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California Bookwatch

Volume 3, Number 3 March 2008 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks Business Shelf Audiobook Shelf
California Shelf Science Shelf Music Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Fiction Shelf
Education Shelf Art Shelf Literary Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Library DVD Shelf Gardening Shelf
Photography Shelf Travel Shelf Computer Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf International Studies Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
World History Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf  


Donovan's Picks

Striking Change
Michael F. Moran
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Road Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
0794823564, $24.95 www.whitmanbooks.com

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a striking figure in 19th-century art and culture and Theodore Roosevelt was a new kind of president with a vision: together these two men would change American history through a partnership which influenced and re-invented the nation's numismatic art world. First-person accounts, biography and politics blend in an in-depth survey highly recommended Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens for any collection strong in either collecting or American history.

Coal River
Michael Shnayerson
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York NY 10003
9780374125141, $25.00 www.fsgbooks.com

Coal is used to generate over half of this country's electricity, and in West Virginia coal mining is the biggest industry in the state, destroying forest, Appalachian environments, and threatening not just one state but huge land masses in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. COAL RIVER charts this destruction and offers a wake-up call essential for any general-interest collection strong in environmental issues. It offers unparalleled analysis of a dangerous, growing trend.


The Business Shelf

Laughing at the CIO: A Parable and Prescription for IT Leadership
Bob Boiko
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9780910965781, $29.95 www.infotoday.com

Deserving of repeat, ongoing mention is LAUGHING AT THE CIO, a survey for IT executives and professionals catering to them. The focus is on changing technology 'solutions' which never quite seem to address or solve problems: a fable parable teaches information leaders how to identify more effective applications, how to create a workable IT strategy to support strategic goals, and how to overcome common challenges in IT leadership. A top pick any business library needs.

The Go-Giver
Bob Burg and John David Mann
Penguin Portfolio
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9781591842002, $19.95 www.penguin.com

The secret to business as well as personal success is giving, and The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea offers up this idea in the form of a parable about one Joe, who yearns for success. He's a go-getter - but constantly sees his goals elusive. A consultant introduces Joe to a new business model with a series of 'go-givers' in different business environments - and the easy lessons of THE GO-GIVER will thus reach many different collections, from the college-level business library into general-interest libraries.


The Audiobook Shelf

Because You Loved Me
M. William Phelps
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1523349067, $36.95 www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

When murder unexpectedly strikes a small New England town, hitting a single mother and affecting a teen daughter and her older internet lover, a tangled web of psychological drama ensues in this powerful investigative mystery, narrated by J. Charles - who has 50 years background in professional theatre - and perfect for any lending library strong in suspense audios.

Beach Road
James Patterson and Peter De Jonge
Hachette Audio
1600242510, $14.95 www.twaudiobooks.com

Billy Baldwin and others narrate an excellent unabridged production of BEACH ROAD, which comes to life as it explores the richest resort town in America, a one-man law firm who operates on a shoestring there, and a triple murder involving Tom's good friend. Add a Manhattan superlawyer and Tom's ex-girlfriend and a hidden truth which will rock the town's foundations and you have a gripping thriller any general-interest audio lending library will want.

Audio Anecdotes III
Ken Greenebaum and Ronen Barzel, Editors
A.K. Peters
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568812151, $79.00 www.akpeters.com

AUDIO ANECDOTES III: TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL AUDIO is about digital sound, and is directed to college-level collections strong in details on recording, processing and analyzing music and sound. From the physics of sound and its effect on the human psyche to the basics of recording, playback, and techniques used in high-performance audio systems, AUDIO ANECDOTES III provides articles important for sound producers, game developers, musicians and a range of technical audio producers.

Metal Swarm
Kevin J. Anderson
Brilliance Audio
P.O. Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1597372277, $42.95 www.brillianceaudio.com

Veteran audio narrator David Colacci provides an action-packed reading of the epic science fiction space political thriller METAL SWARM, which tells of alien robots whose friendly overtures towards Earth are finally revealed for the insidious plot it is War results, with swarms of nasty black robots facing off with a heavily armed set of Earth's best battleships. A vivid reading brings to life an action-packed plot that never lets up.

Lifeguard
James Patterson
Time Warner Audiobooks
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
1600242537, $14.98 www.twbookmark.com

Billy Campbell spices Patterson's latest thriller with his Broadway background, lending a perfect dramatic touch to LIFEGUARD, telling of a romance between two unlikely individuals: a rich woman and a working class guy. Ned is thus tempted by a get-rich-quick scheme - but high risk brings dangers and causes him to walk away from his former life in this riveting thriller.

Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Jim Dale provides a gripping performance and has been named as 'best children's narrator, winning seven Audie Awards for his work - and that means the fantasy for young adults, Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (1423338650, $36.95), is moving enough that it shouldn't be limited to children's collections alone. This is recommended for prior listeners of the 'Starcatchers' trilogy and tells of Peter and Molly, trapped in the land of Rundoon ruled by an evil king. A gripping story evolves, highly recommended for any audio collection strong in fantasy. Dean Koontz's THE HOUSE OF THUNDER (1423339126, $36.95) received Luaral Merlington and Mel Foster's exceptional joint narration as it tells of a cave where Susan watches her lover die in a brutal death in a college hazing. Over the years those involved also die violently - or did they die? Susan has cause to doubt her sanity when the dead seem to return to life in this gripping thriller, perfect for libraries strong in audio suspense. Terry Brooks' GENESIS OF SHANNARA: THE ELVES OF CINTRA (1423322657, $38.95) receives Phil Gigante's excellent voice, spiced with 20 years experience in film and theatre, as it provides the second volume in the Tale of Shannara's Beginnings series. Here two pilgrims are trying to save the cause of good, entering a world of gangs, mutants and more to e4scape invasion and facing an impossible mission to fight against evil from another dimension - even a demon spy. The plot springs to life under the smooth voice of Gigante making this a top pick for lending collections that plan on adding the series to their science fiction audio shelves. Dean Koontz's WINTER MOON (1423339193, $38.95) receives an outstanding reading by veteran audio narrator Christopher Lane as it tells of a lone man who fights a dangerous force and an nightmare which comes alive in isolated Montana. Swift supernatural action makes for a gripping story line. Karen Marie Moning's TO TAME A HIGHLAND WARRIOR (1423341333, $29.95) enjoys Phil Gigante's smooth and evocative voice as it tells of a man born to a clan of warriors of supernatural strength who is determined to escape his ancestors' fate. He hides from the rival clan which hunts him --but he also hides from love. A moving story of romance and courage spices an action-packed audio listen.


The California Shelf

Dogfriendly.com's California and the West Dog Travel Guide
Tara and Len Kain
Dogfriendly.com, Inc.
6454 Pony Express Trail #33-233, Pollock Pines, CA 95726
0971874271, $21.95 www.dogfriendly.com

Any who would travel with a pet in California, and any libraries catering to California pet owners - which is most general-interest California collections - needs CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST DOG TRAVEL GUIDE. It highlights all kinds of lodging, from standard hotels and motels to upscale resorts, campgrounds and RV parks too, and includes assessments of attractions that welcome dogs as well. This means dog owners can now plan a holiday without the usual uncertainty of what to do with a pet (take it along!), and can travel with confidence knowing exactly where the pet parks, beaches, and even restaurants with pet-friendly patios are located. It's a unique, essential acquisition.

Walking San Francisco
Tom Downs
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780899974194, $17.95 www.wildernesspress.com

Any California collection specializing in San Francisco explorations will relish WALKING SAN FRANCISCO: 30 SAVVY TOURS EXPLORING STEEP STREETS, GRAND HOTELS, DIVE BARS, AND WATERFRONT PARKS. There have been other books on San Francisco's walking opportunities, but this comes from an insider who offers a blend of history, gossip, architectural and cultural insights and includes pubs and bars for added interest. It's a great collection for any walker who would see the City by foot.


The Science Shelf

Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones
David Longshore
Facts on File
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York NY 10001
9780816062959, $75.00 www.factsonfile.com

Since the publication of the previous edition of this encyclopedia, research and public interest in hurricanes and tropical storms has evolved and improved forecasting techniques and new record-keeping abilities have changed the knowledge base of weather events. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones provides some 400 cross-referenced entries - more than 80 new to this edition - covering the science and history of such storms, making it a strong pick for any collection strong in weather science at the high school or college levels.


The Music Shelf

The Singer's Companion
Brent Monahan
Amadeus Press/Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671502, $14.95 www.amadeuspress.com

THE SINGER'S COMPANION: A GUIDE TO IMPROVING YOUR VOICE AND PERFORMANCE packs in a range of tips on how to sing and includes a cd with over twenty musical examples of teachings, plus two sample songs. This allows individuals who want to learn singing to practice easily at home, absorbing the basics of breathing, range, interpretation, and even understanding how to choose a teacher and assess music instruction. The author has been a singer since age 11 and has taught for over thirty years: his insights on vocal issues and the basics of good singing make for an exceptional guide highly recommended for any individual who would learn to sing, and for music libraries able to handle the accompany cd lend.


The Social Issues Shelf

Winning Our Energy Independence
S. David Freeman
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423601564, $19.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

Author David Freeman has some thirty years of clean energy pioneering and a business knowledge which applies this knowledge to objectives of profit in the renewable energy realm. His focus on the potentials of renewable resources challenges the U.S. and the world to recreate its energy grid through independent national homegrown, carbon-free renewable energy sources. A dream? Freeman explains how the reality can be now in a survey perfect for general-interest lending libraries and specialty college-level holdings alike. Perfect for debates and discussion.

Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of the Little County That Couldn't Be Bought
Susan Cragin
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814474303, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org

In 1989 five states and two multinational corporations schemed to locate a 'low level' nuclear waste dump in an isolated northern Nebraska county by offering them, $3 million a year for 40 years. The town officials agreed to host the site - but what evolved was unexpected on all sides: a fierce battle by Boyd county's farmers who fought corporations, the state and the federal government to prevent this from happening. Author Susan Cragin was asked to write this story by Greg Hayden, Nebraska's commissioner to the Compact charged with sitting the dump, who was opposed to the Boyd County selection process. Her eye-opening account is moving and revealing.

The Big Switch
Nicholas Carr
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393062281, $25.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE BIG SWITCH: REWIRING THE WORLD, FROM EDISON TO GOOGLE examines where computers are taking the world: while this could also have been featured in our Computer Shelf area, it's reviewed here for its wider importance to any general-interest collection strong in social trends and issues. It provides a historical analogy and analysis of changing methods of industry power, explaining how computing is undergoing a revolution akin to the modern electric grid where computing is moving from private PCs to massive data-sharing centers. Any collection strong in computer trends needs this.


The Needlecraft Shelf

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

Jodi Crowell's CHARMED: A FRESH TWIST ON CHARM QUILTS (9781564777744, $16.95) offers six projects that focus on appliqued quilts with fine borders. These are unusual quilts that take traditional styles and offer up creative twists: Small color photos and larger patterns accompany tips specific and easy for beginners, making this an excellent introductory pick for any newcomer to quilting, and for collections catering to them. Melinda Bula's CUTTING GARDEN QUILTS: FABULOUS FUSIBLE FLOWERS (9781564777591, $27.95) uses an easy paint-by-number style to create lovely floral quilts, combining a layer/fuse technique with easy color-placement tips. Five patterns feature five different flowers, with color charts, tips for matching hues, and inspirations on using machine quilting to 'paint' with thread. Kim Diehl's SIMPLE SEASONS: STUNNING QUILTS AND SAVORY RECIPES (978156477270, $29.95) comes from a designer who here offers up a new collection of quilts, pairing food designs of pumpkins, berries and more with thirteen projects including a bed, lap and wall quilt, easy patchwork and applique designs for seasonal garden embellishments, and over a dozen recipes. The combinations are winning and gorgeous, perfect for any needlework collection.

Mosaic Picture Quilts
Pat Durbin
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564777355, $24.95 www.martingale-pub.com

MOSAIC PICTURE QUILTS: TURN FAVORITE PHOTOS INTO STUNNING QUILTS is a top pick for any who would learn a square-by-square technique for transforming photos of landscapes, people or flowers into a patchwork production. Print the photo onto paper, use at transparent grid to lay out fabrics, then use raw-edge patchwork for easy sewing with a guide highly recommended for any collection catering to quilters or sewers.

The Great American Afghan
Elaine Rowley and Rick Mondragon, Rditors
XRX Books
1933064129, $12.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

THE GREAT AMERICAN AFGHAN has appeared in Knitter's Magazine and has appeared to first-timers as well as those who never thought they could master an involved project as large as an afghan. Here the basic square is used to demonstrate a range of knitting techniques which include incorporating bobbles, applique, lace and more. An important acquisition for any beginning knitting library.

Knit With Beads: Beautiful Gifts
Scarlet Taylor
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823016765, $14.95 www.watwsonguptill.com

Knitting offers the ability to make special gifts for friends and family, and KNIT WITH BEADS provides the basics of how to add sparkle and color to a hand-knit gift. Eighteen original patterns will delight readers offering bags, hats and socks and more, loading pages of colorful completed projects with easy step-by-step directions. Any basic needlework or general-interest library will find it a popular pick.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Gems from the Equinox
Aleister Crowley, Selected by Israel Regardie
Weiser Books
500 - 3rd Street Suite 230, San Francisco, CA 94107
1578634172, $49.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Aleister Crowley devoted several years to blending the Aim of Religion with the Method of Science, publishing his findings in a ten-volume series Equinox from 1909-13. While his complete production is rarely available, this thick one-volume GEMS FROM THE EQUINOX gathers some of the most important writings from the set, reproducing them for new age collections serious about Crowley's writings. Regardie, Crowley's one-time secretary and biographer, provides an authentic and serious tone to over a thousand pages of writings perfect for beginners as well as advanced Crowley students and any student of Golden Dawn or Occultism.

Schiffer Publications
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310

Schiffer's informative series of regional ghost guides are top picks for libraries located in these areas AND for any general-interest collection strong in travel guides to haunted places. Each includes history, anecdotes, and specifics suitable for both armchair and destination-oriented travelers. E. Ashley Roony's BERKSHIRE GHOSTS (9780764327971, $14.95), Todd Cobb's GHOSTS OF PORTLAND (9780764327988, $12.95), Marla Brooks' GHOSTS OF HOLLYWOOD (9780764328831, $14.95), T.G. Gray's GHOSTS OF MAINE (9786764328275, $14.95), Christopher Forest's BOSTON'S HAUNTED HISTORY (0780764328749, $12.95), Brian Righi's GHOSTS OF FORT WORTH (9780764328138), D.P. Rosenberry with Psychic Laurie Hall's CAPE MAY HAUNTS (9780767328213, $14.95), and Beckah Tolly, Ramen Duclos and Katie Boyd's GHOST QUEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE (9780764328862, $14.95) all pack in vivid accounts of ghostly happenings, and include plenty of history, investigative drama and details suitable for a wide audience. All are top additions to Schiffer's ongoing line of regional ghostly exposes.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Creating Money
Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781932073225, $13.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

CREATING MONEY: ATTRACTING ABUNDANCE was a best-selling book around the world, selling over 500,000 copies with its easy step-by-step process on achieving prosperity through spiritual laws of abundance. This edition has been vastly revised and updated, adding new examples, stories, and techniques on how to attract abundance in all walks of life. Abundance means more than just money: readers here learn to link empowerment with choice in a powerful recommendation for any collection strong in New Age materials.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest
William Neill
Mountain Press Publishing Company
P.O. Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425372, $18.00 www.mtnpress.com

Butterfly watchers who live in or regularly travel through the Pacific Northwest, as well as libraries located there, need the reference BUTTERFLIES OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, a basic reference which pairs color photos of all listed species with tips on identifying some 118 butterflies. Chapters provide an easy field guide which also include natural history details on how butterflies hatch, eat, mate and adapt, as well as tips on best viewing.

Civilizing the City Dog
Pamela S. Dennison with Jolanta Benal
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Road, Crawford, CO 81415
9781577790891, $9.95 www.alpinepub.com

CIVILIZING THE CITY DOG: A GUIDE TO REHABILITATING AGGRESSIVE DOGS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT is a fine pick for city dwellers who hold aggressive dogs in urban places. Pamela Dennison and Jolanta Benal address the special training needs of such animals, offering concrete training tactics and details for owners of such animals and making for a reference any urban library strong in pets and dog training will want.

Equine Neurology
Martin Furr & Stephen Reed
Wiley
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0813825199, $100.00 www.wiley.com

Any college-level collection strong in large animal veterinary studies as well as practicing interns and vets needs EQUINE NEUROLOGY, a reference for clinical students and specialists. Three sections on treating horse disease offers clinicians a reference of neuralgic diseases and resources for treatment, offering color photos, charts, and plenty of technical detail. Quite simply, a 'must have' reference which goes far beyond general, introductory equine texts.


The Fiction Shelf

The Nature of Monsters
Clare Clark
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
9780151012060, $25.00 www.harcourt.com

Set in 18th century London is THE NATURE OF MONSTERS, a vivid novel of science and deception, revolving around a teen's employment as an apothecary's maid to a strange scientist who is always veiled and who conducts secret experiments. A fast-paced novel of deception, danger and high drama evolves in a complex psychological thriller highly recommended for public libraries strong in thrillers.


The Education Shelf

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
$15.95 Each www.corwinpress.com

The different grade levels and approaches of these workbooks make them a top pick for any library strong in classroom workbooks and activities for teachers. Each workbook holds some 96 pages of projects, with fill-in blanks and ideas perfect for photocopying and classroom use. Teachers of grades 6-8 will appreciate Gayle Gregory and Carolyn Chapman's ACTIVITIES FOR THE DIFFERENTIATED CLASSROOM: SCIENCE (9781412953443), their ACTIVITIES: LANGUAGE ARTS (9781412953436), MATH (9781412953429), Marcia Tate's GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND OTHER VISUAL STRATEGIES: MATH (9781412952316) and LANGUAGE ARTS (9781412952309), David Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES (9781412952736) and Toby J. Karten's INCLUSION: ACTIVITIES THAT WORK (9781412952347). Grades 3,4 and 5 receive modified activities in Tate's GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND OTHER VISUAL STRATEGIES Grade 3 (9781412952279), her GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND OTHERS for Grade 5 (9781412952293), and Grade 4 (9781412952286), Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES GRADES 3-5 (9781412952729) and Toby J. Karten's INCLUSION ACTIVITIES for grades 3-5 (9781412952354). Grades K-2 receive further modifications of projects and approaches in sets geared to their skills in Tate's GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS GRADE 1 (9781412952255), her GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS GRADE 2 (9781412952262) and GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS GRADE K (9781412952248), David Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES GRADES K-2 (9781412952712) and Toby Karten's INCLUSION ACTIVITIES THAT WORK FOR K-2 (9781412952330). All are outstanding workbooks teachers will appreciate.


The Art Shelf

A History of Western Art
Antony Mason, Edited by John T. Spike
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
9780810959668, $18.95 www.abramsyoungreaders.com

Typically the Amulet Books imprint of this publisher are featured in our Children's Bookwatch issue - but A HISTORY OF WESTERN ART is simply too good an introduction to the cultural legacy of western art to limit its readership to young readers alone, and deserves a place in the libraries of any collection strong in introductory arts titles for all students of art history and for none-specialist readers with an interest in art regardless of their age. A HISTORY OF WESTERN ART: FROM PREHISTORY TO THE 20TH CENTURY is lavishly illustrated with over two hundred color reproductions of art pieces, photos, and supporting documents, offering an intensely visual approach which captures the essence of world art trends and progression.

The Art of Collecting: The Spaulding Brothers and Their Legacy
Frederic A. Sharf
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467235, $24.95 www.mfa-publications.org

Frederic Sharf is a historian and collector specializing in late 19th and 20th centuries, and The Art of Collecting: The Spaulding Brothers and Their Legacy offers insights into some of the foundation pieces of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, charting the important contributions of the Spaulding Brothers who expanded and furthered the archives and collections of the Museum. A focus on the men behind these key acquisitions profiles not only their lives and contributions, but the very foundations of an art museum's construction, making this a fine selection for any college-level art library.

Bulgari
Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, Suite 504, New York, NY 10019-1105
9780789209450, $75.00 www.abbeville.com 1-800-343-4499

Any college-level art library strong in jewelry history needs BULGARI: a lavish, oversized and powerful collection of color photos and archival pictures that trace the unique Bulgari style which was born in Rome in 1884. The book first appeared in 1996: its updated edition represents an extensive revision and reflects newly-discovered historical material and historical facts on the Bulgari firm, making it a top pick.


The Literary Shelf

Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye
Sarah Graham
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane suite 704, New York NY 10038
9780826491329, $14.95 www.continuum-books.com

Joining others in Continuum's 'Reader's Guides' series is an introduction to the key literary text The Catcher in the Rye, a book often assigned for both high school and college-level reading. This study examines different ways of thinking about the novel offering both general and specific analysis and inviting students to learn more about history, language, and literary approach. High school and college-level collections will find it involving.

Student Encyclopedia of African Literature
Douglas Killam and Alicia L. Kerfoot
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313335808, $85.00 www.greenwood.com

College-level libraries strong in African literary studies will welcome the introductory Student Encyclopedia of African Literature, which offers biographies of writers, synopses and analysis of major African literary works, and discussions of trends affecting individual African nations. Bibliographic references for further reading enhance discussions and make for an excellent reference introduction perfect for curriculums including African literary studies.


The Cookbook Shelf

Party Food for Kids
Caroline Marson
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th Floor, new York NY 10012
9781845974770, $12.95 www.rylandpeters.com

Not to be limited to children's collections if PARTY FOOD FOR KIDS, a cookbook that assembles a range of kid-friendly foods for all ages from toddlers to ten years old. Kids love seeing a feast of appetizing food at a party, but it can be tricky choosing popular dishes that are healthy as well as tempting. These dishes are high in 'eye appeal' and ease of preparation, and range from dips and finger foods small children will love to sandwiches, desserts and even a range of easy fruity children's 'cocktails'. Highly recommended.

Cooking for Two
James Barber
Harbour Publishing
Box 219, Maderia Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550174168, $21.95 www.harbourpublishing.com

This reprint of the classic cookbook COOKING FOR TWO returns a basic cookery classic to new audiences. The focus here is on shared cooking experiences for busy duos: chapters tell how to prepare food together, add a healthy dose of humor to recipes both practical and easy, and packs in over hundred dishes for both everyday and special occasion, making COOKING FOR TWO a very basic, foundation pick for any collection catering to cooks in general and beginners in particular.

Classic Stars Desserts
Emily Luchetti
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
0811847039, $29.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

Pastry chef Emily Luchetti provides a fine collection of over a hundred of her own creations from her best-selling Stars Desserts and Four-Star Desserts, making this a fine 'best of' collection for any cookbook collection and for newcomers in particular. From a traditional Apple Pandowdy to Cranberry Linzertorte and Drunken Chocolate Cake, these are favorites packed with flavor and innovation, with a peppering of color photos throughout adding interest. Public libraries strong in culinary guides will find this appealing.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Man From U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Series
TimeLife/Turner
www.timelife.com

Any avid viewer fan of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. series will find this box set - or should we say, box suitcase - of the complete series a 'must have' acquisition. Each season comes slipcased in a set of DVDs that include plenty of bonus features, including two separate bonus discs of 'debriefing' materials from TV appearances and spots to photo and image galleries, interviews, and more. Each complete season package set includes a featurette and bonus feature. Its presentation - in a cardboard 'briefcase' - doesn't hold up to repeat opening an closing, but it's a fine decorative enhancement suitable for gift-giving and storage, making it a top pick for any seeking a gift for avid TV fans.

The Ritchie Boys
Docurama Films
$26.95 www.docurama.com

THE RITCHIE BOYS has been short-listed for the 2005 Academy Awards and provides an excellent account of a small contingent of German Jewish intellectuals who escape from Nazi Germany - then return as U.S. soldiers to battle the Third Reich with revenge in mind. Their story has until now been largely hidden from even Nazi historians, making Christian Bauer's THE RITCHIE BOYS a significant addition to any serious DVD history collection.


The Gardening Shelf

The Walled Garden
Leslie Geddes-Brown
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
1858943639, $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Walled gardens are enjoying a revival in enthusiasm, with old ones being renovated and new ones created. Gardens expert Leslie Geddes-Brown celebrates such gardens in THE WALLED GARDEN, an excellent sourcebook for homeowners who would like reference and resource to some of the world' best walled gardens. Descriptions of both construction and garden plants accompany walled garden history, making for an outstanding survey perfect for any homeowner who would create a walled garden, and any library catering to homeowners.

The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub
Penelope O'Sullivan
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580175708, $29.95 www.storey.com

There are plenty of books on lawns and flowers but trees and shrubs are equally important, and the author is passionate about them. Three in-depth sections cover the design, care and plant profiles of gardens with a focus on trees and shrubs, moving from the basics of incorporating them into an overall garden design to considering expectations of results and growing conditions. An encyclopedia of hundreds of tree and shrub options offers a host of fine images by Karen Bussolini while plant profiles cover ease of maintenance, cultivation, availability, growth rare and more. Libraries strong in homeowner's garden guides need this.


The Photography Shelf

The Creative Digital Darkroom
Katrin Eismann & Sean Duggan
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596100477, $49.99 www.digitalmedia.oreilly.com

Classic photo and darkroom concepts are important for using even modern digital cameras and tools - and thus a manual pairing tested photo techniques with Adobe Photoshop, which includes original photo examples with each lesson. From coverage of traditional darkroom skills and abilities and how these translate into Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom to the basics of producing initial high-quality images and understanding both black and white and color darkroom techniques, this packs in details and lessons for both artists and educators, making for an outstanding and colorful lesson plan.

Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10110
www.allworth.com

Novice photographers who want to shoot sports, whether they be sports fans, parents or participants, will find Peter Skinner's SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO CAPTURE ACTION AND EMOTION (1581154801, $24.95) an exceptional key to capturing a fast-action genre. From selecting the right equipment and working with different cameras to understanding sports action shots options, color photo examples pack a guide essential for any photography library. Kathleen Hawkins' DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY PORTRAITURE, 2ND EDITION (9781584282143, $34.95) tells how to create dazzling images of families and children, offering novices practical tips from pros on how to take advantage of changing trends in portraiture, how to select equipment and promote images online, and how to organize and achieve an efficient shoot. There's more practical business advice in this title than most, with a focus on both achieving image success and promoting a business doing so. Mairlyn Sholin's STUDIO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY OF CHILDREN AND BABIES (9781584282129, $34.95) surveys the difficult task of photographing kids and babies, showing how to get winning expressions from subjects and how to create a safe, child-friendly studio environment packed with incentives for kids to become photogenic. From equipment to tips on working with all ages, no photographer will want to be without this.


The Travel Shelf

Antarctica: Life on the Ice
Susan Fox Rogers, Editor
Travelers' Tales/Solas House
853 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781932361537, $17.99 www.travelerstales.com

What's it like to live and work in Antarctica? The next best thing to going there is the collection Antarctica: Life on the Ice, which explores the challenges of living in Antarctica. Essays from some twenty writers offer insights into challenges, ironies, and even funny tales of life in the region, contributed by those who chose to live and work there. It's a lively armchair read perfect for any general-interest library strong on adventure travel.


The Computer Shelf

Windows Vista Annoyances
David A. Karp
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527624, $34.99 www.oreilly.com

Windows Vista holds many annoyances for users and has many quirks stemming from bad design, so having WINDOWS VISTA ANNOYANCES in a developer or web applications collections is an important key to successfully using the system and working around common issues. From customizing Explorer and managing Vista's Registry options to optimizing the PC and using it to work a network, WINDOWS VISTA ANNOYANCES is packed with tips on how to make it work efficiently and well. Highly recommended as a methodical, practical series of applied steps and insights.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Endless Blue
Wen Spencer
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1416573852, $25.00 www.baen.com

The appearance of the warp drive from a lost spaceship begins a quest for the rest of the ship in ENDLESS BLUE, which tells of genocide, a desperate quest, and Captain Mikhail Volkov, who crashes into the Sargasso and discovers a graveyard of rusting spaceships, both human and alien. The Sargasso holds secrets which could save the human race, but now Volkov's ship is damaged and in danger of never making it home - unless Paige, born on the Sargasso and captain of a salvage boat, can help him. Fast action and drama keep ENDLESS BLUE unpredictable and satisfying to the end - and perfect for discriminating science fiction collections.

The Metatemporal Detective
Michael Moorcock
PYR/Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591025962, $25.00 www.pyrsf.com

Each story in the Metatemporal Detective carries with it a powerful blend of detective cases which mirror worlds like our own and a blend of fantasy and science fiction challenging one's deductive abilities. Seaton Begg and his companion pathologist Dr. 'Taffy' Sinclair head the secret British Home Office section of the Metatemporal Investigation Department, and covers crimes in dozens of alternate worlds. His travels take him to strange universes, challenging settings, and mind-boggling crime puzzles in a collection recommended not just for science fiction collections, but for libraries patronized by mystery and detective fans as well.


The International Studies Shelf

The Genius of China
Robert Temple
Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594772177, $29.95 www.innertraditions.com

The ancient Chinese were masters of discovery and innovation for 3,000 years, and THE GENIUS OF CHINA: 3,000 YEARS OF SCIENCE, DISCOVERY & INVENTION documents these discoveries, originally winning five literary awards with its original publication. Its republication makes for a top pick for any college-level collection strong in Chinese history and culture, offering a revised full-color edition that brings to life elements of ancient Chinese history. China's early contributions to science, engineering, medicine and technology are documented in an outstanding survey highly recommended for any collection strong in Chinese history and culture.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Avon Collector's Encyclopedia
Bud Hastin
Collector Books
P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325652, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

Both specialty collector libraries catering to neo-pro collectors and general-interest public libraries will find AVON COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA: AVON AND CALIFORNIA PERFUME COMPANY PRODUCTS 1886 TO PRESENT an invaluable acquisition, appearing in its 18th updated edition to provide the latest prices and details. Here are thousands of products, paired with the latest prices, black and white and color photos throughout, making for an invaluable at-a-glance reference.


The World History Shelf

Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A History
Andrea Broomfield
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275987086, $44.95 www.praeger.com

College-level culinary libraries strong in Victorian history will appreciate Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A History, with its survey of Victorian times introduced by nine recipes detailing examples of food production, cooking and diet in early England. Discussions go far beyond the usual cookbook to include surveys of kitchen arrangement and duties, dining habits, social influences on food and wine choices, and much more. An excellent survey any college-level culinary collection specializing in food history will relish.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Gender Relationships in Marriage and Out
Rivkah Blau, Editor
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9780881259711, $29.50 www.ktav.com

Volume seventeen of The Orthodox Forum of Yeshiva University Press offers an in-depth survey of gender relationships which surveys the state of marriage, the Talmudic approach to marriage, changing male/female roles in the 10th and early 20th centuries in Eastern European circles, and more. A sociologist and a rabbi discuss how unmarried adults should be integrated into the Orothodox community, while a psychologist and two singles discuss special challenges singles face in such a community. College-level Jewish studies libraries, especially those with Orthodox studies, will find this an invaluable key to linking Orthodox Jewish perception to history and modern life.


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

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


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