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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 14, Number 1 January 2019 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Architecture Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Music CD Shelf DVD Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Art Shelf Photography Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Business Shelf Gardening Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
World History Shelf Humor Shelf Education Shelf
Sports Shelf Biography Shelf Economic Studies Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

The Art of Harry Potter
HarperDesign
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
978006280754 $75.00 www.harpercollins.com

Featuring visually stunning concept art, storyboard illustrations, vivid paintings and more, The Art of Harry Potter: The Definitive Art Collection of the Magical Film Franchise is a coffee-table hardcover artbook showcasing the immense creativity involved in bringing J. K. Rowling's classic young adult fantasy novels to the silver screen. Aside from a brief introduction and various descriptive captions, The Art of Harry Potter is entirely devoted to mesmerizing illustrations of dragons (including the notorious Hungarian Horntail), mythical beasts, Hogwarts faculty and classrooms, wizard wands, close-ups of pages from the Daily Prophet, libraries brimming with magical books, and much more. The Art of Harry Potter is a "must-browse" for connoisseurs of the movies or the books, and makes an excellent holiday gift! Highly recommended.

Cows, Cobs & Corner Shops
Megan Hayes
Y Lolfa
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, 124 Byers Road, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781784615260, $18.00, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

"Cows, Cobs & Corner Shops" is a bilingual (English/Welsh) and illustrated history by Megan Hayes that showcases how the Welsh have, over the centuries, been of crucial importance in supplying milk to the population of London. Starting with the influence of the drovers who took their cattle from rural Wales to the city, "Cows, Cobs & Corner Shops" moves on to describe the establishment of many dairies and corner shops which, open all hours, provided fresh milk to the growing metropolis. A unique and specialized history that is as inherently fascinating a read as it is impressively informed and informative, "Cows, Cobs & Corner Shops" is unreservedly recommended, especially for community, college, and university library British History collections.

The Practice of Mindful Yoga
Hannah Moss
Leaping Hare Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781782405696, $12.99, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com

Most people have heard of yoga, even if they've never stepped onto a yoga mat themselves. But what is the true meaning of yoga and how can we bring more awareness into our yoga practice? "The Practice of Mindful Yoga" by Hannah Moss (a life-long yoga practitioner, and a Thai yoga massage therapist) explores the connection between yoga and mindfulness, offering practical exercises to help both beginners and experienced practitioners live a more mindful life both on and off the mat. Through insightful ideas and personal anecdotes, Moss explains the ways in which mindfulness is fundamental to yoga and how the breath becomes a bridge between the two. She invites the reader to join her on an inspiring journey of self-discovery and conscious awareness through the enriching practice of mindful yoga. As informative as it is inspiring, "The Practice of Mindful Yoga" is very highly recommended for community library collections, and is useful reading for anyone considering or practicing the art and science of yoga. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Practice of Mindful Yoga" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.52).


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing the TV Drama Series, fourth edition
Pamela Douglas
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
9781615932931, $29.95, PB, 310pp, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised, expanded, and updated fourth edition "Writing the TV Drama Series: How to Succeed as a Professional Writer in TV" features the very latest information, insights, and advice on writing for television drams drawn from major writers and producers. A complete instructional resource and reference for anyone who wants to write and produce for a television drama series or create an original series of their own, as well as a curriculum textbook for teachers in screenwriting classes and workshops, "Writing the TV Drama Series" offers practical industry information and artistic encouragement. Both a nuts-and-bolts instructional and an example illustrated inspiration, "Writing the TV Drama Series" leads readers presents provocatively thoughtful and thought-provoking issues and possibilities about the interface between traditional TV and the emerging streaming technologies. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Writing the TV Drama Series" will prove to be a critically important addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Writing/Publishing collections in general, and television screenwriting supplemental studies reading lists in particular.

Short-Form Creative Writing
H. K. Hummel & Stephanie Lenox
Bloomsbury Academia
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781350019898, $102.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com

"Short-Form Creative Writing: A Writer's Guide and Anthology" by H. K. Hummel (Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) and Stephanie Lenox (who is an instructional editor for Chemeketa Press at Chemeketa Community College) is a complete introduction to the art and craft of extremely compressed works of imaginative literature. Aspiring writers are introduced to both traditional and innovative approaches to the short form and demonstrate how it possesses structure, logic, and coherence while simultaneously resisting expectations. With discussion questions, writing prompts, flash interviews, and illustrated key concepts, "Short-Form Creative Writing covers: Prose poetry; Flash fiction; Micro memoirs; Lyric essays; Cross-genre/hybrid writing; and so much more. "Short-Form Creative Writing" also includes an anthology, offers inspiring examples of short-form writing in all of the styles covered, and also includes illustrative work by Charles Baudelaire, Italo Calvino, Lydia Davis, Grant Faulkner, Ilya Kaminsky, Jamaica Kincaid, and a great many others. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Literary Studies and Writing/Publishing collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students and aspiring writers that "Short-Form Creative Writing" is also available in a paperback edition (9781350019881, $33.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $30.55).


The Genealogy Shelf

Tracing Your Roman Catholic Ancestors
Stuart A. Raymond
Pen & Sword Books
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
9781526716682, $26.95, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com

"Tracing Your Roman Catholic Ancestors: A Guide for Family and Local Historians" by Stuart Raymond (who was formerly librarian of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society and an experienced family and local historian, as well as an expert on the history of wills and local records) is the ideal handbook for readers and researchers who are keen to find out about their Roman Catholic ancestors and for anyone who wants an introduction to Roman Catholic history in general. Stuart Raymond provides a brief historical account covering the Roman Catholics from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries, then goes on to identify the available sources, explaining their strengths and weaknesses. His accessible and authoritative book will be an essential source of insight and reference for anyone who is starting to explore this fascinating subject. The Catholic church's structure is described, as are the various repositories where relevant archives and books can be found. Chapters are devoted to specific sources and what they can reveal about the church and those who were members of it. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Tracing Your Roman Catholic Ancestors" is a unique and extraordinary instruction manual, guide and history that is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Genealogy collections and supplemental studies lists.


The Architecture Shelf

Patterson: Houses of Aotearoa
Andrew Patterson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500022191, $75.00, HC, 252pp, www.amazon.com

In Maori culture, architecture is approached as a construction of beliefs: a building must emulate and amplify personalities, hopes, and aspirations, becoming a physical expression of those who inhabit it. These ideas and others are the inspirations behind the design projects of New Zealand architect Andrew Patterson, who has been designing houses and civic projects in the country for over thirty years. Now in the illustrated pages of "Patterson: Houses of Aotearoa" he showcases fourteen of his recent houses, offering both an overview of the spectacular homes and a photographic journey through New Zealand from stunning seascape retreats to mountain cabins. Each house reveals how Patterson's architecture responds to the region's breathtaking landscape - - telling the story of the country's cultural history and creating a sense of place and belonging. "Patterson: Houses of Aotearoa" is interspersed with thematic sections that present Patterson's key influences, such as the culture and lifestyles of New Zealand, and Maori architecture, art, and mythology. A unique and inherently fascinating read that is enhanced with the inclusion of more than 200 beautifully photographed images, "Patterson: Houses of Aotearoa" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental studies lists.

Hawkins\Brown: It's Your Building
Hugh Pearman, introduction
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946689, $65.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

The award-winning architectural practice Hawkins\Brown, founded in 1988, is well-known for its thoughtful, innovative, and sustainable new buildings and refurbishments of all types. The practice prides itself on bringing a fresh and collaborative approach, creating places that are well-made, well-used, and well-loved. Featuring an informative introduction by architectural journalist Hugh Pearman, "Hawkins\Brown: It's Your Building" examines 14 of its projects in detail, interspersed with essays on various themes by members of the practice. "Hawkins\Brown: It's Your Building" includes the founding, history, and approach of Hawkins\Brown, based on personal interviews with the practice's two founding principals, Roger Hawkins and Russell Brown. Profusely and impressively illustrated throughout, "Hawkins\Brown: It's Your Building" is the extraordinary story of an extraordinary architectural firm and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular addition to professional, corporate, community, and academic library Contemporary Architecture collections and supplemental studies reading lists.

The Private Gardens of SMI Landscape Architecture
Jorge Sanchez, editor
Merrell Publishers
8755 Lookout Mountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858946726, $70.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

The garden design firm of SMI Landscape Architecture is known for its estate master planning, its public gardens and streetscapes, and its thoughtful private gardens for clients across the United States, particularly in Florida, and in the Bahamas. The firm's philosophy incorporates a "botanic garden" approach with exotic planting and elements of classical European design to create beautiful, usable spaces, and it is also known for its preservation and restoration of old landscapes. Compiled and edited by Jorge Sanchez, "The Private Gardens of SMI Landscape Architecture" showcases 15 new gardens that presents the range of the firm's work. Each client has different requirements, and so each garden turns out differently - but each shows the firm's hallmarks of lush planting, luxurious garden "rooms," and immaculate hardscaping. A stunningly beautiful and profusely illustrated volume, "The Private Gardens of SMI Landscape Architecture" is impressively informative, a delight to browse through, and an effective source for inspiration, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Landscape Architecture collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Skip to the End
Jeremy Holt, author
Alex Diotto, illustrator
Insight Comics
https://insightcomics.com
c/o Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
www.insighteditions.com
9781683834397, $24.99, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

The bass player of a breakout '90s punk band, Jonny falls apart when his band mate and best friend Kirk commits suicide. Twenty years later he struggles with heroin addiction, lost in the songs they created and desperate to relive the past, when he discovers that he can -- literally. With the aid of a mysterious guitar, Jonny begins to make trips back in time, searching for the roots of Kirk's unraveling. At Nar-Anon meetings and in conversations with his sponsor Emily, he starts to cope with the events that led to Kirk's death. But by the time Jonny realizes that his visits can't change the present, he might be too addicted to stop. An original and deftly crafted graphic novel by the team of author Jeremy Holt and illustrator Alex Diotto, "Skip to the End" is the engaging story of bassist-turned-junkie Jonny Wells -- a man who is addicted to his past, and the only way to deal with it is through the music he makes. While very highly recommended for community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Skip to the End" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies
Guillaume Dorison, author
Jean-Baptiste Hostache, illustrator
c/o Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785867194, $16.99, PB, 104pp, www.amazon.com

Eddie Gorm is the boss of the docks and his only obsession is to run his small business. For this, the docker does not shrink from anything: diversion of military rations, traffic of alcohol and settling of account in the district of the East End. The war? The Nazis? This is the problem of others. Except that when death knocks on his door, he has no choice: only man to save the world from atomic horror, Eddie finds himself propelled despite himself in the midst of a millennial conflict between the Order of Templars and the Brotherhood of Assassins. The latest addition to an iconic graphic novel series that blends science fiction, history, mystery and suspense, "Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies" is an extraordinarily engaging read and will prove to be a favored and popular addition to personal and community library graphic novel collections. It should be noted that "Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.49).

The Prisoner: Shattered Visage
Dean Motter & Mark Askwith
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785862885, $24.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Set twenty years after the final episode of the iconic television series, "The Prisoner: Shattered Visage" follows former secret agent Alice Drake as she is shipwrecked on the shores of the Village and encounters an aged Number Six, who is still locked into a decades-old conflict with his old nemesis Number Two for the future of the now long deserted spy village. Meanwhile, back in London conflicting intelligence agencies fight to gain control of the intelligence mine that is The Village, and the deadly secret lying at its very core. This trade paperback edition includes a two-page text piece that explained the surreal final episode, "Fall Out" as a drug-induced hallucination. Original, dramatic, inherently fascinating, "The Prisoner: Shattered Village" is a wonderful treat for the legions of fans of "The Prisoner" television show and will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Prisoner: Shattered Village" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.37).

Millennium: The Girl Who Danced with Death
Sylvain Runberg, author
Belen Ortega, illustrator
Hard Case Crime
c/o Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785866937, $22.99, PB, www.amazon.com

Lisbeth Salander returns in "Millennium: The Girl Who Danced with Death", a gripping new story written Sylvian Runger and based on a series of best-seller novels by Steig Larsson in a graphic novel format. This time around, Lisbeth is preparing to hack a gigantic data centre and expose the Swedish secret service's secret files. Unfortunately, nothing is simple, and Lisbeth once again finds herself in need of Mickael Blomkvist's help when her friend Trinity is kidnapped. In a world of conspiracy and mistrust, their investigation soon leads them to the obscure group known only as 'Sparta'. A gem of the suspense thriller genre, "Millennium: The Girl Who Danced with Death" is an extraordinary read from beginning to end and will prove to be a welcome addition to community library Graphic Novel collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Millennium: The Girl Who Danced with Death" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Tank Girl Color Classics Book One
Alan Martin, author
Jamie Hewlett, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785866753, $24.99, HC, www.amazon.com

A definitive anthology of Tank Girl collecting classic stories from the original creators of this iconic character, author Alan Martin and illustrator Jamie Hewlett, "Tank Girl Color Classics Book One" is comprised of Tank Girl stories published in 1998 through 1990 and follow her first load of crazy, wild antics that captured the hearts of readers everywhere, then shot them to oblivion (by accident of course)! With all new coloring, "Tank Girl Color Classics Book One" is a 'must' for the legions of Tank Girl fans and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Graphic Novel collections.

Dirty Old Tank Girl
Alan Martin, author
Brett Parson, illustrator
Titan Comics
https://titan-comics.com
9781785869822, $24.99, PB, www.amazon.com

The third Tank Girl graphic novel omnibus, "Dirty Old Tank Girl" offers a double whammy of wonderfully wild and whacked out Tank Girl adventures drawn straight from the pages of two stories: Carioca and Skidmarks. In Carioca (written by Tank Girl co-creator Alan Martin with artwork by the legendary Mick McMahon) our lethal heroine is rudely snubbed on a TV game show, she plots the death of the vulgar host in question unwittingly releasing the vengeance of his embittered wife and a gang of highly trained assassins as a result! In Skidmarks (drawn by Rufus Dayglo), Tank Girl sets off on an illegal cross-continental race in a bid to win enough money for an incredibly expensive operation to bring her best friend Barney out of a skateboard-accident induced coma. While very highly recommended, especially for community library graphic novel collections, it should be noted for all Tank Girl fans that "Dirty Old Tank Girl" is also available in a digital book form (Kindle, $24.99).

Mermaid Project
Leo & Corine Jamar, illustrators
Fred Simon, illustrator
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184021, $11.95, PB, 50pp, www.amazon.com

Inspector Romane Pennac is the only white woman in her station. The world has suffered devastating wars and ecological disasters, and the old powers of Europe and America are now the third world. Amidst it all, it is to this young woman, now a member of a discriminated-against minority, that a couple of devastated parents turn. A mysterious letter has just announced that the body of their daughter, recently deceased in New York, is missing from her coffin. Set in Paris and New York at end of the 21st century, "Mermaid Project" is the first volume in a five book graphic novel series by the team of author Leo and illustrator Corine Jamar and the artwork of Fred Simon. Original, entertaining, deftly scripted and engagingly illustrated, "Mermaid Project" is especially recommended for community library graphic novel collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of science fiction fans that "Mermaid Project" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Black Mars
Andre Franquin, author
Batem, illustrator
Yann, contributor
Cinebook Ltd.
www.cinebook.com
c/o National Book Network (dist.)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781849184182, $11.95, PB, 48pp, www.amazon.com

Off the coast of Palombia, a freighter is at anchor, immobilized by mysterious engine trouble. It is transporting the Zabaglione Circus and its main attraction: a black Marsupilami! When the animal escapes thanks to a kind clown, he finds himself in the middle of a jungle he has never known. And as if helping out this clumsy newcomer wasn't enough for the local Marsupilami family, they also have to face the march of progress, as a highway is built through their home! Andre Franquin was as important and influential throughout his career as Herge, moulding and training dozens of artists through his long years at Spirou magazine. Creator of the Marsupilami and of Gomer Goof, he was in charge of Spirou & Fantasio for 20 years. Yann is known for his ferocious humour and his enduring cynicism; he's one of the most essential writers of the comics scene, with over 50 series under his belt. A Belgian artist and colourist, Batem was chosen by Franquin to illustrate the solo adventures of his favourite animal, the Marsupilami. The third volume of Marsupliami graphic novel series, "Black Mars" is a wonderfully entertaining read from beginning to end. While unreservedly recommended for community library Graphic Novel collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Black Mars" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).


The Audiobook Shelf

Belichick
Ian O'Connor, author
Narrated by Brian Hutchison
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
9781980013211 $TBA

Belichick is the unabridged audiobook biography of enormously successful and starkly controversial National Football League coach Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, who has led the team to five Super Bowl championships. This biography focuses expressly on Belichick's lifetime involvement in football, from watching college games as a kid with his father, to orchestrating Super Bowl-winning game plans as a defensive coordinator for the Giants, to his historic career coaching the New England Patriots. Here are tales of the people Belichick met and worked with, from team owners to football players. Based on extensive research and a wealth of interviews, Belichick is a "must" for sports scholars and Patriots fans alike. 17 CDs, 21.25 hours.

Girls of Paper and Fire
Natasha Ngan
Hachette Audio
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
www.HachetteAudio.com
9781478992691, $24.99, CD, www.amazon.com

Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time, it's Lei they're after - the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest. Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable -- she falls in love with another of the Paper Girls. Her forbidden romance is a direct affront to the Beast King, resulting in Lei becoming enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge. Dramatically narrated by Allison Hiroto (who does full justice to Natasha Ngan's richly textured fantasy), "Girls of Paper and Fire" is a complete and unabridged audio book and one that is unreservedly recommended for fantasy fiction fans and community library collections.

Grumpuss: 15th Anniversary Audio Theater Edition
Written and performed by Travis Edward Pike
Otherworld Cottage Industries
$TBA https://grumpuss.com

Grumpuss: 15th Anniversary Audio Theater Edition (79 min. 9 sec.) is a two-CD set rendering Travis Edward Pike's award-winning "Grumpuss" epic fantasy poem into audio "theater of the mind". This is the original 1998 studio recording of "Grumpuss", read aloud by the author and rescued from archives, remastered with fresh recordings of Pike's original music, enhanced with sound effects. What, may you ask, is a Grumpuss? It's a legendary beast similar to a ferocious cat, "With tremendous paws and gigantic claws, and jaws that can crush armor flat!" Grumpuss: 15th Anniversary Audio Theater Edition is a treat for fantasy connoisseurs, a welcome addition to public library audiobook collections, and makes an excellent gift. Also highly recommended is Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss 20th Anniversary Platinum Edition (1 hour, 38 min.), the DVD adaptation of the Grumpuss saga.


The Music CD Shelf

If It's Love
Kelly Hafner
Smoky Jazz Records
$TBA www.kellyhafner.com

If It's Love is the debut studio album of Austin-based R&B soul singer snd songwriter Kelly Hafner. With the aid of band members Sam Diaz (guitar), Daniela Pennycook (violin), and variety of other talented musicians, If It's Love is a powerful, moving collection original pieces about human emotions, and connections formed with friends, lovers, oneself, and the light of the divine. If It's Love is a treasure worthy of sharing as a gift, highly recommended. The tracks are "If it's Love", "Dreams", "Keep on Hanging On", "Things are Changin'", "Lifted", "No Time", "Summergirl", "On My Mind", "Give Light", and "Angel".

Looking for Utopia
David R. Peoples
Bluesilhouettes Music
bluesilhouettes.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com

Bluesilhouettes (a.k.a. David R. Peoples) presents Looking for Utopia, an original jazz/world/new age fusion album that transcends genres. The music encapsulates the timeless quest for utopia, and features collaborative contributions from South African slide flutist Carina Bruwer and Berlin cellist Natasha Jaffe. The result is a resplendently creative and inspirational soundscape, highly recommended. The tracks are "The Valley of Hidden Treasures", "Peach Blossom Spring", "Moondreams on Crystal Roses", "Dance of the Flickering Fire", "Looking for Utopia", "City of Golden Lights", "Crystal Skies", "Solitariety", "Glass Flower City", "Glass Butterflies", "Hidden City at Crying Rock", and "Take Me to Elysian Fields".

On the Other Side
Cathy Oakes
www.CathyOakesSoloPiano.com
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

On the Other Side is an album of original new age piano compositions with additional instrumentation by music artist Cathy Oakes, her first album after a five-year hiatus. The seventeen songs contemplate the emotional milestones of life, whether they are joyful or heartrending. On the Other Side is also a tribute to faith, and knowing that one day we will be reunited with loved ones who have passed on. On the Other Side is heartwarming, memorable, and highly recommended. The tracks are "Hymn for Peace", "From This Day", "Echoes of Time", "Home with Annie", "Kessia's Waltz", "Puddle Dance", "Flight of a Princess", "Lullaby from Afar", "Just Us", "Midnight Tide", "Sienna's Dream", "Ripples on the Water", "Remnant Tears", "Heal Me", "Beloved Promise", "Be Still My Soul", and "On the Other Side".

Waiting's End
KeithTim Anderson
www.keithtim.com
Kamsongs Music
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com

Waiting's End: Solo Piano Vol. 1 is the debut new age, solo piano album by singer/songwriter KeithTim Anderson. Eleven tracks of music created to promote tranquility, harmony, and inner quietude offer a soothing gift to ease mental tensions, especially after a long day. Waiting's End is a choice pick for connoisseurs of meditative solo piano, highly recommended. The tracks are "Autumn Rain", "Here With You", "Hope Again", "Last Goodbye", "Long Age", "Photographs", "Remember When", "Rest Awhile", "Someday", "Somewhere Out There", and "Waiting's End."

And If You Will Come To Me
Idan Raichel
www.idanraichelproject.com
Cumbancha
$TBA www.cumbancha.com

Israeli music artist Idan Raichel presents And If You Will Come To Me, an original album recorded from his journey and explorations during a solo break from "The Idan Raichel Project" band. Guest contributions from music artists Raichel met in Japan, Bulgaria, and Israel are smoothly incorporated into this whirlwind, emotional tour of a creative journey. Passionate and vibrant, And If You Will Come to Me is an extraordinary, international sound experience, highly recommended. The physical CD booklet includes English translations of all song lyrics. The English translations of the tracks are "Spinning Wheel", "A Love Like This" feat. Zehava Ben, "And If You Will Come To Me", "The Eternity That Was Lost" feat. Danay Suarez, "In The Beginning", "Why Do We Deserve It" feat. Berry Sakharof, "My Friends", "You Are Not Left On Your Own", "Let's Meet", "And If You Will Come To Me" [piano version].


The DVD Shelf

Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss 20th Anniversary Platinum Edition
Travis Edward Pike
Otherworld Cottage Industries
otherworldcottageindustries.com
$19.95 https://grumpuss.com

Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss 20th Anniversary Platinum Edition (1 hour, 38 min.) is the award-winning DVD of Pike's beloved narrative poem "Grumpuss" transformed into an epic film performance. What exactly is a Grumpuss? It's a mythological beast that resembles an ill- tempered cat, "With tremendous paws and gigantic claws, and jaws that can crush armor flat!" A treasure sure to delight connoisseurs of classic British fantasy by authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, and C.S. Lewis, Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss 20th Anniversary Platinum Edition is a choice pick for family movie night and public library collections, and makes a memorable gift. Bonus features include "Tarvis Edward Pike World Premiere Documentary", and three slideshows about the making of Grumpuss. Also highly recommended is the 2-CD set "Travis Edward Pike's Grumpuss: The 15th Anniversary Audio Theater Edition" (79 min. 9 sec.), which allows one to listen to the marvelous adventure as a radio play.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Surrounded by Love
Murray Bodo, OFM
Franciscan Media
28 West Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
https://info.franciscanmedia.org
9781632532374, $15.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings of St. Francis", Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, (a Franciscan priest and a member of the Franciscan Academy) brings to life seven teachings from the life and writings of St. Francis of Assisi in the prayerful, lyrical style his readers will recognize. These seven teachings are both a way and a destination, the way being transformation and the destination being the love of God. St Francis invites us to go on a journey from love through love into love. Inspired and inspiring, "Surrounded by Love" is an extraordinary and life- affirming read from beginning to end, making it unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all Catholics and admirers of Francis of Assisi. It should be noted that "Surrounded by Love" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace
Pope St. Paul VI
New City Press
202 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565486737, $16.95, HC, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Paul VI consistently sought to bring out the best in people and the Roman Catholic Church. He assumed the risks of allowing others to exercise initiative and discretion in their ministries. He facilitated, encouraged, and empowered. If you want to tap into the wisdom of a profound and influential thinker and holy man then you are in the right place. "Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace" is a compilation of 99 sayings by Paul VI. Appreciative readers can wrestle with the insights and exhortations of Pope St. Paul VI and by Giving them time to germinate, allow them to percolate within. Inspired and inspiring, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace" is unreservedly recommended for all members of the Catholic faith. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Prophet and Pilgrim of Peace" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

The Priestly Blessing
Stephen J. Rossetti
Ave Maria Press
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.avemariapress.com
9781594718472, $16.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

In "The Priestly Blessing: Rediscovering the Gift", Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti (who is a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse and a Catholic speaker, educator, psychologist, and retreat leader) forges a renewed theology of priestly blessing, encouraging his brother priests to embrace the habit of blessing people, objects, and events. In this provocative and inspirational volume he shows how the blessing is integral to the identity of priests and crucial to the spiritual wellbeing of all the faithful. "The Priestly Blessing" will also helps priests reflect on what saints and mystics have taught about blessing as a vital activity of the Church, and outlines connections between Catholic sacramental theology, the practice of priestly blessing, and the Catholic understanding of creation that helps make sense of priests blessing objects and animals. While unreservedly recommended for seminary, parish, college, and university library Catholic Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students, novice and veteran priests, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Priestly Blessing" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.72).

Winning the Battle for Your Mind, Will and Emotions
Robert Hotchkin
Chosen Books
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9780800798871, $14.99, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com

The most important battle Christians face is the battle for their mind, will, and emotions. Why? Because it greatly determines how much of God and his kingdom they will experience while they are on earth. The thoughts entertained, the words spoken, and the choices made shape and influence not only our personal reality, but all of creation. The enemies of Christianity love to highlight temporary challenges; poke at feelings and stir up fear, frustration, doubt, and self-pity; and get us mired in murmuring and complaining. Yet the Bible shows us that all of heaven is available to us right now. In "Winning the Battle for Your Mind, Will and Emotions" by Robert Hotchin (a speaker, author, media host, and one of the core leaders of Patricia King Ministries), readers will discover the secret of Colossians: the incredible power of Christ in them. That when they learn how to access God's ever-present power and goodness, feelings and fears will no longer control them. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Winning the Battle for Your Mind, Will and Emotions" is an extraordinarily inspiring read that is unreservedly recommended to the attention of all Christians regardless of denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Winning the Battle for Your Mind, Will and Emotions" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.87).

The Great Reckoning
Stephen Mattson
Herald Press
P.O. Box 866, Harrisonburg, VA 22803
www.heraldpress.com
9781513803418, $29.99, HC, 216pp, www.amazon.com

What do Christians do when the church looks nothing like Jesus? Many followers of Jesus feel disillusioned by a broken religion -- one that loves political power, promises prosperity, and feeds on fear. We are desperately trying to rationalize how a loving God can be connected to unloving churches, institutions, and people. We can no longer deny that our version of Christianity is not just imperfect but has been coopted to inflict violence, racism, abuse, hate, and even death. The question before many Christians is no longer how their faith can survive within a secular culture. It's how their faith can survive Christianity itself. In "The Great Reckoning: Surviving a Christianity That Looks Nothing Like Christ", Stephen Mattson (who graduated from Moody Bible Institute, served as a youth pastor, and now works at University of Northwestern--St. Paul) writes out of the rubble of the failed American faith. But instead of doomsaying or casting aspersions, Mattson offers hope for seekers looking for inspiration, solace for Christians fed up with an unsatisfying religion, and clarity for those sifting through the remains. "The Great Reckoning" is a clear-eyed yet tender critique of where we've gone wrong, and a guide away from the culture wars and toward the life of Jesus. A timely treatise for our troubled times (for example, as when Evangelical leaders knowingly supported self- acknowledged sexual predator and serial adulterer Donald J. Trump bid for the presidency of the United States in the expectation of his willingness to appoint socially conservative judges to the Supreme Court), "The Great Reckoning" is very highly recommended reading for all members of the Christian community regardless of their denominational affiliation. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Great Reckoning" is also available in a paperback edition (9781513803401, $16.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).

Wisdom from Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI, author
Mary Leonora Wilson, compiler
Pauline Books & Media
50 St. Paul's Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-3433
9780819883773, $8.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

On the occasion of Pope Paul VI's canonization, and deftly compiled by Mary Leonora Wilson, "Wisdom from Pope Paul VI" is a pocket-size volume that provides Catholic readers with an introduction to this often-misunderstood pope whose words and actions have proven to be bold and prophetic for those who wish to follow the way of the Lord. Taken from a wide array of his talks, "Wisdom from Pope Paul VI" highlights what it means to be a disciple today. "Wisdom from Pope Paul VI" also includes a wonderful collection of prayers from the new saint, as well as original prayers from the compiler paired with each meditation, and a brief contemporary biography. While unreservedly recommended to the attention of all members of the Catholic community, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Wisdom from Pope Paul VI" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.50).

Woke Church
Eric Mason
Moody Publishers
820 N. LaSalle Blvd., Chicago, IL 60610
www.moodypublishers.com
9780802416988, $14.99, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

The prophets of old were not easy to listen to because they did not flatter. They did not cajole. They spoke hard words that often chafed and unsettled their listeners. Like the Old Testament prophets, and more recent prophetic voices like Frederick Douglass, in the pages of "Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice", Eric Mason (the founder and pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA) calls the evangelical church to a much-needed reckoning. In a time when many feel confused, complacent, or even angry, he challenges the church to: Be Aware - to understand that the issue of justice is not a black issue, it's a kingdom issue. To learn how the history of racism in America and in the church has tainted our witness to a watching world; Be Redemptive - to grieve and lament what we have lost and to regain our prophetic voice, calling the church to remember our gospel imperative to promote justice and mercy; Be Active - to move beyond polite, safe conversations about reconciliation and begin to set things aright for our soon-coming King, who will be looking for a "Woke Church". While unreservedly recommended reading for clergy, seminary students, and all members of the Christian community regardless of denominational affiliations, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Woke Church" is also available in an inexpensive digital book format (Kindle, $1.99).

Reading Genesis Well
C. John Collins
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
www.zondervan.com
9780310598572, $36.99, PB, 336pp, www.amazon.com

What does it mean to be a good reader of Genesis 1-11? What does it mean to take these ancient stories seriously and how does that relate to taking them literally? Can we even take any of this material seriously? "Reading Genesis Well: Navigating History, Poetry, Science, and Truth in Genesis 1-11" by C. John Collins (Professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, University of Liverpool -- and Chair of the Old Testament translation committee for the English Standard Version) answers these questions and more, promoting a responsible conversation about how science and biblical faith relate by developing a rigorous approach to interpreting the Bible, especially those texts that come into play in science and faith discussions. Professor Collins appropriates literary and linguistic insights from C. S. Lewis and builds on them using ideas from modern linguistics, such as lexical semantics, discourse analysis, and sociolinguistics. "Reading Genesis Well" is an erudite and insightful study that will help the readers to evaluate to what extent it is proper to say that the Bible writers held a "primitive" picture of the world, and what function their portrayal of the world and its contents had in shaping the community. A welcome and highly recommended addition to community, seminary, college, and university library Biblical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Reading Genesis Well" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).

God With Us
Fundacion Ramon Pane
Loyola Press
3441 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
www.loyolapress.com
9780829448078, $12.95, PB, 260pp, www.amazon.com

Whether at home or at church, Christians have certainly have heard about Jesus. But have they read his story from the original source, the New Testament? Some Christians might find this difficult and inaccessible unless they have a deep understanding of how the books of the New Testament are organized. The four Gospels do not follow each other smoothly, and many of Christians simply do not have resources for such background knowledge. "God With Us: The Story of Jesus as Told by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John" by Fundacion Ramon Pane is specifically intended for those non-specialist general readers who are hesitant to read the Bible because of such reservations concerning their own competency to do so informatively. The most representative passages to reconstruct the story of Jesus chronologically have been selected to provide a biblically based biography starting with the announcement of Jesus' birth to his resurrection. Questions for discussion and meditation are provided to help the readers to deepen their understanding of Jesus' teachings and integrate them naturally into daily life. "God with Us" is an open invitation to read about the acts and words of Jesus from the original source, as well as accessibly and understandable written in modern language. While very highly recommended for community, church, seminary, and academic library Biblical Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students and all members of the Christian community that "God With Us" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.18).

Tenacious Solidarity
Walter Brueggemann
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9781506447704, $29.00, PB, 619pp, www.amazon.com

Compiled and edited by Davis Hankins (Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC), "Tenacious Solidarity: Biblical Provocations on Race, Religion, Climate, and the Economy" is comprised of essays and new writings from 2014 to 2018 by Walter Brueggemann (who is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary). The individual chapters are deeply biblical while also concerned with the identities, practices, and obligations of religious communities in contemporary contexts within the United States. Brueggemann consistently attempts to weave the biblical texts (vested as they are with the authority of a storyteller) into the deep contours of his readers' experiences, in order to foster a tenacious solidarity that might overcome both the psychic numbness cultivated by a 24-hour news cycle as well as the anxious possessiveness nurtured by so many privatized spiritualities. Thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Tenacious Solidarity" is an impressive body of work that is unreservedly recommended for clergy, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in biblical ethics.

The Holy Spirit
Chiara Lubich, author
Florence Gillet & Raul Silva, editors
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
www.newcitypress.com
9781565486744, $14.95, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com

Collaboratively edited by Florence Gillet and Raul Silva, in the pages of "The Holy Spirit: Renewing the Face of the Earth" the late Chiara Lubich (1920-2008) reveals to the reader the Holy Spirit's incomparable gifts, his joy, his strength, his consolation and to ignite the ardor of being united with this unknown God in renewing the face of the earth. On numerous occasions leaders of the Catholic Church have acknowledged the action of the Holy Spirit in the Focolare Movement. In 1946 the archbishop of Trent, Carlo de Ferrari, recognized the action of the Holy Spirit with these now famous word: Here there is the finger of God. This expression echoes the Gospel of Luke 2 and the ninth century hymn, Come Holy Spirit, and therefore refers to the presence of the Holy Spirit. A thoughtful and thought-provoking read that will appeal to both clergy and lay readers within the Roman Catholic tradition, "The Holy Spirit" is unreservedly recommended for church, seminary, college, and university library Christian Theology collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of seminary students, clergy, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Holy Spirit" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitting for Little Sweethearts
Hanne Andreassen Hjelmas & Torunn Steinsland
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764356278, $28.99, HC, 168pp, www.amazon.com

Hanne Andreassen Hjelmas and Torunn Steinsland are a photographer and designer duo, mothers, and the founders of the wildly successful blog and webshop KlompeLOMPE. Since their launch in Norway, these charming designs and knitted garments are now loved worldwide. In "Knitting for Little Sweethearts" they draws upon their years of experience and expertise to present and showcase 60 patterns for adorable knitted clothing designs. Nature inspired and with a sweetly casual appeal, these patterns are mostly for boys and girls aged one to six, but there are some charming pieces for adults, and for babies too. Needlecrafters can choose from comfortable creations like cowls, shorts, Rough and Tumble Pants, jackets, mittens, a ballet skirt, and of course several of the perfectly-crafted caps and hats that led to KlompeLOMPE's fame. Color and yarn alternatives are included for most patterns, along with a handy difficulty rating: most patterns are at level 2. Needlecrafters wanting to make a quick and easy project should look for level 1. For those having aspirations for something a little more challenging should go to level 3. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Knitting for Little Sweethearts" will prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal and community library Contemporary Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Crocheted Birds
Vanessa Mooncie
The GMC Group
www.thegmcgroup.com
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784944582, $22.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

Featuring 10 gorgeous projects, all with stunning photographs and detailed charts, "Crocheted Birds: A Flock of Feathered Friends to Make" is a beautifully illustrated bird lovers' needlecrafting instructional collection that: Includes extensive techniques section; Suitable for all skill levels; Featuring 10 projects for adorable crocheted birds; with hand-drawn charts that presents pattern projects that include the blackbird, wren and robin. Of special note are the intricate charts included with the patterns to help aspiring needlecrafters to make our feathered friends come to life! While very highly recommended for community library Needlecrafting instructional reference collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Crocheted Birds" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Knitted Safari
Sarah Keen
The GMC Group
www.thegmcgroup.com
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784944018, $19.95, PB, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Sarah Keen works as a freelance pattern designer and finds calculating rows and stitches challenging, but fascinating. She is experienced in designing knitted toys for children and also enjoys writing patterns for charity. In the pages of "Knitted Safari: A Collection of Exotic Knits to Make", is packed from cover to cover with fabulous safari animals to knit, as well as a jeep to take go on the imaginary adventure of a lifetime. Inside you will find everything you need to know to knit creatures that will entertain children for hours. "Knitted Safari" showcases do-it-yourself knitting projects for 25 safari animals and a jeep. Included are a techniques section suitable for novice knitters who would like to make elephants, lions, a rhino, leopard, buffalo, flamingos, chimps, a zebra, hippos and anteater. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Knitted Safari" will prove to be a fun and welcome addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Knitted Safari" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Scrap Happy Quilts from Georgia Bonesteel
Georgia Bonesteel
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764356322, $29.99, PB, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Georgia Bonesteel, as host of the long-running PBS series Lap Quilting, launched an entire generation into the craft of quilting. She has served as President of the International Quilt Association and was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame, among many other honors. In "Scrap Happy Quilts from Georgia Bonesteel" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to share updated methods for making 25 classic quilt patterns using only whatever fabrics are on hand. A kind how-to memoir showcasing 25 do-it-yourself quilting projects, with "Scrap Happy Quilts from Georgia Bonesteel" employs a unique sewing system that starts with fabric strips set in a magazine. Aspiring quilters will also enjoy funny stories, surprising moments, and personal lessons Georgia has learned through her decades of trailblazing in the quilting world, and get an entertaining glimpse into her home and studio. "Scrap Happy Quilts from Georgia Bonesteel" is recommended for all levels of quilters and includes pattern templates.


The Art Shelf

Pavement Chalk Artist, third edition
Julian Beever
Firefly Books Ltd.
50 Staples Avenue, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, ON, Canada L4B 0A7
www.fireflybooks.com
9781770851597, $29.95, HC, 128pp, www.amazon.com

"Pavement Chalk Artist: The Three-Dimensional Drawings of Julian Beever" includes a fabulous selection of Beever's most intriguing anamorphic and seemingly 3-D drawings. Each one is accompanied by a description of the techniques he used and the challenges he overcame. These photographs record the development of his unusual skill and understanding of perspective. Readers can see how his art progresses and matures as he takes on commissioned works and a wealth of original, inventive subjects in locations worldwide. The photographs tell the story, giving readers both an understanding of the principles of this 3-D art form and the pleasure of sharing the scenes that passerby once enjoyed before these unique works disappeared forever. Now published in a newly revised and expanded third edition, "Pavement Chalk Artist" includes 16 additional pages of Beever's most recent art. While very highly recommended, especially for community and academic library Contemporary American Art collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Pavement Chalk Artist" is also available in a paperback edition (9780228100775, $19.95).

Colorways: Acrylic Animals
Megan Wells
Walter Foster
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartoknows.com
9781633226142, $19.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Megan Wells is an artist, author, and instructor living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Previously a high-school art teacher, Megan now runs her hand-lettering and illustration studio, Makewells, full time. In "Colorways: Acrylic Animals" she draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide aspiring artists with a wealth of tips, techniques, and step-by-step lessons for learning to paint whimsical artwork in vibrant acrylic. Each step-by-step project comprising "Colorways: Acrylic Animals" shows not only how to capture an animal's likeness, but also how to use color to create magical, other-worldly, and whimsical paintings. Aspiring artists will also learn how to use acrylic paint to add texture and fanciful flourishes, like florals and collage, to their glorious animal subjects. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, commentary, instructions, organization and presentation, "Colorways: Acrylic Animals" is highly recommended for personal and community library art instructional reference collections and would well serve as an art class curriculum supplemental studies textbook.


The Photography Shelf

The Statues of Central Park
Catarina Astrom, photographer
June Eding, author
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578265411, $24.95, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Catarina Astrom is photographer and journalist. Originally from Sweden, Catarina settled in New York City where she fell in love with Central Park. Catarina hopes her photographs will inspire others to embrace the beauty and uniqueness of New York City's Central Park. In "The Statues of Central Park" show has produced an extraordinary photographic tribute to one of the world's most popular recreational destinations and public spaces: the New York City's Central Park. This is the most visited urban park in the United States, with 42 million visitors annually. This is in no small part due to its collection of sculptures and monuments erected throughout the park. "The Statues of Central Park" highlights and showcases these individual sculptures and monuments in one spectacular photography collection, complete with short descriptions and commentary by June Eding that details the interesting histories of these public art pieces. With visually stunning photographs that capture the essence of the statues and monuments of Central Park, this superbly organized and presented collection is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Contemporary American Photography collections.

Joni: The Joni Mitchell Sessions
Norman Seeff
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
www.insighteditions.com
9781683836278, $75.00, HC, 200pp, www.amazon.com

An ultimate celebration of a visionary musician and the artist who captured her spirit in iconic images, "Joni: The Joni Mitchell Sessions" is a truly extraordinary collection of photographs of the legendary Joni Mitchell as captured by celebrated rock-and-roll photographer Norman Seef. It is the result of a creative partnership that has lasted for over 40 years and arises from some of their best work together. Joni was a truly authentic subject, able to surrender herself to the art and express herself freely within his lens. Through over a dozen sessions across more than a decade together, the photographer captured the many facets of her personality in some of her most famous images. Timed to release on Joni's 75th birthday, this collection of familiar and rare imagery tracks the pair's history together through these exclusive moments captured on film. A combination of album artwork and candid shots reveals Joni's personality in ways few have managed to capture before or since. Featuring commentary from Seeff on the enlightenment into his art that he gained from their sessions, this compilation is a true reflection on mutual creativity between artist and muse. A 'must' for the legions of Joni Mitchell fans, "Joni: The Joni Mitchell Sessions" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Photography collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook
Victoria Rosenthal
Insight Editions
PO Box 3088, San Rafael, CA 94912
www.insighteditions.com
9781683833970, $35.00, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com

Based on the irradiated delicacies of the world of Bethesda Entertainment's Fallout, this Vault-Tec - approved cookbook provides fans of the award-winning series with recipes inspired by their favorite Fallout foods. Whip up tasty versions of the Mirelurk egg omelette, throw some deathclaw meat on the grill, and re-create BlamCo Mac & Cheese with "Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook" by Victoria Rosenthal who launched her blog, Pixelated Provisions, in 2012 to combine her lifelong passions for video games and food by recreating consumables found in many of her favorite games. With recipes ranging from Sugar-Bombed Carrots; Tato Soup; and Saddle Up Salisbury Steak; to Birthday Cake; Nuka-Cola Float; and Mississippi Quantum Pie, "Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook" will prove to be a unique and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

Poh Bakes 100 Greats
Poh Ling Yeow
Murdoch Books
www.murdochbooks.co.uk
9781743367490, $28.99, PB, 244pp, www.amazon.com

"Poh Bakes 100 Greats" is comprised of Poh Ling Yeow's must-have recipes that have been tried and perfected over her years of baking experience both as a TV personality and as the owner of her cafe and bakery Jamface. Starting with 'Savoury Stunners', 'Bake Sale Beauties' and 'French fundamentals', recipes span beef stout pie with blue cheese crust and rosemary olive oil crackers to rhubarb and spiced orange brulee and orange kisses with cream centres. 'Sweet Pies and Tantalising Tarts' contain scrumptious recipes for blueberry bakewell tart; 'Oldies but Goodies' has mouth-watering pecan cinnamon scrolls; and 'Thrills and Frills' has exactly what it says on the tin, from Poh's Magic Rainbow Pinata Birthday Cake to her lemon meringue cloud cake. Finally, by following her thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes even the most novice of family cooks can now branch out with Poh's Black Forest crepe cake in her chapter on 'Adventure Bakes'; get the perfect bake every time with the recipe for silken pear cake; and read-up on your 'Must-Knows' from ganaches and yogurt mascarpone cream to rum custard and lemon curd. Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library cookbook collections, it should be noted for the personal culinary cookbook shelf that "Poh Bakes 100 Greats" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

New Pizza
Stefano Manfredi
Murdoch Books
www.murdochbooks.co.uk
9781743368886, $26.99, HC, 248pp, www.amazon.com

Pizza is one of America's most popular dishes, especially featuring Cheese, Pepperoni and Sausage as the reliable and most often ordered varieties. But now Stefano Manfredi's new cookbook compendium, "New Pizza", takes one of the world's favorite fast food back to its origins as a deliciously healthy and simple meal for everyone to enjoy. In America pizza comes in many styles - thin, thick, crisp, chewy, round, square, a meter or more in length, filled, fried or sweet - and the quality of the pizza is defined by the quality of the flour, dough and toppings. Sydney's award-winning pizza maestro will show even the most novice of kitchen cooks how to use wholewheat flour, fresh toppings and tried-and-tested methods to create the healthiest, tastiest pizza this side of Naples. An impressive culinary compendium, each showcased pizza is accompanied by a full color and mouth-watering photograph. Of special note are the illustrated instructions for shaping basic dough into a base for a pizza which precedes recipes for a Roman- style pizza dough basic and a Roman-style pizza dough mixed wheat. With pizza recipes ranging from Gorgonzola, Potato and Radicchio; to Roman Pizza with Roast Duck, Chestnuts, and Mushrooms; to Roman Pizza with Zucchini Trifolati; to Roman Pizza with Broccoli, Marinated Anchovies and Capers; even the most dedicated of pizza lovers will discover exciting new ways to enjoy a pizza. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted that "New Pizza" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Business Shelf

Sell Online Like a Creative Genius
Brainard Carey
Allworth Press
www.allworth.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781621536499, $12.99, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com

"Sell Online Like a Creative Genius: A Guide for Artists, Entrepreneurs, Inventors, and Kindred Spirits" by Brainard Carey offers practical advice with solid 'real world' examples of how building an online business is something any creative person can pursue. Carey draws from his extensive experience and interviews with others to show artists and creative people how to sell their work independently and efficiently. Readers will learn how to establish an online store, develop a presence, promote their goods, and reach customers. Chapter topics include: Designing a website or profile on an existing site; Effective marketing strategies; Creative ways to advertise your product; Building your social media following; Finding new customers; Real examples of artists and entrepreneurs who succeeded in selling their work online. With chapters divided between practical how-tos and case studies, "Sell Online Like a Creative Genius" offers aspiring online entrepreneurs both instructive and demonstrative lessons in making their small online business a reality. Everyone can do it with the right tools, and Carey offers an insider's guide to an otherwise daunting process. A complete course of instruction, "Sell Online Like a Creative Genius" is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Business Management & Entrepreneurial Studies collections. It should be noted that "Sell Online Like a Creative Genius" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Leading Transformation
Nathan Furr, Kyle Nel, & Thomas Zoega Ramsoy
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633696549, $34.95, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

Deftly written by Kyle Nel (CEO and cofounder of Uncommon Partners, a consulting and training firm), Nathan Furr (Professor of Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD in Paris), and Thomas Zoega Ramsoy (one of the leading experts on applied neuroscience and consumer neuroscience, who is the founder and CEO of Neurons Inc, a global innovation and tech company that helps companies, organizations, and universities put neuroscience tools and insights into practice), "Leading Transformation: How to Take Charge of Your Company's Future" introduces an innovative yet proven process for creating breakthrough change. Divided into three steps (envisioning the possible, breaking down resistance, and prototyping the future) this process as presented in "Leading Transformation" uses cutting-edge tools such as science fiction, cartoons, rap music, artifact trails, and neuroprototypes to overcome people's inability to imagine or react to what doesn't yet exist, override powerful habits and routines that prevent them from changing, and create compelling narratives about the organization's future and how to get there. Showing how these tools have been used successfully by companies such as Lowe's, Walmart, Pepsi, IKEA, Google, Microsoft, and others, the process revealed in "Leading Transformation" gives corporate leaders the means to transcend the human barriers that block change and lead their organizations confidently into the future. While unreservedly recommended for corporate, community, college, and university library Business Management collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Leading Transformations" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.49).


The Gardening Shelf

Herbs and Spices: Self-Sufficiency
Linda Gray
Lifestyle Books
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781847737755, $9.99, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain species, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates. "Herbs and Spices: Self-Sufficiency" by Linda Gray (a home and garden expert and runs her own very successful gardening website and publishes a monthly e-zine) is clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavor-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Beautifully illustrated throughout, thoroughly 'user friendly', compact and expertly organized, "Herbs and Spices: Self-Sufficiency" is unreservedly recommended for as a personal informational resource and community library collection Gardening reference collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Sugar Land
Tammy Lynne Stoner
Red Hen Press
P.O. Box 40820 Pasadena, CA 91114
www.redhen.org
9781597096270, $16.95, PB, 344pp, www.amazon.com

It's 1923 in Midland, Texas, when Miss Dara falls in love with her best friend -- who also happens to be a girl. Terrified, Miss Dara takes a job at the Imperial State Prison Farm for men. Once there, she befriends inmate and soon-to-be legendary blues singer Lead Belly, who sings his way out but only after he makes her promise to free herself from her own prison. "Sugar Land" is a triumphant, beautiful novel by Tammy Lynne Stoner about the heart's refusal to be denied what the heart wants. All the more impressive when considering that "Sugar Land" is Tammy Lynne Stoner's debut as an author, this inherently engaging and deftly crafted novel is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sugar Land" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance Audio, 9781978649064, $15.99, MP3 CD).

Aya Dane
Mhani Alaoui
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781623719685, $15.00, PB, 272pp, www.amazon.com

Deftly written by novelist Mhani Alaoui, "Aya Dane" is the inherently interesting story of a woman who creates mixed media paintings and writes a diary in her studio above a strange, old Cambridge townhouse. There Aya lives alone, having left her childhood home in Tangiers. Though she has carved a name for herself in the art world, she allows herself just one close relationship, to an intimate companion named David. One day, Aya receives a letter from a powerful, enigmatic patron, an invitation to submit her ultimate work to his collection. If he deems it worthy, he promises, her art will live on forever. Aya finds herself unable to resist the mysterious invitation, and challenge. But as she begins to work on the commissioned painting, from her top-floor perch, the streets of Tangiers reappear to her. Their white-and-blue walls, purple bougainvillea, sweetness and sorrow bring back to life people and events she thought shed left behind. Aya becomes haunted by forgotten scenes, only to discover that she herself is being painted, on a canvas from which it seems impossible to escape. An engaging, entertaining, thought-provoking read, "Aya Dane" is unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, and most especially for community, college, and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Newcomer
Keigo Higashino
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250067869, $27.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com

Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the Tokyo Police Department has just been transferred to a new precinct in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Newly arrived, but with a great deal of experience, Kaga is promptly assigned to the team investigating the murder of a woman. But the more he investigates, the greater number of potential suspects emerges. It isn't long before it seems nearly all the people living and working in the business district of Nihonbashi have a motive for murder. To prevent the murderer from eluding justice, Kaga must unravel all the secrets surrounding a complicated life. Buried somewhere in the woman's past, in her family history, and the last few days of her life is the clue that will lead to the murderer. An impressively crafted and simply riveting mystery of a read from beginning to end, "Newcomer' is the perfect introduction to all dedicated mystery/suspense fans to novelist Keigo Higashino's genuine flair for originality and mastery of the crime fiction genre. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Newcomer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Overkilt
Kaitlyn Dunnett
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496712622, $26.00, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com

While Liss preps the Scottish Emporium for November's inevitable shopping rush, other local businesses aren't half as lucky. Year after year, her father-in-law's rustic hotel can barely turn a profit during the stretch between autumn's peak and ski season. Except this time, Mr. Ruskin realizes that the recipe for success lies in enticing an untapped niche clientele -- childless couples desperate for a holiday away from family! The unusual marketing tactic has everyone in Moosetookalook talking. Unfortunately, it also inspires a scathing social media campaign aimed at persuading tourists to boycott the hotel for affronting family values. Liss dismisses the bad publicity as being totally "overkilt"-- until angry mobs fill the streets, the troublemaker who started it all turns up dead, and her loved ones are suspected of murder. With so much at stake, Liss can't possibly follow police orders to stay out of the investigation. There's just one wee problem: saving her own clan could mean sending a friend or two behind bars. Now (partly helped, partly hindered by her difficult mother) Liss must digest a slew of unsettling clues and catch the real killer or else everything she's ever been thankful for may vanish before her eyes. The latest addition to author Kaitlyn Dunnet's simply outstanding 'Lisa macCrimmon Scottish Mystery' series, "Overkilt" is a wonderfully riveting and unfailingly entertaining read from first page to last. While certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Overkilt" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

One Taste Too Many
Debra H. Goldstein
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
9781496719478, $7.99, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she's the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily -- an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant. Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily's award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death -- being in the kitchen! A splendidly crafted mystery from beginning to end by an author who is a master of the genre, Debra Goldstein's "One Taste Too Many" is unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "One Taste Too Many" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).

Scrublands
Chris Hammer
Atria Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501196744, $26.99, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com

Riversend is an isolated rural community afflicted by an endless drought, and where a young priest does the unthinkable, killing five parishioners before being taken down himself. A year later, accompanied by his own demons from war-time reporting, journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend. His assignment is simple: describe how the townspeople are coping as the anniversary of their tragedy approaches. But as Martin meets the locals and hears their version of events, he begins to realize that the accepted wisdom assuming the priest was a pedophile whose imminent exposure was the catalyst for the shooting (a theory established through an award-winning investigation by Martin's own newspaper) may be wrong. Just as Martin believes he's making headway, a new development rocks the town. The bodies of two German backpackers (missing since the time of the church shootings) are discovered in a dam in the scrublands, deserted backwoods marked by forest fires. As the media flocks to the scene, Martin finds himself thrown into a whole new mystery. What was the real reason behind the priest's shooting spree? And how does it connect to the backpacker murders, if at all? Martin struggles to uncover the town's dark secrets, putting his job, his mental state, and his life at risk as more and more strange happenings escalate around him. A riveting page-turning thriller of a read from beginning to end, "Scrublands" by Chris Hammer is an especially recommended addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Scrublands" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

In Too Deep
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800735517, $29.99, HC, 348pp, www.amazon.com

When the Carrington dive team discovers an encrypted laptop with connection to an open murder case, detective Adam Campbell turns to the only person he can trust -- but what they find may require a choice between loyalty and the truth. A deftly crafted and inherently riveting read throughout, "In Too Deep" by Lynn Blackburn is a genuinely extraordinary novel by an author who is an established master of the genre. While unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "In Too Deep" is also available in a paperback edition (9780800729295, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.33).

Burden of Proof
DiAnn Mills
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496427045, $24.99, HC, 416pp, www.amazon.com

Reeling from a negotiation gone wrong, FBI Special Agent April Ramos is caught off guard when a frazzled young woman shoves a crying baby into her arms, then disappears. Worry for the child's safety quickly turns to fear when a man claiming to be the girl's father abducts them at gunpoint. April puts her hostage negotiation skills to use to learn more about who she's dealing with: Jason Snyder, a fugitive accused of murder. As Jason spins a tall tale about being framed for the killing of his business partner, April must sort through his claims to find the truth. A truth that becomes all the more evident after April overhears a conversation between Jason and the local sheriff and realizes something more sinister may be happening in their small town of Sweet Briar, Texas. But aligning herself with a known fugitive to uncover the burden of proof could cost April her job -- or worse, her life and the lives of other innocent people! Taking her readers on a veritable rollercoaster ride of unexpected plot twists and turns, "Burden of Proof" is an inherently riveting read from beginning to end. While very highly recommended, especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated suspense/thriller buffs that DiAnn Mills' "Burden of Proof" is also available in a paperback edition (9781496427052, $14.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.84).

Evil Things
Katja Ivar
Bitter Lemon Press
www.bitterlemonpress.com
9781912242092, $14.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Hella Mauzer was the first ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit. But her superiors deemed her too 'emotional' for the job and had her reassigned. Now, two years later, she is working in Lapland for the Ivalo police department under Chief Inspector Jarvi, a man more interested in criminal statistics and his social life than police work. They receive a letter from Irja Waltari, a priest's wife from the village of Kaarmela on the Soviet border, informing them of the disappearance of Erno Jokinen, a local. Hella jumps at the chance to investigate. Jarvi does not think that a crime is involved. After all, people disappear all the time in the snows of Finland. When she arrives, Hella stays the village priest and his wife, who have taken in Erno's grandson who refuses to tell anyone his grandfather's secret. A body is then discovered in the forest and she realizes that she was right; a crime has been committed. A murder. But what Hella doesn't know, is that the small village of Kaarmela is harbouring another crime, a crime so evil, it is beyond anything any of them could have ever imagined. "Evil Things" is the debut novel in author Katja Ivar's new 'Hella Mauzer Crime Series'. An impressive example of Nordic noir, "Evil Things" is an historic thriller set during the Cold War. While very highly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "Evil Things" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.85).


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Magnificent Wilf
Gordon R. Dickson
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781481483636, $16.00, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

We are not alone in the galaxy. And extra-solar civilization has come calling. Now, Tom Parent, his linguist wife Lucy, and their Great Dane Rex must travel the stars as ambassadors of Earth. Their mission: to prove Humanity deserves to be considered equal to the scores of established alien cultures. Earth's acceptance hinges on building good relationships with these aliens, and the genteel Parents seem the perfect candidates for wooing extra-terrestrials. Of course, they'll have to tread carefully among these brave new worlds that have such creatures in them! Soon what starts as a straight-forward goodwill tour is complicated when Lucy is mistaken for a Wilf (a lifeform that manipulates others toward moral behavior) and Tom accidentally joins a galactic council when he sits in the wrong chair. On top of that, their faithful hound Rex starts talking. And maybe it's best if we don't mention the singing gelatin-mold-like alien they have to rescue from becoming dessert. Long out of print and now re-released in a trade paperback edition for a new generation of enthusiastic science fiction fans, "The Magnificent Wilf" is a novel by the legendary science fiction author Gordon R. Dickson. While an absolute 'must' for community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Magnificent Wilf" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

The Changeling's Daughter
R. Chris Reeder
Black Rose Writing
PO Box 1540, Castroville, TX 78009
www.blackrosewriting.com
9781684331819, $20.95, PB, 305pp, www.amazon.com

Unusual things have been happening to Brynn McAwber. A strange little man keeps showing up at her door. She's being watched by a mysterious woman with a sword strapped to her back. And her body keeps...disappearing! When Brynn discovers the terrible truth about herself and her family, she embarks on a perilous quest, which takes her far from Indiana, far from the world she knows, into the Land of Annwfyn, home of brownies and bwbachods, xanas and zephyrs, goblins and gods. "The Changeling's Daughter" is the story of a girl who finds out she's supposed to be the villain, but decides to be the hero anyway! A impressively crafted and unique fantasy novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality, deftly crafted characters, and narrative driven storytelling, "The Changeling's Daughter" is an extraordinarily entertaining read and would prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Fantasy Fiction collections.


The Woodworking Shelf

From Tree To Table
Alan Garbers
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781565239821, $19.99, PB, 152pp, www.amazon.com

A comprehensive and profusely illustrated guide for woodworkers, "From Tree to Table: How to Make Your Own Rustic Log Furniture" by Alan Garbers shows how to build rustic furniture from cut timber. Featured are: 10 step-by-step projects for beds, tables, benches, coat racks, lamps, kiva ladders, and more; Detailed, practical information on procuring and processing logs; Sage troubleshooting advice based on years of experience; Expert guidance on all the woodworking techniques needed to know to successfully accomplish the showcased projects. Also covered is detailed, practical information on procuring and processing logs, with sage troubleshooting advice based on years of experience. Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "From Tree to Table: How to Make Your Own Rustic Log Furniture" is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, community and technical college Woodworking instructional reference collections.

Building Unique and Useful Kids' Furniture
Spike Carlsen
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781610353250, $22.95, PB, 128pp, www.amazon.com

Spike Carlsen has been involved in the world of wood and woodworking for more than 40 years. In "Building Unique and Useful Kids' Furniture: 24 Great Do-It-Yourself Projects" he draws upon his experience and expertise to provide aspiring woodworkers with complete step-by-step instructions for building 24 professionally designed one-of-a-kind children's furniture projects that are easy to build and your kids will love. Advanced skills, specialized tools, and expensive materials are not needed. All of these showcased projects can be built using basic tools and materials from any home improvement store. Step-by-step instructions and color photos show, step-by-step, exactly what to do -- and many of the projects are labeled "Kid Friendly," so children can safely help build it, thereby developing their skills and confidence. These projects will fill every room of the house with kids' furniture that is cleverly designed, attractive, whimsical, safe, with timeless design that look fresh 20 years from now, giving kids a lasting legacy to pass on to their own children. Profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Building Unique and Useful Kids' Furniture" is an ideal addition to personal, professional, school, and community library Woodworking instructional reference collections. It should be noted that "Building Unique and Useful Kids' Furniture" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Routing: A Woodworker's Guide
Stuart Lawson
The GMC Group
www.thegmcgroup.com
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784944421, $22.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

In woodworking, the router is an extraordinary power tool. With the right accessories, jigs and work aids, this versatile machine can be used for virtually any woodworking task, from smoothing surfaces and trimming edges to making joints and cutting grooves. Used correctly, a router can transform the way you work and improve your enjoyment of the making process as a whole. "Routing: A Woodworker's Guide" provides an in-depth guide to the equipment and how it is used, covering topics such as basic router anatomy, cutters, accessories, safety, dust extraction, table routing and work holding. Ultimately, the router's creative potential depends on the jigs used. Featured projects include: large router table, housing jig, small circle jig and end-trimming jig. Whether the reader is interested in bench woodworking and is thinking of buying a router, or simply wants to get the most from their existing machine, "Routing: A Woodworker's Guide" by Stuart Lawson (who as a former editor of The Router magazine, was initially qualified as a carpenter before setting up a joinery workshop in Brighton, UK) is ideal for both novice and experienced woodworkers alike, making it an optimally recommended addition to personal, professional, and technical college Woodworking instructional reference collections.

Woodland Workshop
Ben Law
The GMC Group
www.thegmcgroup.com
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784943431, $35.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com

A woodland craftsman's workshop should bring immense pleasure and the tools and devices that furnish it are unique to woodland work and have formed the heritage of woodland crafts that we have today. In "Woodland Workshop: Tools and Devices for Woodland Craft", Ben Law (a woodsman, craftsman, eco-builder, teacher and writer who lives and works in Prickly Nut Wood in West Sussex, UK) explains what makes a good workshop, outlines the key tools needed, gives information on how to sharpen them and shows us how to make an array of fascinating devices from scratch. The projects featured in "Woodland Workshop" include: peeling jig, pole lathe, woodsman's grip, cleaving brake; 16 step-by-step woodland device projects. Enhanced throughout with beautiful photography and helpful illustrations, as well as a blend of historical and practical information, "Woodland Workshop" is a foundation book for every aspiring woodworker to use as reference. Impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Woodland Workshop" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and technical college Woodworking instructional reference collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

What The Health
Kip Andersen & Keegan Kuhn
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781524575755, $34.99, HC, 414pp, www.amazon.com

There is a health revolution brewing. Many people know there's something terribly broken about the industrial food, medical, and pharmaceutical systems, but they don't know what it is. It's no wonder, because there is an intricate political and corporate apparatus in place to keep them from finding out. People think heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are inherited, not realizing that what they've actually inherited are the eating habits of their parents and grandparents. Lifestyle choices like diet and (lack of) exercise are responsible for about 70 percent of deaths in this country. Diseases that kill millions can be prevented, or even reversed. Based on their groundbreaking document, "What The Health" by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn takes the reader on an kind of health and medical adventure of informed discovery uncovering the lethal entwining of the food, medical, and pharmaceutical industries with our own government, and the corporate, legislative web designed to confuse the public and keep Americans chronically (and profitably) ill. Deserving of as wide a readership as possible, "What The Health" should be considered an essential and critically important addition to community and academic library Contemporary Health & Medicine collections. It should be noted for the personal lists of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "What The Health" is also available in a paperback edition (9781946885524, $21.95).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft
Storm Faerywolf
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
www.llewellyn.com
9780738756523, $22.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com

Storm Faerywolf is a professional author, teacher, warlock, priest, and initiate of the Faery tradition of witchcraft. He holds the Black Wand of a Master and is the founder of the BlueRose lineage of Faery. He is one of the founding teachers of the Black Rose school of witchcraft, and he travels internationally teaching the magical arts. He has developed a website at www.faerywolf.com. In "Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft" he draws upon his years of research, experience and expertise to create an instruction manual for dealing with ancient spirits or demons of our own making when having to reclaim the power they have stolen. Guiding you through enchantments, demonic rituals, divine possession, necromancy, and occultus maleficum, Storm Faerywolf helps her readers cultivate and explore their forsaken shadows by being able to: Summon primal underworld goddesses of the elemental powers; Walk the bone road and help trapped spirits cross over; Become a worthy vessel for divine possession; Perform as an oracle, speaking the wisdom of the gods on earth; Cast and break curses, the dark art of offensive magic. While very highly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.41).

The Past Life Perspective
Ann C. Barham
Atria / Enliven Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501135736, $25.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com

"The Past Life Perspective: Discovering Your True Nature Across Multiple Lifetimes" by Ann C. Barham (who is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified regression therapist with training in transpersonal psychology, hypnosis, therapeutic imagery, and trauma release modalities) offers a unique, insightful, and practical look into the enormous power of past life regression therapy to unlock a healing pathway that can help you resolve enduring personal issues, enrich your life, and answer burning spiritual questions about your purpose on this earth. As modern science and technology advance at overwhelming rates, many of us crave the healing insights and feelings of eternal love that survivors of near death experiences frequently report. Through past life therapy, everyday people are able to experience prior lifetimes all the way through their deaths, tapping into abiding spiritual truths and answering essential questions about human existence. Impressively informative and exceptionally well organized and presented, "The Past Life Perspective" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library Metaphysical Studies collections in general, and Past Lives Regression Therapy supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Past Life Perspective" is also available in a paperback edition (9781982107697, $17.00) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).


The World History Shelf

The Devil's Cup
Stewart Lee Allen
Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
www.sohopress.com
9781641290104, $16.00, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com

In the pages of "The Devil's Cup: A History of the World According to Coffee", author Stewart Lee Allen treks three-quarters of the way around the world on a caffeinated quest to answer such profound questions as: Did the advent of coffee give birth to an enlightened western civilization? Is coffee the substance that drives history? From the cliff hanging villages of Southern Yemen, where coffee beans were first cultivated eight hundred years ago, to a cavernous coffeehouse in Calcutta (the drinking spot for two of India's Nobel Prize winners), and ranging from Parisian salons and cafes where the French Revolution was born, to the roadside diners and chain restaurants of the good ol' USA, where something resembling brown water passes for coffee, "The Devil's Cup" documents and demonstrates that the world was addicted to this universally popular beverage and whoever denies the power of coffee (namely those tea drinkers!) do so at their own peril. As informed and informative as it is engagingly written and inherently fascinating, "The Devil's Cup" is expressly recommended for both community and academic library collections where it will most certainly be an immediately and enduringly popular acquisition. It should be noted for personal reading lists of all dedicated coffee enthusiasts that "The Devil's Cup" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Humor Shelf

Laughter Totally is the Best Medicine
Reader's Digest Staff
Reader's Digest Trade Publishing
44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601
www.rdtradepublishing.com
9781621454069, $9.99, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com

The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global multi-brand media company that educates, entertains and connects audiences around the world. Humor has been a part of their publisher brand from the very beginning. This collection is a compilation of laugh-out-loud, clean jokes, one-liners, and other lighthearted glimpses of life -- all drawn from the Reader's Digest magazine's most popular humor columns. Packed with more than 1,000 jokes, anecdotes, funny things kids say, cartoons, quotes, and stories contributed by professional comedians, joke writers, and readers of the magazine, "Laughter Totally is the Best Medicine" is a side-splitting, reader friendly, compilation that pokes fun at the facts and foibles of daily routines, illustrating that life is often funnier than fiction. For example: "If evolution really works, how come mothers have only two hands? - Milton Berle; The game card said: "Name three wars." My teenage daughter's response: "Civil War, Revolutionary War, and Star Wars."; Why do Pilgrims' pants fall down? Because their belts are on their hats!; Check out this billion-dollar idea. A smoke detector that shuts off when you yell, "I'm just cooking!"; Overheard in an office: Supervisor to team leader: "So our people aren't astute enough to understand these comments on the document?" Leader: "What does astute mean?" -- "Laughter Totally is the Best Medicine" will prove to be an enduringly welcome and popular addition to personal and community library Humor collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Laughter Totally is the Best Medicine" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).


The Education Shelf

Building Together
Fiona Stewart
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605545943, $39.95, PB, 176pp, www.amazon.com

"Building Together: Collaborative Leadership in Early Childhood Systems" by Fiona Stewart (who is the Program Director of the Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles, a network partnership of the child care resource and referral, and alternative payment agencies across the county) is a journey focused on the leadership necessary for today's early childhood education system building. "Building Together" provides a kind of road map to what effective leaders do, how they do it, and the leadership necessary to work towards collaborative systems level change. "Building Together" includes a wealth of information on the leadership skills, styles and competencies necessary to address today's challenges and opportunities in the field of early childhood education. It also includes how to put leadership skills and knowledge into action to work towards sustainable system planning, implementation, and continuous improvement. Included are success stories from professionals in the field as well as examples from Fiona Stewart's own leadership work. Provides all the leadership information needed for both emerging and experienced leaders, "Building Together" is unreservedly recommended for both college and university library Education Administration collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of education students and policy makers that "Building Together" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.50).


The Sports Shelf

The Happy Runner
David Roche & Megan Roche, MD
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492567646, $24.95, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com

Following a "some work, all play" approach, "The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer", introduces the three commandments of happy running and teaches aspiring runners how to balance the effort of their running with the simple joy of the activity. "The Happy Runner" teaches how to run fast, run long, and stay healthy with proven training methods. It also includes real stories from professional and recreational athletes who have had personal breakthroughs as they learned to love the process of running. With "The Happy Runner' runners will be able to understand how to adapt their running based on their personal lifestyle and goals as well as avoid setbacks from injury. Finally, runners will also develop a self-belief and make positivity their default setting so they can reach their personal and professional goals. Whether battling burnout, or returning after an injury, or are new to running and want to enjoy a 5K or an ultramarathon, the science-based training guidance in "The Happy Runner" will help to run faster, go longer, and live stronger. Also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $21.34), it should be noted that there is a CE exam available. For certified professionals, a companion continuing education exam can be completed after reading this book. The Happy Runner Online CE Exam may be purchased separately or as part of The Happy Runner With CE Exam, a package that includes both the book and the exam. Simply stated, "The Happy Runner" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community library collections, as well as a textbook for highschool and college track team Physical Education Department curriculums.


The Biography Shelf

Flying with the Fifteenth Air Force
Tom Faulkner, author
Edited by David L. Snead
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417319 $29.95 hc / $19.19 Kindle amazon.com

Flying with the Fifteenth Air Force: A B-24 Pilot's Missions from Italy During World War II is the in-depth, biographical memoir of author Tom Faulkner, a B-24 pilot who served as a member of the 15th Air force of the U.S. Army Air Forces out of the San Giovanni airfield during World War II. His missions took him to Hungary, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Yugoslavia. In Flying with the Fifteenth Air Force, the reader gets an insider's view of the final months of the war, enriched with extensive annotations and corroboration provided by editor David L. Snead. Flying with the Fifteenth Air Force is a welcome addition to public library military biography collections and personal reading lists, highly recommended.

Don Shula
Carlo DeVito
Sports Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New Yokr, NY 10018
www.sportspubbooks.com
9781683582335 $26.99 hc / $14.74 Kindle amazon.com

Don Shula: A Biography of the Winningest Coach in NFL History is the true-life story of legendary pro football coach Don Shula (b. 1930), who has led teams to victory in the Super Bowl six times. In the course of his career, Shula won more games (328) than any other coach in NFL history, and earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Don Shula: A Biography of the Winningest Coach in NFL History primarily focuses upon Shula's enormously successful career in football, including his time coaching the Baltimore Colts, and the public feud with star quarterback Johnny Unitas and owner Carroll Rosenbloom that motivated him to leave the Colts and become the coach of the Miami Dolphins. Endnotes and a select biography enhance this "must-read" for American football history enthusiats. Don Shula: A Biography of the Winningest Coach in NFL History is engaging, insightful, and highly recommended.


The Economic Studies Shelf

Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World
Edited by James A. Dorn
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-5403
www.cato.org
9781948647144 $19.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com

Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World: Ten Years After the Crisis is an anthology of essays by a diversity of learned scholars of economics discussing repercussions from America's reaction to the Great Recession of 2008, which may have narrowly averted another Great Depression. Examining the Fed's exit strategy and normalization after the economic stimulus, as well as presenting arguments for a rules-based monetary policy on both a domestic and international level, Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World informed and informative, seeking to analyze the most valuable lessons and grievous mistakes from the crisis in hopes of advancing prospects that will better prepare for the future. Individual writings include "Learning the Right Lessons from the Financial Crisis", "Liquidity Risk after the Crisis", "Exit Strategies from Monetary Expansion and Financial Repression", "Priorities on the Path to Normalization", "Reforming the Rules that Govern the Fed", "Some Thoughts on International Monetary Policy Coordination", and much more. Monetary Policy in an Uncertain World is a welcome contribution to public and college library Economic Studies shelves, highly recommended.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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