Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Library Bookwatch

Library Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 6 June 2010 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library Science Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Library DVD Shelf American History Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf Civil War Shelf
Military Shelf Biography Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Poetry Shelf Self-Help Shelf Fiction Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Business Shelf Education Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Economics Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Cookbook Shelf World History Shelf
Crafts Shelf Woodworking Shelf Science Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Art Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Complete Guide to Preventing Foreclosure on Your Home
Martha Maeda & Maurcia DeLean Houck
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave. Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601382306, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Foreclosure is something many people live in constant fear of. "The Complete Guide to Preventing Foreclosure on Your Home: Legal Secrets to Beat Foreclosure and Protect Your Home Now" is a guide for these unfortunate individuals who want to fight the banks and do the best they can to not lose their home. Martha Maeda & Maurcia DeLean Houck provide much insight in how readers can use the law to stave off foreclosure and buy themselves as much time as possible. "The Complete Guide to Preventing Foreclosure on your Home" is a choice pick that everyone with foreclosure looming ahead should have on hand.


The Library Science Shelf

Developing an Outstanding Core Collection, second edition
Carol Alabaster
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910405, $60.00, www.alastore.ala.org

There are some things that all libraries should have. "Developing an Outstanding Core Collection" is a guide for defining what are the must haves for your library and defining what is significant enough to warrant it. In an updated second edition, Carol Alabaster gives librarians tips and advice on what they need to know to decide what has to be bought now and what can wait for a later time. With chapters on defining what is core, updating what needs to be considered core, and enhanced with plenty of references and citations, "Developing an Outstanding Core Collection" is a reference every librarian should have on hand.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Navigating The Rough Waters Of Today's Publishing World
Marcia Meier
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
www.quilldriverbooks.com
9781884995583, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Marcia Meier draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a journalist, published author, skilled poet, educator, and former director of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in "Navigating the Rough Waters of Today's Publishing World: Critical Advice for Writers from Industry Insiders", a 130-page compendium of practical, 'real-world' advice, insight, commentary, and instruction for writers seeking publication in today's increasingly volatile, rapidly evolving, and fiercely competitive publishing industry. Drawing upon her contacts in the publishing world, aspiring authors will benefit from the observations of 'The Writer' magazine publisher Elfrieda Abbe, literary agents Paul Fedorko and Jeff Herman, 'RedRoom.com founder Ivory Madison, and self-publishing icon Dan Poynter. Of special note are the chapters devoted to the issues of self-publishing, freelancing writing, websites and blogging, and the new social media tools of Facebook, MySpace, and Tweeting. Enhanced with a glossary, bibliographies on the craft of writing, book marketing, a resource listing of writer conferences and retreats, as well as web sites of specific value for writers, "Navigating the Rough Waters of Today's Publishing World: Critical Advice for Writers from Industry Insiders" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone and all aspiring authors seeking to become successful professionals.

POD for Profit
Aaron Shepard
Shepard Publications
PO Box 280, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
9780938497462, $16.00, www.newselfpublishing.com

The advent of desktop computer word processing software meant that anyone who could type could create a manuscript for whatever their version of 'The Great American Novel' or non-fiction block buster might be. Next came converting that manuscript into a published book -- long the nearly exclusive province of traditional publishers, technological progress in the form of 'publish on demand' or 'POD' publishers came into existence to meet the demand of self-publishing authors who lacked the expertise to accomplish this task but who could simply write a check to someone who could. The trick was how to make a financial profit on that capital investment. "POD for Profit" is clearly written and very nicely organized instructional guide from Aaron Shepard wherein he uses his own experience and expertise in the field to help others learn how to print and publish their own material through print on demand organizations, and not only get their material out there, but prove it to be a profitable move. "POD for Profit" is a choice and very highly recommended read for anyone considering printing on demand as their publishing option.


The Library DVD Shelf

Imagine This
PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.ssapr.com www.ImagineThisTheMusical.com
9781608832170 $18.98 CD
9781608832163 $24.99 DVD

The profound new musical "Imagine This" (115 min.) is now available on DVD, and its soundtrack is available on CD. Set in the Warsaw Ghetto of Poland in the bleak year 1942, "Imagine This" follows a group of actors who seek to keep the dream of resistance and hope alive by performing the epic tale of "Masada", an ancient Judean mountain where a small band of rebels dared to hold back 10,000 Roman soldiers. The DVD of "Imagine This" records a memorable live performance from London's West End; special features include bonus songs "Salome's Lament" and "No More", printable educational materials, and a 35-minute panel discussion including cast members, the show's director, and Holocaust scholar Thane Rosenbaum. The CD of "Imagine This" contains virtually the entire soundtrack, vividly performed. Both are excellently performed, and deserve inclusion in the libraries of anyone who enjoys the power of a profound and serious musical. Also highly recommended from PBS are the documentaries "My Lai" (9781608832101, $24.99, 90 min.) and "Art & Copy" (9781608832255, $24.99).

PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.ssapr.com

Two new episodes of the award-winning science documentary "NOVA", originally broadcast on public television, are now available on DVD. "The Pluto Files" (9781608832040, $24.99, 56 min.) is based on Neil deGrasse Tyson's book of the same name, and features a commentary from Tyson himself. "The Pluto Files" explains the controversy about Pluto, and why the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium ceased to call Pluto a planet. Yet the concept of Pluto as a planet has captured so many hearts and minds - why is Pluto so cherished in the public's imagination? Could more Pluto-like celestial bodies exist within the Kuiper belt? "Extreme Cave Diving" (9781608832019, $24.99, 56 min.) features Dr. Kenny Broad as a guide to underwater caves that formed during the last ice age. With the aid of climatologists, paleontologists, and anthropologists, Broad guides the viewer in an extraordinary tour of some of the most remote, mysterious, and little-explored places left upon the earth. Both DVDs are superb additions to any school or public library collections, and enthusiastically recommended for their fascinating presentation as well as for their educational value.

Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
www.crystalproductions.com 1-800-255-8629

Handcrafts expert Peggy Flores presents two more instructional DVD titles designed to teach viewers of all skill and experience levels how to make beautiful objects. "Creating Fiber Weavings and Baskets" (9781562906528, $29.95) reveals how to make yarn weavings with nothing more elaborate than a cardboard or coat hanger loom. Step-by-step demonstrations of the basic weaving process, as well as how coiling rope wrapped with yarn can shape practical baskets, make "Creating Fiber Weavings and Baskets" amazingly easy to follow, given the elaborate, colorful, and practical finished products. "Wire Sculpture" (9781562906542, $29.95) instructs viewers in the elements of line, space, and shape as well as the use of tools to cut and bend wire, when creating three-dimensional wire art. Demonstrations and examples abound in this amazing guideline to superlatively blending one's skill and creativity. Both DVDs are excellent additions to any art classroom's library, and choice picks for budding artists seeking to experiment in a variety of media.

Tapped
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589399 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

An award-winning documentary on DVD from the producers of "Who Killed the Electric Car?", Tapped explores the dark side of the bottled water industry. Human beings need clean drinking water to live. It is legal in some states for gigantic bottled water companies to suck public tap water sources dry (even when shortages force residents to ration water) then repackage and resell it at a gigantic markup - with infinitely less regulatory oversight than there is for tap water (and bottled water sold in the same state as it is pumped is virtually unregulated) - but is it ethical? Is the plastic used to create the water bottles truly safe for humans to put in their mouths? Perhaps worst of all is America's catastrophic overall failure to recycle plastic water bottles, resulting in an avalanche of non-biodegradable waste being pitched into landfills, or even straight into the ocean, where plastic bottles form a large part of a floating ocean garbage mound hundreds of square miles large. The bottle deposit laws of some states have been a proven, highly effective method to promote recycling - but because it incurs a minor expense the enormously profitable bottled water industry (an expense otherwise borne by everyone who has to cope with improperly disposed plastic bottle), corporations fight such legislative measures tooth and nail. Corporate control over public water supply, and corporate refusal to help shoulder the burden of recycling the mounds of plastic trash that are the byproducts of its profit, can only be combated by political activism - ordinary citizens getting involved and laying claim to their water rights, as well as their rights to a clean environment. A must-see, highly recommended documentary guaranteed to make viewers think twice before paying through the nose for what is essentially bottled (and smartly advertised) tap water. 75 and 54 minute versions of Tapped are available on the same DVD. Two more highly recommended documentaries from Bullfrog Films are Megamall (159458916X, $295.00) and Dirt! The Movie (1594589402, $295.00).

Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
www.libertyfund.org 1-800-955-8335

Liberty Fund presents two excellent DVD additions to their "Intellectual Potrait Series". "A Conversation with Forrest McDonald" (9780865978225, $22.00) presents the candid words of an expert historian known for his writings on the American founding period, including "We The People: The Economic Origins of the Constitution", which challenged the long-held theory proposed by Charles A. Beard. Forrest McDonald speaks on his perception of the American republic, the role of the Presidency, the current state of the Bill of Rights, how economics, politics and history continue to interleave with one another today, and much more. "A Conversation with Steve Pejovich" (9780865978218, $22.00) presents the expert and widely published economics professor, author of numerous books including "Economics Performance: The Case for Common Law". Pejovich talks about his life, shaped in the beginning by struggling to survive under the Nazis, and then the Communists, and how moving to and living in the United States transformed how he saw the world. The values of "life, liberty, and happiness", and the interplay of economic freedom, cultural vibrancy, and quality of life, are all topics of discussion in this superb profile. Both are insightful, scholarly, and worthy additions to public and college library DVD collections.

Touching Evil: The Complete Collection
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598284393 $79.99 www.acornmedia.com

Touching Evil: The Complete Collection gathers the award-winning British drama following the Organized and Serial Crime unit. As Detective Inspector Dave Creegan recuperates from a gunshot wound to the head, his personal life is in tatters, but he retains genius-level insight into the workings of the criminal mind. He becomes a crucial member of a highly skilled team of detectives that dedicate themselves to tracking and stopping the deadliest serial killers, psychopaths, and pedophiles of Britain. The Organized and Serial Crime unit relies on advanced police techniques, while Creegan prefers to fall back upon his instincts; together they will need every tool at their disposal to fight worst depredations of monsters in human flesh. Featuring a top-quality cast and gripping writing, Touching Evil is strongly recommended for fans of crime drama. It should be noted that Touching Evil contains violence, nudity, and disturbing images; this is not a DVD collection for the faint of heart. 8 episodes on 5 discs, 13 hours, 4:3 full screen, SDH subtitles.

The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz
Smithsonian Networks
Infinity Entertainment Group
c/o Greenleaf & Associates (publicity)
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$12.98 smithsonianchannel.com

The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz is a documentary originally shown on the Smithsonian Channel, about the daring escape of three convicted bank robbers from the infamous Alcatraz prison on June 11, 1962. When they were discovered to be missing, a massive attempt was launched to track them down, to no avail. Did they find freedom? Or did they lose their lives in an ultimately doomed attempt to flee their isolated prison? The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz lives up to its title through interviews with people ranging from Darwin Coon, the inmate who assisted the escapees, to the wardens who realized they were missing, to the FBI agents assigned to track them down. Exciting and dramatic, The Real Story: Escape from Alcatraz is a worthy addition to public library DVD shelves. PG, 47 min. Also highly recommended from Smithsonian Networks is the DVD "Soul of a People: Writing America's Story" ($19.98, PG, 92 min.)

You Really Got Me: The Story of The Kinks
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$18.95 www.MVDvisual.com 1-800-888-0486

You Really Got Me: The Story of The Kinks is a rousing DVD collection of footage from The Kinks, one of few British bands that has been commercially successful in America. Covering the band's career from the sixties to the nineties, You Really Got Me includes highlights from the band's greatest moments on stage; their most beloved songs; and comments from band members including Ray Davies, Dave Davies, and Mick Avory. "You Really Got Me" deserves the highest recommendation to fellow music lovers from all walks of life. 87 minutes, colour and black & white.

World Class HiRail Layouts Part One
TM Books & Video
PO Box 279, New Buffalo, MI 49117
9781932291940 $19.95 www.tmbv.com 1-800-892-2822

World Class HiRail Layouts Part One is a DVD tour of the latest trend in O gauge layout building, focusing on three of the finest model railroads currently available to be seen. First is the largest model train exhibit in America, the New Jersey Hi-Railers' 185 X 45-foot layout operating 38 trains against museum quality scenery. Then it's off to the Train Masters of Babylon, including 3,000 square-feet of mainlines, subways, sidings and ten-foot trestle bridge painstakingly made to perfectly mimic an engineering landmark. Finally the viewer sees the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers' layout, which spans 28 square miles of track and showcases engines with diesel and steam power. This extraordinary tour of model railroads lovingly crafted with impeccable detail is sure to provide devoted hobbyists with catalysts of inspiration. World Class HiRail Layouts Part One lives up to its title as a thoroughly enjoyable treasury, highly recommended for model railroad enthusiasts. 60 minutes.

Do It Yourself Natural FaceLift With Debbie Dawson
Debbie Dawson
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.Doityourselfnaturalfacelift.com

Certified personal fitness trainer Debbie Dawson presents Do It Yourself Natural FaceLift With Debbie Dawson, a simple guide to improving the appearance of one's face and neck without resorting to expensive (and hazardous!) plastic surgery. The muscles of the face and neck can be exercised like any other part of the body, becoming firmer and more toned, promoting blood flow and collagen production. Do It Yourself Natural FaceLift is not only for those who wish to avoid a facelift, but also for those who have had one before and are struggling with ill effects, as well as those who are coping with Bell's Palsy. An easy-to-use instructional, with benefits that can quickly be felt in return for practicing its exercises for as little as twenty minutes a day - no injections, fillers, weights, glovers, or other gimmicks involved!

Raffles
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598283891 $59.99 www.acornmedia.com

Raffles: The Complete Collection is the four-disc DVD set collecting the entire television adaptation of the roguish adventures of Raffles (a character originally created by E.W. Hornung, brother-in-law of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). By day, A.J. Raffles (played by Anthony Valentine) is a championship cricketer and gentleman of leisure; but when he isn't in the public eye, he pursues is other passion - surreptitiously plundering the fortunes of the wealthy! In addition to his extraordinary expertise with accents and disguises, Raffles also has the assistance of his easily perplexed friend "Bunny" Manders (played by Christopher Strauli). Their weaving through oft-deadly predicaments between a rock, a hard place, and the persistently hostile efforts of Inspector Mackenzie (played by Victor Carin) makes for a grand adventure. Raffles consists of fourteen episodes, including the never-before-released pilot episode, as well as a biography of author E.W. Hornung and production notes. An absolute treat for anyone who loves British drama! 4 DVDs, 726 min., 4:3 full screen, color. Also highly recommended for fans of British drama is the PBS series "Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill" (9781598284140, $49.99, 361 min.) an award-winning miniseries about the life of an extraordinary American woman and her contribution to history.

Forever Young
John Humble
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$24.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.humblefitness.net

Forever Young is a nutrition, exercise, and general wellness guide for viewers over 50 who seek to keep themselves in optimal physical condition. John Humble, an expert personal trainer of 35 years' experience, presents a "Fountain of Youth" prescription for healthy living to combat common ailments among those over 50. Medical advice from guest experts enhance the four-step program, based around the key of "It is not about you" - that it's important stay healthy not only for one's own sake, but also for the sake of friends, family, and loved ones. The four keystones to better health and better living are resistance training (not bodybuilding, but a form of exercise that can be easily performed with low cost resistance bands), cardio training, good nutrition (especially lean meat, vegetables, fruits and nuts), and one thing more (the viewer is asked to take in the beginning of the DVD and the first three elements before learning about and focusing on the fourth). An excellent guide to staying young in body as well as young at heart, Forever Young lives up to its title and is a highly recommended addition to DVD wellness libraries. 70 minutes.

Offensive Basketball Moves
Marty Schupak
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Court, Valley Cottage, New York 10989
9780978945183 $24.95 www.YouthSportsClub.com

Marty Schupak, an expert in Physical Education and a youth sports coach of 21 years' experience, presents Offensive Basketball Moves, an instructional DVD for basketball players of all ages. Step-by-step instructions reveal how to teach and practice a wide variety of basketball moves, including the jab step, shot fakes, power dribble, hesitation move, form shooting, fade away shooting, pivot moves, shoulder shimmy, and much more. A superb teaching and reference guide ideal for enhancing skills, whether for coaching a youth league or even self-improvement in private basketball games one plays for fun, Offensive Basketball Moves deserves the highest recommendation for its quality presentation and ease of use. 34 minutes.

Schlessinger Media
7 East Wynnewood Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096-0580
www.schlessinger.com www.LibraryVideo.com 1-800-843-3620

Schlessinger's "Holidays for Children" ($29.95 each) DVD series spotlights special days of the year set aside to remember, honor, and celebrate. These installments, suitable for young people in grades K-4, are part of an educational 26-volume set ideal for classroom viewing. "Columbus Day" (9781417109432, 12 min.) reminds viewers of the extraordinary contributions of Christopher Columbus to European science, knowledge, and prosperity - as well as the tremendous toll his expeditions took upon the native peoples living within the landmass he discovered. Offering a balanced viewpoint, including reflections from a descendant of the Taino (one of the first native people whom Columbus encountered), "Columbus Day" is an invaluable and educational resource that encourages viewers to think for themselves rather than blindly accept positive or negative propaganda about this holiday. "Constitution Day" (9781417109449, 12 min.) emphasizes the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, and even includes a field trip to the National Constitution Center. "Earth Day" (9781417109456, 12 min.) not only traces the history of Earth Day since its inception in 1970 as the idea of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, but also encourages its celebration through recycling, composting, planting trees, and doing whatever one can do to conserve energy and natural resources. "The 100th Day of School" (9781417109425, 12 min.) encourages young people to think about the number 100 - from counting to 100 to pondering how drastically society has changed in the last 100 years, to what can be accomplished in 100 seconds, to imagining what one might buy with $100. The result is a bright and cheerful way to commemorate progress through the school year. All four DVDs are closed captioned and sold with limited public performance rights to be shown to any group in a school, public library, prison or military base without further written permission.

Roads to Memphis
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608832118 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Part of the "American Experience" PBS DVD series, Roads to Memphis: The Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a compelling documentary on DVD from Emmy Award-winning director Stephen Ives. Portraying the setting, historical events, and societal forces in motion up to the fateful day when James Earl Ray killed the widely beloved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Road to Memphis features testimony from people close to King as well as the officials who took part in Ray's capture and prosecution, and a guest appearance by Hampton sides, the award-winning author of a forthcoming book about the assassination ("Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin"). An extraordinarily vivid saga of true-life bloodshed and its repercussions, Roads to Memphis is powerful, unforgettable, and a choice pick for public library DVD collections. 90 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned. Also highly recommended is the award-winning PBS DVD presenting the next chapter of history, "A Ripple of Hope" (9781608832064, $24.99, 60 min., widescreen, closed captioned) chronicling the inspirational speech presidential candidate Robert Kennedy's subsequently dared to deliver to inner city Indianapolis despite the very real threat of violence, for riots and arson scarred America in the wake of King's murder.


The American History Shelf

The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois
Richard E. Bennett, et al.
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623820 $39.95 www.ahclark.com

The collaborative effort of Richard E. Bennett, Susan Easton Black, and Donald Q. Cannon, The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois: A History of the Mormon Militia 1841-1846 is a solid study of the Nauvoo Legion - a city militia assembled by America's Mormon population in response to experiencing persecution, violence, and forcible expulsion. One of the largest and most feared of America's militias of the era, The Nauvoo Legion was effectively led by Mormon prophet Joseph Smith - and its power caused concern among non-Mormons, culminating in the killing of Smith and his brother. The Nauvoo's charter was revoked, yet it was re-constituted after the Mormon migration to Utah. A superbly researched and presented account, The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois draws upon recently discovered archival material to paint an accurate historical picture of the citizen soldiers who served and the undertakings of their militia. An invaluable contribution to American and to Mormon history shelves, The Nauvoo Legion in Illinois is the definitive resource of the origins, undertakings, and perceptions of the Nauvoo Legion and highly recommended especially for college library shelves.

Uptown Downtown in Old Charleston
Louis D. Rubin, Jr.
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570039096 $29.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress 1-800-768-2500

Uptown Downtown in Old Charleston: Sketches and Stories is a collection that draws upon the author's personal experience in his native Charleston along with a vivid dose of imaginative insight and storytelling gifts. The result is a wonderfully picturesque narrative anthology that brings the Charleston of yesteryear to life. A blissfully evocative anthology of short stories, Uptown Downtown in Old Charleston flows smoothly, and renders its characters with warmth and heart as they go about their daily lives. Highly recommended.

Hope and History
Vincent Harding
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758577, $16.00, www.orbisbooks.com

In the past fifty years America has went from not even allowing black people in certain restaurants to electing the first black President. "Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement" tells the story of the civil rights movement of the past half century told through the eyes of Professor Vincent Harding, a man who has worked much with studying the movement. A great stride, Harding does well in painting the picture of a rapidly changing world. "Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement" is a choice addition to any history of black studies collection.

The Dead End Kids of St. Louis
Bonnie Stepenoff
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218889 $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Professor of History Bonnie Stepenoff The Dead End Kids of St. Louis: Homeless Boys and the People Who Tried to Save Them" is a historical study of the "lost" boys and young men who eked out a living on the streets of St. Louis from the late nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century. In that era, for a homeless young man, violence was a serious threat - loosely organized bands of youths were known to wander about the tenement districts and cause trouble. Sometimes gangs of boys took shelter in the system of caves beneath the city for weeks or months. A handful of black-and-white photographs enhance this accounting of how difficult it was to survive and mature under such circumstances - though the majority of these "lost boys" ultimately grew up to live more or less normal lives, sometimes their childhood experiences left them with permanent emotional scars. Chapters also cover the efforts of private philanthropy as well as public policy to aid these boys; some measures were effective, some did little good, and some were even counterproductive. A fascinating portrayal of a serious social issue in St. Louis' history, carefully researched and studiously presented, The Dead End Kids of St. Louis is an excellent addition to college library American History and Social Issues shelves.

Texas and Texans in the Great War
Ralph A. Wooster
State House Press
PO Box 818, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508
9781933337371 $24.95 www.mcwhiney.org/press

Military historian Ralph A. Wooster presents Texas and Texans in the Great War, a scholarly accounting of the contribution Texans made during World War I. 200,000 Texans served in the American armed forces, and more than 5,000 Texans in uniform perished during the course of the war. Texas and Texans in the Great War covers not only the efforts of Texan soldiers, but life on the Texan home front, the influence Texans had on France (and that France had on Texans), and the repercussions of victory and peace. A handful of black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate this excellent addition to Texas military history shelves.

The Red Corner
Verlaine Stoner McDonald
Montana Historical Society Press
225 N. Roberts, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620-1201
9780975919675 $16.95 montanahistoricalsociety.org

The Red Corner: The Rise and Fall of Communism in Northeastern Montana is the true story of how Sheridan County of Montana became a successful, virtually Communist community during the 1920s and early 1930s. Sheridan County used to have a government run primarily by Communists, a Communist youth camp, and an official newspaper of the American Communist Party, the "Producers News". Communist influence declined in the 30's, and in time residents came to view Sheridan County's Communist days as a mark of shame. Author and professor Verlaine Stoner McDonald reconstitutes history from newspaper accounts, oral testimonies, FBI reports, and internal Communist Party files in The Red Corner, creating a thoroughly accessible encapsulation of the Sheridan County Communist movement's evolution, effects, and legacy. The result is an excellent addition to college library and Montana history shelves.

The Randolph Women & Their Men
Ruth Doumlele
Book Publishers Network
PO Box 2256, Bothell, WA 98041
Barbara Kindness, Publicist
PO Box 1754, Edmonds, WA 98020
9781935359258 $19.95 www.bookpublishersnetwork.com

Historian Ruth Doumlele presents The Randolph Women & Their Men, an exceptional, expertly researched portrait of the upper class elite of the post-Revolution American South. Though particular focus is given to the Randolphs, the elite, influential leaders with whom they interacted - including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Madison - are also observed here, with strict attention paid to historical records. The Randolph Women & Their Men offers a uniquely up-close and personal glimpse into the daily lives of America's wealthy aristocracy of the past - including their scandals of incest, betrayal, and love that was not returned. Organized chronologically by year and broken into brief segments that peer into events surrounding the cast of real-life Americans, The Randolph Women & Their Men is further supplemented by end notes, a bibliography, and an index for ease of use. An enjoyable read for pleasure as well as for study into how America's upper crust used to live their daily lives, The Randolph Women & Their Men is highly recommended.

With Musket & Tomahawk
Michael O. Logusz
Casemate Publishers
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA19083
9781935149002 $32.95 www.casematepublishing.com

With Musket & Tomahawk: The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War of 1777 is an in-depth, military analysis of a crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War. In 1777 British leaders devised a three-pronged assault intended to separate New England from the rest of the fledgling, would-be nation of America, along the divider of the Hudson River. The results would have been devastating had England's forces succeeded; yet the offensive campaign med severe resistance from rifleman who knew the wild, heavily wooded land and rallied to defend their nation. A handful of black-and-white maps and diagrams accompany the detailed text, in this enthralling study that brings military history to life for readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended, especially for college libraries and military history shelves.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix
Joshua Jacobs
KiahKeya Productions
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$TBA (CD) $8.99 (MP3) www.flipswitchPR.com www.amazon.com

Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix is the re-imagined CD soundtrack of the feature-length documentary film "Footsteps in Africa", about the culture and life of the Tuareg desert communities of Africa. Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix is instrumental save for the blended vocalizations of throat singer Benno Klandt, who gives voice to the hidden intensity of the desert. A profound reflection of the bonds of community, and the stringent demands of desert life, Footsteps in Africa Soundtrack: Nomadic Remix also gives back to the very people whose culture made it possible: fifteen percent of all profits from the remixed album will be channeled to support clean water projects. An extraordinary contribution to international music collections, highly recommended. The tracks are "Mariama" (5:41), "Tea Dimm's New Brew" (5:39), "Mariama" (5:22), "Red Ladies Tent Jam" (6:35), "Tuareg Goosi Jam in Tent" (7:34), "Open" (4:38), "Hyena the PsyAmazigh Remix" (4:50), "Ahheahedon Tuareg Women's Jam" (4:54), "Tuareg Goosi Jam in Tent" (5::34), "Ahheahedon Tuareg Women's Jam" (3:28), and "End Titles" (3:27).

Business Class Refugees
Kartick and Gotam
EarthSync
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$16.98 www.flipswitchPR.com

Business Class Refugees is an instrumental "electro-folk" album from the Israeli duo of Kartick and Gotam. Some songs are grounded in traditional melodies, scales, and beats of India, yet all of them are blended with original flair. The theme of the album's title refers to the musician's experience when one day, in a Singapore airport, they were stranded without a visa or a flight to board - associating with those who had little, or were wrenched from their roots, the two continued work on their music from their laptops and over wireless connections regardless. Business Class Refugees is a celebration of using modern technological and musical flair to resurrect and transform ancient classics for the latest generation. An emotionally moving album that pays tribute to desert cultures of the past, present, and future, Business Class Refugees is highly recommended. The tracks are "Bonjour" (4:46), "Tamil Bossa" (5:10), "Boye Boye" (5:18), "Heer" (4:13), "Shiva Sheva" (6:26), "Door Open Door" (5:46), "Vellai Thaamarai" (3:37), "Supreme Chaos" (4:35), "Rututu" (4:19), and "Hear Comes the Funk" (5:50).

Liber
Oswin Chin Behilia
Otrabanda Records
c/o Burnside Distribution
6635 N. Baltimore Ave., Suite 285, Portland, OR 97203
$19.49 www.otrabandarecords.com

Caribbean troubadour Oswin Chin Behilia lends his dulcet voice (singing in his native language) to Liber, an album that blends folk, Curacoan tradition, and awareness of modern social issues as well as their historical roots. A smooth-flowing album featuring captivating rhythms and guitar tones in addition to Behilia's passionate singing, Liber is an acoustic gem to be treasured. The tracks are "Zikinza" (7:26), "Buta la Pasta" (5:37), "Si Abo No T'ei" (4:28), "Den Bo Kushina" (3:29), "Sokete" (3:42), "Liber" (2:02), "Ata Toni" (5:04), "Korupshon" (5:09), "Pasku Bashi" (2:41), "Di Malu En Peor" (3:02), "Sigi Traha e Bom" (7:26). 46 min.

Unconditional: Round Dance Songs
Wayne Silas, Jr.
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Menominee/Oneida singer and songmaker Wayne Silas, Jr. applies his years of experience with Pow-Wow drum groups to "Unconditional Round Dance Songs", Silas' debut solo Round Dance recording (with performances from Joe Syrette, Edmond Tate Nevaquaya, Jeremy Dearly, Nitanis "Kit" Landry", and Arianne Sheka). A profound collection that touches upon the powers of love, dreams, emotion, and opening oneself to a higher power, Unconditional: Round Dance Songs speaks directly to the listener's heart and soul. The tracks are "Made in Heaven" (4:27), "It's On Tonight" (4:50), "Let's Do the Math" (4:56), "Bread Crumbs" (3:10), "Butterflies" (4:35), "One of a Kind" (2:42), "Candy" (4:04), "Around Tha World" (4:46), "For Tha First Time" (3:56), "Sour & Sweet" (2:57), "Dreaming" (4:25), "Sweet Luv Tunes" (4:45), and "Superman" (3:42). 54 min. Also highly recommended is the round dance beat album "As the Rez Turns" by Pipestone ($15.98, 53 min.)

En Couleurs
Feufollet Records
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$TBA www.flipswitchPR.com www.feufollet.net

En Couleurs is the latest album from the band Feufollet, known for its original takes on Cajun style music. The song draw from Cajun tradition, without being strictly limited to fixed conventions. Though the Cajun instrument base of accordion, guitar, and fiddle make for a solid foundation, the composition, chords, and even inclusion of elements such an autoharp are vividly distinctive. En Couleurs is an absolute "must-have" for anyone who enjoys Cajun music, and a highly recommended addition to international music shelves. The tracks are "Au Fondu Lac" (3:10), "Vert" (0:26), "Des Promesses" (2:59), "La Berceuse du Vieux Voyageur" (3:05), "Si T'as Fini Avec Moi" (3:52), "Violet" (0:29), "Ouvre La Porte" (3:23), "Assis Dans La Fenetre de Ma Chambre" (1:40), "Les Jours Sont Longs" (4:43), "Valse du Vacher" (3:34), "La Valse de Gene Billeaudeaux" (1:56), "A Saint-Martin" (3:44), "Mon Tour Va Venir" (3:33), "Bleu" (1:46), "Toujours en Mouvement" (3:22), and "Rouge" (0:48).

La Difference
Salif Keita
Decca Label Group
jodie.thomas@umusic.com
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$16.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

La Difference is the latest album by Afro-pop singer Salif Keita. The albino son of two black African parents, Keita is in a unique position to appreciate and vigorously spread the virtues of tolerance and the value of celebrating differences. Shunned for his albinism in his native Mali while growing up, he traveled abroad to the Ivory Coast, Paris, London, and New York to advance his talent for composing and performing music, at last successfully returning to Mali as an accomplished and internationally known music artist. La Difference is particularly dedicated to fellow albinos in Africa, who must struggle to survive and fulfill their dreams amid severe cultural prejudice; other themes emerge as well, such as a cautionary warning about the ecological harm humanity is wreaking on Africa in the song "Ekolo d'Amour". To fulfill the primary purpose of La Difference, Keita has pledged that all profits from this album will fund his foundation to help albino Africans, "Salif Keita pour les Albinos". An extraordinary, rhythmic blend of traditional and modern cultures expressed in soul-stirring music, La Difference is highly recommended.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Philadelphia Report
Honorable Lynne Abraham, District Attorney
Cherry Hill Publishing
24344 Del Amo Road, Ramona, CA 92065
www.CherryHillPublishing.com
9780984375929 $19.95 unabridged MP3 CD
9780984375912 $29.95 abridged audio CD
9780984375936 $39.95 unabridged audio CD

The Philadelphia Report is the audiobook presentation of Philadelphia Investigating Grand Jury's 2005 report concerning the Catholic clergy's sexual abuse of minors in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The investigation, led by District Attorney Lynne Abraham, stretched over four years and involved scrutiny of over 60 abusing priests as well as church cover-ups that spanned decades. Narrated by a group of voice professionals, and featuring a foreword by report co-author and professor of law Marci A. Hamilton, The Philadelphia Report is disturbing because it is true - and because it reveals a tremendous wrong saturated in the fabric of modern American society. The Philadelphia Report is available in three versions: an unabridged one on two MP3 CDs (with an accompanying CD of .pdf documents), an abridged audio CD version, and an unabridged audio CD version. A "must-have" for college libraries with a focus on criminal law and justice.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Philosophy of Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696417 $89.95 www.opencourtbooks.com 1-800-815-2280

Volume XXXII in "The Library of Living Philosophers" series, The Philosophy of Richard Rorty is an outstanding compendium consisting of 29 critical essays by analytical philosopher Richard Rorty, as well as his intellectual autobiography, his replies to those who critique him, and a Rorty bibliography. From sharp criticism of the weaknesses of conventional methods of philosophy (especially the excess of preoccupation with questions of the foundation and representation of knowledge), to the invaluable role of pragmatism in everything from surveying language to as an invaluable tool to perpetuate democracy, and much more, The Philosophy of Richard Rorty is a welcome contribution to ongoing intellectual debate. The Philosophy of Richard Rorty is solidly organized and presented, a superb addition to philosophy shelves and a welcome contribution to college libraries.


The Civil War Shelf

Forgotten Black Soldiers Who Served in White Regiments During the Civil War
Juanita Patience Moss
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Avenue, Suite 104, Westminster, MD 21157-4826
9780788446474, $21.00, www.heritagebooks.com

Segregation was the rule of the Union and Confederate forces, but rules were not always followed. "Forgotten Black Soldiers Who Served in White Regiments During the Civil War" is author Juanita Patience Moss's investigation of these soldiers who served in white regiments going against the standard policy. Moss also discusses southern white people who fought for the Union in spite of being in Confederate lands. "Forgotten Black Soldiers" is a choice pick for any military history collection with a focus on the civil war.

Thunder on the River
Daniel L. Schafer
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th St., Gainesville, FL 32611
9780813034195 $29.95 www.upf.com

Daniel L. Schafer (distinguished Professor Emeritus of History, University of North Florida) presents Thunder on the River: The Civil War in Northeast Florida, a well-researched and solidly presented accounting of how the American Civil War impacted Florida. From the forces that pushed Florida to battle on behalf of the South (including widespread of the black population among Florida's whites), to the three times Union forces claimed Jacksonville and then abandoned it - followed by a fourth attempt in which Jacksonville was used to stage an ill-advised Union invasion of interior Florida - to the use of underwater mines against the U.S. Navy along the St. Johns, Thunder on the River vividly captures the turbulent events of history. Accessible to lay readers and historians alike, Thunder on the River is a superb addition to American Civil War collections and college library reference shelves.

Those Damned Black Hats!
Lance J. Herdegen
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714838 $19.95 www.savasbeatie.com

Award-winning journalist and author Lance J. Herdegen presents Those Damned Black Hats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign, the first book-length historical accounting of the Iron Brigade (an all-Western outfit that served the Union entirely in the Eastern Theater during the American Civil War) during the summer of 1863, particularly the "four long hours" of Gettysburg that all but destroyed them. The Iron Brigade, distinguished by their unique black Hardee Hats from Brawner's Farm, came to be known as "those damned Black Hats" by their opponents. Illustrated with a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, Those Damned Black Hats! is in-depth, meticulously researched and solidly presented, and an exceptional contribution to Civil War studies shelves. The Army Historical Foundation met for its Twelfth Annual Members Meeting on June 14th, 2009, at Mount Vernon, the estate of George Washington, and bestowed the The Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Award for Operational / Battle History, 2008 upon Those Damned Black Hats!

The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1: South Mountain
Ezra A. Carman
Thomas G. Clemens, editor
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714814 $37.50 www.savasbeatie.com

The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1: South Mountain presents the historical manuscript originally assembled by Ezra A. Carman, once a colonel of the 13th New Jersey Infantry during the American Civil War, and later appointed as the "Historical Expert" to the Antietam Battlefield Board in 1894. Now rendered in a new edition, edited by Dr. Thomas G. Clemens (a historian with particular expertise in the Maryland Campaign), The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 Volume 1 is an exhaustive accounting, originally assembled from the testimonies of hundreds of veterans, as well as thousands of letters and maps. An extensive introduction familiarizes the reader with the origins and importance of the manuscript, as well as the research and presentation processes that Carman used. The Maryland Campaign of September 1862 is an excellent addition to college library and Civil War reference shelves, deserving the highest recommendation.


The Military Shelf

Dogface Soldier
Wilson A. Heefner
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218827 $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Dogface Soldier: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr. is a solid, in-depth biography of an exemplary American military leader, who President Eisenhower valued as second only to Patton, and who took over Patton's command from October 8, 1945 to April of 1946. Truscott pioneered new combat training methods such as the so-called "Truscott Trot", played a critical role in winning key battles in North Africa, Sicily, Anzio, and Southern France, and was highly respected by officers and "dogfaces" (rank-and-file soldiers) alike. Dogface Soldier reveals the civilian and military education, family, and friends that shaped Truscott's life, his military genius and expertise, and his service after the war - especially his efforts to improve living conditions for displaced Jews to remove Nazis from positions of power, and his involvement in the trials of German war criminals. An excellent addition to military biography shelves, public and college library reference shelves, Dogface Soldier is accessible to lay readers and historians alike and very highly recommended.


The Biography Shelf

Freeing Charles
Scott Christianson
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252076886 $24.95 www.press.uillinois.edu

Freeing Charles: The Struggle to Free a Slave on the Eve of the Civil War is an extraordinary chronicle of escaped slave Charles Nalle of Culpeper, Virginia, who was freed through force by Harriet Tubman and others. Freeing Charles portrays how he escaped through the Underground Railroad shortly before the American Civil War, and his encounters in the North. The entire incident involved one of the most severe anti-slavery riots outside of Harpers Ferry. Freeing Charles is more than a dry historical rendition; author Scott Christianson also portrays the slavery culture in Virginia, and the political and psychological forces driving Charles' dramatic true story. A snapshot of the borderline between rule of law and violent opposition to the culture of slavery, Freeing Charles is as captivating to read as it is scholarly and historical. Highly recommended.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Housekeeping for the Soul
Sandra Carrington-Smith
O Books
c/o National Book Network
PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9781846942815, $22.95, www.o-books.net

A clear soul is just as important as a clear mind. "Housekeeping for the Soul: A Practical Guide to Restoring Your Inner Sanctuary" is a self-help guide from Sandra Carrington-Smith, who urges readers to manage the culture of Chaos in their lives, and keep their soul clear so that they may best deal with life's crises while unencumbered with the woes. "Housekeeping for the Soul" is a fine addition to any self-help or spirituality collections.

Who Stole My Soul?
Vishwa Prakash
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists (publicity)
8716 Mopac Suite 330, Austin, TX 78759
9780982314050, $19.95, www.whostolemysoul.com

You can easily lose your soul to the devils of the world if you're not careful. "Who Stole My Soul?: A Dialogue with the Devil On the Meaning of Life" is a combination of memoir and spirituality tale as Vishwa Prakash offers his own viewpoints on the soul and how you can lose it and leave yourself a soulless husk wondering why your life is so unfulfilled. Encouraging readers to find their own souls, "Who Stole My Soul?" is a choice pick for spirituality readers and should not be missed.

To Be and How to Be
Peggy Rubin
Quest Books
c/o The Theosophical Publishing House
PO Box 270, Wheaton, IL 60189-0270
9780835608534 $16.95 www.questbooks.net 1-800-669-9425

Classical and Shakespearean actress Peggy Rubin presents To Be and How to Be: Transforming Your Life Through Sacred Theatre, a spiritual self-help guide to using the nine powers of the theater to empower oneself, explore the sacred stage, and pursue one's dreams. The nine powers of the theater are the Powers of Incarnation, Story, Now!, Place, Expression, Point of View, Conflict, Audience and Celebration. Chapters reveal how the metaphor of the play can lend new insight into the ups and downs of both earthly and spiritual life. "Once we understand that the breaking of molecular bonds is an essential part of the experiment of life, it becomes easier to recognize that breakups in the larger, outer world can also be necessary and held within the Power of Celebration." An invaluable guide, filled with exercises to revitalize the way one looks at oneself and the world.


The Social Issues Shelf

Europe 2030
Daniel Benjamin, editor
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815702801, $18.95, www.brookings.edu

Twenty years from now, will the European Union be looked at as a positive force for Europe? "Europe 2030" looks at the member nations of the European Union 20 years from now. Chapters cover the rapidly changing landscape of modern times, the European Union's status as a global player, its search for new members, and the development of Islam. "Europe 2030" is a choice pick for anyone who wants a glimpse of Europe's future.

Hopes and Prospects
Noam Chomsky
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859967 $16.00 www.haymarketbooks.org 1-773-583-7884

For forty years, Noam Chomsky's erudite insights into politics and language have proved to be an invaluable contribution to ongoing social reflection. Hopes and Prospects is Chomsky's latest work, warning readers about the latest risks and challenges facing America and humankind during the early twenty-first century. Chapters address the growing divide between America's North and South, American exceptionalism (which still has a strong hold in the era of President Barack Obama), the morass of problems (to put it lightly) with Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S.-Israeli aggression toward Gaza, the controversial governmental bailouts - and suggestions to improve the future, as well as reflections on positive developments such as democratic movements in Latin America and global solidarity efforts. Thought-provoking, measured, and grounded in rationality, Hopes and Prospects is strongly recommended as a vital nexus for social debate over vitally pressing national and global issues.

New World of Indigenous Resistance
Noam Chomsky, et. al.
Lois Meyer & Benjamin Maldonado Alvarado, editors
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865334 $18.95 www.citylights.com

Linguist and human rights advocate Noam Chomsky and more than twenty scholars, activists, and educators of North and South America present New World of Indigenous Resistance, a thoughtful collection of writings concerning the difficult choices indigenous societies have faced, and continue to face, in a changing post-colonial world. Protecting indigenous community customs has, in some cases, led to the rejection of state-provided education - but is this truly a beneficial trade-off? How can tolerance be promoted while holding on to the values of communal rituals, language, traditions, and learning practices? Is it possible to retain the most distinctive and valuable aspects of a traditional culture in the wake of the overwhelming forces of globalization? Individual essays include "Indigenous Peoples Contesting State Nationalism and Corporate Globalism", "The Path of Decolonization", "U.S. Imperialism and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples", and much more. Two direct interviews with Chomsky enhance this articulate examination of challenges facing indigenous peoples today, including a positive viewpoint of means by which indigenous cultures can resist total assimilation, endure and spread hope. Highly recommended.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Axis of the World
Igor Witkowski
Adventures Unlimited Press
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946
9781931882811, $18.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

American history didn't begin in 1492, but millennium ago. "Axis of the World" is a metaphysical delve into American history, searching for the earliest known start of the American Indians and the other people of the Americas. Easter Island, lost lands, origins of the American Indians, cities advanced past their time and more, "Axis of the World" is a fascinating read that will entertain both history and metaphysical readers.

Crash: When UFOs Fall from the Sky
Kevin D. Randle, Ph.D.
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631008 $16.99 NewPageBooks.com

UFO investigator and retired lieutenant colonel Kevin D. Randle presents Crash: When UFOs Fall from the Sky, a collection of research reports of alien spaceship crashes from 1947 and earlier to 2009. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful, updated compendium of paranormal evidence and theory, which suggests possible solutions to some of the longest running enigmas about the possibility of extraterrestrial influence. From eyewitness testimony to paper trails to ongoing controversies, Crash: When UFOs Fall from the Sky is an invaluable compendium for anyone interested in learning about evidence of UFOs, and a welcome addition to paranormal studies shelves.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Catholic Family Connections Bible
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9781599820882, $26.95, www.smp.org

Faith is not a solitary thing. "The Catholic Family Connections Bible: Pray It, Study It, Live It" is a guide for Christians who want to bring the word of God to their family. Saint Mary's Press brings this resource ton how to use the Bible to encourage faith in one's family every day, with plenty of activities that include the whole family and enlighten them on biblical history and virtues. "The Catholic Family Connections Bible" is a choice and enticing read that serves as a top notch reference for Catholic families.

Meeting God in Quiet Places
F. LaGard Smith
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

Meeting God in Quiet Places is a beautiful DVD that pairs the reverent and tranquil narration of American author F. LaGard Smith with captivating glimpses of England's countryside and an evocative soundtrack. The result is a series of seven short films that bring to life the pleasant and fulfilling atmosphere of summer and winter England. The simple parables blend with the tranquil footage into a soulful whole. A truly spiritual experience, Meeting God in Quiet Places is an unforgettable island of peace amid the chaotic bedlam of day-to-day life. Also highly recommended from Vision Video are "Psalms Alive with Billy Angel: Part 1" ($19.99) and "Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims: A Bible Study for Christians" ($19.99).


The Audiobook Shelf

Altar of Eden
James Rollins, author
Paula Christensen, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440752377 $102.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Altar of Eden is the unabridged audiobook rendition of James Rollins' stand-alone thriller. Louisiana veterinarian Lorna Polk has discovered a destroyed fishing trawler, with no crew, carrying the oddest medley of bizarre animals. The creatures have been tampered with genetically, and look like no other animals on Earth - plus they appear to have an extraordinary level of intelligence. And one of the animals appears to be missing. Altar of Eden weaves a cautionary tale with exciting suspense, building to a tense climax about the deadly consequences when human beings dare to supplant the will of Nature. Highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11.75 hours.

Union of the Snake
Jason Marc Harris and Birke Duncan
Privately Published
0971058261 $11.50

Union of the Snake is a radio play on CD following two young anthropologists in the depths of the Florida Everglades. They came to examine the yearly snake worship ceremony of the little-known Chazichentee tribe; what they discover is far more horrifying. A vile, soul-destroying plot ensnares them, and they must find a way to fight back or be devoured by an all-consuming evil. Superbly performed, Union of the Snake is a thrilling adventure, sure to keep the listener on the edge of his or her seat until the very end.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Ex-Offender's 30/30 Job Solution
Neil P. McNulty & Ronald L. Krannich
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111
9781570232879, $9.95, www.exoffenderrentry.com

After you've served your time, it can prove difficult to rejoin the workforce in a meaningful way. "The Ex-Offender's 30/30 Job Solution: Your Lifeboat Guide to Re-Entry Success" is a guide for ex-offenders who are forced to start from scratch with no support. These ex-offenders have special challenges involving probation and parole, on top of the challenges that come with the reserved nature of employers and ex-offenders. "The Ex-Offenders 30/30 Job Solution" is an enlightening and highly useful read for those who want to put their life back on the right track.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

4-H Guide
Tammie Rogers
Voyageur Press
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760336298, $18.99, www.voyageurpress.com

You can always teach a dog new tricks, no matter the age. "4-H Guide: Dog Training & Dog Tricks" is a guide for would be dog trainers who want to train their dogs to behave better and teach them more than a few new tricks. With many ideas for new methods and plenty of tips how to manage the different breeds of dogs, "Dog Training and Dog Tricks" is an invaluable tool which shouldn't be underrated for dog owners and their beloved pets.

Horse Tales from Heaven
Rebecca E. Ondov
Harvest House
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736927581, $12.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

It's not just a hobby, it's a way of life. "Horse Tales from Heaven: Reflections Along the Trail with God" is a memoir of Rebecca E. Ondov as she reflects on her time in the west and how during time as a wilderness ranger, her bond with God never faded and remained with her as she faced the many challenges of her profession. With many stories sure to entertain the lover of adventure and horses, "Horse Tales from Heaven" is a top pick and very highly recommended read.


The Poetry Shelf

wild horses
Rob McLennan
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645357, $19.95, www.uap.com

With countless works published under his name, Rob McLennan brings readers "wild horses". The Ottawa native uses his endless expertise in the field of writing to craft moving and lyrical verse which will bring much in unique perspective for readers. Fascinating and well thought out, "wild horses" is a core addition to poetry collections. "wild horses": she, says get a horse & go out/where the foothills//if any else sunlight in, given//by the side an hour lost, the blue/shifting sands of the northern lights//if spirited, to speak at a time/across one hundred & fortieth//twenty minute north where need/& in the wrong//direction.

Painted Fire
Maria Luisa Spaziani
Chelsea Editions
PO Box 125, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276-0125
9780972527187, $20.00, www.chelseaeditionsbooks.org

Mastery of language as an art form is not about how many words you can use. "Painted Fire" is a collection of poems from Italian poet Maria Lusia Spazianai, chronicling over fifty years of her work, expertly translated by Lynne Lawner. Regarded as one of the greatest living Italian poets, Spaziani's work is well presented in "Painted Fire" is a choice collection for world poetry lovers. "Reality": Reality is pure perception./We look at life in a mirror/beyond an often transparent theater curtain.//Underneath is life. Occasionally we see it/take the shape of an abandoned farmhouse in the night/which lightning suddenly renders visible.


The Self-Help Shelf

Broke is Beautiful
Laura Lee
Running Press
2500 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762438952, $12.95, www.runningpress.com

Money doesn't buy happiness, so you can get it on the cheap. "Broke is Beautiful: Living and Loving the Cash-Strapped Life" is a guide to living a cool life where money isn't the king, but how you live your life in spite of your poverty is. Laura Lee gives readers a good array of thoughts and wisdom and makes for a very entertaining and fun read. "Broke is Beautiful" is a choice and highly recommended read which shouldn't be missed for those who want to live well when they got nothing in the wallet.

Struck by Living
Julie K. Hersh
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812631, $19.95, www.brownbooks.com

Depression is a problem plaguing many Americans, but it is defeatable. "Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope" is a self-help memoir from Julie K. Hersh as she tells her own story of fighting back from crippling depression, a problem that has plagued her family for generations, and how she fought off her suicidal tendencies to reclaim her soul. With plenty to help other people fighting their own depression, "Struck by Living" is a choice and highly recommended read.


The Fiction Shelf

Life of a Star
Jane Unrue
Burning Deck
71 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
Small Press Distribution
1341 Seventh St., Berkeley, CA 94710
9781936194001, $14.00, www.spdbooks.org

Love is such a sweet thing that many spend their lives searching for it, but never truly obtaining it. "Life of a Star" tells the story of one such woman whose journey brings her through journeys of her body, and journeys of her mind. Jane Unrue creates a truly riveting novel that brings new perspective on the woman's search for love, and so much more. "Life of a Star" is a top pick for literary fiction collections.

Somewhere to Belong
Judith Miller
Bethany House
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764206429, $14.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

Sheltered from the world in her village, happiness seems uncertain. "Somewhere to Belong" tells the story of Johanna Ilg, a woman of Main Amana, a Christian village with its own unique way. When a new girl arrives in her town from the city of Chicago, she finds her view of the world tipped upside down, being brought to new experiences from Berta. "Somewhere to Belong" is a fascinating and thoughtful read, highly recommended.

Breathing, In Dust
Tim Z. Hernandez
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726727, $26.95, www.ttupress.org

The world never seems bright when everything around you is so dark. "Breathing, In Dust" is the story of Tlaloc, a seventeen year old facing the challenges of his life in California's agricultural land and all of the unique and unfortunate characters that seem to compose it. Loc faces his life and tells his story, one of people trying to make their way and facing the failures of life along the way, dragging Loc down as he tries to make a better life for himself. "Breathing, In Dust" is a top pick for literary fiction collections focusing on the southwest.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Frost Moon
Anthony Francis
Bell Bridge Books
PO Box 300921, Memphis, TN 38130
9780984325689, $14.95, www.belbridgebooks.com

When the police find themselves outclassed, they call on the elite for help. "Frost Moon: Book One of the Skindancer Series" is set in a contemporary world of Magic. Dakota Frost is the best magical tattoo artist in Atlanta, and when a serial killer guns for tattoo magic users, and the police baffled, Dakota finds herself diving deeper into the magical underworld of Atlanta. "Frost Moon" is a choice and fascinating pick that shouldn't be overlooked for fantasy readers.

With Folded Hands... And Searching Mind
Jack Williamson
Haffner Press
5005 Crooks Road, Suite 35, Royal Oak, MI 48073-1239
9781893887374, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Jack Williamson was a grand master of the science fiction genre. His original tales ranged from full length novels to the short stories. The seventh volume in the outstanding Haffner Press series of Jack Williamson's writings, "With Folded Hands... And Searching Mind, The Collected Stories of Jack Williamson" is a 544-page compendium showcasing fifteen of his short stories original published in the science fiction magazines of the 1940s and 50s and range from "Backlash" (Astounding Science Fiction, August '41); "Conscience, LTD." (Unknown, August '43); and "Cold Front Coming" (Blue Book, June '45); to "The Moon and Mr. Wick" (Comet, Summer '50); "Hocus-Pocus Universe" (Science Stories, October '53); and "Beans" (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, November '58). Enhanced with an informative 'Foreword' by science fiction author Robert Silverberg, and an 'Afterword' by Jack Williams, this superbly organized and presented collection of short stories is a highly recommended addition to community library Science Fiction collection -- and an absolutely 'must read' for the legions of Jack Williamson fans. Those dedicated fans would also do well to visit the Haffner Press web site at www.haffnerpress.com for a complete listing of all of their "Golden Age" of science fiction authors, including the previous six volumes comprising their Jack Williamson series.


The Business Shelf

Smart Pricing
Jagmohan Raju & Z. John Zhang
Wharton School Publishing
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
9780131494183, $34.99, www.whartonsp.com

A price tag determines your profit, availability and can attract or push away prospective buyers. "Smart Pricing: How Google, Priceline, and Leading Businesses Use Pricing Innovation for Profitability" is a guide to the art of pricing and how it can radically change how a business markets its products. Introducing new ideas to prices beyond what is considered conventional wisdom, "Smart Pricing" is a must for any student breaking into marketing, and serves well as a reference text for community and college library business collections.

Damage Control
David Eddie
McClelland & Stewart
75 Sherbourne St., 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M5A 2P9
9780771030413, $29.99, www.mcclelland.com

When disaster happens, what you do next decides if it's a footnote or a great calamity. "Damage Control: How to Tiptoe Away from the Smoking Wreckage of Your Latest Screw-Up With a Minimum of Harm to Your Reputation" is a guide to making the least out of the worst. David Eddie writes that no one is perfect, and the difference between a perennial screw up and someone who isn't is how one responds to said screw ups. "Damage Control" is a choice pick for anyone who freaks out over their real or imagined status as a screw up.


The Education Shelf

Classroom Reading Assessments
Frank Serafini
Heinemann
361 Hanover Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912
9780325027128, $26.25, www.heinemann.com

Measuring reading comprehension can be of certain challenge to many teachers. "Classroom Reading Assessment: More Efficient Ways to View and Evaluate Your Readers" is an educational resource dedicated to helping teachers better measure how well their students are coming along in mastering the English language and their reading comprehension. With plenty of activities and advice, "Classroom Reading Assessment" is an invaluable tool for any reading teacher, highly recommended.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Mental Health, Naturally
Kathi J. Kemper
American Academy of Pediatrics
814 N. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610
9781581103106, $19.95, www.ipgbook.com

A good mind needs a good body to be apart of. "Mental Health, Naturally: The Family Guide to Holistic Care for a Healthy Mind and Body" is designed around helping parents help their families keep up their mental health, and what a parent can do to encourage good mental health throughout their lives. Exercise, good sleep habits, a good diet, and much more are what a parent can do to keep their children happy and develop good outlooks for life. "Mental Health, Naturally" is a choice pick for any concerned parent who wants to keep their child healthy on multiple fronts.


The Economics Shelf

Money Assassins
Chad Viminitz
Insomniac Press
520 Princess Ave, London, ON Canada N6B 2B8
9781897178829, $19.95, www.insomniacpress.com

Saving and prudence seem to be dying values in today's world. "Money Assassins: How They Stole Your Financial Freedom and How You Can Get it Back" is a guide for those who want to stay out of debt and be profitable in their lives when today's world seems to be out to eliminate anything you save and encourage spending well beyond one's means. With tips on keeping ahead of those who want to strip you of your wealth, "Money Assassins" will prove to be a highly valuable read.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Green Screen Handbook
Jeff Foster
Sybex
c/o Wiley Blackwell
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470521076, $49.99, www.sybex.com

The green screen is a versatile technique, and can be used wonderfully, if you use it well. "The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques" is a guide to the green screen and how to use the method to its fullest power. Setting up the shot, how to make post-production flow as smoothly as possible, troubleshooting, helping actors with an environment that's not their yet, Jeff Foster, an expert in production does well in going all out in helping readers master the shooting techniques of the green screen. "The Green Screen Handbook" is a choice pick and a reference that should be on hand for anyone producing movies or television.

Epics, Spectacles, And Blockbusters
Sheldon Hall & Steve Neale
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814330081, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The Holy Grail of the American film industry is the production of a massively financially successful movie. Such productions are called 'blockbusters'. The collaborative work of Sheldon Hall (Senior Lecturer, Stage and Screen Studies, Sheffield Hallam University) and Steve Neale (Professor of English, University of Exeter), "Epics, Spectacles, and Blockbusters: A Hollywood History" is the newest addition to Wayne State University Press' outstanding 'Contemporary Film and Television Series'. This 363-page compendium presents a comprehensive and detailed history of the large-scale, high-cost movie from the beginning of movie-making in the 1890s down to the present day. The genres of such films range from comic book adaptations, to biblical epics, to animated features, to science fiction extravaganzas, and more. Chronological organized, the impact of technological developments on movie making is fully integrated into this superbly written and scholarly history, making "Epics, Spectacles, And Blockbusters" an invaluable and core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Hollywood History & Film reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Before Oprah
Michael Banks
Orange Frazer Press
PO Box 214, Wilmington, OH 45177
www.orangefrazer.com
9781933197494, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Today's enduring popularity and success of female hosted television talk shows is due to a woman by the name of Ruth Lyons. She was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting whose audiences in the 1960s were block-buster successes, making her justifiably considered as being the single most influential housewife in America. Her amazing story is told in wonderful detailed by Michael Banks in "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV", a 260-page biography of a woman who, in her day, was as popular and influential as Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart are in ours. Superbly written and totally engaging from first page to last, "Before Oprah: Ruth Lyons, The Woman Who Created Talk TV" is strongly recommended for both academic and community library 20th Century American Biography collections.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

The T206 Collection
Tom Zappala & Ellen Zappala
Peter E. Randall Publisher
PO Box 4726, Portsmouth, NJ 03802-4726
9781931807944, $38.00, www.amazon.com

Baseball cards have been around for almost as long as the game itself. The collaborative project of Tom Zappala and Ellen Zappala, and with the assistance of Lou Blasi, "The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories" is an impressive 224-page compendium featuring beautifully reproduced images of the early baseball card T206 series featuring 393 players. Enhancing this outstanding collection of 500 baseball cards, each of which is flawlessly reproduced in full color, "The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories" includes succinct biographies of all the T206 players, as well as player anecdotes revealing the earliest days and evolution of baseball. Of special note is the informed and informative chapter on baseball card grading and valuations making "The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories" an especially valued and valuable addition to both academic, and community library collections -- and an absolute 'must' for all dedicated baseball card enthusiasts.

Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30
Richard e. Gilbert, et al.
Tinder Box
c/o Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
1574326430, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Long considered to be the 'bible' of antiquarian and collectible timepieces, this 2010 edition of "Complete Price Guide to Watches" is fully updated with new price information for literally thousands of entries. The collaborative effort of Richard E. Gilbert, Tom Engle, and Cooksey Shugart, "Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30" is a 1,216 page compendium listing 10,350 watches, and is enhanced with 7,850 black-and-white illustrations and covering both American and Europe pocket watches and wrist watches. Of special note are the profusion of tips, history, terminology, and other specialized information useful for both the dealer and the collector. making "Complete Price Guide to Watches No. 30" a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Antiques/Collectibles reference collections.

Collecting Rocks, Gems And Minerals
Patti Polk
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.krausebooks.com
9781440204159, $17.99, www.amazon.com

In "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses", author Patti Polk draws upon her more than twenty years as a skilled lapidary artist and gem cutting expertise and experience to compile a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 272-page compendium of superbly organized and presented minerals for amateur 'rockhounds' and professional collectors alike. Each entry is enhanced with detailed information about that particular gem or mineral's characteristics. "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses" is more than a simple encyclopedic presentation of assorted gems and minerals as Patti Polk also provides informed and informative information on what these gems and minerals are, as well as their uses for lapidary and display. Of special note is the entry on 'Buying and Selling Rocks, Minerals, and Gemstones'. Providing an illustrated wealth of information and examples, "Collecting Rocks, Gems & Minerals: Easy Identification - Values - Lapidary Uses" will proved an enduringly popular and valued addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook
Harvest House Publishers
Georgia Varozza
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736928588, $14.99, www.amazon.com

The Amish community is noted for the simplicity of their family-centered and devout lifestyle. That elegant simplicity clearly extends to their cuisine as evidenced by the recipes assembled in "The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook: Plainly Delicious Recipes from the Simple Life", a spiral bound 272-page compendium of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from Buttermilk Biscuits with Sausage Gravy; Honey Oatmeal Bread; Mennonite Stew; and Baked Acorn Squash with Hamburger Filling; to Busy Day Ham Casserole; German Meatballs with Sauerkraut; Amish Vanilla Pie; and Crackletop Molasses Cookies. Each recipe is clearly put forth with a complete list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions allowing even the most novice of kitchen cooks to successful prepare and serve this dishes which are as nutritious as they are delicious -- and suitable for any and all dining occasions. "The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook: Plainly Delicious Recipes from the Simple Life" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Diet Rebel's Cookbook
Jillayne Clements & Michelle Stewart
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781599553610, $17.99, www.amazon.com

A healthy mind in a healthy body is the common goal of us all. The collaborative work of whole food cooking experts Jillayne Clements and Michelle Stewart, "The Diet Rebels Cookbook: Eating Clean and Green" is a 288-page compendium of basic information about the impact foods have on our health, as well as pertinent information and invaluable tips on eating and cooking healthy. Of special note is the provision of a 'Complete One-Year Food Storage List'. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Diet Rebels Cookbook: Eating Clean and Green" is packed with useable instructions for everything from sprouting grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and legumes; to basic dairy recipes, natural sweeteners, and the basics of making stocks and broths. The recipes range from a Spinach Cranberry Salad, to Hummus Wraps, to a Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce, to Homemade Popcorn, to Pumpkin Cake. A veritable cornucopia of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, easy to prepare dishes for any and all dining occasions, "The Diet Rebels Cookbook: Eating Clean and Green" will make a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections for the health conscious consumer.

Table For Two
Warren W. Caterson
Winfield & Scott Press
3501-B North Ponce de Leon Blvd., #372, St. Augustine, FL 32084
www.TableForTwoCookbooks.com
9780980156812, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Creating meals especially suited for just two people calls for a particularly specialized familiarity with the culinary arts. That's why Warren Caterson's "Table For Two: The Cookbook For Couples" is especially appropriate. This 272-page compendium is a cornucopia of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet quality recipes suitable for any two-person dining occasion be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner. After succinctly informative opening chapters on measurements, cooking terms, and ingredients, there are 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes for soups, salads, side dishes, and main entrees (including seafood, poultry, beef, pork, and lamb). Of special note are the chapters devoted to vegetarian dishes, desserts, and what to do with leftovers! From Fillet of Sole with Shrimp Sauce; Grilled Tuna Steak; Chicken and Mushrooms Florentine; and Beef Burgundy; to Lamb Curry; Vegetable Biryani; Green Beans with Water Chestnuts; and Chilled Mixed Fruit in White Whine, "Table For Two" is an outstanding recipe collection and a welcome addition to both personal and community library cookbook shelves.


The World History Shelf

A History of the Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500
Peter Purton
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843834496, $115.00, www.amazon.com

The development of fortified castles and walled towns created a form of offensive warfare known as the siege. Hostile forces would surround the castle or protected town and prevent anyone from entering or leaving, and all the while trying to break down the castle's defenses or break through the walls shielding the town from assault. Siege warfare became a focus for military technological advances both in equipment, weaponry, and strategy. "A History of the Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500" by medieval fortification expert Peter Purton is a 528-page compendium providing a detailed history from 450 A.D. to 1200 A.D. of siege warfare from the 5th century Mongol conquests in Europe and Asia, to the 13th century 'golden age' of siege warfare sophistication, to the changes in siege warfare brought about by the introduction of gun powder and canon in the 15th century. Enhanced with the inclusion of a useful time line, an substantial glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "A History of the Late Medieval Siege, 1200-1500" is an impressively informed and informative work that is especially recommended for both academic and community library Military History reference collections.


The Crafts Shelf

Crystal Brilliance
Anna Elizabeth Draeger
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780871162953, $21.95, www.amazon.com

The making of jewelry is an increasingly popular home craft. In "Crystal Brilliance: Making Designer Jewelry with Crystal Beads", professional jewelry designer Anna Elizabeth Draeger has compiled a superbly organized and presented, profusely illustrated, 80-page compendium of thirty different do-it-yourself projects utilizing the impressive brilliance and many colored hues of Swarovski crystals. The project designs range from the Classic to the Romantic, from the Geometric to the Organic. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Crystal Brilliance: Making Designer Jewelry with Crystal Beads" will enable even the most novice jewelry maker to produce elegant pieces that suitable for any and all occasions, making it an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Crafts & Hobbies instructional resource collections.


The Woodworking Shelf

Civil War Woodworking
A. J. Hamler
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781933502281, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Civil War re-enactments continue to increase in popularity. A key to those re-enactments is authenticity, not only in uniforms and equipment, but in such ancillary items as ammunition boxes, camp tables and stools, officer field desks, tent pegs, candle lanterns, and even games. That is what makes A. J. Hamler's "Civil War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for Woodworkers and Reenactors" such an valued and valuable instructional guide for the dedicated woodworker and re-enactor. Each of the featured seventeen woodworking projects is superbly illustrated with clear, concise and easy to follow instructions. Each individual project begins with a complete description of the item, including both its overall dimensions and individual component dimensions. Superbly illustrated throughout and thoroughly 'user friendly', the "Civil War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for Woodworkers and Reenactors" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Woodworking and Civil War Studies reference collections.


The Science Shelf

Chemistry With Charisma: Volumes 1 & 2
Mickey Sarquis, et al.
Terrific Science Press
Center for Chemistry Education
Miami University Middletown
4200 East University Blvd., Middletown, OH 45042
Vol. 1: 9781883822552, $21.95, www.amazon.com
Vol. 2: 9781883822569, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Collaborative designed, written and compiled by the team of Mickey Sarquis (Director, Center for Chemistry Education & Terrific Science Programs, Miami University, Middletown, Ohio); Lyn Hogue (Center for Chemistry Education, Miami University); Susan Hershberger (Center for Chemistry Education, Miami University); Jerry Sarquis (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University); and John Williams (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University), The two volume "Chemistry With Charisma" is specially designed for use with middle and high school science students. Volume one features twenty-four lessons that will hold students attention in the classroom while demonstrating through informative and interesting experiments basic principles of chemistry. Volume two is a compilation of an addition twenty-eight lessons. Together these volumes comprise an outstanding addition to supplement any middle or high school science class curriculum with their illustrated, step-by-step instructions for both teacher and student. Each lesson fully complies with National Science Education Standards, listing the relevant standards for grades 5 - 12. Also highly recommended for home schooling, "Chemistry With Charisma: Volumes 1 & 2" will prove to be an invaluable academic and community library instructional resource collection.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts
Kaffe Fassett
Stewart, Tabori & Chang, Inc.
c/o Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9781584798378, $35.00, www.amazon.com

In addition to their utilitarian value in keeping folks warm at night in their beds, the quilt quickly became a means of artistic expression by the women who made them. Those utilitarian and artistic values continue to be of importance for each new generation of quilt makers. That's why "Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts: 23 Original Quilt Designs" by quilting expert Kaffe Fassett (a fabric designer for Rowan Patchwork and Quilting and the primary knitwear designer for Rowan Yarns) will prove to be a popular addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. Organized into six basic shape sections (squares; rectangles; triangles; diamonds; quarter circles; and circles), the patchwork designs are profusely illustrated enabling even the most novice of needlecrafters to successfully reproduce them. Of special note is the clear and accessible information provided on Basic Techniques and Templates making "Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts" an invaluable resource for making spectacular quilts out of ordinary shaped cloth patches.


The Art Shelf

How to Draw and Paint Dragons
Tom Kidd
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764143861 $21.99 www.barronseduc.com 1-800-645-3476

How to Draw and Paint Dragons is an extraordinarily beautiful self-teaching art book. Budding artists of all skill and experience levels will learn the basics of drawing and painting, with a focus on these legendary creatures. From researching the anatomy of natural creatures for a guideline, to selecting one's tools and equipment (whether physical or digital media), to effectively applying light, color and texture, to applying the power of storytelling in one's art and more, How to Draw and Paint Dragons is filled cover to cover with invaluable information for aspiring artists everywhere. The example illustrations are in gorgeous full color; any dragon lover will find How to Draw and Paint Dragons a joy to page through regardless of personal artistic inclination. Highly recommended.

Botany For The Artist
Sarah Simblet
DK Publishing, Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9780756652500, $40.00, www.amazon.com

An art instructor at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, and at the Royal College of Art in London, Sarah Simblet draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" to create a superbly organized and presented 256-page, fully illustrated compendium of step-by-step illustrations and instructions that will enable even the most novice of art students to produce accurate drawings of plants ranging from roots, stems and leaves, to flowers, fruit, cones, and seeds. Of special note is the opening chapters providing insights into the elements of such images, as well as to the materials and basic techniques required for producing them. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Botany for the Artist: An Inspirational Guide to Drawing Plants" is especially recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Art Instruction reference collections. Also highly recommended are two previously published art instruction manuals by Sarah Simblet: "Sketch Book for the Artist" (9780756608163, $30.00) and "Anatomy for the Artist" (9780789480453, $40.00).


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design