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California Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 5 May 2014 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Education Shelf Music Shelf
Business Shelf Self-Help Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Audiobook Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Fiction Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
International Studies Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Biography Shelf
Military Shelf Computer Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
California Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Personal Archiving
Donald T. Hawkins, Editor
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874809, $49.50, www.infotoday.com

PERSONAL ARCHIVING: PRESERVING OUR DIGITAL HERITAGE offers one of the first explorations of the field of personal digital archiving, and explores a wide range of projects, from archiving family histories to social media and academic research projects. Included in discussions are issues of digital inheritance, privacy, and copyright along with discussions of evolving formats and ownership and control of online assets. The result goes beyond 'how to archive' articles and moves into the nuts and bolts of the social and legal impact of digital archiving systems, making for a strong pick for librarians, students of digital law, and any interested in the expanding world of internet storage and management.

Butchering Poultry, Rabbit, Lamb, Goat, Pork
Adam Danforth
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781612121826, $24.95, www.storey.com

It's all about locally raised animals and humane slaughtering, and that's what this comprehensive manual is all about: learning the skills needed to lead an animal from pasture to freezer. Rural readers and collections catering to professional chefs and meat processors will be the likely audience for a step-by-step book that covers all stages of the slaughtering process for these animals, from equipment to preparing the animal. Options for breaking down various cuts of meat, keys to successful cutting and boning, and attention to sanitation are all accompanied by color photos on nearly every page, sidebars of information and everything needed to make the butchering process a success. The result is a 'must' for any working with meats.

New York City: A Food Biography
Andrew F. Smith
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781442227125, $38.00, www.rowman.com

New York City: A Food Biography joins others in the 'Big City Food Biographies' series and is a recommendation for any college-level culinary collection strong in food studies, and for any surveying New York City in particular. This is the first food biography to trace the history of the city's innovations and influences, covering how its cuisine developed and expanded to cities around the world. It's a fine food history that covers everything from markets and fine dining to drinking establishments, and pairs vintage black and white photos with colorful descriptions of New York City's culinary evolution. A 'must' for any serious food history or New York City aficionado.

Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen
Rae Katherine Eighmey
Smithsonian Books
Capital Gallery, Suite 6001
PO Box 37012, MRC 513
Washington, DC 20013-7012
9781588344557, $21.95, www.smithsonianbooks.com

Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen: A Culinary View of Lincoln's Life and Times provides a powerful culinary biography that focuses on the foods Lincoln would have cooked in his home, and comes from a Midwestern cook and food historian who reveals authentic nineteenth-century recipes through research on Lincoln's grocery bills in Springfield ledgers and cookbooks of his times. From what was served at political rallies to Lincoln's childhood gingerbread recipe, this pairs recipes with history, adapts the dishes to modern kitchens, and serves up a fantastic culinary adventure with a lively tone lending to its appreciation by general-interest audiences.


The Education Shelf

The Best Value Colleges, 2014 Edition
Robert Franek, et.al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780804124478, $21.99, www.princetonreviewbooks.com

The 2014 Edition of The Best Value Colleges: The 150 Best-Buy Schools and What It Takes to Get In is for any education reference collection strong in higher education and pinpoints the top 75 private and public schools plus nine tuition-free schools which are, for various reasons, deemed the 'best'. These reasons are outlined in a survey that identifies the elements that make a best value school, and offers advice on admissions, costs, and how to pair the school's statistics with personal needs. The result is an excellent survey any high school or higher education reference library will find key to making the best decisions.

Children Crossing Borders
Joseph Tobin, et.al.
Russell Sage Foundation
112 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10065
9780871547996, $32.50, www.russellsage.org

Children Crossing Borders: Immigrant Parent and Teacher Perspectives on Preschool draws from a study of preschools across the nation and provides the first in-depth comparison of the perspectives of immigrant parents and the preschool teachers who instruct their children. Language, cultural differences, and administrative challenges that often serve as barriers between teachers and immigrant parents are all examined in a survey of policy, process, and education challenges. With chapters packed with discussions of curriculum, socialization processes, and language and identity concerns, this is a solid reference for any educator who is interested in improving immigrant parent relationships.

The Changing Catholic College
Andrew M. Greeley
Transaction Press
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412852869, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Changing Catholic College argues that Catholic schools are no better or worse than any other kind of college, and he reinforces this belief by using a sample of schools where he interviewed different segments to pinpoint recent trends and elements of change. This summarizes the history of Catholic higher education, describes different levels of improvement in schools, and provides evidence that the quality of a school's administration is directly connected to improvements. Any collection strong in Catholic educational studies will find this a specific, recommended pick.

Parents Have the Power to Make Special Education Work
Judith Canty Graves and Carson Graves
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059701, $19.95, www.jkp.com

Parents Have the Power to Make Special Education Work comes from parents who have been through the special education system and provides a 'road map' packed with valuable, first-hand insights and advice describing the special education process and how parents can understand and work with it. From how to organize special education documentation to transition planning and services for a child, parents receive a range of tips on school evaluation processes and special ed programs, and will find this an important 'must' for understanding how the system works and their role in it.

Let's Play
Jeff A. Johnson and Denita Dinger
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605541273, $17.95, www.redleafpress.org

LET'S PLAY: (UN)CURRICULUM EARLY LEARNING ADVENTURES is an activity book perfect for early childhood education collections, and packs in nearly forty child-led play adventures that each contain numerous play variations. It uses the foundation created in the authors' previous LET THEM PLAY book to add activities that support a play-based, child-led experience and it takes into account budgets, offering such ideas as creating a cheap PVC 'play frame' to be used for all kinds of activities, or offering kids boxes of all sizes. The result is a lovely model of play that is perfect for any interested in developing play-based activity learning.

The CDA Prep Guide, third edition
Debra Pierce
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605542799, $19.95, www.redleafpress.org

The CDA Prep Guide: The Complete Review Manual appears in its third updated edition to cover the new CDA (Child Development Associate) credential process, and updates its guide to cover all the new material and requirements. There are sections on center-based preschool and infant and toddler care, family care sections, and specifics that include not only method and theory, but sample documents and forms. From insights on talking and interacting with infants to program tips for basic childcare providers, this covers all the basics of the exam's focus and is a 'must' for any who would undertake CDA certification.

The Poverty and Education Reader
Paul C. Gorski and Julie Landsman, Editors
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781579228590, $35.00, www.styluspub.com

The Poverty and Education Reader is a top pick for teachers and educators as well as social issues readers, and packs in essays, memoirs and poetry with the idea of analyzing the schooling experience of poor and working-class students. Low-income family experiences are targeted with the idea of profiling proven strategies teachers and schools have used for closing educational gaps, and contributions come from a range of writers, from teachers and students to parents and scholars, discussing views of poor students and their families and approaches that have made a difference. Don't consider this a 'fix' for poor students: look at it as a series of articles on ways youth is alienated by education practices - and how to overcome this with new school and classroom routines.

Boosting ALL Children's Social and Emotional Brain Power
Marie-Nathalie Beaudoin
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452258362, $34.95, www.corwin.com

Boosting ALL Children's Social and Emotional Brain Power: Life Transforming Activities features tested, brain-based techniques that help children build social and problem-solving skills, and is a recommended pick for educators interested in K-12 brain-based educational approaches. It comes from one of the world's leading experts on children's skill development and provides not just theory backed by research, but an applied approach to skill development that's already been refined and proven by public school application processes. Classroom exercises are grouped by age even though many cross over grade levels, and provide educators with specific activities, with each exercise including time frame, supportive materials, educational goal overview, and special considerations. Highly recommended for any looking to add value to the curriculum!


The Music Shelf

I'll Take You There
Greg Kot
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781451647853, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, The Staple Singers, and the march Up Freedom's Highway is more than a music biography, but incorporates civil rights era history along with a chronicle of the rise of the Staples Singers. It follows the hard life of a Mississippi family that rose to musical fame, it considers the music of Mavis and her Staple Singers, and it provides a vivid, authorized biography of a woman whose achievements changed the face of music and introduced gospel to the American mainstream. The result is a powerful survey made all the more meaningful for its access to and cooperation of the band members and their archives. A 'must' for any collection strong in black music history.

Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism
Thomas Brothers
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393065826, $39.95, www.wwnorton.com

Louis Armstrong: Master of Modernism provides a very specific focus on jazz artist Armstrong that sets it apart from other musical considerations of the master, and makes it a recommended pick for any jazz music collection. It considers the post-Reconstruction America scenario where Armstrong became one of the most influential American musicians of his times, and it follows the progress of a black man without formal education who rose to power. Personal accounts written by his associates blend with newly digitized historical documents and Armstrong's own words to make for a powerful biographical sketch.

Come Fly With Me
Beverly Delich and Shelley Fralic
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781771620062, $32.95, www.douglas-mcintyre.com

COME FLY WITH ME: MICHAEL BUBLE'S RISE TO STARDOM began with the author's meeting with then-unknown teen singer Michael Buble at a Vancouver talent contest. Little did she know they would begin an adventure: she would become his manager, moving with him to Toronto and Los Angeles, and together they would approach and eventually conquer a rigid music industry where many failed. This documents the entire process, from auditions and rejections to the few bookings they gained, and details the decisions and actions that would move Buble from an unknown to an international star. It's as much an account of music industry operations as it documents Buble's success, and is a recommended pick for fans of the singer and any who want personal insights into what it takes to break into the music world.

George Jones: The Life and Times of a Honky Tonk Legend
Bob Allen
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
www.halleonard.com
9781480355828, $24.99, www.backbeatbooks.com

George Jones: The Life and Times of a Honky Tonk Legend provides a fine survey of one of the most legendary country music singers of all time, and comes from the former editor of Country Music magazine whose articles have appeared across the country in music and popular culture magazines. George Jones's hit pieces crossed genres, produced hits from the 1950s to modern times, and included duets recorded with men and women across the ages. His discography spans over half a century and he received top music honors for his lifetime accomplishments: this biography covers his entire life and is a 'must' for any fan of the man and his music.


The Business Shelf

Scaling Up Excellence
Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao
Crown Business
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
9780385347020, $26.00, www.crownbusiness.com

Scaling Up Excellence: Getting to More Without Settling for Less presents the first major business book to focus on scaling, and uses evidence from seven years of case studies to provide dozens of stories from leaders and teams who struggled to promote constructive behaviors in their businesses. Behavioral science blends with business acuity in a survey that pairs principles with proven tactics and stories from organizations that struggled with issues of adding excellence to a blossoming environment of thousands of employees and millions of users. These case histories pinpoint how good leadership can spread the right messages and habits, eliminating obstacles to achievement, and make for inspirational reading recommended for any business holding.

The Bank on Yourself Revolution
Pamela Yellen
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400, Dallas, TX 75204
9781939529305, $25.95, www.benbellabooks.com

The Bank on Yourself Revolution: Fire Your banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future comes from a financial investigator who shows Americans how to make their own savings decisions without risky investments, and comes from her background as a consultant to over 40,000 financial advisors for over 20 years. Her research into some 450 financial products and strategies led to the realization that many Americans believe that risk and growth are interconnected and that you can't have one without the other. In fact, you can; and The Bank on Yourself Revolution shows exactly how in chapters that focus on the methods and potential of taking control of personal finances. From understanding potential tax disasters to the realities of retirement planning processes, this is a 'must' for any business or financial planning collection.

Salesforce.com: Secrets of Success
David Taber
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780133517392, $39.99, www.informit.com/ph

Salesforce.com: Secrets of Success offers tools and best practices for using Salesforce.com to drive sales, and uses the author's personal experience with over a hundred deployments to cover all the basics of Salesforce.com's tools. It focuses on the latest releases and offers a revised coverage that includes new keys to using the Service Cloud to cut costs, identifying potential customers through Salesforce.com's Social CRM, and establishing metrics for profitability to measuring social CRM performance. Charts, tables and more pepper a fine pick for any business and many a software collection.

Critical Chain Project Management, third edition
Lawrence P. Leach
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608077342, $79.00, www.artechhouse.com

The third updated edition of best-selling CRITICAL CHAIN PROJECT MANAGEMENT offers new insights and keys on how to plan, lead and complete projects, and provides project managers with extra coverage on Critical Chain planning and networks. The latest new lean techniques and strategies for engaging organizations are described here, along with the tools and theories managers need to identify and develop Critical Chain solutions. Other titles on the subject may fail to discuss related topics such as risk management and project deliveries: this book reviews it all and provides an important reference replete with diagrams and blends of theory and real-world applications, making it a 'must' for any collection strong in project management theory in general and Critical Chain in particular.

The Ultimate Podcasting Guide
Keith and The Girl
Ultimate Podcasting
www.ultimatepodcasting.com
9781304885746, $39.00 (book and videos)

The Ultimate Podcasting Guide is compiled from years of experience by authors who have been involved in podcasting since 2005, and provides a fine book paired with video tutorials, screenshots, and interviews with leading experts. There's nothing left to guesswork with this step-by-step guide, from cables and hardware devices to building an email list, audience, and handling finances. Each step-by-step chapter concludes with exercises and reinforcing ideas, while chapters cover everything from advertising to using social media and making sales. The result is a powerful survey unique in its field and highly recommended for any interested in podcasting.


The Self-Help Shelf

People Tools
Alan C. Fox
SelectBooks, Inc.
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, NY, NY 10003
9781590791424, $16.95, www.selectbooks.com

People Tools: 54 Strategies for Building Relationships, Creating Joy, and Embracing Prosperity is a pick for any self-help collection and provides the basic tools any reader can use to handle people at home or work. Anecdotes pair well with these tools, offering stories and advice which are easy to understand and just as easy to employ in virtually any kind of environment. Many times, the author's own first-person encounters fuel the discussion. From making promises to knowing oneself and making good first impressions, this is packed with knowledge key to any successful relationship.

Cheating Parents
Dennis Ortman, PhD
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780992824567, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Cheating Parents: Recovering from Parental Infidelity comes from a psychologist and former priest who has over thirty years in counseling, and who considers the lasting effect of parental infidelity on children's own relationships in adulthood. Chapters discuss how adult children of cheaters handle adult intimate relationships, common points where they get into trouble and may repeat family patterns, and three basic relationship patterns common to such children. More than just an identification of such, he then provides proven strategies for breaking this destructive cycle and healing parental infidelity, making for a powerful pick for any psychology, self-help or parenting library.

The Big Picture
Tony Horton
Harper Wave
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780062282392, $25.99, www.harperwave.com

THE BIG PICTURE: 11 LAWS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE comes from a motivator whose focus is on creating the best life you can have, and assumes basic health and wellness as it provides the psychological tools to change attitudes, embrace challenge and change, and improve overall relationships in all walks of life. This provides inspiring, positive chapters packed with step-by-step tools for achieving these goals, from developing a purpose and plan to life to developing flexibility and staying open to life's possibilities. The result is a game plan developed on the author's own life journey and which provides a well-rounded focus on physical and mental health strategies any reader can blend into their own lifestyles and goals.

Your Upward Journey
Patricia Perisse Bochi
Middle River Press
9780989672436, $19.95, www.yourupwardjourney.com

Your Upward Journey: It's Easier Than You Think is a recommendation for any who want a different perspective on life, and comes from an author who was only fifteen when she broke her back in a car accident, rendering her a paraplegic and ending her dreams of being a ballerina. It's hard to consider that one's dreams are over at age fifteen - an age where anything should be a recoverable event, theoretically. While her body was unable to recovery, Bochi found new pathways that included how to find happiness, motivation, and new interests despite her limitations. Exactly how she achieved this - and how others can follow her path - is outlined in an inspirational self-help guide that invites readers to embark on their own journeys of discovery and change. A fine blend of autobiography and inspiration, this belongs in any self-help inspirational collection.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Bipolar Disorder, third edition
Francis Mark Mondimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421412061, $19.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Bipolar Disorder is one of the best-selling books on the topic and here appears in its third updated edition to cover new options for diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. There have been many new medications on the market, new diagnostic procedures, and new options for treatment: chapters cover the pros and cons of these drugs and therapies, discuss life with bipolar disorder, and how lifestyle and personal relationships can be adjusted to better handle the issues of bipolar disorder. A 'must' for both health and general-interest collections, this organizes and presents information in a format professionals and lay readers can equally use.

Troubleshooting Relationships on the Autism Spectrum
Ashley Stanford
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849059510, $19.95, www.jkp.com

Troubleshooting Relationships on the Autism Spectrum: A User's Guide to Resolving Relationship Problems offers solution-based strategies and scenarios designed to help defuse relationship issues common to autism spectrum individuals, and pinpoints key areas where these problems rise. Chapters present a manual designed to encourage and support an autism spectrum relationship, and translates behaviors to understandable pieces that can help readers develop new ways for handling AS couple conflicts. From executive function issues to faithlessness, personal attachment styles and patterns of behavior that revolve around complaints, this is a fine pick for any autism or health collection.

PCCN Certification Review, second edition
Ann J. Brorsen and Keri R. Rogelet
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
9781284027488, $92.95, www.jblearning.com

The second updated edition of the PCCN Certification Review pairs over a thousand practice questions with updates for new exam content and offers the progressive care nurse an entire overview of the certification process and its exam. An online access code for an online interactive testing program accompanies a study guide nurses will find specific and important, completely revised and updated with new information and randomized questions. The result is a review that's a 'must' for any studying for the PCCN exam.

Current Practice Guidelines in Primary Care 2014
Joseph S. Eshrick, et.al.
McGraw-Hill/Lange
c/o McGraw-Hill Professional
2 Penn Plaza, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10121
9780071818247, $20.00, www.mcgrawhillmedical.com

Current Practice Guidelines in Primary Care 2014 packs in best medical practices under one cover and provides guidelines for over sixty common screening, prevention and management guidelines from medical and scientific organizations, panels and more. Guideline-based algorithms cover the basics of clinical decision-making processes while chapters provide everything from updated immunization schedules for all age groups to disease management for hypertension, headache, and much more. All this is packed in a quickly-referenced pocket tote suitable for any working in clinical practices, making it a recommended pick for nursing technicians and any working in clinical settings.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Crash the Chatterbox
Steven Furtick
Multnomah Press
12265 Oracle Blvd., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
9781601424563, $19.99, www.waterbrookmultnomah.com

Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God's Voice Above All Others tells how to overcome damaging internal dialogues to be able to listen to God's voice, and blends personal experience with a study of Scriptures to teach four "confessions" that remind readers of what this voice says and how to recognize it. Chapters identify the content and tone of the non-Godly 'chatterbox', show how to diffuse its message and volume, and how to identify God's true voice. A companion DVD and study guide are available and can be adapted into programs for group or individual use, but lead pastor Steven Furtick's book is a great introduction to the process.

God In the Whirlwind
David F. Wells
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781433531316, $24.99, www.crossway.org

God In the Whirlwind: How the Holy-love of God Reorients Our World comes from a theologian who considers what defines God's greatness and Christian living itself, and is a pick for any Christian collection strong in religious paradoxes and analysis. The focus is on a holy, loving god and how this provides a foundation for understanding the significance and sacrifice of the cross. Chapters consider evangelicalism's shallow theology and how a deeper understanding of God's divinity can be achieved. Any who seek an in-depth survey of how God's holy love changes lives and worlds will find this a vivid, inspirational read.

From Teilhard to Omega
Ilia Delio, Editor
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781626980693, $30.00, www.orbisbooks.com

From Teilhard to Omega is a pick for religion and science readers alike and focuses on the works of French Jesuit and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, whose studies blended a Christian perspective with a scientific focus: disciplines which ordinary don't merge well. Here thirteen scholars use Teilhard's works to consider further insights into the divine, considering how humanity's journey toward Omega has progressed since Teilhard's demise in 1955. The result is a rich, complex Christian analysis highly recommended for any Christian reader; especially those with a background in and appreciation for Teilhard's works.

Uncommon Marriage
Tony & Lauren Dungy with Nathan Whitaker
Tyndale Momentum
c/o Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414383699, $24.99, www.tyndale.com

Uncommon Marriage is all about staying together and overcoming life's obstacles, and it comes from authors who have not only stayed together thirty years and raised nine children, but have endured many triumphs and losses. Part autobiography and part discussion of how to overcome these obstacles, Uncommon Marriage outlines habits that contributed to their success, considers obedience to God and how mindfulness allowed them to grow as individuals within the marriage, and considers all kinds of avenues to strengthen lives. With its focus on spirituality and psychology, always couched in their own experiences, the result is a joyful, uplifting and inspirational read any will welcome.

Between Heaven and Earth
Steve Berger
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764211676, $14.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH: FINDING HOPE, COURAGE, AND PASSION THROUGH A FRESH VISION OF HEAVEN offers a spiritual survey that focuses on how to live today against the promise of heaven - and promotes a new life-changing view of heaven that blends the promise of eternity with the challenges of modern living. The author's own perspective was changed when his teen son was killed in a car accident: his perceptions and his study of the bible and heaven's promise lends to a treatise that offers insights on heaven's hope and everything from the worship process to what really matters in life and beyond. Biblical quotes and insights on Jesus and Biblical lessons make for an engrossing, inspiring account!


The Audiobook Shelf

Jesus Calling
Sarah Young
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781480573406, $19.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence is performed by Roger Mueller, whose vivid voice lends to a rich exploration based on Sarah Young's own prayer journal. Her personal writings reflect on Jesus' words of hope and peace, considering the Scripture and the results of a closer inspection of his devotions. The result is a candid assessment written with passion and meaning, meant for any Christian listener interested in considering Jesus' words and their underlying meaning, and which comes alive in the audio version.

47 Ronin
John Allyn
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781622313563, $29.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

47 RONIN receives a lively foreword by Japanese cultural consultant Stephen Turnbull, who served as the historical advisor for the film, and comes to life in audio with its story of samurai bravery and struggle. In 1701 a noble Lord Asano attacks an official at the Japanese Court and is ordered to commit ritual suicide. His family is exiled and his warriors are ordered into isolation and become ronin, or masterless. And so these Ronin plot their own vengeance, in the process becoming some of the most feared warriors of their times. Loyalty and struggle permeate a powerful saga that's hard to stop listening to.

Runner
Patrick Lee
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427236074, $29.99, www.macmillanaudio.com

Runner tells of ex-Special Forces agent Sam, who lives a quiet life in a small town until he encounters a terrified young girl during his nightly running routine. Armed killers are after her - and when he gets a chance to speak with her, it's only to discover she has been held prisoner by government forces, and can't recall any events older than two months. She knows she holds a special skill these forces want; but what is it? Sam's decision to help her will place him in jeopardy that even his background as a Ranger and Delta member possibly can't resolve. Swift action and intrigue mark an audio that comes to life under the guidance of Tony-nominated actor Raul Esparza, whose voice artistry lends to a vivid story.


The Cookbook Shelf

Johnny Harris Restaurant Cookbook
Julie Donaldson Lowenthal
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455618965, $26.95, www.pelicanpub.com

Johnny Harris Restaurant Cookbook comes from a restaurant founded in 1924 in Savannah, Georgia, and provides a healthy dose of Southern food suitable for any taste. From a rich Shrimp Bisque made with vegetables, shrimp, sherry and half-and-half to Sweet Potato Souffle, Lemony Angel Biscuits, and more, this packs in delicious dishes from the restaurant along with insights on Southern cuisine, adding a healthy dose of color photos on nearly every facing page. The result is a cookbook that reflects the long-term culinary milieu of Georgia: a recommendation for any Southern cook.

Vegan Planet, new edition
Robin Robertson
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
9781558328310, $19.95, www.harvardcommonpress.com

Vegan Planet: More Than 425 Irresistible Recipes with Fantastic Flavors from Home and Around the World provides a new edition of a classic, packing in over 500 pages of soups, salads and more and providing vegan dishes designed to satisfy vegans and non-vegans. Newly-expanded sections on grains, greens and more provide a fine survey of meat alternatives and hearty dishes that range from Baked Polenta with Red Beans and Fresh Tomato Salsa to Sesame Soba Noodles and Black Bean Chili with Cilantro Pesto. The result is a 'bible' of vegan dishes perfect for any who want the 50 new recipes added for this new edition. No photos, but the easy dishes don't need them.

Seeking the Historical Cook
Kay K. Moss
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781611172607, $24.95, www.uscpress.com

Seeking the Historical Cook: Exploring Eighteenth-Century Southern Foodways provides a fine survey of historical cooking methods from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cookbooks and considers how these different methods can be used in modern kitchens, and is the result of decades of research, experimentation and teaching. The focus is on the early South and its heirloom dishes, providing insights for any cook who wants to reconsider traditional approaches to roasting, stewing, using Old World root vegetables, and more. Those looking for more than a cookbook who want a healthy dose of history paired with analysis of food approaches will find this a delicious union of historical reflection and old and new traditions.

250 Best Meals in a Mug
Camilla V. Saulsbury
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
9780778804741, $24.95, www.robertrosa.ca

250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes is a boon for busy, solo diners in a hurry and offers a solution both quick and hearty: creating single-serving dishes in a mug, all ready to microwave. Mug cooking can be done anytime, there's no need for fancy cookware, and all the recipes can be prepared in advance and placed in a mug for quick microwaving and eating From an Eggplant parmesan Mug to Barbecued Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps, this is a lovely collection packed with tips on fast prep, variations, accompaniments and more: a 'must' for any collection appealing to busy, solo cooks.

The How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen Editors
America's Test Kitchen
Deborah Broide
9781936493616, $26.95, www.americastestkitchen.com

The How Can It Be Gluten Free Cookbook: Revolutionary Techniques, Groundbreaking Recipes provides some surprising dishes to include crunchy fried chicken, birthday cakes, and pie crusts: items those on gluten-free diets typically omit. How can these be included? Through a pairing of new ingredients and new techniques and with the help of a test kitchen that eliminates terrible recipes and assures foolproof, satisfying results from those they do present. Baking is reinvented here and dishes that include pastas and fresh bread have been thoroughly adjusted with gluten-free goals in mind. Add step-by-step and finished product color photos to the mix and you have a tried, tested cookbook backed by the America's Test Kitchen seal of approval.

The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook
America's Test Kitchen
Deborah Broide
978196493838, $29.95, www.americastestkitchen.com

The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook packs in over six hundred foolproof recipes with dishes for two, and is a recommendation for any interested in small-batch cooking techniques. One of the notable aspects of this title is the inclusion of baked goods - thus a recipe for muffins will make 4, not 12, and cookies are provided in half-batches. Two-person households will also find an attention to recipes that are fast (30 minutes from start to table) and healthy (nutritional information is listed for each recipe). From better shopping strategies for two people to color photos of every dish, The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook is a reference especially recommended for newcomers to small-batch cooking.

The Model Bakery Cookbook
Karen Mitchell, Sarah Mitchell Hansen with Rick Rodgers
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452113838, $35.00, www.chroniclebooks.com

The Model Bakery Cookbook: 75 Favorite Recipes from the Beloved Napa Valley Bakery includes color photos throughout by Frankie Frankeny, and gathers over seventy of the bakery's finest creations from Karen Mitchell's family recipes. This alone makes it a highly recommended pick, packed with ideas you won't find elsewhere - but it also offers insights into what separates fine baking from everyday fare. Flaky croissants, an American Coconut Cake, Sticky Buns and Brandied Pumpkin Pie with a difference all take classic recipes and add enhancements and embellishments. The result is an outstanding pick, highly recommended for any looking for an exceptional baking book!

Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain
Jeffrey Weiss
Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street, Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841529, $39.95, www.agatepublishing.com

Charcuteria: The Soul of Spain blends Spanish-style butchering and meat-curing techniques with a discussion of the history and culture of Iberia and its traditional charcuterie, and is a strong pick for any culinary collection that appeals to serious cooks or meat processors. It places charcuterie in context of Spanish cuisine and culinary history as a whole, discussing Spanish pork butchery, butchering traditions, and how meats are cured in the country. Recipes pack later chapters, along with lists of terms and a bibliography for further reading. Add color photos throughout and you have a weighty, important and unparalleled reference that belongs in any serious culinary library: very highly recommended as an outstanding reference.

Olives, Lemons & Za'atar
Rawia Bishara
Kyle Books
192-198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, 1st Floor
London SW1V 1DX
9781906868840, $29.95, www.kylebooks.com

Olives, Lemons & Za'atar: The Best of Middle Eastern Home Cooking collects recipes from the restaurant Tanoreen and provides a fun culinary journey that follows the author's journey from her native Nazareth to New York, where she oversees the Brooklyn restaurant. Stories blend with recipes and family accounts to share memories and create a well-rounded survey of traditional Middle Eastern cuisine. The experienced Middle Eastern chef will also note that there are regional and family dishes rarely presented elsewhere, which makes this cookbook a recommendation even for those with prior Middle Eastern culinary backgrounds. Add a peppering of color photos throughout and you have a winning survey that will attract newcomers and old fans alike!

A Mouthful of Stars
Kim Sunee
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449430085, $27.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

A Mouthful of Stars: A Constellation of Favorite Recipes from my World Travels comes from a traveler who is always interested in local cuisines, and who here brings traditional recipes from around the world to home cooks interested in the flavors of North Africa, Paris, Norway and more. While many of these dishes sound exotic, in reality they are quick and easy to produce at home: all that's needed is a willingness to try new flavor combinations, as in a decadent ham-and-cheese baked sandwich called Croque Madame or a Louisiana Chicken and Andouille Gumbo. The result is an eclectic mix of dishes from different world areas that are easy, infused with the author's own take, and are top picks for any home cook looking for new inspiration and recipes you often won't easily locate elsewhere.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Winter People
Jennifer McMahon
Doubleday
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780385538497, $25.95, www.doubleday.com

A novel that contains ghosts, family secrets, and tragedy: what better way to begin a good read? The Winter People is set in a small town in Vermont, where strange disappearances and old legends are the norm. Even in this town of legend, however, the story of one Sara Shea, found dead just months after the death of her daughter, has remained one of the town's biggest mysteries - and when modern-day teen Ruthie finds her mother vanished without any clues, she embarks upon a search that will lead her directly back to a troubled past and the ultimate fate of Sara. This chilling story comes to life and immerses readers in a series of encounters that ultimately will lead to an unpredictable, engrossing conclusion, making this a pick for mystery and novel enthusiasts alike.

The Drowning Spool
Monica Ferris
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425270080, $24.95, www.penguin.com

The Drowning Spool: A Needlecraft Mystery provides crafters with an intriguing new mystery revolving around a young woman found floating in the therapy pool at the local senior center. Betsy Devonshire is called upon to figure out who could have killed her - but as usual, the list of suspects is long and the possibilities are endless. As she puts her sleuthing skills to the test she uncovers a needlework mystery that brings her into the heart of danger and change in this engrossing story highly recommended for any mystery collection.

Moving Target
J.A. Jance
Touchstone Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781476745008, $25.99, www.simonandschuster.com

Moving Target provides a satisfying new Ali Reynolds thriller and is a recommendation for any who enjoy a blend of powerful characterization and action-packed thriller and mystery settings. Here Ali goes to England to help her friend face his long-estranged family, but soon she finds herself investigating violent crimes that seem linked to Texas and an unsolved murder from her assistant Leland's home town in Bournemouth. As she becomes immersed in danger while investigating the decades-cold murder of Leland's father, she slowly comes to realize two cases are impossibly connected, even though distance separates them - and her probing may be putting her own life in danger. A fast-paced story of action and adventure evolves, perfect for mystery readers and prior fans of the Ali Reynolds series.

Why Kings Confess
C.S. Harris
Obsidian Mystery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451417558, $24.95, www.penguin.com

Why Kings Confess provides a new Sebastian St. Cyr mystery for newcomers and prior fans of historical mystery and St. Cyr, and is set in 1813 in London, where the investigator is probing the murder of a young physician and a French woman's involvement in the crime. Sebastian actually knows the woman, but this doesn't seem to help him in his quest for a killer whose footsteps vanish into history and the story of a missing boy prince. Add in the politics of his time, the ruthless daughter of Marie Antoinette, and an investigation that eventually threatens his pregnant wife and you have a powerful historical novel of intrigue packed with satisfying twists and turns and fully supported by historical events.


The Fiction Shelf

Pioneer Girl
Bich Minh Nguyen
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670025091, $26.95, www.penguin.com

Pioneer Girl tells of Lee Lien, who has just earned her PhD in American Literature but has no idea of what's next. Her move to a Chicago suburb to work with relatives in their cafe results in the discovery of a family relic that awakens long-repressed childhood dreams. When Lee decides to investigate the origins of the relic she stumbles on a family legacy that will change her life and which hold important keys to her future course. Pioneer Girl is more than one woman's search for direction: it's about tapping into the past to achieve the kinds of knowledge that will encourage forward movement, as well. It's an involving read that will especially appeal to any interested in immigrant American experience.

The Auschwitz Escape
Joel C. Rosenberg
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414336245, $26.99, www.tyndalefiction.com

The Auschwitz Escape is set during World War II and tells of two individuals affected by the war: young Jacob, forced to flee Germany and join an underground resistance group in Belgium fighting the Nazis, and assistant pastor Jean-Luc Leclerc and his wife, who find themselves organizing a relief movement in their town when fleeing Jews ask for help. Both men are caught up in forces far beyond their experience, and both find their lives changed when they are sentenced to hard labor at Auschwitz. This vivid story of survival will engross any interested in how impossible odds are overcome.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Art's Undoing
Forest Pyle
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823251124, $28.00, www.fordhampress.com

Art's Undoing: In the Wake of a Radical Aestheticism is a scholarly treatise recommended for college-level readers of philosophy and literature, and describes a recurring event in some of the most basic texts of 19th-century British literature by Shelley, Keats and other notable writers. This analysis considers what happens when these writers produce an encounter with a radical aestheticism that creates a basic crisis in perception, and considers the ideas and conflicts at the root of any aestheticism encounter. A range of theoretical projects are considered in a survey recommended for any advanced literary analysis and philosophy holding.

Household: A Memoir of Place
Ann Peters
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299296209, $26.95, www.upress.wisc.edu

Household: A Memoir of Place and revisits the modern house where Peters grew up in Wisconsin, recalling her architect father and reflecting on two decades of experiences with New York City apartments before her purchase of an old farmhouse in upstate New York. But this is more than autobiographical reflection: couched in Ann Peters' experiences and memories is a consideration on American place and how literature shapes how we think about places where we crate roots. From buildings recalled to the author's love of books and literature, this offers a nostalgic examination of the past, a consideration of American history of land ownership and social movements, and a literary piece that belongs in any arts, autobiography or literature collection.

The Trip to Echo Spring
Olivia Laing
Picador USA
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1800, New York, NY 10010
9781250039569, $26.00, www.picadorusa.com

The Trip to Echo Spring: On Writers and Drinking considers the link between creativity and alcohol and examines the writings of six men: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, John Berryman, John Cheever and Raymond Carver. All six were alcoholics - and all six produced extraordinary works of art despite their drinking. The author grew up in an alcoholic family herself, and her travels in search of answers about addiction, recovery, and creativity weave within an analysis of literary pursuits to create a fine, multi-faceted account suitable for health, social issues and literary collections alike.

Letters to the Pumpkin King
Seanan McGuire
NESFA Press
PO Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781610373043, $30.00, www.nesfapress.com

Letters to the Pumpkin King is the first collection of Seanan McGuire's non-fiction works and includes everything from poetry reprinted from her two previous out of print collections to insights on her life, and is a pick for any familiar with McGuire's blogs and works. Now, this publisher usually specializes in science fiction, but to call McGuire's literary essays and reflections genre-specific is to do it an injustice: her writings are all over the board and covers everything from reflections on being poor to the price of being a media consumer. Social issues, insights, and more are revealed in spicy, often vivid controversial readers that will delight any familiar with McGuire's flair for identifying social incongruities.


The International Studies Shelf

Forging China's Military Might
Tai Ming Cheung
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421411583, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Forging China's Military Might belongs in any political science shelf interested in China's issues and international security and considers the nature of China's emergence as a world power. It uses insights from history, social science, business and more and a variety of contributors devoted to developing an analytical framework to consider the nature of Chinese innovation in military and defense areas. Chapters review the current state of China's industry and considers its relationship with contractors, regulators, and more. The result gathers analysis and case studies in a detailed examination suitable for any interested in China's defense.

Middle East Patterns, sixth edition
Colbert C. Held & John Thomas Cummings
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813348773, $57.00, www.westviewpress.com

Middle East Patterns: People, Places, and Politics appears in its sixth updated edition and is a recommendation for any college-level collection strong in Middle East history, economics and politics. This edition covers the latest changes in the region, including new movements for reform and stability, and packs in over 200 maps and photos in an effort to provide visual embellishment to statistics and facts. Add a range of topics written by experts in the field and you have a text college students will find contemporary, accessible and informative.


The Needlecraft Shelf

My Enchanted Garden
Gretchen Gibbons
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604682519, $27.99, www.shopmartingale.com

My Enchanted Garden: Applique Quilts in Cotton and Wool gathers an enchanting collection of lovely designs featuring "My Enchanted Garden", the winner for the "Best use of Embellish" in the 2009 Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, and teaches quilters how to stitch both the main quilt and the eight stand-alone projects. Tips on mixing cotton and wool for added texture and color accompany lovely designs from Gibbons which use clear descriptions of materials, assembly and color guides to assure polished results. The result's a top pick for any quilter's collection.

Stitch and Structure
Jean Draper
Batsford
9781849941211, $29.95, www.anovabooks.com

Stitch and Structure: Design and Technique in two- and three-dimensional textiles provides a fine, fresh approach to such art and is a key reference for any stitcher who wants to incorporate these elements into a quilt or needlework project. Diagrams, drawings and directions offer step-by-step instruction for working with stitches and structures and features work by textile artist Jean Draper and her peers. Full-page color photos accompany step-by-step black and white stitch illustrations and written directions, leaving little to guesswork. The result is a needlework coverage any collection will find useful and important.

The Prayer Shawl
Janet Severi Bristow & Victoria A. Cole-Galo
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781621136736, $19.95, www.taunton.com

The Prayer Shawl Journal & Guidebook: Inspiration plus Knit and Crochet Basics provides needleworkers a fine guide for learning to knit or crochet a prayer shawl, covering the basics and patterns for ten shawls and providing a month-by-month journal in the process. From a 'knit or crochet stitch of the month' section that teaches new skills to suggestions for 'music to knit by' and insights on scents and symbols to consider, this is a wide-ranging blend of spiritual and needlework tips, and provides a fine collection of prayer shawl basics perfect for any who would love to combine knitting and crocheting with spiritual purpose.


The Biography Shelf

Austin Osman Spare
Phil Baker
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583947166, $18.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Austin Osman Spare: The Occult Life of London's Legendary Artist provides a definitive account of the occultist and artist of the Edwardian art world whose work was deemed that of a genius and the work of an immoral soul. Spare is a cult figure today known in a few circles: this book separates fact from fiction and provides insights into Spare's art and psychology. The result is a biography packed with rare black and white and color photos and equally rare insights and information, making for a top recommendation for biography and occult history holdings alike.

The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression
John F. Kasson
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393240795, $27.95, www.wwnorton.com

The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression: Shirley Temple and 1930s America offers a fine biography tracing the rise of child star Shirley Temple, linking her success to the wider issues brought during The Great Depression and showing how Shirley won a place in America's heart. Chapters consider how she became a child star, how and why the American public responded so strongly to her, and how Shirley helped represent hope in a country gone awry. Studio scripts, movie reviews, fan magazines and personal memoirs were consulted in the making of this survey, resulting in a biography with far more depth than one would expect. Even avid Shirley fans will find much new material to consider, here!

Dancing Through It
Jenifer Ringer
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670026494, $27.95, www.penguin.com

Dancing Through It: My Journey in the Ballet comes from a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, and provides a powerful memoir of how dancer Jenifer Ringer became a professional ballerina and participated in the New York City Ballet for over twenty years. Fans of ballet may recall Ringer's name, as she was the subject of national media attention when a dance critic criticized her body weight rather than her dancing in the New York Times. Ringer addressed this issue on Oprah and other shows and her insights are clear and involving, offering insights into the world of competitive dance. Any who want a behind-the-scenes view of a ballerina's life and what it takes to become a world-class dancer will find this autobiography the perfect key to understanding the dance world.

And There Was Light
Jacques Lusseyran
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608682690, $15.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

And There Was Light: The Extraordinary Memoir of a Blind Hero of the French Resistance in World War II tells of the author, who was eight when he was blinded in an accident in Paris. He finished his schooling and in 1941, when he was seventeen, the Nazis occupied France and he helped form a resistance group, using his other senses to solidify the group and their objectives. Eventually he was sent to a concentration camp as one of two thousand resistance fighters - and became one of only thirty to survive. His story goes far beyond an account of how to live with blindness and tells of an engaged individual whose struggles succeed in overcoming the most dangerous of circumstances.


The Military Shelf

Understanding and Teaching the Vietnam War
John Day Tully, et.al., Editors
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299294114, $29.95, www.uwpress.wisc.edu

Understanding and Teaching the Vietnam War is not just a pick for military or education collections: it's also recommended for history holdings and it provides a powerful study on how the Vietnam War's events are covered in educational settings. Resources for teachers at the secondary and university levels accompany discussions by Vietnam era scholars and essays that consider specific materials and the use of music, film, oral histories, the Internet and more. The result is a powerful collection of writings highly recommended for any studying the Vietnam War.

FE 2b/d vs. Albatros Scouts
James F. Miller
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781780963259, $18.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

FE 2b/d vs. Albatros Scouts: Western Front 1916-17 provides a fine military history of the deployment of the FE 2 and the Albatros D scout and they eliminated the powerful Fokker Eindecker monoplanes of World War I to change the playing field on both sides. This account is a recommendation for military and aviation collections alike. The dogfights between the FE 2 and Albatros scouts are documented, the two biplanes are detailed and analyzed with equipment and strategy in mind, and vintage black and white photos throughout lend to a survey that any collection will find rare and specific.

The D-Day Atlas
Charles Messenger
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500291191, $24.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

The D-Day Atlas: Anatomy of the Normandy Campaign packs in nearly two hundred illustrations, including over seventy color maps, in a study that considers the evolution of the Normandy invasion plan, the landings, and the battles, and it provides a fine history for any collection looking for visual depiction of D-Day events. It comes from the latest archival research and also juxtaposes the German viewpoint and experience as it shows the routes and battles of Allies in 1944, using specially commissioned drawings and new photos to add life to history. Between the vintage black and white photos and color contemporary illustrations, this atlas is a winner, not to be missed by any military history holding!


The Computer Shelf

Java SE8 for the Really Impatient
Cay S. Horstmann
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321927767, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw

Java SE8 for the Really Impatient is a recommendation for any programming collection strong in Java and delves into the most important Java updates in years. Those with prior Java experience will welcome an in-depth discussion of its new features and innovations, along with the author's sample code and insights into how to integrate these new features with other Java language improvements. From using lambda expressions more effectively in customized program settings to coverage of the date/time/calendar library, this discusses all the changes and how they work in real-world settings, and is a powerful 'must' for any who want clear, real-world applications for the latest Java version.

Learn to Program with Scratch
Majed Marji
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593275433, $34.95, www.nostarch.com

Learn to Program with Scratch provides a visual introduction to Scratch 2 and provides programmers with a starting point to Scratch's code that requires little prior programming experience. Scratch is usually used to teach kids how to code using visuals, but here it serves as a platform for adults as well, who will learn the basics of repeat loops, if/else statements, and more. Scratch makes it easy to learn these programming concepts, and this book makes Scratch easy to learn, pairing color and black and white illustrations with sidebars of information and keys to creating various kinds of models. The result is an easy user's introduction that should be in any basic programming reference collection.

Routing and Switching Essentials Companion Guide
Cisco Networking Academy
Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9781587133183, www.ciscopress.com

Routing and Switching Essentials Companion Guide provides the official supplemental textbook for the Routing and Switching Essentials course at the Cisco Academy: as such, it will come with a nearly-guaranteed audience of buyers and readers who will find this book describes all the functions and operations of routers and switches in a small network. From initial configuration and troubleshooting to common issues to particular switches and networks, the book's arranged in classic text format, with chapter objectives, key terms, and a summary of activities designed to support both classroom use and lab work. Students can evaluate their comprehension through a series of self-tests along the way. The result is a fine survey highly recommended for any technical reader working with Cisco-based systems.

Adobe Edge Animate
Simon Widjaja
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538255, $39.95, www.rockynook.com

Adobe Edge Animate: Using Web Standards to Create Interactive Websites provides a fine collection of articles on Edge Animate, created by Adobe as a tool for web designers to create interactive, animated HTML content for all browsers. This primer introduces Edge's powers, following typical workflow and its implementation, how it works with Javascript/jQuery, and how its tools and interface works. From add-ons to insider approaches to customization, Adobe Edge Animate is packed with color examples and screen shots throughout, discussions of symbols, scripts and events, and reviews of all kinds of processes, making this a recommendation for any programmer's reference collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Extreme Life of the Sea
Stephen R. Palumbi & Anthony R. Palumbi
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
9780691149561, $27.95, www.press.princeton.edu

The Extreme Life of the Sea comes from a marine biologist and his son who offer up stories of how marine creatures have adapted to some of the most extreme environments on the planet, and arranges information in eye-catching categories ("the hottest" or "the deadliest") to encourage lay readers to learn about polar ice fish, bioluminescence, heat-resistant corals, mangrove forests and much more. Make no mistake: there's healthy doses of science added to these discussions to probe the biology and natural history of both the environments and the creatures that inhabit them. What differs is the blend of marine life stories with solid science, setting this apart from casual photo depictions of sea life. Marine biologists as well as lay readers with more than a casual interest in marine science will find this an engrossing discussion of what lies beneath the waters, how it's adapted, and threats to this adaptation process.

Dictionary of Zoo Biology and Animal Management
Paul R. Rees
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780470671474, $89.95, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Dictionary of Zoo Biology and Animal Management provides a guide to the terminology used in a range of animal-related programs from management and welfare systems to veterinary nursing and zoo biology, and packs in over 5,000 entries covering a range of terms used in these fields. Students of zoo biology and animal welfare as well as exotic animal veterinary technicians receive a fine guide pairing black and white photos with A-Z entries covering definitions from poultry breeds to how panting works in animals. It's a fine 'must' for any working with animals, especially vet reference collections.


The California Shelf

Comedy of Terror
John Fremont
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA, 95437
9781935448259, $14.95, www.cypresshouse.com

Joe is an agnostic and considers all religions as cults, but his one exception is Melody, a high priestess he fell in love with on a cruise. Leave it to Joe to fall for someone who lives on a commune and worships a deity from a distant galaxy - and leave it to Joe to fall on the radar of the FBI, who has linked him to three terrorist attacks. Add in a mysterious vanishing, political scandal, and tongue-in-cheek remarks on America's delusions and beliefs and you have a black comedy filled with intrigue and unexpected twists and turns from start to finish.

Off-Trail Adventures in Baja California
Markes E. Johnson
University of Arizona Press
355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 103
Tucson, AZ 85719-6654
9780816521302 $19.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu

Also available in an electronic edition, Off-Trail Adventures in Baja California features nine hikes along outcrops of islands and peninsular shores, complete with maps, extensive descriptions, and an inset selection of color plates. Each hike is a unique tour of natural and geographic history, as told by the local rock formations, fossils, wildlife, and ecosystem. A treasury for avid hikers interested in visiting Baja California and armchair travelers alike, Off- Trail Adventures in Baja California is a joy to browse and highly recommended.


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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