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California Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 8 August 2009 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Audiobook Shelf Art Shelf
Architecture Shelf Photography Shelf Computer Shelf
Nautical Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Biography Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Education Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Gardening Shelf Business Shelf
Political Science Shelf Social Issues Shelf Agricultural Shelf
Native American Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Gaming Shelf
Science Shelf Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Travel Shelf Railroading Shelf Music Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Military Shelf
Automotive Shelf California Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Monty Hall Problem
Jason Rosenhouse
Oxford University Press
198 Madison, New York NY 10016
9780195367898, $24.95 www.oup.com

THE MONTY HALL PROBLEM: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF MATH'S MOST CONTENTIOUS BRAIN TEASER follows one of the most interesting mathematical brain teasers of modern times, and uses a surprising minimum of math concepts in the process. Any interested in puzzle challenges - which ranges from college-level libraries strong in math to general-interest holdings - will find this a lively review of basic math problems and philosophy alike.

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream
Wade Rouse
Harmony Books
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, NY, NY 10019-4305
www.crownpublishing.com
9780307451903, $23.99, www.amazon.com

General-interest libraries strong in humor and autobiography will find plenty of patron attention devoted to the catchy cover and title of At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, a collection of misadventures about a city man who decides to live a simpler existence in the country. Wade and his partner Gary leave culture for rural Michigan - and find themselves battling forces of nature they never imagined. A warm look at what it really means to live a simple life.

South Park Guide to Life
Trey Parker and Matt Stone
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762435708, $12.95 www.runningpress.com

The SOUTH PARK GUIDE TO LIFE is a fine pick for any fans of the cartoon series and many a newcomer: it surveys the wacky, zany world of South park's TV culture and offers one-page vignettes and color cartoons commenting on (and slamming) life. Any fan of the series will find this a fine gift choice.

Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity
Hugh MacLeod
Portfolio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9781591842590, $23.95, www.amazon.com

In 2004 author Hugh MacLeod posted a manifesto on his popular blog about being more creative in business: more than a million people downloaded it. Now it's a book - Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity - and it offers new ideas on how to task successful risks in a new cynical business world. From locating new sources of creative inspiration to applying them to life, it's a book no business - or business library - can afford to ignore.

Titanium eBay, second edition
Skip McGrath
Alpha/Pearson Education
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
9781592578429, $24.95 www.penguin.com

The second updated edition of a powerful guide to 'powerselling' on eBay is a 'must' for any business library catering to internet sellers. It shows how to manage products, price them, understanding wholesale and resale prices, and grow seller ratings on eBay's system. It's more than the competing 'tips and hints' books - it offers a formula for success from start-up to advanced tactics, creating a virtual game plan of powerful techniques in a series of critical 'must know' steps. Highly recommended!

The Talent Code
Daniel Coyle
Bantam
9780553806847, $25.00 www.bantamdell.com

THE TALENT CODE: GREATNESS ISN'T BORN. IT'S GROWN. HERE'S HOW provides parents, coaches and teachers keys to growing talent by tapping into the latest brain research. The latest in neurology and surveys of key successful people and pathways offers tips on motivation, igniting passion, and using coaching secrets to get ahead. An outstanding, inspirational survey, this is a highly recommended pick for any lending library.

Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human
Richard Wrangham
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465013623, $26.95 www.basicbooks.com

CATCHING FIRE maintains that the innovation of cooking food - learning how to unleash and control energy - made possible the development of the human mind itself, and it offers chapters of insights into this idea's implications for the modern raw food movement, diet industry, and more. Social science blends well with an analysis of cooking and its impact, making this a top pick for both general-interest culinary collections and college-level social science holdings.

Wonders of the Indian Wilderness
Erach Bharucha
Abbeville Press
137 Varick St., Suite 504, NY, NY 10019-1105
9780789209993, $185.00 www.abbeville.com

Over 800 pages of content and a fine slipcase accompanies a weighty title deserving ongoing recommendation and 'must have' status for any library serious about India's wildlife and wilderness areas. Relatively few books cover India's diversity - yet, it's one of the most amazing natural areas on the planet. That's why such an extensive volume is a unique and top pick for any library, packing in over 2,000 color images of the extent of India's geography and natural regions and pairing this with discussions of the plants and animals the author has encountered on his travels through over eighty of these areas.


The Audiobook Shelf

First Family
David Baldacci
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com
9781600245459, $29.98, www.amazon.com

Ron McLarty is an actor and author whose voice has moved many audio audiences, and is the perfect pick to narrate the gripping saga FIRST FAMILY, revolving around a daring kidnapping at a Presidential birthday party at Camp David. Politics, espionage, and mystery permeate a wonderful, gripping story.

Loitering with Intent
Stuart Woods
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780143144519, $29.95 www.penguin.com

Tony Roberts has appeared on many a Broadway stage and here lends a smooth and solid voice to a story of one Stone, hired to do some Florida P.I. work which involves him in dangerous circles of drugs and death. A fine story of intrigue and drama, and a perfect pick for audio libraries strong in mystery and suspense.

Dragonheart
Anne McCaffrey and Todd McCaffrey, authors
Emily Durante, narrator
Brilliance Audio
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
142337326X, $39.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Emily Durante provides a fine seasoned narrative voice to accompany the latest Pern chronicle DRAGONHEART, where sickness looms over the fire-lizards and offers a threat to their dragon cousins. A girl just coming of age may be the key to saving the dragons from death and the planet from destruction in this thrilling fantasy, recommended for any prior enthusiast of McCaffrey's dragon world.


The Art Shelf

Bigger, Better, More: The Art of Viola Frey
Davira Taragin, Patterson Sims, Susan Jeffries
Racine Art Museum
c/o Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953058, $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Viola Frey began her life work in ceramics but became a painter, sculptor and photographer, blending her mediums and finding inspiration in flea-market castoffs and curiosities. She made a name for herself, artistically and politically, in Northern California's art community during the later part of the 20th century and is famous for her large-scale figures blending pop culture icons and art. This monograph accompanies a Racine Art Museum exhibition but stands alone well as a powerful tribute to Frey's diverse achievements.

Classic Flash in 5 Bold Colors
Jeromey 'Tilt' McCulloch
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764331657, $25.00 www.schifferbooks.com

Traditional American tattooing has a long heritage and is actually a form of folk art, blending design motifs and themes that reflect the artist and those who choose them. CLASSIC FLASH IN 5 BOLD COLORS comes from the author's study of renowned American tattoo artists and uses the five basic component colors - black, red, yellow, green and brown - to provide a new interpretation of their styles. Classic designs by the author blend with collaborative images with other tattoo designers in a fine presentation of over 600 flash designs. Any library strong in tattoo art will find this a fine survey in full color.

Rediscovering Slobodkina
Sandra Kraskin
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953126, $60.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Esphyr Slobodkina is best known for her children's book illustrations but in fact was a pioneer in the world of abstract art as well. REDISCOVERING SLOBODKINA: A PIONEER OF AMERICAN ABSTRACTION focuses on the wider breath of her works and influence, pairing analytical essays and full-page color portraits of these works with biographical background in a survey highly recommended for any serious arts library; particularly those strong in American art history.


The Architecture Shelf

101 Houses: Modern Designs for Contemporary Living
Cathy Strongman
Merrell Publishers
9781858944692, $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Cathy Strongman's 100 HOUSES: MODERN DESIGNS FOR CONTEMPORARY LIVING provides a rich sourcebook of modern private houses of all styles form around the world, displaying a range of settings, design options and challenges, and both exterior and interior features. A visual treat, it's perfect for any arts library strong in interior design and architecture.


The Photography Shelf

The Unguarded Moment
Steve McCurry
Phaidon
180 Varick St, New York NY 10014
9780714846644, $59.95 www.phaidon.com

THE UNGUARDED MOMENT is a top pick for both arts libraries and college-level holdings strong in world cultures and images. It captures, in full color on oversized pages, the daily portraits and scenes of people around the world, collecting the photographer author's best works from over thirty years. The oversized, full-page format makes for an unparalleled presentation highly recommended.

Speedlights & Speedlites
Lou Jones, Bob Kenan, Steve Ostrowski
Focal Press
30 Corporate #400, Burlington MA 01803
9780240812076, $34.95 www.focalpress.com

Every digital photographer knows how vast the difference between the old print camera and the new ones, but few may realize an equally dramatic evolution in lighting has taken place - from flash to speedlight. Speedlights look like the old portable flashes but are so much more, and SPEEDLIGHTS & SPEEDLITES: CREATIVE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY AT LIGHTSPEED is an outstanding survey of their capabilities. Three professional photographers cover the basics and pack images and diagrams with how-to tips on lighting set-ups and the best uses of speedlight units. Simply invaluable.

The Dam Book
Peter Krogh
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596523572, $49.99 www.oreilly.com

THE DAM BOOK: DIGITAL ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS is a powerful digital photography coverage in its updated second edition covering the foundations of photography asset management, from how to file and protect to how to re-use photos. From creating order in a large image collection to understanding image file manipulation and storage, using directory strategies, and naming files, THE DAM BOOK should be in any photographer's library.

Master Guide for Photographing High School Seniors
Dave Wacker, et.al.
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo NY 14226
9781584282525, $34.95 www.AmherstMedia.com

Learn how to take professional-quality photos of seniors using the latest sets and image concepts reflecting the latest styles. High school seniors change radically in styles and appearance depending on the year's trends: this book offers tips on creating a marketing campaign that will appeal to seniors and offers techniques for personalizing images to suit individuals. A top recommendation.

Getting Started with Camera Raw, second edition
Ben Long
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley CA 94710
0321592131, $39.99 www.peachpit.com

This second updated edition of a classic on how to make better photos using Photoshop and Photoshop Elements provides keys to understanding the basics of how a digital camera captures and stores data. Camera Raw is different from working with the usual JPEG image file: this covers basic editing techniques for Camera raw and tells how to use the histogram to improve images. Any serious Photoshop user needs this specific guide.


The Computer Shelf

Beautiful Security
Andy Oram & John Viega
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol CA 95472
9780596527488, $39.99 www.oreilly.com

BEAUTIFUL SECURITY: LEADING SECURITY EXPERTS EXPLAIN HOW THEY THINK provides a collection of essays on digital security and comes from experts who explain how social networking and other popular trends hurt online security efforts - and how to design new networks around these trends. Analysis of criminal attempts and logic patterns offer network security libraries a solid set of case histories and examples of how to build better security measures. Highly recommended.

Joomla! 1.5: A User's Guide, second edition
Barrie M. North
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.pearsoned.com
0137012314, $44.99 www.informat.com/ph

Advanced libraries catering to web developers will find the second updated edition of Joomla! 1.5: A User's Guide is a winner, showing how to build sophisticated websites that can be easily edited and updated with Joomla! Site managers both experienced with and new to Joomla! Will find here a fine step-by-step guide to the entire process, from managing content and building Joomla sites from scratch to working with its advanced features and creating dynamic results. A 'must' for any Joomla programmer or computer library catering to them.

Learn to Program, second edition
Chris Pine
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
1934356360, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The fully updated, revised second edition of LEARN TO PROGRAM teaches how to program and begins with small, simple on-line programs. Beginners will appreciate both the easy, lighthearted approach and an edition that blends suggestions from prior readers around the world to make concepts even clearer, with updated examples to use the latest version of Ruby. It's the perfect starting point for any would-be programmer and any library catering to them.

Professional Excel Development, second edition
Rob Bovey, et.al.
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.awprofessional.com
0321508793, $59.99 www.informit.com/aw

Four top Microsoft Excel developers offer guidance for building secure applications using Excel in the second updated edition of PROFESSIONAL EXCEL DEVELOPMENT, making for a top pick for any Excel library catering to intermediate and advanced Excel programmers. From designing better worksheets and using both built-in and add-on options to using the new Ribbon interface and utilizing XML within Excel, this packs in integrated solutions and is a top pick for any computer collection catering to either business managers or Excel programmers.

ESRI Map Book, v. 23
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 02378-8100
9781589481930, $24.95 www.esri.com

From Alcohol Impact Area Maps to aquifer mappings, ArcGIS analysis maps for various regions, and health and human services maps, this map book offers a subject-oriented chapter listing of ArcGIS-created maps specially to support statistics in areas ranging from natural resources to tourism and military and defense purposes. Any college-level holding strong in social issues, geography, and mapping potentials must have this collection.

MCTS: Windows Server 2008 70-642 Q&A
Pierre Askmo
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
1598638963, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

Any studying for the new MCTS exam will find this a key acquisition. It includes a practice exam on software and offered a guided course for certification, from sample questions and tests to step-by-step instructions for successful test-taking strategies and tips on review questions. Any taking the exam and any library catering to them must have this extensive review.

Creating Hollywood Style Movies with Adobe Premiere Elements 7
Paul Ekert and Carl Plumer
Peachpit Press
1249 - 4th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321606213, $53.99 www.peachpit.com

Use the basic Adobe Premiere Elements program and add a professional look to movies using Creating Hollywood Style Movies with Adobe Premiere Elements 7, a survey of the basics using step-by-step project examples to producing professional results. From syncing clips and matching audio to video to adding music, creating scrolling titles, and animating and cropping to create illusions and special effects, Creating Hollywood Style Movies with Adobe Premiere Elements 7 is a 'must' for any who would use the program to produce movies.


The Nautical Shelf

The West Coast of Vancouver Island
Anne & Laurence Yeadon-Jones
Harbour Publishing
Box 219, Maderia Park, BC, Canada V0N 2HO
1550174452, $49.95, www.harborpublihsing.com

V. 6 of the 'Dreamspeaker Cruising Guide' is for any who would sail off Vancouver Island. It's a specific take-along or trip-planning guide for sailors intended to compliment official hydrographic charts and offers hand-drawn shoreline plans of marinas, small boat anchorages, marine parks and more. Charts and specific tips make for an invaluable take-along cruiser's guide.

Essential Sailing Destinations
Adrian Morgan, Editor
Sheridan House
145 Palisade St. Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092813, $34.95 www.sheridanhouse.com

ESSENTIAL SAILING DESTINATIONS: THE WORLD'S MOST SPECTACULAR CRUISING AREAS offers a richly illustrated survey of great sailing destinations, packing color photos with text entries from world-renowned boating writers who speak of their experiences sailing to the destination. From the Mediterranean to the bays of the East Coast, each entry includes a lively 'I did this' story plus a locator map and cruising information. Maps and color-coded details make this a fantastic survey for both leisure general lending library readers and serious nautical libraries alike.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

In The Wild
Jinny Johnson
Thunder Bay Press
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92121
1592239552, $32.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

This interactive book/foldout world map/audio kit is a perfect pick for parents seeking to teach kids at home. IN THE WILD is a box kit holding a 60-page color guide to over 80 animals, with a foldout map that lights up to show the regions endangered animals inhabit and animal sounds completing the effects. Highly recommended for any parent/child learning environment, it's an invaluable - and unique - nature tool!

Functional Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, fourth edition
William O. Reece
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148
9780813814513, $70.00 www.wiley.com

The fourth updated edition of Functional Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals integrates different approaches to domestic animal anatomy from the microscopic level upwards, considering connections between species, systems, and expanded coverage of avian topics. Over 350 illustrations - many new or revised for this edition - makes for a top pick for any college-level library appealing to veterinary students.

The Last Refuge
Lois Anne Bucci
Dorrance
701 Smithfield St., 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9780805971200, $9.00 www.dorrancepress.com

The Last Refuge was an ordinary suburban neighborhood until one day in early spring two Cooper's hawks built a nest there - a nest that united a neighborhood and brought joy to many. Black and white photos of the natural setting, the raptors, and discussions of the neighbors who loved the hawks make for a gentle, wonderful discussion.

Dressage School: A Sourcebook of Movement and Tips
Britta Scoffmann
Trafalgar Square Books
Box 257, Howe Hill Road, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
9781570764110, $29.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com

DRESSAGE SCHOOL is for any horse owner or library catering to them, and offers a blend of diagrams, color photos and written description demonstrated by Olympian rider Isabell Werth. The 'what, how and why' of dozens of dressage movements are explored in detail, making for a handbook that's a 'must' for any serious horse rider.

Turtles of the United States and Canada, second edition
Carl H. Ernst and Jeffrey E. Lovich
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801891212, $95.00 www.press.jhu.edu

Any college-level natural sciences library serious about turtles must have this substantially revised, updated second edition of the classic reference Turtles of the United States and Canada. New species names supplements color photos charts, maps, and more in an extensive, detailed reference that is a 'must' for any definitive library.

The Travails of Two Woodpeckers
Noel F.R. Snyder, et al.
University of New Mexico Press
MCS04 2820, 1 Univ of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826346643, $27.95 www.unmpress.com

THE TRAVAILS OF TWO WOODPECKERS: IVORY-BILLS & IMPERIALS is a top pick for any college-level library strong in natural history. Deserving of ongoing recommendation and selection, it comes from a team of biologists (Noel F.R. Snyder, David R. Brown, Kevin B. Clark) who examine how the extinction of these two birds offer lessons on conservation and human interactions with the environment. Human impacts on these birds' extinctions, especially hunting, offer different viewpoints on what leads to the demise of species and is key for any library strong in ecology or natural history issues.


The Cookbook Shelf

Traditional Indian Cooking in South Africa
Ramola Parbhoo
Struik
c/o International Publisher's Marketing
Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
www.struik.co.za
9781770076563, $23.50, www.amazon.com

Traditional Indian Cooking in South Africa provides many regional adaptations on Indian cooking that aren't to be found in competing cookbooks, from Potato Noodles served as snacks to Green Peppers Stuffed with Mince and Hot Buttermilk Gravy. An outstanding pairing of recipes and color photos.

The Birthday Cake Book
Dede Wilson
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St. Boston MA 02118
9781558323827, $19.95 www.harvardcommonpress.com

Seventy cake recipes for all kinds of cakes for adults and children alike offer all levels of baker an easy approach, using 10 master batters and 15 frostings to 'mix and match'. Explanations on how to produce foolproof cakes accompany tips on writing messages on cakes, storing them, and more. Melissa Punch's color photos pepper a winning presentation suitable for any general lending library.

The G-Free Diet
Elisabeth Hasselbeck
Center Street
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781599951881, $24.99 www.centerstreet.com

THE G FREE DIET: A GLUTEN-FREE SURVIVAL GUIDE tells of a woman who had experienced severe stomach pain for decades and was close to surgery when, deprived of food for thirty-nine days as a contestant on Survivor, she found herself pain-free for the first time in years. Her surprising discover of celiac disease and its only treatment - a lifelong gluten-free diet - contributes to a title explaining gluten disease and how people can create a G-free kitchen and diet plan. Highly recommended for any general-interest library.

Lobel's Meat Bible
Stabley, Evan, Mark and David Lobel
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811858267, $40.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

LOBEL'S MEAT BIBLE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MEAT AND POULTRY FROM AMERICA'S MASTER BUTCHERS is organized by type of meat and covers all kinds of meats, from descriptions of cuts to over 150 recipes for delicious, tested and reliable dishes. Even 'variety meats' from tongue to liver is included, along with a section on sauces and stocks and descriptions of how to cut and work with the meats. Add color photos throughout by Lucy Schaeffer and you have a winning guide highly recommended for any personal or lending library.

The Brazilian Table
Yara Castro and Richard Roberts
Gibbs Smith
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
142360315X, $30.00 www.gibbs-smith.com

THE BRAZILIAN TABLE is packed with lovely recipes for exotic dishes that blend in Brazil's regions from the Amazon to Bahia. Food history blends with color photos and delicious unusual dishes in a guide far more inviting than the few Brazilian cookbooks on the market. From a Mango Galette dessert to Shrimp Soup with Brazil Nuts, this is a book any international cooking collection needs!

Hungry Monkey
Matthew Amster-Burton
Houghton Mifflin Company
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
9780151013241, $23.00 www.hmhbooks.com

Matthew Amster-Burton was a restaurant critic and food writer who turned into a stay-at-home father when his daughter was born. HUNGRY MONKEY is his story of how kids can eat well too, and follows his efforts to raise an adventurous eater and expose her to good foods. Any parent interested in teaching a child new ways to discover foods will find this a 'must' acquisition. General lending libraries catering to food-wise parents will see it become a popular lend.

Down Home With the Neelys
Patrick and Gina Neely with Paula Disbrowe
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780307269942, $27.95 www.aaknopf.com

Down Home With the Neelys: A Southern Family Cookbook packs in over 120 recipes from the Neelys' kitchen as seen on the TV Food Network show, presenting recipes that have been tested and passed down the Neely family for generations. From Green Bean Salad with Nutty Basil Dressing to BBQ Pizza with Onions and Peppers and a traditional Southern butter cake called 'Sock It To Me Cake', this is packed with delicious dishes and color photos. Perfect for any lending library strong in regional cooking.

An Edible History of Humanity
Tom Standage
Walker Books
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10010
0802715885, $26.00 www.walkerbooks.com

Throughout history food has had a big impact on civilization and even built civilizations around the world. Its influence over history has reached into modern times, as food shortages and abundances fueled development or cutbacks. AN EDIBLE HISTORY OF HUMANITY deserves a place in any lending library as a fine survey of how humanity's progress has often been dictated by the availability or lack of foods, and the kinds of foods available. Fascinating and fun to read.

Vegan Brunch
Isa Chandra Moskowitz
DaCapo Lifelong
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738212722, $19.95 www.dacapopress.com

From cornbread waffles with sausage to cherry sage sausages, carmelized figs with gingerbread waffles, and Polenta Rancheros, this collection of homestyle vegan dishes is outstanding and a recommendation not just for vegan cooks but any interested in different brunch recipes. Recipes pair lovely color photos with dishes unique and appealing, and are perfect for any general lending library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Drawing Down the Spirits
Kenaz Filan and Raven Kaldera
Destiny Books
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772696, $18.95 www.destinybooks.com

Drawing Down the Spirits: The Traditions and Techniques of Spirit Possession offers an insider's view of the inner traditions and actualization of spirit possession in the modern world. The authors are initiated and experienced in Shamanic and Vodou traditions and here provide keys to understanding possession and spirit agendas.

Soul Survivor
Bruce and Andrea Leininger with Ken Gross
Grand Central Publishing
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446509336, $24.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

SOUL SURVIVOR: THE REIN CARNATION OF A WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PILOT offers the dramatic, true story of parents whose lives are changed by their firstborn son's nightmares. James was a happy toddler until shortly after his second birthday, when nightmares produced descriptions of war tragedies no child could know. Their research into James' nightmares and his very specific descriptions of a wartime horror lead them to uncover the fact that he was reliving the life of a World War II fighter pilot who was killed in battle. Initially skeptical, their entire belief system underwent dramatic confrontation and change in this gripping, true saga any general library will relish.


The Biography Shelf

Willie Nelson
Joe Patoski
Back Bay Books
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316017794, $16.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

WILLIE NELSON; AN EPIC LIFE is a 'must' for any library strong in country music biography. Willie has done it all from age 4 onward, and this biography uses over 100 interviews with Willie and his family, band and friends to capture both the extent of his life and his rise to fame. A definitive biography, it is a 'must' for any country music collection.

The Girls from Ames
Jeffrey Zaslow
Gotham Books
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781592404452, $26.00 www.penguin.com

THE GIRLS FROM AMES: A STORY OF WOMEN & A FORTY-YEAR FRIENDSHIP tells of eleven ordinary women with a bond that lasted decades. The lives of these eleven girls form childhood through adulthood is told by the author, who used their childhood diaries, notes, and interviews of those who knew them to probe the strengths of a lasting bond between them. Any general lending library or library strong in women's issues will find this a compelling read.

Stormy Weather
James Gavin
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9780743271431, $27.00, www.amazon.com

STORMY WEATHER: THE LIFE OF LENA HORNE offers a definitive biography of Lena, star of stage and music who forged a trail for African Americans in the arts. She was the first black recipient of an Oscar for Best Actress and here hundreds of interviews - one with Horne herself - and much rare research goes into a definitive probe of her life and times - a 'must' for any general library strong in film and music.

One Last Dance: Patrick Swayze
Wendy Leigh
Simon Spotlight
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439149973, $24.99 www.simonandschuster.com

For nearly thirty years Patrick Swayze has been an icon of sex appeal, and this biography shares the story of his wife, from his show business childhood and love affair with his wife to his fight against pancreatic cancer. Any fan of Swayze will relish the details of his life as an entertainer and his personal achievements, making this a fine pick for any general lending collection.

Crazy for the Storm
Norman Ollestad
Ecco
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061766725, $25.99 www.eccobooks.com

CRAZY FOR THE STORM: A MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL tells of Norman, who enters a world of surfing and competitive downhill skiing through an intense father who demands he pursue wild adventures. His tests of skill led him to become a champion - and ultimately saved his life when his plane crashed and was engulfed in a blizzard. Powerful prose describes his hair-raising adventure in this outstanding account, recommended for any general lending library.

Booker T. Washington
Raymond W. Smock
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago IL 60642
9781566637251, $26.00 www.ivanrdee.com

Any high school to college-level collection strong in civil rights leaders and biographies will welcome BOOKER T. WASHINGTON: BLACK LEADERSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW. It provides an interpretive biography exploring Washington's rise from slavery to power, tracing his influences, his contributions to black leadership, and his personal search for freedom and acceptance in a racist world. A powerful survey, this is a fine choice for readers who would go beyond history to probe personality, motivation and choice.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Weekend Sewing
Heather Ross
STC Books
115 W. 18th St., New York NY 10011
9781584796756, $27.50 www.stcbooks.com

WEEKEND SEWING: MORE THAN 40 PROJECTS AND IDEAS FOR INSPIRED STITCHING offers the first title from clothing designer Heather Ross and will appeal to sewing novices who want to take their skills to the next level. From the All-Weekend Sundress to the Trapeze Sundress, each dress introduces with a design comment on style and approach, provides step-by-step patterns and materials lists, and is packed with color photos and diagrams for each step of the way. A 'must' for any needlework library, especially those catering to novices.

Material Obsession
Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke
Harry Abrams
115 West 18th St., New York NY 10011
9781584797524, $24.95 www.hnabooks.com

Full-page color photos of completed quilts accompany 23 quilt patterns that appear modern but are based on traditional designs, including step-by-step instructions for creating both the specific product and variations. Patterns arranged by difficulty level from easy to advanced supplement in-depth surveys of options and techniques in MATERIAL OBSESSION: MODERN QUILTS WITH TRADITIONAL ROOTS.

The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook
Charlene Phillips
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krausebooks.com
0896899233, $16.99 www.mycraftivity.com

Any sewing machine owner who wishes a guide to using attachments will find The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook an excellent reference. It identifies more than 25 of the most common machine attachments, provides step-by-step instructions for using each foot, and also covers basic sewing machine options and choices. All levels of sewers and libraries catering to them will find the step-by-step user's directions to be clear and detailed.

French Braid Obsession
Jane Hardy Miller
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571205261, $21.95 www.ctpub.com

Eight new projects feature fine new ways to French braid a quilt for either wallhangings and table runners to integrating French braids into borders and with applique. Sidebars of information cover fabric requirements and construction techniques, with step-by-step color photos covering all aspects of French Braid use. Any needlework library will find this a fine read.

Chic & Simple Sewing
Christine Haynes
Potter Craft
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, NY, NY 10019-4305
www.crownpublishing.com
9780307451095, $27.50 www.pottercraft.com

Make modern, stylish clothes for every day use and pick fabrics, cut and size tailored just for you with the help of a fine set of full-sized patterns for over twenty projects. From sundresses and shifts to jackets, chapters cover basic techniques for beginners and pack in tips on styles that last, making for a top recommendation for any novice seamstress.

Simple Comforts: 12 Cozy Lap Quilts
Kim Diehl
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564778482, $28.99 www.martingale-pub.com

Using quilter/author Kim Diehl's unique style, 12 quilt projects blend traditional patchwork with applique, with diagrams, color photos, and step-by-step piecing instructions covering specific tips for block designs. The narrowed focus on lap quilts makes it easy to produce a specific project with many variations and possibilities, perfect for beginning quilters and libraries catering to them.


The Education Shelf

Principals Matter
Mavis G. Sanders & Steven B. Sheldon
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412960410, $62.95 www.corwinpress.com

PRINCIPALS MATTER: A GUIDE TO SCHOOL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS is all about building foundation policies based on research into school, family and social interactions. It discusses the concept of a school as a community institution and shows educators how to blend diverse family structures and other cultures into the education environment. An outstanding guide, this should be part of any college-level collection appealing to education administrators.

Using Skilled Dialogue to Transform Challenging Interactions
Isaura Barrea & Lucinda Kramer
Paul Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557669554, $34.95 www.brookespublishing.com

Professionals interested in understanding early childhood behaviors will find Using Skilled Dialogue to Transform Challenging Interactions a key to uncovering underlying perceptions and beliefs that shape such behaviors. From the critical qualities of Skilled Dialogue processes to becoming better communicators and understanding how to make the most of differences and strengths, this is a top pick for any early childhood education library.

Making the Move
K.I. Al-Ghani & Lynda Kenward
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109341 $39.95 www.jkp.com

The transition from primary to secondary school is a major event for most kids, but MAKING THE MOVE is even more important, offering a guide to transfer for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Checklists for parents and kids alike make this a recommended pick for parents of such students, as its fill-in workbook format offers many useful resources from blank timetables to homework diaries and more to help parents handle such kids. A specific, top pick for any parent of a ASD child moving their child through the education system.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Evolution of God
Robert Wright
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316734912, $25.99, www.amazon.com

This historical evolution of connections between the world' major religions and a 'hidden code' in their different scriptures makes for a fine survey of the forces that have been moving religious concepts to a higher moral plane. From archaeological evidence to theology and history, Wright shows how these forces are evolving towards harmony and reconciliation among not just religious but science and religion itself. Libraries strong in scientific concepts and religious analysis will find this a fine survey.

Cutting Jesus Down to Size
G.A. Wells
Open Court
70 East Lake St, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696561, $44.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

CUTTING JESUS DOWN TO SIZE: WHAT HIGHER CRITICISM HAS ACHIEVED AND WHERE IT LEAVES CHRISTIANITY comes from a critic who explains the nature and reasoning of 'higher critics', showing how conclusions are honed and the entire process of the higher criticism movement. College-level collections strong in both religion and scholarly analysis will find this an excellent scholarly presentation.

God According to God
Gerald L. Schroeder
HarperOne
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061710155, $25.99 www.harperone.com

GOD ACCORDING TO GOD: A PHYSICIST PROVES WE'VE BEEN WRONG ABOUT GOD ALL ALONG comes from a Biblical scholar and MIT-trained physicist who blends science with religion to probe the nature of God in the discoveries of physics. The Biblical and physical world hold strong, supportive connections rooted in scientific evidence, Schroeder argues. His book provides a case for a dynamic, changing God who is still learning how to relate to creation in this absorbing discussion, recommended for spirituality collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Encounters with God
Sister Wendy Beckett
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758324, $22.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Sister Wendy journeys from England to a remote monastery in the Sinai to view the earliest icons of Mary in this account of a pilgrimage that ultimately reviews the history and course of Christian art as a whole. From the meaning of icons and their effects on the world to her quest for God, "Encounters with God: In Quest of the Ancient Icons of Mary" is a fine addition for any Christian Studies collection.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Mayo Clinic
Demos Health
11 West 42nd St., 15th Floor, New York NY 10036
9781932603774, $17.95 www.demoshealth.com

Any struggling to live life with a spinal cord injury and any health library catering to those recovering from injury will find Mayo Clinic Guide to Living with a Spinal Cord Injury an invaluable survey of the process of recovery and how to move ahead with life. From emotional adjustments to skin care, daily living modifications, and more, this provides an assessment of services and processes alike.

Movement Disorders Sourcebook, second edition
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231-1640
9780780810341, $84.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The second updated edition of Movement Disorders Sourcebook is a winner, providing the latest research and health findings on all kinds of movement disorders in children and adults, from Parkinson disease and cerebral palsy to muscular dystrophy, spinal bifida, and injuries. From diagnosis to treatment, it's a top pick for any health or general lending library's health reference collection.

Ecotherapy: Healing With Nature in Mind
Linda Buzzell and Craig Chalquist, Editors
Sierra Club Books
85 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94105
9781578051618, $16.95 www.sierraclubbooks.org

Applied ecopsychology embraces a range of nature-based methods of psychological healing and this book packs in essays by leaders in the field, from Theodore Roszak to Mary Watkins. Links between spirituality, community development and psychological healing make for a powerful mental health pick recommended for both college-level and general public libraries strong in alternative psychology.

Alphabet Kids: From ADD to Zellweger Syndrome
Robbie Woliver
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843108801, $29.95 www.jkp.com

ALPHABET KIDS provides a range of explanations on disorders for almost every medical condition, from learning disabilities to rare genetic diseases. These kids often have concurrent or interconnected disorders and thus are diagnosed as 'Alphabet Kids'. Doctors often miss such kids - so it's especially important for any library catering to health professionals, parents or educators have a book on hand that provides a comprehensive list of signs, symptoms, and the latest research and treatment. Very highly recommended, a 'must' pick.

Crave: Why You Binge Eat and How to Stop
Cynthia M. Bulik, Ph.D.
Walker Books
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10010
0802717101, $16.00 www.walkerbooks.com

If comfort food is getting uncomfortable and binge eating is thwarting diet plans, then CRAVE is for you. Binge eating is a psychological disorder, and clinical psychologist Cynthia Bulik explore its link to genetics and brain chemistry as well as cultural and social issues. Most important - she offers some keys to stopping the binge cycle. Any general health collection will find this a user-friendly approach.

Special-Needs Kids Eat Right
Judy Converse, MPH, RD, LD
Perigee Books
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399534881, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Foster learning and development through better nutrition with SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS EAT RIGHT, a fine survey of brain development and nutrition influences. From testing and diagnosis to simple substitutions to help meet a child's needs, sample recipes and menu plans, SPECIAL-NEEDS KIDS EAT RIGHT is an outstanding recommendation for any health or general lending collection catering to parents.

Virus of the Mind
Richard Brodie
Hay House
Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401924683, $24.95 www.hayhouse.com

VIRUS OF THE MIND; THE NEW SCIENCE OF THE MEME is the first popular science coverage of memetics - a new field focusing on DNA. The works of other scientists in the field form the foundation for a blend of scientific and social coverage, examining how the new science will impact our lives and how the concept of 'mind viruses' has already infected and affected governments, educational systems, and urban settings. A powerful survey, this should be in every general library, not just health collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Tough Plants in a Fragile Land
Fritzie von Jessen
Dorrance
701 Smithfield St., 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, 15222
9780805978933, $35.00 www.dorrancebookstore.com

TOUGH PLANTS IN A FRAGILE LAND: SAVING OUR PLANET, ONE GARDEN AT A TIME reflects the author's personal dedication to native plants, when climate change destroyed her nonnative garden in Colorado. Her research on plants that thrive in the Colorado Desert blends lovely color photos with insights on animal-friendly plants durable enough to survive and contribute to the environment. A fine book that provides a chatty enough format to entice even non-gardeners, this is a pick for any general lending library interested in desert plant options.


The Business Shelf

Built to Win
Hallam Movius and Lawrence Susskind
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422110478, $29.95 www.harvardbusiness.org/press

BUILT TO WIN: CREATING A WORLD-CLASS NEGOTIATING ORGANIZATION is a powerful pick surveying negotiation processes and comes from negotiation experts who argue companies waste millions investing in the wrong kind of training for employees - training not backed by organizational structure change and reinforcements. Over forty years of training and consulting work go into not just theory but an outline model for organizational change to support such negotiation processes. A top pick for any business collection.

Fordlandia
Greg Grandin
Metropolitan Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, NY, NY 10010-7725
0805082360, $27.50 www.henryholt.com

FORDLANDIA: THE RISE AND FALL OF HENRY FORD'S FORGOTTEN JUNGLE CITY charts Ford's early purchase of a tract of land twice the size of Delaware - in the Brazilian Amazon - to grow rubber - a plan which evolved to a bid to export American culture overseas, from ice cream shops to indoor plumbing. The settlement of Fordlandia came in direct conflict with the Amazon culture, with indigenous workers rejecting his American sentiments and systems. Ford's intentions led to local environmental disaster. FORDLANDIA creates a striking document of his failure here and is a pick for business, environmental and general collections alike.

Living Above the Store
Marin Melaver
Chelsea Green
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580854, $27.95 www.chelseagreen.com

LIVING ABOVE THE STORE: BUILDING A BUSINESS THAT CREATES VALUE, INSPIRES CHANGE, AND RESTORES LAND AND COMMUNITY is a 'must' for any business library and many a general lending collection. It shows how to create a sustainable business, using a 70-year-old, third generation family business as its model for example. From incorporating ideals of contributing to the community in a business plan that works to handling workers differently for highest achievement and understanding limits to growth, LIVING ABOVE THE STORE is a top pick.

Ebay Income Advanced
John N. Peragine, Jr.
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601381231, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

From selling from your own Web site and using keyword marketing and alternative shopping methods to handling taxes and understanding how auction marketplaces work, "Ebay Income Advanced" by John Peragine deftly blends marketing tricks with hours of interviews with hundreds of popular eBay PowerSellers. It's a treasure trove of seller's tricks and tips perfect for any lending library covering online selling.

The Greening of IT
John Lamb
IBM Press
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0137150830, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

THE GREENING OF IT: HOW COMPANIES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT tells how IT business can 'go green' and use best practices for adding value and profit into the picture. Using leading-edge reality, John Lamb tells how to assess the business prospects for green IT, set priorities, and assess both internal and external resistance to such a project. Case studies blend with checklists and solutions in a powerful, recommended guide for any business library.

The Project Manager's Guide to Making Successful Decisions
Robert A. Powell and Dennis M. Buede
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike Suite 800, Vienna VA 22182
9781567262346, $39.00 www.managementconcepts.com/pubs

'Where did my project go wrong?' If you're a manager facing a failed or failing project, The Project Manager's Guide to Making Successful Decisions is for you. It helps teams and managers focus on key issues of the decision-making process, from understanding how to contribute to a project's success to understanding decision analysis procedures. A fine survey, this is a top pick for any serious business library catering to managers.

Winning the Global Talent Showdown
Edward E. Gordon
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576756164, $27.95 www.bkconnection.com

Deserving of ongoing recommendation is Winning the Global Talent Showdown: How Businesses & Communities Can Partner to Rebuild the Jobs Pipeline. It considers the education-to-employment world system and its pitfalls and latest crisis, arguing that the system needs to be reinvented, and showing how such is already in the works. Business Libraries will find this a powerful presentation perfect for college-level collections strong in global business practices.

Chaotics
Philip Kotler and John A. Caslione
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814415210, $25.00 www.amacombooks.org

CHAOTICS: THE BUSINESS OF MANAGING AND MARKETING IN THE AGE OF TURBULENCE tells how companies and entire markets are struggling to stay in business and reinvent themselves under changing conditions, and comes from two noted business strategists who argue that modern chaos will be the face of the 'new normal', not a temporary state. Their survey shows how to build resilient, flexible companies and is based on the successful models of such businesses. Any business library will find this a popular pick.


The Political Science Shelf

The Samaritan's Dilemma
Deborah Stone
Nation Books
116 East 16th St, 8th Floor, New York NY 10003
9781568583549, $25.95 www.nationbooks.org

Politics has become synonymous with corruption, and many are alienated from the political system, yet it wasn't always this way. It used to hold the promise of cure and public policy improvement. THE SAMARITAN'S DILEMMA charts the downward course of the political structure and special interests, offering a blend of political essay and reporting on the changing public and political arena. Stories focus on how people practice concern and kindness both within and outside of the political structure and make for an outstanding presentation.

Realizing Freedom
Tom G. Palmer
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
9781935308119, $29.95 www.cato.org

For over 25 years the author has contended that freedom is for everyone and liberty belongs to all, and he's traveled the world to bring this message to all. REALIZING FREEDOM: LIBERTARIAN THEORY, HISTORY AND PRACTICE provides college-level collections with an analysis of the history and nature of freedom, law, rights and justice. Essays come from academic and popular sources and consider the long-standing traditions and thoughts about freedom. Perfect for classroom debate and consideration.

Distrust American Style
Sheila Suess Kennedy
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027089, $18.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

DISTRUST AMERICAN STYLE: DIVERSITY AND THE CRISIS OF PUBLIC CONFIDENCE offers a fine analysis of the changing political system by a political scientist who considers the national psyche and claims that growing diversity and the breakdown of community interaction resulted in the problems we have today. Any college-level collection strong in government systems and values, along with many a high school political science library, needs this.


The Social Issues Shelf

Dead Silence
Bob Coen and Eric Nadler
Counterpoint
2117 - 4th St Suite D, Berkeley CA 94710
9781582435091, $25.00 www.counterpointpress.com

DEAD SILENCE: FEAR AND TERROR ON THE ANTHRAX TRAIL tells of the US anthrax attacks and their connection to a global germ warfare underground. Two reporters interview scientists, politicians and assassins all involved with the development and monitoring of such warfare potentials - and provide a frightening saga of the secret, real world of international biological weapons research. A powerful, fearful account for any lending library, from health and politics to general-interest holdings.


The Agricultural Shelf

Deeply Rooted
Lisa M. Hamilton
Counterpoint
2117 - 4th St., Suite D, Berkeley CA 94710
9781593761806, $25.00 www.counterpointpress.com

Our food system holds many problems, yet answers are commonly sought away from the growers and in the hands of government agencies and scientists. DEEPLY ROOTED: UNCONVENTIONAL FARMERS IN THE AGE OF AGRIBUSINESS uses the stories of three unconventional farmers to examine agricultural leaders and how these three make efforts to correct food issues. Any library catering to agriculture students will find this holds much material for debate and consideration.


The Native American Shelf

Reconfigurations of Native North America
John Wunder and Kurt Kinbacher, Editor
Texas Tech University Press
Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-4042
9780896726413, $45.00 www.ttup.ttu.edu

NATIVE NORTH AMERICA: AN ANTHOLOGY OF NEW PERSPECTIVES packs in ideas on cutting-edge trends in modern indigenous studies, offering seventeen essays on identity, cultural perseverance, economic development and more. Native worldviews through the last three centuries are covered in a survey of developing policy issues affecting Native peoples in various areas. A recommended pick for any college-level Native American library.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Coyote Horizon
Allen Steele
Ace Books
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780441016822, $25.95, www.amazon.cojm

Deserving of ongoing mention is COYOTE HORIZON, a novel set in 2350 when fifty years have passed since the first starship from Earth reached Ursae Majoris. Several generations later a new world inhabits Coyote, with more ships arriving to seek shelter from Earth's environmental ruin. Coyote is not only mankind's last hope for survival - it's also a principal contact point with an alien race few understand. Swift action marks a vivid story.

The Sharing Knife: Passage
Lois McMaster Bujold
Eos
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061375330, $25.95 www.eosbooks.com

Fawn and her soldier-sorcerer friend have found love in each other and in their joint survival - but face new challenges as they leave families to find new solutions to the split between their very different peoples. Their journeys bring them in touch with others also on different road seeking peace - and introduce new dangers along the way in this vivid fantasy of friendship and bonds, recommended for any fantasy library and especially those with prior Bujold fans.

Wrath of a Mad God
Raymond E. Feist
Eos
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780060792985, $25.95 www.eosbooks10.com

Book three of the 'Darkwar Saga' is a top recommendation for any reader of the prior books and for collections holding these as popular lends. Here the Darkwar rages upon Midkemia and Kelewan, bringing destruction to both worlds. A friend thought dead may bring the key to resolution in this momentous story of a final battle that concludes the saga.

The Legend of Sigurd & Gundrun
J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780547273426, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

Any fan of the Tolkien fantasy sagas will relish this largely unknown work, presented for the first time and written some years before The Hobbit appeared. It was inspired by Norse legends in poetry and provides drama and adventure in an unusual, powerful narrative verse. Very highly recommended for any general library with Tolkien patrons and fans - which is almost every collection.

Mind Over Ship
David Marusek
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780765317490, $24.95 www.tor-forge.com

In 2135 the international program to seed the galaxy with human colonies has stalled, while Ellen is struggling to grow a new body in time to restore her family's financial empire. Any fan of Marusek's prior COUNTING HEADS will find this an excellent, satisfying sequel which carries on the plot and setting admirably. Science fiction libraries will relish its action and solid protagonists.


The Gaming Shelf

Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Starter Set
Wizards of the Coast
Box 707, Renton, WA 98057
9780786948208, $16.99 www.wizards.com

Build your own 'Dungeons and Dragons' game and fight monsters and bring back treasure in this introduction to playing which holds Dungeon titles, 1 16-page booklet of rules, a 64-page Master's Book, dice, gameboards and tokens in full color. Ages 12 and older will find this a captivating introduction ideal for newcomers to D&D, introducing its world in a simple format easy to follow. Any newcomer to the game will find a fine starting point here.

From Gamer to Game Designer
David Hutchison
Charles River Media
c/o Course Technology/Cengage Learning
P.O. Box 6904, Florence, KY 41022-6904
www.courseptr.com/crm
1584506865, $39.99, www.amazon.com

David Hutchison's "From Gamer to Game Designer: The Official Farcry2 Map Editing Guide" could also have been featured in our 'Computer' section but deserves broader exposure to gamers as well. It offers a bridge between playing and designing video games and offers detailed advice on creating multiplayer scenarios for Far Cry 2 for the PC, Xbox or Playstation. From introducing the user-friendly map editor's interfaces and tools to more advanced concepts of game design and urban planning, this is a top pick for game creators and libraries catering to them.


The Science Shelf

Conditions May Vary
Gregory A. Zielinski
Down East Books
9780892726967, $15.95 www.downeast.com

Any visitor to Maine or resident will find this a fascinating guide to Maine's unique weather systems. It discusses jet steams, Canadian air mass influences, ocean temperature and more and is perfect for science collections strong in meteorology and climatology instruction. Chapters use Maine's amazing seasonal diversity to discuss basic weather influences in this highly recommended pick.

Galapagos at the Crossroads
Carol Ann Bassett
National Geographic
1145 - 17th St NW, Washington DC 20036
9781426204029, $26.00 www.nationalgeographic.com/books

Today's Galapagos are not the pristine, protected islands many may believe: they represent a collision of economics, politics and the environment that may ultimately destroy it. From unresolved conflicts in Ecuadorian law and local interests to groups and people who have a stake in the Galapagos' natural resources, this assesses impacts form tourist companies, creationist guides, fishermen, and even modern pirates. An outstanding saga of a threatened ecosystem, this is specific and revealing - and a 'must' for any library serious about science and ecological issues.


The Fiction Shelf

The Spy Who Haunted Me
Simon R. Green
Roc
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
www.penguin.com
9780451462725, $24.95, www.amazon.com

It's hard to classify THE SPY WHO HAUNTED ME: its ability to appeal to both fantasy and mystery audiences places it in a category on its own. It's the third book in an urban fantasy trilogy and tells of the greatest spy in the world who is dying - and willing to tell all his secrets to his unknown successor. Shaman Bond hopes he's the lucky candidates - but like the other four he must prove his worth by solving one of the greatest mysteries of the world. An engrossing search evolves in a mystery perfect for any general lending library.

The Memory Collector
Meg Gardiner
Dutton
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10014-3657
www.penguinputnam.com
9780525950752, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Forensic psychiatrist Jo Beckett's specialty is the psychological autopsy of a person's life to help determine whether death was accidental, natural or suspicious. When she's asked to probe a living person with a suspect memory, she faces her greatest challenge - and becomes involved in a race against time to save a patient whose memory is filled with puzzling clues leading to danger. A riveting saga evolves.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Capture
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439148600, $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

When a rising starlet dies in a fashionable downtown penthouse, it's up to a New York attorney and his crime-fighting wife to investigate claims by the producer that the actress committed suicide. Their query will lead to a battle against a shadowy group who even kidnap Karp's daughter as attempts to thwart terrorists. A powerful saga, filled with twists and turns, evolves.

Wild Sorrow
Sandi Ault
Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St, New York NY 10014
9780425225837, $24.95 www.penguin.com

WILD SORROW deserves ongoing mention as an impressive third addition to her 'Wild' mystery series. Jamaica and her wolf track a wounded mountain lion into a canyon and come across an old Indian school which houses the body of an elderly white woman. Her discovery leads to a murder investigation that will lead to Jamaica being stalked by the killer herself in this riveting thriller recommended for any mystery library, especially those with prior popular picks in the series.


The Travel Shelf

Once In a Lifetime Trips
Chris Santella
Clarkson Potter Publishers
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, NY, NY 10019-4305
www.crownpublishing.com
9780307406927, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Once In a Lifetime Trips: The World's 50 Most Extraordinary and Memorable Travel Experiences covers everything from navigating Alaska on a luxury boat that can sail where cruise ships can't to roughing it on the Amazon in Peru and exploring wild Boreno. Any general library catering to travelers will find this an inspirational guide to such world highlights, blending color photos with exciting 'you are there' travel diaries and dialogue. A top pick.

Adventure Guide: Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coast
Chelle Koster Walton
Hunter Travel
c/o Hunter Publishing
www.hunterpublishing.com
30 Mayfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
9781588436450, $19.99, www.amazon.com

This fine Florida guide covers a slide of coast along the Gulf of Mexico, beginning north of the Tampa Bay area and moving to the Everglades. It offers a survey of sights, adventures and historic sites along with budget tips for any who would journey to Florida. From restaurants and accommodations to camping and natural areas, this is a take-along 'must' for planners and a fine addition to any general travel collection.


The Railroading Shelf

Tourist Trains Guidebook, second edition
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780871162731, $19.95, www.amzon.com

Over 450 train rides, museums, trolleys and dinner trains across the U.S. and Canada are covered in a guide packed with reviews of 175 leading tourist trains and museums. Each review explains the venue, best times to go, and other local attractions, allowing rail buffs to plan everything down to the details of the best seats, when to go, and how to get there. A 'must' for any rail buff and library catering to them.

Extreme Trains: The Complete Season One
History Made Every Day
A&E Television
235 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017
www.aetv.com www.history.com
1422936651, $19.95, www.amazon.com

A fine 2-DVD set offers armchair train buffs a virtual train ride, with series host Matt Brown, a rail conductor from Maine, injecting his passion into the experience. From the longest rail engine and train lines to specialty trains with special freight, this packs in history with an outstanding social survey perfect for any collection strong in rail history and culture.


The Music Shelf

Ultimate Santana
Alfred Publishing
Box 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410-0003
0739050109, $24.95 www.alfred.com

ULTIMATE SANTANA offers would-be Santana-style guitar players a fine guitar tab edition of his music, covering all his major works from Oye Como Va to Black magic Woman and She's Not There. An oversized presentation makes for large-size, clear guitar tabs perfect for any guitar player's music library.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Batcave Companion
Michael Eury & Michael Kronenberg
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1893905780, $26.95 www.twomorrows.com

On the brink of cancellation in 1963, Batman was rescued by a comic book artist who gave the caped crusader a new look and multimedia stardom. The stories behind Batman's rise, fall, and resurrection are told in THE BATCAVE COMPANION, with essays, issue-by-issue indexes, and commentary by two artists responsible for Batman's fame and fortunes making for an outstanding survey for any graphic novel or cartoon history collection. Black and white illustrations throughout bring the Batman history to life.

My Bad
Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Andrews McMeel
300 W. 57th St., New York NY 10019
0740780905, $16.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Black and white and color panels from the Zits cartoon strip offer a few new gathering of strips and images in book format, charting the ongoing and dubious interactions between Jeremy and his family and friends. From a Father's Day admonition to 'live like a teenager' to funny friends, MY BAD is a compelling and fine gathering for any general library with Zits cartoon fans.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Encyclopedia of Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls, volume 2
Elaine M. Pardee
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326093, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

Packed with notes on fabrics and trims for clothing and details on collectibility and options, the second volume of the detailed Encyclopedia of Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls is a winner, packing in numerous clear color photos on every page with the latest values and identifications of the dolls. Any general lending library strong in collector's items will relish this.


The Military Shelf

The Attack on the Liberty
James Scott
Simon & Schuster
1239 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781416554820, $27.00 www.simonandschuster.com

THE ATTACK ON THE LIBERTY: THE UNTOLD STORY OF ISRAEL'S DEADLY 1967 ASSAULT ON A U.S. SPY SHIP tells of an American spy ship attacked by Israel. 34 crewmen were killed and many seriously injured, and the ship nearly sunk - but the attack provoked a political cover-up as it caused controversy among American Jews and politicians alike. James Scott is both a journalist and a son of a surviving Liberty officers, and here offers an eye-opening set of insights over a little-publicized event. Any military library needs this.


The Automotive Shelf

Driving Like Crazy
P.J. O'Rourke
Atlantic Monthly Press
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-4793
www.groveatlantic.com
9780802118837, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Car adventures and humor blend well in DRIVING LIKE CRAZY, a memoir of thirty years of cars celebrating a family history of car enthusiasm. From car haters and America's history of automobile enjoyment to bad and amazing roads and car tours, this is a fun read for any auto buff and any library seeking a general-interest combination of history, travelogue and personal auto enthusiast's memoir.

Go Like Hell
A.J. Baime
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston MA 02116
9780618822195, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

GO LIKE HELL: FORD, FERRARI AND THEIR BATTLE FOR SPEED AND GLORY AT LE MANS provides an outstanding, dramatic survey of the Ford Motor Company and how it was reinvented by Henry Ford II, Carroll Shelby and Lee Iacocca. From their entry into the world of European racing to their design of a race car that could beat Ferrari at Le mans, this is a fine survey of two industrialists who built winning vehicles - and changed an industry in the process.

German Racing Silver
Karl Ludvigsen
Ian Allan Publishing
Riverdene Business Park, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG, England
www.ianallanpublishing.com
9780711033689, $44.95, www.amazon.com

GERMAN RACING SILVER: DRIVERS, CARS AND TRIUMPHS OF GERMAN MOTOR RACING explores Germany's auto history and legacy and brings the German history to life with discussions of the development of tracks, cars, and racers across the country. Color photos of cars, sidebars of information and history, and vintage black and white photos alike make this a top pick for any library catering to car racing fans.

French Racing Blue
David Venables
Ian Allan Publishing
Riverdene Business Park, Hersham, Surrey KT12 4RG, England
www.ianallanpublishing.com
9780711033696, $44.95, www.amazon.com

FRENCH RACING BLUE: DRIVERS, CARS AND TRIUMPHS OF FRENCH MOTOR RACING covers the role of France in nurturing the sport of motor racing, discussing the early legends of the series, the effects of two world wars upon the racing industry, and using rare vintage photos from the Ludvigsen Library and portraits commissioned for this book to survey top cars and drivers. The result is a history highly recommended for any lending library strong in auto racing history.


The California Shelf

Weekend Adventures in San Francisco & Northern California
Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Carousel Press
Box 6038, Berkeley, CA 94706-0038
9780917120213, $19.95 www.carousel-press.com

Any visitor to Northern California will find this the definitive vacation guide to the region and a take-along 'must', key to planning any visit or to arranging weekend get-aways if living in the region. From the Delta and Santa Cruz to the Sierras and Mt. Shasta, all seasons are covered in an exciting collection of routes and destinations perfect for those who would move off the main paths of tourism.


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

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


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