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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 25, Number 9 September 2015 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Education Shelf Technology Shelf
Gun Shelf Activity Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Biography Shelf Parenting Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Economic Studies Shelf International Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Fashion Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Gardening Shelf Crafts Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Military Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Business Shelf Woodworking Shelf Photography Shelf
Automotive Shelf Political Science Shelf Beer Shelf
Computer Shelf Art Shelf Travel Shelf
LGBT Studies Shelf Dance Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Literary Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf
Nautical Shelf Civil War Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Native American Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Every Tenant's Legal Guide, eighth edition
Attorney Janet Portman and Marcia Stewart
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413321364 $34.99 www.nolo.com

Now in an updated eighth edition, Every Tenant's Legal Guide is an absolute "must-have" for every renter, especially students and others who are new to the art of finding a good place to live. Written in plain terms for readers of all backgrounds, Every Tenant's Legal Guide covers tenant's rights with regard to pets, how to fight back against improper rent increases and late fees, how to persuade a landlord to make repairs quickly, under what circumstances one can withhold rent without legal trouble, how to protect one's privacy, how to combat illegal discrimination, dealing with problem roommates, getting a security deposit returned on time, and much more. "If you receive notice that the property in which you live has been foreclosed (that is, a 'trustee's sale' has been held), you should stop paying rent to the new-former owner and pay it to the new owner. If you don't know who that is, set aside your rent payment each month (to be extra careful, set up an escrow account and deposit it there), so that you can pay it to the new owner once you find out who that is. If you receive a three-day notice to pay rent or quit from the new owner, you might want to confirm with your county's Recorder's Office - usually located at the county seat - that the person or entity giving you the notice is truly the new owner." Every Tenant's Legal Guide comes with access to a unique web page on nolo.com where owners can download the forms in the book, stay current with the latest legal updates, and gain access to more resources. Highly recommended!

The Prepper's Water Survival Guide
Daisy Luther
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612434483 $14.95 www.ulyssespress.com

The ongoing drought in California is evidence that yes, a water crisis can happen here. The Prepper's Water Survival Guide is a do-it-yourself guide to gathering and storing water. Chapters cover how to store fresh water, collect rainwater, purify water from lakes and rivers, dig a well from groundwater, and more. Extreme emphasis is placed on water safety, and keeping one's drinking water free from diseases. A first-class resource for preparing against disaster (death by water-borne illnesses is especially common after floods), sustaining personal hygiene in off-the-grid situations (including how to maintain an outhouse), or simply conserve water at home for a smaller water bill, The Prepper's Water Survival Guide is recommended for both personal and public library collections.

Flight 232
Laurence Gonzales
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393351262 $16.95 www.wwnorton.com

Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival tells of a plane disaster in 1989 that led a commuter plan to crash on a runway in Iowa, and offers a moment-by-moment set of details recreating events both in the air and on the ground. Exhaustive research and extensive interviews with everyone from air traffic controllers to rescue workers and the pilots reveals all facets of the crash. Expect high drama and a 'you are there' experience from how the facts are recreated: also expect a gripping story of a crash that actually ended in survival. Any interested in aviation history and experiences will find Flight 232 a winning, engrossing read.

Daisy Turner's Kin
Jane C. Beck
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252080791 $24.95 www.press.uillinois.edu

Daisy Turner's Kin: An African American Family Saga is the multigenerational biography/oral history of an African American family. In 1983, folklorist Jane Beck initiated a series of interviews with Daisy Turner, who was one hundred years old at the time, and recounting four generations of oral history. Turner's family history originated among the Yoruba people of West Africa, endured the crushing burden of slavery, and continues through the twentieth century. Chapters recount how Turner's ancestors were abducted into slavery, daily life as a slave in Vermont, how Daisy's father Alec Turner learned to read and returned as a soldier to his former plantation to kill his former overseer, and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs and an index enhance this welcome contribution to African-American Studies and Biography shelves.

The Peach Blossom Fan
K'ung Shang-Jen, author
Chen Shih-Hsiang, translator
New York Review of Books
435 Hudson Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10014
9781590178768 $17.95 www.nybooks.com

Superbly translated from the original Chinese, The Peach Blossom Fan is a work of literature that bring the political intrigues and the downfall of the Ming dynasty to life, written in the style of a poetic play. In the mid 1640s, China suffers from terrible famine, Peking falls to the Manchus, and the emperor hangs himself. Ming loyalists congregate in the southern capital of Nanking, and two brave generals strive to defend the city. But corruption, decadence, and factionalism plague the court in exile. The newly installed emperor and his cronies care for nothing but pleasures such as theater, while troops starve outside the city. The ruling elite's foolishness can only bring doom, yet two members of the Revival Club, the handsome young scholar Hou Fang-yu and his lover Fragrant Princess, struggle to survive and find happiness amid disaster. The Peach Blossom Fan is highly recommended especially for public and college library literature collections.


The Education Shelf

Power Up
Diana Neebe and Jen Roberts
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781625310132 $24.00 www.stenhouse.com

Power Up: Making the Shift to 1:1 Teaching and Learning is a resource for secondary teachers to using a personalized, technology-rich classroom for optimal instruction. The 1:1 ratio refers to the concept that every student has access to their own computer, laptop, or tablet during class. Chapters describe how a 1:1 classroom operates, how to avoid common problems, encourage innovative thinking, promote communication, and more, supplemented with examples from 1:1 classrooms. Power Up is a "must-have" for an educational instructor working in a 1:1 environment. "By forcing our students to think beyond what they created, and to consider how they created it, we expose how much we value high-quality collaboration. Students learn that working effectively with others represents far more than just earning a grade, and that in the end, learning these soft skills will matter as much as learning content material."

Take 5! for Science
Kaye Hagler & Judy Elgin
Capstone Press
c/o Maupin House Publishing
PO Box 669, Mankato, MN 56002-0669
www.maupinhouse.com
www.capstonepress.com
9781496602923, $23.95, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of experienced classroom teachers Kaye Hagler and Judy Elgin, "Take 5! for Science: 150 Prompts that Build Writing and Critical Thinking Skills" is a highly recommended curriculum supplement for incorporating unique science prompts to help transform five minutes of class time into engaging writing opportunities. "Take 5! for Science" also address NGSS and ELA CCSS as it explores topics in physical, life, and earth science and engineering design through writing prompts. Each topic includes a K-2 and 3-5 writing prompt, a science refresher, and strategies for developing science and engineering practices, plus digital and print resources to supplement science instruction. Students in grades K-5 exercise their mental muscles as they work individually, in pairs, or as a collaborative team on prompts that support your standards-based lessons. Whether your students are working to save endangered ecosystems, investigating distant constellations, creating unusual animals, or constructing a design solution, these diverse and creative prompts will have students look forward to the part of the day when they're asked to "Take Five!" for science. The 150 prompts establish the learning environment each day from the minute that students step into the class. Each science topic includes: ready-to-use prompts for physical, life, and earth science and for engineering design; correlations to NGSS and ELA CCSS; science background refreshers; strategies for science and engineering practices; supply lists for prompts and practices; additional digital and print resources; assessment options; and rubrics. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in composition, organization, and presentation, it should be noted that "Take 5! for Science" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Best 380 Colleges 2016 Edition
Robert Franek with Kristen O'Toole and David Soto
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780804126304 $23.99 www.princetonreview.com

The Best 380 Colleges 2016 Edition is a massive compendium of everything a prospective college student needs to choose the right campus. Surveys, rankings, and candid testimonies drawn from the feedback of 136,000 college students fill this detailed guide, which lists its results for each campus in alphabetical order. Extensive introductory sections are packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for getting into a college, and choosing a college that is optimal for one's preferred field of study. 62 "top 20" lists covering everything from campus food to how friendly a campus is to LGBTQ students round out this easy-to-use, all-in-one reference and resource. A "must-have" for high school seniors with college plans!

The Comfort of Little Things
Holly Elissa Bruno
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605544090 $24.95 www.redleafpress.org

The Comfort of Little Things: An Educator's Guide to Second Chances blends a discussion about leadership with one of educational development, shares the author's personal story and blends it with advice from the educational and neuroscience fields, and offers research-backed stories and examples paired with reflection questions to consider how to integrate spiritual and professional ideals with an educator's growth and teaching process. This might seem like a lot to include under one cover; but the fact that Holly Elissa Bruno's approach is so wide-ranging makes it a surprisingly easy read, perfect for busy educators who want a pointed yet accessible survey.

Vocabularians
Brenda J. Overturf
Stenhouse Publishers
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781625310163 $21.00 www.stenhouse.com

Vocabularians: Integrated Word Study in the Middle Grades expands upon concepts introduced in Word Nerds, updating practices for middle grade students and providing keys to teachers who want to build word networks suitable to academic vocabulary development. From teaching students how to use context and decipher words to using reference materials more effectively, Vocabularians is a treasure trove of insights that takes the latest research into the classroom to pair it with applications and approaches that have been proven to work. The result is a teacher's guide that encourages fluency, exploring word nuances and the basics of how better vocabulary is built and reinforced.

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

Jessica Djabrayan Hannigan and Linda Hauser's The PBIS Tier One Handbook: A Practical Approach to Implementing the Champion Model (9781483375571, $25.00) provides a research-based framework for modifying student behaviors beyond the usual punishment model, and comes from leaders in PBIS implementation who show how to create the kind of school atmosphere that supports all students' efforts to achieve in social and academic circles alike. After providing evidence that this program has been applied and proven to work in a variety of educational settings, a step-by-step framework for implementation is given with specific models, directions, and development techniques educators will find important; especially as they are backed with success stories from teachers and administrators alike. The result blends case study success stories with specific processes for implementing changes: perfect for educators ready to take the next step. Elaine L. Wilmore's Making the Principal TExES Exam Real: Competency-Based Case Studies with Practice Questions (9781483366739, $25.95) provides a companion sequel to the best-seller that covers preparation techniques, and comes from an author whose books have helped educators succeed on TExES exams. It provides an introductory overview, but the real meat of the title lies in the case studies that support student preparation for the exam, incorporating graphics to illustrate complex ideas and pairing such case studies with discussions of different competencies tested on the exam. As a supportive handbook for educators who will take this test, it's packed with invaluable information. Margery B. Ginsberg's Excited to Learn: Motivation and Culturally Responsive Teaching (9781452259536, $32.95) is for teachers who want to use a student's natural curiosity to fuel curriculum requirements, and pairs some fifty strategies designed to enhance a student's emotional foundations and provide a model for motivational planning. Templates, tools and more accompany discussions of diverse classrooms and pack in information for teaching in these environments. From questions designed to facilitate student critical thinking processes to establishing inclusion through activities, this is a 'must' for any teacher working in a culturally diverse classroom setting. Julie R. Smith and Raymond L. Smith's Evaluating Instructional Leadership: Recognized Practices for Success (9781483366722, $25.00) identifies the major problems in the process of evaluating teachers and examines models, issues, and solutions using data that holds a clear connection to the new ISLLC Standards. School leaders receive interactive tools and self-assessments, mid-year evaluation forms, professional growth plans, and more in the form of task listings, discussions, charts, and summaries of practice theories. The result is a solid recommendation for any school leader involved in the evaluation process.


The Technology Shelf

Microwave Radar and Radiometric Remote Sensing
Fawwaz T. Ulaby and David G. Long
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9780472119356 $199.00 www.artechhouse.com

Microwave Radar and Radiometric Remote Sensing is a weighty, authoritative reference that should be in any collection referenced by engineers and professionals working in microwave technology, and provides a blend of theoretical models, system design, and applications of active and passive microwave remote sensing systems. In addition to reviewing and presenting technical details, it includes some fifty MATLAB-based computer codes and supports these with an interactive book website which includes modules based on theoretical and empirical models. Algorithms and charts for beam efficiency, coherent and noncoherent scattering, the applications of microwave graphs and radar sensing devotes to forestry, snow and other projects necessitating measurement and analysis, and discussions that blend these formulas with concrete objectives makes for a solid and detailed reference engineers will find specific and useful.


The Gun Shelf

Blue Book of Gun Values, 36th edition
S.P. Fjestad
Blue Book Publications Inc.
8009 - 34th Avenue S., Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55425
9781936120604 $54.95 www.bluebookofgunvalues.com

Blue Book of Gun Values appears in its thirty-sixth edition and continues to make for an outstanding reference for gun collectors and firearms enthusiasts, covering the new 2015 makes and models, updating values on discontinued antiques, and representing major pricing updates for all models. Over two thousand pages covers some 1,500 gun manufacturers and trademarks, while the section on serialization has been expanded to include more dates. The result is an essential reference that represents so much updated information as to render prior editions obsolete, making this a requirement for any involved in valuing firearms.


The Activity Shelf

Coloring Book Treasury series
Design Originals
www.d-originals.com
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
$19.99 each www.FoxChapelPublishing.com

Thoroughly engaging for adults and children alike, four "Coloring Book Treasury" volumes are wonderful resources for relieving stress and engaging in creativity. The intricate black-and-white designs on high-quality, extra-thick paper lends themselves well to colored pencils, markers, watercolors, or gel pens, and the spiral bindings of each book allows them to lay flat for ease of use in one's lap or on the go. Pages are also detachable, and opposite each design is an inspirational quote. The volumes are Valentina Harper's "Mandalas and More: Beautiful Designs for Relaxation and Focus" (9781497200234), Thaneeya McArdle's "Fun & Funky: Designs to Energize & Inspire" (9781497200210), McArdle's "Don't Worry Be Happy: Color Your Way To A Calm, Positive Mood" (9781497200227), and Harper's and McArdle's "Ultimate Coloring Book Treasury" (9781497200241).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Witchcraft Works 6
Ryu Mizunagi
Vertical, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, 7th floor
New York, NY 10016
9781941220207 $12.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Witchcraft Works 6 continues the fantasy black-and-white manga (Japanese graphic novel) series about Takamiya, a (mostly) ordinary young man connected to magical, powerful, and extraordinary women, especially the iron-willed witch Kagari. In volume 6, the ruthless witch Weekend's villainous plans threaten the lives of an entire city, including Takamiya's mother. With Takamiya incapacitated, Kagari chooses to battle Weekend on her own - a decision that dramatically limits her power. Can Kagari gain the upper hand against an enemy with Machiavellian plans and no sense of remorse? Or will Weekend succeed in unleashing the supremely powerful entity sealed within Takamiya? High-flying magical adventure abounds!

Bacchus Volume One
Eddie Campbell
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 5885, Astoria, NY 11105-5885
9781603090261 $39.99 www.topshelfcomix.com

Bacchus Volume One collects the first half of an omnibus black-and-white comic saga by author Eddie Campbell (known for his visionary "From Hell" comics with Alan Moore). Created over the course of a decade, Bacchus follows cutthroat machinations of immortal Greek gods, especially the crafty Bacchus, God of Wine. Weaving Greek mythology with a modern-day setting, is a gritty, multi-layered epic about gang wars, business tycoons, Olympian murders, Machiavellian machinations, and an odyssey of adventure. Raw, real, and gritty, bacchus speaks to the human condition as much as that of the divine! Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of edgy, independent comics are Julian Hanshaw's "Tim Ginger" (9781603093507, $19.99) and Chris Sheridan's "The Motorcycle Samurai Volume One: A Fiery Demise" (9781603093705, $19.99), a full-color action-adventure featuring a deadly serious female protagonist.


The Audiobook Shelf

Villa America
Liza Klaussmann, author
Read by Jennifer Woodward
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781611130591 $30.00 www.HachetteAudio.com

Villa America: A Novel is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a novel set in the French Riviera during the 1920s, and based on the true-life events that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald's "Tender Is the Night". The story follows married New York socialites Sara Wiborg and Gerald Murphy, who moved with their children to the South of France. They find cameraderie with a group of expatriates, including Hemingway, Picasso, and Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald. They enjoy the beautiful scenery, lavish parties, and passionate debates. But when a terrible accident brings Owen, an American aviator who fought in the Great War, to the South of France, the Murphy's world is unexpectedly turned around. A emotional saga that strikingly revives 1920s culture, Villa America is highly recommended. 11 CDs, 14 hours.

The Hidden Masters Of Marandur
Jack Campbell
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781491540145, $19.99, www.amazon.com

The second book of the exciting "The Pillars of Reality" epic fantasy series by Jack Campbell, "The Hidden Masters Of Marandur" continues a fascinating science fiction story set in a world divided between mechanics, mages, and the common folk. Someone wants to kill Mari, a young steam mechanic in the guild that controls all technology. She has learned that her world of Dematr is headed for a catastrophe that will destroy civilization and that mages really can alter reality for short periods. Someone also wants to kill Alain, a young mage who has learned that mechanics are not frauds, as his guild teaches, and that mechanic Mari is the only person who can prevent the oncoming disaster. Narrowly escaping death, the mechanic and the mage stay alive thanks to their combined skills, an alliance never before seen. But it becomes clear that both of their guilds, the most powerful forces in the world, are trying to destroy them. Other powers, like the great empire and a mysterious secret order, also seek to kill or capture them using every weapon from imperial legions to mage-created trolls, dragons, and rocs. Trying to survive and learn the truth about their world so they will know how to save it, Mari and Alain realize the answers they seek may lie in the dead city of Marandur. But Marandur is guarded by the legions that have sealed it off from the rest of the world for more than a century. Mari and Alain's only hope may rest with the unseen masters of Marandur. Complete and unabridged, "The Hidden Masters Of Marandur" is impressively narrated by MacLeoad Andrews and very highly recommended to the attention of science fiction enthusiasts and community library audio book collections. 11 CDs; 13 hours, 3 minutes.

Prison Of Hope
Steve McHugh
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
97815012368436, $14.99, www.amazon.com

Long ago, Olympian gods imprisoned the demon Pandora in a human called Hope and thereby created a creature whose only purpose was chaos and death. Remorseful, the gods locked Pandora away in Tartarus, ruled by Hades. Now, centuries later, Pandora escapes. Nate Garrett, a 1,600-year-old sorcerer, is sent to recapture her and discovers her plan to disrupt the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, killing thousands in a misplaced quest for vengeance. Fast forward to modern-day Berlin, where Nate has agreed to act as guardian on a school trip to Germany to visit Hades at the entrance to Tartarus. When Titan King Cronus becomes the second ever to escape Tartarus, Nate is forced to track him down and bring him back, to avert a civil war between those who would use his escape to gain power. "Prison of Hope" is the fourth book in the highly acclaimed and action-packed dark urban fantasy series, the Hellequin Chronicles. Superbly produced, and deftly narrated by James Langton, this complete and unabridged audio book edition is very highly recommended for personal and community library Science Fiction & Fantasy audio book collections. 10 CDs; 12 hours, 53 minutes.

The Egg and I
Betty MacDonald
Post Hypnotic Press
http://www.posthypnoticpress.com
9781772560169, $14.95, www.amazon.com

When Betty MacDonald married a marine and moved to a small chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, she was largely unprepared for the rigors of life in the wild. With no running water, no electricity, a house in need of constant repair, and days that ran from four in the morning to nine at night, the MacDonalds had barely a moment to put their feet up and relax. And then came the children. Yet through every trial and pitfall - through chaos and catastrophe - this indomitable family somehow, mercifully, never lost its sense of humor. A beloved literary treasure for more than half a century, Betty MacDonald's The Egg and I is a heartwarming and uproarious account of adventure and survival on the American frontier. With flawless production values, this complete and unabridged audio book edition is superbly narrated by Heather Henderson and enthusiastically recommended for community library audio book collections where it is certain to be an enduringly popular addition. 9 CDs; 9 Hours.

Straight Shooter
Marcus Galloway
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
CW0282, $59.60, www.recordedbooks.com

Outlaw Wes Cavanaugh knows that crime doesn't always pay -- at least not much. That's why he and his partner, Mose, are willing to pay Jimmy Stock for information on a job that's guaranteed to pay off big. Jimmy's made a career of selling tips to bandits, but the job he sells Wes (a payroll train about to leave Omaha) requires more than information. It requires a straight shooter who can hit targets from a long distance away -- and in the outlaw business, even a straight shooter can't be trusted. Meanwhile, two other men who make their living selling and repairing guns, as well as having troubles of their own that will include shootouts, a long lost love in trouble, and a set up to a downfall, are destined to be the ultimate bane of Wes and Mose. "Straight Shooter" is a deftly constructive and extraordinary western novel by a master of the genre is brought to life in a true theatre-of-the-mind experience by the impressive narrative skills of Lee Arron Rosen, making it highly recommended for personal and community library Western Fiction audio book collections. (Complete & Unabridged Library Edition, 7 CDs, 7.75 Hours).

The Nature of the Beast
Louise Penny, author
Read by Robert Bathurst
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427263865 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Eleventh in the series of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries by multiple award-winning author Louise Penny, The Nature of the Beast is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the what may be the Gamache's most harrowing case yet. Gamache, former head of homicide for the Surete du Quebec, now resides with Reine-Marie Gamache in the cozy Quebec village of Three Pines. A local boy is well-known for spinning tall tales, but when the boy goes missing, Gamache and the villagers must consider the possibility that one of his most horrifying tales was true. A monster has visited Three Pines before, and comes again; as murder and betrayal escalate, Gamache must track down a killer - and live with the guilt that he might have prevented these depredations if he had taken a young boy seriously. Tense and chilling, The Nature of the Beast is recommended to fans of the genre. 10 CDs, 13 hours.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Elin Hilderbrand's The Rumor (9781478954682, $35.00) represents author Elin Hilderbrand's fifteenth novel and is enhanced by an unabridged recording narrated by Kathleen McInerney, Erin Bennett and Rick Zieff who voices lend a drama feel to the story of best friends and a perfect summer on Nantucket. Madeline and Grace have perfect marriages, families and lives - but one summer, all this changes. Rumors abound, the perfect women may have bitten off more than they can chew, and gossip could prove their downfall. A vivid multi-voiced narration lends to a powerfully involving audio version that's gripping and dramatic. James Patterson and Howard Roughan's Truth or Die (9781478927952, $35.00) offers an unabridged reading by Audie Award winning narrator Edoardo Ballerini, includes an excerpt from Alert, and tells of Trevor, whose girlfriend's investigation may threaten their happiness together. Trevor is seeking a peaceful life, but Claire's story will bring them both into a shocking secret that two dangerous, competing sides are vying to control. Suddenly their world is complicated, and it may take a teen genius to help. In audio format Truth or Die becomes an even more gripping thriller, saturated with high drama, vivid narrative style, and an approach that brings the written word to life. Benjamin Percy's The Dead Lands (9781478953104, $35.00) is narrated by Holter Graham, who has performed numerous award-winning audio reads, and begins over a hundred years ago, when the flu mutated and millions died. That's just the starting point for a post-apocalyptic thriller that takes this setting and builds the story of a walled city, a rider who reports on a changed outside world and a new threat, and a small group who leaves security on a mission across America's dangerous heartland in search of something different. A powerful saga enlivened by audio, this is a top recommendation for any who want the feel of a thriller with the tension of an apocalyptic world.


The Library CD Shelf

Flute Flight
Sherry Finzer & Mark Holland
Cedar 'n' Sage Music
$15.00 www.sherryfinzer.com

Award-winning flutists Sherry Finzer (silver flutes) and Mark Holland (Native American flutes) present their entrancing duo album Flute Flight, an instrumental soundscape to soothe and renew the soul. Flute playing enriched with piano, guitar, and percussion forms a rich tapestry, unforgettable in its intricate detail. Flute Flight is a "must" for anyone inspired by the ethereal beauty of the flute! The tracks are "Looking Through" (6:07), "Seasons of the Heart" (4:21), "Echo of Desire" (8:35), "Always a Dream" (4:46), "Illumination" (4:43), "From Afar" (4:06), "Luna's Dance" (2:47), "Sea of Stars" (3:08), "The Way" (8:09), "Reflection 2" (5:45), "Planetary Drift" (7:47), "Nature's Spirit" (3:46), and "Into the Light" (4:12). 68 min, 12 sec.

Nanda Devi
Hans Christian
New Earth Records
$13.99 www.NewEarthRecords.com

Nanda Devi is a new age album of instrumental music crafted in tribute to nature's glory, and in especial honor of the sacred mountain Nanda Devi in Northern India. Virtuoso Hans Christian has created a flowing fusion from his proficiency in a wide variety of musical instruments. Christian's cello playing forms the core, augmented by Indian sitara, Indian sarangi, Swedish nyckelharpa, Indian dhilruba, Indian swaramandala, medieval psaltery, lapsteel/electric/acoustic guitars, bamboo flute, ethnic percussion, electronic keyboards and more. Breathtaking in its beauty, Nanda Devi is an elegant treasure. The tracks are "First Light" (6:57), "Majestic Mountain" (7:17), "My Inner Ascent" (7:00), "Eternal Spring" (6:30), "Sunanda" (8:02), "She Who Brings Bliss" (4:40), "Valley of Gori Ganga" (7:30), "Between Dusk and Dawn" (7:13), and "November Toning" (6:12). 61 min. 35 sec. Also highly recommended for new age connoisseurs is the emotional piano album "Keys of Light" by Dan Chadburn ($12.97 CD / $9.99 download).

Vintage Latino
Putumayo World Music
$12.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.putumayopress.com

Vintage Latino is an album of cherished Latino classics from the 1950's music scene of a variety of nations, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Colombia. Extensive liner notes enlighten the listener about the performers who made each song a beloved popular hit. A "must-have" for international music collections! The tracks are "Perfidia" (3:11), "Mentiras Tuyas" (2:56), "Cha Cha Cha Para Ti" (2:45), "Un Cielo Para Los Dos" (2:44), "Eso" (3:12), "Piel Canela" (2:57), "Tierra Colora" (4:54), "Juarez" (4:06), "Chinita" (3:03), "Despedida" (2:38), "Amantes" (3:05), and "Besame Mucho" (4:35).

The Music of Jelly Roll Morton
Performed by The Jim Cullum Happy Jazz Band
Classic Jazz Recordings
50 Executive Blvd., Elmsford, NY 10523
www.innercityjazz.com
$16.95 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com

The Music of Jelly Roll Morton is an album featuring the ragtime and classic jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement award winner Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (1890-1941), known by the professional name "Jelly Roll Morton". Though Morton did not invent jazz (a claim he once made, which has been thoroughly decried by music historians) Morton was a jazz trailblazer, and the first to arrange jazz pieces. Morton proved that a genre known for improvisation could be notated while keeping its spirit intact. His contributions to a lively and developing field of music earned him induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Vivaciously performed by The Jim Cullum Happy Jazz Band, The Music of Jelly Roll Morton showcases the compositions of a performer of incredible talent and gumption. A "must-have" for jazz connoisseurs! The tracks are "The Chant", "Milenberg Joys", "Winin' Boy Blues", "Sweet Substitute", "Black Bottom Stomp", "Shreveport Stomp", "Jelly Roll Blues", "Buddy Bolden's Blues", and "Wolverine Blues".

Come Fly With Me
Glenn Zottola
glennzottola.com
Classic Jazz Recordings
50 Executive Blvd., Elmsford, NY 10523
www.innercityjazz.com
$16.95 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com

Trumpet player Glenn Zottola presents Come Fly With Me, a trumpet-led album supported by the full force of a big-band arrangement. Vivid and joyful, Come Fly With Me invites the listener to soar, dream, and remember the good times. The tracks are "Come Fly With Me" (3:40), "God Bless The Child" (4:13), "You Leave Me Breathless" (3:16), "How High The Moon" (2:40), "Prisoner Of Love" (3:52), "When Your Lover Has Gone" (2:40), "People" (3:53), "There'll Be Some Changes Made" (2:44), "Volare" (3:20), and "Come Back To Me" (2:30). Also highly recommended for distinguished music connoisseurs (as well as gift-giving!) are Zottola's albums "Miles Davis Remembered" ($16.95 CD / $11.99 download), a trumpet-based tribute to a legendary jazz musician, and "The Bossa Nova Story: Glenn Zottola Salutes Stan Getz" ($16.95 CD / $9.99 download), a sensational saxophone accolade.

Big Galut(e)
Privately Published
$12.97 www.biggalute.com

Big Galut(e) is the self-titled debut album of a quintet of artists who revel in the spirit of klezmer (Jewish folk music). The songs embody a smorgasbord of styles, all with a quintessentially Jewish cultural twist. Clarinet, violin, baroque guitar, accordion, bass, mandolin and more feature in this vivacious, joyful outpouring of creativity and celebration. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Seletsker Freylekhs" (4:11), "Levant" (4:09), "Papirosin" (6:26), "Kalkutta Klezmer" (2:03), "Go Down Moses" (2:04), "Charlemos" (3:55), "Wallachian-Appalachian Scratchin'" (4:07), "Sonata Prima (Rossi)" (2:56), "Sonata Settima, 'sopra l'aria d'un Balletto' (Rossi)" (3:10), "Tango-Ballade (Weill)" (3:15), "La Yiddishe Mama" (4:42), "Moyshele+Yankee+Reyzele" (4:28), "Khosidl" (6:13), "Kosher Bagel Medley" (4:35), and "The True Story of Carmen" (6:22) 63 min., 30 sec.

Bright Shadow
Ana Egge
Privately Published
$15.00 CD / $9.99 download www.anaegge.com

Folk singer-songwriter Ana Egge presents Bright Shadow, a self-produced album showcasing her worldly vocals and guitar talent, complemented by The Stray Birds' support with the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, slide guitar, and vocals. A life-affirming music journey, Bright Shadow will resonate with connoisseurs of original American folk music stylings. The tracks are "Dreamer" (2:30), "Flat Top Guitar" (2:48), "Jenny Run Away" (2:21), "Bright Shadow" (2:52), "Rock Me (Divine Mother)" (3:20), "Wildflowers" (3:05), "Fifth of July" (2:34), "Maps of the Moon" (3:03), "Turning Away" (2:39), and "The Ballad of Jean Genet" (3:14).

Femme Fractale: An Opera of Reflection
Mem Nahadr
Mem Nahadr Music
$12.99 CD / $9.99 download www.memnahadr.com

Femme Fractale: An Opera of Reflection is the original jazz orchestra creation of Mem Nahadr, also known as "M", a multitalented vocalist, composer, and performer. A uniquely postmodern symphony, Femme Fractale transcends genres to balance ambience with alluring rhythm, inspiring listener to open their minds to the mysteries of creation. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Forge in Dreams Interstitial", "Forge in Dreams", "Grey Aria", "Underground", "On My Merry Way", "Baby Know Interstitial", "Baby Know", "Gone Interstitial", "Gone", "Panacea Interstitial", "Panacea", "Crystal Trail", "Black Whole Interstitial", "Black Whole", "M Theory Interstitial", "M Theory", "Passage", and "Passage Outro".

Up to Something Good
Sunshine Collective
Privately Published
$14.95 www.sunshinecollective.com

Up to Something Good is an inventive, all-ages music album fusing pop and retro music styles, re-imagining the vintage sounds of the 60's and 70's in fresh, original songs. Individual songs draw inspiration from classic arrangements, quintessential Americana, even the cinematic spy genre. As refreshing as an ocean breeze, Up to Something Good is a treasure to cherish! The tracks are "Up to Something Good", "I Love You", "Love is the Way", "Take Me Away", "Misplaced Love", "The Ride", "Run for the Sunshine", "Waiting to Say Hello Again", "Pumblechook", "Somebody Somewhere", and "The Open". 38 min.

Carnival Caravan
Nation Beat, featuring Cha Wa
Nation Beat Music
$9.99 CD / $9.99 download nationbeat.com

Carnival Caravan is an EP album by Nation Beat and New Orleans' Indian/funk group Cha Wa, embodying the vivacious celebration of Mardi Gras through music. The spirit of unabashed revelry courses through the pulse-pounding rhythms and joyous vocals. Carnival Caravan is a "must-have" for anyone longing to re-experience a taste of Mardi Gras! The tracks are "Casa Diamante - Sew Sew Sew" (4:25), "Vou Cantar Esse Coco (Featuring Silverio Pessoa)" (3:40), "Golden Crown" (4:04), "Canto da Ema - All on a Mardi Gras Day" (4:38), and "Liza Jane" (4:25).


The Library DVD Shelf

Social Media Manners
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Thoroughly accessible to viewers of all ages and backgrounds, Social Media Manners: Polite Behavior in the Social Media World is a DVD documentary about the basics of courtesy when communicating online. Segments cover how to be polite when using a mobile phone, text messaging, and posting on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter. An excellent video to help prepare students (or neophyte social media users of any age!) for today's increasingly interconnected world, Social Media Manners is enthusiastically recommended especially for homeroom viewing in public schools. 19 min. 29 sec.

Nutrition Starts Here
With Chef Marshall O'Brien
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Thoroughly accessible to viewers of all ages and backgrounds, Nutrition Starts Here: Smart Eating on a Budget lives up to its title as an introduction to nutritious food choices and healthy eating strategies. Chef Marshall demonstrates how eating well can be inexpensive, flavorful, and fun! Video segments include "Simple, Tasty Slow Cooker Meals" (10:06 min.), "Understanding Portion Sizes" (3:42 min.), "Label Reading" (2:13 min.), and "Tasty Whole Grains" (2:59 min.). An excellent, educational pick for public and school library shelves, homeroom viewing, or any Basic Food Preparation course! 19 min.

Weather Gone Wild
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545432 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Weather Gone Wild is a documentary about "superstorms", and how human beings adapt to prepare for and survive them. The cities of Calgary, Toronto, New York, Miami, and Rotterdam each have undertaken innovative plans to protect themselves against natural disasters, but is this enough? Weather Gone Wild examines how everything from agriculture to the insurance industry to building codes need to change to adapt to the "new normal" of increasingly frequent and savage storms. Enlightening and edifying, Weather Gone Wild is especially recommended for public and school library DVD collections. 43 min., SDH captions.

The Antibiotic Hunters
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1941545424 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

The Antibiotic hunters is a medical documentary that plays like an quest-adventure. One of the greatest concerns of modern medicine is the increasing persistence of diseases resistant to current antibiotics. Will a post-antibiotic era arrive, when people die from diseases that used to be easily treatable? The Antibiotic Hunters follows scientists who try to stay one step ahead by discovering new "miracle drugs". They investigate sloths' slimy green fur, Komodo dragon saliva, alligator blood, bacteria in the caves of British Colombia, and more in search of components for a new generation of antibiotics. Raptly fascinating, The Antibiotic Hunters is highly recommended for school and public library DVD collections. 44 min., SDH captions.

The Wild West with Ray Mears
Athena
c/o Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621723806 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

The Wild West with Ray Mears is a fascinating documentary about the rugged, 19th-century American western frontier, and pioneers who bravely sought to tame it. Survivalist and nature enthusiast Ray Mears guides the viewer past forbidding mountain ranges, harsh deserts, and wild grasslands. From panning for gold to riding the range, to visiting local communities who preserve the way of life of these historic explorers, fortune-seekers, and settlers, and more, The Wild West is an exciting glimpse of adventure, hardship, and daily life in an unforgiving new world. Bonus features include a 16-page viewer's guide and profiles of notable women of the west. The Wild West with Ray Mears makes an excellent gift for enthusiasts of Western history (or fiction!), and is enthusiastically recommended for public library DVD collections. 8 episodes on 2 DVDs, 204 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Murdoch Mysteries, Season 8
Based on the novels by Maureen Jennings
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
9781621724063 $59.99 www.acornonline.com

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Murdoch Mysteries, Season 8 is the latest collection of procedural police dramas based on the novels by Maureen Jennings, featuring the insightful Detective William Murdoch and his friends in turn-of-the-century Toronto. As Inspector Brackenreid gradually recovers from a savage beating by a dockyard gang, Constable Crabtree unexpectedly falls in love, and Dr. Emily Grace joins the women's suffrage movement. Season 8 also notably includes the 100th episode of the series, in which Murdoch and Julia finally join together in matrimony. Connoisseurs of period pieces and forensic sleuthing will find Murdoch Mysteries, Season 8 a "must-see"! Recommended for mature viewers due to some disturbing images; the work of a homicide detective is not pretty. 18 episodes on 5 DVDs, 792 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Calvinism and the Christian Life
Ian Hamilton
Ligonier Ministries
421 Ligonier Court, Sanford, FL, 32771-8608
$32.00 DVD / $12.00 download www.ligonier.org

Pastor Ian Hamilton presents Calvinism and the Christian Life, an instructional Christian DVD (also available as an audio CD or an audio/visual download) about the fundamental principles of Calvinism, and how they are directly relevant to living a life shaped by faith in God and Jesus Christ. Divided into six 23-minute segments, Calivinism and the Christian Life is does not require an extensive background in formal theology to comprehend; Hamilton's God-centered messages are universally accessible to all Christians. Highly recommended especially for church library DVD collections. The segments are "What Is Calvinism?", "Calvinism's Foundational Experience", "God's Sovereignty", "A Life of Holiness", "Godly Catholicity", and "Communion with God".

Intersect: Where Your Story and God's Story Converge
Produced by Rob Peabody and Cris Rogers
Kregel Publications
2450 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.kregelpublications.com
c/o Litfuse Publicity Group
www.awakenmovement.com/intersect
9780825443978 $15.99

Commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in partnership with the Church of England, Intersect: Where Your Story and God's Story Converge is a five-week short film on DVD, created especially as a missional tool, to aid in initiating spiritual conversations about Jesus Christ. The true-life stories of five individuals, each of whom encountered circumstances that prompted them to re-evaluate how God fit into their lives, provides an inspirational journey and a prompt to reflect upon key turning points. Each of the five stories is accompanied by discussion questions designed to evoke careful thought about the world one lives in, the life one chooses to pursue, and how connecting with Jesus intersects with matters at hand. Intersect is an invaluable resource not just for church DVD libraries, but also public showing and deliberation.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Diabetes Comfort Food Diet
Laura Cipullo, RD, CDE
Robert Rose, Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778805182 $24.95 www.amazon.com

"The Diabetes Comfort Food Diet" is both a diabetes self care manual and a collection of fantastic, healthy, diabetic friendly recipes that are easy to prepare. Containing 200 delicious dishes that will help you manage your weight and balance your blood sugar, "The Diabetes Comfort Food Diet" is a valuable resource and also a great guide to generally healthy eating. Recipes are clearly presented usually one page, with helpful notes on the left and ingredients listed with amounts in standard measurements, and simple step by step instructions. There is a handy comparison chart at bottom left (titled Makeover Magic) which contrasts before and after totals for calories, fat, carbs, fiber, protein, and sodium. The change in amounts is significant and surprising. Makeover Magic refers to the techniques demonstrated in the recipes which help to curb carbs, fill up on fiber, and favor healthy fats, in adapting the recipe from a standard homemade version to a diabetic comfort food. Some of the star featured recipes, many of which show beautiful color photographs of the completed dish, are as follows: Couscous and Chickpea Salad (pg.107), Wild Mushroom and White Bean Risotto (pg. 226), Caramelized Onion and Fennel pizza (pg. 242), Creamy Pumpkin Mousse (pg. 283), Whipped Sweet Potato Casseroles (pg. 252), Chicken Pad Thai (pg. 197), Asparagus Swiss Quiche ( pg. 234), Guilt Free Spinach-Artichoke Dip (pg. 140), Baked Penne with Turkey (pg. 208), and many more. One recipe that is particularly intriguing is Chocolate Layer Cake with Maple Frosting, an incredible concoction that uses whole wheat pastry flour, espresso powder, buttermilk, pure maple syrup and egg whites to result in a serving that is only 188 calories (compare to 790) per serving. It is clear that diabetics need not deny or restrict themselves from their favorite comfort foods if they will use this incredible cookbook and diabetic self understanding manual.

Food of the Southern Forests
Sophie Zalokar
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781742585512 $59.99 www.isbs.com

Featuring striking, full-color photography of the recipes and of farm life in Australia's Southern Forests region, Food of the Southern Forests is a gorgeous cookbook showcasing dishes made with the Southern Forests' agricultural bounty. Dishes include Roast Rib Eye Beef with Smoked Tomatoes & Kale Pesto; Snapper with Toasted Quinoa, Marjoram, Borage & Buttered Sorrel; Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes, Hazelnuts, Truffle, Labna & Sage and much more. Vignettes from small farmers pepper the recipe collection, making Food of the Southern Forests enlightening and fascinating to browse. "Knowing that the Wessex Saddleback's [a heritage breed of pig] great foraging skills contributed to the flavour of the meat, [small-scale farmers] Susan and Allen planted a large orchard of chestnut trees for the pigs to forage and fatten under, and the pigs devour the sweet chestnuts in addition to a special grain mix Susan and Allan developed and mill themselves." Highly recommended especially for cookbook connoisseurs.

Pure Pork Awesomeness
Kevin Gillespie with David Joachim
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449447076 $29.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Lavishly illustrated with full-color photography, Pure Pork Awesomeness showcases pork recipes from around the globe. An introductory section briefly teaches readers about heritage pig breeds, what various buzzwords on pork labels mean, and encourages them to go the extra mile to secure pork from pigs that have been permitted access to pasture. Most of Pure Pork Awesomeness is devoted to recipes such as Coca-Cola Glazed Pork Shoulder, Grilled Pork Kabobs with Pineapple and Soy, Bacon-Molasses Chipwiches, Sheboygan-Style Beer Brats, Crispy Pork Meatballs with Sweet and Smoky Sauce, and much more. An index rounds out this sumptuous, "must-have" specialty cookbook for pork lovers!

Thai Food Made Easy
June Williamson
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462116621, $16.99, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled by June Williamson, "Thai Food Made Easy" is comprised of a tantalizing variety of curries, pad thai, and other Thai culinary favorites to try. Beautifully illustrated throughout, "Thai Food Made Easy" takes the mystery out of this specialized Asian cuisine and enables even the most novice of kitchen cooks to prepare authentic dishes and enjoy fresh and exotic flavors any day of the week. The recipes themselves range from Fresh Spring Rolls; Tom Yum Goong (a spicy shrimp soup); Pad Thai Chicken; and Pineapple Fried Rice; to Ginger Beef; Sweet coconut Cream and Fruit; Fried Bananas; and Spicy Thai Ramen Noodles. As much fun to browse through as it is easy to plan menus with, "Thai Food Made Easy" is very highly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Thai Food Made Easy" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).

Main Squeeze
Iris McCarthy
Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
www.cedarfort.com
9781462115600, $19.99, 160pp, www.amazon.com

For anyone seeking an alternative to carbonated sodas and expensive energy drinks, there is now "Main Squeeze: Juicing Recipes for Your Healthiest Self", a cornucopia of do-it-yourself delicious, healthy juices you can make in your own home! Perfect for anyone looking to boost their energy level and/or shed a few pounds at the same time, these simple and satisfying recipes comprising "Main Squeeze" are ideal for the home. The recipes range from a Kickstarter Cooler; Peachy Keen; Tropical Tummy Tamer; and Sweet Tea-Lief; to a Carotene Cleanser; Zucchini Bikini Juice; The Peppy Pineapple; and an Orange Crush. Each recipe is complete with a list of ingredients and a simple preparation instruction. Very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "Main Squeeze: Juicing Recipes for Your Healthiest Self" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).

Honey & Co.: The Cookbook
Itamar Srulovich & Sarit Packer
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780376284301 $35.00 www.littlebrown.com

Honey & Co.: The Cookbook provides a delicious selection of Middle Eastern recipes from a husband-and-wife team who operated as head chef and pastry chef at a top London restaurant before opening their own establishment, Honey & Co., in 2012. Recipes include appetizers and dips, salads, and dishes that reflect the cuisines of North Africa and many different Middle Eastern national traditions, embellishing standards with innovations. Thus, the traditional tabbouleh dish can appear either as Crunchy Root Vegetable Tabbouleh for Winter, with celeriac, carrots, radishes and traditional spices or a Green Tabbouleh Salad for Spring, replete with onions, parsley, mint and cucumber. The result is a delicious gathering recommended for any home cook with an affection for Middle East cuisine, all spiced with full-page color photos of completed fare.

Deliciously Dairy Free
Lesley Waters
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780600630951 $29.99 www.octopusbooksusa.com

Deliciously Dairy Free: Fresh & Simple Lactose-Free Recipes for Healthy Eating Every Day provides over a hundred lactose-free recipes for dishes that are normally forbidden fare for the lactose intolerant. Picture a pizza with no dairy, cakes and baked goods, even Mac and Cheese: now modify these classics with dairy-free milk, creams, and even cheeses. Dishes aren't just standard American fare, either, but include such international favors as a tagine from Morocco, a classic French quiche, and Smoky Quesadilla Melts. The result does more than modify recipes: it provides keys to using new products that cooks can expand to other dairy-free endeavors.

Stoner Mug Cakes
Dane Noon
Spruce
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781846014987 $9.99 www.octopusbooksusa.com

25 recipes for quick, easy, 'weed cakes' that can be made in the microwave come with two prerequisites: an access to marijuana and an interest in cooking with it. Those with such inclination will find this offers insights on a topic too rarely covered: how to produce delicious baked cakes in mugs, using marijuana as a key ingredient. Cakes range from muffins made with fresh beet juice to coffee cakes, jammy sandwich-style cakes, and more. Each cake includes measurements for adding 'cannabutter flavor' which requires little in the way of skills, but some knowledge about the different sativa plants (explained in an introductory section). The result is a pick for any marijuana-friendly baker.

The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home
Terri Paajanen
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781620230053 $14.99 www.amazon.com

The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home provides a fine survey of the methods involved in drying not just the usual fruits, but vegetables, meats, herbs and even dairy products, and pairs instructions to using a food dehydrator with alternatives that range from ovens to the sun. From basic equipment to recipes for using the dried ingredients, this covers a range of techniques and options and is a recommendation for cooks who would make the most of their harvest or better preserve their ingredients.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitting Fabric Rugs
Karen Tiede
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612124483 $18.95 www.storey.com

Illustrated with full-color diagrams and photography throughout, Knitting Fabric Rugs: 28 Colorful Designs for Crafters of Every Level is an innovative resource that offers innovative techniques for creating vibrant rugs with large knitting needles and recycled fabrics, such as T-shirts and other garments. Included are step-by-step instructions for 28 different rugs, enhanced with inspiration from traditional quilt patterns like tessellations or log cabin designs, color blending, spiral patterns, freeform designs and more. Extensive tips, tricks, and techniques for amassing a quality fabric stash, working with colors, incorporating a wide range of shapes and more enhance this superb resource for creating distinctive handmade gifts. A "must-have" for knitting enthusiasts!

Free Range Triangle Quilts
Gwen Marston and Cathy Jones
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604602111 $24.95 www.americanquilter.com

Featuring full-color photography and easy-to-follow diagrams throughout, Free Range Triangle Quilts offers a wealth of stylish, hands-on projects for making distinctive quilting patterns with triangles. Not all designs are perfectly symmetrical; needlecrafters are encouraged to invent and experiment with different techniques. "Free Range" implies quilts that do not depend on preset patterns, but rather the quilter's own artistry and ingenuity. A superb resource for intermediate to advanced quilters, Free Range Triangle Quilts is bold, distinctive, and uniquely modern.

Complete Photo Guide to Crochet
Deborah Burger
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781589238558 $24.99 www.craftside.net

Kids who look for easy step-by-step photos for crochet (and many an adult beginner) will find Complete Photo Guide to Crochet the perfect starting place for success, teaching the basics of selecting and using hooks and yarn to produce finished results. It comes from a veteran who has produced numerous other crochet guides but who here provides a focus parents can use with their kids in language tailored for grade-school age levels. With its kid-oriented projects, clear explanations, good-sized color photos and approach, this is the item of choice for parents who would teach their kids crocheting basics.

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

Rebecca Silbaugh's Seems Like Scrappy : The Look You Love with Fat Quarters and Precuts (9781604685855 $22.99) provides quilt crafters with a fine blend of scrappy appearance and the convenience of using precuts over scraps, and comes from a designer whose top quilting book, Seemingly Scrappy, attracted a wide audience. This sequel provides more projects and a broader collection of precut fabrics in ideas that include hexagons, don't require a fabric stash for success, and which offers tips on mixing textures and colors. Full-page photos of completed projects accompany smaller step-by-step color photos for cutting, piecing, and producing the projects. Gudrun Erla's Learn to Quilt-As-You-Go: 14 Projects You Can Finish Fast (9781604684596, $24.99) provides a fast method of completing quilting projects and provides step-by-step guidance to moving beyond straight-line piecing by presenting new approaches to the basic quilt-as-you-go technique that includes strips, triangles, and a semblance of curves. From choosing materials and cutting and marking projects to sewing by number and adding inserts, This is packed with ideas for runners, bed quilts, and all kinds of quilting projects large and small and expands on the quilter's toolbox. Both are picks for those with some quilting experience who want to expand their skills.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Mind Inside Tai Chi
Henry Zhuang
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594393334 $16.95 www.ymaa.com

The Mind Inside Tai Chi provides a fine martial arts guide that takes some thirty years of the author's tai chi chuan practices and shares his insights on how tai chi led to better balance, more strength, and other positive aspects in his life. Simply doing tai chi is not enough: its real value lies in learning how to connect tai chi's routines with physical and mental shifts for optimum performance and overall benefit. The result is a powerful survey that will delight tai chi newcomers and seasoned users alike.


The Biography Shelf

The Many Faces of Herod the Great
Adam Kolman Marshak
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866059 $35.00 www.eerdmans.com

The Many Faces of Herod the Great is a historical biography and analysis of King Herod the Great. Today, Herod is remembered as the tyrant who, according to the Bible, sent his soldiers to Bethlehem to murder all its male babies lest one of them grow up to claim his throne. History teacher Adam Marshak provides a more nuanced portrait of King Herod, drawing upon historical, archaeological, and literary sources. The Many Faces of Herod the Great reveals how Herod ruled over his kingdom through skillful diplomacy and interacting with its different factions - Roman, Hellenistic, and Judean - in a variety of ways. Herod was extraordinarily charismatic and gifted in the art of politics. Furthermore, he successfully transformed himself from a bankrupt usurper to a wealthy and powerful king, who founded a dynasty and brought prominence and prosperity to ancient Judaea. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, The Many Faces of Herod the Great is highly recommended especially for public and college library Biography and World History collections.

Field Marshal
Daniel Allen Butler
Casemate-IPM
1950 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612002972 $32.95 www.amazon.com

Also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99), Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel is a thorough biography of a German war hero and military genius, well-known for his sense of honor, duty, and respect for human life. Erwin Rommel (1891-1944) was a field marshal whose skill at desert warfare earned him the nickname "Desert Fox". He served in World War I and World War II, and is especially notable for defying Nazi orders to uphold his conscience. He deliberately ignored orders to kill Jewish soldiers, civilians, and captured commandos; he was known to treat Allied prisoners of war humanely; and his Afrika Korps was never accused of war crimes. When an internal movement to assassinate Adolf Hitler gathered momentum, it tried to recruit Rommel, but Rommel feared that assassinating Hitler would make him a martyr, and permanently enshrine Hitler's worst ideas. Rommel felt that the best outcome would be to put Hitler on trial. When Rommel's involvement in the plot against Hitler was discovered, Hitler forced Rommel to commit suicide. Field Marshal is the incredible story of a master tactician, a noble leader and patriot, and ultimately, a flawed hero who hated the Nazis but could not recognize Adolf Hitler as a monster until too late. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library biography collections.

A Butterfly Journey
Boris Friedewald
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
9783791381497 $18.95 www.prestel.com

A Butterfly Journey is the biography of explorer, naturalist, scholar, and artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717). Illustrated throughout with color reproductions of Merian's beautiful engravings and watercolors of butterflies, A Butterfly Journey tells of Merian's life in Germany and the Netherlands, her trip to the Dutch colony of Surinam, her work as an advocate for Surinam's slave laborers, and her studies of the anatomy and life cycle of the butterfly. A Butterfly Journey is exquisite and inspirational, highly recommended for public library biography collections, and also is also ideal for gift-giving.

Grant's Last Battle
Chris Mackowski
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611211603 $14.95 www.savasbeatie.com

Part of the "Emerging Civil War" series, Grant's Last Battle: The Story Behind the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant is the true-life story of how former Union Civil War General and American Present Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) spent his final years struggling to provide for his family. Afflicted with terminal throat cancer, and facing financial ruin in the wake of being swindled by his business partners, Grant struggled to write his memoirs, attempting to secure his family's financial well-being before his own death. Black-and-white photography on almost every two-page spread enhances this fascinating account of one man's race against his own dwindling time.

Harnessing the Sky
Frederick M. Trapnell Jr. and Dana Trapnell Tibbitts
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612518480 $29.95 www.nip.org

Also available as an ebook, Harnessing the Sky: Frederick "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's Aviation Pioneer, 1923-52 is a biography of a man who has been dubbed "the godfather of current naval aviation." In 1940, Vice Adm. Frederick M. "Trap" Trapnell was appointed to lead the Flight Test Section, directing the development of all new Navy airplanes. He played a key role in the refinement of two aircraft that would prove crucial in the naval air war against Japan - the Corsair and the Hellcat. He was the first U.S. Navy pilot to fly a jet, and he defined the operation requirements for carrier-based, jet-propelled aircraft. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, and an index round out this fascinating true-life story of a keen-minded leader whose insights played a crucial role in World War II and beyond. Highly recommended!

Brando's Smile
Susan L. Mizruchi
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393351200 $16.95 www.wwnorton.com

Brando's Smile: His Life, Thought, and Work provides a fine biographical survey of Marlon Brando's career, beginning with his 1943 arrival in Manhattan, a Nebraskan boy with a knack for mimicry, and following his transformation into not just a respected actor, but an iconic film figure. This is no rehash of familiar material: author Mizruchi had the support of the Brando Estate and a number of private collectors to examine his 4,000-volume library collection and a number of private sources not available to the public. Thus, readers can expect chapters that focus on explaining seemingly-contradictory or confusing aspects of Brando's psyche, making it an invaluable pick recommended for film, biography, and prior Brando fans alike.


The Parenting Shelf

The Overparenting Epidemic
George S. Glass, MD, and David Tabatsky
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781628737301 $24.95 www.skyhorsepublishing.com

The Overparenting Epidemic: Why Helicopter Parenting is Bad for Your Kids... And Dangerous for You, Too! discusses overprotective, invasive and competitive parenting tactics and presents studies on the first generation of overparented children who are becoming adults right now. This generation has been bombarded with too much advice, parents who have erased too many obstacles to make their lives easier, and as a result are narcissistic, entitled, and unable to cope with daily life. The ultimate result is a big increase in depression and stress, and modern parents are advised to change their strategies lest this be passed on to future generations. Chapters blend scientific and psychological research with a discussion of this epidemic and its lasting results, making for a powerful read any parent should consider.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Angel Wings
Toni Carmine Salerno
www.tonicarminesalerno.com
Blue Angel Publishing
www.blueangelonline.com
c/o Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738747330 $15.95 www.llewellyn.com

Angel Wings: An Oracle Book of Love, Light & Healing is an anthology of over 60 striking, full-color illustrations of angels (most of which have never before been published), paired with simple text passages about transcendental powers of love, and hope. "Paint a beautiful picture for your life. Be clear about it. You are the life you dream." An uplifting, spiritual resource ideal for daily inspiration, Angel Wings inspires joy and wonder with every turn of the page. Highly recommended.

Animal Messengers
Regula Meyer
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781591431619 $18.00 pbk / $11.61 Kindle www.innertraditions.com

Animal Messengers: An A-Z Guide to Signs and Omens in the Natural World explories the meanings behind animal encounters. Animals are highly sensitive to human energies, and the outer world often reflects inner states; witnessing an animal's behavior can be a meaningful and revealing experience. Animal Messengers explores the possible spiritual communications and symbolism embodied by a wide diversity of animals and birds. "If the wolverine prowls across your path, it is touching the primal energy in you. It reminds you that you must be entirely open to yourself in order to stand up decisively for yourself with your own strength." A black-and-white photograph of each animal enhances this welcome addition to metaphysical studies shelves.

The Initiatory Path in Fairy Tales
Bernard Roger
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781620554036 $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

The Initiatory Path in Fairy Tales: The Alchemical Secrets of Mother Goose joins literary analysis with spiritual concerns in exploring the stories gathered by the Brothers Grimm, Perrault and others, showing how hermetic ideas of alchemy and magic are embedded in fairy tale classics. While some of these are obvious, there are many subtler examples explored here, as in the tales attributed to the figure of "Mother Goose" an esoteric symbol which holds many underlying secrets and hermetic references. This focus on analyzing the original versions of the tales over their modern adaptations makes for an absorbing account highly recommended for any literary and new age reader.

Awaken Your Third Eye
Dr. Susan Shumsky
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601633637 $15.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Awaken Your Third Eye: How Accessing Your Sixth Sense Can Help You Find Knowledge, Illumination, and Intuition teaches methods for using the third eye to develop extra senses, and pairs insights into divine guidance and personal powers with a lively survey about the role of the third eye in daily life. Chapters define the qualities of one's 'third eye', discuss how it can be opened and what happens when it does, and provides methods for awakening and developing the extra sensory perceptions of the third eye. The result is a powerful exploration that new age collections will relish.

Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.healingartspress.com

Robert Henderson's Emotion and Healing in the Energy Body: A Handbook of Subtle Energies in Massage and Yoga (9781620554272 $19.99) provides a spirituality and energy medicine guide that relates physical body ailments to psychic conditions, exploring the eight types of energy that affect physical and mental states. These energies are drawn in by the chakras, and thus can be linked to physical and emotional stress alike. Chapters use thirty physical ailments to explore their energetic connections and how reactions by the physical body can affect many states of being. From energy blockages and sexual energy to healing opportunities from yoga and massage, this is a satisfying survey unifying physical, psychic and mental health concerns. Joscelyn Godwin selects the works for The John Michell Reader: Writings and Rants of a Radical Traditionalist (9781620554159, $19.95), and features the works of a countercultural 1960s icon who speaks of fairies, UFOs, Jesus, and society alike. Over a hundred of his essays from his monthly column in The Oldie covers all facets of history, philosophy, wisdom and more, often presenting controversial viewpoints peppered with esoteric wisdom and lessons surrounding the Divine. The result is a scholarly gathering recommended for any interested in new age philosophical and social commentary in general and John Michell in particular. Claude Lecouteux's Demons and Spirits of the Land: Ancestral Lore and Practices (9781620553992, $18.95) explores pagan rituals, medieval stories, and folk traditions to consider the presence of spirits and entities that inhabited the land before modern civilization exiled them into distant lands, and is a specific account of land spirits that have existed since ancient times. It considers the myths of spirits in the wilderness, reveals how beliefs and awareness of these spirits have changed over the centuries, and it shows how concern about these spirits should be part of modern thinking. Michael Baigent's Astrology in Ancient Mesopotamia (9781591432210, $18.00) uses translations of the Nineveh library tablets and other ancient materials to consider how Babylonian science and modern astrology are connected. His is a historical exploration of how astrology evolved to become a discipline since then, tracing the evolution and dissemination of knowledge through lands from Mesopotamia to Europe and beyond. The result is a powerful survey that should be added into any serious astrology collection.


The Self-Help Shelf

Ultimate IQ Tests, third edition
Philip Carter and Ken Russell
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749474300 $19.95 www.koganpageusa.com

Ultimate IQ Tests can be used as a "brain exercise" tool, or as a means to prepare oneself to take an IQ test. Despite disputes about their relevance, IQ tests are an increasingly common challenge placed before seekers of jobs in government agencies, the armed forces, education, or business. The best way to prepare is through experience; Ultimate IQ Tests offers 1,000 practice questions organized in 25 separate tests, with a straightforward guide for assessing individual performance. The questions cover verbal, numerical, diagrammatic, and logical reasoning, as well as lateral thinking. This updated third edition also offers a more advanced test created to help readers check their progress as they work through practice questions. Ultimate IQ Tests is a "must-have" for anyone who expects to take an IQ test, as well as a fun way to keep one's mind active and sharp!

Time to Think Guides
Nancy Kline
Cassell Illustrated
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com

Two new 'Time to Think' guides advocate better listening skills, thought processes, and communication and are directed to any self-improvement reader who would absorb the author's system of the 'Thinking Environment', a collection of ten behaviors that serve as a model for more effective human interaction. Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind (9780706377453, $12.99) advocates a renewed value in human minds and achievement processes and discusses how to encourage independent thinking and creative problem-solving processes. From solving business problems to applying these techniques to personal life challenges, it covers a range of possibilities in vignettes that can be readily absorbed and applied to different scenarios. Living with Time to Think: The Goddaughter Letters (9781844087957, $12.99) builds on this approach by using letters to the author's three granddaughters to consider basics questions of how to live well, develop purpose in one's life, and experience happiness. From "deciding today not to interrupt anyone ever gain" to "it's all right to feel happy, even if others in the world are sad", these admonitions apply theory and concept to daily experience and, taking the form of written letters to others, provide special insights into the process of self-improvement and eventual transformation. New age and self-help collections will welcome these discussions.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Ultima
Stephen Baxter
Roc
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451467720 $26.95 www.penguin.com

Ultima tells of alien artifacts found on a planet, which allow humans to step across light-years of space in an instant - but the real test lies in not just learning how to use the artifacts, but discovering their place in the world. Proxima introduced many amazing ideas: Ultima continues the process, taking the theme of space exploration and applying them further to what happens when exploration unfolds new technology and new realities about the universe. In the end this wisdom will change humanity and revise mankind's place in the universe - perhaps even threaten it by awakening a superior power previously not focused on mankind's presence. Baxter's ability to combine hard science fiction with philosophical angles contributes to a fine read which stands well on its own but truly shines when read in conjunction with Proxima.

Voyage of the Basilisk
Marie Brennan
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765331984 $25.99 www.tor-forge.com

Voyage of the Basilisk: A Memoir by Lady Trent represents another installment in a fantasy series that includes dragons, alternative technology, and a rollicking good read set in a world that is both familiar and strangely alien to early 19th century Earth. Lady Trent is a feisty female who takes on dragons and adventure alike, but her curiosity may ultimately prove her downfall. One needn't have prior familiarity with the series in order to appreciate and relish her adventures, here: the only prerequisite is an affection for mystery-tinged fantasy and a rollicking good read.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Stabbing in the Senate
Colleen J. Shogan
www.colleenshogan.com
Camel Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
9781603813310 $13.95 www.camelpress.com

Book 1 in the Washington Whodunnit series, Stabbing in the Senate is a fast-paced blend of murder mystery and political intrigue. D.C. staffer Kit Marshall's life is turned upside-down when she finds her employer, Senator Langsford, impaled in his office. Kit is deemed the prime suspect (in part because she foolishly pulled the weapon out of his chest and got her fingerprints on it). The well-to-do family of Kit's boyfriend is horrified by her notoriety, but even more disturbing is the possibility of why Senator Langsford was killed - he just recently had begun to vote his conscience, an act of rebellion that outraged the hardliners of his party. Kit and her strong-willed friend Meg search for the real killer, but the real killer just might be hunting them as well! Stabbing in the Senate is a page-turner that will keep the reader's rapt attention to the very end.

Elmore Leonard: Four Novels Of The 1980s
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
www.loa.org
9781598534122, $37.50, 1024pp, www.amazon.com

The late Elmore John Leonard, Jr. (October 11, 1925 - August 20, 2013) was an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures. Published in a sturdy, acid-free paper, hardcover library edition by The Library of America, "Elmore Leonard: Four Novels Of The 1980s" brings back into print four complete and unabridged Leonard crime novels: City Primeval; LaBrava; Glizt; and Freaky Deaky. "Elmore Leonard: Four Novels Of The 1980s" is a 'must read' for all Elmore Leonard fans and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community and academic library 20th Century American Popular Literature collections.

Little Pretty Things
Lori Rader-Day
Seventh Street Books
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
9781633880047 $15.95 www.seventhstreetbooks.com

Little Pretty Things tells of Juliet, who is used to losing as she's lost every track team race to her best friend and, ten years later, is still behind. Juliet has long been jealous of Maddy - but when she finds herself the chief suspect after Maddy is murdered, she is forced to investigate not only her competitor's death, but the real secrets in her life and the costs of her success. Little Pretty Things is an engrossing novel that takes the background of a murder mystery and evolves events to a gripping saga of psychological suspense and underlying motivation.


The Fiction Shelf

In the Gulfs of Dream and Other Lovecraftian Tales
David Barker & W.H. Pugmire
Dark Renaissance Books
9781937128494 $19.95 darkrenaissance.com

In the Gulfs of Dream and Other Lovecraftian Tales is an anthology of short stories and novellas inspired by the classic fantasy-horror writings of H.P. Lovecraft (who is perhaps best known for his nightmarish depictions of godlike eldritch monstrosities such as Cthulhu). Contemporary authors David Barker and W.H. Pugmire masterfully bring Lovecraftian mythos to life, particularly in their rendition of Lovecraft's beautiful yet deadly Dreamworld. An absolute "must-read" for Lovecraft fans! Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of terrifying supernatural fiction is award-winning author Reggie Oliver's "The Sea of Blood" (9781937128487, $19.95), an original anthology of spine-chilling short stories.

Latigo
Steve Hayes
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444823578, $20.99, 216pp, www.amazon.com

Bounty hunter Latigo Rawlins was looking to start a whole new life with Emily Mercer, but Stillman Stadtlander has other plans for him. Latigo had given evidence that the landowner had arranged the deaths of rival Mexican ranchers, and now Stadtlander intends to see him pay -- at the end of a rope. It doesn't matter to Emily that Latigo has notched up over a dozen killings himself. She is in love, and so she'll move heaven and earth to save the life of this man. "Latigo" is a compelling, entertaining, and completely absorbing read from beginning to end. Author Steve Hayes is clearly a master of the western genre and this large print edition is especially recommended to the personal reading lists of western action/adventure fans, as well as community library Large Print and Western Fiction collections.

Trail To The Cazadores
Mark Bannerman
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444822830, $20.99, 216pp, www.amazon.com

The five men who set out into the desert, searching for Joe Hennessey's wayward daughter, are bound together by very different motives ranging from greed for the offered reward, to compassion for the young woman. But after an Indian attack results in the loss of his companions (plus his horse and gun) Texas Ranger Duncan finds himself alone. Astray in this vast, hostile terrain, he is wounded and afraid. To top it all, the Indians who took his compatriots may soon return to take his scalp. "Trail To The Cazadores" is a deftly crafted western adventure replete with surprising twists and unexpected turns. A terrific entertainment first page to last, this large print edition of "Trail To The Cazadores" is highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.

The Man From Cheyenne
Jack Edwards
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444820669, $20.99, 296pp, www.amazon.com

The last man to wear a sheriff's badge has finally been driven out of Jackson Creek and Jake Pierce plans to take over the town, backed by a group of vicious gunfighters. When Clay Harding rides in from Cheyenne to bring back the rule of law, he is sucked into a whirlpool of killing and the lure of gold. Knowing that he might never get back to Cheyenne, he can console himself with one thought: he might be able to shoot his way out of trouble -- maybe. "The Man From Cheyenne" is pure and unadulterated western action/adventure and this large print edition is very highly recommended for personal and community library collections.

Wild Bill Williams
Jack Martin
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444820690, $20.99, 216pp, www.amazon.com

Welshman and gambler William Williams, otherwise known as 'Wild Bill', is no stranger to trouble. It seems to follow him like a shadow. But even as a survivor of the Little Big Horn, as he claims, he has never before had to face the kind of trouble that he finds in the town of Stanton. When the bullets start to fly and the blood begins to run, Wild Bill is never far behind. "Wild Bill Williams" is a compelling and extraordinarily entertaining western yarn from beginning to end, making this large print edition a strongly recommended addition to personal reading lists for western buffs, as well as an enduringly popular addition to community library collections.

The Color of Smoke
Menyhert Lakatos, author
Ann Major, translator
New Europe Books
www.NewEuropeBooks.com
9780985062347 $17.95 www.amazon.com

Prizewinning author Menyhert Lakatos (1926-2007), who came of age in a Romani settlement during World War II, created a literary masterpiece in The Color of Smoke: An Epic Novel of the Roma. The Color of Smoke is a story about struggling to survive among the Roma in an era of widespread fascism and the Nazi Holocaust. Historically, the Roma people were one of the Holocaust's many targets, along with Jews, disabled people, political dissenters, and more. Yet despite the grim foreboding of its period, The Color of Smoke is also a candid and vivid portrayal of young adult life. The adolescent narrator comes of age at a crossroads between his own people and a wider society that bears both allure and rejection. He participates in school, engages in sexual encounters, suffers hunger and police harassment, and confronts violence. A powerful, unforgettable portrayal of how society at large and the Nazis in particular dehumanized the Roma, The Color of Smoke is highly recommended. It should be noted that The Color of Smoke is also available as an ebook.

The Goodbye House
Lawrence Coates
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874179811 $26.00 www.unpress.nevada.edu

The Goodbye House is a multigenerational novel about a California family's efforts to live day to day. In the wake of the early 2000's dot-com bust, Katherine Watson, a forty-seven year old event planner and mother of two, finds herself suddenly on her own. Her husband abruptly vanishes after his "investments" fail and they lose their home. Forced to move in with her sickly father, Katherine contemplates divorce, while her teenage son Carter struggles to fit in at a new school, among hostile classmates. A poignant interplay with complex, three-dimensional characters, The Goodbye Home is highly recommended.

Creation of a Family
Len Brass
Dorrance Publishing Company
585 Alpha Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15238
9781480919310 $13.00 www.dorrancebookstore.com

The debut novel of author Len Brass, Creation of a Family is about an elite soldier's attempts to change his life. As a member of a military squad that did not officially exist, Steve Daly is essentially a professional killer. He seeks to change his life, but knows few skills other than military combat. It is only through his family that he begins to grow and find his true calling in life. Emotional and poignant, Creation of a Family is about learning how to embrace love as a way of life, and is highly recommended.

The Love She Left Behind
Amanda Coe
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393245493 $25.95 www.wwnorton.com

The Love She Left Behind provides a comic exploration of a dysfunctional family, is set in Britain in 1983, and tells of a sexy playwright who marries Sara, who has abandoned her own children for love. Now it's thirty years later and Sara's death leaves Patrick alone when her now-adult children, filled with questions and troubled minds, comes to tap Patrick for answers. A fun and pointed saga evolves; perfect for those who like their novels edge and with more than a touch of ironic observation and angst.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Hollowed Out
David Madland, Ph.D.
University of California Press
155 Grand Avenue, Suite 400
Oakland, CA 94612 - 3758
9780520286528 $27.95 www.ucpress.edu

David Madland, Ph.D. (Managing Director for Economic Policy at the Center for American Progress) presents Hollowed Out: Why the Economy Doesn't Work Without a Strong Middle Class, a persuasive, accessible economic argument as to why the squeezing of America's middle class harms the nation as a whole, and how this increasingly disastrous situation can be turned around. Supported by an exhaustive amount of research, including almost 80 pages of notes and an index, Hollowed Out decries American governmental policies that have favored the wealthy over the struggling (for example, big banks get government bailouts, while small business owners, homeowners, and students do not), examines why the hollowing out of the middle class is so harmful (one problem is that as the American middle class has a smaller piece of the pie, they can afford to spend less, and lower consumer demand leads to fewer jobs and economic recessions), compares America to other developed nations which don't have quite as steep a grade of income inequality, and offers possible solutions. Madland emphasizes means of making American politics more democratic and less favorable to the wealthy, the importance of education especially for children living in poverty, the long-term value of making taxation systems more progressive, and much more. Hollowed Out offers serious food for thought and is highly recommended for public and college library Economic Studies shelves, as well as the reading lists of economists and policy officials.

California Dreaming
Lawrence J. McQuillan
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428
www.independent.org
9781598132434 $24.95 hc
9781598131895 $18.95 pbk / $12.28 Kindle

California Dreaming: Lessons on How to Resolve America's Public Pension Crisis is a wake-up call about a simmering crisis in California and the United States. As the baby boomer generation grows older and retires, increasingly government pensions and retirement benefits are a rising cost that threatens to force state and local governments to raise taxes, slash public services, declare bankruptcy, or all three. California Dreaming examines the extent of the problem, the causes that are forcing public pension debt to unprecedented levels, and lists six critical reforms needed to bring financial stability to California and other jurisdictions in trouble. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, California Dreaming is a "must-have" for policy makers and public and college library Economic Studies shelves. "...using pension benefits to buy votes is particularly attractive in California because the state has term limits, forcing any legislator elected today to leave office after 12 years. Term limits encourage elected representatives to buy votes now using higher pensions knowing they will be out of office when voters become aware of the true costs and the pension bill is due."

American Mojo Lost and Found
Peter D. Kiernan
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950
Nashville, TN 37219
9781630269234 $34.95 www.turnerpublishing.com

Award-winning author Peter D. Kiernan presents American Mojo Lost and Found: Restoring Our Middle Class Before the World Blows By, an accessible portrait of the economic troubles confronting America today (particularly with regard to poverty and pressure on the middle class), and recommendations to foster a more prosperous future for everyone. Individual vignettes illuminate Kiernan's salient points, as he discusses how the American middle class have fared through the Nixon, Reagan, and modern eras (not that great), ongoing trends among demographics in the middle class, underemployment as a threat to economic stability, and most importantly, recommendations to turn around economic stagnation and improve upward mobility for all Americans. Particular importance is placed on seizing the global middle class opportunity - by providing for the rising middle class of nations abroad, America can recapture its mojo at home. For example, one suggestion is "Use American brand power... Take brands - not everyday local products, but the platinum brands and killer and misdemeanor apps found in many categories. With them we can both build and drive the worldwide consumer boom." Thoughtful and thought-provoking, American Mojo Lost and Found is ultimately an optimistic resource of practical and proactive macroeconomic strategies for the twenty-first century, highly recommended.

Quantum Economics
Amit Goswami, PhD
Rainbow Ridge Books
c/o Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9781937907341 $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com

Quantum Economics: Unleashing the Power of an Economics of Consciousness is written for business people and consumers who want a wide-ranging discussion of issues of business ethics and creativity in the quest to build a better capitalism system, and it discusses practical applications of current technologies and systems to propose jobs that add value and meaning to life; not just provide economic compensation. This comes from a retired professor of theoretical physics - a surprising source for a business-oriented perspective, and offers a blend of brain science and research findings, political principles, and discussions of a new paradigm in 'quantum economics of consciousness'. The result is a delightful recommendation for any business reader seeking more value to the traditional capitalistic model.

The Economics of Outsourcing
Leslie P. Willcocks and Mary C. Lacity
Edward Elgar Publishing
P.O. Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
9781783471805 $440.00 www.e-elgar.com

The Economics of Outsourcing: The International Library of Critical Writings in Economics 297 provides college-level students of business and economics with a weighty yet solid set of critical economic writings that narrow their topic to the major issues involved in outsourcing and offshoring work for countries and business establishments alike. An interdisciplinary approach pairs theory with analysis, using case history examples from around the world to consider the intersection of information systems, business strategy theories, and economic policies alike. Exceptionally small print is complimented by charts, graphs and visuals to pack some 788 pages with specific information and data on outsourcing, making for a powerful blend of data and critical analysis that college-level readers will find important.


The International Studies Shelf

Strike Action and Nation Building
David De Vries
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781782388098 $90.00 www.berghahnbooks.com

Also available as an ebook, Strike Action and Nation Building: Labor Unrest in Palestine/Israel, 1899-1951 is a scholarly analysis of how worker strikes have shaped Israeli society during the eras of the Ottoman Empire and Mandate Palestine. Although there have been forces dissuading strikes, such as the Arab-Jewish conflict, the decline of organized labor, and an increasing scarcity of jobs, Strike Action and Nation Building explores how the strike was used in the first half of the 20th century to improve the power, standing, and welfare of workers. A keen political, economic, and social historical scrutiny, Strike Action and Nation Building is a welcome contribution to college library International Studies shelves.

Neighborly Adversaries, third edition
Michael J. LaRosa and Frank O. Mora, Editors
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781442226463 $39.00 www.rowman.com

Neighborly Adversaries: Readings in U.S.-Latin American Relations is recommended for college-level students of Latin America political issues, and appears in a newly updated third edition to gather works reviewing the nature of, challenges to, and emergence of major issues in U.S-Latin American policies. Students receive a wide range of analytical surveys and perspectives on attitudes in both nations, presenting a blend of historical background and political analysis designed to lend perspective on current events. The first edition appeared in 1999: this third updated edition adds new sections, reflects the latest scholarship in the field, and is a 'must' for any college-level political science student reviewing Latin American politics.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Paleo Vegetarian Diet
Dena Harris
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612434438 $15.95 www.ulyssespress.com

Although The Paleo Vegetarian Diet: A Guide for Weight Loss and Healthy Living has a few recipies, it is primarily a health dietary guidebook. A vegetarian diet excludes meat; a paleo diet emphasizes eating foods that humans once ate before agriculture became widespread, let alone the rise of industrialized and processed foods. Paleo diets exclude a number of vegetarian staples, including beans (although green beans are allowed), grains (including whole grains and quinoa), peanut butter (any nut butter is at most considered a rare treat), soy, and many oils (coconut oil is OK). The Paleo Vegetarian Diet explains why the Paleo lifestyle considers these foods to be harmful, and mandates that they be excluded or minimized. Chapters describe healthy substitutes, suggested dietary guidelines, weight loss tips, how using "cheat days" and the 80/20 principle can keep one on track overall, determining whether the Paleo-vegetarian lifestyle is right for one's needs, and more. An excellent resource for vegetarians considering the Paleo way - or Paleo followers considering the vegetarian way!

Bar Stool Yoga
Miriam Austin, author
Stephen Hunter, photographer
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
9781623540470 $14.95 www.imaginebks.com

Featuring full-color photography on virtually every page, Bar Stool Yoga: The Fun Way of Being Fit and Flexible at the Bar and Beyond lives up to its title as a guide to simple yoga poses and exercises one can perform on a common bar stool, whether at home or in an actual bar. A fun way to stay fit and flexible, Bar Stool Yoga is easy-to-use and packed with tips for those new to yoga. "...most importantly, I sincerely do not want you to hurt yourself by combining your yoga with alcohol. Have fun with the yoga poses on the bar stool, and then have your beer, wine, or cocktails. Always, always, always be safe."

Introduction to Research and Medical Literature, fourth edition
J. Glenn Forister and J. Dennis Blessing
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street. Burlington, MA 01803
9781284034646 $69.95 www.jblearning.com

Introduction to Research and Medical Literature appears in its fourth updated edition to provide an in-depth text for medical professionals on medical literature, and has been completely revised based on reader feedback. It adds new chapters of statistics, includes new material on qualitative research and regulating human research subjects, and packs in charts, graphs, tables, and more. From putting surveys together and compiling research results to handling qualitative inquiry methods and gathering data for prospective studies, this approach pairs detailed descriptions of research processes and options with the standards and latest research readers need to put together solid results. It's especially recommended as a classroom text for college-level health students learning the processes and challenges of researching medical literature.

The Thrill of Krill
Dennis Goodman, MD
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757004186 $15.95 www.squareonepublishing.com

The Thrill of Krill: What You Should Know About Krill Oil is written by a cardiologist and provides the first book to discuss why krill oil is a superior supplement. More than a discussion of krill oil's benefits, it goes on to discuss how nutritional fats work in general, why krill oil's unique structure allows the human body to more readily use it, and how to improve health and treat a range of common health conditions. The in-depth reviews of different classes of drugs and supplements and how they work makes for a powerful survey recommended for any general-interest reader considering different nutritional approaches to better health.


The Fashion Shelf

'Icons of Style' series
The Daily Street
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
$20.00 Each

The 'Icons of Style' series focuses on men's street style, each book taking one street style and narrowing the focus to its history. Denim (9781845339968, $20.00), for example, gathers some fifty denim designs in a visual history that traces the evolution of denim from its overall orientation that made its name to how it evolved into a fashion style that changed over the decades. T-Shirts (9781845339975, $20.00) provides some 100 years of t-shirt history and gathers some eye-catching designs, from the original US navy plain white tee to the evolution of cutting-edge global designs and styles. Sneakers (9781845339951, $20.00) surveys the sport shoe industry from the earliest sneakers to the latest renditions, covering classic footwear from Nike Air to Adidas in more modern times. The result is a set of interconnected books that are vivid and packed with color photos on every page to bring fashion history to life.


The Homeowner's Shelf

How to Solar Power Your Home, second edition
Martha Maeda's
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781620230060, $14.99, www.atlantic-pub.com

Four new books provide home and garden readers with revised new second editions containing specifics and new information on home and garden topics, and are recommended picks for any who would get the latest basic information. Martha Maeda's How to Solar Power Your Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply is for any homeowner beginning the process of researching solar energy and home power systems, and covers all the basics, from assessing personal energy use and requirements to understanding how solar power works, the cost of acquiring and maintaining equipment, and how this power source differs from traditional sources. Numerous individuals who have installed solar power in their homes have been interviewed for this book, which goes beyond other 'how to' guides to explore the personal process of retrofitting.


The Gardening Shelf

Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

Two gardening guides are highly recommended for any gardener seeking specifics. Cherie H. Everhart's The Complete Guide to Growing Tomatoes: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply - Including Heirloom Tomatoes (9781620230014, $14.99) covers everything, from choosing seeds and getting plants to sprout to maintaining a tomato garden, watering, pruning, and harvesting tomatoes. The special section on heirloom tomatoes makes for a fine addition to a gardening guide that blends basic tips with case studies and resources for getting better crops. Wendy Vincent's The Complete Guide to Working With Worms: Using the Gardener's Best Friend for Organic Gardening and Composting (9781620230107, $14.99) advocates composting as it surveys the latest methods involved in composting with worms. Supplies, setup, conditions suitable for composing and worm maintenance, and more provide all the techniques needed to maintain a vermiform compost and use it in the garden. All are excellent home guides suitable for any home and garden library.

Southern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers
Leigh Robertson
Falcon Guides
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9780762784783 $19.95 www.falcon.com

Southern Rocky Mountain Wildflowers provides a comprehensive and in-depth survey of the wildflowers of the Southern rocky mountain region, is published with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, and offers full color small photos and descriptions of some 200 plants, organized by color and family. Readers learn about each plant's bloom season, ecology, characteristics, and how to identify them. The field guide may be used in several ways: by travelers with a special interest in the region's wildflowers, by gardeners interested in wildflower properties and their natural history, and by botanists who will find it a solid introduction to the region's wildflowers and their identification.


The Crafts Shelf

Traditional Japanese Origami Kit
Nick Robinson
Rock Point
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781631061288 $15.99 www.rockpointpub.com

Traditional Japanese Origami Kit is designed for paper folding newcomers who want an easy step-by-step introduction to origami art, and pairs a 64-page instruction book with some 70 pieces of illustrated origami paper - everything needed to put origami together. There are numerous origami how-to books on the market, but this is actually a package, and will especially appeal to newcomers who want everything in one place, paper and all. Its appearance also lends perfectly to gift-giving, making it a recommendation for bookstores looking for something eye-catching and different for their book displays.

Charm Love Friendship Bracelets
Sherri Haab
Quarry
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781631590436 $22.99 www.craftside.net

Charm Love Friendship Bracelets: 35 Unique Designs with Polymer Clay, Macrame, Knotting, and Braiding excels in not only clear color photos, but better-than-average close-up shots of step-by-step processes as it explores the world of creating charm bracelets using techniques with ethnic origins. Readers interested in the topic will find it blends a number of jewelry-making approaches with a discussion of basic supplies, project steps, how to incorporate polymer beads into the jewelry design, and how to make charms using molds and different knotting techniques. The wide range of styles and approaches offers readers a satisfying diverse set of skills and descriptions perfect for those who already like charm bracelets and want the insights on how to put them together.

The Complete Guide to Creating Oils, Soaps, Creams, and Herbal Gels for Your Mind and Body
Marlene Jones
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781620230084 $14.99 www.atlantic-pub.com

The Complete Guide to Creating Oils, Soaps, Creams, and Herbal Gels for Your Mind and Body: 101 Natural Body Care Recipes appears in a revised second edition to cover the process of creating one's own soaps, creams, gels and more for healthier results, and teaches the basics of how to buy and use essential oils and apply them to recipes that can be used not just for the body, but for cleaning the home and creating special perfumes. Chapters excel in a wider range of applications than competing books offer by utilizing this approach for using natural products, with specifics including equipment, cross-comparison of oils and solutions, recipes, and preparation tips. The result is recommended for any with access to essential oils and interest in using them in homemade preparations.


The American History Shelf

The Pedestriennes
Harry Hall
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781457534294 $30.00 www.dogearpublishing.net

The Pedestriennes: America's Forgotten Superstars explores a little-known chapter in sports history, women's history, and American history. In the late 1860s, an emerging sport briefly rose to prominence: professional endurance walking. Male athletes who participated were called pedestrians, but there were a handful professional female endurance walkers, called pedestriennes. Professional endurance walking remained significant for five years, and is virtually forgotten today, but the pedestriennes notably challenged common social preconceptions about women's capabilities, laying groundwork for the suffragist movement and women's participation in the Olympics. Enhanced with extensive notes and a bibliography, The Pedestriennes explores the fascinating history of these remarkable female athletes, their triumphs, and their setbacks. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections.

Before the Big Bonanza
Donnelyn Curtis & Lawrence I. Berkove, editors
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826220387 $60.00 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Author Dan De Quille (pen name of William Wright) is well-known for his classic history of the Comstock mines of western Nevada, "The Big Bonanza", published in 1875. Before the Big Bonanza: Dan De Quille's Early Comstock Accounts gathers fifty previously uncollected letters that De Quille wrote to five periodicals around the country from 1860 to 1863. This writings contain De Quille's detailed, colorful accounts of the early development of the Comstock Lode and its related communities. A notable aspect of these settlements is that many of the influx had no desire to make the area a permanent home; their drive was to "get in, get rich, and get out". Expertly edited with notes, a bibliography, and an index, Before the Big Bonanza is a firsthand primary source that is as exciting as it is enlightening, and highly recommended especially for college library American History collections.

The Underground Railroad
Laurie Collier Hillstrom
Omnigraphics, Inc.
155 W. Congress, Suite 200, Detroit, MI 48226
www.omnigraphics.com
9780780813465, $60.00 (trade) / $55.00 (library), www.amazon.com

The latest addition to the outstanding Omnigraphics 'Defining Moments' series, "The Underground Railroad" by Laurie Collier Hillstrom presents a detailed, illustrated, and authoritative overview of the Underground Railroad, which was a network of safe houses and secret routes used by thousands of enslaved African Americans in the 1800s to escape to free states. "The Underground Railroad" is deftly organized and presented in three major sections consisting of seven narrative overviews; ten key biographies; and fourteen primary sources. Enhanced with the inclusion of a six page glossary of Important People, Places, and Terms; an eight page Chronology; a three page roster of Sources for Further Study; a two page Bibliography, a two page listing of Photo and Illustration Credits; and a twenty-five page Index. An ideal reference for student report research topics and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the 19th Century American history, "The Underground Railroad" is very highly recommended for personal, community, school, and university library reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

The National Joker
Todd Nathan Thompson
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809334223 $29.50 www.siupress.com

The National Joker: Abraham Lincoln and the Politics of Satire focuses on an unusual bordering on unique aspect of Abraham Lincoln's presidency - how he used his legendary sense of humor and gift for telling jokes to political ends. In Lincoln's day, critics dubbed him "the National Joker"; yet Lincoln masterfully fashioned a folksy, fallible persona that enabled him to use satire as a weapon without harmful blowback. The National Joker explores Lincoln's use of humor and satire throughout his political career; his satirical attacks from a position of modesty in his writings and speeches; the limits of his pre-emptive self-satire; popular media's depictions of his physical appearance; and much more. An extraordinary portrayal of a lesser-studied side of the President who saved the Union, The National Joker is a welcome addition to public and college library American History collections.

Carnival in the Countryside
Chris Rasmussen
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609383572 $27.50 www.uiowapress.org

Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Carnival in the Countryside: The History of the Iowa State Fair is a survey of the Iowa State Fair, an entertainment and agricultural event founded over 150 years ago. Since the fair's creation, its founder's ideals for improving agriculture and promoting a democratic civilization have clashed with widespread popular desires to have fun and make money. Of course, the fair had to pay for itself, but the issues of whether to allow horse racing or gambling were also major concerns. Chapters also examine how the fair has evolved as agriculture became increasingly centralized and farm families drifted to the cities, and the fair's representation in fiction, film, and cinema. Carnival in the Countryside is engaging and a worthy recommendation for American History and Iowa state history shelves.


The World History Shelf

Muslim and Christian Contact in the Middle Ages
Jarbel Rodriguez, Editor
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
9781442600669 $44.95 www.utppublishing.com

Muslim and Christian Contact in the Middle Ages provides college-level readers with a study of the early interactions between Muslims and Christians in medieval times, and gathers together scholarly writings from sources by Byzantine, Jewish, Muslim and Latin Christian authors who consider the specifics of these contacts. The inclusion of multiple reports from widely varying perspectives lends to a survey that encourages a better understanding and differing perceptions of Muslim and Christian relationships and history of the times. From what infidels say about Christians to raids and confrontations, this is the item of choice for any college-level reader seeking an exact contrast between historical facts.


The Christian Studies Shelf

A Still and Quiet Conscience
John A. McCoy
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
9781626981171 $26.00 www.orbisbooks.com

A Still and Quiet Conscience: A Life of Raymond G. Hunthausen provides a fine biographical survey of the archbishop who challenged the church (as high as the Pop) and politicians (as high as the President) alike, and who adopted a fearless representation of Vatican II ideals. Hunthausen's approach reflected the spirit of Vatican II's ideals and presented the figure of a fearless leader who witnessed for peace, urged tax resistance as an effective protest method, and handled conflicts inside and outside the Vatican with skill. The result is a powerful survey that any Christian collection will appreciate, documenting the processes and ideals of a charismatic leader.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Secularism in Question
Edited by Ari Joskowicz and Ethan B. Katz
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812247275 $65.00 www.upenn.edu/pennpress

Secularism in Question: Jews and Judaism in Modern Times is an anthology of scholarly essays by an assortment of learned authors examining the issues of secularism in Jewish communities, particularly in the United States and Israel. As the twentieth century drew to a close, scholars worldwide have noted a global resurgence of religion, evidence that a constant march toward secularism could no longer be considered inevitable. Secularism in Question examines history, religion, philosophy, and literature to reveal that the categories of "religious" and "secular" are more fluid than they may appear at first glance. Individual writings include "The Secular and Its Dissonances in Modern Jewish Literature", "Secularism and Neo-Orthodoxy: Conflicting Strategies in Modern Orthodox Fiction", "Secularism, the Christian Ambivalence Toward the Jews, and the Notion of Exile", and much more. Extensive notes and an index round out this thoughtful and thought-provoking compilation.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Reforming Islam
Edited by Stephen Ulph & Patrick Sookhdeo
Almuslih Publications
Ingleside Avenue, McLean, Virginia 22010
9780990970903 $25.00 www.almuslih.org

Reforming Islam: Progressive Voices from the Arab Muslim World is an anthology of essays from a wide array of Arab Muslim intellectuals disturbed by anti-democratic, xenophobic, and dehumanizing aspects expressed all too often in modern-day Islam. These essays, originally published on the website www.almuslih.org, debate better path. They do not mince around the problems of the Arab Muslim world; they champion progressive thinking, religious tolerance and pluralism, and defy doctrines of rigid, unconditional acceptance of immutable foundational sources. Written for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Reforming Islam speaks of how Islam can become a faith that supports the inalienable rights of all human beings. Highly recommended.


The Military Shelf

Convair Deltas
Bill Yenne
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
www.specialtypress.com
9781580072311, $32.95, www.amazon.com

The Convair F2Y Sea Dart was a unique American seaplane fighter aircraft that rode on twin hydro-skis for takeoff. It flew only as a prototype, and never entered production. It is the only seaplane so far to have exceeded the speed of sound. The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. "Convair Deltas: From Sea Dart To Hustler" by aviation expert Bill Yenne is a profusely illustrated, 216 page compendium comprising a detailed history of America's aerospace industry in its prime. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Convair Deltas" is an invaluable contribution to personal, community, and academic library military aviation history collections.

Hidden Warships
Nicholas A. Veronico
Zenith Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760347560 $30.00 www.zenithpress.com

Hidden Warships: Finding World War II's Abandoned, Sunk, and Preserved Warships comes from a naval historian who relates the history, recovery, and preservation process involved in finding combat ships that have sunk, whether they be Japanese subs that attacked Pearl Harbor or the 2006 recent sinking of an aircraft carrier, and documents each vessel's career, sinking, and excavation. While under different hands this could have been more of a discussion of archaeological efforts, its focus on naval history as well as historic sites makes for a survey rich in naval warfare history. These relics are the last remaining evidence of many of the battle results, and Veronico's authoritative yet accessible discussion lends to the book's enjoyment by both naval history buffs and outsiders with relatively little knowledge of events or preservation efforts.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Spellbinding Sentences
Barbara Baig
www.barbarabaig.com
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
WritersDigest.com
9781599639154 $19.99 www.wherewriterslearn.com

Professional writing teacher Barbara Baig presents Spellbinding Sentences: A Writer's Guide to Achieving Excellence & Captivating Readers lives up to its title as a practical guide improving one's writing through study, practice, and learning from quality models. Chapters cover both nuts and bolts of syntax and advanced strategies of composition, with a wealth of demonstrative examples throughout. "Just like athletes and musicians, writers can break down the complex activity of writing into its component skills; we can practice each skill on its own, then combine it with others." Filled cover to cover with tips, tricks, techniques, and useful advice, Spellbinding Sentences is a "must-have" for aspiring writers everywhere! Also highly recommended is Barbara Baig's previous book, "How to Be a Writer: Building Your Creative Skills Through Practice and Play."

Academic Writing Now
David Starkey
Broadview Press
c/o FedEx Trade Networks
555 Riverwalk Parkway, Tonawanda, NY 14150
9781554812493 $19.95 www.broadviewpress.com

Academic Writing Now: A Brief Guide for Busy Students is a resource created especially to teach college students (or high school graduates) a basic, introductory college writing course; it can be used as a self-study tool or as a complement to class. Chapters focus on the most critical elements of composing a clear, concise academic essay. "Timesaver tips", tricks, and techniques fill out this superb guide to writing succinctly and well when one's free time is strictly limited. "Don't do a final proofreading until you have completely revised and edited your draft. It's never a bad idea to correct small errors as you see them. However, if you move into the final proofreading process while you still have major changes to make, much of your time will be wasted." Although there are a few pages that encourage students to practice writing their thoughts and questions, Academic Writing Now is primarily a user-friendly textbook rather than a consumable book. Highly recommended, especially for prospective college students.

Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers, fourth edition
Tad Crawford
Allworth Press
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
www.allworth.com
9781621534648, $24.99, www.amazon.com

It's always a pleasant surprise when authors discover that when it comes to "turning pro" they really don't have to reinvent the wheel. Not with Ted Crawford's "Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers". This 176 page compendium of 32 forms for custom use compiled by Crawford (who has served as General Counsel for the Graphic Artists Guild and legislative counsel for creator's groups fighting for greater rights, and is himself a publisher, an attorney, and the author of more than a dozen books for creative professionals -- including "The Writer's Legal Guide") is simply a "must" for the instructional reference collections for all aspiring authors and anyone who is self-published and therefore carries the entire burden of the publishing process upon themselves -- including marketing, publicity, and promotion. Enhanced with the copious inclusion of ready-to-use with negotiation checklists, "Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers" should also be a part of every community and academic library's Writing/Publishing instructional resource collections. It should be noted that "Business and Legal Forms for Authors and Self-Publishers" is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.99).

Captivate Your Readers
Jodie Renner
Cobalt Books
9780993700415 $11.99 pbk / $3.49 ebook www.CobaltBooks.net

Award-winning author Jodie Renner (also known for her popular "The Kill Zone" blog) presents Captivate Your Readers, a guide to crafting memorable fiction. Chapters discuss the importance of seizing the reader's attention with the first few pages, how to avoid "author intrusions" that annoy the reader, the value of using subtlety rather than "overwriting", how to show character reactions for maximum effect, 33 "must-do's" for creating a standout short story, and much more. Captivate Your Readers is an excellent resource of tips, tricks, and techniques for writers of all skill and experience levels! Also highly recommended are Renner's previous books about improving one's writing, "Fire Up Your Fiction" and "Writing a Killer Thriller".

Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
10151 Carver Road, Suite 200, Blue Ash, OH 45242
WritersDigest.com

Four titles from Writer's Digest Books are superb resources for aspiring authors. Nina Amir's "How to Blog a Book" (9781599638904, $15.99) is now in a revised and expanded edition, with up-to-date information on tools for optimizing and driving traffic to one's blog, among other enhancements. Bloggers of all skill and experience levels will find this a unique and invaluable resource for creating a saleable book based on one's blog. Richard Campbell's and Cheryl Svensson's "Writing Your Legacy" (9781599638775, $16.99) is a user-friendly guide to crafting one's autobiography, offering 35 guided themes, supplementary exercises, suggestions for sharing one's milestones/relationships/career paths, and much more. Jeff Gerke's "The Irresistible Novel" (9781599638256, $16.99) encourages authors to break from restrictive "rules" in pursuit of the true goal - to engage one's readers from beginning to end. Chapters explore different points of view on everything from nuances of grammar (and why their paralyzing rules should not always be strictly obeyed) to mapping a story path with respect to engaging the reader's brain chemistry. Benjamin Sobieck's "The Writer's Guide to Weapons" (9781599638157, $19.99) is a "must-have" for fiction and fantasy writers, from novelists to screenwriters, comic writers, video game storyboarders, and more. "The Writer's Guide to Weapons" debunks common weapon myths in popular media and walks readers through authentic details about the possession and usage of an immense variety of weapons; the result is an extremely fascinating, accurate, and practical resource. All four guides are highly recommended.


The Business Shelf

Star Brands
Carolina Rogoll
Allworth Press
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
www.allworth.com
9781621534631, $24.99, www.amazon.com

Skilled brand manager Carolina Rogoll (who has worked for Procter & Gamble, the world's largest consumer goods company, for over a decade) presents Star Brands: A Brand Manager's Guide to Build, Manage & Market Brands, a structured, reader-friendly guide with a unique model. Chapters discuss how to define brand equity, marketing strategy, brand target selection, how to build a marketing plan, and much more. Case studies of famous brands and interviews with experts in business and advertising round out this "must-read" for marketing professionals. "With blogs granting individuals instant follower communities, online bloggers have become a new kind of influencers. As a result, via bloggers, a new channel has emerged to 'influence' consumers' brand and product choices. Many marketers in the beauty and tech industries for example, rely on relationships with bloggers to gain positive coverage of their products so that the articles and reviews written are positive and distributed through these blogger communities."


The Woodworking Shelf

Basic Marquetry and Beyond
Ken Horner
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781610352499, $24.95, 176pp, www.amazon.com

Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. "Basic Marquetry and Beyond: Expert Techniques for Crafting Beautiful Images with Veneer and Inlay" by Ken Horner (President of the American Marquetry Society, a marquetry expert since 1961, and still active in the craft teaching classes to beginners at his home shop in Morgan Hill, California) is a profusely and beautifully illustrated instructional guide and manual that is thoroughly 'user friendly' in composition, organization, and presentation. "Basic Marquetry and Beyond" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, and community library woodworking instructional resource collections.


The Photography Shelf

Chesapeake Country, second edition
Photographs by Lucian Niemeyer
Text by Eugene L. Meyer
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013
9780789212146 $34.95 www.abbeville.com

Chesapeake Country is an astoundingly beautiful book of photography of the Chesapeake Bay, America's largest estuary, reaching 185 miles from the Susquehanna River to the Virginia capes, and covering over 8,000 miles of shoreline. More than 200 full-color images (each with brief, descriptive captions) reveal the bay's waterscape, wildlife, ecology, history, and present day, as well as its inhabitants: declining numbers of watermen who live by crabbing and oystering, and wealthy inlanders seeking escape from the stresses of urban life. The second edition of Chesapeake Country features a new introduction discussing the future of Chesapeake Bay amid the modern era of climate change, as well as other updates. An index rounds out this captivating treasury, especially ideal as a souvenir for Chesapeake Bay visitors. Also highly recommended for connoisseurs of fine photography is Jeffrey L. Rotman's and Yair Harel's "The Last Fisherman: Witness to the Endangered Oceans" (9780789211910, $49.95), a visual treasury and textual documentation of the extinction crisis befalling the oceans today, causing both sea life and hardworking fisherman to suffer.

Yellowstone & Grand Teton Splendor
Dennis William Linneham
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781591521525, $29.95, 176pp, www.amazon.com

"Yellowstone & Grand Teton Splendor" beautifully showcases the simple beauty of two of our nation's most beloved national parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Accomplished photographer Dennis William Linnehan successfully captures the parks' diversity in dramatic Grand Teton vistas, the delicate patterns of a Yellowstone thermal feature, and even a tender moment between a bison cow and calf. Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons' most incredible views make this a special keepsake. Breathtaking full color photographic images comprise this superbly presented study and are especially ideal for the armchair traveler who might never be able to personal visit these vistas. "Yellowstone & Grand Teton Splendor" is enthusiastically recommended and certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, community, and academic library Photography collections.

Masters of Craft
Portraits by Paul J. Smith
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764349294 $50.00 www.schifferbooks.com

Masters of Craft collects 240 black-and-white photographic portraits, depicting 224 notable twentieth-century studio craft artists and designers known for their work in the mediums of fiber, clay, glass, metal, and wood. There is very little text; the photographs have no captions other than the names of the artists. These portraits, taken over a thirty-year period, speak for themselves as a display of the history and the diverse people of the studio craft movement. Each picture truly is worth a thousand words.


The Automotive Shelf

Hemi: A History of Chrysler's Iconic V-8 In Competition
Geoff Stunkard
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613251881, $35.95, www.amazon.com

"Hemi: A History of Chrysler's Iconic V-8 In Competition" by car enthusiast and historian Geoff Stunkard is a profusely illustrated and comprehensive 192 page history of the Hemi -- a hemispherical combustion chamber is a type of combustion chamber with a domed cylinder head. The hemispherical shape provides some advantages in an internal combustion engine. An engine featuring this type of chamber is known as a hemi engine, as with the Chrysler Hemi engine. Whether the Hemi was installed in a Charger, Super Bee, Barracuda, Superbird, or any number of other cars, the engine dominated the competition in NHRA, NASCAR, and other forms of racing -- making it a valued contribution to racing history. No personal, professional, community, or academic library American Automotive History reference collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of "Hemi: A History of Chrysler's Iconic V-8 In Competition".


The Political Science Shelf

The Hillary Doctrine
Valerie M. Hudson & Patricia Leidl
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231164924 $29.95 http://cup.columbia.edu

Hillary Rodham Clinton was the first Secretary of State to declare the subjugation of women worldwide a major threat to American national security. This concept, known as the Hillary Doctrine, postulates that societies that which dehumanize women are just as likely to dehumanize their neighbors; also, when the voices of women are not heard, a nation becomes less economically and politically stable. Such instability ultimately threatens to manifest into violent conflicts, including terrorism and threats to the United States. The Hillary Doctrine: Sex & American Foreign Policy explores the history, fieldwork, theory, and policy analysis of the doctrine, examining the issue in both principle and practice. Also studied is how the doctrine has influenced American foreign policy, and altered American relationships with nations such as China and Saudi Arabia. Close studies of the doctrine's applicability in Guatemala, Afghanistan, and Yemen round out this nuanced, sober, and meticulous account by Valerie M. Hudson (Professor of Texas A&M University) and international communications adviser/writer Patricia Leidl (former head of the Advocacy and Communications with a World Health Organization department). Highly recommended, especially for college library Political Science collections.

The Silencing
Kirsten Powers
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
300 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781621573708 $27.99 hc / $9.80 Kindle www.regnery.com

Fox News contributor Kirsten Powers considers herself a liberal, but from the Jeffersonian tradition. She decries how the modern liberal wing of American politics seeks to quiet all other points of view in The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech, a barbed outcry against the proliferation of "thought policing". The Silencing speaks out against efforts to delegitimize Fox News, how pundits and so-called "feminists" level misogynist attacks against female opponents, how "illiberal" colleges strictly limit freedom of expression, and much more. Even if the reader does not agree with all of Kirsten Powers' political positions, her evidence of efforts to stifle open discussion is quite sobering, problematic, and worthy of careful contemplation.


The Beer Shelf

Uncle John's Beer-Topia
The Bathroom Readers' Institute
PO Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
9781626863590 $14.95 www.bathroomreader.com

Uncle John's Beer-Topia is a wry compendium of history, trivia, and flavorful facts about beer. From the science of how beer is made, to a diversity of brews dating back to Sumerian civilization, to a match-up quiz of fictional beers and much more, Uncle John's Beer-Topia is just plain fun to browse or read through. Uncle John's Beer-Topia makes a first-rate gift for beer-loving friends with a sense of humor!


The Computer Shelf

Programming for the Absolute Beginner, second edition
Jerry Lee Ford, Jr.
Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
www.cengageptr.com
9781305504431, $29.99, 410pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Programming for the Absolute Beginner" by Jerry Lee Ford, Jr. is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide that will teach aspiring computer programmers the fundamentals of computer programming through the hands-on and easy to master development of computer games. This new edition of "Programming for the Absolute Beginner" teaches programming using Just BASIC, a free, easy-to-learn software that lets you create programs for computers running Windows. Computer programming instructor Jerry Ford, Jr., deftly teaches all of the fundamental programming principles and gives the computer student a broad view of computer programming and its many possibilities. As students work through the lesson pages of "Programming for the Absolute Beginner", they will not only learn the basics of programming, but they will also build a foundation from which they can advance into other programming languages with confidence. "Programming for the Absolute Beginner" is very highly recommended as a curriculum textbook and will prove to be an invaluable addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Computer Science instructional reference collections.

Murach's Beginning Java with Netbeans
Joel Murach and Michael Urban
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774844 $57.50 www.murach.com

Part of the Murach series of computer science reference books written by programmers, for programmers, Murach's Beginning Java with Netbeans is a user-friendly guide accessible to Java neophytes and veterans alike. Including complete pedagogical applications that have been double-checked for accuracy, Murach's Beginning Java with Netbeans covers core skills, time-saving features of the NetBeans IDE for developing and debugging Java applications, object-oriented programming techniques, guidelines for building professional-quality applications, and much more. A superb self-teaching reference and resource, Murach's Beginning Java with Netbeans is a "must-have" for anyone who programs in Java, whether recreationally or professionally. Highly recommended!


The Art Shelf

The Greeks in Asia
John Boardman
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500252130 $50.00 www.amazon.com

Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Greeks in Asia is a showcase and analysis of ancient Greek art, exploring how Greek culture influenced a wealth of other civilizations, including those of Anatolians, Levantines, Persians, Asiatics, Indians, and Chinese. Although the Greeks were not empire-builders, they traded extensively and spread a monetary economy through Eurasia, and their poets and philosophers became highly respected far beyond the borders of their homeland. Copiously illustrated with black-and-white and some full-color photography of ancient artworks and artifacts, The Greeks in Asia is a nuanced tour of how the Greeks influenced numerous other cultures, many with significantly older histories and traditions. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library Art History collections. It should be noted that The Greeks in Asia is also available in a Kindle edition.

The Art of Rocksteady's Batman
Text by Daniel Wallace
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
9781419713859 $40.00 www.abramsbooks.com

The Art of Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum, Arkham City & Arkham Knight is an artbook created especially to commemorate the popular trilogy of Batman: Arkham video games (showcasing the iconic comic book superhero and his enemies) by Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Featuring lavish, full-color illustrations on almost every page, The Art of Rocksteady's Batman includes concept art, detailed in-game models, immersive settings, and a flair that brings the vigilante Batman, his criminally insane foes, and the brooding city of Gotham to life. The text offers insights into each stage of the creative process behind the games. A vibrant, unforgettable re-imagination of the Batman mythos, The Art of Rocksteady's Batman is a treasury for comic book and video game connoisseurs alike.

Brand-New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950s
DianeTuite, et al.
Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, Suite 603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
9783791354354, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Alex Katz (born July 24, 1927) is an American figurative artist. In particular, he is known for his paintings, sculptures, and prints and is represented by numerous galleries internationally. The collaborative work of Diana Tuite (the Katz Curator at the Colby Museum of Art), Katy Siegel (Professor of Art History at Hunter College where she is Chief Curator of the College Galleries), Richard Shiff (Effie Marie Cain Regents Chair in Art at The University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the Center for the Study of Modernism), and Eva Diaz (Assistant Professor in the History of Art and Design Department at Pratt Institute), "Brand-New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950s" is a 208 page compendium showcasing the work of Alex Katz. The combination of informed and informative commentaries, and flawless full color, full-page reproductions of Katz's artwork make "Brand-New and Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950s" an impressive and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library 20th Century Art & Artists reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Travel Shelf

Roadside New Mexico, revised and expanded edition
David Pike
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131-0001
9780826355690 $29.95 www.unmpress.com

Now in a revised and expanded edition structured alphabetically for ease of use, Roadside New Mexico: A Guide to Historic Markers lists 494 distinctive markers that share information about New Mexico's geological features, history, and notable people. Information about each marker is paired with a brief essay to further enlighten readers; there are even entries on "Ghost Markers", sites missing from the road that nevertheless carry important historical lessons. A bibliography is also included. Roadside New Mexico is a joy for armchair travelers to page through, and a treasure for anyone (roadbound or not!) interested in learning more about the rich history of the Land of Enchantment.


The LGBT Studies Shelf

Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions
Michael Helquist
Oregon State University Press
121 The Valley Library, Corvallis, OR 97331
9780870715952 $24.95 http://osupress.oregonstate.edu

Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions is the biography of Marie Equi (1872-1952), an incredibly determined and passionate social activist. She was also a lesbian, who raised an adopted daughter with a long-term partner; a doctor, who provided birth control and abortion in an era when both were illegal (she once spent a night in jail with Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger); and she campaigned tirelessly for the exploited workers and the poor. Accused of sedition during World War I (though she initially opposed America's involvement in the war, her real "crime" was simply being an outspoken activist for social change), she served ten months in San Quentin prison. This did not deter her efforts for social justice. Enhanced with extensive notes and an index, Marie Equi: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions vividly portrays the adventurous life an extraordinary woman. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library Biography and LGBT Studies shelves.


The Dance Shelf

Dance: An Illustrated History
Helene Andreu, author
Author House, Publisher
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
9781504920469 $72.99 www.amazon.com

A stunning overview of the history of dance from prehistoric roots to modern times, "Dance: An Illustrated History" presents 320 pages of exciting trends in dance history, embellished with colored prints of paintings, posters, photos of dancers in action and more. Written by an experienced professional dancer and dance teacher, "Dance: An Illustrated History" contains information about exotic dance traditions including Native Americans, Alaskans, Hawaiians, Japanese, Indians, Indonesians, Turkish, Cambodians, Mexicans and Chinese as well as current dance traditions such as tap, modern, ballet, and jazz in performance. Chapters unfold about Early Dance to Middle Ages, Dance in the Middle Ages, Early American Dance, Ballet and Other Dances, Modern Dance, Tap Dance, Jazz Dance and Minstrelsy, and more chapters on Modern Dance, Tap Dance and Jazz Dance and Musicals. A final chapter is devoted to Ballet from the 1960's to the 21st Century. Frequent black and white and colored photograph prints feature famous dancers and choreographers past and present in this stunning survey of many styles of dance. Important figures' names are typed in bold to stand out on pages of text. Ideal as an educational text for serious students of dance and theater, "Dance: An Illustrated History" carves out a new niche in dance arts history.

Misty Copeland Power and Grace
Misty Copeland, author
Richard Corman, photographer
Cindy Bradley, introduction
Graphic Arts Books
P.O. Box 3225, Durango, CO 81302
www.facebook.com/MistyCopelandPowerandGrace
9780692493250 $12.99 www.amazon.colm

"Misty Copeland Power and Grace" is a stunning photographic essay and testament of the outstanding achievements of Misty Copeland, first African American ballerina to be promoted to principal dancer at New York's American Ballet Theatre. The black and white photographs of incredible beauty show Misty Copeland in vibrant dance poses against a background of a drowned, beached, baby grand piano, washed ashore beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. An inspirational metamorphosis, the dance contributions of Misty Copeland are the stuff of legend, but even more impactful, she is committed to encouraging young African American dancers to follow their dreams. Diversity in the world of classical ballet has been slow to blossom, but with the breakthrough of Misty Copeland, it is truly established that today all things are possible to those who devote themselves to the highest performance of their art. In her words, "At this point in my career, having the platform that I have to speak about diversity, I'm motivated by all of those young dancers who can see themselves through me. It's about creating a new dream and possibility for them, and that's what drives me to keep dancing." The arresting, polished portraits of the young dance soloist reveal her incredible artistry, skill, and lyrical physical expression. But even more telling is the comment, in the introduction, by her first ballet teacher, with whom she began her ballet training at the age of 13: "Misty's journey should inspire all of us - not only that we have tremendous inner potential to achieve our dreams, but that whatever we feel passionate about, we can find a voice to change the world."


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Helping Minds Meet
Helen Zulch and Daniel Mills
Hubble & Hattie
c/o Veloce Publishing
www.velocebooks.com
9781845845766 $19.95 www.hubbleandhattie.com

Written to be accessible to dog owners of all backgrounds, Helping Minds Meet: Skills for a Better Life with Your Dog is a guide to understanding how dogs think and effective ways to train them. The text emphasizes learning to comprehend how dogs perceive the world, and using that knowledge to better communicate with and teach them. Full-color photography on virtually every page illustrates this practical-minded, straightforward reference and resource. The dog training guidelines range from how to teach basic commands to preparing one's dog to run agility courses. "Never make the obstacles [of a home agility course] so secure that they can't be knocked over by your dog - if a stick can be knocked off its support, it is less likely that a dog will trip or injure himself." Highly recommended for dog owners everywhere.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

A War Like No Other
Owen Fiss
Edited and with a foreword by Trevor Sutton
The New Press
126 Wall Street, floor 31, New York, NY 10005-4007
9781620970973 $27.95 www.thenewpress.com

If an American citizen takes up arms against America, at what point should he be treated as an "enemy combatant" with fewer legal protections than any other criminal or murderer? Legal scholar Owen Fiss presents A War Like No Other: The Constitution in a Time of Terror, an examination how constitutional principles of freedom have been altered by counterterrorism practices in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Those practices have since become enshrined in judicial opinion. Fiss studies legal controversies of the past decade including "Hamdi v. Rumsfeld" and "Boumediene v. Bush". A War Like No Other strives to illuminate the role that the judiciary has played, and continues to play, while mediating how the administration can treat suspected terrorists. A key issue is the balancing point between the judiciary's responsibility to defend basic human rights and the President's responsibility to protect national security and foreign relations. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, A War Like No Other is a "must-read" for legal students, scholars, and professionals, and a "must-have" for public and college library Judicial Studies collections.

Law, Privacy and Surveillance in Canada in the Post-Snowden Era
Michael Geist, editor
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
9780776622071 $54.95 www.press.uottawa.ca

American whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked classified information from the U.S. National Security Agency in 2013, an act with severe and ongoing repercussions both domestically and abroad. His revelations of the extent of the NSA's spying ignited a firestorm of debate. Law, Privacy and Surveillance in Canada in the Post-Snowden Era is an anthology of scholarly essays by a diversity of legal experts, discussing the role of The Communications Security Establishment, which is the Canadian counterpart to America's NSA. The Community Security Establishment has engaged in surveillance activities both home and abroad, which prompts a host of difficult legal and policy conundrums. Individual writings include "Lawful Illegality: What Snowden Has Taught Us about the Legal Infrastructure of the Surveillance State", "Permanent Accountability Gaps and Partial Remedies", "Why Watching the Watchers Isn't Enough: Canadian Surveillance Law in the Post-Snowden Era", and much more. An excellent addition to international legal and judicial studies shelves, offering thoughtful perspectives worthy of considering when shaping governmental policy, Law, Privacy and Surveillance in Canada in the Post-Snowden Era is especially recommended for college library collections.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Married or Single?
Catharine Maria Sedgwick
Edited with an introduction by Deborah Gussman
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803271920 $30.00 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu

Originally published in 1857, Married or Single? is an extraordinary novel from an American woman writer who dared to challenge the prevailing notion of the era that every woman must marry. Author Catharine Maria Sedgwick (1789-1867) wrote a story insisting on women's rights to choose whether or not to marry, rejecting the concept of spinsters as pariahs. Married or Single? explores a wider range of options for women in modern society, with insight and razor wit. A classic that is at once both an engrossing read and an erudite champion of women's rights, Married or Single? is highly recommended especially for public and college library literature and women's studies shelves.

The Poetry and Poetics of Michael Heller
Jon Curley & Burt Kimmelman
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
www.fdupress.org
9781611476880, $70.00, 204pp, www.amazon.com

Michael Heller (born May 11, 1937), is an American poet, essayist and critic. Among his many books are Exigent Futures, In The Builded Place, Wordflow and Living Root: A Memoir. He wrote the libretto for the opera, Benjamin, based on the life of Walter Benjamin. He is recipient of awards including the NEH Poet/Scholar grant, New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (NYFA), National Endowment for the Humanities award, and The Fund for Poetry. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Jon Curley (Senior University Lecturer in the Humanities at New Jersey Institute of Technology) and Burt Kimmelman (Professor of English at New Jersey Institute of Technology), "The Poetry and Poetics of Michael Heller: A Nomad Memory" is a 204 page compendium comprised of eight erudite scholarly essays on Heller's various writings and ideas. Enhanced with the inclusion of an informative Foreword; an Introduction (Charting a Nomadic Course: Michael heller's Dispersions of Tradition), an Afterword (The Philosophical Poet in the Age of the Simulacrum); an interview with Michael Heller conducted by Curley and Kimmelman; an eight page Bibliography; an eight page Index; and a list of contributors, "The Poetry and Poetics of Michael Heller" is an impressive and seminal body of original scholarship and highly recommended for academic library Literary Studies in general, and Michael Heller supplemental studies lists in particular. For personal reading lists it should be noted that "The Poetry and Poetics of Michael Heller: A Nomad Memory" is also available in a Kindle edition ($66.50).


The Psychology Shelf

Using the Creative Therapies to Cope with Grief and Loss
Stephanie L. Brooke and Dorothy A. Miraglia, editors
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, Illinois 62704
9780398090777 $74.95 www.ccthomas.com

Using the Creative Therapies to Cope with Grief and Loss is an anthology of essays by an array of credentialed, professional creative arts therapists who use art, play, music, dance/movement, drama, or animal-assisted therapies to aid both child and adult patients who are struggling to cope with grief and loss. Individual writings include "'Bye, Bye Little Snow Bird': Using Art Therapy to Grieve the Suicide of a Father", "These are My Memories of You: The Use of Music Therapy with Children's Grief Support Groups", "Dance/Movement Therapy with Institutionalized Older Adults: An Effective, Holistic Intervention for Loss Adaptation", "A Healing Ritual in Grief Using Drama Therapy", and much more. Using the Creative Therapies to Cope with Grief and Loss is an invaluable contribution of field-tested means to alleviate suffering and enable healing, especially recommended for the reading lists of professional therapists as well as college library Psychology shelves.

Cognition
Cori Bargmann, et al.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard, Woodbury NY 11797-2924
www.cshlpress.com
9781621821267, $318.00, 308pp, www.amazon.com

Cognition is the set of all mental abilities and processes related to knowledge: attention, memory and working memory, judgment and evaluation, reasoning and "computation", problem solving and decision making, comprehension and production of language, etc. Human cognition is conscious and unconscious, concrete or abstract, as well as intuitive (like knowledge of a language) and conceptual (like a model of a language). Cognitive processes use existing knowledge and generate new knowledge. "Cognition" is a 308 page compendium comprised of research papers given at the seventy-ninth Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology addressing discoveries and advances in neuroscience and psychology with respect to cognitive functions of the human brain including memory, language, decision making, and diseases. Of special note is the new information regarding the emerging connections between molecular/cellular/circuit mechanisms and higher brain function. "Cognition" is exceptionally well organized and presented, making it an invaluable, core addition to professional and academic library Psychology/Psychiatry reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Cognition" is also available in a paperback edition (9781621821274, $129.00).


The Nautical Shelf

A Little America in Western Australia
Anthony J. Barker and Michael L. Ondaatje
UWA Publishing
www.uwap.uwa.edu.au
International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR, 97213
9781742586854 $45.00 www.isbs.com

A Little America in Western Australia: The US Naval Communication Station at North West Cape and the Founding of Exmouth is a history of the first US defense facility established on Australian soil during peacetime. During the Cold War, North West Cape existed primarily to communicate with the US fleet in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, especially the powerful and dangerous nuclear missile submarines. Not only is the station itself scrutinized, but also its impact on Australia-US relations and Australian politics, and the town of Exmouth created specifically to support the base. A Little America in Western Australia distills archival records, oral interviews, and more to accurately represent the experiences of Australian civilians and US Navy personnel through the decades, in this detailed and welcome addition to military and nautical history collections, highly recommended especially for college library shelves.


The Civil War Shelf

The First Battle for Petersburg
William Glenn Robertson
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611212143 $27.95 www.savasbeatie.com

The First Battle for Petersburg: The Attack and Defense of the Cockade City, June 9, 1864 is an in-depth analysis of the Battle of June 9, 1864 for the city of Petersburg, Virginia during the American Civil War. A ten-month struggle led up to the eventful day, and of particular note is that nearly 300 of the 1,200 Confederate defenders (against a force of 3,300 infantry and 1,300 cavalry) consisted of reserves with companies of elderly men and teenagers. The First Battle for Petersburg especially focuses on how this critically outnumbered force managed to hold the city. A bibliography and an index round out this fascinating and welcome contribution to Civil War and Military History shelves.


The Genealogy Shelf

Evidence Explained, third edition
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806320175 $59.95 www.amazon.com

Now in an updated third edition, Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace is a resource by award-winning historical writer Elizabeth Shown Mills, created especially for history and genealogy students, scholars, and professionals. Chapters guide the reader through the science and art of historical record analysis. Even though records offer direct evidence of the past, their assertions are not always true. Understanding records aids in objective judgment and evaluation. Evidence Explained discusses what details must be gleaned from each source for a proper interpretation of its evidence; how a record's credibility should be evaluated; how each source should be identified so that others may judge its reliability; and much more. An immense variety of sources in different media formats are scrutinized, with demonstrations of more than a thousand citation models for U.S. and international documents. Meticulous detail and wealth of examples make Evidence Explained as user-friendly as possible, given the Byzantine nature of some of the many documents it demystifies. Highly recommended especially for college library Genealogy collections.


The Native American Studies Shelf

War Paintings of the Tsuu T'ina Nation
Arni Brownstone
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9781772120523 $TBA / 35.00 CAD www.uap.ualberta.ca

During the nineteenth century, paintings were the closest thing that the Plains Indians had to written records, and the majority of their paintings showed warfare and war deeds. War Paintings of the Tsuu T'ina Nation is a scholarly study of these pictorial narratives, featuring color reproductions of war paintings and artifact collections of the Tsuu T'ina (Sarcee) along with extensive interpretation and commentary. The text discusses what insights these paintings hold concerning relations between the Tsuu T'ina, other plains tribes, and non-Native settlements during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. War Paintings of the Tsuu T'ina Nation contemplates all known Tsuu T'ina paintings and several collections of Tsuu T'ina artifacts. Extensive notes and an index round out this thoughtful, in-depth contribution to Art and Native American History collections.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Imperial Projections
Wolfgang Fuhrmann
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781782386971 $120.00 www.berghahnbooks.com

Imperial Projections: Screening the German Colonies is a scholarly examination of the beginning of filmmaking in the German colonies, in the era before World War I. This nascent film industry arose partly in response to scandals and economic stagnation in Germany's colonies. Film was seen as a way to promote business, and provide a positive image of the colonies' value for Germany. Films topics ranged from patriotic themes to travel, wildlife protection, and showcases of cultural events. A handful of black-and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography and an index round out this thoughtful historical analysis, especially recommended for college library Theatre/Cinema and World History collections.


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