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Library Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 4 April 2010 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Needlecraft Shelf Art Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Photography Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Biography Shelf
Psychology Shelf Science Shelf Military Shelf
Music Shelf Library Science Shelf International Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Woodworking Shelf Gardening Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Fiction Shelf
World History Shelf Civil War Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library DVD Shelf Mathematics Shelf
Automotive Shelf Language Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
American History Shelf Folktale/Folklore Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Library Music CD Shelf Poetry Shelf Gaming Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Parenting Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Travel Shelf Philosophy Shelf Literary Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Exotic Gems
Renee Newman
International Jewelry Publications
560 W. Main St., Suite C-200, Alhambra, CA 91801
9780929975429, $19.95, www.reneenewman.com

The rarest gems can be the most beautiful. "Exotic Gems" is a guide to the many rare gems around the world that have their own attraction. With tips on identifying these rare gems, where they come from and how did they form, the mythology behind them, and how to buy them without getting burned, Renee Newman gives reads a complete and comprehensive guide to these gems, making "Exotic Gems" a choice and very highly recommended pick.

Webster's New Explorer Student Dictionary, third edition
Merriam-Webster Editors
Federal Street Press
25-13 Old Kings Highway North, #277, Darien, CT 06820
www.federalstreetpress.com
9781596950863, $12.98, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded third edition, "Webster's New Explorer Student Dictionary" is an 816-page compendium comprising some 37,000 definitions; 346 highlighted Synonym and Word History paragraphs; 19,000 word use examples; and 400 detailed illustrations. Of special note are the 'homework' help sections that include Basic English Grammar, Guide to Punctuation, and Geographical Names. Featuring hundreds of new definitions of words commonly in current use by young people, the "Webster's New Explorer Student Dictionary" is an ideal addition for personal, school, and community library reference collections. Also very highly recommended are four other Federal Street Press titles: "Webster's Dictionary for Students: 3rd Edition" (9781596950931, $3.99); "Webster's Thesaurus for Students: 3rd Edition" (9781596950948, $3.99); and "Webster's Dictionary for Students: Special Encyclopedic Edition, 3rd Edition" (9781596950955, $4.49).


The Needlecraft Shelf

Vintage Knits
Kim Hargreaves, et al.
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05033
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781570764585, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Showcasing the contributions of eight expert knitters, "Vintage Knits: 30 Knitting Designs from Rowan for Women and Men" offers aspiring needlecrafters with a series of beautifully illustrated knitting projects for jackets, sweaters and wraps. Complete with charts and diagrams, each project is thoroughly 'user friendly', offering step-by-step instructions that will enable even the novice beginner to produce quality garment. These classic designs draw their inspiration from the fashions of the 1940s through the 1960s and cover garments for both men and women, adapted for modern physiques and life-styles. An outstanding, 138-page compilation of knitting projects, "Vintage Knits" is wholeheartedly recommended for personal and community library needlecraft instructional reference collections.


The Art Shelf

Imaginative Realism
James Gurney
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740785504, $24.99, www.amazon.com

In "Imaginative Realism: How to Paint What Doesn't Exist", James Gurney (author and illustrator of 'Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time') draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to teach aspiring fantasy artists how to bring to their work an element of believability, drama, and practical imagination regardless of whether the subject for the artistic endeavor is a dinosaur, a lost kingdom, an extraterrestrial world, or fairyland fantasy. The focus in on techniques and begins with an informative survey of imaginative paintings beginning with the Renaissance and going on through to the Golden Age of American illustration. With an emphasis on the necessity for attention to such details as architecture and anatomy, "Imaginative Realism" is an invaluable and highly recommended instruction guide for anyone wanting to create images suitable for books, magazines, calendars, video games, films, toys, and gallery quality wall art.

Masters: Earthenware
Matthias Ostermann, curator
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781600592935, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Earthernware is the oldest known form of ceramic. Showcasing the work of thirty-eight master level potters, "Masters: Earthenware" compiled by late ceramist Matthias Osterman is newest addition to the impressive Lark Books 'Masters' series and features simply outstanding examples of functional, sculptural, and figurative pieces of earthenware art. Each artist is represented by twelve to fourteen examples of their best work enhanced with commentary from the artists on their own development and artistic philosophy. The artists themselves range from Mariono Moretti; to Terry Siebert; to Patti Warashina; to Woody Hughes. An informative and informative, superbly illustrated, 318-page compendium, "Masters: Earthenware" is a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections.

Art Of The Middle East
Saeb Egner
Merrell Publishers
38 High Ave., 4th fl, Nyack, NY 10960
60 Cycle Media (publicity)
38 High Avenue, #1, Nyack, NY 10960
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858945002, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Showcasing the work of more than two hundred contemporary artists, "Art of the Middle East: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World and Iran" is a superbly illustrated, 384-page compendium expertly compiled by Saeb Egner who provides an informative introduction and afterword to this coffee-table style art book that impressively covers diverse areas of Middle Eastern artistic contributions organized into chapters dedicated to Scared Scripture; Literature, Music and Performance; Politics, Conflict and War; History and Identity; Portraiture and the Body; Nature and the Land. Enhanced with succinct biographies of the featured artists, a bibliography of suggested additional readings, notes and an index, "Art Of The Middle East" is a seminal work, the product of exhaustive and meticulous research, and a strongly recommended acquisition for both academic and community library reference collections, as well as the supplemental reading lists of non-specialist general readers with an interest in contemporary Middle Eastern arts and artists.

The Dono Code
Wouter Welling & Helena Spanjaard
KIT Publishers
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9789460220524, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Heri Dono is an Indonesian arts whose paintings and sculptures are known for their commentary on the politics, culture, and social issues of his homeland. In "The Dono Code: Installations, Sculptures, Paintings", Wouter Welling (Curator of Contemporary Art, Africa Museum, Berg en Dal) and Indonesian history and art expert Helena Spanjaard, expertly collaborate to present two informed and informative interpretive essays on Dona's art within the context of contemporary Indonesian society. This superbly illustrated biography of the artist and his work is enhanced with an insightful discussion with him. A seminal contribution, "The Dono Code: Installations, Sculptures, Paintings" is very highly recommended for personal and academic library Contemporary International Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Gardens In Perpetual Bloom
Nancy Keeler
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878467495, $24.95, www.amazon.com

In 1735, Carl Linnaeus was the first to classify plants and arrange them within a descriptive framework. Books of annotated flower drawings were developed primarily for the purposes of aiding herbalists in their identification and uses. By the 1800s, botanical publications effectively transitions from the province of the amateur hobbyist to the arena of botanical science. Comprised of 136 pages of superb, full color illustrations accompanied by an informed and informative text, "Gardens In Perpetual Bloom: Botanical Illustration in Europe and American 1600-1850" provides a historical survey of the subject. Impressively showcasing 110 prints and drawings, "Gardens in Perpetual Blooms" is an elegant and very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Botanical Reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Blessed Art Thou
Michael O'Neill McGrath
Richard N. Fragomeni
World Library Publications
3708 River Road, Suite 400, Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158
www.wlpmusic.com
1584591773, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Combining Michael McGrath's ethereal and lovely acrylic paint on watercolor paper artworks with Richard Fragomeni's beautiful prayers, "Blessed Art Thou: Mother, Lady, Mystic, Queen" is a superlative celebration of the loving and reverent names for Mary, the mother of Christ. The twenty memorably impressive images comprising this coffee-table style book make it an inspired and inspiring assist for readers seeking contemplation and reflection. Highly recommended, " "Blessed Art Thou: Mother, Lady, Mystic, Queen" will prove to be a welcome addition to personal reading lists and church library collections.

The Development of the Liturgical Reform
Nicola Giampietro
Roman Catholic Books
PO Box 2286, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781934888124, $33.75, www.booksforcatholics.com

Reform is something that must happen ever so often to keep something relevant. "The Development of the Liturgical Reform: As Seen By Cardinal Ferdinando Antonelli" Is one Cardinal's reflection of the recent reform in the middle of the twentieth century as much changes in the church occurred over this period, providing much insight to the men of the church during this time. Insightful and educational, anyone intrigued by the inner workings of the Roman Catholic Church should consider "The Development of Liturgical Reform", a solid addition to any Catholicism collection.

The New Outreach
Sandra S. Swan
Church Publishing Incorporated
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.churchpublishing.org
9780898696448, $24.00, www.amazon.com

Recruiting congregational support for church programs and projects is a core responsibility for the leadership of any Christian community -- and those charged with the responsibility for the success of any and all such advocacy and charitable enterprises. That's why "The NEW Outreach: Doing Good the Better Way: An ABC Planning Guide" is such a valuable instructional reference and manual. Drawing from her many years of experience as a senior-level executive in the field of international relief, economic and social development, and management (and the retired president of Episcopal Relief and Development), Sandra S. Swan has created a workbook that covers every aspect form initial approaches, through the basics of conducting, documentation, and evaluation. Of special note is the provision of a thematically appropriate bibliography. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and 'real-world practical' in all respects, "The New Outreach" is very highly recommended for personal and congregational library reference collections.


The Architecture Shelf

The Architecture Of Bart Prince, revised edition
Christopher Curtis Mead
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393733129, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, "The Architecture of Bart Prince: A Pragmatics of Place" knowledgeably compiled and deftly written by Christopher Mead (Professor of Architecture and Art History, University of new Mexico) showcases the architectural career, contributions, and achievements to modern architecture by Bart Prince. The illustrated focus is on fifteen houses designed by Prince. A seminal contribution, "The Architecture of Bart Prince: A Pragmatics of Place" is strongly recommended for personal, professional, and academic library Contemporary American Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Cookbook Shelf

Justin Wilson's Easy Cookin'
Justin Wilson
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807907, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Louisiana cooking offers one of our country's most distinctive and popular regional cuisines. Perfectly capturing this culinary treasure of mouth-watering dishes, "Justin Wilson's Easy Cookin'" is a 244-page compendium of truly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from breakfast to dinner, appetizers to deserts. Of special note is the use of flavored salts and powders, avoiding the time consuming necessity of peeling and chopping onions, celery, and garlic. From an Eggplant Appetizer, to Chicken a la Creole, to a Broccoli and Ham Casserole, to Hominy and Mushrooms, to a Peanut Butter-Blueberry Cobbler, these are gourmet quality, 'down home style', palate pleasing, appetite satisfying dishes that would grace any table for any occasion. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to sauces and featuring two different tartar sauces, three barbecue sauces (including one for diabetics), and basting sauces. Truly living up to its title, "Justin Wilson's Easy Cookin'" will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to personal and community cookbook collections alike!

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook
Lara Starr & Lynette Shirk
Viva Editions
c/o Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.cleispress.com
9781573443630, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Being on a tight budget does not preclude eating well. Not when you have access to Lara Starr and Lynette Shirk's "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook", a 216-page compendium of information and recipes covering inexpensive meals including appetizers, snacks, entrees, desserts, and beverages. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and highly portable, anyone on a restricted financial income will want to pay special attention to the recipes comprised in such iconic chapters as Bankable Breakfasts; Lunch for Less, and Dinner on a Dime,. With recipes ranging from Scampi without Skimping; Peanut Butter Picassos; and Lentil Burgers; to Kaleidoscope Popcorn; Ice Cream Sandwiches; and a Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza, "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook" will enable anyone to prepare gourmet quality meals on a working class budget.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen
Yan Wang, et al.
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780738213255, $19.95, www.amazon.com

The use of foods and herbs to prevent and cure human ailments has a more than three thousand year history in Eastern healing arts. "Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" is the collaborative work of Yuan Wang (Pacific College of Oriental Medicine); Warren Sheir (licensed acupuncturist and herbalist); and writer/editor Mika Ono. This 352-page compendium of basic information on the use of 'superfoods' such as goji berries, also includes an overview of traditional Chinese medicine, herbs, and food therapy; details on one hundred specifically Asian ingredients; and healing recipes for everything from fatigue and menopause, to high cholesterol and diabetes. Of special note is the section of colored photographs of Asian plants. With thoroughly 'user friendly' recipes ranging from Black Sesame Asparagus; Steadying Spinach Egg Drop Soup; Silver-Wrapped Fish with Tangerine Sauce; and Five-Spice Lamb Skewers; to Healing Lily Bulb Congee; Ginger Black Tea; Shiitake-Astragalus Vegetable Stock; and Creamy Umeboshi Dressing, "Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" is a highly recommended and core reference addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Cookbook and Alternative Medicine collections.

Cakes To Celebrate Love And Life
Callie Maritz & Mari-Louis Guy
Struik Lifestyle
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781770077836, $23.95, www.amazon.com

International in is scope, "Cakes To Celebrate Love And Life" by the brother and sister team of Callie Maritz and Mari-Louis Guy showcases superbly illustrated and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for spectacular pastries the include cake classics and 'new wave' creations, to cupcakes and wedding cakes. Now any home kitchen can be made into a do-it-yourself boutique bakery with truly elegant desserts ranging from a Boston Cream Pie; Pomegranate Glaze Cake; Summer Berry Cake; and Coconut Ice; to Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes; Pavlova Roulade; Beetroot and Blueberry Cake; and a White Wedding Cake. Clearly living up to its title, "Cakes To Celebrate Love And Life" will prove a popular addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections!

The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crawfish
Jerald Horst & Glenda Horst
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807693, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Cajun country has always enjoyed a well deserved reputation when it comes to seafood in general, and crawfish-based dishes in particular. In "The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crawfish", a 224-page, superbly illustrated compendium of 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes compiled by the husband and wife team of Jerald and Glenda Horst, also provides readers with an informed and informative essay on the history of the Louisiana seafood industry from its origins in the 1800s down to the problems and conditions confronting commercial fishing in the opening decades of the twenty-first century. Of special note is the wealth of information specific to crawfish as a species and the basic instructions concerning their handling and preparation. The recipes themselves range from Marinated Crawfish with Ginger; Corkern's Crawfish Cornbread; Crawfish Steak Sauce; and Crawfish Ragout; to Crawfish Medallions; Chinese Crawfish; Crawfish-Squash Dressing; and Microwave Crawfish Scampi. "The Louisiana Seafood Bible: Crawfish" is an ideal and highly commended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections -- and an absolute must for any and all crawfishing cuisine enthusiasts!


The Photography Shelf

Captured By The Light
David A. Ziser
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780321646873, $54.99, www.amazon.com

The art and science of taking the perfect wedding photo is the focus of wedding photography expert David A. Ziser's 312-page, superbly illustrated instructional manual "Captured by the Light: The Essential Guide to Creating Extraordinary Wedding". The aspiring photographer will learn how to make every member of the wedding party, but especially the bride and groom, look their best. "Captured by the Light" covers ever aspect of the process from exposure methods, to every aspect of lighting, to the use of a flash, to framing, and more! Entire chapters are devoted to the cameras, the photographing the consecutive stages of the wedding, to the final presentation. Informed and informative, "Captured by the Light" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Photography reference and resource collections.

Pilgrim Eye
David Halpern
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780978816506, $50.00, www.amazon.com

From the use of Kodachrome film in 1936 down to the digital photography of today, David Halpern has been an avid and talented photographer using a camera the way a painter uses his brush and canvas to create memorable and enduring images. Now 128 of those images, some in black-and-white, others in full color, along with an accompanying commentary comprise "Pilgrim Eye", a 168-page tribute to his photographic work and legacy. Enhanced with an informed and informative Foreword by journalist, photographer, and freelance writer Bill Sontag, "Pilgrim Eye" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library American Photography reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Mongolia: Land Of The Deer Stone
Elaine Ling
Lodima Press
PO Box 367, Revere, PA 18953
9781888899573, $98.00, www.lodimapress.com

It was during the 13th Century that the Mongol hordes under Genghis Khan carved out one of the largest empires the world has ever known. Now in the opening decades of the 21st Century, Mongols are not only nomadic herdsmen following in the traditions of their ancestors, they are to be found in villages and cities, particularly the capital of Ulaanbaatar. "Mongolia: Land Of The Deer Stone" is a 180-page, coffee-table book of black-and-white photographs taken by Elaine Ling during her extensive travels in Mongolia from 2002 through 2008. Her goal during five expeditions was to photography the 'ovoos', shamanist stone markers found scattered across the vast Mongolian deserts. Of special note is the informed and informative introduction by Alison Devine Nordstrom to this volume of immensely impressive images. Enhanced with scholarly essays with respect to the Mongolian nomads and their stone markers by William W. Fitzhugh, and an essay on the role of Buddhism in Mongol culture by Thurbten Konchog Norbu, "Mongolia: Land Of The Deer Stone" is a seminal and highly recommended addition to academic library reference collections.

Fictions
Anthony Goicolea
Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
www.twinpalms.com
9781931885737, $75.00, www.amazon.com

Anthony Goicolea's third volume of photographs, "Fictions" is a 188-page coffee-table book of distinctive images drawn from boys engaged in a variety of often obscure activities and rituals. A fascinating browse, these are full color images that are as engaging as they are intriguing, provoking the reader to thoughtful speculation and imaginative reflection. A 'must' for Anthony Goicolea fans, "Fictions" is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Photography & Art collections. Also highly recommended for those new to Anthony Goicolea's work is "Drawings" (9781931885409, $50.00) featuring his early work and published in 2005 and "Anthony Goicolea" (9781931885119, $60.00) published in 2003.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing About Dance
Wendy R. Oliver
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9780736076104, $29.95, www.amazon.com

From classical ballet to street corner brake dancing, the art of the dance comes in a seemingly endless variety with new forms being invented (or rediscovered) by each new generation. Writing about dance is a specialized field with its own particular demands. That's why "Writing About Dance" by Wendy Oliver (Professor of Dance and Women's Studies at Providence College) is such an invaluable instructional guide and reference, especially for the novice in the field. Professor Oliver draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to offer practical strategies for developing critical thinking skills when it comes to assessing, understanding, interpreting, and communicating about any form, type, or category of dance. Providing fourteen writing assignments; approaches to creating effective dance critiques, essays, and research papers, "Writing About Dance" is an ideal textbook for formal academic curriculums, as well as a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in writing coherently with respect to dance appreciation. Of special note are the many checklists that will aid in writers organizing their writings on and about dance. Enhanced with an appendix that will provide 'real world' assistance with crafting dance critiques, "Writing About Dance" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library collections.

Scientific Publishing
Hans E. Roosendaal, et al.
Chandos Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781843344902, $95.00, www.neal-schuman.com

"Scientific Publishing: From Vanity To Strategy" is an informed and informative examination of diverse business models associated with scientific publishing, and how they relate to the processes of scientific research and development. "Scientific Publishing" assesses how these models advance or impede the growth of human knowledge. Of special note is the impact of the computer and web-driven digital information environment upon access to scientific data and analysis with respect to publishing. Enhanced throughout with tables and figures, and featuring extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Scientific Publishing" is especially commended to the attention of the publishing community, as well as an invaluable addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections.

How To Write About The Media Today
Raul Damacio Tovares & Alla V. Tovares
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313375194, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Mass media has become every more complex and fragmented with the advent of technological innovations, so that where once radio and television news were the main sources of information for the general public, now there is everything from cable news and social networks, to blogs and instant messaging. The latest addition to the outstanding 'Writing Today' series from Greenwood Press, "How To Write About The Media Today", the collaborative project of Raul D. Tovares (Associate Professor, Department of Communications, Trinity University, Washington, DC) and Alla V. Tovares (Assistant Professor, Department of English, Howard University, Washington, DC), is a comprehensive instructional manual and guide for aspiring writers for all of these media forms and formats and includes doing research, preparing reports and papers, making presentations, and more. From a step-by-step process for selecting topics to securing and utilizing information resources, "How To Write About The Media Today" is an ideal introduction for novice journalists, very highly recommended as a textbook for Journalism curriculums, and an invaluable reference for non-specialist general readers wanting to utilize internet opportunities for expressing their opinions and research on the social, cultural, political, and economic issues of the day.


The Biography Shelf

At Home Abroad
Nancy Henderson-James
Plain View Press
PO Box 42255, Austin, TX 78704
912 Shepherd Street, Durham, NC 27701 (author)
9780911051674, $18.95, www.amazon.com

When war and massive civil unrest broke out in Angola, Africa, fifteen-year old Nancy Henderson-James was uprooted from her home, her friends, and the culture she had grown to love. Her life was complicated by abusive father who served as a Protestant missionary, a man who was as incompetent at parenting as he was gifted professionally. "At Home Abroad: An American Girl in Africa" is an engagingly written 244-page autobiography that provides insights into an unusual childhood, a personal memoir that is inspired and inspiring, while showcasing a culture, a people, and a time that will be unfamiliar to a great many readers. A compelling and complex story on so many levels, "At Home Abroad" will prove a popular addition to community library collections, and is especially recommended for personal reading lists.

Jack Bruce
Harry Shapiro
Jawbone
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781906002268, $19.95, www.jawbonepress.com

It isn't all about fame. "Jack Bruce: Composing Himself" tells the tale of one of the less commercially successful members of Cream, but artistically successful none the less, Jack Bruce. His career has remained strong as he has continued to push the envelope, living for the music and not the fame. The hits and misses of his life lead to a truly unique rock and roll, and Harry Shapiro does well in telling his tale. "Jack Bruce" is a treasure trove of rock and roll legend, highly recommended.

The Mormon Passage Of George D. Watt
Ronald G. Watt
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
www.USUPress.org
9780874217568, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Under its founder, Joseph Smith, and continuing through his immediate successors Brigham Young and John Taylor, the Mormon Church was a culture that provided opportunity for upward mobility for its adherents, especially new converts from Northern Europe. This was made possible by the diversity of social origins comprising the first generation; its members ranged from frontiersmen and farmers, to craftsmen and merchants, to preachers and social engineers. This phenomena is particularly well showcased in the superbly written biography of George D. Watt, a British convert who taught himself the then newly created Pitman shorthand and became an able and sought after chronicler. He was also the creator of Deseret Alphabet, and the chief recorder of the sermons of the Mormon leaders that became the content of the "Journal of Discourses", an invaluable historical resource for subsequent generations of scholars and historians. Additionally, Watt authored significant works ranging from horticulture to spiritualism. A parting of the ways with Brigham Young was to inflict social isolation and poverty, but Watt continued to exert his own independence of thought in his writings and personal philosophy. "Mormon Passage of George D. Watt: First British Convert, Scribe for Zion" by biographer Ronald G. Watt is both a fascinating and detailed personal story, but also a seminal contribution to 19th century American History and a highly recommended addition for academic and community library collections.

Talk Thai
Ira Sukrungruang
Missouri University Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218896, $24.95, www.press.umsystem.edu

The melting pot can sometimes take its time melting things. "Talk Thai: The Adventures of Buddhist Boy" tells the story of Ira Sukrungruang, a Thai-American who grew up to Thai immigrants in America. His home was very Thai, and he brings forth a story of trying to balance his home culture and the very different culture that surrounded it. "Talk Thai" is a fascinating read, well worth adding to any memoir collection.


The Psychology Shelf

Talking About Sexual Assault
Sarah E. Ullman
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433807411, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Often compounding the physical and psychological trauma of a sexual assault is the subsequent reaction towards the victim by law enforcement authorities, spouses, friends, and even family. That's why "Talking About Sexual Assault: Society's Response to Survivors" by Sarah E. Ullman (Professor of Criminology, Law and Justice, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois) is such a critically important contribution. Informed and informative, "Talking About Sexual Assault" addresses how assaulted women reveal their experience, how people respond when informed by these women, the factors influences those responses, and the effect these responses have on the assaulted women. Of special note is that "Talking About Sexual Assault" includes the social context of rape and the implications for response drawn from broader social norms and attitudes about sexual assaults. Perspectives are drawn from survivors of sexual assaults, as well as their family, friends and intimate partners, as well as providers of support including therapists, advocates, and others. Concluding with recommendations for further research, treatment options, and interventions, "Talking About Sexual Assault" is very strongly recommended for professional, academic, and community library reference collections, and should be considered mandatory reading and study for anyone charged with the responsibility of working with a victim of sexual assault, including social workers, counselors, police, health care workers, advocates, policy makers, and researchers in the field.


The Science Shelf

A First Course In Computational Physics, second edition
Paul L. DeVries & Javier E. Hasbun
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com
9780763773144, $105.95, www.amazon.com

Basic physics is essential in the rapidly advancing fields of computer-based computations and engineering. Understanding how numerical methods are to be employed as problem solving techniques in physics is the underlying goal of "A First Course In Computational Physics", a 448-page textbook specifically designed for students by Paul L. DeVries (Miami University) and Javier E. Hasbun (University of West Georgia). After a deftly presented introduction, individual chapters focus on Functions and Roots; Interpolation and Approximation; Numerical Integration; Ordinary Differential Equations; Fourier Analysis; and Partial Differential Equations. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, and enhanced for the student with an accompanying CD, an appendix, and an index, "A First Course In Computational Physics" is an ideal and highly recommended curriculum textbook.

The Great Pheromone Myth
Richard L. Doty
John Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801893476, $65.00, www.press.jhu.edu

Scent is a very powerful sense for mammals, but how powerful is it really? "The Great Pheromone Myth" discusses pheromones and how science has no real argument for their place and power in mammalian behavior. Defining pheromones, stating how their different from other animal types, the release of pheromones for animals and humanity, Richard L. Doty creates a complete and comprehensive study of the subject and states much on the subject and how they affect society on many different levels. "The Great Pheromone Myth" is an ideal addition to any community or college library science collection.


The Military Shelf

The United States Army: A Chronology, 1775 to the Present
John C. Fredriksen
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598843446, $85.00, www.amazon.com

It took an American army to create the United States of America, and in every decade that followed, it took the American Army to secure the continued our national existence and expansion. Expansion in both territory and political influence. Now the history of the American army has been succinctly laid out in "The United States Army: A Chronology, 1775 to the Present" from its very beginnings down to the present day by historian and author John C. Fredriksen. Of special note is the late 20th century transition of the Army from a combination of career soldiers and draftees, to a completely volunteer force. Presented in a detailed chronological format, "The United States Army" covers the highlights of the army's wartime and peacetime performance. Included in this superbly compiled and written history are such issues as the army's military schools, pay scales, creation of a general staff, and the development of its auxiliaries, including the National Guard and Army Reserve systems, Special Forces, Army Aviation, and more. Informed and informative, "The United States Army" is a highly recommended addition to both academic and community library American Military History reference collections, and ideal for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the history and development of the American army.

Tin Can Man
E. J. Jernigan
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
9781591144243, $18.95, www.amazon.com

It was with their introduction in World War II that destroyer class ships were originally referred to by the men who manned them as 'tin cans'. "Tin Can Man" by E. J. Jernigan is the personal story of an enlisted man who served aboard the USS Saufley during the war. It provides readers with insights into what it was like to live, work, fight, and die aboard these ships. A superbly written 206-page memoir, "Tin Can Man" is especially informative and recommended reading for military history buffs in general, and academic library 20th Century Naval History reference collections in particular.


The Music Shelf

The Music Of Luigi Dallapiccola
Raymond Fearn
University of Rochester Press
668 Mt. Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14472
www.urpress.com
9781580463478, $34.95, www.amazon.com

The late Italian composer Luigi Dallapiccola (1904-1975), wrote several operas and a substantial number of works for the human voice both solo and in choral productions. The newest addition to the outstanding 'Eastman Studies in Music' series from the University of Rochester Press, "The Music of Luigi Dallapiccola" is the first English language biography of the man, his music, and his compositional contributions to reintroducing past traditions of Italian music to contemporary audiences. Superbly written, this 324-page compendium reveals an impressive attention to detail and the highest standards of academic scholarship in presenting and documenting the contributions and accomplishments of Luigi Dallapiccolla. "The Music of Luigi Dallapiccola" is a core addition to academic library 20th Century Music History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Library Science Shelf

Librarians Serving Diverse Populations
Lori Mestre
Association of College & Research Libraries
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838985120, $54.00, www.ala.org

Different people want different things out of their libraries. "Librarians Serving Diverse Populations: Challenges and Opportunities" looks into what a librarian in a racially diverse area must face in order to make an all accommodating library for all possible patrons. Defining what a multicultural librarian is, how one can choose their employees to better serve, training one's staff against these challenges, curriculum, and more, Lori Mestre and her staff provide an intellectual and highly fulfilling guide to make an understanding and useful library. "Libraries Serving Diverse Populations" is a must for any librarian in these increasingly common conditions.

The Complete Library Trustee Handbook
Sally Gardner Reed and Jillian Kalonick
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555706876 $55.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

Sally Gardner Reed (executive director of the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations) and former public library director Jillian Kalonick present The Complete Library Trustee Handbook, a solid guide to help library trustees in their efforts to procure resources that the library most needs to serve its community. From a clear discussion of fiduciary responsibilities, to examples of conflict of interest and ethics statements, to templates for developing board bylaws, recommendations for fundraising and advocacy, the relationship between trustee and library director, important distinctions between the board's role and the library director's role, how to create and implement realistic plans and goal-setting, and much more, The Complete Library Trustee Handbook lives up to its title. An absolute "must-have" for library trustees; even those who have served for years will encounter a wealth of valuable ideas, insights, and recommendations in this highly accessible and serviceable guide.

Booktalking With Teens
Kristine Mahood
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781591587149, $45.00, www.amazon.com

One of the primary responsibilities of librarians, whether the setting be a school or a community library, is to talk knowledgeable and encouragingly about books to their adolescent students and teenage patrons. The newest addition to the Libraries Unlimited outstanding 'Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Librarians Series', "Booktalking with Teens" by Kristine Mahood (Teen Services Librarian, Timberland Regional Library District, Washington state) is a 200-page instructional manual and guide that will enable librarians to ably communicate with teens about books by evoking information from them concerning the reading habits and experiences; create effective booktalk programs for teens; coaching booktalk performances; and a great deal more. Enhanced with an appendix, a listing of selected resources, and a comprehensive index, "Booktalking With Teens" should be considered mandatory reading for any librarian charged with responsibilities for involving adolescent readers with school or community library resources, as well as a core addition to an academic library's Library Science curriculum reference collection.


The International Studies Shelf

Border Culture
Ilan Stavans, editor
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313358203, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Historically speaking, the border separating Mexico from the United States has been fluid, permeable, and a source of contention that has ranged from mile annoyance to overt hostility over the past two centuries. It has also been the setting for cultural, political, and socio-economic conditions that are unique to the area as two distinct cultures (including language) and conflicted, merged, and evolved. "Border Culture" (the newest addition to the impressive Greenwood Press series 'The Ilan Stavans Library of Latino Civilization', deftly compiled and knowledgeably edited by Illan Stavans focuses on the border region and is organized into two major sections. The first being a collection of informed and informative essays dealing with life on the border, the second providing a series a historic and literary accounts on living in 'La Frontera'. A sturdily bound, 168-page work of seminal scholarship and highly recommended for academic and community library American History and International Studies reference collections, "Border Culture" is enhanced with a selected bibliography, and a comprehensive index. Obviously suitable as a curriculum supplement text book, "Border Culture" is also very appropriate for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in contemporary Mexican/American border issues.

Normalizing Japan
Andrew L. Oros
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804770668, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Their defeat at the hands of allied forces at the end of World War II brought dramatic changes in the politics and culture of Japan. One of the biggest changes was the abandonment of militarism as a driving social philosophy and a national security that was to be based upon cooperation with the American missile defense strategies of the Cold War era. The newest addition to the Stanford University Press 'Studies in Asian Security' series, "Normalizing Japan: Politics, Identity, and the Evolution of Security Practice" by Andrew L. Oros (Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland) is a 304-page study that focuses upon the contemporary misgivings that Japan might be considering further national defense policy changes such as those already established such as their recent establishment of a Ministry of Defense and deployment of Japanese military elements to Iraq. A model of academic research, "Normalizing Japan" is enhanced with seven major appendices, extensive notes, a 29-page bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it an invaluable and strongly recommended addition to academic library Contemporary International Studies reference collections in general, and Japanese Governmental Studies reading lists in particular.

The Pen and the Sword
David Barsamian
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859950 $15.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

The Pen and the Sword: Conversations with Edward Said collects five interviews with Palestinian author and critic Edward Said (1935-2003), conducted by David Barsamian, director of Alternative Radio. Ranging in subject from Said's literary scholarship, to "Orientalism", to music and popular culture, to the crimes of the Israeli occupation and the troubling direction in which PLO leadership took the Palestinian liberation movement during 1987-94 (as well as the pivotal need for greater understanding of the conflict today), The Pen and the Sword is insightful and invaluable reading. Highly recommended, especially for international literary scholarship collections and anyone searching for testimonies about the big picture of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Encyclopedia Of Energy Medicine
Linnie Thoms & Carrie Obry
Fairview Press
2450 Riverside Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55454
www.fairviewpress.org
9781577492375, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Alternative medicine is increasingly part of a traditional medical paradigm. "The Encyclopedia Of Energy Medicine", written and compiled by certified Healing touch practitioner and instructor Linnie Thomas, and expertly edited by Llewellyn Worldwide editor Carrie Obry, is an impressive 568-page compendium providing readers with the history and utilization of a variety of energies utilized as complementary medicines with respect to illnesses and injuries. Presented in an encyclopedic format organized into four major sections (Eastern, Western, Spiritual, and Shamanic), "The Encyclopedia Of Energy Medicine" covers an impressive and comprehensive roster of treatments ranging from Acupressure; Thought Field Therapy; CranioSacral Therapy; and Advanced Integrative Therapy; to Attunement Therapy; Noetic Field Therapy; Healing Sounds; and Melody Crystal Healing. Informed, informative, comprehensive, and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "The Encyclopedia Of Energy Medicine" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Health & Medicine reference collections.

Bringing Down High Blood Pressure
Chad Rhoden
Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20766
9781590771594, $22.95, www.rlpgtrade.com

A high blood pressure is a sign of many things, but most importantly, ill health. "Bringing Down High Blood Pressure" is a complete and comprehensive health guide for those who are dealing with high blood pressure and want to bring down its many ill effects. A very common disease in America, the expertise of Chad Rhoden and Sarah Wiley Schien, both masters of their fields, provide much to help readers do what they can so that they can manage their own disease instead of it managing them. "Bringing Down High Blood Pressure" is a choice pick for general health collections.

Tyler's Herbs Of Choice, third edition
Dennis V. C. Awang
CRC Press
Suite 300, 6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9780789028099, $89.95, www.amazon.com

From paleolithic times down to the modern age, herbs have been the fundamental basis for balms, salves, and internal medications for human ills, aliments, physical injuries, and mental traumas. Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded third edition, "Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals" by Canadian author, academician and medical researcher Dr. Dennis V. C. Awang, is a 296-page guide to the medical properties and usages of herbs. Beginning with a thorough overview of the basic principles involved, "Tyler's Herbs Of Choice" is superbly organized and presented with chapters focused thematically appropriate herbs with respect to problems involving the digestive system problems; the kidney, urinary tract, and prostate; respiratory tract; cardiovascular system; nervous system; endocrine and metabolic issues; arthritic and musculoskeletal disorders; skin, mucous membranes, and gingiva; performance and immune deficiencies. Of special note are the subsections on herbs and cancer (including the unproven anticancer herbs including apricot pits, Pau d'Arco, and Mistletoe). enhanced with extensive references, and appendix on 'The herbal regulatory system.', and a comprehensive index, "Tyler's Herbs Of Choice" is a core addition to any and all professional and academic library medical and herbal reference collection.


The Woodworking Shelf

How To Choose & Use Bench Planes and Scrapers
John English
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781933502298, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The latest woodworking instructional reference from Linden Publishing, "How To Choose & Use Bench Planes and Scrapers" by professional cabinet maker John English is a 120-page compendium focused on the proper selection and maintenance of those indispensable woodworking tools, the plane and the scraper. With superbly illustrated, step-by-step instructions, "How To Choose & use Bench Planes and Scrapers" is ideal for the novice woodworker and an invaluable refresher for the experienced craftsman. From grinding a primary bevel, to honing a secondary bevel, to testing for sharpness, "How To Choose & use Bench Planes and Scrapers" is as practical as it is 'user friendly, and an invaluable addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library woodworking reference collections.


The Gardening Shelf

Garden Wisdom & Know-How
Rodale Gardening Book Editors
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
www.workman.com
9781579128371, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by freelance book editor Judy Pray, "Garden Wisdom and Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Plant, Grow, and Harvest" is a large, 480-page, coffee-table reference book that covers every aspect of gardening from soil preparation, to plant selection, to insect and pest control, to flower arranging, to cooking with herbs. Enhanced throughout with a profusion of charts, lists, diagrams, and illustrations, "Garden Wisdom & Know-How" is an amazing and practical compendium of special projects ranging from creating outdoor rooms and making a barrel composter, to building a moth trap, to making a portable trellis. Densely packed from cover to cover with information, ideas, examples, and gardening resources, "Garden Wisdom & Know-How" is an ideal instructional reference guide for novice gardeners and experienced professionals alike. No community library gardening reference collections can be considered complete without the addition of "Garden Wisdom and Know-How: Everything You Need to Know to Plant, Grow, and Harvest"!


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Flea Market Trader, seventeenth edition
Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
9781574325829, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded seventeenth edition enhanced with full color illustrations, the "Flea Market Trader" continues to be an invaluable, practical, 'user friendly', and highly portable reference for flea market and garage sale buyers and sellers. Listing literally thousands of items along with their current estimated values, the "Flea Market Trader" is an indispensable guide for amateurs and professionals alike. Whether assessing the value of miscellaneous items retrieved from attics and basements, or doing 'on-the-spot' evaluations and price comparisons while wandering the marketplace or yard sale, the "Flea Market Trader" is a reliable, comprehensive, and highly recommended resource.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Weiser Field Guide To Cryptozoology
Deena West Budd
Weiser Books
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
www.redwheelweiser.com
9781578634507, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Cryptozoology is the study of mythic and legendary creatures. The term was originated by French zoologist Bernard Heuvelman in the 1950s. "The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious" is a 192-page compendium providing a brief history of cryptozoology and a wealth of descriptive information on creatures ranging from Mongolian Death Worms; Frogmen of Loveland; and Shadow People; to Dragons; the New Jersey Devil; and Werewolves. Informed and informative, "The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious" is a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Metaphysical Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Fiction Shelf

The Hidden Dance, large print edition
Susan Wooldridge
ISIS Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753184943, $32.50, www.amazon.com

In 1933, aboard the luxury liner SS Etoile, Lily Sutton seeks to leave behind a failed marriage and start her life over again in America. Of limited financial means (and to avoid attracting unwanted attention), Lilly is in steerage. A new friend helps, especially when an old enemy appears. Now Lilly finds that she must protect herself and those she loves while journeying on to that hoped for 'new beginning'. "The Hidden Dance" is a skillfully written, thoroughly engaging, and ultimately satisfying novel by a talented writer. This large print edition is particularly appropriate for, and recommended to, community library LP fiction collections.

Prisoners
Burt Zollo
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 West Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60654
0897335155, $16.95, www.academychicago.com

Rough conditions make for strange bedfellows. "Prisoners" tells of Sergeant Sandy Delman, an American Jew faced with guarding a POW camp in rural France. Finding guarding anti-Semitic Germans difficult, he ends up in conflicts with the powers that be. But when supplies run low for all the people at the camp, both soldier and prisoner, a unique and strange plan is hatched. "Prisoners" is a unique take on World War II novels and a fascinating read.

The Children of Mother Glory
CM Harris
Spinsters Ink
PO Box 242, Midway, FL 32343
9781935226109, $14.95, www.spinstersink.com

Traditional religion has always found itself at odds with the flows of progress. "The Children of Mother Glory" tells of Glory Potter, a matriarch in the town of Gulliver where her sons and daughters face their inner conflicts that put them against the other people of their town and themselves. A woman who was brought up in traditional small town America and has her own splintered religious sect, the matriarch faces the many LGBT issues that enter her life, as well as her own deep seated attractions. "The Children of Mother Glory" is a riveting tale that sends its message well.

Lift
Kelly Corrigan
Voice
c/o Hyperion
114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
9781401341244, $16.99, www.everywomansvoice.com

There's no such thing as an easy way through life. "Lift" is a collection of true and inspirational stories from Kelly Corrigan, who encourages readers to use these stories to help them through their tough times in life, and reminds readers no one is invulnerable and no one is perfect. Simple and uplifting tales, "Lift" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to understand love and that it's always there for them.

From Away
David Carkeet
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590203040, $25.95, www.overlookpress.com

Cleverness is something more dangerous than most let on. "From Away" tells the story of Denny Braintree, a man who finds himself in Vermont. Mistaken for a missing person, he takes the identity, and soon finds that his real persona is wanted as a murder suspect. Denny, faced with maintaining his facade to keep his freedom, finds that solving a mystery as someone else isn't the easiest thing in the world. "From Away" is an original and riveting tale, and a choice pick for fiction collections.

Francis: The Saint of Assisi
Joan Mueller
New City Press
202 Cardinal Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565483323, $19.95, www.newcitypress.com

The story of Saint Francis Assisi is a key piece of Catholic history. "Francis: The Saint of Assisi" is Joan Mueller taking the pen of dramatic fiction to tell the story of Saint Francis of Assisi, to bring his story into her interpretation of his life. The story of Francis and Clare rings true and proves an enlightening and informative, as well as entertaining read throughout. "Francis: the Saint of Assisi" is a top pick for historical fiction readers.


The World History Shelf

Calendar of the Letter of Pierre De Cros
Daniel Williman
Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies
Arizona State University
PO Box 872508, Tempe, AZ 85287-2508
www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs/publications
9780866984041, $59.00, www.amazon.com

Deftly and knowledgeably edited by Daniel Williman (Professor Emeritus of Latin and History, Binghamton University), "Calendar of the Letter of Pierre De Cros, Chamberlain to Pope Gregory XI (1371-1378)" is a seminal correspondence collection providing invaluable insights into the Pope most credited with the Church of Rome's acquisition of wealth. Now ably translated into English, and enhanced with genealogy charts, an extensive bibliography, a comprehensive index, and an accompanying CD-ROM, "Calendar of the Letter of Pierre De Cros" is a strongly recommended addition to academic library European Medieval Studies and Roman Catholic Papal History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Last Crusaders
Barnaby Rogerson
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590202869, $35.00, www.overlookpress.com

A central city for many religions, Jerusalem and its surrounding land drove many wars. "The Last Crusaders: The Hundred-Year Battle for the Center of the World" discusses the era where Europe led itself into the Islamic world on multiple occasions to try to reclaim the Holy Land. Battles through North Africa, battles through the Mediterranean Sea, Barnaby Rogerson presents an utterly fascinating history of the era stating how the Crusades bridged feudal Europe with modern history and still have strong implications on today's world. "The Last Crusader" is a choice pick and solidly recommended read, not to be missed for history collections.


The Civil War Shelf

Consigned Indifference
Ron V. Killian
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
www.heritagebooks.com
9780788445163, $35.00, www.amazon.com

There were almost one thousands men who achieved the rank of general during the American Civil War. Six of the more obscure but still quite significant of those men are showcased in "Consigned Indifference: The Military Careers of Six Civil War Generals with Tenuous Fame", a 428-page historical compendium focused upon Union generals Charles P. Stone; Charles Smith Hamilton; George Stoneman; Charles Garrison Harker; and Confederate generals Lloyd Tilghman and Evander McIvor Law. The informed and informative text is nicely enhanced with a number of historical illustrations. Of special note is the opening chapter presentation on Civil War era generalship as perceived and conducted by both the North and the South. A seminal work of enduring value for Civil War Studies, "Consigned Indifference" is very highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library collections.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Anne Steelyard: The Garden of Emptiness
Barbara Hambly, et al.
Penny Farthing Press
2000 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. South, Suite 550, Houston, TX 77042
9780984214303, $14.95, www.amazon.com

"Anne Steelyard and The Garden of Emptiness, Act II: The Gate of Dreams and Starlight" is the second volume of adventures starring Anne Steelyard, a very independent minded young woman whose is determined to break away from the social strictures of a dominating father and British society to live life on her own terms. An amateur archaeologist in the years just preceding World War I, Anne is caught up in Middle Eastern intrigue as she helps the British intelligence service in finding out what the Turks and the Germans are up to, as well as trying to locate a long lost city of antiquity. A kind of female 'Lawrence of Arabia' combined with the feminine equivalent of an 'Indiana Jones', Anne's action/adventure saga is spiced with the mystical and magical. "Anne Steelyard and The Garden of Emptiness, Act II: The Gate of Dreams and Starlight" is a thoroughly entertaining graphic novel read that will leave Barbara Hambly's fans looking eagerly toward the next thrilling installment!


The Audiobook Shelf

Monty Moudlyn
Birke R. Duncan
Northwest Folklore
PO Box 253, Poulsbo, WA 98370
0971058253, $11.50, www.amazon.com

Monty Moudlyn is a man with a mission. He means to bring peace to the world by the simple human gesture of the hug and founding a universal peace organization called 'The Hug Brigade'. Now his 'autobiography' is presented in a vivid dramatization in Birke Duncan's "Monty Moudlyn, Founder of the Hug Brigade", a superbly written and acted CD audio theatre production. The character and story are based upon short stories Ducan has written and which were published in such obscure periodicals as 'A Very Small Magazine' and 'The Ecphorizer: A Mensa Magazine of Literature & Ideas'. This audio production is a thoroughly engaging 'theater of the mind' experience and highly recommended for personal leisure time listening and community library audio book collections.

Third Girl
Agatha Christie, author
Hugh Fraser, narrator
BBC Audiobooks America
42 Whitecap Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852-7445
9781602839113 $29.95 www.BBCAudiobooksAmerica.com

Third Girl: A Hercule Poirot Mystery is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of one of Agatha Christie's classic mystery novels. Three single girls are roommates in London; one is a secretary, one is an artist, and the third - who seeks help from Poirot - disappears, convinced that she is a murderer. Poirot finds and ocean of malign rumors, but uncovering hard evidence to determine whether the third girl is truthful, false, or deluded will take all his skill and determination. A gripping story of intrigue all the way through, skillfully narrated by Hugh Fraser (who played Captain Hastings, Poirot's assistant in the television adaptation of Poirot's mysteries broadcasted by A&E and PBS), Third Girl is an absolute must-have for Agatha Christie's many devotees. 6 CDs, 7 hours.

Scriptural Meditations For the Divine Mercy Chaplet
ACTA Publications
5559 West Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879464219 $14.95 www.actapublications.com 1-800-397-2282

Based on the booklet "Scriptural Meditations" by Lucas J. Amato S.F.O., Scriptural Meditations For the Divine Mercy Chaplet is an audio CD of some of the most widely embraced Catholic devotions, voiced by both male and female narrators, and accompanied by brief passages from Scripture meant to inspire meditation on divine mysteries. A brief history of each devotion as well as basic instructions concerning how to pray it are included. Original music by Sheldon Cohen adds a beautiful touch to this audio CD, highly recommended to practicing Catholics everywhere. 1 CD, 23 minutes.

Death at Victoria Dock
Kerry Greenwood, author
Stephanie Daniel, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781921415814 $63.95 www.bolinda.com

Death at Victoria Dock is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the fourth mystery following the brilliant and seductive Phryne Fisher. When a young man with a pierced ear and blue tattoo dies in front of her, she vows to uncover who killed him and why - a search that will take her to tattoo parlours, pubs, spiritualist halls, meetings with Anarchists, and more. A tangled web of intrigue unfolds in this extraordinary mystery. Smoothly narrated by expert actress Stephanie Daniel, Death at Victoria Dock is a treat for fans of the genre, and highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours 30 minutes, tracks every 3 minutes for easy bookmarking.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries
Dorothy L. Sayers
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$49.99 www.acornmedia.com www.amazon.com

A British aristocrat with a penchant for deductive reasoning, Lord Peter Wimsey was the creation of master mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers. Now the Acorn Media Group has compiled two feature-length BBC adaptions of her novels in "The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries: Set 1". 'Clouds of Witness' finds Lord Peter confronted with the murder of his future brother-in-law and the man accused of it is his Lord Peter's brother, Gerald Wimsey. 'The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club' has Lord Peter being called upon to determine 'whodunnit' and why when a member of the exclusive Bellona Club dies on the same day as his sister meets her own death. Featuring the usual impeccable levels of production values, these BBC productions have been superbly packaged as a 3-disc DVD boxed set with total running time of 398 minutes, and include extras such as interviews with Ian Carmichael, production notes, SDH subtitles, and a biography of Dorothy L. Sayers. "The Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries" will prove to be a welcome and popular addition to community library DVD collections, and an absolute 'must' for the legions of Dorothy L. Sayers' mystery loving fans.

Building Alaska
PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity)
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831630 $24.99 www.ssapr.com

"Building Alaska" (87 min., widescreen, closed captioned) is an extraordinary DVD documentary about the grand engineering projects that shaped the state of Alaska. From the great railroads and highways constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to the invasion of Alaska by the Japanese during World War II, to the repercussions of the biggest earthquake ever to hit North America, "Building Alaska" reveals how monumental events of history transformed the state forever. Educational as well as entertaining, Building Alaska is a worthy addition to public and school library DVD shelves. Also highly recommended is the PBS documentary "Benjamin Latrobe: America's First Architect" (9781608831937, $24.99, widescreen, closed captioned).

Secrets: Landing and Keeping a Job
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
$49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

"Secrets: Landing and Keeping a Job" (24 min. grades 9-adult, closed captioned) is a brief, educational DVD about the value of "transferable skills" in today's ever-changing economic market. These are lifelong skills that can be used at any job, and include communication skills, problem solving skills, and the capacity for teamwork. An invaluable and instructive resource enhanced by included teaching materials, Secrets Landing and Keeping a Job is very strongly recommended especially for school and public library collections, particularly given current tough economic times. Another excellent choice from Learning ZoneXpress is "Sew Green: Recycle Repurpose ReStyle" (38 min., grades 7-adult, English subtitles), a wonderful DVD guide to using unconventional materials to create practical and delightful handicrafts such as a fused plastic messenger bag or a cell phone/MP3 player from old jeans.

Kundalini Yoga Meditation for Beginners & Beyond
Ana Brett & Ravi Singh
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
188694296X $15.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.raviana.com

"A List" fitness teachers Ana Brett and Ravi Singh, whose clients have included Olympic athletes and celebrities such as Madonna, present "Kundalini Yoga Meditation for Beginners & Beyond" (2 hours), a guide offering twelve meditation segments as a relaxing and invigorating complement to their more active fitness DVDs. Simple, step-by-step instructions for calming one's mind, controlling one's breathing, and exploring the benefits of tranquility and respite from information overload that meditation can bring. A great introduction to the benefits of meditation, Kundalini Yoga Meditation for Beginners & Beyond is a top pick for viewers of all backgrounds. Also highly recommended are Ana & Ravi's new exercise DVDs focusing on the physical benefits of Kundalini Yoga: "Kundalini Yoga Solar Power All-In-One Workout" (1886942943, $15.95, 80 min.) and "Kundalini Yoga Transformer All-In-One Workout" (1886942951, $15.95, 90 min.).

Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
www.crystalproductions.com 1-800-255-8629

The multi-talented (to the extent of deserving to be called a Renaissance woman) artist Peggy Flores and Crystal Productions present four new instructional crafts DVDs offering recommendations for creative, hands-on projects accessible to viewers of all skill and experience levels. "Making Books" (9781562906191, $29.95, 25 min.) offers techniques for creating books with simple stitch binding, accordion books, and even pop up books for everything from note taking and diaries to sketches. "Printmaking: Basic Techniques" (9781562906061, $29.95, 26 min.) gives a demonstration of relief printing with flat cardboard, Styrofoam, and string which can be glued onto cardboard, painted, and inked. Another simple printing method revealed involves creating images through carving on vinyl blocks, instructing viewers in the use of tools such as brayers, bench hooks, and carving tools. "Junk Sculpture" (9781562906177, $29.95, 23 min.) shows how one can use anything from discarded boxes and paper tubes to plastic containers, egg cartons, and more to create art - animals, figurines, and other delightful objects. A simple how-to instructional, "Junk Sculpture" is especially ideal for kids. "Creating Cultural Art" (9781562906085, $29.95, 27 min.) demonstrates a wide variety of art forms involving indigenous materials - and how these unique styles can be re-imagined using readily accessible materials such as crayons, paint, markers, and pencil. Creations inspired by traditional bark painting, tapa cloths, Celtic knots and designs, and much more make for an enlightening and enriching experience. All four DVDs are very highly recommended especially for school library collections and hands-on art education shelves.

Thunderheads: A Daredevil Quest into the Eye of the Storm
Smithsonian Networks & Infinity Entertainment Group
Greenleaf & Associates (publicity)
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$9.98 www.smithsonianchannel.com

Thunderheads: A Daredevil Quest into the Eye of the Storm is an exciting DVD following a bold group of scientists, researchers, and best-of-the-best pilots, equipped with state-of-the-art devices, in their quest to understand the role thunderstorms play in worldwide climate change and global warming. 250 experts put together I.C.E. (the International Cloud Experiment) and ventured to Darwin, Australia to study "Hector", one of Earth's largest thunderstorms. Their search for knowledge put them at odds with grapefruit-sized hail, microbursts, mechanical troubles, and the enigma of "gravity waves". An inexpensive yet extraordinary documentary, highly recommended especially for public library DVD collections. 47 minutes.

Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

Vision Video is a premiere providers of inexpensive but flawlessly produced DVDs that are particularly appropriate for personal, congregational, and community library collections. Four of their newest titles are especially recommended for Christian viewers. "The Call To Business" (501355D, $19.99, 105 minutes) is a documentary that focuses on how businesses can and should be conducted in accordance with sound biblical principles and consists of eleven 'stand alone' secessions addressing key issues ranging from 'Can church and business combine?' to 'Is there real Biblical evidence for God's interest in business?'. "Saving Face: Matt Kern's Journey from Indictment to Redemption" (501352D, $19.99, 80 minutes) is that story of a young man who, along with two friends, stole a care and in the process, one of them shot and killed the driver. For his part in the crime Matt was sentenced to 60 years in prison. It was while in Florida's DeSoto Correctional Institute that Matt (the youngest male among 1,100 men) suffered brutally, and during it all, was able to experience a spiritual awakening that would change his life. "Long Run Back" (501356D, $24.99, 52 minutes) is the story of a young woman reentering society after serving 11 years in prison and facing the difficulties and prejudices that commonly confront ex-offenders. Also documented is how mental illness often complicates coming to terms with the outside world for someone released from institutional care. "In Spite of Darkness: A Spiritual Encounter with Auschwitz" (501358D, $19.99, 74 minutes) was filmed throughout seven days documenting an interfaith retreat held at the infamous Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau where more than one million people were systematically murdered. The focus in on five members of the retreat including a Rabbi, an atheist, and a Catholic priest, as they address their own responsibilities with respect to the legacy of the Holocaust and how it should be regarded by current and future generations. The production values of these documentaries is uniformly excellent, the subject matter deftly handled and presented, making each of them an inspired and inspiring experience that will be truly memorable in the minds and hearts of the viewers.

Bulletproof Salesman
Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Bulletproof Salesman is a wryly dark documentary about the work of Fidelis Cloer, a self-described war profiteer, who has supplied kings, presidents, and dictators with top-of-the-line armored vehicles. When the US invaded Iraq, he pounced on the business opportunity brought about by chaos and violence, yet as the war ran on, Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) became more widely used against his creations. Fidelis became involved in an arms race against insurgents who matched more powerful and sophisticated explosives against his stronger and more expensive armored vehicles. Bulletproof Salesman is ultimately an utterly striking narrative, absolutely unforgettable and highly recommended. 70 minutes.

Belly Beautiful Workout, Volume 1
Patricia Friberg
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.bellybeautifulworkout.com

Belly Beautiful Workout, Volume 1: Prenatal Fitness for a Beautiful Pregnancy is a fitness DVD offering an exercise program designed to be safe and healthy for women of all fitness levels, and in all trimesters of pregnancy - the program's benefits are sure to invigorize women before and after pregnancy, as well. Combining Pilates, sculpting, stretches, and relaxation techniques, Belly Beautiful Workout does not requires expensive equipment, although a simple stability ball and a foot resistance band are recommended. Professional fitness instructor Patricia Friberg hosts this user-friendly guide to personal fitness, perfect for strengthening one's endurance, reduce stress, and improve mood prior to the big due day. Highly recommended, especially as a baby shower gift! 67 minutes.

Killer Subs in Pearl Harbor
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831845 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Killer Subs in Pearl Harbor is an episode of the award-winning educational documentary series NOVA, re-examining what science and history have to tell us about critical attack on Pearl Harbor that prompted America's involvement in World War II. When the USS Arizona sank, more than 1,000 crew members lost their lives; it was the greatest single loss in American naval history. But the recent discovery of a group of Japanese midget subs in and around Pearl Harbor raises questions about what really happened that fateful day. NOVA follows a team of experts to the sea's floor in search of clues - could a mini-sub with a two-person crew have managed to enter Pearl Harbor and fire torpedoes at the USS Arizona? Other evidence gathered includes aerial photos taking by Japanese aircraft, and testimonials from U.S. and Japanese veterans. An enthralling look into the critical role these tiny yet deadly mini-subs might have played in world history, highly recommended. 56 minutes, widescreen. Also commended to history buffs and public library collections are the PBS documentaries "The Bombing of Germany" (9781608831838, $24.99, 60 minutes, widescreen), and "Building Pharaoh's Ship" (9781608831876, $24.99, 56 minutes, widescreen).

Ezra Jack Keats: His Life and Art
Weston Woods Studios
143 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
054521758X $39.95 www.scholastic.com/westonwoods 1-800-290-7531

Intended for viewers ages 8 to adult, Ezra Jack Keats: His Life and Art is a documentary presenting an interview with the acclaimed author and illustrator of beloved children's books. An additional segment titled "The Art of People and Place" gathers children's book scholars from around the world discussing the value of Keats' work, and messages that transcend their immediate era. An absorbing and illuminating portrait of this talented children's book creator, Ezra Jack Keats: His Life and Art is an excellent choice for anyone nostalgic about Keats' stories and curious to learn more about the man who wrote them. 22 minutes, live action.

Travel with Kids: Ireland
Equator Creative Media
c/o Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
9781568393512 $17.98 www.janson.com

Travel with Kids: Ireland is a great DVD both for those seriously contemplating a family visit to Ireland and for armchair families who just want to vicariously enjoy a savory taste of the experience. Following the Roberts family as they explore the storied history and culture of Ireland, Travel with Kids: Ireland includes scenes of climbing Blarney Castle, dancing to traditional Irish music, viewing the world's tallest sea cliffs, and much more. Travel hints and tips include suggestions for great accommodations (even staying in a real castle!), transportation, and activities. A bonus "Ireland At Home" section with language, crafts and recipe suggestions rounds out this useful travel prep guide and loving tribute to all things Irish. Highly recommended.

This Emotional Life
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831661 $34.99 www.shopPBS.org

How can human beings improve the quality and fulfillment of their lives? "This Emotional Life: In Search of Ourselves... and Happiness" is a 3-DVD set revealing the latest scientific research alongside perspectives of ordinary people and even the wisdom of celebrities such as Chevy Chase, Larry David, Katie Couric and more. Disc 1, "Family, Friends & Lovers" reveals why social relationships are so important to our emotional well-being, and how they can best be maintained; disc 2, "Facing our Fears" explores the important role that negative emotions play and how they can be kept in check; and disc 3, "Rethinking Happiness", explores what really makes us happy, and how we can better focus on what is truly important to us. An amazingly insightful documentary, highly recommended especially for public library DVD shelves. Other excellent and educational recent releases from PBS Home Video include "The Antarctica Challenge: A Global Warning" ($24.99, 52 minutes) and "Wyatt Earp" ($24.99, 60 minutes).

Let's Make Money
Erwin Wagenhofer
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589224 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize of the Sundance Film Festival and licensed for public performance, Let's Make Money is an educational DVD that questions the social justice of the current world financial system. The World Bank influences an economic system in which the developed and Western world consumes a massive proportion of the undeveloped world's resources. What does it mean to truly be an ethical investor, and how can compassion for one's fellow human beings be effectively incorporated into the desire to make one's money work? A thought-provoking portrayal of the hands-on hard work that ordinary people do worldwide with a strong message to think twice when choosing which investments to fund, Let's Make Money is an excellent choice for showing to viewers in grades 10 and up, as well as for college library DVD shelves. 107 minutes, SDH captions.

10 Minute Solution Ultimate Boot Camp
Jessica Smith
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com www.jessicasmith.tv

Hosted by certified wellness coach and fitness expert Jessica Smith, 10 Minute Solution Ultimate Boot Camp is an excellent workout DVD for anyone with variable schedules or very little free time. Featuring different five boot camp routines, each of which is just ten minutes long, 10 Minute Solution Ultimate Boot Camp allows the viewer to mix and match individual workouts to their taste. A set of dumbbells and a mat or towel are the only equipment recommended for use with the segments, which consist of the cardio-intense "Fat Fighting Skills & Drills", "Ultimate Upper Body Training", "Ultimate Lower Body Training", "Ultimate Total Body Training", and "Six Pack Ab Attack". An excellent and easy-to-use contribution to fitness DVD libraries everywhere. 57 minutes.


The Mathematics Shelf

International Press of Boston
PO Box 43502, Sommerville, MA 02143
www.intlpress.com www.amazon.com

The need for 'student friendly' instructional texts in the field of mathematics is essential to the continued advancement of science in general, and the technologies upon which our 21st century are based. Now a joint publishing project of the International Press of Boston in cooperation with the Higher Education press of China, undergraduate and graduate level curriculums have access to a simply outstanding series of eight such instructional texts focused on updating the cutting edge of advances in mathematics entitled the 'Advanced Lectures in Mathematics' (ALM). The series consists of "Superstring Theory" (9781571461315, $45.00) comprised of lectures given by leading researchers (including Stephen Hawking and Edward Witten) on the subject; "Asymptotic Theory in Probability and Statistics with Applications" (9781571461698, $9.95) presenting eighteen papers organized into three major sections - limit theorems, statistics and applications, mathematical finance and insurance; "Computational Conformal Geometry" (9781571461711, $89.00) presenting succinct introductions to both its theoretical foundations and the practical applications; "Variational Principles for Discrete Surfaces" (9781571461728, $42.00); surveying among other thematically appropriate subjects, current research in the geometry of polyhedral surfaces with applications to computer graphics; "Fourth International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians" (publication pending); "Geometry, Analysis and Topology of Discrete Groups" (9781571461261, $8.95) featuring fifteen papers focusing on helping graduate students and researchers with the structures and applications of discrete subgroups of Lie groups and locally symmetric spaces; "Handbook of Geometric Analysis No. 1" (9781571461308, $97.00) presenting papers on various aspects of geometric analysis; "Recent Developments in Algebra and Related Areas" (9781571461353, $58.00) comprised of fifteen papers delivered at the International conference on Algebra and Related Areas held at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China in August 2007. Although each volume is available individually, academic library reference collections should acquire the set in its entirety as seminal contributions to the field of higher mathematics for the benefit of the faculties and students they serve.


The Automotive Shelf

Yenko
Bob McClurg
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
www.cartechbooks.com
9781932494853, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Iconic machines from a time when American automotive manufactures were dominate, 'muscle cars' continue to be extraordinarily popular, and none more so than those sporting distinctive Yenko stripes and badges. An impressive roster of Chevrolet cars, beginning with Stinger Corvairs and continuing through to the turbocharged Camaro and Vega, received the Yenko treatment that was created and fostered by Don Yenko. Car enthusiasts Bob McClurg has compiled and written an informed and informative 207-page compendium of superbly illustrated information on the life and work of Don Yenko in "Yenko: The Man, the Machines, the Legend" based on interviews with Yenko family members, former employees, friends and associates. The result is an impressive biography that will appeal to all muscle car enthusiasts in general, and Yenko fans in particular.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Key To Kanji
Noriko Kurosawa Williams
Cheng & Tsui Company
25 West St., Boston, MA 02111-1213
www.cheng-tsui.com
9780887277368, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Specifically designed to be a 'user friendly' reference for students of Kanji from novice beginners to graduate school students, "The Key to Kanji: A Visual History of 1100 Characters" by Noriko Kurosawa Williams is founded on her etymological research. The result is an impressive compendium of eleven hundred essential kanji, each with an illustrated entry accompanied by a succinct summary in English explaining the evolution of its written form and meaning from ancient to modern times. It should also be noted that these kanji images are also provided with on- and kun- pronunciations, a section header in a traditional kanji dictionary, a clear stroke order illustration, and sample words that are useful for learners. An essential instructional reference, "The Key To Kanji" is a core addition to academic library and curriculum language studies reference collections, and ideal for personal use by anyone seeking to master kanji.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Toying With God
Nikki Bado-Fralick & Rebecca Sachs Norris
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602581814, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Every world religion is impacted by popular culture and the economic advantages as well as theological instructional values of games, dolls, and toys based on them. Now this previously overlooked subject is the focus on "Toying with God: The World of Religious Games and Dolls", the collaborative work of Nikki Bado-Fralick (Associate Professor and Director of the Religious Studies Program, Iowa State University) and Rebecca Sachs Norris (Associate Professor and Chair of Religious and Theological Studies, Merrimack College). A work of original and seminal scholarship, "Toying With God" is a 210-page, informed and informative compendium providing a historical and analytical survey of the role games, toys, and dolls play within the context of a religious culture, including the underlying commercial implications for those that produce them. Enhanced with a profusion of notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Toying With God" is a unique and recommended addition for academic and community library Religious Studies and Popular Culture reference collections and personal reading lists.


The American History Shelf

John F. Kennedy: World Leader
Stephen G. Rabe
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781597971485 $22.50 www.potomacbooksinc.com 1-800-775-2518

Stephen G. Rabe (Arts and Humanities Chair, University of Texas at Dallas) presents John F. Kennedy: World Leader, an extraordinary study of Kennedy's efforts to literally change the world. Kennedy not only prevented the horrifying specter of nuclear war; he launched major economic development programs for Latin America, India, and Egypt; dispatched Peace Corps volunteers worldwide; attempted to mediate the Arab-Israeli dispute; and began (for the first time in America's history) to develop a policy for Africa. Kennedy literally considered himself a foreign policy president, and it was his task to maintain the delicate balance of threat of force, good diplomacy, and solid judgment in his elected task. Of particular interest is the speculation of whether Kennedy might have been able to usher detente with the Soviet Union years before it happened, had he not been assassinated. A fascinating analysis and a worthy contribution to American History and presidential studies shelves, highly recommended.

Not In My Neighborhood
Antero Pietila
Ivan R. Dee, Inc. Publisher
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2632
9781566638432 $28.95 www.ivanrdee.com 1-800-462-6420

Not In My Neighborhood: How Bigotry Shaped a Great American City is a revealing expose about how bigotry and residential segregation impacted Baltimore's development - as well as that of America at large, using Baltimore as a mirror to reflect national trends. From how public discrimination shifted to focus especially upon African-Americans and Jews in the late nineteenth century onward, to the racially biased housing policies enacted by the Federal Housing Administration up to the 1960s, to the consequences of white flight after World War II, and much more, Not In My Neighborhood examines the overall paradigm of human behavior and its deleterious consequences resounding up to the present day and beyond. A sharply critical, exhaustively researched, and absolutely invaluable analysis, Not In My Neighborhood is the most important kind of history book - the history that must be studied so that its mistakes are not repeated (and that so solutions to difficult problems can be worked upon for the future)! Highly recommended.


The Folktale/Folklore Shelf

Georgia Through Its Folktales
Michael Berman and Ketevan Kalandadze
O-Books
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781846942792 $24.95 www.nbnbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

Georgia Through Its Folktales gathers a smorgasbord of classic folktales from the Republic of Georgia, many of which have never been translated into English before. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this treasury of classic, fantastic stories which reveal a glimpse into the minds of the men and women who call Georgia home - such as the reworking of Genesis into a story that suggests the Georgians were last in line when God gave them land, so God gave them his garden - the small yet fertile and heavenly patch of land that is Georgia. A wondrous collection, deserving of the highest recommendation especially for library folktale shelves.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path
Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen, author
Khenmo Trinlay Chodron
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393423 $25.95 www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313

A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path lives up to its title by presenting the methods that Buddhism offers for improving the quality of one's life in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Constructed around the core of "The Jewel Treasury of Advice", a classic Buddhist text created by Drikung Bhande Dharmaradza (1704-1754), A Complete History of the Buddhist path is invaluable to any seeking to better follow, understand, and practice the Buddha's teachings in everyday life. Highly recommended.


The Library Music CD Shelf

Al Doblar La Esquina
Tito Gonzalez y Su Son De Cuba
FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$19.99 www.flipswitchPR.com

Al Doblar La Esquina is the music CD album of Cuban-American musician Tito Gonzalez and an all-cabbie son band, whose determination and talent reflect their lifelong love of music despite (or perhaps because of?) the long hours each member had to put into working for a living. Poetic lyrics, tremendous skill with the tres (a guitar-like Cuban instrument), and more fill this wonderful contribution to international music shelves. An immersed parable within the original songs hearkens to the importance of committing to and following one's dream. Highly recommended, especially to anyone who loves stylings of traditional Cuban music. The tracks are "Busco a alguien" (4:35), "Para componer un son" (4:11), "Aquel viejo amor" (5:31), "Al doblar la esquina" (4:44), "Cancion para Bonnie" (2:25), "Fiesta en el barrio" (2:56), "Cuando tu te fuistes" (3:10), "Cana tabaco y ron" (6:16), "La despidida" (2:43), "Quiero gozar" (3:40), and "Evocacion" (3:39).

Riverboat Soul
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three
Free Dirt Records
c/o Trade Root Music Group, LLC
PO Box 11451, Takoma Park, MD 20913
$16.99 www.freedirtrecords.com www.traderootmusic.com www.pokeylafarge.net

Riverboat Soul is a music CD tribute to the ragtime and jug bands of the Mississippi River and Missouri culture. Performed on instruments ranging from the guitar, gitjo, kazoo and harmonica to upright bass, slide guitar, fiddle, and more, Riverboat Souls' performers capture the plucky spirit of bands in the days of yore and is sure to delight anyone who enjoys catchy brewed-from-scratch songs. A pure treat for fans of the genre, Riverboat Soul is highly recommended. The tracks are "La La Blues", "Claude Jones", "Won't Make Love at All", "Hard Times Come and Go", "Two-Faced Tom", "You Don't Want Me", "Sweet Potato Blues", "Bag of Bones", "In the Graveyard Now", "Migraines and Heartpains", "Old Black Dog", and "Daffodil Blues".

My Name is Khan
Sony Music
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$9.98 www.mynameiskhanthefilm.com www.flipswitchPR.com

My Name is Khan is the music CD soundtrack of the genre-defying Bollywood (India's Hollywood) movie of the same title. Unlike most Bollywood movies, the movie "My Name is Khan" is drama that forgoes the usual elaborate dance numbers of the Bollywood industry in order to use its music to illustrate its at times tragic, at times inspirational story of a loving Muslim couple in America. After the catastrophe of the September 11th attacks, the love of the hero's life is so devastated that she leaves him; to win her back, he goes on a journey across America. The soundtrack reflects the perseverance and dedication of true love, as well as the desire to educate, uplift, and transform human understanding. An emotionally moving background score that perfectly complements a soulful drama about sparking transformations, My Name is Khan is highly recommended especially for fans of the movie, and features a wealth of bonus tracks (plus a video theatric trailer playable on one's PC)!

Music of Miles Davis 1967-1975
Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra
Whaling City Sound
c/o Mixed Media
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$18.98 www.mixedmediapromo.com www.whalingcitysound.com

Music of Miles Davis 1967-1975 is an instrumental compendium of 26 selections from 16 classic songs by the legendary Miles Davis, as performed by Gerry Gibbs and the Electric Thrasher Orchestra - pianists Andy Langham and Rob Hardt, bassists Brandon Rivas and Essiet Okon, guitarist Mike Hoffman, and many more contributors. The result is an extraordinary and passionate tribute, encapsulating the grandeur of music that a team of dedicated and talented performers have made their own. A lively and grandiose CD, sure to bring an upbeat tone to any music library, Music of Miles Davis 1967-1975 is highly recommended. The tracks are "Nefertiti", "Sorcerer", "In a Silent Way", "Bitches Brew" (the name of Gibbs' original orchestra), "The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions", "Live Evil", "Miles Davis at Fillmore", "Black Beauty - Live at Fillmore West", "Big Fun", "In Concert: Live at Philharmonic Hall", "A Tribute to Jack Johnson", "Get Up With It", "Dark Magus", "Circle in the Round" and "The Cellar Door Sessons".

Aurora
Avishai Cohen
EMI
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$27.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Aurora is an album by Israeli bassist Avishai Cohen, whose recordings blend his instrumental talent with his powerful voice singing in Hebrew and Ladino (the Spanish-based language of the Sephardic Jewish tradition). Though Aurora is jazz at its heart, it reaches out to other musical genres and traditions. The result is an uplifting, visionary fusion worthy of the highest recommendation for music lovers intrigued by new experiences. Aurora is an enhanced CD; it also contains interviews, photos, and video of Avishai, accessible by inserting the CD in one's computer. The tracks are "Morenika" (4:33), "Interlude in C# Minor" (0:59), "El Hatzipor" (6:04), "Leolam" (3:30), "Winter Song" (4:59), "It's Been So Long" (5:17), "Alon Basela" (4:05), "Still" (3:35), "Shir Preda" (4:02), "Aurora" (4:23), "Alfonsina y el Mar" (4:29), "Noches Noches / La Luz" (7:20).

Relentless
Thunder Hill
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Relentless is the latest music CD album from Thunder Hill bringing the drum and song legacies of the Southern Plains Native American Pow-Wow tradition to listeners of all walks of life. Recorded live in Thunder Hill's home state of Oklahoma, Relentless is the next best thing to experiencing a Pow-Wow in person, and encapsulates the legendary and enduring spirit of traditional Southern Plains culture. The tracks are "Grand Entry" (6:29), "Victory Song" (4:45), "Round Dance" (3:21), "Round Dance" (3:07), "Honor Song" (7:00), "Song for Mahpiya to 'Bubba' Campos" (7:18), "Intertribal" (3:39), "Intertribal" (7:30), "Intertribal" (4:43), "Contest Song" (3:39), "Honor Song" (6:33), and "Contest Song" (4:59). Also highly recommended from Canyon Records Productions are "Zephyr: Peyote Songs of the Native American Church" by Chillon Paddock and "Hope: Harmonized Peyote Songs of the Native American Church" by Kevin Yazzie.

Neotropical Nocturnes
Jorge Strunz
Selva, Inc.
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$17.99 www.strunzandfarah.com

Neotropical Nocturnes is a music CD chiefly inspired by tropical Latin America. Master of the Spanish guitar Jorge Strunz (who happens to be one half of the acclaimed guitar duo Strunz & Farah) brings together a tribute to the music of his roots, crafted with minimal accompaniment. The result is a treat for anyone who loves acoustic guitar, evoking Latin American tradition performed with Strunz's uniquely magical touch. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Tocar la Noche" (4:43), "Velvet Midnight" (5:45), "De Alicia" (5:15), "Idilios" (5:54), "Teatro del Tiempo" (4:35), "La Finca" (3:51), "Zambriya" (4:29), "Cielo Playero" (4:20), "Los Temporales" (4:36), and "Cadenitas" (3:41).

Radiant Sky
Scott August
Cedar Mesa Music
PO Box 691522, West Hollywood, CA 90069
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$15.99 www.cedarmesa.com

Award-winning musician Scott August, best known for his skill and talent in playing the Native American wood flute, presents Radiant Sky, a beautifully relaxing album promoting contemplation and reverence of the sacred spirit within us all. Traditional flutes combined with gentle pianos, soft guitar playing, and a medley of exotic instruments crafting delicate harmony make for a wondrous experience. The perfect choice for listening to while meditating, or simply unwinding after a long day, Radiant Sky is highly recommended, particularly to fans of new age music. The tracks are "Calling the Sun" (3:33), "New Horizons" (6:25), "Arc of Dreams" (6:41), "River of Stars" (7:37), "Santa Fe" (6:34), "Since the Stars Fell" (4:11), "Rising from the Plateau" (3:36), "Journey of Solace" (6:52), "A Pale Radiance" (8:09), and "Searching Beyond" (5:31).


The Poetry Shelf

The Rising of the Ashes
Tahar Ben Jelloun
City Lights Books
261 Columbus Avenue, San Franscisco, CA 94133
9780872865266, $16.95, www.citylights.com

The violence in the middle east has touched countless people throughout the world. "The Rising of the Ashes" is a pack of two epic poems from Tahar Ben Jelloun as he presents two narratives that he hopes will convey the emotions and pain he feels from his perspective in the endless chaos of the region. Riveting, heartfelt, and a bit sobering, "The Rising of the Ashes" is masterfully translated by Tahar Ben Jelloun and makes for a strong choice for readers.

Having Cut the Sparrow's Heart
Malinda Markham
New Issues
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974890, $15.00, www.wmich.edu

Learned woman in two languages, Malinda Markham brings readers "Having Cut the Sparrow's Heart", another book of poetry from the prolific woman writer. Drawing on her own experiences residing in two countries, she creates deft verse, making "Having Cut the Sparrow's Heart" a true treat. "Famous Sights of the Eastern Capital": In the painting A mystic Lion hurls its cub from the cliff, the cub/cradles either a mirror or harp. Its eyes show no fear. The man asked/her what it meant. She said the cliff looked familiar, the body splayed/like laughter and curved. "What carnal knowledge," he asked,/"makes you old?"


The Gaming Shelf

Beginning Bridge
Barbara Seagrams
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, ON Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106334, $19.95, www.masterpointpress.com

Bridge is a game widely played by many, and just getting started is easier than one would think. "Beginning Bridge" is an introductory guide to those who want to learn how to play the popular card game, discussing the game in depth element by element. Barbara Seagram & Linda Lee provide their own expertise from championship level play, they prove to be adept teachers. "Beginning Bridge" is a choice pick that shouldn't be ignored for those just starting Bridge.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Judaism: Embracing the Seeker
Harold M. Schulweis
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801417, $18.95, www.ktav.com

Judaism is more than a religion and faith; it's the essence of many people. "Judaism: Embracing the Seeker" is Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis's plea to his readers to fully embrace Judaism as more than a faith and hopes to fully explain what Judaism is. Addressed to both Jews and gentiles, he hopes readers will take this work and embrace it to truly understand Judaism and the Jewish people. "Judaism: Embracing the Seeker" is a choice pick for those looking for answers about one of the oldest faiths in the world.


The Parenting Shelf

The Favorite Child
Ellen Weber Libby
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027621, $18.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

No one likes being second best. "The Favorite Child: How a Favorite Impacts Every Family Member for Life" looks into a commonly occurring phenomena in families and how it can have untold effects on the psyches of all involved. Stating how favoritism starts, how it affects the favorite, those who aren't the favorite, and those who are flat out shunned. "The Favorite Child" is a riveting look into the relationships between parents, their children, and the sibling rivalry.


The Self-Help Shelf

Troubled Childhood, Triumphant Life
James P. Krehbiel
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NH 07931
9780882823188, $14.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

No childhood is escaped scot-free. "Troubled Childhood, Triumphant Life: Healing from the Battle Scars of Youth" discusses tough childhoods as James P. Krehbiel presents many stories of people succeeding and failing against their upbringing and all of its tumultuous nature. Drawing heavily on his decade and some change of experience, he presents why some people rise above their upbringing and some are crippled under it. "Troubled Childhood, Triumphant Life" is an enlightening and intriguing read, not to be missed.


The Travel Shelf

Boston's French Secrets
Rhea Hollis Atwood
Images from the Past
PO Box 137, Bennington, VT 05201
1884592414, $19.95, www.imagesfromthepast.com

Boston is usually associated with Irish heritage, but there are other influences in the city as well. "Boston's French Secrets: Guided Walks That Reveal Boston's French Heritage" discusses the French side of Boston, looking at how French immigrants had just as strong a hand in crafting the city as it is today as the Irish. For anyone looking for French heritage in America, "Boston's French Secrets" is a choice and very highly recommended read which shouldn't be overlooked.

Karen Brown's Mexico
Karen Brown
Karen Brown's Guides
PO Box 70, San Mateo, CA 94401
National Book Network (distributor)
15200 NBN Way, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
9781933810843, $19.95, www.karenbrown.com

Mexico is a land that blends the European and the Native America, making a unique trip that can't be replicated elsewhere. "Karen Brown's Mexico" is her guide to Mexico giving travelers a solid travel guide that outlines lodging, attractions both tourist oriented, historical, and modern culture related, and how to make one's own itinerary to make the most of one's time in Mexico. "Karen Brown's Mexico" is a choice pick that shouldn't be missed by anyone planning a Mexican vacation.


The Philosophy Shelf

An Innovative Introduction Philosophy
Michael Boylan and Charles Johnson
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344485, $50.00, www.westviewpress.com

Philosophy is an art of the mind and the thought. "An Innovative Introduction Philosophy: Fictive Narrative, Primary Texts, and Responsive Writing" is a guide for teachers who want to teach their students philosophy with a new method constructed by two doctors of philosophy in Michael Boylan and Charles Johnson, emphasizing the value of indirect argument through fictional allusions, the favored process of Plato, and through presentation, as used by Martin Luther King, Jr. A complete and comprehensive guide to Boylan and Johnson's method, "An Innovative Introduction Philosophy" is not a guide to be missed for community and college library philosophical education collections.


The Literary Shelf

Our Bodies, Ourselves, and the Work of Writing
Susan Wells
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804763097, $22.00, www.sup.org

Some books inspire few; a few books inspire millions. "Our Bodies, Ourselves and the Work of Writing" looks how the 1973 book has shaped much of feminist writing since its publication, originally intended as a primer on women's health. Since then, countless women have wielded their pens in pursuit of improving the status of women in the world and the book's place itself in female liberation. "Our Bodies, Ourselves, and the Work of Writing" is a fascinating and insightful read for anyone who wants to best understand the value of this important text.


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