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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 20, Number 2 February 2010 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library Science Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Audiobook Shelf American History Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf
Art Shelf Travel Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Hobby/Crafts Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Parenting Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Poetry Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf
Large Print Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Music Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Business Shelf Criminology Shelf Fiction Shelf
Sports Shelf Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Political Science Shelf World History Shelf Literary Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Science Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Self-Help Shelf Agricultural Studies Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Gaming Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Photography Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Biography Shelf International Studies Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Economics Shelf Gardening Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Military Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Raw Milk Revolution
David E. Gumpert
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603582193, $19.95 www.chelseagreen.com

THE RAW MILK REVOLUTION: BEHIND AMERICA'S EMERGING BATTLE OVER FOOD RIGHTS goes behind the scenes of the government's health claims to consider how its campaign to protect the public was based on suspect laboratory findings and illnesses that could have been attributed to causes other than raw milk. Chapters also point to dairy conglomerate influences and special interests and consider how the government's anti-raw-milk campaign fits into a pattern of expanding government efforts to sanitize the food supply - with deadly results. Health collections need this.

Little Gregory
Melissa Bradex, author
Eddie Crane, illustrator
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, In 47403
www.authorhouse.com 1-800-839-8640
9781449035495, $14.99, www.amazon.com

"Little Gregory" is a poignant true story of a brother and older sister who share many experiences growing up in foster care homes. Through all the living situations both with foster parents and family members, Gregory is comforted by the protective presence of his big sister Missy, whose daily care and supervision and bedtime stories and song helps him go to sleep at night. Despite problems, Gregory finally grows up and one day has a daughter of his own, and he always returns to keep in touch with his big sister, and to have her sing his special song to him and his daughter: "Rock a bye babies, close your sweet eyes/ Dreams are coming by angels tonight/ Angels are here, but they're out of sight/ Sweet dreams to my babies/ Love you, good night." On May 10 of a sad year, Gregory dies in a car accident and Missy sings him one last special goodbye. "Little Gregory" is a tribute both to the author's brother and to the enduring love she shared with him. It can help children understand that families and individuals can work together to piece out a precious life even when experiences are hurtful and chaotic.

Live, Laugh and Celebrate
Ferdinand Protzman
National Geographic Books
1145 - 17th sat. NW, Washington DC 20036-4688
9781426205064, $29.95 www.ngs.org

Live, Laugh and Celebrate provides a fine collection of celebrations personal and public from around the world, offering a fine blend of photos and essays profiling over 150 images - some never published, others form National Geographic's archives, to celebrate rituals from around the world. The result is a lavish display suitable for any coffee table or general-interest lending library.

The Perfect Game, Jim Naismith Invents Basketball
Book, music and lyrics by John Grissmer
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com 1-800-839-8640
9781438905730, $13.90, www.amazon.com

"The Perfect Game" is the script for a musical theatre production in two acts that presents two approaches to the game of basketball, historic and modern. There are songs, a love story, adventure, suspense, history and action! "The Perfect Game" has been performed at Xavier University under the direction of Cathy Springfield and music director Jim Hart, and also at the Catholic University of America, directed by Carrie Klewin with musical direction by Dominic Traino. A cast of 22 (or less with creative doubling, which is recommended) performs "The Perfect Game," with no fewer than 17 separate musical numbers, lyrics included only. Fans of "The Perfect Game" who wish to audition the music can listen on the website at perfectgamemusical.com. Companies interested in producing or directing "The Perfect Game" should contact P.J. Productions, PO Box 3152, Danbury, CT 06813, 203-438-7536. "The Perfect Game" reads like a great musical comedy. It deserves wide exposure!

Michael Jackson: Before He Was King
Todd Gray
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811875066, $29.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

MICHAEL JACKSON: BEFORE HE WAS KING packs in some 100 images, most never seen before, taken by photography author Todd Gray, who was Jackson's personal photographer during the period between 1974 and 1983 before he became an international star. Gray was granted personal access to Michael and his family: his candid images are a 'must' for any Michael Jackson enthusiast.

Divorce Decisions
Marjorie Just
Capital Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102849, $16.95, www.capital-books.com

It's a tragic thing, but it happens. "Divorce Decisions: Practical Ways to Protect Yourself, Your Children, and Your Wallet" is a legal resource for those facing divorce and want to approach it so that they come out as least injured, both monetarily and emotionally, as possible. With questions and answers to many conflicts such as custody battles, alimony, and more, "Divorce Decisions" is a complete and comprehensive resource that should not be overlooked for those facing these rough times.

The Snark Handbook
Lawrence Dorfman
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Avenue #903, New York NY 10018
1602397600, $12.95 www.skyhorsepublishing.com

THE SNARK HANDBOOK: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO VERBAL SPARRING is for 'enhancing one's inner snark' to combat bureaucratic failings. The snark state can actually be a powerful tool for argument and conversation, and this reference - broken down into fourteen key topics - teach how the snark operates in everyday life. Any general library will find this both humorous and pointed.

Knives at Dawn
Andrew Friedman
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439153079, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

KNIVES AT DAWN: AMERICA'S QUEST FOR CULINARY GLORY AT THE LEGENDARY BOCUSE D'OR COMPETITION comes from a journalist and author who follows the American team and other contestants through intense months of physical and psychological training as they prepare for five and a half hours of marathon cooking. This is the only book written with the full consent and cooperation of chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller and the Bocuse d'Or USA committee: its insights are powerful and perfect for any library strong in culinary history, chefs and their evolution.

God in the Obama Era
Niels C. Nielsen
Morgan James
Reliant Public Relations (publicity)
22417 FM 2100 Rd., Crosby, TX, 77532
9781600376467, $24.95

When Henry the VIII embraced Protestantism, much of England did as well. Does the same principle apply in America? "God in the Obama Era: Presidents' Religion and Ethics from George Washington to Barack Obama" analyzes faith in politics and its status throughout history. One of the country's founding principles is freedom of religion, and this fact has given rise to unusual and unique to America aspects of politics and how it relates to the arena of God. "God in the Obama Era" is a fine collection of essays from Niels C. Nielsen, and a solid addition to any collection focusing on politics or religion.

Ira Gershwin
Robert Kimball
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
9781598530520, $20.00, www.americanpoetsproject.loa.org

Music has become the new poetry for many. "Ira Gershwin" is a collection of song lyrics from the celebrated individual, assembled by Robert Kimball for readers. Capturing the American spirit, Kimball presents a total nearing one hundred worth of song lyrics that Ira composed along with his brothers which have become classics of their genre. For anyone seeking a fine collection of music of a bygone era, "Ira Gershwin" is an entertaining and fine collection.

YouTube
Jean Burgess & Joshua Green
Polity
c/o Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.blackwellpublishing.com
9780745644790, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Instant, accessible video has revolutionized the world. "YouTube: Digital Media and Society Series" discusses the impact that the video website has had on society by making a wide variety of videos available for the public's perusal. Advertisers have flocked to the sight, pop culture revolutions have been fueled by it, social crusades have been forwarded using it. The authors, both experts in media studies and creativity and innovation, provide a scholarly look at YouTube and why it has come to dominate the internet as it has today, making "YouTube" a powerful addition to any internet studies collection.

In Praise Of Strong Women
David Kirkpatrick
Granville Island Publishing
212-1656 Duranleau, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6H 3S4
CascadiaPublicity.com (publicity)
www.GranvilleIslandPublishing.com
9781894694704, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Mothers, sisters, friends, lovers, women are an important part of anyone's life. "In Praise of Strong Women" is a memoir from psychologist David Kirkpatrick as he remembers the powerful women in his life who shaped his being and turned him into who he is today. Inspirational and poignant, he discusses the spirit of strong women starting with his mother and remembering the iconic women of his lives who stood up for themselves and their beliefs in a male-dominated world. "In Praise of Strong Women" is a read that should not be missed for women's studies collections.

Boats, Airplanes & Kites
Armand J. LaBerge
Lindsay Publications
PO Box 538, Bradley, IL 60915-0538
www.lindsaybks.com
1559183020, $13.95, www.amazon.com

Originally published in 1935, this photomechanical reprint of "Boats, Airplanes & Kites" by Armand J. LaBerge, and originally intended and written as an instruction manual for highschool students, offers do-it-yourself instructions for building a series of yachts and motorboats, a variety of model airplanes, and six distinctive kites. Each project is provided with a complete list of materials and illustrations, as well as clear, precise, step-by-step construction directions. Of special note is that each individual project concludes with a series of questions to insure that the student had mastered the concepts, terminology, and tools associated with it. Enhanced with period photos, "Boats, Airplanes & Kites" will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to the do-it-yourself personal, academic, and community library reference collections.

Voice-Over For Animation
Jean Ann Wright & M. J. Lallo
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
9780240810157, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Nancy Cartwright, June Foray, and Lucille Bliss may not be well known to most people as other entertainment personalities of film and television, but their voices most certainly are. Each of these talented women are voices for animated characters. Nancy Cartwright is Bart from 'The Simpsons'; June Foray is Natasha from 'The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show'; and Lucille Bliss is Smurfette from 'The Smurfs'. These women, along with a number of other successful men and women who are 'voice-over' artists were sources for "Voice-Over Animation", a 288-page compendium of information co-authored by Jean Ann Wright and M. J. Lallo. Beginning with an introduction to the field of animation voice-over, "Voice-Over For Animation" covers the elements for doing voice-overs including preparational warm-ups and exercises, performance techniques, dialects, and character development. Of special note are the chapters on making an animation demo, finding an agent, marketing your services, and recording for cartoons. Covering everything from doing voice-over work for games, toys, and theme parks, to studio work including dubbing, "Voice-Over For Animation" is a thoroughly user friendly and comprehensive instruction manual. Enhanced with a glossary, an index, and an accompany CD, "Voice-Over For Animation" is strongly recommended reading for anyone contemplating a career doing voice-over work for animated films and television cartoon series.

Food For Thought
Ferran Adria, et al.
Actar D
158 Lafayette Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10013
www.actar.com
9788496954687, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Deftly compiled and expertly edited by the team of Richard Hamilton and Vicente Todoli, "Food for Thought: Thought for Food" is a profusely and impressively illustrated 400-page compendium showcasing the culinary artistry of Ferran Adria (Head Chef of elBulli, Barcelona). In addition to displaying Adria's superbly crafted culinary dishes, "Food for Thought: Thought for Food" includes a great deal of background information on both his personal and professional life. Of special note are the informed and informative essays on Adria contributed by other chefs and food critics. Enthusiastically recommended for academic and community library collection, "Food for Thought: Thought for Food" is a simply fascinating and amply rewarding browse for anyone who appreciates the culinary arts in general, and the gustatory genius of Ferran Adria in particular.

The Founders of Index Theory, second edition
S. T. Yau, editor
International Press
387 Somerville Ave., Somerville, MA 02143
www.intlpress.com
9781571461377, $85.00, www.amazon.com

The field of mathematics is a constantly evolving one with new discoveries and theories arising to challenge old methods and assumptions. Such was the case with the creation of 'Index Theory', the cumulative work of Sir Michael Atiyah, Raoul Bott, Friedrich Hirzebruch, and I.M. Singer. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "The Founders of Index Theory" under the deft and knowledgeable editorship of S. T. Yau draws upon a wide and diverse variety of these four men's students and collaborators, a group which includes such notable and distinguished mathematicians and scientists as Simon Donaldson and Edward Witten. "The Founders of Index Theory" features historically significant essays and correspondences. Of special note for this second edition is the addition information showcasing the role of Raoul Bott drawn from family members and friends. The informed and informative text is enhanced with the inclusion of a large section of photos. A seminal and unique work of meticulous and painstaking scholarship, "The Founders of Index Theory" is especially recommended for academic library American Biography and History of Mathematics reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Boomtown 2050
Richard Weller
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9781921401213, $99.95, www.amazon.com

"Boomtown 2050: Scenarios for a Rapidly Growing City" by Richard Weller is a definitive and profusely illustrated, deftly written 453-page study of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. A descriptive urban study, "Boomtown 2050" identifies and documents a wide variety of differing aspects of this modern and expanding city, projecting these trends over the next four decades. With commentary and prognostications founded on a solid basis of meticulous and exhaustive research, "Boomtown 2050" will admirably serve as a kind of instruction manual and resource for anyone charged with the responsibility of planning for a metropolis experiencing growth and expansion. A superb and detailed study, "Boomtown 2050" is especially recommended for academic library Urban Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists, as well as being an informative and fascinating study for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the development of towns and cities in general, and Perth, Australia, in particular.

Toward A Deaf Translation Norm
Christopher Stone
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
http://gupress.gallaudet.edu
9781563684180, $75.00, www.amazon.com

The sixth volume in the outstanding 'Studies in Interpretation' series from Gallaudet University Press, "Toward A Deaf Translation Norm" by Christopher Stone (Researcher, the Deafness, Cognition, and Language Research Centre, University College London, London, England) is a 224-page study of the emergence of the profession of Deaf translators and interpreters which has arisen due to the increasing inclusion of the hearing impaired in business, education, popular culture, government, and other aspects of contemporary society. Drawing upon his years of experience and expertise, Stone notes the increasing numbers of translators and interpreters working with and for the deaf and provides perspective on the future evolution of these services in an age of the internet and mass communications. Of special note is the concluding chapter on deaf translation norms. Enhanced with an appendix, references, and an index, "Toward A Deaf Translation Norm" is a seminal contribution for personal, professional, and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Schepp Family Chronicles
Frances Schepp Ruh
Farolar Publishing Company
c/o Concierge Marketing Inc.
13518 'L' Street, Omaha, NE 68137
www.FarolarPublishing.com
9780578044385, $19.95, www.amazon.com

In 1853, Fredrick Schepp left Germany to make a new life in America with his mail-order bride. For $640 Schepp bought land in Kansas where he and his two sons, Albert and Herman, struggled to create a home for the family. Schepp began with a dwelling dugout of the prairie earth as shelter while he worked the land as a 'sod buster' farmer. Eventually the Schepp family prospered, living in stone homes on Deep Creek. "The Schepp Family Chronicles" is the historical record of their struggle and of the struggles of the generations that came after them through the dust bowl and Great Depression, through successes and failures, alcoholism and poverty, even kidnapping and murder. From humble beginnings down to the present day as fourth-generation members of the Schepps live thoroughly American lives, this is a candid and complex family history replete with memorable characters who lived through equally memorable times. Highly recommended reading and appropriate as an addition for both academic and community library American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists, "The Schepp Family Chronicles" is a superbly written account by Frances Schepp Ruh who takes the reader on an intimate and fascinating journey from 1853 through 1990.

Why Don't You Understand?
Karen Gail Lewis
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608440252, $15.00, www.genderdictionary.com

Who could think that the change of a single chromosome would be a world of difference? "Why Don't You Understand: A Gender Relationship Dictionary" is a guide devoted to helping the sexes better understand each other and understanding the language barrier that sits between them. Stating that societal pressures are common sources of conflict, and understanding these societal pressures are key to understanding, "Why Don't You Understand" is an intriguing and educational read that should not be missed.


The Library Science Shelf

Fiction Core Collection, sixteenth edition
John Greenfieldt, editor
H.W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
www.hwwilson.com
9780824211035, $265.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded sixteenth edition, "Fiction Core Collection" continues to be an indispensable reference and resource for academic and community library systems seeking to upgrade or expand their fiction collections. Under the capable editorship of John Greenfieldt, the "Fiction Core Collection" offers a total of 11,300 titles, some 2,700 of which are new additions, having been published in the last four years. As with all the previous editions over the past 60 years, each book entry notes the author, the complete title, the publisher, year of publication, page count, ISBN, and a succinct review or two. The comprehensive Title and Subject Index make the "Fiction Core Collection" completely 'user friendly'. Simply stated, this newest edition of the "Fiction Core Collection" is an indispensable and invaluable addition to all library reference collections.

Librarians as Community Partners
Carol Smallwood
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910061, $49.50, www.alastore.ala.org

A keeper of knowledge, the librarian can do more for a community than sort books. "Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook" is a guide for librarians who want to give back to their community and be big players in making their community a better place. Carol Smallwood draws upon her own expertise to give librarians a fine sampling of how to get started. Outlining options one can use to reach out to other community organizations, the power of creativity, special groups, celebrations, and more, readers will find no shortage of good ideas within. "Librarians as Community Partners" is a fine resource that should be at the hand of every concerned librarian.

Library Data
Darby Orcutt
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591588269, $50.00, www.abc-clio.com

Libraries are, above all else, massive storehouses of information. "Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion" is a guide to making arguments using the vast resources and power of the library. Using these resources, editor Darby Orcutt compiles much wisdom from many brilliant authors on how to use the library to its fullest to find data for one's arguments and keeping track of it all. On any subject be literature or business, the library holds data to help anyone argue and persuade. Well organized and invaluable data, "Library Data" is a must have reference to anyone whose job involves persuasion.

How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want
Sheila Pantry & Peter Griffiths
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781856046725, $85.00, www.facetpublishing.co.uk

If you know your patrons, you can better welcome them to your library. "How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want" is a complete and comprehensive guide to the tailoring library services for their users. Defining the many questions about LIS, going in depth about the concepts within it all, training your employees for LIS, the benefits one gains for adapting such a system, the importance of knowing who is going to use it, planning for the future, and so much more, Sheila Pantry & Peter Griffiths give librarians a total run down they should not ignore to maximize their libraries potential. Enhanced with useful appendixes and indexes, "How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want" is a must for any community or college library science collection.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Dancing into Silence
R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton, and Will Clipman
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Dancing into Silence is a collaborative, instrumental album blending the work R. Carlos Nakai on the Native American flute, William Eaton on the harp guitar, and Will Clipman playing a diversity of world ethnic percussion. The result is a unique experience that transports the listener into a soundscape that reflects the mysteries of infinity. An extraordinarily beautiful and everlastingly memorable collection, highly recommended to music lovers intrigued by the prospect of something different. The tracks are "Ancient Awakening" (4:50), "Sun Path" (5:05), "Winged Iridescence" (5:10), "A Breath of Peace" (3:51), "Down to Earth" (3:35), "Radiance" (4:06), "Dancing into Silence" (4:51), "Man in the Maze" (3:11), "Reflections in an Emerald Pool" (4:13), "Horses in the Rain" (5:04), "Havasupai Lullabye" (4:44), "Whispers of the Wind" (4:19), "Memory's Children" (4:46), and "The Way Home" (2:07).

Gente!
SambaDa
Produced by Greg Landau
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.sambada.com

Gente! (the title means "people") is the latest music album offering of the Afro-Brazilian band SambaDa, a band founded by capoeira master Papiba Godinho. The band's evolution from a Brazilian dance group is reflected in its energetic rhythms, which tap into the innate human desire to exult in movement. A heady swing beat marks these enthralling songs, which touch upon the essence of surfing/skating in their perfectly balanced headlong rush. An exciting treat for multicultural music shelves, highly recommended for anyone who loves a great dance beat. The tracks are "Iguana", "Balancou", "Dende", "Rabo De Arraia", "Sangue Africano", "Nao Va Embora", "Mare", "Meu Pai", "Casa De Mainha", and "Sangue Africano Remix".

Whenever
Helen Flaherty, Philip Masure, and David Munnelly
Frea Records
Music & Words (publicity)
Maanlander 41, 3824MN, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
info@musicwords.nl
$16.99 www.musicwords.nl

Irish accordion master David Munnelly, Scottish singer Helen Flaherty, and multi-talented guitarist (among other instruments) Philip Masure present Whenever, a harmonious album of their uniquely blended talents. A captivating collection steeped in Celtic influence, Whenever beautifully balances the dynamic between three artists, creating an extraordinary listening experience. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Lone the Ploughboy" (3:05), "Lovely Willie" (3:33), "The Sligo Fermanagh Reels" (3:52), "Follow the Heron" (5:11), "Jackie Daily's Reels" (4:03), "Whenever" (5:44), "Andy De Jarlis' Jig/Het Vals Bewijs/The Millers Maggot" (4:58), "Tiree Love Song" (3:00), "Julia McMahon's/The Walls Of Liscarroll" (3:09), "Bloody Waterloo" (4:43), "Rakish Highlanders/Nine Points of Roguery/Mollov's" (3:02), "Bus Busk" (3:10), "Valse des Belugas/President Garfield/The Mad French Reel/Corn Rigs" (5:31), "La Partita" (3:05), and "All of It" (3:12).

Raising The Roof!
John Stein
www.johnstein.com
Whaling City Sound
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$16.98 www.mixedmediapromo.com www.whalingcitysound.com

Raising The Roof! is an album by jazz guitarist and band leader John Stein with Koichi Sato of Japan on keyboards, John Lockwood of South Africa on bass, and Ze Eduardo Nazario of Brazil on drums. An extraordinary fusion of invigorating rhythms, signature solos, and passionate playing that reflects the love of devoted musicians for their art, Raising the Roof! brims with so much enthusiasm it lives up to its title. A superb choice for jazz lovers everywhere, highly recommended. The tracks are "Nica's Dream" (6:50), "Moanin'" (5:09), "A Child Is Born" (6:25), "Elvin!" (8:21), "Invitation" (7:33), "Vivo Sonhando" (6:35), "Beautiful Love" (5:16), "Wild Woods" (4:48), and "Falling In Love With Love" (6:19).

Secretly Famous
The Spy from Cairo
Wonderwheel Recordings
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$15.98 www.wonderwheelrecordings.com

Moreno Visini, a.k.a. The Spy from Cairo, presents his latest album Secretly Famous, a consolidation of tracks each focusing on a distinct type of Middle Eastern music. From an adaptation of traditional Jordanian music, to an optimistic rendition of Moroccan music to a tribute to the Egyptian orchestra compositions of the renowned Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the tracks embody a pan-cultural sampling of styles ranging the emotional gamut from haunting beauty to fierce passion. Guest vocalist Ghalia, respected for her rapturous singing throughout Europe and Arabia, lends her talents to three of these exquisite songs. Highly recommended, especially for multicultural music collections. The tracks are "Nayphony", "Kurdish Delight", "Ana Arabi", "Kembe", "Jennaty", "Leila", "Oud Funk", "Blood and Honey", "Sun Disco", "Saidi the Man", "Reggada", "Ala Shan", and "Indian Dope".

Vanities: A New Musical
Ghostlight Records
Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$18.98 www.millerwright.com

Vanities: A New Musical is the original cast recording, based on the Obie Award-winning play, and includes liner notes, a synopsis, all the lyrics by songwriter David Kirshenbaum, and full-color photos from the off-Broadway show. Vanities: A New Musical is centered around the relationship of three friends, Mary, Joanne, and Kathy, from their girlhood in small town Texas to their college studies to their lives as grown women with careers, marriages, children to take care of, and dilemmas as they juggle all their responsibilities. An extraordinary production touching upon the heart and soul of American life, Vanities: A New Musical is the next best thing to witnessing the play in person, and an enthusiastically recommended addition to public library music CD shelves.

Real Vocal String Quartet
Flower Note Records
PO Box 2753, Berkeley, CA 94702
$21.49 www.rvsq.com

Real Vocal String Quartet is the exciting album of four classically-trained female players who have forsaken the artificial constraints of both the old classical realm, where musicians are expected to sacrifice their creativity to better contribute to the overall orchestra sound, and the contemporary classical world, the "new music" of which can take difficulty to absurd lengths. Real Vocal String Quartet features simultaneous singing and string playing that defies the boundaries of the soloist-centered and conductor-centered classical music scenes. An extraordinary acoustic experience, Real Vocal String Quartet is a gem for public library collections and anyone interested in hearing classical music played differently from the norm, but with the passion and joie de vivre worthy of the great masters. Highly recommended.

Fra_ctured
Gabriel Johnson
Electrofone Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$8.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Virtuoso trumpet player Gabriel Johnson presents Fra_ctured, an exploration of "fractured jazz" that draws inspiration from yet dares to defy the modern trend of digital substitutes - Johnson recorded each trumpet track of this almost-solo album on a stool in front of a microphone, in one uninterrupted take. The tracks are eight permutations of digital acoustic songs, and carry a lively, passionate pulse. An inexpensive treat for jazz trumpet fans, highly recommended. The tracks are "No Words", "Be Serious", "And Then It Was Ours", "Charisma machine", "You Get What You Deserve", "Confusion", "V.F.T.O.", and "Lullabye".

Cubist: Shapes of Sound and Time
Jerry Leake
Rhombus Publishing
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
$18.99, garrett@flipswitchpr.com

Cubist: Shapes of Sound and Time is a percussion album by Jerry Leake, whose creativity knows no bounds. Drawn from practically a lifetime of observing and discovering musical rhythms, traditions, and history around the world, Cubist breathes life into classic themes, and its rhythms call to the listener's entire body. A treasury for percussion fans, highly recommended. The tracks are Aldebaran; Caldera; Zulugu, Plan 9; Freehand; Cubist; Na Yella Bo; In From the Cold; Smoke; Geo; Convex; Nu Atsia; Chrysalis; Gahudo; Middle Ground; and Eclipse. 78 minutes, 24 seconds.


The Library DVD Shelf

America's Living Constitution
MicroWerks
2042-A Amacost Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025
No ISBN, $9.98 www.greenleafandassociates.com

AMERICA'S LIVING CONSTITUTION is a fine choice for any education collection: it is presented in full screen with each section individually indexed with bonus slideshows of selected national monuments, and covers the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights in detail. High school collections in particular will find this a fine pick.

Poldark Series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$69.99 www.acornmedia.com

As seen on PBS's "Masterpiece Theatre", Poldark Series 1 is the complete first season on DVD of the television series based on the novels by Winston Graham. Set in Britain shortly after the American Revolution, Poldark follows the Captain Ross Poldark, who has returned home to find his estate in shambles, the love of his life engaged to his cousin, and his family's copper mines on the verge of being seized by his rivals. As Poldark seeks both to reclaim his fortune and rediscover true love, he encounters murder, danger, and intrigue. A dramatic portrayal of the strict divisions of historical British society as well as a captivating character portrait and an enthralling adventure, Poldark Series 1 is highly recommended. 16 episodes, 821 min on 4 DVDs, full screen, SDH subtitles.

The Complete Inspector Lewis
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831289 $69.99 www.shopPBS.org

The Complete Inspector Lewis is the DVD collection the pilot and complete first and second series (for a total of 11 episodes) of "Inspector Lewis", the British detective who strives to live up to the legacy of his late long-time partner, the legendary Inspector Morse. Lewis must rebuild himself after the terrible loss of his wife to a hit-and-run accident, figure out how to work with his intelligent yet estranged younger partner, and prove his worth to a questionable new boss. Yet the cases Lewis receives remain his specialty, as each involves the affairs of the Oxford elite. A dramatic mystery collection featuring flawed yet well-rounded characters, The Complete Inspector Lewis is a superb pick for fans of the genre. 8 DVDs, 16.5 hours.

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

Originally broadcast as an episode of the public television series NOVA, Lizard Kings is an extraordinary documentary about monitor lizards, a family of reptiles that includes the tremendous Komodo dragons - the largest lizards found on the planet. Expert herpetologist Dr. Eric Pianka guides the viewer on a fantastic tour of these striking reptiles in Australia's heartland. "Lizard cam" technology even provided an up-close and personal view from the perspective of the lizards themselves, in this extraordinary true-life tour of these fascinating creatures. A wonderful, educational, and utterly captivating documentary, highly recommended for lizard fans of all ages and for public library DVD collections. 56 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned.

Wild Ocean
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
$19.98 DVD $24.98 Blu-ray www.image-entertainment.com

Originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Wild Ocean is a spectacular, award-winning DVD documentary that reveals the ocean life flourishing under the waves of South Africa's coast. From beautiful shoals to seals and dolphins to breaching whale and bloodthirsty sharks, Wild Ocean is an unforgettable tour of the daily struggle for survival among ocean wildlife, and a reminder of the ecological wonders beneath the waves that are perilously endangered by the encroaches of mankind. Special features include a behind the scenes featurette, an interview with the directors, and a quiz. Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Wild Ocean is an excellent pick especially recommended for public library collections. 40 minutes, widescreen, English/Spanish/French language tracks.

Shiva Rea Yogini
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$19.99 acacialifestyle.com

Set in beautiful Kauai under a waterfall, Shiva Rea Yogini: Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Women is a customizable yoga workout on DVD led by world-class instructor Shiva Rea. Options include a heart-centered practice, a flowing backbend segment, standing poses, and meditation to promote relaxation. A Yoga workout designed especially to help women tap into their innate creative energy (called shakti), Shiva Rea Yogini is a wonderful contribution to yoga and fitness DVD libraries and is highly recommended. 75 min., stereo, 16:9 widescreen.

The Suzuki Diaries
David Suzuki
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

Intended for viewers in grades 10-12 as well as adults, The Suzuki Diaries: Sustainability in Action is a DVD following geneticist and host of CBC's "The Nature of Things" David Suzuki (along with his youngest daughter Sarika) on a journey through Europe, as they see a glimpse of what a sustainable economic future might look like. In an era when emphasis on unlimited economic growth might send humankind toward its own destruction, what is an alternative to provide for humanity's needs without overtaxing the environment? In Germany, Suzuki and his daughter meet Hermann Scheer, politician and creator of the "feed-in" tariffs that help generate the renewable energy industry, the recently renovated Reichstag Building, and Studio 7.5, a place that created the entirely recyclable Mirra chair. In Denmark, they meet the president of the World Wind Energy Association, Preben Maegaard, and observe Copenhagen's many bicyclers - 40% of the population rides a bike to work or school! In France, they see the organic farm Nicholas Joly, and in Spain, they see a solar power project as well as a new high-speed rail network meant to replace expensive air travel between cities. An extraordinary tour of the latest ecological innovations in transportation and power, highly recommended especially for public library, college library, and school classroom collections. 45 minutes, closed captioned.

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

Three PBS DVDs preserve memorable episodes from their award-winning Frontline documentary series. "The Warning" is a surprising revelation of how early warnings of impending economic meltdown were tragically ignored; high-ranking members of the Clinton administration were at odds witha lone woman seeking to advocate the need to regulate the complicated new derivatives market that would eventually sour the nation's economy. A fascinating story of how entrenched self-interest to the extent of blindness stymied the earliest attempts to prevent future economic meltdown. "Close to Home: Scenes from a Recession" is the up-close and personal story of the modern recession from the perspective of the patrons of a hair salon on New York's Upper East Side. From well-heeled bankers to struggling actors, everyone who comes has their own personal story about getting by in tough times. "Obama's War" is an eye-opening look at the modern-day struggle in Afghanistan and Pakistan - tens of thousands of American troops, led by a new commander and following a counter-insurgency plan built from experience in Iraq, put their lives on the line in a difficult and costly struggle. Featuring interviews with top U.S. commanders on the ground, embeds with U.S. forces, and reporting from Washington, "Obama's War" scrutinizes America's overall strategy - as well as providing a vivid picture of the lives of those who proudly serve their country. As the war in Afghanistan portends to be longer and more costly than any imagined, "Obama's War" is a gripping update on cold, hard reality (note that some footage may not be appropriate for all viewers - individual discretion (or parental guidance in the case of minors) is advised. All three DVDs are highly recommended, especially for public library documentary collections. 60 minutes each.

Dancing the Big Apple 1937
Judy Pritchett
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$39.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

Dancing the Big Apple 1937: African-Americans Inspire a National Craze is an amazing DVD documentary about an African-American nightclub called The Big Apple in Columbia, South Carolina and the dance craze that grew out of it during the Great Depression. An enthusiastic circle dance performed to popular swing music has its roots in the African Ring Shout ceremony, brought to American soil by African slaves and handed down (often secretly) through generations. Choreography expert Lance Benishek demonstrates popular steps from the heyday of the Big Apple, and lively period music combined with exciting black-and-white historical footage brings this revolution in American dance to vivid life. Highly recommended.

History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance
Moncell Durden, director
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$39.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

Director Moncell Durden's "History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance: The Street Culture that became a Global Expression" is an examination of urban hip-hop dance in America from 1970's Break-Dancing to the 80's transition to 'easy-to-perform' party dances that appealed partygoers everywhere, to modern-day hip-hop in Afro-Latin communities' dancing and much more. Expert testimony on the origins and heritage of hip-hop dancing tap into the wisdom of choreographers, international dancers, and dance instructors. A celebration of this relatively recent and mutable global dance tradition with ancient roots, History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance is an excellent, lively and educational addition to any college or personal DVD library with a focus on the history of dance. 43 minutes.

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

Two outstanding DVDs from Crystal Productions immerse the viewer in the striking vivacity of Australian Aboriginal art. Marilynne Bradley's "Aboriginal Art: Past, Present and Future" (9781562904197, $29.95) offers the viewer a stunning tour of Aboriginal art from prehistoric cave decorations (not to mention living tree carvings and engravings on flat rocks) to the creations of modern-day artists. The striking, simplified yet eclectic artistic traditions and styles are captivating to behold. Of particular interest are the thematic motivations of many contemporary Aboriginal artists, whose work often reflects their personal experiences with dispossession, separation from family, racism, and the search for cultural identity. An absolute "must-have" for any art college DVD library. Also highly recommended is art educator Peggy Flores' "Aboriginal Art: How to Create It" (9781562904203, $29.95), an examination of how to craft striking works in the Aboriginal style. From how dots are used in composition, to basic Aboriginal symbols one can use, to crafting Dream paintings and X-ray paintings with various media and inexpensive supplies, "Aboriginal Art: How to Create It" lives up to its title with step-by-step instructions and user-friendly direction. A "must" for artists of all backgrounds intrigued by hands-on learning about the Aboriginal style.

Hubble's Amazing Rescue
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608830992 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Originally broadcast as an episode of NOVA, Hubble's Amazing Rescue is a behind-the-scenes documentary of the extraordinary astronauts and engineers who worked together to save the famous Hubble Space Telescope, an artifact that has contributed enormously to scientific knowledge in the past twenty years. After two decades, Hubble's gyroscopes and sensors were failing; its batteries were running down; and some of its instruments were already dead. A mission to save it had been cancelled in 2004 due to excessive risk to the astronauts. Previous missions had offered replacement parts, but now two of the run-down instruments, a camera and a spectrograph, had no available replacements. It took five careful spacewalks to revive the telescope and fortify it to be sent back into space, anywhere from 10 to 70 times more powerful than when it was first launched. A director's commentary enhances this amazing true-life story of the rebirth of a scientific resource, Hubble's Amazing Rescue is especially recommended for public library DVD collections. 56 minutes, widescreen, stereo, closed-captioned, not rated.

Drop Dead Rock
Starring Adam Ant and Deborah Harry
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDvisual.com 1-800-888-0486

Drop Dead Rock is a bizarrely funny comedy about a last dregs rock 'n' roll band called Hindenburg that kidnap the great British rock star Spazz-O, and hold him hostage to expose him to their music and thus garner fame. But Spazz-O's ex-porn star wife and her ruthless manager will benefit immensely if Spazz-O dies, and they've hired a hitman to make it happen. A media rush shoots Spazz-O's hype into the stratosphere, and the wealth of an eager media mogul makes Spazz-O worth more alive than dead! It's an all-out free-for-all between an inept rock band of kidnappers, a murderous assassin, frenzied media hounds and more in this laugh-out-loud funny adventure that cuts every sacred cow of the rock world down to size. Highly recommended. Not rated, 93 minutes.

What's On Your Plate?
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
www.whatsonyourplateproject.org
1594589011 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

What's On Your Plate? is a documentary film about kids and food politics. Though the film follows two biracial eleven-year-old city kids, its thought-provoking explorations of a serious subject makes it valuable for viewers of all ages. The young hosts talk to food activists, farmers, shopkeepers, and more people as they learn about the origins of the food they eat. Their journey takes them from supermarkets and fast food chains to school lunchrooms, but of particular interest is their trips of discovery about the latest innovations of sustainable food-growing practices. Modern community-supported agriculture programs can work with the environment, help struggling farmers, and offer affordable, locally grown food to communities in general - and urban families on a tight budget in particular. An excellent and educational documentary, highly recommended for school classroom and public library viewing shelves. 76 minutes, English, SDH captions or Spanish subtitles.

My Fuhrer
Featuring Ulrich Muhe
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

My Fuhrer is a shocking, bizarre, and utterly irreverent satire about Adolf Hitler (perhaps a parallel world's Adolf Hitler, since historical accuracy is essentially thrown under the wheels of the comedy bus). In December of 1944, Berlin is about to fall and World War II is almost over. The country needs a speech from its Fuhrer, Adolf, but the man is barely in control of himself, let alone of the political and military machinery around him. The only person who can help Adolf give a great speech is Germany's best acting teacher, Adolf Grunbaum... who happens to be a Jew. The lurid ridicule knows now bounds is this eyebrow-raising character rewrite of real-life villains. Bonus materials include a director's statement by Dani Levy, an interview with actor Ulrich Muhe, and a photo gallery. 89 minutes, color, German with English subtitles.


The Audiobook Shelf

Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009
Emily Herbert
Read by Andre Blake
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742145846 $77.95 www.bolinda.com

Narrated by skilled stage, film, and television actor Andre Blake, Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009 is the complete and unabridged audiobook adaptation of the story of pop culture star Michael Jackson's life. From his budding musical talent and an exceptionally young age, to his performances with his four brothers as the Jackson 5, to his breakaway successful solo career, to the true story behind the headline scandals that marked the last decade of his life, Michael Jackson King of Pop is an extraordinary portrait of one of America's most financially successful entertainers. Highly recommended especially for fans of Michael Jackson's unforgettably catchy music. 6 CDs, 6 hours 44 minutes, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

Fallen Angels That Bounce
Meatball Fulton
ZBS Foundation
174 N. River Rd., Fort Edward, NY 12828
193165445X $15.00 www.zbs.org

Fallen Angels That Bounce is a brief yet imaginative audiobook performed by talented voice actors and enhanced with a dash of mood-setting music. Flo is getting more and more frustrated by her dreams in which she is trying to travel, but constantly forgetting her ticket, passport, or purse and misses her train or plane. Joe and Moe offer her helpful advice - visualize how she wishes her dream to end, then go back to sleep and change how the dream unfolds. But just what new direction should her travel dream take? The line between dream and reality becomes increasingly blurred in this talented, oh-so-slightly surreal production great for anyone who loves listening to stories with a twist. 68 minutes.

Stern Men
Elizabeth Gilbert, author
Allyson Ryan, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780143143345 $39.95 www.penguin.com 1-800-847-5515

Skillfully narrated by stage and television actress Allyson Ryan, Stern Men is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Elizabeth Gilbert's novel set on the Maine coast. Stern Men follows the adventure of a high-spirited, eighteen-year-old woman amid two groups of local lobstermen who constantly quarrel over their rights the waters between their islands. Determined to take her place among the "stern men" of the lobster boats, her courage, heroism, and capacity to love will be truly tested as the feud escalates further. An enjoyable adventure from beginning to end, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

Riders of the Three-Toed Horse
Garrett W. Vance and Birke Duncan
Produced by Birke Duncan
Directed by Kevin Veatch
Northwest Folklore
PO Box 253, Poulsbo, WA 98370-0253
0971058245 $11.50

Riders of the Three-Toed Horse is a radio play on audio CD about a geologist stranded in the Agate County desert. An ancient, hidden evil has awakened, and it pursues him with relentless bloodthirst - does he have any hope of survival? An exciting narrative from beginning to end, sure to keep listeners on the edges of their seats. 47 minutes.

The Ultimate Happiness Prescription
Deepak Chopra
Random House Audio
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307704559, $20.00 www.randomhouseaudio.com

The Ultimate Happiness Prescription is read by Chopra himself and provides a fine set of seven keys to uncover true joy even in hard times. The goal of life is the expansion of happiness - but often that goal seems impossible, with society maintaining other values such as wealth and good relationships supersede this one. Chopra indicates all life success is due the by-product of basic happiness, not the cause - and his steps can unfold this. New age and general collections will find his an ongoing, popular pick.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

John Grisham narrates his own audio in FORD COUNTRY: STORIES (9780307702104, $35.00), his first collection of his short stories, centered around Ford Country Mississippi - the setting of his first novel A TIME TO KILL. From family ties to a miracle phone call and an ambitious career, this varied collection provides a diverse cast of characters with a satisfyingly realistic Southern flavor to each tale. Laurell K. Hamilton's DIVINE MISDEMEANORS (9780739370483, $45.00) receives a fine reading by Laural Merlington in an unabridged production telling of Meredith Nic Essus, princess of Faerie who is also a L.A. private eye operating in two realms. Magic and mortals alike struggle in this satisfying blend of P.I. and fantasy.

Brilliance Audio
www.brillianceaudio.com

Roger Fisher and Scott Brown's GETTING TOGETHER: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AS WE NEGOTIATE (142339979X, $24.99) is the sequel to the best-selling GETTING TO YES and pairs Jim Bond's avid and smooth reading style with an approach to creating relationships that can handle problems. From negotiating to sustaining lasting relationships in personal and private life, this offers a series of steps on how to be reliable, communicate well, and deal with those who are different. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's DRAGONS OF THE HOURGLASS MAGE (1423316304, $39.99) receives a fine performance by veteran narrator Sandra Burr as it tells of Raistlin Majere, who has become a wizard and travels to the lord city of the Dark Queen to work for her. When he finds that one Takhsis means to take control of all wizardly magic, forces of light and darkness line up in a desperate struggle. Any fantasy audio library will welcome this. Diana Palmer's FEARLESS (142338248X, $34.99) offers a fine professional narration by Phil Gigante and tells of trouble in a small Texas town when DEA agent Rodrigo is sent undercover to a stepbrother's farm in Texas to bust a drug cartel. Romance and a double life collide in this moving account. Joe R. Lansdale's THE TWO-BEAR MAMBO (1423384326, $29.99) also enjoys professional reader Phil Gigante's smooth voice as it packs suspense and humor into the story of two who search for Florida Grange, a gorgeous lawyer and former lover who has vanished in Texas as she was investigating a mysterious jailhouse death. Tension and intrigue mount in a satisfying audio story. David Weber's THE SHORT VICTORIOUS WAR (1423395239, $29.99) receives Allyson Johnson's smooth reading and presents Book Three in the Honor Harrington series, telling of families who rule the People's Republic of Haven. A powerful ruling class and political enemies that spread across star kingdoms makes for an engrossing science fiction story especially recommended for prior enthusiasts of the Honor Harrington stories.

Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Andy Williams' MOON RIVER AND ME (9780143145004, $34.95) is narrated by the author and provides a fine autobiography of Andy Williams, telling of the rise of his long career. From his childhood raised by a father who was determined to see him become a performer to his solo career's evolution, Andy Williams shares his career's triumphs and setbacks. Very highly recommended for any general audio collection. Also recommended is Anthony Beevor's D-DAY: THE BATTLE FOR NORMANDY (9780143144915, $39.95), narrated by actor Cameron Stewart who lends a lively voice to this first major account in over twenty years to cover the invasion in its entirety, describing not only the American and British experience but those of Canadian and German soldiers.


The American History Shelf

Gilded: How Newport Became America's Richest Resort
Deborah Davis
Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5744
9780470124130, $25.95 www.wiley.com

Gilded: How Newport Became America's Richest Resort offers a fine survey of Newport, Rhode Island history and is a pick for any library strong in regional Americana. Newport has been legendary for its appeal to the super-rich, and Rhode Island native Deborah Davis provides research into the elite's playground in a lively, fun social history of personalities and events.

The Inevitable Battle
Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Editorial Capitan San Luis
Pathfinder Press (distributor)
PO Box 162767, Atlanta, GA 30321-2767
9789592113374, $20.00

The failure of the United States gave Castro the power he's had for half a century. "The Inevitable Battle: From the Bay of Pigs to Playa Giron" tells the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the vents around it, told by Juan Carlos Rodriguez, taking a creative nonfiction approach to telling the story of the invasion with some of his personal perspective of the time. "The Inevitable Battle" is a fascinating look and perspective of the Bay of Pigs invasion.

Custer Survivor
John Koster
History Publishing Company
PO Box 700, Palisades, NY 10964-0700
9781933909035, $16.95, www.historypublishingco.com

Could there have been someone who survived the massacre of Custer's Forces? "Custer Survivor: The End of a Myth, the Beginning of a Legend" delves into the possibility of a survivor of Custer's Last Stand as he stood against the massive forces of Native Americans, as a backlash against the American forces in the region. "Custer Survivor" provides a new perspective on the event, making for an intriguing and highly recommended read for those looking for the lost bits of history.

Shaper of Seattle
William H. Wilson
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780874223019, $29.95, www.wsupress.wsu.edu

There are people who shape directions of entire cities. "Shaper of Seattle: Reginald Heber Thomson's Pacific Northwest" tells the story of this urban engineer who is hugely responsible for how Seattle as it is today. Plumbing, sanitation, roads, and more, his ideas and motives greatly improved Seattle for years to come, and William Wilson does well in covering his life and how he got to his position. For those interested in Seattle history, "Shaper of Seattle" is a fine and very recommended read, not to be missed.

Ditch of Dreams
Steven Noll & David Tegeder
University Press of Florida
17 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034065, $29.95, www.upf.com

A canal through Florida draws radically different actions. "Ditch of Dreams: The Cross Florida Barge Canal and the Struggle for Florida's Future" discusses the cross-Florida canal and the debate that has raged on for nearly a century regarding the potential canal. Halted in 1971, the canal's status is officially halted, but there is still debate around it to this day. An intriguing look into the state of the project and impact of such an undertaking, "Ditch of Dreams" is a fascinating read for any who want another aspect of Florida's history.

The Ku Klux Klan In Mississippi
Michael Newton
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786446537, $75.00, www.amazon.com

The formation of the Ku Klux Klan was a direct response to the exploitation of a defeated Confederacy to the incursion of 'carpet baggers' from the north and the perceived threat of newly freed African-Americans to the remnants of white privilege, socially, politically, and economically. From 1866 down to the present day, the KKK in Mississippi has been particularly entrenched, receiving fresh impetus with the stimulus of the Civil Rights movement and the abolition of the 'Jim Crow' laws. The activities of the Mississippi KKK were particularly violent and frequently included lynchings and burnings in organized campaigns of domestic terrorism. In "The Ku Klux Klan In Mississippi: A History", author Michael Newton provides a detailed and methodical 252-page overview of the Klan in Mississippi as a social and political movement from 1886 to 2007. Enhanced with extensive Chapter Notes, Bibliography, and Index, "The Ku Klux Klan In Mississippi" is a seminal work and strongly recommended for both academic and community library American History reference collections in general, and Domestic Terrorism Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

100 Media Moments That Changed America
Jim Willis
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313355172, $85.00, www.amazon.com

From the hand-printed broadsheets of the 17th century through our present electronic age of twitters and blackberries, mass media has had two consistent qualities in the shaping of American popular and political culture -- scandal and violence. In "100 Media Moments That Changed America", former journalist and active academician Jim Willis (Department of Communication Studies, Azusa Pacific University, California), presents a chronological history of media's influence in shaping American culture beginning with the first printed newspaper, through the advent of radio and television, to the age of the computer and the internet. Professor Willis has selected one hundred distinctive and iconic examples ranging from Orson Wells legendary 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast, to the Kennedy-Nixon debates, to the JFK assassination, to the Pentagon Papers, to the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Informed and informative, this 260-page compendium of detailed, documented, and superbly presented information is an especially recommended and seminal addition to both academic and community library Journalism and Media reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

'The Personal Observations of a Man of Intelligence'
Sir James Fergusson, author
Ben Wynne, editor
The True Bill Press
PO Box 0349, Lambertville, NJ 08530-0349
www.TheTrueBillPress.com
9780979111631, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Privately printed in 1861 and long out of print until The True Bill Press under the editorship of Ben Wynne has newly published this 176-page annotated edition, "'The Personal Observations of a Man of Intelligence': Notes of a Tour in North America in 1861" is a record Scottish Conservative and landed aristocrat Sir James Fergusson made while on a three-month tour of the United States and Canada from August through October of that year. In making this extensive trip Fergusson had two missions: determine the state of Canadian military preparedness in the face of a potential invasion by Union forces as part of the newly launched American Civil War; and determine the condition of both the Union and Confederate armies with respect to which side would ultimately prevail. Fergusson predicted a Confederate victory and urged the British government to side with the South against the North. Never truly available to the reading public of his day, this superbly annotated edition of "'The Personal Observations of a Man of Intelligence': Notes of a Tour in North America in 1861" makes it a critically valuable addition to all academic library 19th Century American History reference collections in general, and Civil War Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

Family Values in the Old South
Craig Thompson Friend and Anya Jabour, editors
University Press of Florida
University of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034188 $69.95 www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822

Family Values in the Old South is a scholarly anthology of ten essays by expert historians discussing everyday family life in the nineteenth-century American South. Mourning rituals, farming customs, daily life in taverns, political maneuverings, interracial marriage and more are covered. Also examined at length are cross-plantation slave marriages, white orphanages, childhood mortality rates, how miscegenation affected inheritance, common domestic activities and even the existence of same-sex relationships. A remarkably vivid, detailed, and well-researched contribution to modern-day understanding of American culture over a century ago, Family Values in the Old South is an absolute "must-have" for college library American History shelves.

Sins of the Pioneers
James Pylant
Jacobus Books
PO Box 1587, Stephenville, Texas 76401
9780962274664 $15.95 www.JacobusBooks.com

Sins of the Pioneers: Crimes & Scandals in a Small Texas Town shines a spotlight on lawbreakers in the Texas small town of Stephenville from 1864 to 1891 - a time when disgruntled Southerners flooded into Texas, and the deadly cocktail of alcohol and guns helped transform Texas into the nation's most murderous state. As Stephenville evolved from a frontier town to a thriving village, it was also home to a sheriff who played fast and loose with the law to jail criminals (including his kinfolk), horse thieves, hellacious madams, domestic violence, and even a teenage girl axe murderer. Sins of the Pioneers is every bit as salacious as its title suggests, and is highly recommended to true crime fans.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Taking Women in New Directions
Paula Kassell
Hudson House
675 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
9781587768958 $15.95 www.hudsonhousepub.com

Taking Women in New Directions: Stories from the Second Wave of the Women's Movement is an anthology of articles written by author Paula Kassell for the national feminist newspaper "New Directions for Women", which was published from 1972 to 1993. "New Directions for Women" was notable for its calls for affirmative action in the workplace, for women to get involved in all aspects of politics (from voting to campaign work to running for office). Kassell's articles, and some accompanying black-and-white photographs, are reproduced with the same appearance they once had within the paper itself. Taking Women in New Directions is a vital piece of America's history, chronicling milestones, changes, and even the occasional lapse in the progress of women's rights in America. An invaluable contribution to women's studies shelves, especially those of college libraries, Taking Women in New Directions is highly recommended.


The Computer Shelf

Multisite Commerce
Lev Mirlas
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
0137148879, $44.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

MULTISITE COMMERCE: PROVEN PRINCIPLES FOR OVERCOMING THE BUSINESS, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND TECHNICAL CHALLENGES packs in details on internet website management and marketing using multiple sites, identifying scenarios in which multiple sites are necessary and showing how to reduce the cost and management challenges of establishing multiple e-commerce sites. From identifying common issues to managing politics and priorities, this is a 'must' for computer and business collections alike.

WebSphere Application Server Administration Using Jython
Robert A. Gibson, et.al.
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
0137009526, $54.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

WebSphere Application Server Administration Using Jython is a pick for any advanced library offering analysis of web services in general and Jython scripting in particular. From mastering Jython rules to using scripting to list, view, and install AppServer applications, this is a pick for any working in any WebSphere environment.

Agile Coaching
Rachel Davies and Liz Sedley
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356432, $34.95 www.pragprog.com

AGILE COACHING tells how to work with people to create Agile teams to build software, showing how to grow a team that is self-sufficient and skillful. From Test-Driven Development design to real-world experiences with real teams, this offers chapters applying agile techniques to everyday objectives. Computer and business collections alike will relish this.

Learning Autodesk Maya 2009
Autodesk
Sybex, Inc.
c/o John Wiley & Sons
989 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103
9781897177525, $69.99 www.sybex.com

Learn how to model with polygons and how to work with inverse kinematics using LEARNING AUTODESK MAYA 2009: THE MODELING & ANIMATION HANDBOOK. Step-by-step tutorials cover the entire process, from animation and modeling stages to using artwork and building models with polygons. The accompanying DVD offers a blend of free 3D models and Maya reference guides in a powerful guide that's a 'must' for any Maya collection.

Sams
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com www.informit.com/sams

SAMS TEACH YOURSELF PHP, MYSQL AND APACHE by Julie C. Meloni (067233089X, $49.99) packs in a video starter kit pairing a video and book together. A CD-ROM includes a complete starter kit for Windows, Linux or Mac OS X and pairs well with a self-paced lesson plan that juxtaposes video lessons explaining key concepts with interactive learning tabs and small lessons that lend to browsing and quick learning. The same format lends to Phil Ballard and Michael Moncur's TEACH YOURSELF AJAX, JAVASCRIPT AND PHP (9672330903, $49.95), pairing short videos of ten minutes or less with key lesson plans and concepts. The box holds 24 one-hour lessons, the video lessons pack in four hours of easy learning. Jesse Fuller's TEACH YOURELF DRUPAL IN 24 HOURS (0672331268, $34.99) also offers step-by-step directions and covers the most common Drupal tasks, showing how to use Drupal to build both business and personal websites. From customizing to adding images and links, this tells how to blend all types of content and how to manage users, permissions and more. The value of these packages are outstanding.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/opengl

The two-volume slipcased by Dave Shreiner, Randi Rost, Bill Licea-Kane, OPEN GL LIBRARY, 5TH EDITION (032163764X, $99.99), offers a fine survey packing the third edition of OPEN GL SHADING LANGUAGE and the 7th updated edition of OPEN GL PROGRAMMING GUIDE under one cover. Any computer collection strong in Open GL must have this presentation: it's packed with coverage of the latest releases of Open GL and offers outstanding, specific survey of usage techniques. No serious computer collection should be without this. Also recommended is Mary and Tom Poppendieck's LEADING LEAN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: RESULTS ARE NOT THE POINT (0321620704, $49.99), a software engineering title for any library strong in agile software development. It builds upon their prior best-selling books on lean software and shows how to make change throughout a software organization - lasting change. Alan Shalloway, Guy Beaver and James R. Trott's LEAN-AGILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: ACHIEVING ENTERPRISE AGILITY (0321532899, $39.99) is also a top pick for such software engineering libraries, showing how to extend Scrum processes to improve developer productivity and software business value. Three experts use their experience to provide a range of insights and skills. Jason Ouellette's DEVELOPMENT WITH THE FORCE.COM PLATFORM: BUILDING BUSINESS APPLICATIONS IN THE CLOUD (0321647734, $44.99) tells how to build quick cloud-based applications using Force.com, from creating custom applications in days or weeks to using Visualforce to construct custom interfaces, implementing Ajax without writing JavaScript code, and displaying reports as dashboards for at-a-glance information. John Maver and Cappy Popp's ESSENTIAL FACEBOOK DEVELOPMENT (0321637984, $39.99) is a pick for nay web programming collection, offering the basics of using the Facework social networking platform. From why some Facebook applications are successful to how to create an effective application, this is packed with powerful insights key to any social network developer. Chris Cole, Chad Russell and Jessica Whyte's BUILDING OPENSOCIAL APPS: A FIELD GUIDE TO WORKING WITH THE MYSPACE PLATFORM (0321619064, $44.99) belongs in any developer's library and tells how to install and work with the MySpace Developer Platform. From displaying user data and photos to sending invitations, notices, and building a user base, this packs in tips on building apps, mashups, and everything from simple designs for minimal user interfaces to those that can scale thousands of users on more than fifty social network systems. Andrew Whitaker, Keatron Evans and Jack B. Voth's CHAINED EXPLOITS: ADVANCED HACKING ATTACKS FROM START TO FINISH (032149881X, $49.99) provides a fine guide to chained attacks and is a pick any network security library must have. Chapters cover new phishing attacks, how IT security can be vulnerable to wireless networks, how competitors' web sites are disrupted, and more. Each attack is analyzed one step at a time with the latest countermeasures - technical and human - covered. All are outstanding presentations.

The Internet At Your Fingertips
Michael Miller
Alpha
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Ave., New York NY 10014
9781592579273, $18.95 www.penguin.com

The Internet At Your Fingertips covers everything from getting connected and surfing the Net to banking, email management, shopping, videos, cookies and blocking pop-ups. Sections are well organized and written with at-a-glance browsing in mind, making this a top reference for beginning users who want quick answers to common questions.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Chris Smith's PROGRAMMING F# (9780596153649, $44.99) provides all the basics of functional programming with F#, and how to use it to simplify code and learn the language's syntax and styles. From learning the basics to advanced F# concepts such as computation expressions, this packs in clear explanations and is recommended for intermediate users and computer libraries catering to them. John I. Jerkovic's SEO WARRIOR (9780596157074, $44.99) is for any library strong in web design, teaching about web search engine marketing practices such as Google AdWords, and how to use social networking to increase visibility. From creating sites with SEO to using keyword research to find terms to reach an audience, this is a top pick. Also highly recommended is Dave H. Hoover & Adewale Oshineye's APPRENTICESHIP PATTERNS; GUIDANCE FOR THE ASPIRING SOFTWARE CRAFTSMAN (9780596518387, $29.99), a software engineering book that discusses how to further a career as a software developer to blend technical expertise with effective learning techniques. Years of research, interviews, and feedback from O'Reilly's own online forum offer insights on difficult situations programmers and designers face daily, and consider the wider question of software development as a path to personal fulfillment.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Jean Andrews, Ph.D.'s CompTIA A+2009 In Depth (1435454898, $44.99) covers all of CompTIA's latest 2009 A+ certification exams and provides key terms, review questions, and a companion CD-ROM and web site with video tutorials to cover everything needed to troubleshoot computer hardware and software. The latest technologies are included in this in-depth tutorial which covers all the basics of PC repair, from older technology still being used to the latest cutting-edge computer equipment. This new edition also focuses on Windows Vista and XP in this top pick for any advanced computer library catering to the exam students. Chimborazo Publishing Inc.'s COMPTIA A+ 2009 Q & A (1435454901, $19.99) is also a winner, offering a set of 800 questions and answers for the new A+ exams. Everything you might encounter on the two exams is covered in comprehensive questions covering both software and every operating system, PC repair, networking issues, and more. Andrews also produces THE ULTIMATE COMPTIA A+ 2009 RESOURCE KIT (143545491X, $74.99), a professional's technical reference to preparing for CompTIA's latest certification exams. From sample exams and study and certification questions to real world instruction on every everything needed to support and troubleshoot computer hardware and software, this packs a bonus CD with 13 appendices, sample reports, and more with video clips and a book key to testing knowledge of basic repair concepts. Flashcards include source chapters and exam-specific instructions offer insights into key exam objectives.

Designing Web Accessibility for a Beautiful Web
Andy Clarke
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321680154, $39.99 www.newriders.com

The DVD guide Designing Web Accessibility for a Beautiful Web provides a fine survey of accessibility and comes form a visual web designer and author who has designed for all kinds of businesses. His focus on both design and code offers a DVD demonstrating his concepts in action, using examples from his fictional social networking web site and including its files on the DVD. Computer collections will find this a fine addition.

Eyetracking Web Usability
Jakob Nielsen and Kara Pernice
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321498364, $59.99 www.newriders.com

Eyetracking Web Usability is based on one of the largest studies of eyetracking usability and employs usability methodology and eye-tracking technology to analyze 1.45 million user fixations on web sites. Designers and software developers - and libraries catering to them - will find this packed with examples of eye movements and design potentials.

Practical Virtualization Solutions
Kenneth Hess and Amy Newman
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780137142972, $39.99 www.informit.com/ph

Practical Virtualization Solutions: Virtualization From the Trenches offers a guide to networking that helps make virtualization work in real enterprises. Examples and case studies offer detailed costs, schedules and deployments that show how to transition from physical to virtual worlds and how to choose which services to virtualize. IT professionals and business libraries as well as computer collections will find this essential.

Advanced BlackBerry Development
Chris King
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430226567 $39.99 www.apress.com

Software engineer Chris King presents Advanced BlackBerry Development, an excellent guide to creating quality professional applications for the BlackBerry platform. Chapters cover the pros and cons of different applications and their functions, with an emphases on teaching the reader how to figure out what is most appropriate for which setting as well as the nuts and bolts of coding. Of particular interested are the chapters on ensuring security or encryption as needed, especially in today's world where electronic identity theft is more rampant than ever. Black-and-white illustrations, charts, and sections of sample code round out this superb "missing manual" highly recommended for advanced Blackberry users.


The Cookbook Shelf

DamGoodSweet
David Guas & Raquel Pelzel
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600851186, $25.00 www.taunton.com

New Orleans dessert traditions are explored in DAMGOODSWEET, a dessert cookbook devoted to New Orleans sweets and written by a local pastry chef who blends a travelogue and memoir with 50 recipes. From Vanilla Bean Pudding and Red Velvet Cake to Lemon Poppers, this is packed with outstanding fare perfect for any dessert cookbook collection.

Cherries in Winter
Suzan Colon
Doubleday & Company
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780385532525, $21.95 www.doubleday.com

CHERRIES IN WINTER: MY FAMILY'S RECIPE FOR HOPE IN HARD TIMES offers a fine memoir about three generations of women who find solace in their kitchen during hard economic times. Author Suzan Colon found inspiration in her grandmother's long-lost recipe folder -and realized cooking was her family's key to survival through hard times. Her re-creation of 'sturdy food' recipes shares both dishes and observations of a new life.

Cookie Swap
Julia M. Usher
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423603788, $19.99 www.gibbs-smith.com

COOKIE SWAP: CREATIVE TREATS TO SHARE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR offers not just cookie recipes but invitation and exchange ideas on how to host a cookie swap. Over 100 color photos on 160 pages captures the spirit of the swap and how to orchestrate year-round cookie swaps. Any library that finds cookie cookbooks popular will find this takes the extra step of using baking to arrange social get-togethers.

Fruit & Veg Grower's Cookbook
Kathryn Hawkins
New Holland Publishers
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781847734082, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Every gardeners knows for a fact that the fruits and vegetables that come from their own home-grown harvests taste better than anything purchased in a grocery store. Indeed, even non-gardeners who are patrons of their local farmer's markets can attest to that singular culinary truth. That's why the "Fruit & Veg Grower's Cookbook" by cookbook author and food stylist Kathryn Hawkins is such a treasure. In addition to sixty thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, this 192-page compendium of recipes is enhanced with chapters focused on each particular type of plant featured in these dishes and range from bulbs and root vegetables to orchard fruit. Of special note for do-it-yourself gardeners are the 'at-a-glance' timetables for planting, nurturing, and harvesting. From seeds in the ground to culinary delights upon the table, "Fruit & Veg Grower's Cookbook" is highly recommended and an ideal addition to personal and community library cookbook collections. If you have a garden, or ever contemplating starting one, then you need to browse through the inspiring pages of Kathryn Hawkins' "Fruit & Veg Grower's Cookbook"!

Healthier Eating
Karen Jung
Granville Island Publishing
212 - 1656 Duranleau Street, Granville Island, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H 3S4
info@granvilleislandpublishing.com
www.granvilleislandpublishing.com
9781894694575, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The diagnoses of cancer is a shattering experience and one that typically requires radical changes to a patient's lifestyle, including their diet. "Healthier Eating And Living With Cancer" by Karen Jung, who draws upon her personal experience in preparing nutritious and attractive meals for her husband during his cancer treatments and recuperation, this a 240-page compendium of 162 superb recipes for healthy dishes that will substantively aid any cancer patient in their struggle back to health. The recipes range from a Beef and Black Bean Tortilla Chip Dip; to Chicken Qusadillas; to a Tossed Green Salad with Flax Seed Oil; to Spanish Turkey and Rice; to Prawn, Crab and Avocado Sushi; to Mixed Vegetables with Cashew Nuts. Of special note is the health and nutrition information and the suggested menus for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "Healthier Eating And Living With Cancer" is highly recommended for community library cookbook collections in general, and personal cookbook shelves for families having to deal with struggles against cancer in particular.

Amrit
Purnima Nandkishore
Sugandhi
201 Los Gatos Saratoga Road, #230, Los Gatos, CA 95030
www.AmritForHeart.com
9780615270623, $24.99, purnima@sugandhi.com

The food we eat has a seminal and profound influence on our state of health. While what we choose eat can cause illness, the right choices can go a long way to curing illness as well. This is particularly true of heart diseases. That's why "Amrit: Luscious & Heart-Healthy Indian Meals" compiled by Purnima Nandkishore is such a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library cookbook collections. Spiral bound so it will lay flatt upon a kitchen table or counter, "Amrit" is a 216-page compendium of recipes for dishes that arise from the cuisines of India as well as other regions of the world that are as delicious and nutritious as they are 'kitchen cook friendly' in their preparation. Of special note are the side-bars denoting the nutritional information by nutritional analyst Karen Yee. With dishes ranging from Artichoke Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Peppers; to Green Tea Ice Cream with Pomegranate Sauce; to Sweet Potato Pudding; to Polenta with Mustard Greens, "Amrit" offers a wide variety of dining options suitable for daily family meals or elegant celebration dinners alike. Not just an ordinary cookbook, "Amrit" is enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix, a glossary, a bibliography, a section for resources, and a comprehensive index.

Pizza & Wine
Leonardo Curti & James O. Fraioli
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423605140, $19.99, www.amazon.com

From pizzas to pastas, Italian cuisine is among the most popular with discerning gourmets and the hungry public. "Pizza & Wine: Authentic Italian Recipes" by Leonardo Curti (executive chef and co-proprietor of the Trattoria Grappolo bistro in Santa Ynez, California), and James O. Fraioli (a professional investigative journalist and accomplished food writer), is a 176-page, beautifully and profusely illustrated compendium of recipes and commentaries that will enable even the most novice kitchen cook to prepare truly gourmet quality dishes, each of which would be accompanied by superb vintages. From fresh pizza dough, to homemade pizza sauce, to such elegant offerings as Eggplant, Roasted Bell Pepper, and Zucchini; Lobster with Ripe Avocado and Sliced Tomato; a Strawberry Cocktail; and a Chestnut Pudding, "Pizza & Wine" is a magnificently presented, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

My Rustic Sandwiches
Sam Sidawi
Daniel's Rustic Bread
sales@danielsrusticbread.com
9780981293509, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Sandwiches have come a long way since a hungry British Earl decided to slap a piece of meat between two slices of bread so he could keep on playing in a card game without interruption. The once lowly and ubiquitous sandwich has now risen to fresh and new culinary heights with "My Rustic Sandwiches: Great Recipes to Savor Artisan Bread" by Sam Sidawi, a man who draws upon years of research into the making of artisan breads and has now compiled a 96-page compendium dedicated to superb artisan bread creations that even the most novice of kitchen cooks can easily and deftly prepare. More than just a 'how to' for making exotic sandwiches, "My Rustic Sandwiches" is a full course, single-volume instruction guide explaining every aspect of the twelve-step bread making process, including 'Baker's Math', weights and measurements, before launching into a succulent, mouth-watering assemblage of easy to follow recipes for everything from 'Baguettes with Poolish'; to Feta Cheese, Tomato, Cucumber and Olive Oil on French Loaf Bread; to Sesame Crusted Grilled Salmon, Lemon Basil Mayonnaise, Diced Red Onions, Tomatoes and Parsley on Parisienne; to Burger au Poivre with Porteenie Mushroom on Sesame Kaiser Bread. Superbly illustrated throughout in full color, "My Rustic Sandwiches" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Good Mood Food
Donal Skehan
Mercier Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781856356299, $32.95, www.amazon.com

In "Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking", Donal Skehan emphasizes the importance the necessity of paying attention to what you eat as a fundamental necessity for having good health. What we eat and in what quantities affects our mood, our sleep, our energy, and our overall mental health. That's why Skehan has created this 288-page compendium dedicated to recipes of dishes for all dining occasions from breakfast to lunch to dinner. There are invaluable chapters of recipes devoted to aiding the body in healing and the removal of toxic substances. Of special note is the chapter showcasing recipes for 'Sweets and Treats'. Profusely illustrated throughout, the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes range from Oat Pancakes; Sesame Chicken Satay Skewers; Asian Steam Baked Fish Parcels; and Real Baked Beans with Ciabatta; to Prawn and Potato Basil Salad; Red Pepper Soup; Baked Pears with Spiced Honey; and a Bacon, Avocado and Sundried Tomato Sandwich. Of special note is the opening chapter offering basic information on storage and freezer essentials, basic tomato sauce, basic chick stock, growing herbs, and washing salad leaves. "Good Mood Food: Simple Healthy Homecooking" truly lives up to the promise of its title and is highly recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections. Also very highly recommended is Donal Skehan's Good Mood Food Blog which can be accessed at http://www.thegoodmoodfoodblog.com.

The Lavender Gourmet
Jennifer Vasich
Moose Run Productions
Box 46281, Mount Clemens, MI 48046-6281
9780976631538, $19.95, www.amazon.com

While best known as a superb and ancient source for the making of perfumes, lavender is also a culinary herb to be used to very good effect in an amazing variety of dishes. In "The Lavender Gourmet: Culinary Recipes For Entertaining And Every Day", cookbook author and lavender expert Jennifer Vasich has compiled an impressive 344-page compendium of 140 recipes showcasing the culinary versatility of lavender in the preparation of savory dishes including entrees, soups, breads, salads, appetizers and deserts. Of special note are the recipe variations offered for creating different versions of the same dish. Enhanced with a wealth of tips and commentaries on not just cooking with lavender but also growing and harvesting it, "The Lavender Gourmet" is an exotic and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections!

Kau Kau: Cuisine & Culture in the Hawaiian Islands
Arnold Hiura
Watermark Publishing
1088 Bishop Street, Suite #310, Honolulu, HI 96813
9780979676932 $32.95 www.bookshawaii.net 1-866-900-2665

Gorgeously illustrated with historical photography (some images in black-and-white, some in color), Kau Kau: Cuisine & Culture in the Hawaiian Islands is a coffee-table book featuring more than seventy traditional Hawaiian recipes as well as an in-depth history of culinary culture in the Hawaiian Islands. From what it was like to live, work and eat in a missionary or a plantation, to how the introduction of cattle transformed the Hawaiian diet and created the Hawaiian cowboy (or paniolo), to pictures of a medley of different menus found at various Hawaiian restaurants and much more, Kau Kau is an enthralling tour that gourmets, culinary historians, and anyone interested in preparing or sampling Hawaiian cuisine are sure to enjoy. Highly recommended, especially as a sumptuous souvenir for anyone with fond memories of visiting Hawaii.

A Biblical Feast, second edition
Kitty Morse, author
Owen Morse, photography
La Caravane
PO Box 433, Vista, CA 92085
9780615276359 $18.95 www.kittymorse.com

Now in a second edition featuring new photography, A Biblical Feast is a cookbook offering modern-day readers the chance to prepare and sample what the people of biblical times regularly ate. Dishes draw upon the traditional ingredients of thousands of years ago, including lentils, leeks, garlic, almonds, figs, olives, honey, and more; recipes include such unforgettable dishes as "Sesame-Almond-Nigella Mix", "Grilled Quail", "Ezekiel's Bread", and "Herb-Flavored Yogurt Cheese". The step-by-step preparation instructions are enhanced by brief tidbits of background information about each dish, in this wonderful cookbook perfect for adding a special touch to Sunday dinner. Highly recommended .

Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010
Billy Munnelly
McArthur & Company
322 King Street West, Suite 402, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 1J2
9781552788103 $19.95 www.mcarthur-co.com

Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010 is the twentieth anniversary edition of an annual wine guide perfect for selecting just the right wine to go with one's cuisine and ambiance. Many of the suggested quality wines are relatively inexpensive - less than $20 or even less than $12 per bottle. Full color photography of each wine bottle helps the reader to easily identify the recommendations, and the text explains the basics of choosing wine to complement an evening in plain terms that readers of all backgrounds can readily understand. Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010 remains the premier choice for aspiring gourmet chefs, or sophisticated hosts and hostesses, or anyone who just loves great wine.

Bean Appetit
Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen, with Carisa Dixon
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740785177 $14.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food is more than just a bean and pea cookbook - it's packed cover to cover with whimsical, creative, and fun ways to style one's food, especially as a way to get children interested in the kitchen (or even entice a sick child to eat). Full-color photography illustrates fun projects ranging from a pear and chocolate treat designed to look like a penguin, to a tomato half with Parmesan cheese and spaghetti arranged to look like a face ("Mama Mato!"), to delicious domino cookies and much more. A great way to stimulate creativity as well as promote nutritious foods (virtually every dish is vegetarian, and many are vegan), Bean Appetit is highly recommended especially for parents and child-care providers interested in getting children involved in the preparation of a healthy diet.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Is Life Like This?
John Dufresne
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393065411, $26.95, www.amazon.com

Most people who sit down in front of a typewriter or their computer intending to write the next 'Great American Novel' never finish the project. What such aspiring authors need is to give a careful reading to John Dufresne's "Is Life Like This?: A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months". This is a 314-page compendium of sage observation, sound advice, practical realities, and chronologically organized schedule of how to go about crafting a publishable novel in six months time -- all laid out in 26 weeks of step-by-step progress from beginning to end. Of special note is a most effective and interestingly presented bibliography comprising the final chapter -- 'What I Was Reading While I Was Writing'. Thoroughly informed and informative, "Is Life Like This?: A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months" will prove to be invaluable for the novice beginner, and hold a great deal of interest for experienced authors in non-fiction categories who feel they, too, have a novel to write.

How to Write and Publish a Successful Children's Book
Cynthia Reeser
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601384072 $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com 1-800-814-1132

How to Write and Publish a Successful Children's Book: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply literally lives up to its title. Chapters give an introduction and overview of the different branches of the children's book publishing industry (the better to understand the specific audience for one's book - both in terms of readership and prospective publishers), how to develop a story and writing style that keeps children's interest from beginning to end, tips and tricks for children's books illustrators, crash-courses in both professionally submitting one's work to publishers and self-publishing, networking suggestions, and much more. An absolute "must-read" for anyone interested in writing children's books. "Your projected cost for [self-publishing] a paperback edition falls in the $11,300 to $13,600 range. It will cost more if you want to publish a hardcover edition. This may sound like a lot of gloom and doom, but it is important that you are aware of the pitfalls, drawbacks, and benefits of each path to publication before committing your time and energy to any of them."

Dollars and Sense for Writers
Linda Mickey
Finish Off Press Ltd.
824 S. Milwaukee Ave. #134, Libertyville, IL 60048
9780615273068 $14.95, www.amazon.com

Dollars and Sense for Writers: A Guide to Managing Your Writing Business is a solid, no-nonsense guide to the business side of writing - from working with agents to keeping proper financial records and registering one's business, to marketing, year-end business review and more. Peppered with helpful checklists, Dollars and Sense for Writers is an easy-to-understand and useful guide to anyone interested in making money from their writing - whether as an occasional hobby or full-time career. Highly recommended, especially for anyone just breaking into the business.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Contactees
Nick Redfern
New Page Books
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NH 07417
9781601630964, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

With an infinite universe, there is bound to be other intelligent life out there. "Contactees: A History of Alien-Human Interaction" is a compendium of stories of those who claim to have made contact with sapient aliens to our world. These people relay their tales of their encounter and the stories that have branched out from it, dealing with the government and other agencies looking to investigate their story or squelch it. "Contactees" is enticing reading for UFO believers, and a very highly recommended read in general.

The Street Smart Psychic's Guide to Getting a Good Reading
Lisa Barretta
Llewellyn
2143 Wooddale Dr., Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738718507, $16.95 www.llewellyn.com

The Street Smart Psychic's Guide to Getting a Good Reading will appeal to new age and general-interest libraries alike, surveying the secrets to getting the most from a psychic reading. The author's been a professional psychic for thirty years and has an international client base: her candid guidance offers tips on how to choose the psychic that's right for you.

Axis of the World
Igor Witkowski
Adventures Unlimited Press
1 Adventure Place, Kempton, IL 60946-0074
9781931882811, $18.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

Could many of the mysteries of America's prehistoric past lie with an ancient, advanced civilization? "Axis of the World: The Search for the Oldest American Civilization" is a discussion of what may be the oldest American civilization. Believing that there was an ancient civilization that spread knowledge throughout the pacific coast and gave influence over Easter Island and some of the wonders of ancient America, Igor Witkowski gives readers of speculative prehistory something to dig their teeth into. A fine addition to any metaphysical studies collection, "Axis of the World" is a solid addition.

Singing to the Plants
Stephan V. Beyer
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826347299 $45.00 www.unmpress.com 1-800-249-7737

Hallucinogen expert and university professor Stephan v. Beyer presents Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon, a scholarly and in-depth academic scrutiny of the plant medicine practiced by mestizo (Spanish-speaking descendants of Hispanic colonizers and indigenous peoples) shamans in small Amazon villages. Chapters discuss the local religious traditions, which often blend the ancient ways of the Amazon with folk Catholicism and traditional Hispanic medicine. The use of powerful plant hallucinogens is explored at length, particularly ayahuasca. Chapters discuss precisely what happens in an ayahuasca healing ceremony, the relationship that an apprentice shaman forms with plan spirits, the shaman's role in curing harm inflicted by sorcerers, and more. An exhaustively researched and detailed study, unique among its kind, and an absolute "must-have" for college library collections strong in anthropology and information on indigenous religions.

The Way of Tarot
Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772634 $26.95 www.innertraditions.com

Filmmaker and psychotherapist Alejandro Jodorowsky and Tarot workshop teacher Marianne Costa present The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards, a guide to Tarology and unlocking the esoteric wisdom within the Tarot cards. Chapters address the significance of each major and minor arcana, as well as specific pairs of cards, and the steps to successfully read Tarot. "Just as in life, at every moment in a Tarot reading a choice is offered us: we can interpret the facts (the Arcana) in a positive or negative sense. We have seen that this choice is not predetermined, insofar as in the Tarot, no card is innately negative." An excellent all-around guide to both the nuts-and-bolts practical and the spiritual sides of Tarot, The Way of Tarot is filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill and experience levels.


The Architecture Shelf

The Future of the Past
Steven W. Semes
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9780393732443, $60.00 www.wwnorton.com

The Future of the Past: A Conservation Ethic for Architecture, Urbanism and Historic Preservation offers a fine re-examination of modern historic preservation theory and practice in light of developments in the field - including new traditional design practice among modern architects and urban designers. Here a comprehensive, well-written argument for 'new traditional' architecture that continues the design of historic buildings provides college-level collections strong in architectural theory with a powerful discussion.

The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home
Corie Richter
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
9781601382436, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

The Complete Guide to Building Your Own Home and Saving Thousands on Your New House covers everything from basic planning to construction methods and walks the reader through all the steps of building one's own home. From choosing and assessing a site to financing, insurance, developing plans and negotiating with subcontractors, this provides a top pick for any general lending library or collections catering to homeowner/builders.

Full Irish
Sarah A. Lappin
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
www.papress.com
9781568988689, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Ireland is more than just a land of poets and pubs and historic manor houses. It is also home to some of the best modern architectural structures that Europe has seen in the past two decades and which is documented in "Full Irish: New Architecture in Ireland" by architect Sarah A. Lappin (who is also currently a lecturer at the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queens university in Belfast, Ireland). "Full Irish" is a 240-page compendium of contemporary Irish architecture enhanced with the inclusion of 250 color illustrations along with 15 B/W images and a number of architectural diagrams. Sixteen distinguished architects and architectural firms have their works showcased and include a wide range of 21st century commercial, institutional, and residential structures. Informed and informative, "Full Irish: New Architecture in Ireland" will prove a welcome and invaluable addition to professional and academic library Contemporary Architectural studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Self-Fab House
IAAC
Actar D
158 Lafayette Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10013
www.actar.com
9788496954748, $34.95, www.amazon.com

IAAC stands for 'The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia', and organization dedicated to evaluating sustainable development projects such as self-sufficient housing. Now the IAAC has publishing "Self Fab House: 2nd Advanced Architecture Contest", a 384-page pocketbook sized compendium of architectural projects for self-sufficient single dwellings and residential buildings that take advantage of new materials, innovative energy systems, and esthetic integration into their surrounding landscapes. Profusely illustrated throughout, this compact compendium is organized into six major sections: Do It Yourself; Auto & Bio Generated; Materials & Constitution; Recycled & Readapted; Modulated & Prearranged; and Digitally Fabricated. A seminal body of work offering a wealth of novel and practical ideas, "Self-Fab House" will prove of immense interest to student and professional architects making it a seminal and very highly recommended addition to Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

New York Deco
Photographs by Richard Berenholtz
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10011
9781599620787 $19.95 www.welcomebooks.com

Now available in a relatively compact and indubitably affordable edition, New York Deco is a collection of Richard Berenholtz's full-color photography showcasing some of New York's most outstanding art deco architecture. Brief text captions and the occasional quote enhance this stunning collection that is surely the next best thing to touring New York's grandiosity in person. A treat for art deco fans, and the perfect souvenir for an unforgettable New York vacation, New York Deco is highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Uprising! Woody Crumbo's Indian Art
Robert Perry
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780979785856, $29.95 www.oupress.com

Uprising! Woody Crumbo's Indian Art follows the life of an accomplished Native dancer, flutist, silversmith and poet who is best known for his oil paintings and revolutionary art works that helped move Indian art into museums and mainstream American attention. His life story blends with fine color and black and white illustrations throughout as it follows his years as an Indian dancer, his position as an art director in Oklahoma, and more. Highly recommended for serious Native American and arts libraries alike.

Counterpoint
Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison
Twin Palms Publishers
Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
9781931885775, $65.00 www.twinpalms.com

From butterflies on a wall to bees on hives tied to an arm, COUNTERPOINT provides an oversized format and full-page color images to point out striking contrasts between man and nature around him. Panoramic skies with diminutive people, a blooming vine winding a bare stark wall - these are lessons in nature and human interactions and make for a powerful presentation any college-level art library will relish.

Edwin Howland Blashfield: Master American Muralist
Mina Rieur Weiner, Editor
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9780393732818, $49.95 www.wwnorton.com

Edwin Howland Blashfield: Master American Muralist tells of a celebrated painter and theorist of mural painting who produced works at a time when murals were a major elements of important structures from 1893 to the outbreak of World War I. His works appear on a range of public buildings, state capitals, churches, banks and residences and reflects the golden era of mural production, offering his works from four different perspectives and providing new research and over a hundred photos of the murals. No arts library should be without this survey.

Sketch Book for the Artist
Sarah Simblet
DK Publishing
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780756651411, $19.95 www.dk.com

Sketch Book for the Artist offers a complete guide to drawing using step-by-step demonstrations showing how to discover and refine one's inner talents. The idea is to create and fill a personal sketchbook, learning from the masters in a series of drawings that show different approaches to a range of subjects. Beginning artists will find this user-friendly covering everything from basic materials to techniques.

Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05354
www.hudsonhills.com

Willem Elias' ASPECTS OF BELGIAN ART AFTER 1945 PART I AND II (9789053495827 and 9789053497234, $59.94 each) are top recommendations for any college-level arts library, offering a survey of the Belgian art scene using an international focus on art movements. Every chapter discusses one or more Belgian artists and offers commentaries that interpret their works within the larger context of Belgian society. Jerry Saltz's SEEING OUT LOUDER: ART CRITICISM 2003-2009 (9781555953188, $40.00) offers a sequel to his collection SEEING OUT LOUD and provides more essays, reviews and ideas on contemporary art. It comes from the Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine and a Pulitzer Prize finalist in criticism and provides college-level audiences with essays considering the changes in the art world, mismanaged museums and auction houses, art gossip, culture, and more.

Earthlings
Susan Hallsten McGarry
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9781934397053, $45.00 www.oupress.com

EARTHLINGS: THE PAINTINGS OF TOM PALMORE deserves repeated and ongoing recommendation for any college-level arts library strong in the Photorealist movement. Maverick Palmore's career involved exploring his passion for animals - his portraits of birds and animals are striking documents that look like paintings and capture animals in their glory. Arts as well as nature libraries will find his approach fascinating.

John Rombola: Eclectic Eccentric
Veronique Vienne
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811869041, $50.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

John Rombola: Eclectic Eccentric considers Rombola's career through selections from his New York works and beyond, from gouache to ink drawings from his travels. Black and white and color representations of his drawings offer a complete portrait of the artist in a monograph covering Rombola's career. Any art library needs this.

Renoir
Barbara Ehrlich White
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780810996076, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Pierre-August Renoir is an icon of 19th century European art. During his long life he created literally thousands of paintings, drawings, sketches and watercolors. His productivity was unmatched by any of his contemporaries. Now academician and art historian Barbara Ehrlich White has written "Renoir: His Life, Art, And Letters", a superbly illustrated, 312-page survey of his artistic accomplishments, as well as an informed and informative biography of both his personal and his professional life. The result of more than twenty years of impressively detailed research that draws upon both public and private historical resources (including the artists unpublished letters and personal documents), readers will learn a great deal of hitherto obscure facts about Renoir's life and times, including his struggle against crippling arthritis, the loss of formerly supportive patrons when he pioneered in new styles of artistic expression, and so much more! The text is profusely embellished with 391 flawlessly presented illustrations, of which 125 are in full color and three are 'gatefolds'. A truly seminal work, "Renoir: Hist Life, Art, And Letters" is an essential addition to personal, academic, and community library European Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Art Without Compomise
Wendy Richmond
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York, NY 10010
9781581156669, $24.95, www.allworth.com

Art is not science. "Art Without Compromise" is a discussion of art from Wendy Richmond encouraging artists to break free of the shackles of form and explore themselves through their work. Richmond discusses the role of the individual artist in a larger society, the power of collaboration, being original when everything has been done, the pros and cons of the Internet, and how creativity is always contrary, "Art Without Compromise" is a choice read that is filled with much food for thought.

Man + Dog
Nick Wadley
Dalkey Archive
c/o University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785527 $15.00

The relationship between man and dog is centuries old. "Man + Dog" is a series of simple water color paintings from Nick Wadley, exploring the humorous relationship of human and canine. Surrealist, intriguing and thought provoking, Wadley aims high with his humor and scores many hits. "Man + Dog" is a fine collection and well worth considering.

Botanical Serigraphs: The Gene Bauer Collection
Gene Bauer
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589482531 $40.00 www.esri.com

Botanical Serigraphs: The Gene Bauer Collection gathers the hand-printed serigraphs (prints made by the silkscreen process) of various plants and flowers, all beautifully reproduced in full color, as created by master artist Gene Bauer. The artworks are delicately beautiful in their simplicity, and pages facing many of the prints are filled with thoughtful ruminations about the plant being portrayed. A strikingly minimalist yet wonderful coffee-table artbook, highly recommended for personal collections or for gift-giving.

Discovery of Design
Donald DeYoung & Derrik Hobbs
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing Group
PO Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890515747, $12.99, www.masterbooks.net

Could much of human invention have roots in the natural world? "Discovery of Design: Searching Out the Creator's Secrets" discusses nature and its influences on much of modern technology. With a Christian influence, Donald DeYoung & Derrik Hoobs state that God's design lives on in humanity's creations. Even looking towards the future, "Discovery of Design" presents many intriguing ideas, be they coincidence or divinely inspired.

ABCing
Colleen Ellis
Mark Batty Publisher LLC
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York, NJ 10018
9780981960043 $24.95 www.markbattypublisher.com 1-866-407-6302

ABCing: Seeing the Alphabet Differently is not a standard artbook, but rather a visual experiment in graphic design. Published in board book format, ABCing focusing on each letter of the alphabet, transforming the negative space around the letter into vivid illustration. The depiction in turn helps to exemplify a chosen word beginning with that letter, such as "epiphany" for the letter e. The juxtaposition of iconic symbols crafted from rearranged negative space, bold colors, and introspective word choices makes ABCing a remarkable source of inspiration for artists and graphic designers everywhere. A unique compendium, recommended for anyone curious to look at the alphabet just a little differently than usual.


The Travel Shelf

1001 Escapes to Experience Before You Die
Helen Arnold, Editor
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764161784, $35.00 www.barronseduc.com

1001 Escapes to Experience Before You Die offers a set of inspirational, different travel options that are extraordinary, from cruising the Nile on a 19th century cabin cruiser to renting a fort or experiencing the Blue Hole in the Sinai in Egypt. Websites, locations and prices supplement fine color photos in a top pick for any library where travel is a strong attraction.

Family Hiking In The Smokies
Hall Hubbs, et al.
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
www.utpress.org
9781572336735, $14.95, www.amazon.com

A family versus the wilderness can be quite the bonding experience. "Family Hiking in the Smokies: Time Well Spent" is a guide for families who want to fully embrace hiking as a family endeavor. The book offers a wide array of hikes in these mountains that are easily doable by most children, and can be done in under a day so that parents can plan their family excursions much more easily, or around a lengthy camping trip. Speaking well of the power a good hike can have for a family, "Family Hiking in the Smokies" is an intriguing and very useful resource.

Insight Guides: Guatemala, Belize & the Yucatan, new edition
Insight Guides
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
9789812820709 $23.99 www.langenscheidt.com

Now in a fully updated new edition, Insight Guides: Guatemala, Belize & the Yucatan is an in-depth resource that travelers, tourists, and anyone else curious to learn more about this diverse and fascinating Mexican region will find inordinately useful. Chapters offer a brief overview of their history (which was at times bloody and violent during and after Mexican rule), lists of natural and civilized attractions, travel tips, recommendations for lodging and eating out, and much more. Vibrantly beautiful full-color photography on almost every page illustrates this captivating guide. Highly recommended, and a worthy installment in the long-running series of quality Insight Guides.


The Money/Finance Shelf

10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget
Writers of Wise Bread
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Ave #903, New York NY 10018
9781602397040, $14.95 www.skyhorsepublishing.com

10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget offers insight of financial consultants, homemakers, journalists, career counselors and more who contribute to WiseBread.com, a community of bloggers committed to helping readers live large on small budgets. From frugal ways to care for allergies to wrapping gifts using everyday household materials, this packs in many keys to success and is a pick any general lending library needs.

The Shepherd's Guide
Flora L. Williams PhD, MDIV, RFC
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449005726 $27.00

Financial consultant, minister, and college professor Dr. Flora L. Williams presents The Shepherd's Guide: Through the Valley of Debt and Financial Change, a manual for guiding Christians in need during economic uncertainty. Although The Shepherd's Guide is specifically intended for Christian counselors, its wisdom is solidly rooted in practical matters, and it is filled cover to cover with invaluable advice for those who would guide the financially troubled regardless of personal faith. Chapters discuss how to create budgeting and spending plans while analyzing expenditures, financial management tips tailored to the different stages in a person's life, and much more. In today's tough economic times, The Shepherd's Guide is an absolute, no-holds-barred "must-have" for every priest, pastor, or Christian counselor, all of whom must be fully prepared to help their flock with financial as well as spiritual dilemmas. "One can call immediately after checking credit card receipts and payments against your monthly bills. Call credit card issuer immediately if it is thought someone has illegally used the card and follow up with a letter. The law provides that one is not responsible for any unauthorized charges from the time reported. If cards are used before you report, the maximum loss is $50 per card."


The Hobby/Crafts Shelf

The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown
Khris Cochran
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600851193 $19.95 www.taunton.com 1-800-477-8727

The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown is a guide packed cover to cover with great home crafting projects ideal for preparing for one's own wedding - or even for a friend's wedding! Projects are arranged according to time, from six months before the big day to four weeks before to the day before. From beautiful invitations, to stylish accessories, wonderful mood setters (like a "Love in Lights" wall projection), cute culinary garnishes (like a "Groovy Owl Cake Topper") and much more, The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown is a superb guide to bring out the best of one's creative talents and calm one's racing heart and nerves as the wonderful big day approaches. Also highly recommended is author Khris Cochran's previous wedding craft guide, "The DIY Bride".

Flowers in Acrylics
Wendy Jelbert
Search Press
Wellwood, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, TN2 3DR
www.searchpress.com
9781844484256, $17.95 www.amazon.com

FLOWERS IN ACRYLICS is a fine choice for any who want to learn to paint without relying on their drawing skills. Here are not only clear instructions on how to paint lovely flowers - but outlines provided as pull-out tracings for filling in colors of choice. Photos, five easy projects, and polished results make this a fine item of choice for any would-be painter who lacks drawing skills.

Kalmbach Publishing Co.
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Gail Ritchey's ARTFUL POLYMER CLAY: TECHNIQUES FOR STYLISH JEWELRY AND DECOR (9780871162823, $19.95) is a fine survey for home clay crafters and profiles over twenty projects for beginners and experienced clay crafters alike. Colorful, detailed photos and step-by-step instructions make this an easily-followed guide with chapters divided by technique and packed with projects and insights. General crafts libraries will find this a fine pick. Recommended for collections strong in toy trails is Dennis Brennan's REALISTIC MODELING FOR TOY TRAINS: A HI-RAIL GUIDE (9780890247457, $19.95). It tells how to build realistic modeling that elevates the toy train experience to a different level with layouts that are easily constructed. From using common materials to planning an interesting hi-rail model railroad, this is packed with fine step-by-step techniques. Railroaders will also find important Pelle K. Soeborg's ESSENTIAL MODEL RAILROAD SCENERY TECHNIQUES (9780890247365, $21.95), a survey of techniques for creating mountain, desert, city and country scenery. Photos accompany step-by-step instructions perfect for a range of landscapes from deserts to rural Midwest scenes and mountains. Pat Hawkey's BUILDING AND DETAILING MODEL AIRCRAFT (9780890247235, $21.95) provides a fine key to building more realistic-looking model aircraft, using close-up photos to modify inaccurate kits and covering the extra after market details that improve designs. From detailing with paint to creating improved stylings, this offers a fine guide for any home hobbyist. Beaders will appreciate Beth Stone's MORE SEED BEAD STITCHING: CREATIVE VARIATIONS ON TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES (9780871162908, $19.95). It explores creative variations on traditional seed bead stitching techniques, offers some new combinations of standard approaches, and mixes stitches and bead sizes for new results.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Safari In Space
Frank Hampson, et al.
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
www.titanbooks.com
9781848563728, $24.95

The British answer to such American science fiction classics as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, Dan Dare was the creation of Frank Hampson and originally published in April 1590 in the British comic 'The Eagle' and continued as a popular series character through 1996 as 'Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future'. "Safari In Space" feature story scripting by Allan Stranks, Eric Eden, and Frank Hampson, is superbly illustrated with not just Hampson's work, but that of Eric Eden, Don Harley, Gerry Palmer, and Keith Watson as well. In this conclusion to the 46-year saga that is 'Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future', and compiled together in a hardcover graphic novel format, "Safari In Space" has Dan and his crew leaving Earth with the mission of finding Dan's test pilot father who had disappeared thirty years earlier only to have the infamous Galileo McHoo kidnap Dan and his crew. It seems that the Scottish scientist McHoo is seeking to locate his own father, who was the co-pilot to Dan's father on that ill fated space venture some three decades ago. "Safari In Space" is classic action/adventure science fiction and enthusiastically recommended to the legions of dedicated Dan Dare fans!

Charley's War: Underground and Over the Top
Pat Mills, author
Joe Colquhoun, artist
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781845767976 $19.95 www.titanbooks.com

Charley's War: Underground and Over the Top is the sixth volume in the black-and-white "Charley's War" graphic novel series, which brings to vivid life the harrowing battlefields of World War I from the perspective of young British patriot Charley. Charley lied about his age to enlist in the war; now part of a force responsible for digging mines, Charley discovers that his own commanding officer is as brutal and merciless as the enemy, if not more so. Charley even finds himself on the front at the Third Battle of Ypres, and his brother's life is in grave peril! The gritty, realistic artwork and tone bring to life the horrors of war, in this utterly involving collection presented in oversized hardcover format to better enable the reader to catch even the smallest nuances of the unforgettable art. Brief historical notes and commentaries round out this absolute "must-have" for war comic fans.


The Parenting Shelf

Getting Organized For Your New Baby
Maureen Bard & Christine Zuchora-Walske
Meadowbrook Press
5451 Smetana Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343
www.meadowbrookpress.com
0881664723, $12.00, www.amazon.com

A child is not a matter to take lightly. "Getting Organized for Your New Baby" is a guide to covering all your bases when a new life is going to become your responsibility. With tips on tricks on everything from conception to the early formative years and all the details in between, two experienced women who have learned through their own hardships and lack of preparation brought them. A must read for any woman who wants to become a planned mother, "Getting Organized for Your New Baby" is a top pick for parenting collections.

A Brighter Day
Gail Thompson
African American Images
PO Box 1799, Dept. W/SP, Chicago Heights, IL 60412
www.AfricanAmericanImages.com
9781935521747, $15.95, www.amazon.com

The societal pressures of young black culture often prove to be a roadblock to educational advancement. "A Brighter Day: How Parents Can Help African American Youth" is a guide aimed at parents who want to help their children gain a respect and desire to learn to break the mold that so many young black students fall into. Good habits are important to form young as they will stay with children throughout their youth and through high school. "A Brighter Day" is a fine pick for any African American parent who wants more for their child.

Sneaky Fitness
Missy Chase Lapine and Larysa Didio
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762437955 $19.95 www.runningpress.com

Sneaky Fitness: Fun, Foolproof Ways to Slip Fitness into Your Child's Everyday Life lives up to its title as a compendium of ingenious ways that parents can help their children exercise more. Each activity comes with an "at-a-glance" summary of what age ranges are appropriate, how many young folks can participate, optimal times for setting the activity up, and how many calories it is likely to burn. From something as simple as giving one's child a few items of folded laundry at a time to put away, to playing musical chairs during TV commercials, to placing an inflated balloon on one's lawn and seeing how long it takes a child to pop it with only a wiffle bat, and more, Sneaky Fitness is an excellent way to incorporate more activity into the daily routine of one's child. Fifty brand-new "Sneaky Chef" recipes that promote healthy living (such as the "I'm a Vegetarian This Week" Burger and "Race Ya! Rice Balls") round out this superb resource for parents, babysitters, and child care providers everywhere.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Felties
Nelly Pailloux
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740785115, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Felt has long been a standard and versatile material for crafts projects. In "Felties: How to Make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends", Nelly Pailloux presents a series of do-it-yourself projects, each of which can be accomplished in approximately fifteen minutes by even the most novice of neelecrafters. These colorful creations are laid out in easy-to-follow profusely illustrated pattern diagrams complete with step-by-step, instructions. Of special note are the informative sidebars that accompany the projects. From a Samurai Cat, to a Russian Babushka, to a Stargazing Rabbit, these fun and 'user friendly' felt crafts projects are highly recommended for all ages of sewing enthusiasts. "Felties" is a novel and highly recommended addition to personal and community library needlecraft reference collections.

Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
Debbie Stoller
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9780761139850 $15.95 www.workman.com

Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker is an upbeat, in-your-face guide to learning how to crochet, including patterns for forty fun, useful, and fashionable items. Chapters cover different types of stitches, sewing or crocheting seams, how to read a crochet pattern, and much more. The Happy Hooker is a great starter guide for introducing anyone to crochet, and even crochet experts are sure to enjoy making the patterns, which range from scarves and shawls to hats, bags, belts, blankets, and other delightful items that make wonderfully distinctive gifts. Full-color photography on almost every page illustrates this fun, sassy, and user-friendly how-to book.

Jelly Roll Quilts & More
Kimberly Einmo
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326529, $26.95, www.aqsquilt.com

Quilting is a form of fabric art that is as practical and useful in its finished forms as it is creative and fun in its accomplishment. Especially is this so when even the most novice needlecrafter has access to do-it-yourself instruction guides like Kimberly Einmo's "Jelly Roll Quilts & More". This 96-page compendium of ten quilts and four 'one-block-wonders', is profusely and superbly illustrated throughout while offering truly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions. Of special note is the opening chapter advising beginners on how to get the most out of what is to follow. Enhanced with a useful list of resources, perhaps the most unique distinction is the concluding chapter on how to how a 'Jelly Roll Quilt Retreat' with friends. Ideal for the novice quilter, "Jelly Roll Quilts & More" is enthusiastically recommended for the needlecraft reference collections of community libraries, and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced quilter looking for novel and entertaining project ideas.

Embroidery on Paper: Alphabet & Festive Motifs
Joke & Adriaan de Vette
Search Press
Wellwood, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England TN2 3DR
www.searchpress.com
9781844484614, $13.95 www.amazon.com

Embroidery on Paper: Alphabet & Festive Motifs comes from authors who have used traditional embroidery on paper techniques to produce a fine collection of alphabet letters and motifs that can be used to create personalized greeting cards and more. Templates for all the designs are included in a fine presentation for any needlework collection.

Small Quilts, Big Events
Julia LaBauve & Tammy Silvers
American Quilters Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326505, $24.95 www.AmericanQuilter.com

Small Quilts, Big Events offers pieced and fused 15" x 16" projects centered on a theme of thankfulness, blending 12 different quilt blocks with instructions on how to make heartfelt gifts. The blocks may be produced by machine or hand and offer busy quilters easy mix and match patterns and guides to quick finishing.

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Cindy Lammon's FLOWER POTS (9781564779458, $12.99) is a fun pick for block-of-the-month clubs or for individual projects and offers a fun quilt project based on garden flower designs. Close-ups of blocks based on flowers and flower pots make for clear instructions any quilter will appreciate. Also appealing is Jaynette Huff's STASH MAGIC: 13 QUILTS THAT MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FABRIC COLLECTION (9781564779236, $26.99), a survey of scrap quilts offering new designs and a range of techniques in 13 sample projects. Odd-shaped fabric bits and strips go to good use in this outstanding sampler project guide. Jane Townswick's ARTFUL APPLIQUE II (9781564779212, $29.99) introduces scraplique and 12 new floral designs that demonstrate how to create applique shapes from scraps. A gallery of quilt art results accompanies step-by-step instructions for piecing a range of flowers and accents any quilter will find an excellent embellishment add-on. Andrea Knight-Bowman's EASY CABLE KNITS FOR ALL SEASONS (9781564779328, $24.99) provides 16 classic designs for all skill levels and tells how to use cable knits in a variety of new, different projects. Color photos accompany easy step-by-step knitting design ideas in a title perfect for any who want to expand on the cable knit idea.

Noro: Knit 40 Fabulous Designs
Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton
Sixth & Spring Books
233 Spring St., New York NY 10013
1933027878, $24.95 www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Noro: Knit 40 Fabulous Designs offers an inside guide on how Noro yarns are made and comes from a designer who has been working with Noro yarns for several decades, creating knitwear designs that take advantage of the unique properties of Noro yarns. From vests and cardigans to wrap tops and a patchwork sweater, projects are varied, accompanied by color photos, and provide stunning ideas not to be found elsewhere.

Carefree Clothes for Girls
Junko Okawa
Trumpeter
c/o Shambhala Publications
300 Massachusetts Ave, Boston MA 02115
9781590307175, $19.95 www.shambhala.com

Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses and More offers sewers some twenty patterns ranging from easy dresses with ruffles to blouses with crocheted lace and even a black linen hat. The focus on patterns and easy projects makes for a fine gathering of modern creations for girls.

C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94569
www.ctpub.com

Joen Wolfrom's COLOR PLAY (157120105X, $27.95) tells quilters how to use 24 colors and combinations to accent any quilt design. From variations of color, tints and shades to rearranging fabrics for better color coordination, this uses easy steps to create eye-popping color in quilting design choices. Beth Wheeler's NEXT STEPS IN ALTERED PHOTO ARTISTRY (9781571206589, $25.95) offers new ways to transform images for fabric and quilt art, exploring visual effects that can be added with your own photos and Adobe Photoshop Elements software. A bonus CD with 20 free photos and over thirty custom graphics add-ons plus a free trial version of Photoshop Elements for PC accompanies techniques for printing on fabric introduced in ALTERED PHOTO ARTISTRY in this outstanding, recommended survey.


The Poetry Shelf

Boomerang
Brenda Cardenas
Bilingual Press
PO Box 875303, Tempe, AZ 85287-5303
9781931010535, $12.00, www.asu.edu

Language is a musical instrument, and for Brenda Cardenas, blending musical instruments makes for better music. "Boomerang" is a collection of poetry from Cardenas, emphasizing her unique style of blending English and Spanish to create a truly unique style that those who can appreciate both language's better qualities will certainly enjoy. "Boomerang" is a fine bit of bilingual poetry, and should not be missed. "Sonnet for Thunder Lovers and Primary Colors": You're more than soda fizz, than sparklers lit/for kids at play, than fireflies' flit in sky./You spin around my heart and up my thigh/with the whistle and boom of a bottle rocket./Baby, those other jugglers' gigolo tricks --/magician's spell and mime's unspoken sigh --/don't turn my head, don't catch my ear of eye,/but your mercury rolls in my hip pocket.

Animals The Size Of Dreams
Lisa C. Krueger
Red Hen Press
PO Box 3537, Granada Hills, CA 91394
www.redhen.org
9781597091541, $18.95, www.amazon.com

There is an innate beauty and thought to life that must be cherished and nurtured. "Animals the Size of Dreams" is a second collection of poetry from clinical psychologist and experienced poet Lisa C. Krueger. Drawing on her own experiences in life along with reflections on life and her profession, "Animals the Size of Dreams" is a fascinating and cherishable read. "Hunger at the Office": why would one/who loves the body/binge and purge?/she tells me her needs/might translate to sex./hunger abates with nightly/hook-up guys,/sometimes their dorm,/sometimes mine, kind of/like a midnight snack./she leaves my office,/i am famished.

Tongue of War
Tony Barnstone
BkMk Press
Unniversity of Missouri-Kansas City
5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157712, $14.95, www.umkc.edu/bkmk

The second world war brought much change for many Americans, be they soldier or on the home front. "Tongue of War: From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki" is a collection of poems from Tony Barnstone discussing the many elements of World War II with much emotion and perspective. "Tongues of War" is a fine work that should not be ignored. "White Bones": Mother was burned into white bones/while praying at our Buddhist altar./I can't recall her face, but some/days at the painted wooden post/that marks her grave I pray to mother./The post is silent and I go/home, leaving her some pretty flowers./I was just five. I don't remember.

Philosophy: Back To Basics
Ronnie Lee
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781432748142, $31.95, www.amazon.com

Dealing with issues arising from politics, business, psychology, religion and spirituality, the poetry of Ronnie Lee demonstrates the skills of a master wordsmith and the philosophical insights of an unusually gifted thinker upon contemplating how ordinary people can improve themselves, their circumstances, their societies within the context of extraordinary times. Using free verse structures, this 740-page compendium is a treasury of original thought originally expressed. 'Philosophy presented as poetry' is an apt description of what Ronnie Lee has created in this his seventh published volume. Deftly written, here is a poetry that engages the reader's total attention and will be a treasured addition to any personal reading list or community library poetry collection.

Stranger
Laura Sims
Fence Books
New Library 320, University at Albany,
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
9781934200230, $16.00, www.fenceportal.org

Art knows no form, so Laura Sims doesn't try to follow one. "Stranger" is a collection of poems from Sims, reflecting on the events after her mother. Sims' unique style is pure emotion as she states what needs to be said and doesn't seek to fluff it up. From the horror of loss to the redemption of hope, "Stranger" is a unique and well crafted read.

Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea
Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056086, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

The vastness of the ocean has inspired many through the years. "Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea" is the fifth anthology of poetry from Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons. Drawing on her reflections of the many landscapes of the world, she connects with the many states of the human spirit. Inspiring and thought provoking work, "Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea" is a fine collection of work. "The Poet's House": The empty house,/no books or paintings/on the white walls,/no voices down the long hall,/no ghost voices,//no dog patters down the stairs./The sofa has no body/taking comfort there./The house is empty and its stillness/puddles within the wall of my chest--/it's a hollow sound.

After the Revival
Carrie Jerrell
The Waywiser Press
PO Box 6205, Baltimore, MD 21206
DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781904130383, $15.95

A woman of many walks of life, Carrie Jerrell brings a fine blend of them in "After the Revival". Telling stories through her verse, "After the Revival" is about a woman who isn't afraid to play dirty in life but keeps to her life's faith. "After the Revival " is a fresh and intriguing collection. "When the Rider is Hope": We pilot evening's cryptic air/fused as faith and plea in prayer./My burden's to become pure flight;/his, to right me if I scare.//When my blind spot blurs the fence,/he imparts his confidence:/his Easy girl, his loose-rein hands,/reprimand my reticence.//Heel to rib, approach then thrust,/I'm suspended by his trust,/playing earth's brief renegade/in bascules made of breath and dust.

Brief Tracks
Jim Thomas
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781935503019, $20.00, www.tsup.truman.edu

A simple life isn't all that simple. "Brief Tracks" is a collection of poetry from Jim Thomas reflecting on the life of a rural Missouri man in the common age. With profound thoughts and ideas, "Brief Tracks" is a top pick for poetry fans. "The Plum Bouquet": Because we raged and fought/at each other, and shouted/and cried, now although still,/the house seemed almost quivering;/they were asleep./I saw the white tatter/on brown rug/and flared inwardly at them/so careless, littering paper./I knelt full of anger/to all the white softnesses of petals,/and fumbled with stiff fingers/among them.

Handling Destiny
Adrian Castro
Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
9781566892353, $16.00, www.coffeehousepress.org

Between three cultures, Adrian Castro has seen many things. "Handling Destiny" is a collection of poems from Adrian Castro, a man who has called Africa, the Caribbean, and North America his home. Drawing on much introspective between these cultures, "Handling Destiny" is a fascinating read that should not be ignored. "Ontological Afro Logic": "There are too many/spirits/lying in the ocean"/says Oluwo//Water in spite of having/no legs no/arms//has made sand of them bones.

The Essential James Reaney
Brian Bartlett
The Porcupine Quill
68 Main St., Erin, ON N0B 1T0
9780889843196, $12.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca

Some men live their lives doing anything they have an interest in. "The Essential James Reaney" delves into the work of James Reaney, a man who executed many endeavors in life, both creative and not-so-creative. For eighty two years he lived his life to the fullest, and Brian Bartlett compiles the best of his work in "The Essential James Reaney". "The Bicycle": Halfway between childhood & manhood,/More than a hoop but never a car,/The bicycle talks gravel and rain pavement/On the highway where the dead frogs are.//Like sharkfish the cars blue by,/filled with the two-backed beast/One dreams of, yet knows not the word for,/The accumulating sexual yeast.

Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty
Tony Hoagland
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555975494 $15.00 www.graywolfpress.org

The fourth poetry collection by University of Houston teacher Tony Hoagland, Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty is an anthology of free-verse spinning a tongue-in-cheek parable of modern American life. A siren call to remember the most valuable aspects of day-to-day life - aspects that are tied to humanity and community rather than wealth or power. Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty is ultimately a reminder that it is better to be personally "unincorporated". "Voyage": I feel as if we opened a book about great ocean voyages / and found ourselves on a great ocean voyage: / sailing through December, around the horn of Christmas / and into the January Sea, and sailing on and on // in a novel without a moral but one in which / all the characters who died in the middle chapters / make the sunsets near the book's end more beautiful.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

You Don't Have to be Buddhist to Know Nothing
Joan Konner, Editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027577, $17.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

You Don't Have to be Buddhist to Know Nothing: An Illustrious Collection of Thoughts on Naught packs in an intriguing collection of thoughts on the nature of . Nothing. The idea of nothing is explored by some of the finest minds in a collection of reflections on the spirit and nature of nothing new age collections especially will relish this Buddhist approach.

Entrance to the Great Perfection
Compiled, translated, & introduced by Cortland Dahl
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393393 $22.95 www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313

Entrance to the Great Perfection: A Guide to the Dzogchen Preliminary Practices is an anthology of essays by renowned masters of Tibetan Buddhism, featuring both classic commentaries and modern-day analyses with recommendations for applying ancient wisdom into the hectic routine of contemporary life. An in-depth introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and its meditative practices, long and short preliminary practice liturgies, and a wealth of appendices for easy reference rounds out this solid guide to the foundational practices of Dzogchen. A thoroughly accessible and highly recommended resource for anyone intrigued to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.


The Social Issues Shelf

A Little Bit Married
Hannah Seligson
Lifelong Books
c/o Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213163, $15.95, www.dacapopress.com

The test drive analogy for marriage is more than just a euphemism for premarital sex. "A Little Bit Married: How to Know When It's Time to Walk Down the Aisle or Out the Door" discusses marriage from both sides, as Hannah Seligson draws on her own experience. Seligson offers her thoughts on when's the right time to commit for the long haul, the dangers of commitment and why people fear it, and why testing the waters can prevent one from becoming a hasty divorcee. "A Little Bit Married" is a resource for those looking for that lifetime commitment should look into.

From Civil Strife to Peace Building
Hany Besada
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580521, $39.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

For the past century, Africa has been fighting a rough battle towards the dual existence of peace and independence. "From Civil Strife to Peace Building: Examining Private Sector Involvement in West African Reconstruction" delves into how private companies have played a role in how Africa has pushed itself towards existing peacefully with itself. Humanitarian efforts, support for new economies, Hany Besada compiles a collection of essays on the matter to give readers a unique view on modern Africa. "From Civil Strife to Peace Building" is a solid addition to any collection focusing on international social issues.

Morbid Symptoms
Leo Panitch & Colin Leys, editors
Monthly Review Press
146 W 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672037, $25.00, www.merlinpress.co.uk

The health care debate has turned into an all out war on all sides. "Morbid Symptoms: Health Under Capitalism" discusses the sour sides on the against side of the debate, as well a good deal of voices before. Countless minds weigh in on the debate and looks at international insights on more universal health care system show America what it could become and what it has to avoid. Stating that the urge for greed and money may trump the spirit of good will, "Morbid Symptoms" is an endlessly intriguing and fascinating read that should not be ignored for those seeking insight on health issues.

American Privacy
Frederick S. Lane
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807044414 $29.95 www.beacon.org

American Privacy: The 400-Year History of Our Most Contested Right is more than just a historical chronicle of the right to privacy in America; it is also an alarming wake-up call to governmental and non-governmental threats to the level of privacy that previous American generations considered an inalienable right. From privacy in state courts and legislatures, to how the Red Scare of the McCarthy era led to unconscionable attacks on privacy, to the surprising persistence and "durability" of data once it gets into modern online networks, and more, American Privacy is an absorbing account, grounded in solid research yet written with an alert tone warning the reader to take heed of deleterious current trends. Highly recommended. "The modern-day epidemic of identity theft stems from the toxic combination of an intrinsically insecure Social Security number that has become a de facto national identification number, massive computer databases vulnerable to hacking, a rapidly growing global data and communications network, and lax security procedures that allow databases and data processing reports to be stored on laptops. Together these elements have helped the crime of identity theft become one of the fastest-growing problems for law enforcement."

Chimeras Hybrids & Interspecies Research
Andrea L. Bonnicksen
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589015746, $26.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Playing God can be a useful thing, but there must be some regulation. "Chimeras, Hybrids, and Interspecies Research: Politics and Policymaking" discusses the political side of genetics research. The images of abuse of science, of Human-animal hybrids makes people reactionally stand against cross-species research even when a human is not involved. Studying cases of natural occurrences, somewhat natural instances like the liger and tigon, and the potential of humanity in hybrids and chimeras. An intriguing study of bioethics, "Chimeras, Hybrids, and Interspecies Research" is a fascinating read and very highly recommended.

Gridlock
Randal O'Toole
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308232, $24.95, www.nbnbooks.com

The hour long commute that could be done in ten is no stranger to countless Americans. "Gridlock: Why We're Stuck In Traffic And What To Do About It" discusses the modern issues America and its automobiles face in the countless gridlocks that occur throughout the country around its major cities. Discussing the many solutions that have been proposed such as public transportation and calling out those plans weaknesses, Randal O'Toole and the Cato Institute give much food for thought and offer many ideas for an America where walking five miles doesn't take less time than driving it. "Gridlock" is a must for any community library social issues collection.

The Death of Josseline
Margaret Regan
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807042274 $26.95 www.beacon.org

Author Margaret Regan has reported on illegal immigration along the Arizona-Mexico border for almost ten years. Now, she presents her call for societal compassion in The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands. Arizona has the highest number of migrant deaths; literally thousands have perished in its deserts and mountains. Regan speaks for the "No More Deaths" advocates, while listening to the concerns of upset ranchers and vigilantes. The Death of Josseline offers a firsthand testimony of the pressures that compel people to risk their lives to illegally enter the United States, the environmental damage caused by the new border wall, and the increasing militarization of the border, including the involvement of private security forces such as Black Hawk. A keen-eyed perspective of how questionable public policy has resulted in far too much preventable loss of life, The Death of Josseline is highly recommended.

Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?
Brent L. Sterling
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589015715 $32.95 www.press.georgetown.edu 1-800-246-9606

Defense analyst Brent Sterling presents Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? What History Teaches Us About Strategic Barriers and International Security, an analysis of how walls and fortifications have been used to promote national security throughout history. Six famous defenses are studied: Athens' Long Walls, Hadrian's Wall, The Ming Great Wall of China, The Pre Carre, The Maginot Line, and The Bar-Lev Line. An extraordinary examination of how barriers aid (or sometimes undercut!) security, Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? is a scholarly assessment of invaluable lessons with powerful implications for modern-day security issues (such as whether an anti-immigration fence along America's southern border is a useful or practical idea). Highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Introverts in the Church
Adam S. McHugh
IVP Books
Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830837021, $17.00 www.ivpress.com

Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in An Introverted Culture tells how many introverts are called and gifted by God - but churches tend to not realize or use their skills. This book is dedicated to showing such Church goers and ministers how introverts can minister in ways fitting to their personalities. Chapters explain how introverts can practice Christian spirituality in ways that fit them better, making this a top pick for any Christian collection.

The Historical Jesus: Five Views
James K. Beilby and Paul Rhodes Eddy, Editors
IVP Books
Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830838684, $26.00 www.ivpress.com

The Historical Jesus: Five Views offers a scholarly survey of Jesus and is a pick for readers who want to have detailed insights on the history of Jesus. Here figures in the Jesus research quest provide their views and respond to fellow scholars in a dialogue suitable for advanced spirituality collections.

Great Events in American History
Rebecca Price Janney
God and Country Press
c/o AMG Publishers
6815 Shallowford Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421
9780899570266, $14.99, www.greateventsinamericanhistory.com

There have been many major breakthroughs in American history, and Rebecca Price Janney believes God had a hand in each of them. "Great Events in American History" discusses the role Christianity has played in making America what it is today. From Columbus stumbling onto the Americas to the foundation of the country, its growth, and its rise to meet challenges throughout history, Janney states that God has always been behind America. An uplifting read for the Christian patriot, "Great Events in American History" is a treasure trove of inspiration.

A Date With Jesus
Carla J. Curtis
Tate Publishing & Enterprises
127 East Trade Center Terrace, Mustang, OK 73064
www.tatepublishing.com
9781606960141, $8.99, www.amazon.com

Even more than men, today's women whether married or single, are faced with incredible pressures arising from the complex and multiple demands of daily life. That's why freelance writer and public speaker Carla J. Curtis wrote "A Date With Jesus", a slender 88-page compendium of commentary and advice for how Christian women can create 'quality time' to keep their relationship with God consistently meaningful on a daily basis. Deftly written in an engaging conversational style, "A Date With Jesus" is as inspired and inspiring as it is practical and 'real-world' oriented in appreciating the stresses and distractions facing women today. "A Date With Jesus" is highly recommended reading, especially for anyone seeking to keep and defend their spiritual center in a secular world of competing demands for their time and attention!

When They Come Home
Melanie Rigney & Anna M. Lanave
Twenty-Third Publications
www.23rdpublications.com
kmoriarty@wentythirdpublications.com
9781585957613, $9.95, www.amazon.com

Returning to faith is something some people do to find direction in their lives. "When They Come Home: Ways to Welcome Returning Catholics" is a guide for Catholics who want to embrace people who are returning to faith after a long lapse in it, and how to help them embrace Christ and the Catholic ways once more. With evangelical elements stating that helping one find Jesus again is a job for any person of faith, "When They Come Home" is a strong pick for Catholics who want to spread the word of Jesus.

How To Inherit The Earth
Scott A. Bessenecker
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830837281, $15.00, www.amazon.com

A bit of faith may be what's needed to help the world spin more easily. "How to Inherit the Earth: Submitting Ourselves to a Servant Savior" is a discussion of faith and submission, looking towards Christianity and the role of leadership around the world. Discussing values such as pride, independence, envy, and other subjects and what role they play in a world where leadership is king, "How to Inherit the Earth" is an intriguing read that offers much to think about for Christian readers.

Fit for My King
Sheri Rose Shepherd
Revell
c/o Baker
6030 E Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780800719166, $14.99, www.revellbooks.com

With faith, anything can become possible. "Fit for My King: His Princess 30-Day Diet Plan and Devotional" is a combination of diet guide and Christian memoir as Sheri Rose Shepherd reflects on how her faith in Christ gave her the power to do life-changing weight loss. With inspirational writing, she states how using Christ as her personal trainer has helped so much and how others can use their faith as well. "Fit for My King" is a top pick for any Christian women who are fighting their own weight woes.

The Diocesan Priest
David Bohr
Liturgical Press
Saint John's Abbey,
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814632789, $24.95, www.litpress.org

What is the status of the modern priest? "The Diocesan Priest: Consecrated and Sent" is a scholarly analysis of the modern Catholic priest by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, as he discusses the priesthood since the Second Vatican Council all those years ago. The mission of a priest, the role of priest as teacher, and the status of celibacy in the modern priesthood. "The Diocesan Priest" is an intriguing read and insightful read for anyone curious on the lives of the priesthood.

The Church of England in the Twentieth Century
Andrew Chandler
Boydell Press
668 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843835011, $47.95, www.boydellandbrewer.com

When Henry the VIII broke off from Catholicism, the Church of England was a major deal, but what is its status in recent years, in a much more secular Britain? "The Church of England in the Twentieth Century" discusses the Church's recent history, and its relationship with the nation of the United Kingdom. Ethics questions arose, finances, and other controversies emerged hurting the Church's integrity and placing its future in question. Looking deep into the Church archives, Andrew Chandler presents a very complete and comprehensive history of the Church of England, making "The Church of England in the Twentieth Century" a must have for history and religion collections.

Forgotten Women of God
Diana Webb
Bonneville Books
c/o Cedar Fort
2372 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
9781599553849, $13.99, www.cedarfort.com

Half the population, women had more impact on biblical times than many would be led to believe. "Forgotten Women of God" examines the lesser known but still important women of the Bible. Through biblical study, Diana Webb brings these women's stories to life and gives readers a fascinating collection of insight which is sure to intrigue readers and uplift their spirits. From the wife of Noah, to the mother of Samson, "Forgotten Women of God" is a must read for those seeking the strong female impact of the Bible that so often goes ignored.

A Planet of Grace
Bernadette McCarver Snyder
ACTA Publications
5559 W. Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879464011, $19.95, www.actapublications.com

The Earth has beauty that is truly magnificent. "A Planet of Grace: Images and Words from Biosphere One" looks into the status of Biosphere One, better known as Earth. Looking at the natural, cultural, and other beauties of the world through Christian eyes, and with plenty of reflections, Bernadette McCarcer Snyder gives readers a thought provoking and visual treat that is truly unique and sure to please. "A Planet of Grace" is a solid and very highly recommended read.

War, Peace, and Social Conscience
Theron F. Schlabach
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194265 $39.99 www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447

Part biography, part historical chronicle of the development of Mennonite pacifism and social ethics during the twentieth century, War, Peace, and Social Conscience: Guy F. Hershberger and Mennonite Ethics examines the leadership Guy Hershberger, whose ideas and advocacy for pacifism would have repercussions far beyond his own church. Despite the conflicts and contradictions of the violent world around him, Hershberger put his concepts to practical use through programs and institutions. War, Peace, and Social Conscience blends survey, appreciation, and criticism of Hershberger's lifelong work, sparing no detail in its exhaustively researched and indubitably scholarly assessment. An extraordinary resource and chronicle, War, Peace, and Social Conscience is highly recommended especially for religious studies and biography shelves.

"God Has Made Us a Kingdom"
Vickie Cleverley Speek
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851929 $34.95 www.signaturebooks.com 1-800-356-5687

Award-winning historical researcher Vickie Cleverley Speek presents "God Has Made Us a Kingdom": James Strang and the Midwest Mormons, a meticulously researched accounting of James J. Strang, the prophetic successor to Joseph Smith for Mormons of the Midwest, who formed what would eventually become the Community of Christ. Like Joseph Smith, Strang promoted polygamy, secret ceremonies, baptism for the dead, and communal living, and even crowned himself king of the world. Yet the religious community he formed ultimately faded, with only a tiny handful of followers remaining in the U.S. today. Did polygamy bring about the end of Strang's kingdom, or was it another, less readily apparent force? Expertly researched, "God Has Made Us a Kingdom" brings the story of Strang, his wives, his children, and his followers to vivid life, and is highly recommended especially for college library and American religious history shelves.


The Psychology Shelf

The Imprinted Brain
Christopher Badcock
Jessica Kingley Publishers
400 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050234, $22.95 www.jkp.com

THE IMPRINTED BRAIN: HOW GENES SET THE BALANCE BETWEEN AUTISM AND PSYCHOSIS examines what causes conditions like autism and schizophrenia and offers one of the most exciting contributions to modern psychiatric thinking since Freud. It blends science with psychology to offer insights on the genetic basis of mental disorders - and it proposes a theory for evolution that offers new light on spirituality, homosexuality, and more. Any library catering to psychiatrists must have this!

ACT Made Simple
Russ Harris, MD
New Harbinger Publishers
5674 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
9781572247055, $39.95 www.newharbinger.com

ACT Made Simple belongs in any psychology library where self-help techniques are strong, offering a new way to view acceptance and commitment therapy techniques. ACT is a proven effective treatment for everything from anxiety and depression to personality disorders and eating disorders, and offers a different way to view the human condition. This book packs in scripts, exercises and worksheets psychologists can use with clients, includes transcripts from therapy sessions, and is an important key to overcoming common therapy roadblocks. A powerful pick.

101 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Using Hypnosis
Dabney Ewin
Crown House Publishing Limited
6 Trowbridge Drive, Ste. 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845902919, $24.95, www.crownhousepublishing.com

Hypnosis has clinical use, and Dabney Ewin has learned much in the avenue of useful knowledge from his own use of the technique. "101 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Using Hypnosis" is the ponderings of Dr. Ewin on the use of hypnosis in medical practice. Discussing medical hypnosis, what it can be use for and what its results can be. Fine and fascinating reading, "101 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started Using Hypnosis" is highly recommended for any psychological or medical collection.

Saving Ben
Dan E. Burns
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574412697, $22.95, www.unt.edu/untpress

Every parent faces their child's autism differently, but the love is near-universal. "Saving Ben: A Father's Story of Autism" offers the perspective of Dan E. Burns, as he tells his tale of raising his autistic. son. As his son grows up from his age three diagnosis to a legal adult with full privileges, Burns shows what a father can do to help an autistic child while fighting the pressures of the medical world around them. Touching, inspirational, and in some cases coming through with helpful advice, "Saving Ben" is a fine addition to any autistic memoir collection.

Religious Compulsions and Fears
Avigdor Boncheck
Feldheim Publishers
208 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, NY 10954
9781598263589, $29.99

Could religion play a hand in some of the compulsions people face? "Religious Compulsions and Fears: A Guide to Treatment" discusses psychological problems and their relation to religion. Written by a man who is both a rabbi and a psychologist who has focused on obsessive compulsive disorder throughout his life, Rabbi Avigdor Boncheck offers much insight and gives readers a lot to learn from and think about in approaching these problems. "Religious Compulsions and Fears" is a fine addition to any psychological or religious collection.

Envy
Victoria C. G. Greenleaf
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781879384750, $29.95, www.cypresshouse.com

Jealousy is a complex emotion. "Envy: A Survey of Its Psychology and History" discusses this emotion and what it has meant throughout the world and its history. Victoria Greenleaf gives readers an exploration of the emotion. Typically classified as one of the seven deadly sins, Envy is not without its benefits, stating that it can drive people to achieve greater things in life. "Envy" is an intriguing work of psychology well worth reading for a new perspective on a vilified emotion.

The Heart & Soul of Change, second edition
Barry L. Duncan, et al.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433807091 $59.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777

Now in an updated second edition, The Heart & Soul of Change: Delivering What Works in Therapy by the editorial team of Barry L. Duncan, Scott D. Miller, Bruce E. Wampold, and Mark A. Hubble is a manual for therapists with emphatic focus on the practical and pragmatic - namely, which approaches consistently deliver solid results for which types of patients. The core principle of The Heart & Soul of Change recognizes that psychotherapy is delivered to one person at a time, and that person's unique situation determines the method that is best to use. Exhaustively researched and thoroughly detailed, The Heart & Soul of Change never allows theory to eclipse its focus of discerning what works best and helps different individuals the most, and is an absolute "must-have" for practicing psychotherapists everywhere.

Intellectual Disability, 11th edition
The AAIDD Ad Hoc Committee on Terminology and Classification
American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
501 Third Street NW Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20001-2760
9781935304043 $90.00 www.aaidd.org

Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports is the eleventh updated edition of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' reference manual of definitions. Assembled by a committee of eighteen practicing experts and grounded in research spanning the past seven years, critiques of the tenth edition, and feedback from the field, Intellectual Disability covers the diagnosis and classification of intellectual disability, systems of supports (including prevention) for those with intellectual disability, implications that the latest research has for public policy, education, and support provider organizations, and much more. An excellent, up-to-date reference enthusiastically recommended for college library collections and the resource shelves of aspiring and practicing psychologists.

Let's Look Together
Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529517, $28.95, www.healthpropress.com

The way to combat Alzheimer's is to not let the brain go numb. "Let's Look Together: An Interactive Picture Book for People with Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Memory Loss" is a picture book for adults designed to help those with fading minds and memories as through Alzheimer's and similar disorders. The full color photographs are meant to be mental wake up calls, making "Let's Look Together" a top pick for senior health collections.


The Large Print Shelf

Last Mile to Nogales
Ryan Bodie
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781847828484 $20.99 www.ulverscroftusa.com

Printed in large print to facilitate reading, Last Mile to Nogales is an exciting western set in a Nogales, a small town in the middle of the desert. Ryan Coder, also known as the "gun king" is one of the best guns-for-hire available in this remote and near-lawless land. But when the king of Chad Valley hires Coder to fight his private war, Coder is matched against the rising star gunslinger Holly. A clash of legendary gun warriors unfolds in this thrilling adventure of hard times and rough men.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

World of Warcraft: Stormrage
Richard A. Knaak
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781416550877 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

World of Warcraft: Stormrage is the latest fantasy novel chronicling the land of Azeroth, setting of the runaway hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Ages ago, the Titans who created Azeroth brought to its design the Emerald Dream, an lush and verdant aspect of the realm that embodies all living subconscious, watched over and protected by the regal green dragonflight. Across the ages, druids have aided the green dragonflight by entering the Dream, and through the Dream they help maintain the balance of nature. Yet the Nightmare, a portion of the dream that has turned corrupt and grows like a cancer, has been twisting the Dream's dragon and druid guardians into evil shadows of their former selves. Now Malfurion Stormrage, the first and greatest of Azeroth's druids, may be the Nightmare's latest victim. As nightmares mental and physical beset Azeroth, a quest borne of desperation to aid Malfurion may be the only hope of all living and dreaming things. An exciting adventure from first page to last, Stormage is a riveting read that World of Warcraft fans will especially enjoy. Also highly recommended is the bestselling paperback "Arthas: Rise of the Lich King" (9781439157602, $7.99).

Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Virginia DeMarce's 1635: THE TANGLED WEB TELLS OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR (9781439133088, $16.00) that continues to ravage 17th century Europe, in an alternate universe where an alliance between Adolphus, King of Sweden, and the West Virginians from the 20th century is changing a world affected by a cosmic time accident known as the Ring of Fire. Prior fans of the 1635 series will relish this added saga. Timothy Zahn's COBRA ALLIANCE (9781439133064, $24.00) provides Book 1 in the Cobra War series and tells of a guerrilla force whose weapons were surgically implanted and deadly. Jasmine Jin is worried about the current attitudes of the Cobra worlds and their leaders - for dangers threaten the alliance. Swift military action evolves in a fine thriller. Also excellent for its military science fiction is Travis S. Taylor's ONE GOOD SOLDIER (9781439133163, $23.00), which takes place six years after the events of THE TAU CETI AGENDA and offers a narrowed focus on a single critical day in the history of the U.S. of the Sol System, when Ross 128 secedes from the union and action must be taken to prevent an interstellar civil war. Both titles are top picks for libraries where patrons like military science fiction action.

Liberating Atlantis
Harry Turtledove
ROC Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451462961, $25.95 www.penguin.com

The author of THE UNITED STATES OF ATLANTIS here explores the discovery of an eighth continent and its evolution in an ongoing saga. Frederick Radcliff is a descendant of the family that founded Atlantis' first settlement, and is a black slave forced into labor. His search for freedom leads him to become the leader of a revolutionary army in this powerful sequel, recommended for prior fans of THE UNITED STATES OF ATLANTIS.

Nine Black Doves - V. 5
Roger Zelazny
NESFA Press
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
1886778809, $29.00 www.nesfa.org/press

NINE BLACK DOVES is the 5th volume of the collected short fiction of Roger Zelazny which includes every poem and short story written by Zelazny, including all of his Hugo and Nebula nominated and winning stories. This volume focuses on writings from the 1980s and includes his first two Wild Cards stories about Croyd Crenson, and will enhance any library obtaining the entire series.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Unwitting Zionists
Haya Gavish
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814333662, $54.95, www.amazon.com

The newest addition to the outstanding 'Raphael Patai series In Jewish Folklore and Anthropology' published by Wayne State University Press, "Unwitting Zionists: The Jewish Community of Zakho in Iraqi Kurdistan" by Haya Gavish (Lecturer in Hebrew language and literature at the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Jerusalem) provides a detailed and definitive 439-page history of the Jewish community located in Zakho, a town in the northern province of Kurdistan, from the end of the Ottoman period until the aliya of 1951 saw the community move to settle in the state of Israel. Gavish expertly draws upon a wealth of original source materials including personal memoirs, interviews, and historical records. The result is an impressively informed and informative account based upon meticulous scholarship and a genuine flair for historical research. Enhanced with appendices, extensive notes, an extended bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Unwitting Zionists: The Jewish Community of Zakho in Iraqi Kurdistan" is an original and seminal work that is highly recommended for academic library Judaic History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Israel is Real
Rich Cohen
Farrar Straus Giroux
18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780374177782, $27.00, www.fsgbooks.com

One of the biggest threats to Judaism may be Israel itself. "Israel is Real: An Obsessive Quest to Understand the Jewish Nation and Its History" discusses Judaism and how placing all its faith and relativity in the nation of Israel does some harm to the religion. Drawing ideas from the Jews who first embraced the idea that Jerusalem was not essential to the faith, and looks at history at individuals who throughout history emphasized the concept of the wandering Jew. Rich Cohen does not hide his criticisms of the modern state of Israel, and "Israel is Real" is a very intriguing and highly recommended read for those of Jewish faith or want to better understand its relation to the land in the middle east.

Jewish Sages of Today
Aryeh Rubin
Devora Publishing
40 East 78th Street, Suite 16D, New York, NY 10021
www.jewishsagesoftoday.com
9781934440964, $16.95, www.amazon.com

When looking at the Judaic faith of the day, who do contemporary Jews have as icons? "Jewish Sages of Today: Profiles of Extraordinary People" examines major faces in Judaism today with complete and comprehensive profiles of these exceptional individuals and what they mean to modern Judaism. These individuals have done much in the name of Jewish culture and have made much progress that is to be admired. For those looking for a compilation of Jews who have had profound social and political impact, "Jewish Sages of Today" is a collection not to be missed.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Climate Change Science And Policy
Stephen H. Schneider, et al.
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
www.islandpress.org
9781597265669, $95.00, www.amazon.com

Climate issues are where science and politics often clash because of the conflict between objective science and subjective corporate interests, between concerns for the long term conditions of the earth and the short term advantages of electoral profits and corporate vested interests with respect to the specific phenomena of global climate change. That's why it is so important for not only the scientific community but the non-specialist general reader that titles like "Climate Change Science and Policy", the collaborative work of Stephen H. Schneider (Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biology, and a Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment, at Stanford University); Armin Rosencranz (Founder and Former president of Pacific ; Michael D. Mastrandrea (Consulting Assistant Professor, Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University); and Kristin Kuntz-Duriseti (Managing Editor, 'Climatic Change') addresses not only the science behind what is more accurately described in its pages as the global climate change which is now in progress, but the national and international governmental policy implications as well. Of special note is the introduction to this informed and informative 544-page compendium by John P. Holdren (Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy). Superbly organized and presented, "Climate Change Science and Policy" is a seminal body of work and a strongly endorsed addition for academic, governmental, and community library Environmental Studies reference collections, and supplemental reading lists for non-specialist general readers concerned about environmental issues in general, and climate change in particular.

Sustainable World Sourcebook
Sustainable World Coalition
New Society Publishers (distributor)
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780615309804, $11.95, www.amazon.com

If we live as we currently live, resource exhaustion seems inevitable. "Sustainable World Sourcebook: The Essential Guidebook for the Concerned Citizen" is a guide for those who are concerned about the environment and want to set it up for a brighter future through their actions today. Ecological footprints, changing for the future, how simple things like the way you eat have massive repercussions, and more, "Sustainable World Sourcebook" is a must for anyone who wants to be apart of the solution, not the problem.

Taking Back Eden
Oliver A. Houck
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597266475, $35.00, www.islandpress.org

The environment needs to be protected, and some choose to do so through the court of law. "Taking Back Eden: Eight Environmental Cases That Changed the World" looks into the environment and landmark cases involving the environment and their impact on environmental policy. These cases, in America, to Japan, to military dictatorships, and more, and how they have taken different stances on natural policy. "Taking Back Eden" is a must read for any who want to best understand the world of law and nature.

Informing Decisions In A Changing Climate
National Research Council
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309137379, $39.00, www.amazon.com

The product of the National Research Council's 'Panel on Strategies and Methods for Climate-Related Decision Support', "Informing Decisions In A Changing Climate" addresses the inevitable necessity of environmental activists, organizations, and government agencies in having to deal with changing (often abruptly changing) environmental conditions associated with floods, hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and other extreme natural and man-made or exacerbated events. This report focuses upon the need for organized efforts to produce, then disseminate and facilitate the use of germane information necessary to improve both the quality and the appropriateness of decision making with respect to the climate impacted environment. "Informing Decisions In A Changing Climate" is a 200-page compendium of informed and informative commentary that environmentally concerned organizations and governmental policy makers will find invaluable in establishing procedures and protocols for coping with dramatic and changes in the world's climate on either a regional or a global basis.

The Tree Rings' Tale
John Fleck
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, MN 87131-0001
9780826347572, $21.95, www.unmpress.com

The most minor details can speak so loudly. "The Tree Rings' Tale: Understanding Our Changing Climate" is the history of dendroclimatology, the science of tree rings. John Wesley Powell, studying the natural environment of the Colorado River, noticed a correlation between the rings of a tree and environmental events. With greater research a new science was born, and John Fleck speaks of its countless uses. "The Tree Rings' Tale" is a fine addition to any science or environmental studies collection.

The Economical Environmentalist
Prashant Vaze
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing, LLC
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781844078080, $23.95, www.earthscan.co.uk

You can keep your green while going green. "The Economical Environmentalist: My Attempt to Live a Low-Carbon Life and What it Cost" discusses how much it really costs to live a green life. A resident of London, he demonstrates that little decisions throughout the day can prove to make one's life much greener and environmentally friendly, without destroying their wallets, drawing on his own experience as an economist. With plenty of simple and effective wisdom, Prashant Vaze gives readers many useful tips in "The Economical Environmentalist", highly recommended.


The Music Shelf

The Beatles: A Diary
Barry Miles
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corp
257 Park Avenue S., New York NY 10010
9781847720825, $24.95 www.omnibuspress.com

The Beatles existed for just ten years - this diary is written by a close member of the Beatles' inner circle and offers an in-depth chronology of gigs, quotes and memorable dates as well as stories of the four band members. Presented in an oversized, illustrated edition, it's a 30-year diary 'must' for any general lending library.

Evoking Sound, second edition
James Jordan
GIA Publications
7404 South Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638
9781579997267, $49.95, www.amazon.com

Every church and highschool has a choir. Every choir has a conductor. Good choral conductors are not born, they are trained. Often that training (especially in the case of a local community church) has been informal at best. That's why this newly revised and expanded second edition of "Evoking Sound: Fundamentals of Choral Conducting" by James Jordan (Senior Conductor, Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Conductor of The Westminster Schola Cantorum; and Conductor of the professional choral ensemble, Anam Cara, heard on Innisfree GIA ChoralWorks) is the perfect 500-page instruction manual for anyone aspiring to properly and effectively conduct choral music. Originally published in 1998, this newly expanded edition of "Evoking Sound" is enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying DVD draws upon the Jordan's last ten years to create an even more effective presentation with animation and diverse camera angles showcasing how conducting gesture influences choral sound. Of special note are the new materials and information relevant to breathing and its effect on conducting; the importance of listening with respect to gesture; and an expanded discussion on the philosophy of conducting. Informed and informative, "Evoking Sound" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and a critically important addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Music Instruction reference collections in general, and Choral Conducting supplemental reading lists in particular.

Gods And Guitars
Michael J. Gilmour
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602581395, $19.95, www.amazon.com

From the African-American songs of the 19th century through the folk music and rock of the 20th century, a significant segment of popular secular music has been endowed with profound spiritual messages focused on themes social justice and the emotional ramifications of love, sacrifice, and even the occasional biblical text. In "Gods And Guitars: Seeking The Sacred In Post-1960s Popular Music", academician Michael J. Gilmour (Providence college, Manitoba, Canada) explores the lyrics of popular and influential songs composed and performed by such illustrious music icons as Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, U2, and others. Enhanced with extensive notes, an invaluable bibliography for further and more detailed study, and a comprehensive Index, "Gods And Guitars" is an especially recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Popular Music reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Black Music
Leroi Jones
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781933354934, $15.95, www.akashicbooks.com

Jazz caught hold in the early twentieth century and has stayed strong through it. "Black Music" is a collection of jazz criticisms and thought from Amiri Baraka, also known as Leroi Jones. Focusing on the 1960s, Akashic books has reprinted this acclaimed volume as Baraka offers much insight into Jazz legends such as Johnathan Coltrane, Miles Davis, and many more. For anyone who wants an educated and scholarly look at 1960s Jazz, "Black Music" is an ideal selection.

Concert Lighting, third edition
James L. Moody
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier
30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240806891, $44.95, www.focalpress.com

A good concert is about more than the music. "Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art, and Business" is the third edition of Focal Presses's acclaimed guide to the importance of good lighting in concert settings. James Moody is an experienced theatre technician, and Paul Dexter has done lighting for some of the biggest acts in Rock such as Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue. Good lighting enhances the music, makes the experience more memorable and more likely to return for another show. "Concert Lighting" is an absolute must for anyone in charge of the finer technical details of a concert.

Little Richard
David Kirby
Continuum Books
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
9780826429650, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Rock'n'Roll was more than revolution of music. "Little Richard: The Birth of Rock'n'Roll" looks at Little Richard and the effects that his wild and energetic piano playing did for 1950s America. Richard's music was one of the many things that helped pushed race relations to the forefront of the American agenda, as young people of both races mixed freely in celebration of the music, as well as looking at the man himself and how a legendary performer gets his starts. "Little Richard" is a top pick for any autobiography or music history collection.

Pop Goes to Court
Brian Southall
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010
9781847721136, $24.95, www.omnibuspress.com

The world of Rock and Roll is no stranger to the world of law. "Pop Goes to Court: Rock 'n' Pop's Greatest Court Battles" analyzes the legal battles that have erupted in recent history as the drama of music spills over into the courts, both civil and criminal. From Judas Priest accused of inciting suicide, to the never ending battle for Jimi Hendrix's estate to the on and off again feud between the Beatles, "Pop Goes to Court" is an entertaining, informative, and at times depressing read of music and law, making for a choice pick for readers.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Conceiving God
David Lewis-Williams
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500051641, $34.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Why did mankind go to embrace the concept of God? "Conceiving God: The Cognitive Origin and Evolution of Religion" explores the deepest history of religion and how it was cultivated out of the minds of early man. Going deep into the psychology of religion and how the earliest believers in a supreme being came up with their beliefs and began creating their customs and rituals that would ring true in generations to come. An endlessly fascinating read that gives countless insights on God, "Conceiving God" is a must for any anthropology studies collection.

Beyond the Qumran Community
John J. Collins
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802828873, $25.00, www.eerdmans.com

Early Christianity is a subject that eludes many scholars. "Beyond the Qumran Community: The Sectarian Movement of the Dead Sea Scrolls" focuses on the Qumran community focusing on the periods and the origins of the texts that have fueled much of the research surrounding the scrolls. Stating that there were other communities involved in this movement, John J. Collins gives a scholarly look into these possible other houses, making "Beyond the Qumran Community" a very recommended read for professional or amateur biblical studies collections.

Soulshaping
Jeff Brown
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
9781556438103, $19.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Not all lawyers are soulless monsters, as many spurned people would tell you. "Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation" is the story of one of Canada's top criminal lawyers and how he left his profession to search for his soul. Offering much food for thought as he tells a story that many readers will find relation to when coming to terms with their own soul and their spirituality, "Soulshaping" is a heartily recommended read for those who want aid in making an introspective look at their own souls.

Etty Hillesum
AnneMarie S. Kidder
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758386, $18.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Holocaust cost the world many brilliant minds. "Etty Hillesum: Essential Writings" is a collection of writings from Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish woman who through her short life did much writing, and even though it wasn't discovered until decades after her death, her voice rings profound a true. Gaining a strong spiritual side in her later years, Hillesum's work is presented and will give those with a spiritual focus in their lives much food for thought from a woman whose mind was taken from the world far too soon. "Etty Hillesum" is a strong addition to any spirituality or religious collection.

The Eleven Eternal Principles
Carmen Harra
Crossing Press
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781580911979, $16.99, www.crownpublishing.com

When you understand the laws of the universe, life becomes much easier. "The Eleven Eternal Principles: Accessing the Divine Within" is a spiritual help guide from Carmen Harra, as she offers much food for thought in relation to the grand picture of the universe. Her eleven rules are designed to help gain a better grasp and understanding of their world, from karma to the role the universe plays in helping people find what they want. "The Eleven Eternal Principles" is a choice pick and very highly recommended read for spirituality readers.


The Business Shelf

The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business, new edition
Cameron S. Foote
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10010
9780393732993, $35.00 www.wwnorton.com

The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business is a pick for graphic design and business libraries alike, offering the first in-depth management guide for the industry. This new edition has been revised and updated to reflect recent industry trends and to include the latest best practices for firms of all sizes. Highly recommended.

The Communication Problem Solver
Nannette Rundle Carroll
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814413080, $18.95 www.amacombooks.org

The Communication Problem Solver offers a fine survey of management communication issues and how to handle them, offering quick and easy techniques to resolve common people problems at work. Managers receive tips for sharpening listening skills, providing more effective feedback, and more. Highly recommended.

Luxury World
Mark Tungate
Kogan Page
525 S. 4th St., #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749452636, $29.95 www.koganpage.com

LUXURY WORLD: THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LUXURY BRANDS offers a key to understanding luxury brands and their market appeal, surveying strategies, customers, and how the brands handle change. Business histories and functions are analyzed in a fine survey packed with interviews with industry insiders, perfect for business libraries.

Corporate Architecture: Building a Brand
Alejandro Bahamon, Ana Canizares, Antonio Corcuera, Editors
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9780393733051, $100.00 www.wwnorton.com

Corporate Architecture: Building a Brand is a pick for architecture and business libraries alike, appealing to college-level students and providing an analysis of architecture as a marketing tool to build a corporate image. Analysis of this growing trend explores buildings and histories of each firm and its involvement in design concepts, using projects from around the world to illustrate business and architecture unions in fashion, banking, telecommunications and other industries.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Government Contracts
John C. Lauderdale III
Alpha
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9781592579440, $19.95 www.idiotsguides.com

Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Government Contracts offers a basic guide to how government contracts work, telling how to craft proposals using strategies based on this knowledge and providing a step-by-step review of the government procurement process. From identifying customers perfect for business to starting a project after a contract is won, this is a basic for any business collection.

The Handyman's Guide To Profit
A. William Benitez
Positive Imaging, LLC
9016 Palace Parkway, Austin, TX 87848
9780984248001, $16.95, www.amazon.com

When the economy collapses into recession (or worse), men who have learned a variety of construction and household repair skills for everything from roofing to plumbing to glazing will find themselves laid off from their regular jobs with bleak prospects of re-hiring elsewhere. But there is one tremendous possibility that is open to all, that of self-employment as a handyman. In "The Handyman's Guide To Profit: Using Your Skills To Make Money In Any Economy", A. William 'Bill' Benitez draws upon his personal and professional experience of 30 years in owning and operating a one-man business as a carpenter and handyman, and 20 years as a cabinet/furniture maker, to take readers through a superbly organized approach to starting up their own handyman operation. Every aspect is covered from recruiting customers, to pricing jobs, to getting paid, to expanding skill sets, to using the Internet, to accounting and taxes, and a great deal more. Practical and 'user friendly', "The Handyman's Guide To Profit: Using Your Skills To Make Money In Any Economy" truly lives up to the promise of its title and should be considered essential reading for anyone seeking to setting themselves up to do a profitable business in these unprofitable times.

The Courageous Follower
Ira Chaleff
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Franscisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605092737, $22.95, www.bkconnection.com

There is more to leadership than being the one in charge. "The Courageous Follower: Standing Up to & For Our Leaders" is a business guide that emphasizes the value of cooperation and communication when it comes to leadership and working well in one's business, and in any organization, be it political, for profit or non-profit. Stating that the best organizations do not ignore the people at lower levels, "The Courageous Follower" is a fine read for those at any level of business.

Friends with Benefits
Darren Barefoot & Julie Szabo
No Starch
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Franscisco, CA 94107
9781593271992, $24.95, www.nostarch.com

Social networking is stronger than any technology. "Friends with Benefits: A Social Media Marketing Handbook" is a guide to breaking into a social network and the benefits such unions can bring to businesses. Friendship is a powerful thing, and now with the internet these partnerships are more powerful than ever before. For anyone who is trying to form those strong business connections for the future, "Friends with Benefits" is a choice pick for those seeking a complete and comprehensive guide to the power of connections and the media.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Care Business
Lynn Wasnak
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601382283, $39.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Your lawn is your first impression to the world. "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service Business" is a guide to breaking into the lucrative lawncare and landscaping business for those who enjoy the great outdoors and working with plants and lawns. A business guide, the Atlantic Publishing Group gives readers a vivid introductory dive into the basics of lawncare as a business and how to get started. "How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Landscaping, Nursery, or Lawn Service" is a grade-A pick for anyone trying to break into this business venture.

Building Business Value
Martin O'Neill
Third Bridge Press
1290 Bay Dale Drive, #323, Arnold, MD 21012
Cardinal Publishers Group (publishers)
2402 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9780982056905, $22.95, www.buildingbusinessvaluebook.com

A businesses' worth is a powerful thing. "Building Business Value: How to Command a Premium Price for Your Midsized Company" is a guide for companies that have gone past being a small business but have not yet reached the point to become a massive corporation. With tips on assessment, gauging where your company is going, the power of leadership, and what people look for when they are looking to buy or sell companies, Martin O'Neill gives readers a very comprehensive look at the market of business, making "Building Business Value" a choice pick and highly ideal read for accomplished entrepreneurs.

90 Days to Success in Grant Writing
Timothy Kachinske & Judith Kachinske
Course Technology Cengage Learning
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
9781435454866, $19.99, www.courseptr.com

Companies are reluctant to hand out grants, so you have to make your case well. "90 Days to Success in Grant Writing" is a guide for those who are in charge of earning their organization's grant money and make those winning grant letters that secure their cause those much needed funds that often elude them. "90 Days to Success in Grant Writing" is a fine course in understanding the art of the grant letter, highly recommended.

The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing
Natalie Canavor & Claire Meirowitz
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137153152, $18.99, www.ftpress.com

Writing is communication, and clear communication is vital. "The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing" is an exploration of the changes that the internet and technology have brought to communicating through written language in the world of business. E-mails, web site content, among other things have brought new methods through the table, where once only the newsletter and press release stood tall. "The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing" is a top pick and very highly recommended read that's quite the resource.


The Criminology Shelf

Smart on Crime
Kamla D. Harris with Joan O'C. Hamilton
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811865289, $24.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

SMART ON CRIME: A CAREER PROSECUTOR'S PLAN TO MAKE US SAFER makes a case for changes in crime prevention and justice - changes that will ultimately make the world safer. She argues that partisan cliches on being tough on crime perpetuate a failed system - and she presents the basics of innovative programs she instituted as D.A. of San Francisco. Any library strong in justice and crime prevention needs this.

Identity Theft
Sandra K. Hoffman & Tracy G. McGinley
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598841435, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Identity theft is one person unlawfully assuming the identity of another, usually for the purpose of using the victim's name and resources to commit crimes of theft. With the coming of the internet, personating someone else is the single fastest growing category of white-collar crime in America and the industrialists nations of the world and continues to grow almost exponentially year by year. Used by individual perpetrators, identify theft involving credit cards has become a focus of organized crime. Identity theft has evolved to become part of the arsenal of terrorist groups and foreign governments presenting a threat to national security. That's why "Identity Theft: A Reference Handbook", the newest addition to the outstanding ABC-CLIO 'Contemporary World Issues' series co-authored by the team of Sandra K. Hoffman (Director of the Identity Theft Program, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan) and Tracy G. McGinley (Bowling Green State University) is such a timely and highly recommended 300-page study. Beginning with state, federal, and international definitions of identity theft, this seminal introduction covers all aspects of the problem including what businesses, law enforcement, and private citizens are doing to counter identity theft. Informed and informative, "Identity Theft: A Reference Handbook" is a welcome addition to academic and community library Criminology reference collections in general, and should be considered essential reading by anyone having to deal with identity theft or its threat in their own lives.

Betrayal, Murder, and Greed
Pam Phree & Mike 'Darkside' Beakley
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823133, $22.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

The life of a bounty hunter isn't as simple as television would lead you to believe. "Betrayal, Murder, and Greed: The True Story of a Bounty Hunter and a Bail Bond Agent" tells the tale of Pam Phree, a woman who has entered the bail bond industry and has vowed to turn the typically shady industry into a more respectable when her peers often exploit it out of greed. It is also the story of Mike Beakley, a former cop who has taken to become a licensed bounty hunter. These two tell the story of trying to keep their moral ground when their competitors really burn the line between the law and crime. "Betrayal, Murder, and Greed" is an intriguing look into the bail bond and bounty hunting industries, highly recommended.


The Fiction Shelf

Legend of a Suicide
David Vann
University of Massachusetts Press
671 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003
9781558496729, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

When it all falls apart, people look for where the first crack emerged. "Legend of a Suicide" is a series of stories by David Vann, focusing on the collapse of paradise, following its protagonists as they deal with the life around them spiraling out of control and their relationships with the ones responsible. "Legend of a Suicide" is thought provoking and will give readers much to relate to, making it a gripping read that won't be put down.

The Familiar Stranger
Christina Berry
Moody Publishers
820 N. Lasalle Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60610
9780802447319, $13.99, www.moodypublishers.com

The need to apologize and make amends often comes all too late. "The Familiar Stranger" is the story of Craig and Denise. Struggling with their married life but both wanting to make it work, they square off against one another, until an accident leaves Craig incapacitated and without memory of Denise and his family. Denise finds that a fresh start may not be what she needs, but love knows no memory and there's always a chance for happiness. "The Familiar Stranger" is a charming novel with characters many readers will love.

18 Billion
Jack Gresham
Synergy Books
c/o Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
8716 N. Mopac Expressway, Suite 330, Austin, TX 78759
www.bookpros.com/synergy
9780982314005, $14.95, www.amazon.com

When authors draw upon their own specific fields of experience and expertise they create fictional backgrounds and details for their stories that significantly enable their readers to 'suspend disbelief' and enter the 'theatre of the mind' that differentiates the truly good novels from the merely adequate ones. Such is the case with Jack Gresham's "18 Billion", a riveting tale of global terrorism that could come from today's newspaper headlines and television news hour lead stories. Afghan terrorists have smuggled a nuclear weapon into Washington D.C. with the intention of stealing 18 billion dollars from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The government's urgent intervention uncovers an even more sinister plot by an international corporation that seems to be behind global terrorism, not for any ideology, but in order to make money -- a lot of money. Deftly written from first page to last, "18 Billion" is truly a page-turner of an action/adventure suspense novel, and the stuff of which block buster Hollywood movies are made!

The Last River Child
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2M5
www.secondstorypress.ca
9781897187661, $17.95, www.amazon.com

When you're cursed, you do everything you can do remove that curse. "The Last River Child" tells the tale of Peg Staynor, a woman in the early twentieth century considered to be an omen by herself, her family, and her neighbors. Peg tries to rise up over her supposed curse and with the backdrop of the first World War, Lori Ann Bloomfield gives readers a fine literary tale of a woman trying to make her way in life. "The Last River Child" is a fine addition to fiction collections everywhere.

The Chill
Romano Bilenchi
Europa Editions
116 East 16 Street, New York, NY 10003
9781933372907, $15.00, www.europaeditions.com

Adulthood can't be avoided, and if you try, you'll be dragged into it kicking and screaming. "The Chill" is an English language debut of Romano Bilenchi's coming of age tale, set in the early twentieth century between the wars as a young man comes of age and the challenges he faces as a young adult who may not be prepared enough for the challenges ahead of him. A fine view of the Italian culture of the period, "The Chill" is a piece of world literature that should not be ignored.

2012
Chris Morton & Ceri Louise Thomas
O Books
c/o National Book Network
PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9781846943461, $19.95, www.o-books.net

The most skeptical will remain skeptical until it's too late. "2012: The Secret of the Crystal Skull" tells the tale of Laura Shepherd, doctor of archeology who finds a peer dead holding a crystal skull. 2012's prophecies begin to become all the more real for Laura but her knowledge may sentence her to a death long before the date even arrives. "2012" is an exciting thriller that's worth the read.

Hidden Impact
Charles B. Neff
BookSurge LLC
7290B Investment Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418
1594579423, $15.95, www.amazon.com

The mark of a good novel is how well and quickly it can engage the reader's total attention. Using that criteria, "Hidden Impact" by Charles B. Neff is a very good novel indeed! It's the story of Jim Nordberg, a man returning to Nicaragua some thirty years after he had been a peace Corps Volunteer working to help ordinary people better their lives. Upon his return Jim finds a rekindled romance with Luci Fuentes, a daughter of the family with which he had lived, only to be caught up in a complex of competing interests that includes the CIA and influential Nicaraguans revolving around an old journal that could blow the cover of an Iran-Contra affair. Skillfully plotted and deftly written, "Hidden Impact" is a fully satisfying read. Also very highly recommended for both community library fiction collections and personal reading lists from the pen of Charles B. Neff is "Patriot Schemes" (BookSurge, 141964078X, $15.95).

Precarious
Al Riske
Luminis Books
c/o MM Book Publicity
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
www.luminisbooks.com
9781935462323, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The literary art and tradition of the short story is alive and well in "Precarious: Stories Of Love, Sex, And Misunderstanding" by Al Riske. This collection of fifteen short stories ranges from tales set in Seattle during the rainy season and California during an extended drought. From a Cape Cod vacation cabin to a get-a-way island. These are deftly written stories that not only entertain, but engender reflection long after they are finished and "Precarious" is placed back upon the shelf. It should be noted that one of these unique tales, 'Pray for Rain' won the 2008 'Blue Mesa Review' prize for fiction. "Precarious" is enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone who appreciates the literary artistry of the short story format, and an ideal addition for community library fiction collections.

The Look of Love
Jill Egizii
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812549, $22.95, www.brownbooks.com

Challenging a professional boxer to a fist fight won't turn out well, and neither will challenging a lawyer to a legal battle. "The Look of Love" tells the story of Anna, a woman faced with divorce from her attorney husband. The legal battles over her kids and custody leave her at a disadvantage, as her ex-husband does everything he can to prevent Anna from finding her family and being happy. When everything looks to be at its worst, Anna has to try to make a recovery in life. "The Look of Love" is a fine read, recommended.

Europes
Jacques Reda
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047701, $12.00, www.hostpublications.com

Every journey is different, and Jacques Reda imparts his own experiences. "Europes" is a bilingual French and English volume as Reda presents original about his own journey across Europe, translating the soul and spirit through fine prose and poetry. Displayed in its original French, opposite its English translation, it has appeal to both French purists and those who just want to enjoy a good personal adventure. "Europes" is a fine addition to international memoir and poetry collections.

A Time for Everything
Karl O. Knausgaard
Archipelago Books
232 Third Street, #A111, Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780980033083, $20.00, www.archipelagobooks.org

Angels have always eluded mankind. "A Time for Everything" is the tale of a sixteenth century boy by the name of Antinous Bellori and his encounters with angels. Norwegian author Karl O. Knausgaard drew upon much of the tales of angels, as he draws many connections to biblical stories such as Cain and Abel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah's ark and many other stories and the hand that angels played in them all. For anyone entranced with the concept of angels, "A Time for Everything" is a fine read, expertly translated from the original Norwegian by James Anderson.

Screen Play
Chris Coppernoll
David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434764829, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

A little bit of faith can make the most absurd situations seem reachable. "Screen Play" is the tale of Harper, a struggling to work actress trying to get by in New York. Her biggest break is being understudy to one of the top stars on Broadway, but it seems up to luck to get her through. Love eludes her as well, as the one person she can tolerate on a dating site isn't even in the same time zone. Putting her faith in God, Chris Coppernoll makes "Screen Play" a tale many Christian women will relish.

Becca by the Book
Laura Jensen Walker
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310276975, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

The things people do for a bet. "Becca by the Book" tells the story of one Becca Daniels, an indomitable free spirit who takes indomitable free spirit to the next level. Judged by her friends to be flaky and impossible to commit, she bets she can keep a relationship for three months with the next guy she meets. She soon eats her words as she's placed with her polar opposite, and embarks on a new sort of adventure with the reserved 'Ben', a church goer who favors tradition. "Becca by the Book" is a fun spin of romance many readers will relish.

Jigsaw
Terri A. DeMitchell
Mayhaven Publishing
PO Box 557, Mahomet, IL 61853
Publishing Works, Inc. (publicity)
151 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833
9781932278613, $14.95

Good thieves are hard to fine, much to the dismay of Rachel and Will. "Jigsaw" tells the tale of Rachel and Will as they face a band of thieves that are terrorizing their small coastal town. With the only clues being puzzle pieces left behind, Rachel and Will soon find that greed may not be this band of thieves only motivators. "Jigsaw" is a fine pick for young readers who are embracing novels for the first time.


The Sports Shelf

Power Skating
Laura Stamm
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736076203, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

There's more to ice skating than fancy moves. "Laura Stamm's Power Skating" is a guide to iceskating with focus and determination for the sport of hockey. With tips on speed, balance, maneuverability, and using your enhanced skating skills to better effect on the rink, Laura Stamm gives hockey players who want to increase their skills with the fundamental techniques of movement on the advice everything they need to know to not make a false move when it counts. "Laura's Stamm's Power Skating" is a top pick for sports collections and very highly recommended.


The Education Shelf

The Power to Spring Up
Diana M. Katovitch
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627959, $24.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Disabilities are no reason to be discouraged in pursuing higher learning. "The Power to Spring Up: Postsecondary Education Opportunities for Students with Significant Disabilities" delves into the special needs of certain students, who in spite of their disabilities want to put their brain power to good use in postsecondary education. Giving these individuals the advice they need and the things they need to know for their pursuits, Diana M. Katovitch gives a very clear and recommended guide. "The Power to Spring Up" is a choice pick for these individuals, highly recommended.

A Baker's Dozen of Lessons Learned form the Teaching Trenches
Danny Brassell
Shell Education
5301 Oceanus Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
9781425805203, $29.99, www.shelleducation.com

Dealing with unruly children is a career these individuals have for some reason chosen to undertake. "A Baker's Dozen of Lessons Learned from the Teaching Trenches" as he reflects on his career as a teacher, focusing on thirteen important lessons he has learned teaching these students, and has much advice for other teachers who want to improve their craft or are simply just getting started. The things that aren't taught to teachers in college, "A Baker's Dozen of Lessons Learned from the Teaching Trenches" is a core addition to any collection focusing on wisdom for teachers.

Teaching with Poverty in Mind
Eric Jensen
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416608844, $23.95, www.ascd.org

We're not all exactly the same. "Teaching with Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do About It" analyzes the effects of poverty on education and states how educators can play a hand in improving the potential of these students. From the emotional and social challenges these students will face, Eric Jensen gives educators a complete and comprehensive look into the challenges of poverty-stricken students. "Teaching with Poverty in Mind" is a solid read for the teacher who wants to understand the challenges their students may be facing in their day to day lives.

Treasure Bay
P.O. Box 119, Novato, CA 94948
$4.99 each www.webothread.com

Treasure Bay is a premier publisher of non-fiction books-in-series specifically designed for school classroom curriculum textbooks. One of their newest series is particularly noteworthy. 'We Read Phonics' focuses on a phonics style approach to acquiring and improving reading skills with three titles (Pat, Cat, and Rat; Matt and Sid; Big Cats) at Level 1; three titles (Which Pet Is Best?; Where Is My Frog?; and Bugs on the Bus) at Level 2; and three titles (Ant In her Pants; How to Make a Pancake; and Whales) at Level 3. Beautifully illustrated in color and deftly written for children in grades K-2, each 32-page title is available in both a hardcover and a paperback edition. Parents engaged in home schooling will find the 'We Read Phonics' series to be especially appropriate for inculcating a love of reading. For a complete listing of all the outstanding Treasure Bay titles for young readers, teachers, librarians and parents should visit their thoroughly 'user friendly' web site at www.webothread.com

Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty
Joyce L. Van Tassel-Baska, editor
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593633967, $34.95, www.prufrock.com

A sharp mind can come from any economic background. "Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty" is a guide for educators who want to give every edge they can when dealing with students who come from backgrounds where academics don't get the funding or support they need to flourish when dealing with a child with significant potential. With chapters on dealing with students from many different backgrounds, "Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty" is a top pick for any educator who want the best from their students, no matter what.

A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning
David T. Gordon, Jenna W. Gravel, & Laura A. Schifter, editors
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
9781934742389, $29.95, www.harvardeducationpress.org

Trying to create something that is far reaching and inclusive can prove difficult. "A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning" discusses UDL, a movement that is attempting to make a far reaching and more inclusive educational curriculum that is applicable to all students, no matter their race, gender, financial status, or disabilities. Discussing everything from the uses of technology, to old school handwriting to the use of keyboards, the role of the teacher, and so much more, any educational leader should consider "A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning", a fine and scholarly reference text that should not be ignored.

What Student Writing Teaches Us
Mark Overmeyer
Stenhouse Publishers
PO Box 11020, Portland, ME 04104-7020
9781571107138, $17.50, www.stenhouse.com

How a child translates his or her thoughts to paper provides much insight into their skills and what teachers need to know for the curriculum. "What Student Writing Teaches Us: Formative Assessment in the Writing Workshop" analyzes elementary and middle school writing from the perspective of the teacher and the student. Assessment of this writing can prove difficult for educators, but the need for feedback is needed. Mark Overmeyer draws on his own experience with children in this age range to give many thoughts and ideas for better language arts education. "What Student Writing Teaches Us" is an invaluable tool that should not be missed for primary educators.

Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success
Stan F. Shaw, Joseph W. Madaus, Lyman L. Dukes, III
Paul H. Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598570168, $34.95, www.brookespublishing.com

College is a stepping stone to a greater career,. "Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success: A Practical Guide to Transition Planning" is a guide for parents and educators who want to appease the special needs of college-aspiring students so that they can reach their fullest potential. Focusing on learning disabilities, autism and related disorders, among others, Stan Shaw, Joseph Madaus, and Lyman Dukes give readers a complete and comprehensive educational guide to getting the most out of college to succeed and rise up in spite of any disability. "Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success" is a fine and very highly recommended reference not to be missed.

Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs
Ruth Birnbaum
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philedelphia, PA 19106
9781843109877, $24.95, www.jkp.com

With any child, a new school is a concern. "Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs" is a comprehensive guide for parents who want to be prepared when preparing their special needs child for a new school. Author Ruth Birnbaum lists the concerns parents need to understand about new schools and searching for if they have the abilities and facilities needed to deal with the problems one's child often faces. Choosing a school for one's special child is a difficult task, and Birnbaum gives parents everything they need with "Choosing a School for a Child with Special Needs", recommended.

Curriculum Development for Medical Education, second edition
David E. Kern, MD, MPH, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2175 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801893674, $40.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Curriculum Development for Medical Education: A Six-Step Approach appears in its second updated edition to provide curriculum developers with a short, practical overview. Each chapter covers one of the six steps and considers everything from targeted assessment to curriculum maintenance and specific applications to different medical specialties. A pick for medical and education reference collections alike.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Allan R. Odden's 10 STRATEGIES FOR DOUBLING STUDENT PERFORMANCE (9781412971485, $28.95) offers a fine set of insights for school improvement in a companion guide to DOUBLING STUDENT PERFORMANCE. From focusing on issues schools have control over to case studies outlining steps and tools for putting strategies into action, this is a 'must' for any teaching library. Jack Singer's THE TEACHER'S ULTIMATE STRESS MASTERY GUIDE (9781412970938, $31.95) provides a fine survey of teacher stress and how to handle it and should be a 'must' for any education collection. From preventing stress to boosting psychological immunity, this offers action plans from real-world scenarios and from teachers who have conquered their own stress. Kathleen Kryz, Alicia Duncan and S. Joy Stephens' DIFFERENTIATION FOR REAL CLASSROOMS: MAKING IT SIMPLE, MAKING IT WORK (9781412972475, $28.95) uses easy techniques based on the authors' popular C U KAN and Chunk, Chew and Check frameworks. Using these guidelines teachers can implement effective instruction with a resource based on real-world applications and real classroom practices. Stand-alone lessons and lesson units alike make for an outstanding survey. Thomas R. Guskey and Jane M. Bailey's DEVELOPING STANDARDS-BASED REPORT CARDS (9781412940870, $33.95) offers breakdowns of each subject area into specific learning elements to offer parents and educators a description of how to measure a child's proficiency. From keys to linking standards guidelines to report cards to explaining how to achieve grading consistency without violating teacher autonomy or impacting workload, this is packed with examples of standards-based report cards that can be adapted to any school's requirements. Connie R. Hebert's CATCH A FALLING WRITER (9781412968669, $20.95) offers a fine companion to her CATCH A FALLING READER resource for teachers. It stands alone, as well, offering teachers tips on how to 'catch' falling K-3 writers before low confidence develops. From working with language challenges to closing the gap between reading and writing abilities, this offers specifics based on researched strategies that can be used as curriculum supplements. The second edition of Eric Jensen's DIFFERENT BRAINS, DIFFERENT LEARNERS (9781412965026, $31.95) packs in a survey updated to reflect new tools and strategies based on further research into brain function and learning. The color guide provides an outline for identifying prevalent impairments and teaches how to handle each. Libraries will find this a top pick. Also tops is Alan November's EMPOWERING STUDENTS WITH TECHNOLOGY, 2ND EDITION (9781412974257, $25.95). This tells how to expand classroom experiences with learning adventures powered by the latest technologies and provides educators with strategies for using technology to prepare students for a digital world. Lesley Roessing's THE WRITE TO READ (9781412974264, $33.95) offers keys to using reader respond journals to improve reading comprehension. Based on research and the author's own classroom experience, these writing exercises encourage kids to ask questions and participate in class - here are examples of journal formats, strategies for using reader response to guide classroom discussions, and more. Shirley M. Hord, et.al.'s GUIDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES: INSPIRATION, CHALLENGE, SURPRISE AND MEANING (9781412972710, $33.95) provides a how-to guide to developing a PLC, demonstrating a form of leadership and learning that involves examining teaching practices and considering over 30 structured opportunities to help busy educators put visions and environments into practice. PLCs bring different talents to the table: this tells how to integrate them. Dominic Belmonte's TEACHING FROM THE DEEP END: SUCCEEDING WITH TODAY'S CLASSROOM ADVANTAGES (9781412965620, $25.95) appears in its second updated edition and uses the author's extensive teaching experiences to encourage new teachers to reflect on why they chose teaching and how to develop a teaching philosophy. From working with parents and colleagues to considering still moments in the classroom, this is packed with insights. Susan Conklin Thompson and Kayenta Williams' TELLING STORIES WITH PHOTO ESSAYS; A GUIDE FOR PRE K-5 TEACHERS (9781412964593, $22.95) offers a fine guide to giving children new ways to express their thoughts and ideas. With photo essays teachers can help children comment on their lives, document events and even become advocates for what they perceive and believe in the world. Highly recommended!

Paul Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com

Benita A. Blachman and Darlene M. Tangel's ROAD TO READING (155766904X, $79.95) includes a CD-ROM with over 200 pages of classroom materials, weekly and daily lesson plans, and more in a program that's been extensively tested and validated by leaders in the field, and which meets all criteria for Reading First. Small groups can use this in as little as 30-40 minutes a day and follows up to the bestselling ROAD TO THE CODE, offering an innovative literacy program that is a top pick for any school interested in bringing students up to grade level. Benita Blachman works with others in ROAD TO THE CODE: A PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR YOUNG CHILDREN (9781557664389, $54.95). Spiral binding lends to lay-flat usage in a successful, 11-week program for teaching phonemic awareness and letter/sound correspondence. Reproducible materials make this an easy program for teachers to use, and the format lends easily to their reproduction. Patton O. Tabors' ONE CHILD, TWO LANGUAGES: A GUIDE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS OF CHILDREN LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (155766921X, $29.95) appears in its updated second edition to address issues of ESL and bilingualism for early childhood educators. New reproducible tools on CD-ROM help track a child's progress while the latest research covers assessment techniques for a child's first and second languages and ways to improve literacy for all kids.

Jessica Kingley Publishers
400 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com

The world can be isolated and lonely for people with dementia, and music has become key in bringing people together. Robin Rio's CONNECTING THROUGH MUSIC WITH PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA: A GUIDE FOR CAREGIVERS (9781843109051, $22.95) shows how simple sounds and movement can engage such people, promote relaxation and enjoyment, and break down barriers. After reviewing these connections, caregivers are given a series of music exercises to follow. A fine pick for any library covering dementia care. Stephen K. Levine's TRAUMA, TRAGEDY, THERAPY: THE ARTS AND HUMAN SUFFERING (9781843105121, $29.95) provides a powerful exploration of the nature of trauma and how the arts and arts therapies can help. By re-imagining painful experiences through art-making, help, may be achieved - but the danger is in the assumption of stock methods of understanding for the depths of human experience. His challenges popular psychological perspectives on trauma and provides a different framework for arts therapists and psychologists to understand its course and effectiveness. Health libraries strong in psychology will find this a fine pick.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet
Steve Brown
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street, Wenatchee WA 98801
www.dogwisepublishing.com
9781929242672, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Dogs weren't meant to eat dried animal byproducts. "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet: Healthier Dog Food the ABC Way" is a guide for pet owners who want a more healthy and vitamin packed diet for their dog, drawing back on their instinctual diet of real meat, uncooked and raw, along with the scattered fruits and vegetables they may have ate. Stating that treating your dog to this special diet if only once a week will have numerous long term positive effects, "Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet" is a fine read that should not be ignored for those who care about the health of their dog.

Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch
Sherri Cappabianca
Off The Leash Press, LLC
PO Box 275, Winter Park, FL 32790-0275
9780984198207 $37.95 www.OffTheLeashPress.com

Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch: Acupressure Massage for Your Dog is a step-by-step guide to the basics of traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure, and massage and how to apply them to bond with and improve the health of one's beloved canine pet. Full color photography and diagrams illustrate this in-depth guide, which spares no detail on anatomy, the art of palpation ("seeing" with one's hands and fingers, the better to be aware of changes in the body of one's dog), a wide variety of massage techniques and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for dog lovers everywhere, as well as for show dog owners interested in every possible advantage to keep their animals in peak condition, "Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch" is a wonderfully user-friendly resource.

Turtles
Whit Gibbons & Judy Greene
The John Hopkins University Press
2717 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801893506, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Slow, lumbering, ancient creatures provide much wonder. "Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide" is a question and answer guide for young readers focusing on these quiet reptiles which prove to be a curiosity for young children as well as biologists. Detailing the day and the life of the turtle, turtles in culture, turtles as food, turtles as pets, and more, for anyone with an interest in all things turtle, tortoise, or terrapin, "Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide" is a read that should not be missed, and a fine addition to any community library wildlife collection.

Life with McDuff
Judy McFadden
Summit Mountain Publishing
PO Box 91528, Henderson, NV 89009-1528
Atlas Book (distrubutor)
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780982455401, $16.95, www.lifewithmcduff.com

Lessons can come from a teacher who doesn't know their teaching. "Life with McDuff: Lessons from a Therapy Dog" is a collection of tales regarding the small black Scottish Terrier called McDuff and the relationships he formed with the patients he was assigned to. McDuff's chain of friends who were suffering from severe disabilities makes for an intriguing read as these people find more strength in the small dog that helps them live their lives and reach for greater heights. "Life with McDuff" is a choice pick for pet lovers.

Beyond the Homestretch
Lynn Reardon
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316473, $23.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

Beyond the Homestretch: What I've Learned form Saving Racehorses tells of the author's experiences when she decides to leave her Washington, D.C.-based office job to launch an ex-racehorse rescue in Texas. While it's a story of establishing a racehorse rescue business, it's also a story of passion and lessons learned from life. General-interest collections will find it will appeal to animal lovers, business entrepreneurs, and self-help readers alike.

Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
www.press.jhu.edu

Whit Gibbons and Judy Greene's TURTLES: THE ANIMAL ANSWER GUIDE (9780801893490, $24.95) comes from two internationally known turtle biologists and answers over 100 of the most frequently asked questions about over 300 turtles and terrapin species. Color photos and a question/answer format offer keys to turtle biology and management in a pick that's perfect for any pet collection. Thomas H. Kunz and Stuart Parsons edit ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL METHODS FOR THE STUDY OF BATS (9780801891472, $100.00), appearing in its updated second edition for any college-level collection strong in in-depth scientific surveys of bats. First published in 1988, it's the primary reference for amateur and professional bat researchers alike, and this edition packs in many new, commonly used field and lab techniques used to advance the study of bats. Quite simply, a 'must'.

Wiley-Blackwell
www.wiley.com

From the basics of diagnostic tools used daily to treat dogs and cats to over 275 procedures and tests and the latest information on applying procedures to cases, Shelly L. Vaden, et.al.'s BLACKWELL'S FIVE-MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: LABORATORY TESTS AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES CANINE & FELINE (9780813817484, $99.99) provides physicians and vet students with a quick reference offering fast access in a clinical setting. Practicing vets and reference libraries will find this invaluable. Also invaluable is Margaret V. Root Kustritz's CLINICAL CANINE AND FELINE REPRODUCTION: EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWERS (9780813815848, $79.99), designed to provide quick answers to the most common questions in animal practice using a question-and-answer format for fast reference. The best references are listed for further information while questions come from the author's years of experience answering questions on reproduction and pediatrics. Practicing vets will find this an important reference. Alexander F. Voevodin and Preston A. Marx Jr.'s SIMIAN VIROLOGY (9780813824321, $199.99) is the first text to comprehensively cover all currently known simian viruses, offering a review of nonhuman primate models of viral diseases and natural inflections alike. From primate taxonomy to the history, classification and structure of simian viruses, this is key to any comprehensive vet collection where simians are of concern. General veterinary collections from libraries to practicing vet references will find Liz Welsh does an excellent editing job in ANAESTHESIA FOR VETERINARY NURSES (9781405186735, $67.99), a survey written specifically for veterinary nurses by veterinary nurses and surgeons. Coverage of the range of physiological and pharmacological aspects of anesthesia have been fully updated and reflect the latest changes to veterinary nursing. Deborah Reeder, et.al. edit AAEVT'S EQUINE MANUAL FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS (9780813829715, $59.99), a gathering of details on the care and treatment of horses recommended for equine vet technicians. The basics of equine care are offered in a complete reference that includes resources, discussions of nutrition and reproduction, biopsy procedures, commonly used antibiotics, and more. Mary C. Smith and David M. Sherman's GOAT MEDICINE (9780781796439, $174.99) appears in a fully revised second edition offering a definitive, updated reference on goat diseases, diagnosis, management and prevention. It's been fully revised to discuss new diseases and provides keys to understanding both common and unusual goat conditions, covering the basics of goat practice and health. Antony S. Moore and Angela E. Frimberger's ONCOLOGY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND NURSES (9780813812762, $69.99) provides a fine handbook of cancer care for technicians, covering stages, causes, treatments, and the nursing role throughout. From the technician's role throughout the process to treatment strategies and emergency care, this is a fine survey any veterinary library needs. Veterinary collections strong in equine references need EQUINE BACK PATHOLOGY: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (9781405154925, $139.99), edited by Frances M.D. Henson. It's the first to explore conditions and problems of the horse's back and pelvis, especially challenging to treat and diagnose, and offers insights into specific conditions and both therapy and rehabilitation. A powerful technical survey, it's a top pick for any equine vet's collection. Vet and animal libraries also need Helen E. Roberts' FUNDAMENTALS OF ORNAMENTAL FISH HEALTH (9780813814018, $69.99), a complete guide to the health of ornamental aquatic animals. Fish medical care is covered in a fine survey of nonlethal aquatic medicine covering clinical applications of fish medicine and summarizing the latest diagnostics and even surgery techniques. Fish health technical guides are rare, making this a 'must' addition for any serious college-level vet collection.


The Political Science Shelf

The Ethics Of Citizenship
J. Caleb Clanton, editor
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602582033, $49.95, www.amazon.com

The constant conflict between church and state is one debate that never ends. "The Ethics of Citizenship: Liberal Democracy and Religious Convictions" discusses the role that religion plays in politics and if it is ethical for it to play a role at all. Many brains meet within this volume as J. Caleb Clanton brings their thoughts an ideas together under one cover to provide much scholarly debate, drawing many different opinions to help readers get a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the matters. "The Ethics of Citizenship" is a fine and very highly recommended read for those considering the many nuances of modern American politics.

Democracy's Spectacle
Jennifer Greiman
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230990, $45.00, www.fordhampress.com

In Democracy, the people have the power, and the people are intriguing rulers. "Democracy's Spectacle: Sovereignty and Public Life in Antebellum American Writing" analyzes the literature of the nineteenth century and its relation to the politics of the era. Sovereignty and the people is the major theme, as professor of literature Jennifer Greiman looks at the works of Hawthorne, Melville, and others to discuss literature's impact on activism in the era, slavery, and other topics. "Democracy's Spectacle" is an intriguing and educational read that would do well in any community or college library collection focusing on literature and historical politics.

Democracy at the Crossroads
Craig S. Barnes
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917265, $15.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

Could the peasantry be making a come back? "Democracy at the Crossroads: Princes, Peasants, Poets, and Presidents in the Struggle for (and Against) The Rule of Law)" is an intriguing warning that America may not be as far from feudalism as we thought we were. Blending history, politics, and social science, Craig S. Barnes says democracy is not natural in social evolution and if we're not careful, the office of president could easily become synonymous with King. "Democracy at the Crossroads" is a fascinating read with many original ideas, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

Blood and Faith
Matthew Carr
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595583611, $28.95, www.thenewpress.com

Spain has roots from its conquest of the Moors nearly a thousand years ago. "Blood and Faith: The Purging of Muslim Spain" tells the story of the end of this chapter in Muslim history, as King Philip reclaims Spain as a Christian nation by ordering the Muslims to leave Spain, a place they had at that point called home for hundreds of years. A tragic tale of Christian and Islamic relations, "Blood and Faith" is a must read for those who want to better understand religious relations in European History.

The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History
Thomas J. Craughwell
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
100 Cummings Center, Suite 406-L
9781592333981, $19.99, www.fairwindspress.com

The Mongols were one of the most feared entities of the past thousand years. "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan's Mongols Almost Conquered the World" delves into the story of the Mongol Empire and how Genghis Khan rose up and established himself as one of the great conquerors of history. His empire rose from the unassuming Mongolia, conquered China to establish its own dynasty, and grew westward and almost took over Europe. A compelling read for history buffs, "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History" is a top pick and very highly recommended addition to history collection focusing on great empires of history.

Fromms
Gotz Aly and Michael Sontheimer
Other Press
2 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781590512968, $23.95, www.otherpress.com

There are some aspects of history ignored because they invoke a bit of squeamishness. "Fromms: How Julius Fromm's Condom Empire Fell to the Nazis" is the story of Julius Fromm, a German Jew who made his fortune being an industrious capitalist and capitalizing on a much more sexually free time to become the leader in dealing in condom sales. His story is a tragic one that has been heard in some form, of how a rightfully earned fortune was lost to racism and oppression. "Fromms" is an insightful look into the Jewish business man in this rough time, highly recommended.

Greetings from Spitsbergen
John T. Reilly
Tapir Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9788251924603 $108.00 www.tapirforlag.no www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

Historic black-and-white photographs, full color reproductions of classic postcards and more illustrate Greetings from Spitsbergen: Tourists at the Eternal Ice 1827-1914, a remarkable chronicle of early touristry in Spitsbergen - the European wilderness that is as close as one can get to the North Pole on land. Author John T. Reilly (Professor of Haematology, University of Sheffield) has transformed his life-long passion for arctic history in a thoroughly accessible chronicle that readers of all backgrounds can explore and enjoy. The fascinating untold history of human investigation into the forbidding yet enticing arctic wilds, Greetings from Spitsbergen is a unique, gorgeous, and highly recommended contribution to world history shelves.

Windows into the Past
Judith M. Brown
University of Note Dame Press
310 Planner Hall, Note Dame, IN 46556
9780268022174, $20.00, www.und.nd.edu

The life of one person in history can tell you much of the culture. "Window into the Past: Life Histories and the Historian of South Asia" is Judith M. Brown's analysis of the lives of the people of South Asia in recent history with a focus on the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Focusing on the personal lives in both private and public, Brown gives readers a very comprehensive overview of the common man in India and other countries of the era. "Window into the Past" is a fine addition to any history collection focusing on culture.


The Literary Shelf

The Life And Writing Of Fray Angelico Chavez
Ellen McCracken
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
www.unmpress.com
9780826347602, $42.95, www.amazon.com

The latest addition to the superbly produced University of New Mexico Press' 'Paso Por Aqui: Series on the Nuevomexicano Literary Heritage', "The Life and Writing of Fray Angelico Chavez: A New Mexico Renaissance Man" is an informed and informative literary biography by Ellen McCracken (Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature, University of California, Santa Barbara). The subject, Fray Angelico Chavez, is arguable New Mexico's most important literary figure of the 20th Century whose literary works were as prolific as they were influential. In writing "The Life and Writing of Fray Angelico Chavez", Professor McCracken chronologically presents Chavez body of work and includes his fiction, poetry, essays, spiritual tracts, sermons, historical writings, translations, and journalism. Of special note is the inclusion of his genealogy and his artistic contribution in the realm of painting and church renovation. A 460-page compendium of information and commentary on a remarkable and memorable literary figure, as well as a model of painstaking scholarship, "The Life and Writing of Fray Angelico Chavez: A New Mexico Renaissance Man" is strongly endorsed as an invaluable addition to academic library 20th Century American Literary History reference collections in general, and Fray Angelico Chavez literary studies reading lists in particular.

Balzac, Dickens, Dostoevsky
Stefan Zweig
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
www.transactionpub.com
9781412810470, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was an Austrian novelist, playwright, journalist, and biographer whose essays on three of the most influential French, British, and Russian literary figures of their times are compiled in "Balzac, Dickens, Dostoevsky: Master Builders of the Spirit". Long out of print, this 291-page edition by Transaction Publishers features a new and informative introduction by Laurence Mintz who is their senior editor and currently directing a new series on European Cultural Studies. Zweig chose Balzac, Dickens, and Dostoevsky for his studies because the first drew from society for his subject matter, the second from the family, and their third from what Zweig described as 'of the One and of the All'. He drew comparisons, noted differences, and provided a wealth of insights and occasional iconoclastic observations that continue to have significant relevance to the study of these three men's literary work. "Balzac, Dickens, and Dostoevsky" is the first of a proposed three volume series which will prove to be a valued and important addition to academic library Literary Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Devil In The Holy Water
Robert Darnton
Ellen Trachtenberg
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
www.upenn.edu/pennpress
9780812241839, $34.95, www.amazon.com

"The Devil in the Holy Water, or the Art of Slander from Louis XIV to Napoleon" by academician Robert Darnton (Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and Directory of the Harvard University Library) is a unique and illustrated compendium of the role libel and slander played in 18th-century France and the political influence books and periodicals written by French expatriates from the sanctuary of London played out in French politics back home. Professor Darnton's expert and insightful commentaries on how such literary productions revealed the flaws of the French aristocracy, political monarchy, and church to the common citizenry and contributed to the violent overthrow of the established order and the rise of the French Republic. A deftly written and meticulously researched 552-page study which is enhanced with the inclusion of extensive Notes and a comprehensive Index, "The Devil in the Holy Water, or the Art of Slander from Louis XIV to Napoleon" is a seminal work that is an essential addition to academic library 19th Century European Literary Studies reference collections in general, and 19th Century French History supplemental reading lists in particular.

No Place for a Puritan
Ruth Nolan
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597140980, $21.95, www.heydaybooks.com

The desert, barren, devoid of life, but home to some great stories. "No Place for a Puritan: The Literature of California's Deserts" is a collection of literature in many different formats. From excepts from novels to poetry, to short fiction and more, Ruth Nolan compiles quite the read for any who doubt the power of the desert, invoked for its mysteriousness, its hopelessness, its remoteness, and so much more. "No Place for a Puritan" is an excellent read for those who doubt the literary inspiration that is the deserts of California.

Aeschylus: Eumenides
Robin Mitchell-Boyask
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0604
9780715636428, $24.00, www.ducknet.co.uk

Drama has always had a deeper meaning than simply entertainment. "Aeschylus: Eumenides" is a companion guide from Duckworth discussing Eumides, the final volume of the Oresteia, a Greek tragedy that for its time caused controversy for discussing the topic of the place of women in Athenian society and the theatre. One of the most important pieces of classical literature, "Aeschylus" is a worthwhile study guide for the work.

Titan Books
144 Southwark St., London SR1 0UP, England
www.titanbooks.com www.amazon.com

These new 'Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' titles are top picks for libraries finding Sherlock Holmes a popular lend. David Start Davies' THE SCROLL OF THE DEAD (9781848564930, $9.95) tells of a seance that unmasks a dangerous medium impostor and the potential of immortality, Daniel Stashower's ECTOPLASMIC MAN (9781848564923, $9.95) tells of a man framed and jailed for espionage with Sherlock Holmes determined to arrive at the truth, and WAR OF THE WORLDS by Manley W. Wellman and Wade Wellman (9781848564916, $9.95) tells of a world under attack from Martian invaders.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

175 Theatre Games: Warm-Up Exercises for Actors
Nancy Hurley
Meriwether Publishing
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7710
9781566081641, $17.95 www.meriwether.com

175 Theatre Games: Warm-Up Exercises for Actors offers nearly 200 games divided into 12 categories for performers of all ages, covering everything from improvisation and clowning to pantomime, name games, stage movement and more. These very short warm-ups are powerful tools for any would-be actor and are quick and simple for all kinds of stages and performances.

Hollywood Lighting From The Silent Era To Film Noir
Patrick Keating
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231149037, $27.50, www.amazon.com

"Hollywood Lighting From The Silent Era To Film Noir" by Patrick Keating (Assistant Professor, Department of Communications, Trinity University) is a 296-page history of how directors used stage lighting in movies to perform a variety of functions ranging from enhancing the mood of a scene, to emphasizing action sequences, to framing actor personas, and so much more. "Hollywood Lighting From The Silent Era To Film Noir" is a seminal study drawing upon original research and utilizing specific films to illustrate how lighting play a pivotal role in the image-drawn storytelling that was the hallmark of Hollywood theatrical productions and the art of cinematography. Simply stated, "Hollywood Lighting From The Silent Era To Film Noir" should be considered essential reading by all film students and aspiring directors, and a part of all academic library cinematic studies and film history reference collections.

Warring Clans, Flashing Blades
Patrick Galloway
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781933330785, $19.95, www.stonebridge.com

Honor, sword fights, and wars in an alien land, it's no wonder why Samurai films have captured the imaginations of American audiences. "Warring Clans, Flashing Blades: A Samurai Film Companion" details over fifty samurai films, telling their story and filing them under many different sub genres, ranging from the artistically brilliant to conceptually hokey encounters of modern military vs. Sengoku period armies. "Warring Clans, Flashing Blades" is a top pick for those who can't get enough of Samurai films and wants to find more to feed their addiction.

The Radio Eye
Jerry White
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
wlupress.wlu.ca
9781554581788, $85.00, www.amazon.com

Movies were a critically important media for marginalized communities and communities with a distinctive local language differing from that of the broader cultures around them such as those in Newfoundland, the Faroe Islands, Irish-Gaelic-speaking Irish communities, and Quebec."The Radio Eye: Cinema in the North Atlantic, 1958-1988" by Jerry White (Associate Professor of Film Studies at the University of Alberta) presents an informed and informative overview of key and influential North Atlantic media makers from Cuban filmmaker Julio Garcia Espinosa, to Jurgen Habermas and Edourard Glissant. operating over three critically important decades from 1958 to 1988 and creating an international significant experiments that bridged across differing languages and cultures. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Radio Eye, The: Cinema in the North Atlantic, 1958-1988" is a seminal work of impeccable scholarship that is strongly recommended for academic library Film & Media Studies reference collections.

QNY
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
$14.99 each www.langenscheidt.com

Two enjoyable selections from author Will Dodson consist of 6 oversized movie poster postcards and a flat-spined book filled with vintage stills, and make perfect giftbooks for dyed-in-the-wool movie buffs. "Hollywood Musicals" (9780843714319) offers a gallery of vintage images from classic performances, including "Singin' in the Rain" to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Mamma Mia!". The result is an extraordinary tour of show-stopping song and dance. "Cult Films" (9780843714289) focuses on the sometimes campy, sometimes gruesome, sometimes thrilling movies that have attracted a small yet dedicated knot of fans over the decades - from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS" to "Freaks" and more. Celebrating esoteric films that are most definitely not for the faint of heart (or the easily offended!), "Cult Films" is a worthy tribute to its niche. Both collections are vividly illustrated with black-and-white and color images throughout, and highly recommended.

The DbD Experience
Rachel Rosenthal
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780415551021, $35.00, www.routledge.com

There's no substitute for experience. "The DbD Experience: Chance Know What It's Doing" is a delve into the world of Rachel Rosenthal and her three day seminar that explores the world of theatre and gives readers an exciting and intriguing crash course to the many aspects of theatre and drama, a lot that there are more to than meets the eye. DbD stands for Doing by Doing, and Rosenthal gives readers quite the experience elaborating on these activities and what they bring. "The DbD Experience" is a must for those wanting to break into the world of theatre.


The Science Shelf

Geology of the Great Basin
Bill Fiero
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874177909, $29.95

The great basin of the United States has brought countless thought and wonder to scientists over the years. "Geology of the Great Basin" is a scientific guide discussing the many unique features and history of the basin. Describing the core fundamentals of geology when approaching this region, Bill Fiero gives readers a complete and comprehensive discussion, complete with color photographs, many maps of many types, diagrams and more. For anyone curious of the science of the environment of the west, "Geology of the Great Basin" is a top pick that should not be ignored.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

The Boomers' Career Survival Guide
Ken Tanner
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313365218, $29.95, www.amazon.com

The 79 million Americans categorized as the Baby Boom Generation are now arriving on the doorstep of retirement only to be faced with a depleted economy and the massive downsizing of businesses. That's why "The Boomers' Career Survival Guide: Achieving Success and Contentment from Middle Age through Retirement" by Ken Tanner (an Atlanta, Georgia-based resources consultant specializing in employee retention and career development) will prove so invaluable. Drawing upon his many years of experience and expertise, Tanner organizes his observations, commentaries and advice into three principle sections and in the process covers everything from maintaining employment, to reentering the job market after an absence (enforced or otherwise), strategies for what to do when faced with being employed in a troubled company, to preparing for retirement, and so much more. Practical and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Boomers' Career Survival Guide" is very highly recommended reading and a critically important addition to community library Jobs/Careers reference collections.

Career Comeback
Lisa Johnson Mandell
Springboard
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446549653, $24.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

You only have one life, don't waste it doing things you hate. "Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want" is a guide to completely overhauling oneself in order to attain what you really want out of life. Lisa Johnson Mandell states that impressions and reputation mean everything, and gives advice on everything from what to wear, presenting your credentials, and more. "Career Comeback" is a must and a worthy investment for those who want to move onto the next stage in life.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Taking Charge of Your Own Health
Lisa Hall
Harvest House
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736924795, $12.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

A clean bill of health is not something to ever take lightly. "Taking Charge of Your Own Health: Navigating Your Way Through: Diagnosis, Treatment, & Insurance" is a guide to dealing with the modern world of healthcare, ripe with mistakes, bureaucracy, and misdiagnosis. With a slew of tips and tricks, Lisa Hall hopes to equip readers with the techniques they need to get the medical care they want and deserve. "Taking Charge of Your Own Health" is a resource that shouldn't be missed.

In A Single Bound
Sarah Reinersten with Alan Goldsher
Globe Pequot Press
9780762751433, $24.95 www.globepequot.com

IN A SINGLE BOUND: LOSING MY LEG, FINDING MYSELF, AND TRAINING FOR LIFE is not your usual amputee's story: it tells of how the author became one of the world's most famous disabled sports figures and considers Sarah Reinersten's life and development of inner strength. Born with a genetic deficiency, Sarah Reinersten's childhood was complicated not just by physical challenges but by an abusive father - the same father who also opened doors of opportunity for her. An engrossing story evolves, suitable for general lending libraries, sports and health collections alike.

The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged, new edition
Tosca Reno
Robert Kennedy Publishing
c/o Bordeaux International (publicity)
4335 Van Nuys Boulevard, Suite 190, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
www.eatcleandiet.com
9781552100677, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Losing excess weight is relatively easy compared to keeping from regaining those unwanted pounds. That's why "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged: Lasting Fat Loss That's Better than Ever" is so highly recommended for anyone that struggles with roller-coaster weight losses and gains as they try diet after diet after diet. Now in a significantly updated and expanded new edition, "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged" focuses on motivation as the foundation for good exercise, good eating, and good attitude -- all of which are fundamental to good health. Enhanced with menus and some fifty recipes for dishes that are as nutritious and delicious as they are thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged" includes vegan and gluten-free dietary plans, as well as critically important advice on how to adhere to a good diet when dining out or at a party. Of special note is the handy 'Eat-Clean Diet at a Glance' quick reference suggestion. Superbly organized and written, "The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged" is especially recommended for personal reading lists and community library 'Health & Medicine' reference shelves.

Why Don't They Just Quit
Joe Herzanek
Changing Lives Foundation
4000 Hawthorne Circle, Longmont, CO 80503
www.changinglivesfoundation.org
9780578041193, $24.95, www.amazon.com

In the past, the advice given to drug addicts and alcoholics was to simply exercise their will power to give up their affliction. Advances in medical science have shown that this advice was naive and ineffectual for most alcoholics and the vast majority of addicts. Whether dealing with legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco, or illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine, or misused substances such as prescription drugs, simple will power proved insufficient to wean the substance abuser from their addiction. "Why Don't They Just Quit?: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery" by Joe Herzanek (himself a recovering addict and the founder of the Changing Lives Foundation) is a 300-page compendium of practical information and sound advice for the families and friends of substance abusers and explains why their friend or family member need not 'hit bottom' before being able to successfully deal with their addiction. "Why Don't They Just Quit?" also cogently addresses a variety of germane subjects including how and when helping is not helpful; that quitting is not the same as recovering; dealing with relapses; obtaining financial discounts on treatment options; the role of faith and hope as part of the recovery process; effective intervention strategies; and an impressive variety of other commonly posed questions. Thoroughly 'reader friendly', "Why Don't They Just Quit?" is essential reading for anyone having to deal with a family member or a friend who is a substance abuser, and a very strongly recommended addition to community library Self-Help reference collections.

The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer
Nicholas J. Gonzalez, MD & Linda L. Isaacs
New Spring Press
PO Box 200, New York, NY 10156
9780982196502, $49.95, www.newspringpress.com

When did Cancer come to plague mankind? "The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer: One Solution to the Medical Enigma of Our Time" discusses the origins of cancer and looks towards the work of Dr. John Beard, an English scientist from a century ago and how his early research can be used today. Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and Dr. Linda Isaacs present their own takes, taking modern research and matching it Dr. Beard's for many intriguing ideas about cancer and how science and medicine can combat it. "The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer" is a top pick for any interested in potential cures and their research.

Celebrity Body on a Budget
Cornel Chin
Price World Publishing, LLC
1300 W. Belmont Ave., Suite 20G, Chicago, IL 60657
9780972410281 $14.95 www.PriceWorldPublishing.com

Cornel Chin, who has worked as a personal trainer to celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Celebrity Body on a Budget, a solid personal fitness guide for the everyman (and everywoman)! Chapters discuss ways to work exercise into one's natural routine including chores and commuting; deciding whether or not a gym membership is worth it; buying tips for different pieces of home exercise equipment such as treadmills, exercise bicycles, elliptical trainers, stepping machines, rowing machines, or various other items; an easy-to-use personal fitness evaluation; advice for changing one's cooking habits for better health; suggestions to improve one's motivation; and much more. A no-nonsense, easy-to-use guide firmly grounded in practical reality, Celebrity Body on a Budget is enthusiastically recommended to fitness-conscious readers from all walks of life.

HealthMinder Personal Wellness Journal
F.E. Wilkins
MemoryMinder Journals, Inc.
PO Box 23108, Eugene, OR 97402-0425
9780963796875 $14.95 www.memoryminder.com

Spiral-bound for ease of use, HealthMinder Personal Wellness Journal is a consumable daily health and symptoms log, ideal for anyone tracking their daily progress with a chronic medical issue. Each two-page spread includes easy-to-use charts and columns for listing one's drugs and medication, physical activities, diet, personal conditions or symptoms, pain/discomfort/skin changes (a simple black-and-white line drawing of the human body allows for easy indication of changes in problem areas), and much more. A brief addition section at the back allows the user to jot down personal health records, notes and questions, and more. An excellent and handy resource, ideal for self-monitoring in between visits to one's doctor.


The Self-Help Shelf

Yes I Can
Con Hurley
Dufour Editions Inc.
Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781848890008, $25.95 www.dufoureditions.com

YES I CAN ACHIEVE PERSONAL SUCCESS WITH THE LIFE PLANNING TOOLKIT provides powerful self-help tools for any striving for personal success. In 1996 the author faced work burnout - but instead of falling apart, he decided to re-evaluate his life and define what personal success meant for him. His tools to rebuild a happy, balanced life are powerful keys for any involved in personal transformation and change.

The Checklist Manifesto
Atul Gawande
Metropolitan Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780805091748, $24.50 www.hholt.com

THE CHECKLIST MANIFESTO: HOW TO GET THINGS RIGHT examines how the author, in his work as a surgeon and public-health researcher, used a simple checklist to master levels of complexity in the world. From avoidable failures and predicting them to using checklists for everything from surgery and health care to business, this is packed with medical writing and larger life issues.

Hell Yes!
Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
0740779192, $9.99 www.amiuniversal.com

Hell Yes! Two Little Words for a Simpler, Happier Life offers a simple philosophy and approach to life that helps readers define what is important and how to embrace it. Inspirational drawings by James Yang accompany a fun wake-up call.

Alphatudes
Michele Wahlder
LifePossibilities
c/o MM Book Publicity (publicity)
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-278, Nashville, TN 37203
9780982364505, $12.95, www.amazon.com

In "Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude", Michele Wahlder (a professional life coach, experienced career counselor, and founder of Life Possibilities) draws upon her years of expertise to alphabetically compile and beautifully illustrate quotes from an impressive variety of critical thinkers from a variety of disciplines showcasing twenty-six priceless bits of enduring wisdom with respect to living a joyful life replete with true contentment and inner peace regardless of outward circumstances that all life is subject to. These individual 'alphatudes' (which Wahlder defines as a person, place or thing for which one alphabetically expresses gratitude) are as insightful as they are inspiring. 'Touch: To Touch someone is to share the spark that is life.' - Hansi Nurit Pilzer. Extraordinarily 'reader friendly', "Alphatudes" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to anyone's personal self-help/self-improvement reading list.

Anger Management For Everyone
Raymond Chip Tafrate
Howard Kassinove
Impact Publishers
PO Box 6016, Atascadero, CA 93423-6016
www.impactpublishers.com
9781886230835, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Everyone gets angry, but how one handles it is the real issue. "Anger Management for Everyone: Seven Proven Ways to Control Anger and Live a Happier Life" is a guide to anger management that states controlling one's anger is not just for those who let it grow out of control, but for anyone who gets occasionally angry, for whatever reason. This means, in essence, everyone. Controlling one's anger allows for better relationships, better decision making, and an in general better life. "Anger Management for Everyone" is a top pick and very highly recommended read that is of strong consideration for anyone who wants to channel their anger better.

Shift Your Mind
Steve Chandler
Robert D. Reeds Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759288, $14.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

Mind over matter. "Shift Your Mind: Shift the World" is an inspirational guide from Steve Chandler as he encourages people to change the way they think about the world around them and use their mind to motivate themselves for the better and push them into a more positive direction for more success in life. "Shift Your Mind, Shift the World" is a fine read for those who want to teach themselves to look up in life, and never stop.

Moments of Being
Barrie Brett
Morgan James Publishing
1225 Franklin Avenue, Suite 325, Garden City, New York 11530
www.morgan-james.com
9781600376245, $19.95, www.amazon.com

One of the benefits of being human is that we can learn invaluable 'life lessons' from the experiences and examples of others. In "Moments of Being: Finding Your One Moment in Time", author Barrie Brett has compiled a 269-page compendium of 'reader friendly' true-life stories from a variety of leaders in the fields ranging from business to entertainment showcasing how critical decisions at particular and often unexpected moments dramatically influenced and significantly altered the very course of their lives. Inspired and inspiring, "Moments Of Being" is highly recommended reading and superb addition to community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections.

Healing from Depression
Douglas Bloch
Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
PO Box 540206, Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
c/o Red Wheel, Conari, Weiser
65 Parker St., Unit 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9780892541553, $19.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

Depression is a funk you need to pick oneself out of, but that's easier said than done. "Healing from Depression: A Body, Mind, and Spirit Recovery Program" is a guide for recovery from depression and what one can do to combat one's own problems. Organized as a twelve week self-help program, Douglas Bloch gives readers a fascinating and insightful look at depression and how to lift oneself out of it. With tips on dealing with multiple types from a mild case of the blues to serious thoughts of suicide, "Healing from Depression" is a must read for those who want to heal themselves from their broken spirits.


The Agricultural Studies Shelf

Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World
National Research Council
c/o The National Academies Press
8700 Jericho City Drive, Landover, MD 20785
9780309132213, $45.00, www.nap.edu

The days of a farm dominated world are long over. "Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World" discusses modern Agricultural education. A huge collection of experts and professors on agricultural education come under one cover to discuss the future of agricultural education, and what must be done so that the professors of this still vital subject can give their students an updated outlook on the world around them and the demands placed on today's farms. Ethanol, new growing techniques, climate change, and much more are discussed, making "Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World" is an absolute must for any college administration collection.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Courage to be Present
Karen Kissel Wegela
Shambhala
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Naropa University (publicity)
2130 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302-6697
9781590306581, $24.95, www.shambhala.com

Buddhism, even if it isn't one's religion, has much to offer in psychology. "The Courage to be Present: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Awakening of Natural Wisdom" discusses Buddhist principles and how to apply them to psychotherapy. Karen Kissel Wegela is a disciple of both the science and the religion and uses her interest in both to provide many intriguing thoughts and ideas on the matter. Drawing on the noble truths of Buddhism, the Bodhisattva, and applying many other Buddhist elements, "The Courage to Be Present" is a strong pick for any who want another way to examine human nature.


The Gaming Shelf

The Rules of Winning Chess
Nigel Davies
Everyman Chess
c/o Globe Pequot
PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9781857445961, $26.95, www.everymanchess.com

Playing well is one thing, but winning is another. "The Rules of Winning Chess" is a chess guide that covers the simplest of goals in chess- victory. Nigel Davies seeks to give readers that instinct that lets them see through their opponents strategy and seize the win as if it were nothing. Covering the many stages of the game, preparing for the game when you're not actually playing it, and much more, Davies presents his strong experience for much insight. "The Rules of Winning Chess" is a top pick for anyone who wants the killer instinct for their game.

FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings
Paul van der Sterren
Gambit Publications Ltd.
99 Wallis Road, London E9 5LN, England
www.gambitbooks.com
info@gambitbooks.com
9781906454135, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Knowledgeably compiled by Paul van der Sterren (a Grand Master chess champion and twice winner of the Dutch Championship), "FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings" is a 448-page compendium dedicated solely to opening chess moves. Of special note are the detailed and insightful explanations of both the attacking and defending sides of an opening move. More than an extended catalog of moves for memorization by aspiring chess players, as well as thoroughly 'user friendly', "FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings" is as much about the philosophy, strategy and tactics of the opening move -- so fundamentally important for a successful game. Virtually every possible opening move is covered within the pages of "FCO: Fundamental Chess Openings", making it an absolutely ideal addition to personal and professional chess reference collections, and a highly recommended acquisition for academic and community libraries as well.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Madison's Avenue
Mike Brogan
Lighthouse Publishing
648 Woodland Birmingham, MI 48009
9780692006344, $19.95, www.Atlasbooks.com

Just a few hours after her father, CEO of a prosperous New York advertising agency, places a phone call to his daughter Madison, he's found dead. With her father's death Madison finds herself in charge of his Manhattan ad agency. She's also seems to have inherited his enemies as well. She feels certain that in the case of her father, the corporate ruthlessness in the dog-eat-dog of the advertising business had escalated to murder -- and she could share his fate if she's not careful! Deftly written by an undeniably talented author in the mystery/suspense genre, "Madison's Avenue is a riveting read from beginning to end. A roller-coaster ride of a thriller framed in the high powered world of advertising that ranges from contested boardroom conflicts over control, to the sunny beaches of the Caribbean, to the Cannes Ad Festival in the south of France, "Madison's Avenue" is especially recommended for community library fiction shelves. Also very highly recommended reading are Mike Brogan's two earlier novels: "Dead Air" (PublishAmerica, 9781413747003, $27.92) and "Business to Kill For" (Lighthouse Publishing, 9780615115702, $19.95).

Murder On Everest
Charles G. Irion & Ronald L. Watkins
Irion Books
c/o Next Set Public Relations
7020 East Chapparral Road, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
9780984161805, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Collaborative written by the team of Charles G. Irion and Ronald L. Watkins, "Murder On Everest" begins with the death of Derek Sodoc on the slopes of Mt. Everest. The question arises as to whether the son of a wealthy and powerful man was accidental -- or intentional. A riveting mystery replete with sex and betrayal, "Murder On Everest" is highly recommended reading is the first of Irion and Watkins' proposed "Summit Murder Series" of murder mysteries, each of which will take place on one of the world's highest mountains on the seven continents. Also vary highly recommended and a kind of prequel to this extraordinary mystery series is the non-fiction "Abandoned On Everest!" (9780984161812, $12.95) by Quentin Stern with the assistance of Irion and Watkins which is the true story of the death of Derek Sodoc.

In the Absence of Iles
Bill James
The Countryman Press
PO Box 748, 1206 VT Route 12, Woodstock, VT 05091
9780881508833, $23.95, www.countrymanpress.com

Undercover, your only friend is your wits. "In the Absence of Iles" is an English mystery as Assistant Chief Constable Esther Davidson worries about fellow ACC and fellow undercover officer Desmond Iles, who has failed to appear for scheduled appearances. An entertaining novel of undercover police and the hazards of not knowing who to trust, "In the Absence of Iles" is a fascinating read that will keep the reader guessing.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Kate Kingsbury's DECKED WITH FOLLY (9780425230015, $14.00) may have been intended as holiday mystery but deserves mention for year-round enjoyment, introducing the Pennyfoot Hotel, decked in holiday wonder when the season begins with disaster. Petty thievery is one thing, but when an employee is found dead in the duck pond, real trouble begins. Elaine Viets' THE FASHION HOUND MURDERS (9780451228420, $6.99) tells of a mystery shopper, mother and sleuth who finds danger in the world of canine fashion puppies when she's hired to check out a pet store's involvement with puppy mills. Danger evolves from a seemingly simple investigation. Laura Childs' EGGS BENEDICT ARNOLD (9780425231555, $7.99) provides a fine mystery revolving around breakfast and women who support each other in their own business. Three friends find their skills as sleuths come to life in this fine survey. Diana Killian's DIAL OM FOR MURDER (9780425227053, $6.99) tells of yoga students that stress teacher A.J., who is juggling numerous tensions between vicious rivals when murder enters the picture and involves her in a dangerous search for truth in rivalry. Lorna Barrett's BOOKPLATE SPECIAL (9780425231197, $7.99) tells of a mystery bookstore owner in a small New Hampshire town who finds her skills tested when an uninvited college roommate is found dead after eviction. Her roommate's mysterious death involves Tricia in a dangerous investigation. Linda O. Johnston's HOWL DEADLY (9780425231593, $7.99) tells of Kendra's weekend fling with a gorgeous millionaire that turns dangerous when a missing wolf from his wild animal sanctuary and a dead caretaker leads Kendra on another murder investigation. Judi McCoy's HEIR OF THE DOG (9780451228475, $6.99) presents another 'dog walker' mystery revolving around a professional dog walker who can also read dog minds, and who uses their talents to help track down a fellow dog lover's killer. Kathryn Lilley's MAKEOVERS CAN BE MURDER (9780451228260, $6.99) is set in North Carolina and tells of a plus-sized reporter who has to stick with her diet for an upcoming assignment about weight-loss scams - and who finds a friend's murder arouses her suspicions about a deadly dieter's attacks. Merline Lovelace's ALL THE WRONG MOVES (9780425231180, $6.99) tells of a lieutenant and her team who test gadgets for the military. Two dead bodies turn up - and when Sam's high-tech lab is torched she realizes murder may be the least of her problems. Miranda Bliss' MURDER HAS A SWEET TOOTH (9780425231609, $6.99) includes recipes and provides a cooking class mystery revolving around a former cooking instructor turned boss. Annie's efforts to keep her wedding plans in check are complicated when a lovely American becomes a murder victim. Wendy Roberts' DEAD AND KICKING (9780451228628, $6.99) tells of Sadie, who cleans up crime scenes for a living and finds herself face-to-face with the dead. Her gift of second sight can't always help her as she investigates an angry ghost and secrets that even the dead will kill to keep. Hannah Dennison's EXPOSE! (9780425231586, $6.99) is set in snail-racing season in the small town of Gipping-on-Plym and tells of an obituary writer, Vicki, who races to solve a mysterious death and uncovers a secret funeral mystery in the process. History comes to life in Maureen Ash's MURDER FOR CHRIST'S MASS (9780425231579, $7.99), a Templar Knight mystery contributing to a series. After eight years of captivity in the Holy Hand Templar Bascot de Marins finally escapes and is coming home for the holidays - only to find a mystery awaits his attention. Margaret Frazer's A PLAY OF TREACHERY (9780425223338, $7.99) also brings history to life as it surveys Joliffe, who is sent along to France in the middle of war in the winter of 1436. He's to be a servant to a duchess - but his real mission is to train as a spy, where he finds murder and dangerous awaits. All are top picks for any mystery library's paperback section.

The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food & Friendship
Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
Harper
c/o Harper Collins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061992193, $24.99 www.harpercollins.com

The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food & Friendship is a novel of loyalty, loss and more that blends a 'novel cookbook' format with the story of friendship. Over 80 recipes are included in this story of lifelong friends who write intimate letters sharing their dreams, hopes and favorite dishes alike. Cooks who like novels will love this.

Winter of Secrets
Vicki Delany
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590586761, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

WINTER OF SECRETS provides a satisfying constable Molly Smith novel as it tells of siblings and friends enjoying a two-week vacation of skiing, drinking, drugs and sex when tragedy strikes. Two constables summoned to the scene of a car accident find what seems simple turns into a murder case - and involves them in circumstances far beyond their usual small-town experiences. Fine intrigue evolves.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collecting Sports Legends
Joe Orlando
Zyrus Press Inc.
PO Box 17810, Irvine, CA 92623
www.zyruspress.com
9781933990217, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Sports card collecting as been an enduringly popular hobby since their advent in the mid-19th century down to the present age. A 376-page compendium, "Collecting Sports Legends" author Joe Orlando provided insightful commentaries while showcasing more than 375 sports cards, some of them truly legendary, many of them extremely valuable, and all of them memorable ephemeria in celebration of outstanding athletes in their chosen fields of sport. Superbly and profusely illustrated throughout out, "Collecting Sports Legends" begins with an informative introduction, 'Ten Tips for Building a Collection', and 'Cardboard Classics: A Look Inside the Top 250 Sportscards in the Hobby'. Then this fascinating repository launches into Orlando's ranking of the twenty most important cards, following grouping sports cards into their own separate categories of baseball, basketball, football, hockey, boxing, golf, and miscellaneous. The next section is 'Building a Dream: A Look at Collecting the Top 30 complete Sets in the Hobby' by Brian Bigelow; 'Collecting Sports Autographs' by Rob Rosen; and 'The Top 100 Autographs in the Hobby' by Steve Grad. More informative sections by Joe Orlando follow including 'Legendary Lumber: A Look at Collecting Game-Used Bats'; The Top 40 Game-Used Bats in the Hobby'; 'Collecting Sports Tickets'; 'Top 15 Sports Tickets in the Hobby'; and 'Tempting Treasures: A Look at Collecting Unopened Packs'. Of special note is the concluding section, 'The Tope 25 Unopened Packs in the Hobby' by Steve Hart. Informed and informative, certain to be a popular addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Antique/Collectibles reference collections, "Collecting Sports Legends" is a 'must' for the novice sports collector and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced and dedicated sports collecting enthusiast. Above all else, "Collecting Sports Legends' is a terrific browse for anyone who has ever laid claim to a sports card collection of their own!


The Photography Shelf

Bear Portraits
Jill Greenberg
Little, Brown
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316031882, $26.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

BEAR PORTRAITS comes from a celebrity portrait photographer who works for such clients as Dreamworks and Sony Pictures, and who here provides a collection of outstanding photos used in Animal Planet's ad campaign, billboards, and more. Striking full-page color photos of bear close-ups capture amazing expressions and offer poses and facial expressions both striking and unique. Photography and natural history libraries will find this a popular patron leisure browse.

New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com

David duChemin's VISIONMONGERS: MAKING A LIFE AND A LIVING IN PHOTOGRAPHY (0321670205, $44.99) is for any who want to make the move into vocational photography, discussing where to begin, lessons photographer David duChemin learned, and sharing ideas and inspiration to help readers create their own path to prosperity. Unlike books that provide a 'one step for all' program, VISIONMONGERS encourages readers to develop their own unique vision and style. Ralph A. Clevenger's PHOTOGRAPHING NATURE (0321637542, $44.99) packs in over two decades of nature photography instruction in a course for any who would learn from a professional. From themes and techniques key to mastering nature photos to four-color spreads used as examples for achieving professional goals, this is packed with colorful, revealing works. Photography libraries will find both these books exceptional picks.

Rocky Nook
26 W. Mission St. #3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
www.rockynook.com

Harald Woeste's MASTERING DIGITAL PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY (9781933952451, $34.95) offers new possibilities for creative photographers including 3D spaces using the new panorama software to streamline processes. From capturing panoramas to stitching them together, editing and printing them, descriptions of hardware and software tools alike provide all the basics. Photography libraries will also relish Harald Mante's PHOTOGRAPHY UNPLUGGED (1933952474, $49.95) comes from a prestigious modern German photographer who began as a travel photographer and later applied photography to the Bauhaus design tradition. This catalog represents his works and offers a purer approach to photography, untouched by digital editing tools. Mante's photos on Kodachrome slide films offers ideas for beginners to advanced photographers and makes for a fine pick for any photography library. Also recommended is Michael E. Stern's BUILD A BETTER PHOTOGRAPH: A DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO CREATIVITY (9781933952185, $34.95), a survey of the steps involved in the initial development of a picture idea. Michael Stern examines his own process and how it has improved 3D scanning, compositing, and more. How do photographers get their ideas and how do they blend ideas into polished results? Actual assignments reinforce these discussions.

Professional Commercial Photography
Lou Jacobs Jr.
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781584282693, $34.95 www.AmherstMedia.com

Professional Commercial Photography provides a guide for commercial photographers who would master images in a range of disciplines, from fashion to architecture. From insights on product and advertising photography to running a more profitable commercial photo business, this offers techniques and images from a range of top photographers, making for an outstanding and diverse presentation.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Steve Weinrebe's IRREVERENT PHOTO TOOLS FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (1598639951, $29.99) shows amateur and professional photographers how to use inexpensive, readily available tools to shoot and edit pictures. From tools for use in the field and studio to locating inexpensive equipment and using professional tricks to create fine results, this is packed with fine color photo examples throughout. Also key to any photography library or general collection is David Busch and Dan Simon's QUICK SNAP GUIDE TO PHOTO GEAR (1598634542, $29.99) offers coverage of gadgets and accessories needed to explore new options in photography. These gadgets have been arranged into chapters that lend to browsing and cover everything from tripods to flashes and memory cards - with information on recommended buys and uses. Color photos throughout enhance the book's usefulness.

Inside Lightroom 2
Richard Earney
Focal Press
30 Corporate Dr #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240811420, $34.95 www.focalpress.com

Any photographer or library catering to them will find essential this new book on Lightroom, telling how to reach new levels in Lightroom applications. Images pack in details on how to modify and calibrate images and how to use the most advanced features of Lightroom, from presets and customization techniques to file management and development workflows. Libraries will find this a winner, packed with explicit details.

Vladmir Malakhov
H.F. Ullman
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
www.langenscheidt.com
9780841659001, $69.99, www.amazon.com

Born in Krivoy Rog in the eastern Ukraine in 1968, Vladimir Malakhov started his training in ballet when he was just four years old. At the age of ten he joined the Choreographic Academy of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. He became the youngest soloist at the Moscow Classical Ballet in 1986 and in the years that followed, Malakhov dances at the Vienna State Opera Ballet; the National Ballet of Canada; the Stuttgart Ballet, and the American Ballet Theater (Metropolitan Opera, New York). In 2004 Malakhov became the Artistic Director for the Berlin State Ballet. A position that he still holds today. Noted for the power, elegance, precision, and suppleness of his consistently impressive performances, Malakhov was extensively photographed by Dieter Blume who was give express and unique permission to photograph Malakhov and his fellow dancers in the nude and thereby presenting to the reader an unusually accurate and striking perspectives on their body movements. Of special note is that the quadrilingual text section is in English, Germany, French, and Spanish. All this and more are superbly presented in the iconic images comprising the 264-page compendium that is "Vladimir Malakhov". While the popular 'coffee-table' edition is appropriate for and highly recommended to academic and community library Photography and Dance History collections, dedicated fans of Vladamir Malakhov might well consider Ullman's 'Collector Edition ($500.00) and even their very special 'Art Edition' ($2000.00) of his seminal work.

Picture Perfect: The Story of Black's Photography
Robert Black
Gooselane
330-500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton, NB Canada E3B 5X4
9780864925411, $29.95, www.gooselane.com

Some people do good business. Some people change business. "Picture Perfect: The Story of Black's Photography" tells the story of how a small Canadian business spiraled out from simply being another photography store to changing the way pictures were taken with higher quality film and better ways to process them. Any serious film photography knows what Blacks is, and "The Story of Black's Photography" is a fine history of the company.


The Genealogy Shelf

How To Write Your Personal & Family History
Keith E. Banks
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
www.heritagebooks.com
9781556131431, $23.50, www.amazon.com

Originally published in 1984, this new photomechanical reprint edition of Keith Banks invaluable instruction guide "How To Write Your Personal & Family History: A Resource Manual" continues to be an ideal reference for the non-specialist general reader wanting to record their personal and/or family history. Replete with creative and practical ways to compile and incorporate records, keep a journal, conduct and transcribe oral histories, "How To Write Your Personal & Family History" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' 242-page compendium of commentary, advice, tips, strategies, ideas, and insights that will enable anyone to produce a quality historical record. Informed and informative, "How To Write Your Personal & Family History" is enhanced with photos, charts, sample documents, making it a highly recommended addition to personal and community library Genealogical Studies reference collections. It is also an especially useful addition to the personal reading list of anyone considering writing a biography of themselves or a family member.


The Language Studies Shelf

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is a seminal source of materials for the study of Latin. Two of their newest contributions include John Henderson's "A Plautus Reader: Selections from Eleven Plays" (97808651666943, $19.00) and Victoria E. Pagan's "A Sallust Reader: Selections from Bellum Catilinae, Bellum Iugurthinum, and Historiae" (9780865166875, $19.00). The comedic playwright Plautus and the Roman historian Sallust are significant in studying the culture and history of Rome and serve as ideal sources in the study of Latin for modern students. Enhanced with grammatical and historical notes, maps and photos, and vocabulary, both "A Plautus Reader" and "A Sallust Reader" will prove invaluable additions to personal, professional, and academic library Latin Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Biography Shelf

Inklings
Jeffrey Koterba
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston, Ma 02116
9780151014927, $25.00 www.hmhpub.com

INKLINGS: A MEMOIR comes from a nationally syndicated political cartoonist and musician who offers insights into his difficult childhood and its influence on this eventual success. His struggle to escape his background and follow his art makes for a powerful memoir blending family and art worlds in a pick for any general lending library.

I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir
Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil
Touchstone Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9780743252164, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir offers a powerful memoir by punk rocker Joey Ramone's brother Mickey Leigh and fellow punk rocker Legs McNeil. His story of growing up with a rock star in New York provides insights into how the star developed, his crippling psychological disorder, and the fighting and issues that affected The Ramones and kept them from reaching as high as they might have in the rock music world. A highly charged, fascinating survey.

The Leakeys
Mary Bowman-Kruhm
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781591027614, $17.00, www.amazon.com

The Leakey family has had a singular and distinctive influence in anthropology unlike any other. From Louis and Mary Leakey's discoveries in the Olduvai Gorge over some 24 years of exploration and excavation (the culmination of which was the 1.8-million-year-old skull of an anthropoid ancestor of the human race), to their son Richard and his wife Meave's discoveries in the Rift Valley, to their granddaughter's explorations in northern Kenya, the collective contributions of the Leaky family have contributed more than anyone else to our understanding of human evolution. Now Mary Bowman-Kruhm has written a superb biography of this remarkable family in "The Leakeys", a 183-page survey of their private lives and professional accomplishments. Informed and informative, this deftly written family biography is especially appropriate for and recommended to school and community library Biography reference collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the anthropological inquiries into the origins of homo sapiens on the continent of Africa.

King
Ho Che Anderson
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
9781606993101, $34.99, www.fantagraphics.com

The life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has truly captivated readers like nothing else. "King" is a compilation of graphic novels as author and artist Ho Che Anderson compiled the volume following the life of Dr. King and the chaos and problems that boiled over in his life, offering unique perspective on the man who stood strongly for racial equality in America, and criticizes how little we've come in the decades following his death. Packaged with a tale of modern race relations in 'Black Dogs', "King" is a fine read for anyone seeking a new interpretation of the man and his life.

The King and Dr. Nick
George Nichopoulos
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781595551719, $24.99, www.thomasnelson.com

Fame has its toll. "The King and Dr. Nick: What Really Happened to Elvis and Me" is the story of the famous or infamous Dr. George Nichopoulos, or Dr. Nick, the doctor for Rock and Roll Legend Elvis Presley. Nichopoulos, with the help of Rose Clayton Phillips, offers stories of how he worked with Presley over the years and the health toll Presley took as he answered a house call and began a ten year friendship with the King. Hoping clear his name when it was sullied by Presley's death, "The King and Dr. Nick" is a fine and fascinating read, well worth the read for another perspective on Elvis.

To Kill a Tiger
Jid Lee
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590202661, $25.95, www.overlookpress.com

The political sundering of Korea by no means was a simple split. "To Kill a Tiger" is by author Jid Lee's words, not just a memoir of herself, but a memoir of Korea, torn apart by the last six decades of a harsh standoff that started with a vicious war. Looking towards the beginning of the conflict, she focuses on the social change of the time, where in spite of the harsh conflict, people still wanted nothing more out of the world than to simply survive and live their lives. Discussing everything from the Japanese occupation in the first half of the twentieth century and forward, "To Kill a Tiger" is a fascinating and informative read that should not be ignored.

A Critic's Journey
Ilan Stavans
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472033829, $24.95, www.press.umich.edu

A part of both, a part of neither. "A Critic's Journey" is the autobiographical memoir of Ilan Stavans as he reflects on his status in life as a Hispanic Jew, a man who has viewed a whole array of culture from many perspectives. Stating how he became a critic of literature and his unique view of Jewish matters, classical literature, and more, his memoir has much to enjoy and offers many original ideas that readers will ponder on. "A Critic's Journey" is a simple, frank, and highly recommended read.


The International Studies Shelf

Shanghai: China's Gateway To Modernity
Marie-Claire Bergere, author
Janet Lloyd, translator
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804749053, $29.95, www.amazon.com

In "Shanghai: China's Gateway To Modernity", author and China scholar Marie-Claire Bergere provides a detailed history of this significant Chinese port city from its first access to Western trade in 1842 down to the present day. From its beginnings as a treaty port, through its soaring prosperity following the 1911 Revolution, through the decimation of the Japanese invasion in 1937, to its post-war travails under Communism, the focus is on the relationship between the Chinese and the Westerners, upon a culture that is the product of Chinese culture as influenced by western ideas as embodies in a vibrant, complex, reform minded urban city perched on the edge of mainland China. Informed and informative, "Shanghai: China's Gateway To Modernity" is a model of impeccable scholarship. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive Notes, a substantial Bibliography, and a comprehensive Index, "Shanghai: China's Gateway To Modernity" is an invaluable and strongly recommended addition to academic library International Studies reference collections in general, and Chinese History supplemental reading lists in particular.


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

As the editor of 'The Collins Complete Woodworker' and a dedicated Civil War reenactor, A. J. Hamler brings a very special expertise to "Civil War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for Woodworkers and Reenactors". This profusely illustrated 160-page compendium of authentic Civil Ear era woodworking projects opens with two chapters dedicated to providing an informed and informative overview by defining authenticity with respect to the Civil War in terms of reenactments and 'period correct' projects, then surveying the tools, techniques, materials needed to insure historic accuracy. The projects themselves range from benches, crates, ammunition boxes, and a folding camp table, to a bucksaw, folding camp stool, and an officer's field desk. Of special note is the chapter devoted to games. Enhanced with period photography, a bibliography, thematically appropriate web sites, and a useful source list for materials and hardware, "Civil War Woodworking: 17 Authentic Projects for Woodworkers and Reenactors" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and professional woodworking reference collections, and will prove of immense interest to Civil War buffs as well.


The Economics Shelf

The Genius of the Beast
Howard Bloom
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027546, $29.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism tells of how global society has just begin to realize its full potential, arguing that there's a hidden mandate beneath capitalism - one that can lead to a better next-generation economy and more effective individual leadership and power. More than eighty short, fast chapters offer bursts of insights as they survey human history and a new way to view Western civilization and economic growth alike. College-level collections in particular will relish this.

The Backchannel
Cliff Atkinson
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321659511, $34.99 www.newriders.com

The Backchannel: How Audiences Are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever comes from a communications consultant who shows how to embrace new communications methods - and how to recognize common pitfalls that frustrate audiences in the process. Presenters must learn to manage the 'backchannel' and blend this into their business communications: THE BACKCHANNEL tells how, covering the basics of social communications using new media.

Friends with Benefits
Darren Barefoot and Julie Szabo
No Starch Press
555 Deharo St. #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271992, $24.95 www.nostarch.com

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS: A SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING BOOK provides a powerful survey packed with tips and real-world case studies, explaining how to connect with potential customers and how to use a website to support a social media marketing campaign. From tracking marketing campaigns to using viral videos and Twitter, this packs in smart keys to online marketing strategies.

Capitalism Hits the Fan
Richard D. Wolf
Olive Branch Press
c/o Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567848, $18.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

Capitalism needs a bit of maintenance now and again. "Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About it" discusses the recent financial crises which have turned into depression. Richard D. Wolff offers his own thoughts and ideas on how to combat these recent troubles with original and well thought out solutions. With scholarly thought and research, those pondering a way out of the crisis, "Capitalism Hits the Fan" is a worthy read for those who often put thought into the country's economic problems.


The Gardening Shelf

Right Rose Right Place
Peter Schneider
Story Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603424387, $29.95 www.storey.com

RIGHT ROSE RIGHT PLACE: 359 PERFECT CHOICES comes from a rose expert who understands what roses like and do not like and what makes them successful. From roses that thrive in specific regional conditions to how best to adapt garden designs to suit them, RIGHT ROSE RIGHT PLACE is packed with photos and practical advice that takes the guesswork out of selecting the right variety.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide
Danny Plyler and Chad Seibert
Betterway
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1558708839, $19.99 www.fwmedia.com

The Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Training Guide: Techniques for Fitness, Self Defense & Competition offers cardio and strength training exercises, striking and defense postures, wrestling techniques and drills to improve punching, kicking and more. From mental exercises to physical strength, this is for any warrior fighter or library catering to them and is packed with specifics suitable for at-home use.


The Military Shelf

Operation Phantom Fury
Dick Camp
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760336984, $30.00 www.zenithpress.com

In November 2004 a joint US-Iraqi force of thousands moved against insurgents in Fallujah to eliminate some of the area's most 'hardcore' insurgents and restore peace. Code-named Operation Phantom Fury, this offensive turned out to be lethal urban combat - and its history and processes are chartered here in Operation Phantom Fury: The Assault and Capture of Fallujah, Iraq, for any military library strong in modern combat.

Loose Cannons
Graeme Donald
Osprey
400 Hahn Road, Westminster, MD 21157
9781846033773, $16.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

LOOSE CANNONS: 101 MYTHS, MISHAPS AND MISADVENTURES OF MILITARY HISTORY exposes many long-held myths about military leaders and operations, from the idea that Hitler was a vegetarian obsessed by the occult to the invention of the 'Mau-Mau' organization and the fact that the Japanese were trying to complete their own nuclear warhead when the Americans beat them. An outstanding trivia fact book for any military library.

Vanished Armies
A.E. Haswell Miller, Edited by John Mollo
Shire Publications
44-02 - 23rd St, Suite 219, Long Island City NY 11101
9780747807391, $35.00 www.shirebooks.co.uk

VANISHED ARMIES: A RECORD OF MILITARY UNIFORM OBSERVED AND DRAWN IN VARIOUS EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DURING THE YEARS 1907 TO 1914 offers a collection painted in the early 1900s by author A.E. Haswell Miller, a Scottish artist and army officer fascinated by military dress. It appears in print for the first time and provides a collection of watercolors and notes key to any military history collection.


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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