alternatives to gluten-laden pastry products, such a crust made from ground nuts and seeds. Full-color photography showcases sumptuous delights such as Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cake (the cake filling is made from cashews, coconut oil, Irish moss, agave nectar, and lemon juice), Minny Cinny Rolls, Maple Banana Tiramisu Truffle (using almond milk), Sunshine Lemon and Lavender Sorbet, and much more. A treasury for vegan, raw foods, or gluten-free enthusiasts, Love Fed is highly recommended!

More Than 100 Favorite Dessert Recipes
Dr. Duane Lund
Lund S&R Publications
Staples, Minnesota 56479
c/o Adventure Publications (distribution)
820 Cleveland St. S., Cambridge, MN 55008
www.adventurepublications.net
9780974082196 $9.95 www.amazon.com

More Than 100 Favorite Dessert Recipes lives up to its title as a compact, accessible compendium of beloved treats to satisfy one's sweet tooth! Emphasizing simple, easy-to-follow recipes for popular sugary delights, the recipes range from universal favorites such as Pecan Pie, Angel Food Cake, and Seven Layer Bars, to Chocolate Cinnamon Cookies, Caramel Corn Old Dutch Style, Oranges in Custard Sauce, Apple Fritters, Peach Crisp a la Mode, and much more. German, Scandinavian, Italian, Costa Rican, and Russian desserts round out this wonderfully decadent collection!

The Cafe Spice Cookbook
Hari Nayak, author
Jack Turkel, photographer
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804844307 $14.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Illustrated with mouth-watering full-color photography throughout, The Cafe Spice Cookbook: 84 Quick and Easy Indian Recipes for Everyday Meals is a cookbook of East Indian cuisine inspired by author Hari Nayak's popular line of "grab 'n' go" Indian meals. A repository of Indian dishes that kitchen cooks of all skill and experience levels can make at home, using ingredients available at any supermarket or health food store, The Cafe Spice Cookbook also features a sizeable quantity of vegetarian and gluten-free recipes. Delicious dishes include Spiced Pear Chutney, Spicy Long Beans and Potato Stir Fry, Pan-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Coconut, Kerala-Style Chicken Stew, Pork Vindaloo, Chilled Mango Cooler, and more. Highly recommended!

A Bird In The Hand
Diana Henry
Michael Breazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784720025, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled and presented by culinary expert and award-winning cookbook author Diana Henry, "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" is a 224 page compendium comprised of outstanding and diverse recipes for chicken dishes that are as palate pleasing and appetite satisfying as they are kitchen cook friendly to prepare! Enhanced throughout with full color photography, the recipes range from Chicken with Anchovies, Lemon, and Rosemary; to Korean Fried Chicken Wings; to Cherry and Blugur-Stuffed Squab chicken in Vine Leaves; to Smoky Chicken Salad with Roast Bell Peppers, Shittake, and Sugar Snap Peas. There is even a recipe for Bird Pie! The ultimate chicken-based culinary guide, "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collections. A veritable cornucopia of chicken recipes, it should be noted that "A Bird in the Hand: Chicken Recipes for Every Day and Every Mood" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).

A Taste Of Washington
Michele Morris
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376026, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by culinary expert and freelance food writer Michele Morris (a chef, sommelier, and owner of Cooking with Michele), "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is a 208 page compendium beautifully enhanced with 163 full color photographs of finished dishes and a cornucopia of kitchen cook friend, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes deftly organized into six themed chapters: Breakfast & Brunch; Appetizers & Snacks; Salads & Sides; Soups & Stews; Main Courses; Deserts & Sweet Treats. The dishes range from Apple Baked Puff Pancakes; Crab and Artichoke Dip; Grilled Romaine Salad; and Lyon Style Onion Soup; to Pan Seared Sea Scallops on Sesame Scallion Rice Cakes with Ginger-Sake Beurre Blanc; Roast Leg of Lamb with Squash Zaalouk and Yogurt Sauce; Thai Seafood Stew; and Theo Chocolate Ganache Cake. A beautifully presented book that is a delight to browse and inspiring to plan meals with, "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "A Taste of Washington: Favorite Recipes from the Evergreen State" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

Whole Grain Baking Made Easy
Tabitha Alterman
Voyageur Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760345986, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A whole grain is a cereal grain that contains the germ, endosperm, and bran, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Common whole grains include: Wheat, Oat, Barley (hulled and dehulled but not pearl), Maize, Brown Rice, Rye, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Triticale, Teff, and Buckwheat. Common wholegrain products include: Whole wheat flour, Whole wheat bread, Whole wheat pasta, Rolled oats or oat groats, Triticale flour, Popcorn, and Teff flour. "Whole Grain Baking Made Easy: Craft Delicious, Healthful Breads, Pastries, Desserts, and More - Including a Comprehensive Guide to Grinding Grains" by Tabitha Alterman is just an ordinary cookbook. This profusely illustrated, 160 page compendium is enhanced with the inclusion step-by-step instructions on grinding all manner of whole grains to make the flour from which the recipes for a wide selection of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes can be prepared. The recipes themselves range from a No-Knead Cranberry Walnut Boule; Sourdough Hamburger Buns; Rye Swedish Limpa; and French Shallot Soup; to Bacon Buckwheat Biscuits with Spicy Honey Mustard Blaze; Barley Bear Bread; Oatmeal Cookies with Cherries and Walnuts; and a Pistachio and White Chocolate Bread Pudding. As much a delight to browse through as it is 'kitchen cook friendly' to bake from, "Whole Grain Baking Made Easy: Craft Delicious, Healthful Breads, Pastries, Desserts, and More - Including a Comprehensive Guide to Grinding Grains" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Essential Southwest Cookbook
Marilyn Noble, et al.
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
www.rionuevo.com
9781933855905, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Beautifully enhanced throughout with full color photography, "The Essential Southwest Cookbook" is a 152 page compendium showcasing the cuisine of America's southwest. Each individual recipe is enhanced with a succinct introductory commentary, a complete list of ingredient, step-by-step instructions, and number of servings information. The recipes themselves range from Chicken Enchiladas with Red Chile Sauce; Tortilla Soup; Navajo Tacos with Fry Bread; and Pork and Red Chile Tamales; to Espresso-Chile Steak Rub; Ticama Pineapple Salad; Adobe Mud Pie; and Sangria Blanca. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "The Essential Southwest Cookbook" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library regional cookbook collections.

The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners
Betty Crocker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhpub.com
9780544339309, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The latest Betty Crocker cookbook, "The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners" is a nicely illustrated, 336 page compendium devoted to showcasing some 200 crock-pot recipes. Each and every one of the recipes are thoroughly kitchen cook friendly and offer an impressive variety of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying recipes suitable for any and all dining occasions. The dishes range from a Sausage 'n Apple Cheddar Biscuit Bake; a Ham, Broccoli and Cheese Pot Pie; Beef and Salsa with Dumpling; and a Harvest Time Pork Roast; to a Barley and Black Bean Pilaf; Dilled Tuna Steak Packets; Skillet Nacho Chili; and Greek Split Pea Soup. As much fun to browse through as practical to plan meals with, "The Big Book of One-Pot Dinners" is an enthusiastic recommendation for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The New Passover Menu
Paula Shoyer
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781454914402, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The Passover Seder is a Jewish ritual feast that marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. It is conducted on the evening of the 15th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar throughout the world. This corresponds to late March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Passover lasts for 7 days in Israel and 8 days outside of Israel (other than for adherents of Reform Judaism for whom Passover is 7 days regardless of location), with Jews outside of Israel other than Reform Jews holding two Seders (on the evening of the 15th and 16th of Nisan) and Jews in Israel and Reform Jews worldwide holding one Seder (on the 15th of Nisan). "The New Passover Menu" by Paula Shoyer is a beautifully illustrated, 160 page compendium showcasing sixty-five fully kosher recipes for dishes appropriate for the Passover Seder meal and the entire eight day Jewish holiday. The recipes are all thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and range from Sweet Potato Tzimmes; Garlic and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes; Coconut Schnitzel with Almond Butter Sauce; and Spaghetti Squash Fritters; to Seared Tuna with Olives and Capers; Chicken Scaloppini with Mushrooms; Passover Rolls; and Meringue Fruit Tarts (gluten-free and nut-free). Although specifically designed for Passover Seder appropriate dining occasions, "The New Passover Menu" showcases recipes for dishes that can be fully enjoyed any time of the year, making it an extraordinary and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Puerto Rican Cuisine In America
Oswald Rivera
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762456482, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Compiled by Oswald Rivera, "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is a 336 page compendium of authentic Puerto Rican recipes that will grace any dining occasion, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite. These thoroughly kitchen cook friendly dishes range from Papas Rellenas (Stuffed Potato Balls); Bacalao Y Berenjena En Caserola (Codfish-Eggplant Casserole); Biftec Estofado (Smothered Steak); and Ternera Al Horno (Veal Roast); to Arroz Con Polvo De Curry (Curried Rice); Tortilla De Jamon Y Queso (Ham and Cheese Omelet; Flan De Calabaza (Pumpkin Flan); and Ensalada De Fruta Al Gusto (Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Pressing). Not to be missed is the chapter devoted to Puerto Rican drinks. An extraordinary collection, "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Puerto Rican Cuisine in America: Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes" is also available in a Kindle edition ($23.33).

Saveur: The New Classics Cookbook
The Editors of Saveur
Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616287351, $40.00, www.weldonowen.com

Saveur: The New Classics Cookbook packs in some 1,000 recipes along with advice, tips and stories from the editors of Saveur, whose test kitchen rigorously tests recipes numerous times to be certain the finished product is a superior production, and is a recommended pick for cooks who want dishes that are a cut above the norm. We're talking classic dishes from around the world here, from Mole Negro and Green Beans Almondine to Indian Chapati flatbread, a spicy Portuguese classic Shrimp Mozambique, or an Italian-American Veal Piccata. The result should be considered a 'bible' of classic international fare, filled with tested dishes that work, foods representative of different nations around the world, and an approach that will attract cooks who like to be in the kitchen following foolproof recipes packed with flavor and appeal.

1,001 Delicious Soups & Stews, fourth edition
Sue Spitler with Linda R. Yoakam, MS, RD
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841611, $20.99, www.agatepublishing.com

There are so many cookbooks covering soups, stews, and combinations of both that one might wonder at the need for yet another, but 1,001 Delicious Soups & Stews: From Elegant Classics to Hearty One-Pot Meals offers an expanded version of a favorite, features streamlined recipes that are quick and easy to put together and a classification system designed to make it easy for cooks to pick one over another, and an approach that relies on no special ingredients for success. Here are over a thousand dishes from around the world, from chilis and chowders to fruit and chilled soups, with nutrition information in an at-a-glance sidebar alongside each dish and techniques ranging from slow-cooker use to adding canned ingredients from corn and tomato juice to beans. It should be mentioned that there are no color photos; so beginners relying on color should look elsewhere. That said, this fourth updated edition really packs in the dishes and is a pick for any who want a single volume covering classic soup and stew fare.


The Business Shelf

The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival
Ed Basler
Advantage Publishers Group
PO Box 1090, Poway, CA 92074-1090
www.pgw.com
News & Experts
9781599324869, $14.99, 130pp, www.amazon.com

Getting back to the business basics no degree required "The Meat and Potatoes Guide to Business Survival" is the hands-on, entrepreneurial roadmap to achieving business dreams -- regardless of any lack of educational background. Author and business owner Ed Basler draws upon his experience and expertise from a 40-year entrepreneur history to serve up a healthy helping of sound business principles and practices to start a new business or to jumpstart a current one. Through failure and success, economic upturns and downturns, "The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival" shows how to be profitable using dedication, wisdom, and hard work instead of degrees and book theories. Readers will develop a clear entrepreneurial vision; learn how to find and incorporate good ideas to improve hiring and quality; be able to run a lean, money-efficient operation; get more efficient using checklists and deadlines; improve customer service to generate referrals; and above all, avoid small business landmines. "The Meat & Potatoes Guide To Business Survival" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and an invaluable instruction guide that should be considered a 'must read' for anyone seeking to engage in a business venture of any kind or size.

Improvise: Unconventional Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO
Fred Cook
B2 Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781932841824, $16.00, www.agatepublishing.com

Improvise: Unconventional Career Advice from an Unlikely CEO comes from the successful owner of an award-winning global public relations agency, who began his career at nearly forty lacking all of the usual credentials associated with being a CEO - education, business background, and even business attire. It seemed an unlikely pursuit for a motorcycle-riding 'serial entrepreneur' who had moved from job to job all his life, but he picked up the skills in problem-solving and communications that would serve him well in the end, and here argues that it all comes back to successful improvising as a critical survival skill differentiating the extraordinary from the ordinary entrepreneur. Because this book comes from an unconventional route, it's especially recommended for small business readers interested in how success was achieved from non-MBA grads.


The Crafts Shelf

Zen Doodle: Oodles of Doodles
Tonia Jenny, Editor
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
1140 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9781440336591, $19.99, www.createmixedmedia.com

Zen Doodle: Oodles of Doodles gathers under one cover more doodle art from around the world, pairing some 100 original designs and patterns with the latest techniques that originate from a desire to doodle. It shows how to use these tangles to create new artistic results, from tiles to zendala, and it also presents the stories behind other doodle efforts, including a spotlight on artists who have established their reputations with zen doodles. With its color illustrations and step-by-step coverage of doodle processes, this is a crafter's delight and is a recommended pick for any collection seeing interest in the doodle phenomenon.

Beautiful Designs with SuperDuos and Twin Beads
Carolyn Cave
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9781627000543, $22.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Beautiful Designs with SuperDuos and Twin Beads covers two different rice-shaped two-hole beads that are available in a wide range of colors and which can be used for amazing bead work projects; especially when paired with different stitches and approaches to jewelry making in nearly thirty different projects. Rings, bracelets, necklaces and more are featured in step-by-step instructions and designs that appear complex but become simplified and straightforward under Carolyn Cave's hand. A full-page color photo demonstrating each design is followed by smaller step-by-step diagrams showing how the piece is put together, and discussions that include keys to repeating steps and putting together polished results. Beaders who have some prior jewelry-making experience but who want specifics for SuperDuos and Twin Beads will find this an excellent collection of varied project ideas to demonstrate the versatile applications of the two.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Ancient Aliens on Mars II
Mike Bara
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
9781939149312 $19.95 www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

"New York Times" author Mike Bara presents Ancient Aliens on Mars II, continuing a speculative journey into the mysteries of the Red Planet. Drawing upon data from scientific instruments, Bara continues building the case from his previous book ("Ancient Aliens on Mars"), namely that aliens once had a civilization on Mars. Evidence points to the existence of an underground city, possibly filled with enormous devices that could still be operating today! Images of tunnel systems, temples, bridges, and more suggest a NASA conspiracy to hide extraterrestrial life. Ancient Aliens on Mars II is an exciting read from cover to cover! Additional Adventures Unlimited titles concerning this hot topic include "Ancient Aliens on the Moon", "Extraterrestrial Archaeology", "Life and Death on Mars", "The Case for the Face", and "Invisible Residents".

Pagan Portals series
Moon Books
www.moon-books.net
c/o John Hunt Publishing Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com

Three reader-friendly guides from the "Pagan Portals" series discuss witchcraft and folk magic in plain terms. Morgan Daimler's "Pagan Portals: Fairy Witchcraft" (9781782793434, $9.95) is a guide to honoring the fairy world, discussing both modern neo-pagan witchcraft and the ancient Celtic Fairy Faith. In "Pagan Portals: Kitchen Witchcraft" (9781780998435, $9.95), Rachel Patterson explores the practices of the Kitchen Witch -gardening, offerings, and simple washes, smudges, and magics to promote health and well-being. Patterson's "Pagan Portals: Hoodoo Folk Magic" (9781782790204, $9.95) teaches the reader about Hoodoo deities, beliefs, magical practices, spiritual washes, powders and more. "Spells that draw things to you, attract things or bring positive things to you will be worked or at least started when the moon is in her waxing phase. Spells that are worked to banish something or end things, break up spells and foot track magic are started or worked fully when the moon is waning." All three are excellent overviews, highly recommended especially for readers intrigued to learn more about magical practice.

The Secret of Your Immortal Self
Guy Finley
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738744070, $16.99, www.llewellyn.com

The Secret of Your Immortal Self: Key Lessons for Realizing the Divinity Within is packed with essays that considers how the divine may be accessed to achieve joy and wisdom, and it's a recommendation for new age and self-help readers who would connect spiritual with psychic inspiration and insight to make the most of a deeper relationship with the Divine. Chapters consider the process of reconciliation within the soul and, most importantly, consider what to do with this process and how to apply it successfully. It's this approach that makes The Secret of Your Immortal Self of particular interest to new age spirituality collections and readers who want to apply concepts of the Divine to ideals of immortality.


The Art Shelf

James Barry's Murals at the Royal Society of Arts
William L. Pressly
Cork University Press
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781782051084, $65.95, www.amazon.com

James Barry (11 October 1741 - 22 February 1806), was an Irish painter, best remembered for his six part series of paintings entitled The Progress of Human Culture in the Great Room of the Royal Society of Arts. Because of his determination to create art according to his own principles rather than those of his patrons, Barry is also noted for being one of the earliest romantic painters working in Britain, though as an artist few rated him highly until the fully comprehensive 1983 exhibition at the Tate Gallery led to a reassessment of this "notoriously belligerent personality", and he emerged as one of the most important Irish Neoclassical artists. It is interesting to note that Barry was also a profound influence on William Blake. "James Barry's Murals at the Royal Society of Arts: Envisioning a New Public Art" by William L. Pressley (Emeritus Professor of 18th & 19th Century European Art, University of Maryland) is an impressive 272 page compendium showcasing the life and art of one of Ireland's best and most original painters of his day. Flawlessly reproduced images enhanced a truly informed and informative commentary. The result is a work of superb scholarship and a very strongly recommended addition to academic library European Art History reference collections.

Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist
James L. Wilson
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9780882896588, $42.95, www.amazon.com

Clementine Hunter (late December 1886 or early January 1887 - January 1, 1988) was a self-taught African-American folk artist from the Cane River region of the U.S. state of Louisiana, who lived and worked on Melrose Plantation. She is the first African-American artist to have a solo exhibition at the present-day New Orleans Museum of Art. Hunter was born into a Louisiana Creole people family at Hidden Hill; she started working as a farm laborer when young, never learning to read or write. In her fifties, she began painting, using brushes and paints left by an artist who visited Melrose Plantation, where she then lived and worked. Hunter's artwork depicted plantation life in the early 20th century, documenting a bygone era. She sold her first paintings for as little as 25 cents. By the end of her life, Hunter's work was being exhibited in museums and sold by dealers for thousands of dollars. "Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist" is a 160 page compendium showcasing beautifully illustrated examples of Hunter's artwork. Author James L. Wilson draws upon a number of personal interviews with Hunter to provide a truly informed and informative introduction and commentary. "Clementine Hunter: American Folk Artist" is a critically important and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library American Art History collections.

Art Deco Mailboxes
Karen Greene & Lynette Lavelle
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393733402, $26.95, www.wwnorton.com

Art Deco Mailboxes: An Illustrated Design History documents the heyday of the decorated mailbox as an urban art object that evolved from applied art deco techniques, and is a recommendation for any interested in folk art and art deco history. Many of the early mailboxes that evolved in public spaces and at landmark building have been removed, but this book documents ones still in use and pairs a full-color photo survey of these mailboxes with insights on the Art Deco style and a history of painted mailboxes. Dozens of examples of the art deco design in urban mailboxes from New York to Cincinnati are featured in a lovely book that will especially appeal to architects, designers, and artists alike. The visual approach and history also lends to this title's feature in general-interest holdings, as well.

Gift: The Art of David Flores
David Flores
Cameron & Company
6 Petaluma Blvd. North Suite B6, Petaluma, CA 94952
9781937359720, $29.95, www.cameronbooks.com

There are two things you can say about David Flores: one is that he likes the line-enhanced divisions of stained glass. The other is that his devotion to re-creating the look and feel of stained glass in a wide range of non-glass art forms makes for a distinctly original approach that embraces forms from murals to pop art - and Gift: The Art of David Flores gathers these efforts and celebrates them. With most books, the dust jacket as a quasi-protective device: not so with Gift: a delicate stained glass rendition of a butterfly is banded by black felt, and is unique and lovely enough to make purchase of the book with its jacket not an option, but a requirement. The full-page pictures inside hold the same look of the artist's black-banded approach, which proffers a stained glass appearance upon such diverse subjects as Snoopy, various faces, cartoons, and colorized, enhanced classic photos of major people from Einstein to Warhol. If one thing can be said about this collection, it would be that David Flores holds the uncanny ability to render, in stained glass and on canvas, just about any aspect of a portrait to give it an extra dimension of pop, with bold lines and equally bold colors and forms creating something entirely new from the initially familiar. Any modern arts collection will find this a compelling, unique addition that will attract even those with no prior familiarity with Flores or his art.


The Psychology Shelf

The Aging Mind: An Owner's Manual
Patrick Rabbitt
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, New York, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9781138812383, $35.95 (PB), www.amazon.com

A mind is the set of cognitive faculties that enables consciousness, perception, thinking, judgment, and memory. A lengthy tradition of inquiries in philosophy, religion, psychology and cognitive science has sought to develop an understanding of what a mind is and what its distinguishing properties are. The main question regarding the nature of mind is its relation to the physical brain and nervous system. The brain is an organ of the human body and as the body reflects the effects of the aging process, so does the brain -- and that includes all of the aspects we associate with the human mind. "The Aging Mind: An Owner's Manual" by Patrick Rabbitt (Emeritus Professor of the University of Manchester, UK) is a 264 page compendium of exceptionally well written, organized and presented information that is deftly organized into major sections: What is Aging?; Memory; Senses; Intelligence, Skills and Wisdom; Living with Aging; Aging Well. Enhanced with illustrative figures, it should be noted for older readers that the typeface is rather small and may require the aid of a magnifying glass or be acquired in the Kindle edition ($26.30) that would allow for an easy adjustment of type size. A seminal work that is completely accessible to academia as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in how aging affects the mind, "The Aging Mind: An Owner's Manual" is strongly recommended for both community and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry collections and available in a hardcover edition (9781138812376, $160.00).

Alcohol and the Adult Brain
Jenney Svanberg, et al.
Psychology Press
c/o Taylor & Francis, Inc
7625 Empire Drive, Florence, KY 41042-2919
www.psypress.com
9781848723085, $53.95 (PB), www.amazon.com

Neuropsychology studies the structure and function of the brain as they relate to specific psychological processes and behaviors. It is an experimental field of psychology that aims to understand how behavior and cognition are influenced by brain functioning and is concerned with the assessment and treatment of behavioral and cognitive effects of neurological disorders. The research literature on the impact of alcohol on the brain has seen a rapid expansion in recent years. "Alcohol and the Adult Brain" is a 236 page compendium of twelve expertly researched and written articles that collectively presents an up-to-date overview of some of the issues relevant to understanding and working with people with cognitive impairment as a result of chronic alcohol use. "Alcohol and the Adult Brain" is essential reading for students and researchers working on the effects of alcohol on human brain functions, as well as practitioners in a range of health, social care and voluntary service and support settings. Very highly recommended as a core and essential addition to academic library Psychology/Psychiatry reference collections, it should be noted that "Alcohol and the Adult Brain" is also available in a hardcover edition (9781848723078, $155.00) and a Kindle edition ($43.16).

The Art Therapists' Primer
Ellen G. Horovitz, editor
Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd.
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
9780398081102, $74.95, www.amazon.com

Definitions of art therapy vary due in two fields: art and psychotherapy. It can focus on the art-making process as therapeutic in and of itself ("art as therapy") or it can be "art in therapy" (art psychotherapy). The psychoanalytic approach was one of the earliest forms of art psychotherapy. This approach employs the transference process between the therapist and the client who makes art. The therapist interprets the client's symbolic self-expression as communicated in the art and elicits interpretations from the client. "The Art Therapists' Primer: A Clinical Guide to Writing Assessments, Diagnosis and Treatment" by Ellen G. Horovitz (Professor and Director of Graduate Art Therapy and the Art Therapy Clinc, Nazareth College, Rochester, New York) is a 380 page compendium comprised of nineteen erudite and scholarly articles by academicians and researchers in the field of art therapy. "The Art Therapists' Primer: A Clinical Guide to Writing Assessments, Diagnosis and Treatment" is organized into five major sections: Introduction to the Revised Second Edition: Quantifying Qualitiative Assessments; Qualitative Instruments; Standardized Instruments; Combining Multiple Assessments; and Conclusion (Treatment Objectives, Modalities and Termination Summaries). Enhanced with the inclusion of appendices, a Name Index, a Subject Index, and DVD instructions, "The Art Therapists' Primer: A Clinical Guide to Writing Assessments, Diagnosis and Treatment" is strongly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry reference collections in general, and Art Therapy Studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted that "The Art Therapists' Primer: A Clinical Guide to Writing Assessments, Diagnosis and Treatment" is also available in an ebook edition (9780398081119, $64.95).

Personality Disorders
Steven K. Huprich, editor
Marketing Department
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433818455, $79.95, www.amazon.com

Personality disorders are a class of mental disorders characterized by enduring maladaptive patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience, exhibited across many contexts and deviating markedly from those accepted by the individual's culture. These patterns develop early, are inflexible, and are associated with significant distress or disability. Compiled by Steven K. Huprich (Professor and Director of Clinical Training, Wichita State University and editor of the Journal of Personality Assessment), "Personality Disorders: Toward Theoretical and Empirical Integration in Diagnosis and Assessment" is a 452 page compendium comprised of seventeen scholarly articles deftly organized into three major sections: Current Issues in the Diagnosis and Assessment of Personality Disorders; Research and Assessment Strategies; Moving Toward Integrated and Unified Models of Personality Disorders and Pathology. A major contribution, "Personality Disorders: Toward Theoretical and Empirical Integration in Diagnosis and Assessment" is a critically important addition to professional and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry reference collections in general, and Personality Disorder supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

Improving Your Memory, fourth edition
Janet Fogler and Lynn Stern
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421415703, $18.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Improving Your Memory: How to Remember What You're Starting to Forget appears in its fourth updated edition to reinforce memory techniques using real-life applications combined with the latest research on how memory works and changes. It doesn't just offer analysis, though: it pairs this with exercises and techniques that readers can use to more easily process and retrieve information, and it covers efforts, attitudes, and health issues that can affect memory and how thoughts are organized. The result is a fine guide filled with practical details any can use.


The Agriculture Shelf

Pabst Farms
John C. Eastberg
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780982381021, $49.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu

PABST FARMS: THE HISTORY OF A MODEL FARM profiles Wisconsin dairy history and packs in hundreds of photos from the Pabst family's private archives. It also offers an in-depth coverage pinpointing the farm's importance as one of the first model farms in the United States to apply advanced techniques in European and American agriculture. Pabst selected diverse livestock, built new from buildings, and bred heavy horses for carriages and wagons. He then moved successfully from horses to high-production Holstein diary cattle, using methods that influenced the growth and evolution of the Wisconsin dairy industry as a whole. This book focuses on the family's operations, the rise and changes of the state's dairy history, and uses lovely vintage photos throughout to explore Pabst's role as an innovator and farm developer. The result is a title that will prove a historical treasure for Wisconsin agricultural collections especially, but which is also recommended beyond Wisconsin's state lines, for any interested in local agricultural innovations and processes.


The Genealogy Shelf

Historical Collections
Jon Warner Barber
Clearfield Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806345789, $49.95, www.genealogical.com

Historical Collections [...] Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Massachusetts with Geographical Descriptions is another technical genealogical reference highly recommended for researchers working with Massachusetts names and origins, and is packed with outlines and history of all small towns in the state. Local history is supplemented by journal extracts, data, even inscriptions copied from graveyards and makes for a lively, important compendium of details essential for any genealogical research program and for any Massachusetts-specific history collection.


The Science Shelf

Infrared Astronomy - Seeing the Heat
David L. Clements
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, #300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781482237276, $49.95, www.crcpress.com

Most books covering infrared astronomy assume a prior background in advanced math and astronomy, so it's a surprise to find a physics book that assumes neither, but provides a comprehensive (and comprehendible) overview to infrared and its applications. It considers what this process reveals about heavenly bodies both within and outside the solar system, it develops and provides astronomical techniques and discoveries with the relative lay reader in mind, and Infrared Astronomy - Seeing the Heat from William Herschel to the Herschel Space Observatory pairs history with scientific advancements to provide a fine reference for any who would understand the latest findings on infrared. The fact that it's accessible by a much wider audience than graduate astronomy readers sets this coverage well apart from competitors, making it a recommendation for students, grads, and even the general reading public with an interest in astronomy.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Dog Training
Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenue
Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793849499 $15.95 www.tfh.com

Presented by the popular "Animal Planet" television network and professional dog trainer Teoti Anderson, and illustrated with full-color photography throughout, Dog Training is a user-friendly guide to teaching good behavior to one's pet. Chapters cover the basics of a positive training method, socialization, housetraining and crate training, solving common problem behaviors, and much more. "A clicker is a small box that makes a clicking sound. You use the click to mark the exact instant in time your dog performs a behavior you want. A clicker is much better than saying 'Good dog!' because it's more precise... Only use the click to mark behavior, not as a way to get your dog's attention." A "must-have" for any and every prospective dog owner!

Animal Earth
Ross Piper
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500516966, $45.00 (HC), $29.95 (PB), www.amazon.com

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial biodiversity tends to be highest near the equator, which seems to be the result of the warm climate and high primary productivity. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It is the richest in the tropics. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific, where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. There are latitudinal gradients in species diversity. Compiled and written by zoologist Ross Piper, "Animal Earth: The Amazing Diversity of Living Creatures" is a 320 page compendium that is profusely enriched with 540 superbly reproduced full color images throughout. With a fully informed and informative text and photo captioning, "Animal Earth: The Amazing Diversity of Living Creatures" is a wonder to simply browse through and a critically important, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, community, and academic library collections.

Secrets of a Dog Trainer
Victoria Schade
Howell House Books
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9781118509296, $18.95, www.amazon.com

There are plenty of dog-training books on the market that advocate all kinds of strategies for taming the beast; so why the need for yet another - and what are the 'secrets' that lend this title an aura of intrigue? Simply, it's Victoria Schade's approach to new answers to common dog obedience problems: approaches developed in the course of Schade's work as a professional dog trainer. She explains how minor problems can quickly evolve into major training challenges, she pairs case study examples with "choose-your-own-ending" scenarios in an unusual approach that reinforces various options and their logical results, and she shares positive training options that contrast with other training choices so reader get a full sense of everything involved. The result is a collection of innovative, tested methods that clearly differentiates between behavior modification approaches and training choices.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Teal's Gold
Abe Dancer
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444819939, $29.99, www.amazon.com

In the bed of a remote New Mexico creek, Austen Teal strikes gold. When the old placer miner is shot dead in a Calido Run gunfight, however, he has only managed to disclose a few cryptic words about its exact location to his young son. Five years on, after serving an unjust sentence in prison, Wesley Teal sets out to solve the riddle, in a quest to track down the source of his pa's gold. But he is being watched and trailed by hard cases who will stop at nothing to get the gold first. "Teal's Gold" is a compelling read from first page to last and documents Abe Dancer as a master of the western action/adventure genre replete with cliff-hanger suspense, surprise twists and unexpected turns, and a flair for non-stop entertainment from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists, this Linford Western Library large print edition is particularly suited for community library Large Print collections. Librarians seeking to built up their large print collections would be well served to visit the Ulverscrot Large Print web site at www.ulverscroftusa.com where they will find hundreds of large print titles, both fiction and non-fiction.

Suspicion at Seven
Ann Purser
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425261761, $25.95, www.penguin.com

Suspicion at Seven provides a fine Lois Meade mystery and tells of the aftermath of a woman who is murdered at a hotel, strangled with a silver necklace beside a bag of costume jewelry. It would seem a dealer in such jewelry would make the perfect suspect, but Lois knows Donald's wife and she's certain he's not a killer. So, who is? As Lois uncovers more facts about Donald's issues and possible involvements and Lois's own mother becomes involved, a satisfyingly complex mystery evolves packed with the twists and turns of plot that make for an involving, unpredictable read.

The Sirena Quest
Michael A. Kahn
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781464203503, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

The Sirena Quest tells of four college freshmen who have gone different ways for years - until the 1994 commencement prompts a reunion thrown by a hedge-fund billionaire who has promised a, $25 million endowment if Barrett college's legendary Sirena statute, which vanished in 1959 without a trace, can be returned to the school by commencement day. This prompts a host of investigations by classmates who embark on a world-wide probe, inviting danger and deadly mystery when they stumble upon an obscure clue. A satisfying, fast-paced mystery emerges, packed with the twists and turns that mark an involving read.

Cosmosis
Rainer Rey
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
9781620459928, $17.95, www.turnerpublishing.com

Jace is tracking his father's killer. Madison is carrying on her family's quest for sustainable resources after her last living relative is murdered as part of a cover-up. That these two individuals will find their paths converging is predictable. What is less predictable is the events that will follow as Jace and Maddy find themselves pitted against a mercenary task force that will stop at nothing to get their hands on a new energy source that holds ramifications for the future of the world. Add aliens into the thriller format, include more than a touch of (predictable) romance, and posit an alien alternative energy force that anyone would kill for and you have a page-turner that holds a few elements of surprises within what begins as a standard thriller format.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Biology Of Heart Disease
Margaret E. Buckingham, et al.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781936113866, $135.00, www.amazon.com

Cardiovascular disease is a class of diseases that involve the heart, the blood vessels or both. Basically, heart disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system of arteries, capillaries, and veins, principally cardiac disease, vascular diseases of the brain and kidney, and peripheral arterial disease. The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse but atherosclerosis and hypertension are the most common. In addition, with aging come a number of physiological and morphological changes that alter cardiovascular function and lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in healthy asymptomatic individuals. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths on the globally. "The Biology of Heart Disease" is a 232 page compendium comprised of nineteen seminal articles by medical researchers on various aspects of cardiovascular diseases. Of special note are Kiran Musunuru's 'Personalized Genomes and Cardiovascular Disease' and 'Cardiovascular Drug Discovery: A Perspective from a Research-Based Pharmaceutical Company' by the team of Gianni Gromo, Jessica Mann, and John D. Fitzgerald. "The Biology Of Heart Disease" is a major and highly recommended contribution that should be a part of every medical school and academic library Health & Medicine reference collection in general, and Cardiovascular Diseases supplemental studies reading list in particular.

Clinical Epidemiology, second edition
Diederick E. Grobbee
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
www.jblearning.com
9781449674328, $102.95, www.amazon.com

Epidemiology is the science that studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations. It is the cornerstone of public health, and informs policy decisions and evidence-based practice by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive healthcare. Epidemiologists help with study design, collection, and statistical analysis of data, and interpretation and dissemination of results (including peer review and occasional systematic review). Epidemiology has helped develop methodology used in clinical research, public health studies, and, to a lesser extent, basic research in the biological sciences. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition featuring new data and examples throughout, "Clinical Epidemiology: Principles, Methods, and Applications for Clinical Research" is a comprehensive resource that introduces the reader to the basics of clinical epidemiology and explores the principles and methods that can be used to obtain quantitative evidence on the effects of interventions and on the diagnosis, etiology, and prognosis of disease. The everyday challenges of clinical research and the quantitative knowledge required to practice medicine are also examined, making "Clinical Epidemiology" a valuable reference for both graduate and undergraduate students in medicine and related disciplines, as well as for professionals involved in the design and conduct of clinical research. Enhanced with the inclusion of a twenty-six page list of References and a thirty-one page Index, "Clinical Epidemiology" is ideal as a classroom textbook and a critically important addition to academic library clinical epidemiology reference collections.

Pleasurable Weight Loss
Jena La Flamme
Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue
Louisville, CO 80027
9781622034147 $24.95 www.soundstrue.com

Pleasurable Weight Loss: The Secrets to Feeling Great Losing Weight & Loving Your Life Today lives up to its title as a health and dietary guide created especially for women struggling with weight issues. Author Jena La Flamme's insight was that losing weight isn't about boring food plans or meticulous calorie counting; it's about countering the stress and shame that are appetite triggers, and taking more joy and pleasure in the process of cooking, eating, and exercise. The pursuit of pleasure and happiness in day-to-day life is a natural counter to biological and psychological impulses toward overconsumption! Of course, eating reasonable portions of nutritious foods is still a paramount part of healthy living; Pleasurable Weight Loss includes 7 days of easy-to-make, delicious recipes suitable for incorporating into one's dietary regimen. Highly recommended!

Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods
Barbara Wexler, MPH
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438006666 $8.99 www.barronseduc.com

Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods is a guide to making the switch to organic foods for the sake of one's health, as well as the greater good of the community and the environment. A sixty-page introduction teaches the reader what organic labeling and certification means, how to distinguish claims from hype, how to purchase organic food on a budget, and more. The majority of Quick Check Guide to Organic Foods is dedicated to listing nutrition information (the calorie, fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein, and carbohydrate content per serving) for a vast array of commercial organic foods. An extensive appendix of organic food suppliers and their websites rounds out this "must-have" for organic food shoppers!

When Your Life is Touched By Cancer
Bob Riter
Hunter House Publishing
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9781630266790, $24.95, www.hunterhouse.com

When Your Life is Touched By Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals and Those Who Care is a special focus on the first days that follow a cancer diagnosis: a time of heady fear, despair, and confusion. The author is a cancer survivor who considers the issues that accompany a cancer diagnosis, following patient experiences from that initial moment through treatment and beyond and offering specific insights. From how to discuss cancer with friends, family and medical professionals to breaking the news to others and handling what happens when treatment is over, When Your Life is Touched By Cancer, more so than others, discusses the emotions accompanying diagnosis and is designed to be picked up and put down randomly, at will. This in itself is a special feature that contrasts sharply with other cancer books that could prove more overwhelming in detail and require a progressive approach: the beauty here lies in a flexibility that is just the ticket for a world newly changed.

McGraw-Hill/Lange
c/o McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor
New York, NY 10020
www.mhprofessional.com
www.mcgrawhillmedical.com

Maxine A. Papadakis and Stephen J. McPhee's CURRENT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT 2015 (9780071824866, $85.00) is intended as a textbook for college-level healthcare students and for clinical reference collections, and packs in a weighty (1886 pages) survey that supplements its book with five online-only chapters. This edition includes the latest 2014 AHA cardiology guidelines, updates details on prescription drug abuse and overdose, adds a new section on opioids, reflects all the latest treatment options for hypertension and discusses new drugs and patient benefits, providing clinical practitioners with an in-depth survey including hundreds of medication treatment tables, new diagnostic insights, and an annual review of new HIV treatments. Charts, tables, color photos and more pepper a reference which may not be entirely 'at a glance', but which provides the depth, detail, and coverage key to any clinical practitioner. Gene R. Quinn, et.al.'s CURRENT MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT STUDY GUIDE (9780071799775, $55.00) provides a case study focus on key internal medicine topics, covering the most common diseases and disorders and providing schematics and diagrams key to understanding treatments, outcomes, and conditions ranging from prostate cancer to arthritis. The two together make for solid study guides and desk references and are highly recommended for any clinical practitioner.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing Great Books for Young Adults, revised edition
Regina L. Brooks
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
www.sourcebooks.com
9781402293528, $14.99, 224pp, www.amazon.com

"Writing Great Books for Young Adults" is a complete insider instructional resource on how to succeed in the flourishing world of YA fiction and nonfiction. In this updated and revised edition, veteran literary agent Regina L. Brooks offers invaluable advice for YA writers on everything from shaping a YA novel to crafting the perfect pitch for your book. Aspiring authors will learn how to: Develop an authentic, engaging voice and writing style; Construct dynamic plots that will resonate with YA readers; Avoid common pitfalls related to tone and point of view; Navigate the emerging genres of YA nonfiction and New Adult literature; Create an exceptional query letter and proposal that will grab the attention of agents and publishers. Filled from cover to cover with invaluable tips and practical advice from agents, editors, and popular YA authors, "Writing Great Books for Young Adults" is thoroughly 'user friendly' from beginning to end and should be considered mandatory reading for anyone seeking to write and market for a young adult readership. It should be noted that "Writing Great Books for Young Adults" is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.18).

Comedy Writing Self-Taught
Gene Perret
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781610352208, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The term comedy refers to any discourse or work generally intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, television, film and stand-up comedy. In "Comedy Writing Self-Taught", Emmy award winning comedy writer Gene Perret has created a 175 page instruction manual for aspiring writers of comedy including stand-up, sketch, and situation-based (sit-com) comedy. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Comedy Writing Self-Taught" should be considered a 'must' for all aspiring comedians, as well as novice writers trying to write jokes and comedic ideas for those comedians. Also very highly recommended is the "Comedy writing Self-Taught Workbook" (9781610352405, $15.95) by Gene and Linda Perret that is a specially designed companion workbook.

Paper Camera
Suzzanne Kelley
New Rivers Press
1104 Seventh Avenue, Moorhead, MN 56563
www.newriverspress.com
9780898233001, $15.95, 228pp, www.amazon.com

Founded in 1968, New Rivers Press is an American non-profit poetry press located in Moorhead, Minnesota and affiliated with the Minnesota State University - Moorhead. The first title published by New Rivers Press was "So Many Rooms Has a House But One Roof", a poetry collection by Margaret Randall. Compiled and edited by Suzzane Kelley, with the assistance of Alicia Strnad Hoalcraft, "Paper Camera: A Half Century with New Rivers Press" is a wonderful celebration of a dedicated publishing house, including the men and women who have worked so hard to make it a literary success. A compilation of original articles ranging from C. W. Truesdale's 'New Rivers Press: A History' and 'The Future Status of New Rivers Press'; to Donna Carlson's 'New Rivers Becomes a Teaching Press'; to Nancy Swan's 'An Internship at new Rivers Press'; to Ryan Christiansen's 'The Digital World' and Ryan Christiansen's 'Crossing the Digital Horizon', "Paper Camera" is a seminal body of work that will be read with particular interest and appreciation by anyone who has enjoyed New Rivers Press titles over the last five decades. An extraordinary read, "Paper Camera" could well serve as a template for other independent and scholarly publishing house histories.

The Write Crowd
Lori A. May
www.loriamay.com
Bloomsbury Academic
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781628923094 $19.95 pbk
9781628923087 $75.00 hc www.bloomsbury.com

Creative nonfiction teacher Lori A. May (University of King's College, Halifax) presents The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & the Writing Life, an informative book about the importance of community in the writing profession. The Write Crowd is filled with practical tips of how writers of all genres, skill and experience levels pool efforts to contribute to the sustainability of the literary community, and candid interviews with over fifty writers and editors. Readers, authors, and prospective writers are encouraged to join the literary community through engaging with literary journals, reading series and public workshops, advocacy and education programs, and more. It's possible to engage with peers and readers without sacrificing one's time and passion for the act of writing; The Write Crowd is an excellent guideline to deepening invaluable connections, while maintaining the balance that enables one to focus on quality writing. Highly recommended!


The Fiction Shelf

Green on Blue
Elliot Ackerman
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781476778556 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

The debut novel Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran Elliot Ackerman, Green on Blue is a profound and fearsome look at the savage toll war takes upon all aspects of day-to-day life. Aziz and his older brother Ali grew up impoverished but content in their remote village in Afghanistan, until armed men destroyed the world they once knew. Seeking refuge in a small city, their lives are further upset in a conflict between U.S. forces and militants. A bomb severely injures Ali, and Aziz must join the Special Lashkar, a U.S.-funded militia, for his brother's sake. Aziz witnesses the grim cruelty of war, including conflicts between rival Afghan groups (dubbed "green on green" attacks by the Americans) and Afghan attacks on U.S. soldiers ("green on blue"). Navigating the brutality of the war is a horrifying task, but both his brother's life and the life of a young woman he has grown to love are at stake. Green on Blue will stay in the reader's mind long after the last page is turned, a vivid testimony to a terrible, tragic, and ongoing conflict. Highly recommended.

Screenplay: A Novel
MacDonald Harris
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
9781468308983 $26.95 www.overlookpress.com

National Book Award-nominated author MacDonald Harris presents Screenplay: A Novel, a mysterious story about a man who becomes literally immersed in the silent film era. In 1980's Los Angeles, Alys, a wealthy young man, accepts an intriguing offer to get "into the movies". The offer is genuine in the most unexpected of ways, as Alys becomes part of the nigh-magical silent film era, precisely as it was during Hollywood's 1920's heyday. Love is an omnipresent theme, but passion is limited by the will of the censor! As Alys travels the black-and-white fantasia, captivated by Hollywood screen beauty Moira Silver, he begins to lose track of the present day... Screenplay: A Novel builds a glamorous world from its fantastic premise, and is especially recommended for film connoisseurs with a strong appreciation for the medium's history.

The Boy Who Loved Rain
Gerard Kelly
Lion Hudson
www.lionhudson.com
c/o Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregelpublications.com
9781782641292, $14.99, 320pp, www.amazon.com

Colom had the perfect childhood, the much-loved only child of a church pastor. Yet he wakes screaming from dreams in which his sister is drowning and he can't save her. Fiona turns to her husband, desperate to help their son. David will not acknowledge that help is needed -- and certainly not help from beyond the church. Then they find the suicide pledge. Fiona, in panic, takes Colom and flees... but when will she acknowledge that the unnamed demons Colom faces might be of her and David's own creation? "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is beautifully written and searching novel by English poet Gerard Kelly explores the toxicity of secrets, the nature of healing, and the ever-present power of rain. Exceptionally well written and compellingly engaging from beginning to end, "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is very highly recommended and would make an enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Boy Who Loved Rain" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.03).


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Big Nate's Greatest Hits
Lincoln Pierce
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449464899 $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Available in both paperback and ebook formats, Big Nate's Greatest Hits is three popular collections of the "Big Nate" comic in one - and each of the three were previously ebook-only! "Big Nate Makes a Splash", "Big Nate Dibs on This Chair", and "Big Nate Pray for a Fire Drill" have been compiled into this 373-page omnibus of uproarious fun for all ages. Nate is a young boy who lives with his divorced, struggling, and sometimes clueless single father. Nate loves eating Cheez Doodles, has an arch-rivalry with his long-suffering teacher, and aspires to be a cartoonist; his wacky antics of "Doctor Cesspool" intersperse the strip stories about Nate's 100% unrequited crush on a girl, and being sent to summer school for low academic achievement. But summer school isn't all bad - while there, Nate meets a new girl who actually likes him as much as he likes her! Could this be the start of a beautiful friendship - or Nate's first true love? Will Nate's king-sized ego withstand realizing that she can draw better than he can? Big Nate's Greatest Hits is enthusiastically recommended for public library comic and cartoon shelves, and is a great way to encourage younger people to read.

Marvel Comics In The 1980s
Pierre Comtois
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781605490595, $27.95, www.amazon.com

The Marvel Comics Group is an American publisher of comic books and related media. Marvel started in 1939 as Timely Publications, and by the early 1950s had generally become known as Atlas Comics. Marvel's modern incarnation dates from 1961, the year that the company launched The Fantastic Four and other superhero titles created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and many others. Marvel counts among its characters such well-known properties as Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, the Silver Surfer, Daredevil, and Ghost Rider, such teams as the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and X-Men, and antagonists such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Kingpin, Magneto, Doctor Doom, Loki, Thanos, and the Red Skull. Most of Marvel's fictional characters operate in a single reality known as the Marvel Universe, with locations that mirror real-life cities. "Marvel Comics In The 1980s: An Issue-By-Issue Field Guide To A Pop Culture Phenomenon" is a 224 page compendium by Pierre Comotis that covers the pop culture phenomenon that is Marvel comics in the 1980s on an issue-by-issue basis! Of special note is the overview of Marvel's final historical phase, when the movement begun by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko moved into a darker era that has yet to run its course. The 1980s saw Stan Lee's retreat to the West Coast, Jim Shooter's rise and fall as editor-in-chief, the twin triumphs of Frank Miller and John Byrne, the challenge of independent publishers, and the weakening hold of the Comics Code Authority that led to the company's creative downfall - and ultimately the marginalization of the industry itself. Comics such as the Chris Claremont/John Byrne X-Men, Frank Miller's Daredevil, the New Universe, Roger Stern's Avengers and Spider-Man, the new wave of dark heroes such as Wolverine and the Punisher, and more are all covered, in the analytic detail -- and often irreverent manner. However, the 1980s represented years of upheaval in the comics industry with Marvel at the center of the storm. "Marvel Comics In The 1980s" will prove to be of immense interest to Marvel comics fandom and would prove to be an valued addition to community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Culture collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Reaper
Nicholas Irving with Gary Brozek
Read by Jeff Gurner; prologue read by the author
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427252470 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

The Reaper is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the true-life memoir of an expert military sniper. Special Operations Direct Action Sniper Nicholas Irving earned the nickname of "The Reaper" due to his extraordinary skill; his career total included at least thirty-three kills. His harrowing battlefield stories include a deadly face-off against an enemy sniper, known only as The Chechnian. A bonus interview with author Nicholas Irving and his editor rounds out this fascinating testimony of the war on terror. 6 CDs, 7 hours.

Rip Van Winkle
Washington Irving, author
Read by Adam Sims
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843798002 $17.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com

Performed by professional film and theater actor Adam Sims, Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, & The Pride of the Village is the unabridged audiobook rendition of three classic short stories for all ages, by acclaimed American author Washington Irving. Rip Van Winkle is the story of a simple, well-loved man who accidentally falls asleep for twenty years. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the chilling tale of the Headless Horseman, and The Pride of the Village is a saga of love and tragedy. All three stories are timeless in their multigenerational appeal, making Rip Van Winkle a welcome addition to public library audiobook collections. A free download of "The Spectre Bridegroom" is also available. 2 CDs, 2 hours 27 min.

John Ball's In the Heat of the Night
Adapted by Matt Pelfrey
Performed by Ryan Vincent Anderson, et. al.
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
9781580819725 $29.95 www.latw.org

John Ball's In the Heat of the Night is the audiobook recording of a full-cast theater performance based on John Ball's classic novel "In the Heat of the Night" (which inspired the Oscar-winning film and the Emmy-winning TV series). Set in a 1960s Alabama town setting with rage over federally mandated desegregation, John Ball's In the Heat of the Night follows the efforts of a visiting African-American detective from California to work with the local white police chief and uncover the truth behind a murder. An undercurrent of racial tension pervades this suspenseful mystery, which offers an unforgettable portrayal of casual racism ingrained in 1960s American culture. 2 CDs, 2 hours 9 min. Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of full-cast performance theater audiobooks is "Under Milk Wood" (2 CDs, 1 hour 47 min., $29.95) by Dylan Thomas, a wry play adapted from radio drama about the inner thoughts of the townspeople of the fictional Welsh village of Llareggub (try spelling that backwards)!

The Gumshoe Diaries Book 1
Nicholas Sheridan Stanton, author
Read by Peter Berkrot, Bronson Pinchot, and Hillary Huber
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
c/o Word Slinger Publicity
9781483026015 $29.95 www.BlackstoneAudio.com

Also available in a print edition, The Gumshoe Diaries Book 1 is an audiobook on an MP3 CD (MP3 CDs only play on CD players adapted for MP3 format) about a harried private investigator working to solve crimes and scrape by. Whitey Rode is a former LAPD gold shield turned independent after the brass "invited" him to retire. One might say it was an offer he could not refuse. When Mei Li Teng, the niece of Whitey's "friends" (or at least, "snitches who don't lie all of the time"), is suddenly murdered, they hire him to learn whodunit and why. Dark secrets and deception abound in this gritty thriller, sure to appeal to fans of classic hard-boiled detective stories! 1 MP3 CD, 6 1/2 hours, tracks every 10 min. and by chapter for easy bookmarking.

Black Dog Summer
Miranda Sherry, author
Read by Jilly Bond
Highbridge Audio Books
c/o Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781622316205 $29.99 www.recordedbooks.com

Black Dog Summer is the unabridged audibook rendition of a dark novel about a ghost who can't let go. Sally once lived on a South African farmstead with her teenage daughter Gigi. Then Sally's murder destroys the world of everyone who lived around her, and Sally cannot move on. She watches Gigi move in with her aunt's family, and sees buried secrets gradually tear people's bonds apart. Unable to interfere, Sally's vigil grows more fretful as her niece develops an unhealthy obsession with African magic. Sally's search for someone who can help leads her to Lesedi, a traditional African witch doctor, who keeps her trade a closely guarded secret within an affluent Johannesburg suburb. Wistful, intense, and skillfully performed by Jilly Bond, Black Dog Summer is riveting to the very end. 8 CDs, 9 1/2 hours.

Shadow Ops: Control Point
Myke Cole
Graphic Audio
4940 Hampden Lane, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20814
www.graphicaudio.net
9781628511239, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with magical talents. Untrained and panicked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set everything they touch ablaze. Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieutenant attached to the military's Supernatural Operations Corps, his mission is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly manifests a rare and prohibited magical power, transforming him overnight from government agent to public enemy number one. The SOC knows how to handle this kind of situation: hunt him down--and take him out. Driven into an underground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he's ever known, and that his life isn't the only thing he's fighting for. Adapted for an audio book format, the Graphic Audio edition features an exceptional multicast production enhanced throughout with digital sound effects and music in a 7 hour, 7 CD edition. Solidly entertaining from beginning to end, "Shadow Ops: Control Point" is the first volume in what promises to be an outstanding science fiction action-adventure series that is highly recommended for personal and community library audio book collections.

The Antaran Codex
Stephen Renneberg
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494508197, $39.99, www.tantor.com

As mankind nears its goal of galactic citizenship, Sirius Kade, trader and Earth Intelligence Service deep cover agent, learns that wealthy and powerful leaders from across Mapped Space are vying for control of an alien relic they believe is the key to untold riches - unaware they are being deceived. Sirius soon finds himself entangled in an interstellar plot to make humanity a cosmic outcast, denying it its place as the newest member of the vast and ancient community that has governed the galaxy for eons. With mankind's fate in the balance, Sirius must overcome ruthless alien adversaries and deadly human rivals as he seeks to discover the secret of The Antaran Codex and safeguard man's future among the stars. An exceptionally well written science fiction action/adventure story, Stephen Renneberg's "The Antarian Codex" is superbly narrated by Neil Shah in this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Tantor Media. Shah is able to impressively provide a distinct vocal image for each of the major characters. A technically flawless production from beginning to end, "The Antrian Codex" is very highly recommended to the attention of science fiction enthusiasts -- and would prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections. (9 CDs, 10.5 Hours).

Martian Time-Slip
Philip K. Dick
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781455814398, $14.99, www.amazon.com

On an arid Mars, local bigwigs compete with Earth-bound interlopers to buy up land before the UN develops it and its value skyrockets. Martian Union leader Arnie Kott has an ace up his sleeve, though: an autistic boy named Manfred who seems to have the ability to see the future. In the hopes of gaining an advantage on a Martian real estate deal, powerful people force Manfred to send them into the future, where they can learn about development plans. But is Manfred sending them to the real future or one colored by his own dark and paranoid filter? As the time travelers are drawn into Manfred's dark worldview in both the future and present, the cost of doing business may drive them all insane. Philip Kindred Dick (December 16, 1928 - March 2, 1982) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist and philosopher whose published works largely belonged to the genre of science fiction. "Martian Time-Slip" is one of his best sci-fi novels and this flawlessly produced audio book edition, which is superbly narrated by Jeff Cummings, offers a true 'theatre of the mind' experience. "Martian Time-Slip" is very highly recommended listening for the legions of Philip K. Dick fans and is certain to be an enduringly popular addition to community library audio book collections. (CD; 8 disc; 9 hour and 51 minutes).

Seeking Scandal
Nadine Millard, author
Read by Veida Dehmlow
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781494508609 $39.99 www.tantor.com

The second book in Nadine Millard's "Ranford" series, Seeking Scandal is the unabridged audiobook superbly performed by classically trained stage actress Veida Dehmlow. Caroline Carrington regrets that she once rejected the man she fell in love with. Back in London, she's ready to search for a husband - but first, she wants a scandalous experience, one that she can remember and savor during her future as a perfect society wife! She seeks out notorious rake Tom Crawdon - but can help her find what she craves while maintaining her pristine reputation? A sensual, erotic love story, Seeking Scandal will keep listeners toasty warm during cold nights! 10 CDs, 11 hours.

The Clayborne Brides
Julie Garwood, author
Performed by Mikael Naramore
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480542167 $14.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

The Clayborne Brides is an unabridged audiobook rendition of three novels about the Clayborne brothers and the women they fall in love with. Travis ventures westward and loses his heart to Emily Finnegan of Boston; Douglas devotes himself to protecting the strong-willed Isabel Grant; and Adam gradually learns how to trust from Genevieve Delacroix. A choice pick for fans of romantic adventure! 11 CDs, 13 hours.

Vanessa and Her Sister
Priya Parmar
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553398441, $40.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

Vanessa and Her Sister enjoys a narration by Emilia Fox and several others and is set in 1905 London, where the Stephen siblings are on the edge of change. Sister Virginia Woolf is one of four siblings leaving their childhood home and moving to Bloomsbury, where they find themselves in a circle of friends that will gain fame as the Bloomsbury Group. But this is a tale of two talented sisters - one of whom falls in love and leaves her sister increasingly out of the loop of connection. Without her, Virginia must find her own way - and her own encouragement for her separate talents. An exquisite, delicate story of family interactions evolves, perfect for those interested in Virginia Woolf's life and times.


The Library CD Shelf

Lead Belly
Smithsonian Folkways
c/o Smithsonian Books
PO Box 73012, MRC 513, Washington, DC 20013
www.smithsonianbooks.com/usersection/Home.aspx
SFW-40201-CD, $98.98, www.amazon.com

Huddie William Ledbetter (January 20, 1888 - December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced. He is best known as Lead Belly. Although Lead Belly usually played the twelve-string guitar, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and Cajun accordion ("windjammer"). In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion. In other recordings he sings while clapping his hands or stomping his foot. The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range, including gospel; blues about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs about people in the news, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, the Scottsboro Boys, and Howard Hughes. Lead Belly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 in the "Early Influence" category. In 2008, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Enhanced with the inclusion of five CDs featuring 94 of his song performances, "Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection" also presents his personal story and music career along with many superbly reproduced period photos. An absolute must for Lead Belly fans, "Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection" would make an enduringly popular addition for academic library American Music History collections, and is an ideal Memorial Fund Acquisition selection for community libraries as well. It should be noted that ""Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection" is also available in an MP3 format ($43.49).

The One
Ntjam Rosie
Gentle Daze Records
www.vision4talent.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
$TBA CD / $9.99 digital www.ntjamrosie.com

Cameroon-born, Dutch-based, Afro-European fashion and music artist Ntjam Rose (who performs internationally has been nominated for multiple awards) presents The One, her fourth album. The One reverberates with elements of soul, folk, rhythm & blues, jazz, and vocal splendor. Bold and exuberant, The One is a rousing audio experience to remember. The tracks are "The Beginning", "He Loves Me So", "The One", "Always on the Run", "Forever Love", "Akiba", "You Build Me Up", "Covenant", "Dear To Me", "Pas De Retour", "Reconciliation Song", "I'm Loved", and "Love To Be Here".

Akory
Razia Said
www.raziasaid.com
Wake Up Music
c/o Press Junkie PR
$13.00 http://wakeupmusic.bigcartel.com/product/akory

Singer, songwriter, and environmental activist Razia Said of Madagascar presents Akory, a provocative new album about the environmental and polical problems besieging her homeland. Her real-life experiences in a land suffering from illegal logging, slash-and-burn agriculture, the effects of climate change, poverty, and political instability fuel this heartfelt album with a strong message of social action. The rhythms of Akory reflect Madagascar's extensive and proud musical traditions. A profound and powerful call to action, Akory is highly recommended for personal and public library collections alike. The tracks are "Taranaka Afara" (4:08), "Zanako" (3:37), "Akory Tsikaby" (3:28), "Baraingo" (3:30), "Ela Izay" (3:50), "Kajio" (3:36), "Amaray" (3:35), "Papillon" (3:35), "Gny Lalagna" (4:34), and "Nifankahita" (4:10).

NYC Sessions
Dave Bass
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
www.whalingcitysound.com
$14.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com

NYC Sessions is a jazz album featuring pianist and composer Dave Bass, as well as Harvie S. on acoustic bass, Ignacio Berroa on drums, and Phil Woods playing alto sax, and Karrin Allyson on vocals. A global medley of jazz styles flavor the various songs, in this swingin', soulful treasury. Highly recommended! The tracks are "The Sixties" (6:02), "Lost Mambo" (4:55), "Endless Waltz" (5:05), "La Comparsa / Mi Montuno" (7:17), "Lost Valentine" (7:12), "My Foolish Heart" (5:32), "Baltic Bolero" (5:33), "Since I Found You" (4:56), "Dark Eyes" (6:12), "Silence" (3:46), and "Just A Fool" (4:38).

In This Game
Complicated Animals
Socialite Fiasco Music
c/o Press Junkie PR
$TBA CD / $5.94 download www.complicatedanimals.com

Inspired by the vintage films and music, In This Game is the debut music CD of Complicated Animals, the duo of Monica de Silva and Chad Alger. Their self-coined "Indie Nova" musical genre is a lighthearted pop cascade with a dash of Brazilian Bossa Nova. In This Game uses their signature style rhythms to immerse the listener in an evocative, storytelling experience. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of quality indie music in search of something fresh and original! The tracks are "Roadmap", "O Que Passou", "Phoenix", "Bees Take To History", "Drive Around In Cars", and "Sempre Aqui".


The Library DVD Shelf

The Homestretch
A film by Anne de Marie and Kirsten Kelly
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
homestretchdoc.com
1941545203 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for public performance, The Homestretch is a documentary following three homeless teens working to stay in school, graduate, and build a future. Roque, Kasey, and Anthony struggle to keep up their grades while navigating among transitional homes, street families, emergency shelters, and a crumbling school system on the verge of crisis. Filmed with unprecedented access to the Chicago Public Schools, The Night Ministry's Crib emergency youth shelter, and Teen Living Programs' Belfort House, The Homestretch is an honest, heart-rending, and thought-provoking look at what it means to be young and homeless in America. Special features include a featurette, trailer, and deleted scenes. 89 min. and 53 min. versions both available on one DVD.

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
A film by Nicholas Wrathall
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545254 $350.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Licensed for home use only, Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia is an award-winning documentary celebrating American writer and public intellectual Gore Vidal (1925-2012). One-on-one interviews with Vidal himself, candidly discussing the age of American liberalism, America's tragic anti-intellectual cultural shift, and much more. Commentary by Norman Mailer, William F. Buckley, Tim Robbins, Sting and Christopher Hitchens, as well as highlight footage from Vidal's storied on-air career, round out this vivid portrayal of a brilliant, forthright, and fearless cultural critic. Witty, incisive, and thoroughly entertaining, Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia is highly recommended. Recommended for mature audiences, due to infrequent coarse language. 89 min., widescreen.

Alexander Calder
A film by Roger Sherman
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213
New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Alexander Calder is a DVD documentary portrait of American sculptor Alexander Calder (1898-1976), known for inventing the art form of the mobile (a kinetic sculpture with balanced or suspended components, which can move in response to motor power or air currents), often used today to decorate homes, or the rooms of children. Drawing upon never-before-seen archival films and photographs, the documentary reveals Calder at work in his studio, and offers contemporary footage of dozens of his works, as well as interviews with Arthur Miller, Ellsworth Kelly, I.M. Pei, Brendan Gill, Marla Prather, David Ross, Calder's daughters and grandson, Sandy Rower, and more. Highly recommended for both personal and public library art and biography DVD shelves. 57 min.

Ilya and Emilia Kabakov: Enter Here
A documentary film by Amei Wallach
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213
New York, NY 10036
$27.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Ilya and Emilia Kabakov: Enter Here is an extraordinary documentary about two Russian artists, now American citizens, as they venture to the new Russia. Two decades after fleeing the Soviet Union, Ilya Kabakov creates six art installations in venues throughout Moscow, where he was once forbidden to exhibit his art. A story about the inspirational and uplifting nature of art itself, as well as the courage of those who dare to use it to express unpopular messages, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov: Enter Here is a welcome addition to public and college library nonfiction DVD shelves. Special features include extended interviews and outtakes. 103 min.

Knife Skills with Chef Marshall O'Brien
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Knife Skills with Chef Marshall O'Brien (27 min., closed-captioned) is an educational DVD for grades 6 to adult, about using knives to prepare food safely and effectively. The topics covered are "Knife Safety", "Cutting Methods for Fruits and Vegetables", "Cutting Techniques for Meat", and "Using a Food Processor and Blender". A practical, essential demonstration ideal for young adults who are or soon will be preparing their own food at home, Knife Skills with Chef Marshall O'Brien is a choice pick for public and school library DVD collections. Also highly recommended is Knife Skills for Foodservice with Chef Marshall O'Brien (26 min., closed-captioned), which teaches viewers the next level of knife skills for food preparation, such as how to prepare pineapple or melons and how to use an industrial grade food processor.

A Survey of Church History, Part 4 Anno Domini 1600-1800
W. Robert Godfrey
Ligonier Ministries
421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL, 32771-8608
$48.00 www.ligonier.org

W. Robert Godfrey (professor of church history, Westminster Seminary, California) presents A Survey of Church History, Part 4 Anno Domini 1600-1800, the fourth DVD in a series about the many changes that the Christian Church has gone through since the time of Jesus Christ. Volume 4 chronicles how the Protestant Reformation continued in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (with emphasis on the Puritans and the English-speaking world). From the persecuted Puritans of England who established a community in New England, to historical figures such as John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards, A Survey of Church History, Part 4 is an eye-opening historical tour. Highly recommended, especially for religious studies DVD shelves.

Anzac Girls
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621722953 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Based on true events and the book "The Other ANZACS" by Peter Rees, Anzac Girls is a six-part drama miniseries about five brave Australian and New Zealand nurses who served during World War I. Drawing directly upon the diaries and letters of women who contributed to the war effort, Anzac Girls tells of idealistic young women who, upon their arrival in Egypt, learn about the horrors of war all too quickly. Their saga is one of love, hard work, and fast friendship. Brought to life with superb performances, Anzac Girls is an unforgettable saga, highly recommended for personal and public library DVD collections. Bonus material includes behind-the-scenes featurettes (34 min.), cast interviews (18 min.), photo galleries, and historical context. 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 363 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Lilies
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723417 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Lilies is a three-DVD set of an eight-episode British drama miniseries about three sisters living in working-class Liverpool after World War I. Called "my lilies" by their overbearing father, each sister has her own dreams, yet the daily struggle against poverty makes the pursuit of happiness a difficult prospect at best. The eldest Iris (played by Catherine Tyldesley) runs the household since the passing of their mother; the middle child May (Leanne Rowe) works as a maid but yearns to be a stage actress; and the youngest Ruby (Kerrie Hayes) sells corsets and trains to become an Olympic swimmer. A saga about the bonds of family, Lilies portrays the hardships of life in 1920's Britain as well as the joys, and the hopes for a better future. Highly recommended! Bonus material includes a 16 minute behind-the scenes featurette, production notes, and a photo gallery; it should be noted that Lilies contains brief, occasional nudity. 8 episodes on 3 DVDs, 486 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

The Apocalypse
Starring Richard Harris
Vision Video
P.O. Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490
$14.99 www.visionvideo.com

Part of the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning "Bible Collection" series of movies, The Apocalypse is a movie on DVD bringing the origin of the Biblical Book of Revelation to life. In the late first century, Roman Emperor Domitian fiercely persecutes Christians. Now a prisoner of the Romans on the Island of Patmos, the elderly Apostle John receives overwhelming visions, including messages directly from Jesus to the seven persecuted churches. As the last living witness ot he Lord's resurrection, John must find a way to bring these divine messages to the church. John's testimony will eventually become the Book of Revelation and the prophecy of Jesus Christ's return. Emotional and profound, The Apocalypse is especially recommended for church library DVD collections. 96 min., optional English subtitles.

Toy Train Revue 4
TM Books & Video
PO Box 9228, Michigan City, IN 46361
9781936890767 $19.99 www.tmbv.com

Toy Train Revue 4: Special Christmas Edition is a striking DVD showcase of model trains, emphasizing Christmas-themed displays. Showcasing multiple layouts and the Lionel-licensed Hallmark line of keepsake ornaments, Toy Train Revue 4 consists of 62 minutes of all-new HD, widescreen footage plus 32 minutes of highlights from the original Toy Train Revue 4 (released in 1992). New and traditional Christmas songs by James Coffey round out this wonderful DVD that model railroad fans will enjoy any time of the year! 94 min.

BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn
Featuring Suzanne Bowen
suzannebownfitness.com
Bown Productions LLC
PO Box 2362, Brentwood, TN 37024
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com

Suzanne Bown, a fitness professional of 14 years' experience, presents BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn, a fitness DVD blending elements of dance, Pilates, yoga, and classic barre [a handrail often used for ballet practice] training. Divided into Warm Up (2 min.), Extreme Cardio Fat Burn (26 min.), Cario Sculpt (17 min.), Cardio Core (17 min.), and Cool Down Stretch (12 min.) segments, the elements of BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn can be mixed or matched to taste. Designed to exercise every main muscle, BarreAmped Cardio Fat Burn also comes with a free one-month membership of streaming barre workouts from Bowen's website, www.suzannebowenfitness.com. An excellent addition t any exercise DVD library! 84 min., full frame.


The Sports Shelf

Canoeing The Churchill
Greg Marchildon & Sid Robinson
University of Regina Press
University of Regina
3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4S 0A2
www.uofrpress.ca
9780889771482, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Canoeing is a paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle, under your own power. Kayaking is a comparable activity in a kayak which usually has a closed deck and is propelled with a double bladed paddle. In a kayak the paddler typically sits with legs extended forward. In some situations canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking. Other than by the minimum competition specifications (typically length and width (beam)) and seating arrangement it is difficult to differentiate most competition canoes from the equivalent competition kayaks. The most common difference is that competition kayaks are always seated and paddled with a double-bladed paddle, and competition canoes are generally kneeled and paddled with a single-bladed paddle. Exceptions include Canoe Marathon (in both European and American competitive forms) and sprint (high kneeling position). The most traditional and early canoes did not have seats, the paddlers merely knelt on the bottom of the boat. Recreational canoes and kayaks employ seats and whitewater and surf variants employ the use of foam 'saddles' with thigh straps or increasingly foam 'bulkheads' with integrated thigh hooks that give greater boat control under extreme conditions. The collaborative work of Greg Marchildon and Sid Robinson, "Canoeing the Churchill: A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway" is a 477 page compendium showcasing one of the most challenging and enjoyable 'water trails' that a canoeing enthusiast could ever hope for. Profusely illustrated throughout, and enhanced with the inclusion of historical materials, maps, photos, and a fur trade era travelogue, "Canoeing the Churchill: A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' from beginning to end and a welcome addition to any and all personal and community canoeing and Canadian travel reference collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps
Gazegorz Gorny & Janusz Rosikon
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781586178086, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Maria Faustyna Kowalska, (born Helena Kowalska, 25 August 1905 in G ogowiec - 5 October 1938 in Krakow, Poland), was a Polish nun is recognized in the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Faustina. Throughout her life, Faustina reported having visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she wrote about in her diary, later published as the book "The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul". At age 20 she joined a convent in Warsaw and was later transferred to P ock and then to Vilnius where she met her confessor, Father Micha Sopocko, who supported her devotion to the Divine Mercy. Faustina and Sopocko directed an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image, based on Faustina's reported vision of Jesus. Sopocko used the image to celebrate the first Mass on the first Sunday after Easter - which later was established by Pope John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday. Faustina was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church on 30 April 2000, having been considered a mystic and visionary. She is known and venerated within the Church as the Apostle of Divine Mercy. "Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps" is a profusely illustrated, 290 page compendium showcasing her life, travels and work. An extraordinary story of an extraordinary woman, "Trust: In Saint Faustina's Footsteps" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and seminary collections.

Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
G.K. Beale with David H. Campbell
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866219 $35.00 www.eerdmans.com

Revelation: A Shorter Commentary is the abridged distillation of G.K. Beale's exhaustive analysis and exegesis of the Biblical text. At 575 pages (as opposed to the original's length of 1,300 pages), Revelation: A Shorter Commentary is more accessible to students and general Christian readers, although some familiarity with theological study is presumed. Beale regards the Book of Revelation as an integral, continuous part of the Old Testament prophetic books, and purports that understanding allusions is key to grasping its meaning. More that sixty sets of "Suggestions for Reflection" round out this thoughtful, studious, and erudite treatise about the message that the Book of Revelation has for readers today.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

A New Buddhist Path
David R. Loy
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9781614290025 $16.95 www.wisdompubs.org

A New Buddhist Path: Enlightenment, Evolution and Ethics in the Modern World explores three crucial questions from a Buddhist perspective: "What is the meaning of enlightenment?", "How can one reconcile modern science with ancient religious teachings?", and "What is our role in the universe?". Author David R. Loy describes a path for Buddhism that stays faithful to its core traditions yet remains open to the values of modern society. "...the Buddha wasn't concerned about whether we believe in him, but how we practice and how we live. If there is some kind of life after death, the form that it takes will take care of itself, if we do what we are called to do right here and now. If nothing of that particular form survives death, that's okay too. That which has taken form as her, and you and I, opens us up to the satisfaction and joy of being part of that process in the eternal present." Highly recommended, especially for personal and public library Buddhist Studies shelves.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Introduction To Islam
Carole Hillenbrand
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500291580, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an, an Islamic holy book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (All h), and for the vast majority of adherents, also by the teachings, normative example and way of life; it also is composed of prophetic traditions of Muhammad (c. 570 - 8 June 632 CE), considered by most of them to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim. "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" by Carole Hillenbrand (Professor Emerita in Islamic history, University of Edinburgh and Professor of Islamic History, University of St. Andrews) is a 314 page history and explanation of the beliefs and practices of Islam since its inception down to the present day. Covering all related topics ranging from Sufism, to Jihad, to the role of women, "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it ideal for academia as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in understanding what Islam truly is and should be. This 314 page compendium is enhanced with the inclusion of some 79 full color illustrations, 9 pages of Endnotes; a 10 page Glossary; a 3 page listing for Further Reading; and a comprehensive index. "Introduction to Islam: Beliefs and Practices in Historical Perspective" is a critically important and timely addition to personal, community and academic library Islamic Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Hobby Shelf

The Origami Home
Mark Bolitho, author
Photography by Michael Wicks
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500
New York, NY 10107
9780762454204 $22.00 www.runningpress.com

Origami is the ancient Japanese art of folding paper into eye-catching three-dimensional sculptures. Chair of the British Origami Society Mark Bolitho presents The Origami Home: More than 30 Projects to Craft, Fold, and Create, a gorgeous how-to guide filled with step-by-step instructions for creating beautiful origami furniture items perfect for dollhouses, dioramas, or simple decoration. Items that one can craft range from stylish living room furniture to a bathtub to a perky pet. An accompanying giant folder filled with specially cut and beautifully patterned origami paper rounds out this self-contained, hands-on kit that hobbyists of all ages can enjoy.

The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain
Jeff Wilson
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890249444 $19.99 www.kalmbachbooks.com

The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain is an in-depth sourcebook for creating realistic replicas of grain industry buildings from the 1800's today, the better to enhance one's model railroad layout. (The nuts-and-bolts details of crafting models is left to other guides; The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain is primarily focused on model subjects instead of assembly instructions). Filled vintage black-and-white as well as modern full-color photography of notable grain industry buildings throughout the decades, as well as ideas for modeling railcars, working grain elevators, small-town feed mills, covered hoppers, and much more, The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain lives up to its title and then some. The text offers a detailed tour of the history and evolution of the grain industry, making The Model Railroader's Guide to Grain a fascinating browse from cover to cover.

DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3
Mike Polsgrove & Cody Grivno
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890249826, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Model railroading is a continually growing hobby. Digital Command Control (DCC) has greatly increased in popularity in recent years. Yet, most modelers need help navigating this tricky technology. "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" provides step-by-step instructions and how-to tips to show modelers how to set up, maintain, and operate DCC systems. This includes everything from layout wiring to decoder installation to light and sound effects. It also features information on the latest software, technology and upgraded manufacturer items. "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" is a 96 page instruction manual that covers converting a DC layout to DCC; preventing and troubleshooting short circuits; installing decoders in N and HO locomotives; adding various lighting effects to locomotives; installing and controlling lights in cabooses and passenger cars; adding speakers and sound effects to engines; programming decoders; and fine-tuning locomotive speeds. Profusely illustrated throughout, "DCC Projects & Applications: Volume 3" is as informed and informative as it is thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly recommended.


The Photography Shelf

Landscape Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide
David Taylor
Ammonite Press
c/o GMC Distribution
166 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1XU, UK
www.ammonitepress.com
9781781450888, $16.52 (16.99 British Pounds), www.amazon.com

Landscape photography shows spaces within the world, sometimes vast and unending, but other times microscopic. Landscape photographs typically capture the presence of nature. "Landscape Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide" by professional landscape photographer David Taylor is a 176 page instruction manual for aspiring landscape photographers offering a series of thoroughly 'user friendly' tutorials teaching the basic skills and techniques of photography as applied to specific subject areas. Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Landscape Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide" also offers detailed information on types of cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and other accessories for the aspiring landscape photographer. Of special note is the instructions on color, composition, effects of light, effects of color on the perception of a photograph, and the basic rules of photographic composition. Informed and informative from beginning to end, "Landscape Photography: The Essential Beginner's Guide" is recommended as an ideal do-it-yourself instruction manual and guide.

Forensic Photography
Nick Marsh
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com
9781119975823, $99.95, www.amazon.com

Forensic photography, sometimes referred to as forensic imaging or crime scene photography, is the art of producing an accurate reproduction of a crime scene or an accident scene using photography for the benefit of a court or to aid in an investigation. It is part of the process of evidence collecting. It provides investigators with photos of victims, places and items involved in the crime. Pictures of accidents show broken machinery, or a car crash, and so on. Photography of this kind involves choosing correct lighting, accurate angling of lenses, and a collection of different viewpoints. Scales, like items of length measurement or objects of known size, are often used in the picture so that dimensions of items are recorded on the image. Written by a practitioner Nick Marsh who draws upon his many years of professional experience, "Forensic Photography: A Practitioner's Guide" is a 416 page instruction manual and guide that provides an overview of the most common forensic photography techniques in use today for those readers who may not have a detailed understanding of camera techniques and who need to get to grips with the use of light and other key scientific aspects of the job. It covers image capture issues, file handling and relevant equipment, such as lasers and UV lights, and explores how they work. The predominance of the digital camera has resulted in an increasing trend for police forces across the world to use untrained camera users, rather than expert photographers. Therefore, "Forensic Photography: A Practitioner's Guide" will prove invaluable for those practitioners who need to produce accurate and clear photographic evidence, above and beyond the point and shoot mode on their cameras. Of special note is the appendix on tripods and camera supports. An ideal and comprehensive textbook on the subject, "Forensic Photography: A Practitioner's Guide" is especially recommended for academic library Photography and Forensic Science reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart
Kathryn E. Delmez, editor
Vanderbilt University Press
VU Station B 351813, Nashville, TN 37235-1813
www.vanderbiltuniversitypress.com
9780826520173, $35.00, www.amazon.com

John Martin "Marty" Stuart (born September 30, 1958) is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for both his traditional style, and eclectic merging of rockabilly, honky tonk, and traditional country music. In the early 1990s, he had a successful string of country hits. While most country music enthusiasts would know Mary as an extraordinarily talented musician and songwriter, few would be aware that he is also a gifted photographer with an artist's eye for subject matter and composition. Compiled and edited by Kathryn E. Delmez, "American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart" is a 132 page compendium of truly impressive black-and-white photographs by Stuart. There is one exceptional color photograph of the 1904 Edward S. Curtis painting 'The Vanishing Race'. Marty encountered the painting in 1999 and, ironically, would eventually be inducted into the Lakota trip as a family member. Enhanced with an introduction by Marty Stuart and featuring an informed and informative essay by Susan H. Edwards, "American Ballads: The Photographs Of Marty Stuart" is a 'must' for his legion of fans and would be an impressive addition to any personal, community, or academic library American Photographic Studies collection.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968
Marti De Graaf and Toby Mack
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310
9780764345760 $69.99 www.schifferbooks.com

DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968 is the first-ever compendium, showcase, and guide to vintage perfume bottles and related vanity products produced by DeVilbiss, the foremost manufacturer of such items in the 20th century. Full-color photography on virtually every page (plus the occasional black-and-white vintage photograph or news article reproduction) offers a visual tour of over 1,000 exquisite collectibles, while the text is peppered with vignettes about their manufacture, distribution, use, and role in high society culture. The glasswork is simply stunning to behold, making DeVilbiss Perfume Bottles and their Company Suppliers 1907-1968 a treasury for any who appreciate masterfully crafted glass bottles as fine art.

Show Road Model Kits
Scotty Gosson
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613251560, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Hot rods are typically old, classic American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. Roadsters were the cars of choice because they were light, were easy to modify, and could be bought for a low price. The term became commonplace in the 1930s or 1940s as the name of a car that had been "hopped up" by modifying the engine in various ways to achieve higher performance. The term can also apply to other items that are "souped up" for a particular purpose, such as "hot-rodded amplifier". The popularity of hot rods gave rise to do-it-yourself model toy kits. Compiled with commentary by Scotty Gosson, "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 144 page compendium showcasing an amazing variety and number of these hot rod model kits. As informed and informative as it is a delight to simply browse through, "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is very highly recommended for hot rod enthusiasts, do-it-yourself model kit collectors, as well as community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Culture collections. It should be noted that "Show Rod Model Kits: A Showcase of America's Wildest Model Kits" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Woodworking Shelf

Wood Craft Love
Jodie Landry
Design Originals
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781574219197, $9.99, www.FoxChapelPublishing.com

Compiled with commentary and step-by-step instructions by Jodie Landry, "Wood Craft Love: Vintage Inspired Home Decor Projects You Can Make" is a superbly illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' 48 page compendium showcasing seventeen do-it-yourself projects that can be made in a single weekend or less! The projects range from the creation of stylish furniture, to wall art, to fixtures, and more. Replete with creative ideas for transforming wood blanks and flea market treasures into works of utility and art, "Wood Craft Love" shows how to use chalk-finish paints, waxes, spray paints, decoupage, and stencils. "Wood Craft Love" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Woodworking and Recreational Crafts instructional reference collections.


The American History Shelf

Chewing Gum in America, 1850-1920
Kerry Segrave
McFarland
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786498451 $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Also available as an ebook, Chewing Gum in America, 1850-1920: The Rise of an Industry explores the evolution an of ubiquitous modern item in America. Before commercially-made gum existed, Americans were known to scrape resin from spruce trees, removing bits of bark or insects, to make a chewable product. Commercially made gum appeared in three types - tree resin, petroleum-based paraffin and chicle-based. At first, chewing gum was thought of as a bad habit that only women practiced, but its popularity grew among all sectors of society. A backlash of negative reactions also appeared from editorial writers, reformers, religious figures, employers, and the courts. Individuals also grappled with the problem of what to do with chewed gum - save it in lockets around the neck? Share it with friends? An extraordinary contribution to cultural history collections, extensively researched yet accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Chewing Gum in America, 1850-1920 is enthusiastically recommended especially for public and college libraries.

History of Nebraska, fourth edition
Ronald C. Naugle, John J. Montag, & James C. Olson
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803286269 $35.00 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu

Now in a revised and updated fourth edition, with an expanded amount of content concerning the roles of Native Americans, women, and minorities in Nebraska's history, History of Nebraska is a detailed account of Nebraska's conflict, culture, agriculture, politics, and much more, from before it became a state to the new millennium. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this studious yet accessible text, enhanced with an extensive index. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections.


The World History Shelf

Magna Carta Uncovered
Anthony Arlidge & Igor Judge
Hart Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781849465564, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Magna Carta (Latin: "Great Charter") is a charter agreed by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown, to be implemented through a council of 25 barons. Neither side stood behind their commitments, and the charter was annulled by Pope Innocent III, leading to the First Barons' War. After John's death, the regency government of his young son, Henry III, reissued the document in 1216, stripped of some of its more radical content, in an unsuccessful bid to build political support for their cause. At the end of the war in 1217, it formed part of the peace treaty agreed at Lambeth, where the document acquired the name Magna Carta. Co-written by Anthony Arlidge ( a Queen's Counsel for more than 30 years and in 1990 was called upon during a case to argue the meaning of clause 40 of Magna Carta) and retired Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Igor Judge, "Magna Carta Uncovered" is a 238 page history and detailed explanation of the Magna Carta and its place in English (and subsequently American) law. Extraordinarily well written, "Magna Carta Uncovered" will prove to be an invaluable addition to community and academic library history collections in general, and to the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the Magna Carta in particular.


The Money/Finance Shelf

You Can Adopt Without Debt
Julie Gumm
JulieGumm.com
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
9781426793004 $15.99 www.abingdonpress.com

The adoption process can unfortunately be expensive. You Can Adopt Without Debt, author Julie Gumm, herself the mother of two biological and two adopted children, walks the reader through practical strategies for mitigating expenses and avoiding debt during the adoption process. Chapters discuss applying for grants, creative budgeting, fundraising through sales or social media, obtaining tax incentives, and partnering with adoption organizations. Every family considering adoption should read You Can Adopt Without Debt cover to cover - the better to preserve a college fund for the newest addition to the family!


The Fashion Shelf

Asian Street Fashion
James Bent
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500544402 $24.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Asian Street Fashion is a full-color photographic compendium of what young people in various Asian nations boldly choose to wear. Showcasing self-selected outfits of men and women in China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and more nations, Asian Street Fashion reveals original flair and openness to the influences of both street style and high fashion. Almost the entire book is devoted to photography; there is very little text, and the striking, nonconformist outfits speak for themselves. Paging through Asian Street Fashion from cover to cover is an irresistible temptation!


The Geology Shelf

Introducing Mineralogy
John Mason
Dunedin
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781780460284 $29.50 www.isbs.com

Illustrated with a wealth of full-color photography, Introducing Mineralogy is a novice-friendly guide to the science of studying minerals. Chapters discuss the types of mineral occurrences, the hobby of mineral collecting (which overlaps with professional mineral collecting for scientific study), the uses of minerals, minerals and the environment, and more. An extensive glossary and a list of resources for further reading round out this educational and appreciable guide, suitable for all ages. A choice pick for public library geology shelves!

Ohio Rocks!
Albert B. Dickas
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426355 $18.00 www.mountain-press.com

The third book in the state-by-state "Geology Rocks!" series, Ohio Rocks! A Guide to Geologic Sites in the Buckeye State is a wonderful blend of educational resource and travel guide for all ages. Simple maps and full-color photographs throughout explore Ohio's rich natural history. The text takes readers on an armchair tour of sites ranging from Seneca Caverns to Oakes Quarry, Blackhand Gorge, multiple highlights on the Appalachian Plateau, and much more. A glossary, list of references, and an index round out this accessible and enjoyable guide, highly recommended especially for public library collections.


The Philosophy Shelf

Education for Life
George Turnbull
Edited and with an introduction by M.A. Stewart and Paul Wood
Knud Haakonssen, General Editor
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46250
9780865976214 $24.00 www.libertyfund.org

Education for Life: Correspondence and Writings on Religion and Practical Philosophy gathers writings from George Turnbull (1698-1748), a philosopher who, like other luminaries of the Scottish Enlightenment, resisted the unyielding constraints of their native Calvinism and sought to reconcile religion with reason and science. Turnbull worked to fashion a new system of philosophy to supplant the rigid scholasticism and dogmatic theology that he felt had overwhelmed the educational institutions and prevailing attitudes of his time. Championing the qualities of politeness and civic virtue, Turnbull advocated that Christianity could be tolerant, morally beneficial, and promote reason. Meticulously edited with detailed notes, a bibliography, and an index, Education for Life is a welcome addition to college library philosophy collections.

Waking, Dreaming, Being
Evan Thompson
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231137096 $32.95 http://cup.columbia.edu

Evan Thompson (Professor of Philosophy, University of British Columbia in Vancouver) presents Waking, Dreaming, Being: Self and Consciousness in Neuroscience, Meditation, and Philosophy, a measured philosophical treatise that draws upon neuroscience research on sleep, dreaming, and meditation, as well as Indian and Western understandings of the mind and the self. Thompson contrasts the awareness of the self while awake, while meditating, or while having a lucid dream. Traditions such as Buddhism postulate that human beings can learn to let go of the self while alive, preparing ourselves for the inevitable transition of death. Contemplative and groundbreaking, Waking, Dreaming, Being is a welcome addition to college library philosophy shelves.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Caveman Rules of Survival
Dawn C. Walton
Change Makers Books
www.changemakers-books.com
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
c/o National Book Network (distribution)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781782797579 $16.95 www.nbnbooks.com

The Caveman Rules of Survival: 3 Simple Rules Used By Our Brains to Keep Us Safe and Well is a self-help guide about subconscious impulses that humans have evolved with since the era of cavemen - and how these blind drives can harm one's life if not countered. The three preprogrammed rules are "React First or You'll Die!", "If Your Parents Don't Love You, You'll Die!" and "If You Are Not Part of a Pack, You Will Die". These rules have played a key role in individual survival for countless generations, but allowing them unfettered control over one's actions is a sure recipe for unhappiness (such as a lingering mandate to please an unpleasable parent, or the craving to "fit in" with the group even when doing so would destroy one's dreams). A plain-terms psychology self-help guide to better understanding one's own subconscious, and using that knowledge to improve one's life, The Caveman Rules of Survival is highly recommended.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Science of the Rishis
Mataji Devi Vanamali
www.vanamalishram.org
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620553862 $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

In ancient India, rishis were the scribes of the Vedas. Dubbed "the scientists of Hinduism", they developed the spiritual science of Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma, in order to foment cultural renewal and progress. Sanatana Dharma affects all aspects of Hindu culture, including religion, arts, and sciences; the texts even connect with the fundamental ideas of quantum physics and other modern scientific discoveries. The Science of the Rishis: The Spiritual and Material Discoveries of the Ancient Sages of India is a detailed introduction to the science of Sanatana Dharma for readers of all backgrounds, including core concepts of Hinduism such as Brahman, atman, bhakti, karma, and reincarnation and their connections to modern science. Accessible and user-friendly, The Science of the Rishis is a welcome contribution to religious studies shelves with a focus on Hinduism.


The Poetry Shelf

Each Perfected Name
Richard St. John
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
http://tsup.truman.edu
9781612481302 $15.95 pb / $9.99 ebook www.amazon.com

Each Perfected Name is an anthology of brief poems in a variety of experimental formats, exploring concepts such as the existence of the sacred within the mundane, the ephemeral quality of everyday life, and the quest to find one's purpose and make the world a better place. Thought-provoking and soulful, Each Perfected Name is highly recommended. "Vita Nuova": For weeks I lay / in the bright box. / No one touched me much. // Around me, sweet, thick oxygen / probed my still-squinched eyes / and fed my tiny lungs. // My mother must have stood beyond / thick glass; she couldn't do a thing / but pray and watch my plight. // It was the beginning / of my blindness and my need. / The start of my new life.


The Gardening Shelf

Grow A Little Fruit Tree
Ann Ralph
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781612120546, $16.95, www.amazon.com

A fruit tree is a tree which bears fruit that is consumed or used by humans and some animals -- all trees that are flowering plants produce fruit, which are the ripened ovaries of flowers containing one or more seeds. In horticultural usage, the term 'fruit tree' is limited to those that provide fruit for human food. Fruit tree pruning is the cutting and removing of parts of a fruit tree. It covers a number of horticultural techniques that control growth, remove dead or diseased wood, and stimulate the formation of flowers and fruit buds. Pruning often means cutting branches back, sometimes removing smaller limbs entirely. It may also mean removal of young shoots, buds, leaves, etc. Careful attention to pruning and training young trees affects their later productivity and longevity. Good pruning and training can also prevent later injury from weak crotches (where a tree trunk splits into two or more branches) that break from the weight of fruit, snow, or ice on the branches. In "Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees", author Ann Ralph draws upon her twenty years of experience and expertise growing fruit trees and teaching pruning classes in the San Francisco Bay Area to present a profusely illustrated and user friendly 168 page instruction manual that will allow even the most novice fruit tree grower to be successful in properly maintaining both in size and quality of production their own fruit trees. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, "Grow a Little Fruit Tree: Simple Pruning Techniques for Small-Space, Easy-Harvest Fruit Trees" is very highly recommended for personal and community library Gardening and Agriculture instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Grow a Little Fruit Tree" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Mathematics Shelf

Sneaky Math
Cy Tymony
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781499445201, $12.99, www.amazon.com

Mathematics, often shortened to math, is the study of topics such as quantity (numbers), structure, space, and change. There is a range of views among mathematicians and philosophers as to the exact scope and definition of mathematics. Often ordinary folk find math intimidating and difficult to master. That's why "Sneaky Math: A Graphic Primer with Projects: Ace the Basics of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus with Everyday Things" by Cy Tymony is so valuable in that it will show the reader how math is all around us in our daily lives and presents 192 page compendium packed with easy and fun math projects that range from geometry primers; math challenges, tricks and formulas; and algebra primers; to trigonometry primers, calculus primers, and basic fundamentals of numbers and arithmetic. Highly recommended for school and community library mathematics collections, it would prove exceptionally useful for students struggling with math concepts and is an ideal curriculum supplement for home schooling parents. It should be noted that "Sneaky Math: A Graphic Primer with Projects: Ace the Basics of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus with Everyday Things" is also available in a Kindle edition. Of special interest for anyone with an appreciation of Cy Tymony's 'Sneaky' series, is his web site at www.sneakyuses.com


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Great Recession and the Contradictions of Contemporary Capitalism
Riccardo Bellofiore & Giovanna Vertova, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9780857938527, $120.00, 256pp, www.amazon.com

The Great Recession is a term used to describe the general economic decline observed in world markets around the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The exact scale and timing of the recession is debated and varied from country to country. In terms of overall impact, the IMF concluded that it was the worst global recession since World War II. According to the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research (the official arbiter of U.S. recessions) the U.S. recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, and thus extended over 18 months. The Great Recession was related to the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and financial crisis of 2007 - 08. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Riccardo Bellofiore (Professor of Political Economy, University of Bergamo, Italy) and Giovanna Vertova (Assistant Professor of Political Economy, University of Bergamo, Italy), "The Great Recession and the Contradictions of Contemporary Capitalism" is a 256 page compendium comprised of twelve seminal articles by researchers and economists on various international aspects of the economic recession that created the conditions of the greatest economic global downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Enhanced with the inclusion of a thirty-five page Index, "The Great Recession and the Contradictions of Contemporary Capitalism" is a critically important contribution and a strongly recommended addition to academic library Economics reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

A Humane Economy
Wilhelm Ropke
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
www.isibooks.org
9781610171014, $18.00, 336pp, www.amazon.com

Wilhelm Ropke (October 10, 1899 - February 12, 1966) was a professor of economics, first in Jena, then in Graz, Marburg, Istanbul, and finally Geneva, Switzerland. Professor Ropke is widely considered to be one of the spiritual fathers of the social market economy, theorizing and collaborating to organize the post-World War II economic re-awakening of the war-wrecked German economy, deploying a program sometimes referred to as the sociological neoliberalism. "A Humane Economy: The Social Framework of the Free Market" by Wilhelm Ropke is one of the most accessible and compelling introductions to economics ever written for academia or non-specialist general reader with an interest in economics and economy theory. "A Humane Economy" cuts through the jargon that mars most economic writing to show exactly how economies operate. "A Humane Economy" is a sweeping work highlights both market mechanics and moral philosophy and would prove to be a valued addition to community and academic library Economics Studies collections. It should be noted that "A Humane Economy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The International Studies Shelf

Israel's Security Men
Thomas G. Mitchell
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786496266, $35.00, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Moshe Dayan (20 May 1915 - 16 October 1981) was an Israeli military leader and politician. As commander of the Jerusalem front in Israel's War of Independence, Chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (1953 - 58) during the 1956 Suez Crisis, but mainly as Defense Minister during the Six-Day War, he became to the world a fighting symbol of the new state of Israel. Yitzhak Rabin (1 March 1922 - 4 November 1995) was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974 - 77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995. Ariel Sharon (February 26, 1928 - January 11, 2014) was an Israeli politician and general who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel until he was incapacitated by a stroke. Ehud Barak (born Ehud Brog; 12 February 1942) is an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2001. He was leader of the Labor Party until January 2011. He previously held the posts of Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister in Binyamin Netanyahu's second government from 2009 to 2013. "Israel's Security Men: The Arab-Fighting Political Careers of Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon and Ehud Barak" by Thomas G. Mitchell is a 256 page account of how these four men successfully conducted negotiations with Israel's Arab neighboring countries and provides informed and informative insights into how those negotiations were held from the establishment of the state of Israel in 1949 down to 2000. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix (Military Politicians in the United States and South Africa), fifteen pages of Notes, a two page Bibliography, and an eleven page Index, "Israel's Security Men" is an invaluable contribution to personal, community, and academic library 20th Century International Studies and Israeli Political History studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Israel's Security Men" is also available in a Kindle edition ($21.29).


The Military Shelf

The Handy Military History Answer Book
Samuel Willard Crompton
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road, #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
http://www.visibleinkpress.com
KT Public Relations
9781578595099, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships. Professional historians normally focus on military affairs that had a major impact on the societies involved as well as the aftermath of conflicts, while amateur historians and hobbyists often take a larger interest in the details of battles, equipment and uniforms in use. The essential subjects of military history study are the causes of war, the social and cultural foundations, military doctrine on each side, the logistics, leadership, technology, strategy, and tactics used, and how these changed over time, the moral dimensions of warfare, doctrines of military ethics. "The Handy Military History Answer Book" by military historian Samuel Willard Crompton is a 560 page compendium fifteen sections chronologically organized beginning with Iron, Stone, and Bronze: 5000 to 520 BCE and concluding with Resource Wars and Religious Conflicts: 1980 to 2014. Nicely illustrated throughout, "The Handy Military History Answer Book" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it a truly extraordinary and highly recommended addition to academic and community library Military History collections. Ideal for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the history of military conflicts from antiquity to the present day, it should be noted that "The Handy Military History Answer Book" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Biography Shelf

Lady Katherine Knollys
Sarah-Beth Watkins
Chronos Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
c/o National Book Network
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706 (dist.)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781782795858 $16.95 www.johnhuntpublishing.com

Lady Katherine Knollys: The Unacknowledged Daughter of King Henry VIII is a biography of Katherine Knollys (1524-1569), the daughter of King Henry VIII's mistress Mary Boleyn, before he married her sister Anne Boleyn. Though she was never officially acknowledged as the daughter of a king during her lifetime, she served prime appointments at the royal court, and was a maid of honor to both Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard. She married Francis Knollys at age 16 and was mother to fourteen children, many of whom achieved fame (or notoriety) in their own right. An expertly researched account, yet accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Lady Katherine Knollys is a welcome contribution to public and college library biography shelves.

Massenet and His Letters: A New Biography
Anne Massenet
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576472088, $48.00, www.amazon.com

Jules Emile Frederic Massenet (12 May 1842 - 13 August 1912) was a French composer best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are Manon (1884) and Werther (1892). He also composed oratorios, ballets, orchestral works, incidental music, piano pieces, songs and other music. In "Massenet and His Letters: A New Biography", biographer Anne Massenet draws upon previously unpublished family archives, letters, and photos to present a 250 page biography of Jules Massenet, enhanced with reproductions of his letters and other images. The result is an impressively researched and detailed biography that should be considered a critically important addition to academic library 19th Century European Music and Biography collections -- as well as a mandatory addition to Massenet studies supplemental reading lists.


The Library Science Shelf

Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals, second edition
Penny Peck
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781591583998, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals" by Penny Peck (a children's library for more than 25 years) is a 136 page instruction manual and guide that is thoroughly 'user friendly' and enhanced with simple, easy-to-follow directions. This beginner's guide to storytelling traces the developmental stages of very young children, illustrating how to present storytime for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers as well as in family settings to be most effective. "Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals" explains the fundamentals of reading with the intent of capturing children's imaginations, showing how to incorporate music, play, and hands-on activities into a routine. "Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals" offers expert advice on how to choose the best picture books and provides lists of books for addressing particular literacy needs. A perfect primer for those new to the task, this guide illustrates how to make this activity a favorite of children and provides tips for progressing in the role of storyteller, with ideas for engaging your audience and enhancing enjoyment. Beginning with the basics of performing a library storytime, each subsequent chapter builds on that knowledge, offering ways to infuse technology, special needs adaptations, and music into the story. The revised edition addresses such current topics as iPads, apps usage, online options, and dance programs. "Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals" is thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout and very highly recommended for library staff development and academic library 'Library Science' instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Crash Course In Storytime Fundamentals" is also available in a Kindle edition ($36.00).


The Autism Shelf

Asperger Syndrome: The Oasis Guide, third edition
Patricia Romanowski Bashe
Crown Publishing Group
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780385344654 $17.00 www.crownpublishing.com

Now in a fully revised, updated, and expanded third edition, Asperger Syndrome: The Oasis Guide is an in-depth resource especially for parents of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Written in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Asperger Syndrome: The Oasis Guide discusses treatments, options, interventions, possible medications, and how to help one's child grow up healthy and safe. "It is important for parents to be aware that every child with an ASD [autism spectrum disorder] is at increased risk for sexual abuse. According to Dr. Stephen Edelson, among the many risk factors particular to people with ASDs are difficulty detecting deception, trouble discriminating safe and unsafe people and situations, and problems recognizing when and knowing how to ask for help." An absolute "must-read" for parents of ASD children, Asperger Syndrome: The Oasis Guide is especially recommended for public library collections.

Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships
Ashley Stanford
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849057738, $21.95, www.jkp.com

Asperger Syndrome and Long-Term Relationships doesn't come from a psychological or analytical basis alone, but from an author who has been happily married to her Asperger Syndrome husband for some twenty-five years. She's an expert on how this disorder can affect a relationship, and has written a first edition of this book already. This second update clarifies the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, explains how ASD behaviors are commonly misinterpreted, explores common relationship conflicts that evolve because of this misinterpretation, and packs in more strategies for understanding the places where ASD is rigid and where compromises can be made to benefit all. A better understanding of how ASD behaviors operate in a relationship setting is key to improving interactions for all, making this updated approach a continuing recommendation for health and psychology holdings alike.


The Egyptology Shelf

The Egyptian Books Of The Dead
Ogden Goelet Jr., et al.
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9781452144382, $35.00, www.amazon.com

The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text, used from the beginning of the New Kingdom (around 1550 BCE) to around 50 BCE. The original Egyptian name for the text is translated as "Book of Coming Forth by Day". "Book" is the closest term to describe the loose collection of texts consisting of a number of magic spells intended to assist a dead person's journey through the Duat, or underworld, and into the afterlife and written by many priests over a period of about 1000 years. Now a team of Egyptologists has translated and presents "The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Featuring Integrated Text and Full-Color Images". This 190 page, beautifully illustrated, flawlessly reproduced volume makes this iconic Egyptian work fully accessible to academic and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in Egyptology. No community or academic library should fail to include a copy of "The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Featuring Integrated Text and Full-Color Images" in the Egyptology reference collection!


The Wisconsin Shelf

Confidence & Crisis
Steven M. Avella
Marquette University Press
PO Box 3141, Milwaukee, WI 53201-3141
9780874620863 $24.00 www.marquette.edu/mupress

Confidence & Crisis: A History of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee 1959-1977 is a close examination of Roman Catholic life in southeastern Wisconsin. Chapters discuss the Catholic community's involvement and response to issues of racial justice. It was an era of idealism, and hope for a better tomorrow, but also a polarized time of difficult transitions. Particular focus is given to the efforts of William E. Cousins, a priest of Chicago and former bishop of Peoria, Illinois applied his masterful flexibility and talent for improvisation to preserve archdiocesan unity. An extensive index rounds out this detailed, scholarly chronicle, especially recommended for Wisconsin and Catholic history shelves.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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