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Library Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 2 February 2009 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library DVD Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library Science Shelf Economics Shelf Biography Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf Education Shelf
American History Shelf Railroading Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Literary Shelf Travel Shelf
Psychology Shelf Art Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Computer Shelf Political Science Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Philosophy Shelf International Studies Shelf
Criminology Shelf Gardening Shelf Military Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Fiction Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Poetry Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Parenting Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
World History Shelf Humor Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Knightly Dueling
Jeffrey Hull, Monika Maziarz, and Grzegorz Zabinski
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581606744, $30.00, www.paladin-press.com

One of the most iconic images of medieval western history is that of the mounted, metal-clad, warrior knight. In "Knightly Dueling: The Fighting Arts Of German Chivalry", Jeffrey Hull, with the able assistance of Monika Maziarz and Grzegorz Zabinski, provides both academia and non-specialized general readers with an informed and informative introduction and overview of German style chivalric dueling on horse and on foot as it was practiced from the 14th through the 16th centuries. "Knightly Dueling" covers combat with swords, lances, daggers, poleaxes, and other weapons of the era when these armored assailants engaged on the battlefield or in a tournament. Profusely illustrated with photographs and period artwork, "Knightly Dueling" is a work of impressive research, scholarship, and able translations from middle high German transcriptions. The result is a historically accurate and descriptive work that is enthusiastically recommended for personal, community, and academic library Medieval and Renaissance Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Emergency One Fire Apparatus 1974-2007
Kent Parrish
Iconografix
PO Box 446, Hudson, WI 54016
9781583882252, $29.95, www.iconografixinc.com

While most of us conjure up the universal image of a traditional red ladder fire engine, there is a wide variation of fire trucks and related emergency vehicles occupying the fire stations of urban, suburban, and rural communities. In "Emergency One Fire Apparatus 1974-2007", fire service veteran and fire apparatus historian Kent Parrish has compiled a full color photo album of fire fighting emergency vehicles produced by Emergency One, a company that became a leader in its field in less than a decade because of its unorthodox building methods such as utilizing pre-built interchangeable modules on a commercial truck chassis which allowed the vehicle to be constructed at a previously unheard of rate of 30 to 60 days (rather than the usual 6 to 12 months their competitors required using conventional construction methods). "Emergency One Fire Apparatus 1974-2007" is an especially recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Automotive History and Firefighting History reference collections. Also newly published and very highly recommended from Iconografix for such specialized collections is Walter M. P. McCall's "Ahrens-Fox: Fire Apparatus Photo Archive" (9781583882177, $32.95).

Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas
Fred Ladd with Harvey Deneroff
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786438662, $35.00, 1-800-253-2187

Today Japanese animation (or anime) is a staple of American comic books, movies, videos, and television programming. But it did not begin until its introduction in 1963 when a Japanese animated television series called 'Tetsuan Atom' was aired by NBC affiliates. Fred Ladd adapted for American television this Japanese series for children, and in the process changed the title to 'Astro Boy'. It became an overnight success being something distinctively different from conventional and ordinary American children's entertainment television fare. Ladd went on to adapt many other Japanese animated television programs and with the assistance of Harvey Deneroff (Professor in the animation department of the Savannah College of Art and Design, and founder of the Society for Animation Studies), in "Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas: An Insider's View Of The Birth Of A Pop Culture Phenomenon" provides an informed and informative history of the Japanese animated series for American television that included such successes as 'Gigantor', 'Kimba The White Lion', 'G-Force', 'Sailor Moon', among others. "Astro Boy and Anime Come to the Americas" is a welcome addition to academic library Art History and Animation Studies reference collections, and especially recommended reading for the non-specialist general public with an interest in Japanese anime in all its forms and formats.

Shoot an Iraqi
Wafaa Bilal & Kari Lydersen
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864917, $16.95, www.citylights.com

Who in their right mind would allow random internet users to decide whether they would be shot? "Shoot an Iraqi: Art, Life, and the Resistance Under the Gun" tells the story of Wafaa Bilal. When his brother was killed by an unmanned military device during the Iraq war, Bilal took it locked himself in a room, a camera showing him to the world with a remote controlled paintball gun connected to the internet, in the name of art and political statement. Bilal explains himself quite well, making "Shoot an Iraqi" fascinating reading.


The Library DVD Shelf

Printmaking: Basic Techniques
Peggy Flores
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
www.crystalproductions.com
9781562906061, $29.95, 1-800-255-8629

At its best, creating printed fabrics combines good craftsmanship with an artist's imaginative skills. While artistic originality and expression might be considered an individualized and inherent talent, the skills of craftsmanship can be learned by anyone. This is especially true as evidenced by printmaking expert Peggy Flores' new DVD instructional guide "Printmaking: Basic Techniques" in which she explains and demonstrates relief printing by using such commonplace materials as flat cardboard, styrofoam, and string, which are glued onto cardboard, painted, and inked. "Printmaking: Basic Techniques" shows the step-by-step process of caving on vinyl blocks to create images which can then be used to make prints. Also covered are simple but useful tools in the printmaking process such as brayers, carving instruments, and bench hooks. Nicely illustrated with student prints, "Printmaking: Basic Techniques" is comprehensive, 'user friendly', and a highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library Art Studies reference collections and curriculum supplementation.

Reality Press
PO Box 91, Forest Hill, CA 95631
info@reality-entertainment.com
www.reality-entertainment.com

Along with an excellent publication list, Reality Press is also the distributor of equally interesting DVDs in a variety of subjects. Three of their newest DVD titles are particularly recommended for students of the paranormal, the metaphysical, and the occult. "Archetype of the UFO" (RYE 1044, $19.95) produced by O. H. Krill offers a one hour exploration focused upon the subject of unidentified flying objects and speculations regarding possible alien contact. Of special note is the attention given to historical archetypes and theories about the possible origins of the UFO and Alien phenomena. "Tarot Stripped Bare" (RYE 1046, $19.95) is a ninety minute visual introduction and guide to the reading of Tarot cards as a method of divination and as a means of uncovering personal knowledge. Of special note is the commentary respecting the choosing of a Tarot deck and performing a Tarot reading. "Gardiner's World" (RYE 1046, $29.95) is a one hour, forty minute compilation drawn from an alternative TV show and covering such complex subjects as history, religion, ancient mysteries, the esoteric and the occult. All three of these outstanding DVDs are as informed and informative as they are flawlessly recorded, making each of them an outstanding acquisition selection for personal, academic, and community library DVD collections.

Bleach The Movie: Memories of Nobody
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
1421522942, $29.98 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042

The first full-length movie on DVD starring characters from the popular shonen manga (high-action Japanese comics) and anime series Bleach, Bleach The Movie: Memories of Nobody is filled to the brim with supernatural sword-wielding action and intrigue, with the survival of two worlds at stake! In a world where Soul Reapers are responsible for maintaining the delicate balance between the realms of life and death, mysterious unidentified beings called "blanks" suddenly appear to cause trouble, and are just as swiftly dispatched by a young female Soul Reaper named Senna. Ichigo and Rukia decide to learn more about Senna, and become inextricably involved in a dire plot when a shadowy clan attempts to kidnap her. The clan's leader, a formerly banished member of the Soul Society, is intent on taking his revenge by engineering the deadly collision of the World of the Living and the Soul Society. Ichigo and the Soul Reapers must act fast or see all they know annihilated! The action comes fast and furious in this exciting thrill ride; special features include original trailers, Japanese production interviews, storyboards and line art, a behind the scenes featurette, and an English actor audio commentary. Bleach The Movie: Memories of Nobody is not only a "must-have" for Bleach fans, but also a great introduction to the world and characters of Bleach for those who have never enjoyed the manga or anime before. 2 DVDs, 90 minutes, Japanese and English audio, widescreen, recommended for teen or older viewers due to violence.

She Stoops To Conquer
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
AMP-8166, $39.99, www.acornmedia.com

A five-episode television mini-series, "She Stoops To Conquer" is a 2008 production of an Oliver Goldsmith play. Superbly costumed with scrupulous attention to set design (it was shot in an impressive 17th century Jacobean manor house), this whimsical, farcical, delightfully humorous and highly entertaining production is the story of Kate, a well-bred, intelligent young lady who poses as a barmaid in order to win the affections of Charles Marlow. A play rife with mistaken identities, multiple deceptions, and the convolutions of English societal expectations, "She Stoops To Conquer" is a brilliantly acted play that originally debuted in 1773 and a welcome, enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library DVD collections.

Gunheavy
BrinkDVD
c/o MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
www.MVDb2b.com
BDVD0803, $19.95, www.brink.com

Post-apocalyptic themes have been a popular staple of science fiction in both literature and films. BriknDVD's "Gunheavy" is a riveting movie of this genre where after the collapse of civilization a totalitarian new world order is emerging calling itself 'The Founders'. In opposition is the 'Republican Commonwealth' a desperate group who has developed a secret weapon in the form of a robotic gun. The problem is that this weapon has a mind of its own. A small group of Special Force soldiers rebel and seek to gain control of this weapon. To complicate matters there are groups of unaligned and heavily armed gangs with their own private agendas. The action is non-stop and the body counts constantly rising. Hugely entertaining and highly recommended for fans of the post-holocaust general of military science fiction, the 65 minute full color digitally mastered "Gunheavy" DVD (feature both English and Spanish subtitling) includes such special features as a 13 minute 'Behind the Gun Featurette'; 'Jack of Bullets' (a 13 minute short film); an official trailer, and a director's commentary.


The Audiobook Shelf

Behold The Mighty Dinosaur
John Kricher
The Modern Scholar
c/o Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
UC108, $64.95, www.modernscholar.com

Dinosaurs are an endlessly fascinating topic for young and old alike. The word 'dinosaur' means 'fearfully great reptile' and references to animals that have been extinct for some 65 million years. New findings and new fossil discoveries are occurring every year and as a result our body of knowledge about these animals is steadily expanding, reassessed and re-interpreted. John Kricher is a professor biology at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts and in "Behold The Mighty Dinosaur" he presents an informed and informative series of fourteen lectures superbly recorded on seven compact discs as part of Recorded Books' outstanding series 'The Modern Scholar'. Professor Kricher addresses what is meant by 'dinosaur', the paleontology involved, the role of museums and academia, dinosaurs and popular culture, as well as dinosaur origins, diversity, and extinction. Of special note is Professor Kricher's lectures on 'Dinosaurs as Living Animals' and 'T. Rex Deconstructed and Reconstructed'. A simply superb series of articulate, knowledgeable, and flawlessly recorded lectures, "Behold The Mighty Dinosaur" is perfect for the non-specialist general listener with an interest in dinosaurs, as well as a popular addition to both academic and community library collections.


The Library Science Shelf

Creating the Customer-Drive Academic Library
Jeannette Woodward
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909768, $58.00, www.alastore.ala.org

One doesn't need to spend hours in a library any more to do research, so where does this leave libraries, the former place to go? "Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library" is a complete and comprehensive manual for librarians and their libraries in staying up to date in today's high technology world where all many view the library as an obsolete relic. Technology integration, service, good staff, and promotion are all things a library needs to still be valuable in today's society. "Creating the Customer-Driven Academic Library" is a must have resource for any current library administrator.

The Accidental Librarian
Pamela H. MacKellar
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873383, $29.50, www.infotoday.com

When help is needed, sometimes libraries take it where they can. "The Accidental Librarian" is a librarian's guide for those who have fell into the job, free from a degree aimed at the career or previous professional experience. Hoping to fill in the blanks for these individuals lacking in the educational edge their peers have, it is written by a long time mentor for these types of librarians and is full of poignant wisdom and tips and tricks for when trying to fill shoes you never expected to have to fill. "The Accidental Librarian" is very much worth it for those who need the experience.

More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities
Fiona Hunt & Jane Birks
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706487, $75.00, www.neal-schuman.com

If you tell someone something, they know that fact. If you teach someone to find out the fact themselves, they can get any fact they desire. "More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities" is a guide aimed at librarians in educating their patrons to use the resources of the library. Expanding on the subjects presented in the earlier volumes, Hunt & Birks offer more knowledge and wisdom of educators and how to inspire research in patrons. The library is still the modern ideal source for good, factual research, and knowing how to use it to its fullest extent is a solid skill. Enhanced with a CD-ROM full of activities, "More Hands-On Information Literacy Activities" is a must acquire for librarians.


The Economics Shelf

Do They Walk On Water
Leonard J. Santow
Praeger Publishers
c/o Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313360336, $44.95, www.praeger.com

Economics in general, and the role of the Federal Reserve, has never been so focused upon by the general public as it is in today's deepening economic crisis. That's why "Do They Walk On Water: Federal Reserve Chairmen and the Fed" by Leonard J. Santow (Managing Director of Griggs & Santow Inc. and economic and financial consulting firm in New York City) couldn't be a more timely addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Economic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. "Do They Walk On Water" presents the Feds' five most recent chairmen beginning with Arthur Burns and G. William Miller, then continuing on with Paul Volcker, Alan Greenspan, and the current chairman, Ben Bernanke. This is a compellingly appropriate read in that the incoming Obama administration has Paul Volcker as one of its principle economic advisors. "Do They Walk On Water" is an analytical and instructional introduction that also provides thoughtful and thought-provoking information on the functions of the Fed, the important differences between monetary policy and fiscal policy, and how the Fed is able to alter the money supply, control inflation, and be utilized as a creative tool in sustaining national prosperity and foster economic opportunity. Also available in an eBook format (9780313360343, $49.95), "Do They Walk On Water" can be wholeheartedly recommended for both students of economics as well as the non-specialist general reader with an interest in how the Fed has and can continue to affect our national economic recovery.

State and Local Pension Fund Management
Jun Peng
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9780849305481, $89.95, www.crcpress.com

The current economic recession due to the collapse of major financial institutions is having a devastating effect in both the public and private sectors on pension funds. Just one example is the potential havoc to hundreds of thousands of pensions for active and retired auto industry workers with respect to the near bankruptcy of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The newest addition to the outstanding CRC Press series of 147 volumes on 'Public Administration and Public Policy' and as a part of their 'Comprehensive Public Education' publishing program, "State and Local Pension Fund Management" by Jun Peng (Associate Professor, School of Public Administration and Policy, Eller college of Management, University of Arizona) is a detailed, comprehensive, academically impressive, yet thoroughly accessible introduction to every aspect of pension fund management beginning with an historical overview, then providing chapters on pension benefit design elements, actuarial valuation and financial reporting, pension plan governance standards and oversight policies, management issues for investing pension funds, and pension fund management planning and operational budgets. Of special note are the chapters on post-employment benefits with respect to pension plans (including healthcare for retirees), and the 'Defined Contribution Pension Plan'. Concluding with addressing such issues as managing the growth of liabilities and assets, as well as changing pension benefit designs, "State and Local Pension Fund Management" is a complete course of study in a single volume, and a critically important addition to corporate, governmental agency, and academic library Economics Studies reference collections in general and Pension Plan Management reading lists in particular.


The Biography Shelf

Ellen DeGeneres
Lisa Iannucci
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313353703, $35.00, www.greenwood.com

Inviting people to be a part of our lives through their images on our television screens has made us feel curious about and somehow involved in the lives of celebrities. "Ellen DeGeneres: A Biography" by independent scholar Lisa Iannucci is an informed and informative introduction to the life and accomplishments of Ellen DeGeneres who is one of America's best known (and liked) female comedians. In 1997 Ellen made dramatic (and comedic) history when she announced to the world that she was a lesbian. Although initially it cost her a very successful weekly sitcom, she went on to become successful as an entertainer in films, daily talk shows, advertising campaign spokesperson. Her personal life is the stuff of tabloids. All this adult success arising from a troubled childhood. "Ellen DeGeneres: A Biography" is enhanced with a list of her awards and a bibliography for further study, making it an ideal addition to community library Biography collections and a 'must read' for her legions of enthusiastic fans.

Music and Madness
Ivor Browne
Atrium
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780955226120, $42.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Ireland is split into two countries, but Ivor Browne is a man who doesn't want to recognize that separation. "Music and Madness" is his biography of growing up in both Irelands. A psychiatrist by trade, he has spent his life improving the life of the public, being a founder of the Irish Foundation for Human Development, a highly successful organization in the reason. Offshoots have risen up and they all can find their roots in Browne's work. Throughout the book, Browne speaks his opinions, and backs them up with his knowledge. "Music and Madness" is a look into the mind and life of a great intellectual, a great choice for community library biography collections.

Soul Searching
Morgan C. Atkinson, editor
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814618738, $19.95, www.litpress.org

An inspiration to thousands throughout the twentieth century, Thomas Merton was a beatnik turned monk. "Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton" is designed as a companion volume to the video documentary covering the man's life, ranging from his start through his deep soul searching that eventually made him find God, to his travels as a monk. Thomas Merton was a highly spiritual man who gave much comfort to many people, and "Soul Searching" is a read for those to who want to be inspired further.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Children's Picture Books
Shari Faden Donahue
Arimax, Inc.
2865 South Eagle Road, Newton, PA 18940
9780963428752, $19.95, www.justselfpublish.com

Children's books are a substantial part of the publishing industry and children's picture books are a substantial part of children's books publishing. That's why the 'marketplace competition' for a children's picture book is so intense -- whether it's the joint collaboration of an author and an artist, or whether the author is also the artist. Often the only viable alternative for a picture book project is that of self-publishing. That's where Shari Faden Donahue's "Children's Picture Books: How to Self-Publish Your Way To Success" should be considered essential reading for anyone aspiring to become an author and/or illustrator of children's picture books. As a veteran picture book author, illustrator and publisher, Donahue draws upon her years of experience and expertise to provide a wealth of practical, 'user friendly' information, commentary and instruction on all aspects of self-publishing a picture book including the writing, illustration, design, printing, sales, distribution, promotion and publicity aspects of the process. In the interest of full disclosure it should be noted that the Midwest Book Review and its editor-in-chief James Cox are cited four times in the text. Providing 344-pages of solid information that carefully and succinctly walks the reader through every phase of the publishing process, "Children's Picture Books" is complete course of instruction under one cover and is enhanced with up-to-date information that includes publishing industry vendors, thematically appropriate websites, organizations, conferences and workshops, a self-publisher's glossary, a reading list, and direct contact information for more than fifty children's picture book reviewers (including the Midwest Book Review!). Of special note are the chapters dealing with marketing. If you are contemplating publishing (or have already self-published) a children's picture book, then you absolutely need to have your very own copy of "Children's Picture Books: How To Self-Publishing Your Way To Success" -- it will be the best publishing investment you'll ever make!


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The State Of The Nation's Ecosystems 2008
The Heinz Center
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597264716, $29.50, www.islandpress.org

A massive information gathering project of The H. John Heinz III center for Science, Economics and the Environment and published by Island Press, "The State Of The Nation's Ecosystems 2008: Measuring The Lands, Waters, And Living Resources Of The United States" is a comprehensive, meticulous, informative, seminal, and up-to-date compilation of facts and information on America's myriad and diverse ecosystems including the flora and fauna that abide in them. From the country's coasts and oceans, to its farmlands, forests, fresh water systems, grasslands and shrublands, as well as urban and suburban landscapes, "The State Of The Nation's Ecosystems 2008" provides basic data enhanced with charts, maps, and full color photography. A major contribution to professional, governmental, and academic library Environmental Studies & Planning reference collection, "The State Of The Nation's Ecosystems 2008" is a substantial and scholarly publication, and will prove to be of continuing interest and utility for anyone seeking reliable information on American ecosystems as they are functioning today.

Wildlands Philanthropy
Tom Butler & Antonio Vizcaino
Palace Press International
3160 Kerner Blvd., Unit 108, San Rafael, CA 94901
9781601090195, $65.00, www.palacepress.com

Public awareness of the value of wild lands and nature reserves in the western hemisphere continues to grow, along with an appreciation for the complexity and difficulty in protecting them for the sake of future generations. "Wildlands Philanthropy: The Great American Tradition" is a collection of anecdotal stories about the people over the last ten decades that have led the way to fostering public appreciation for wild landscapes and diverse ecosystems ranging from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. This is a superbly illustrated history of the founding of state and national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and private nature sanctuaries as parts of the growing conservation of these bio-diversity environments. The full color nature photographs of Antonio Vizcaino are a perfect complement to Tom Butler's superbly informed and informative text making "Wildlands Philanthropy" an enthusiastically recommended addition for personal, community, and academic library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Atlas of Early Michigan Forests, Grasslands, and Wetlands
Dennis A. Albert & Patrick J. Comer, authors
Helen Enander, cartographer
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138317, $29.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Atlas of Early Michigan Forests, Grasslands, and Wetlands is a softcover, king-sized reference of early Michigan's natural environment. Compiled from interpretations of the 1816-1856 General Land Office surveys, the full-color, full-page maps allow one to read the names of Michigan's criss-crossing roads. An introductory essay briefs the reader on Michigan's natural history, how the maps were made, and how they are meant to be used, but the bulk of Atlas of Early Michigan Forests, Grasslands, and Wetlands is devoted to the maps themselves. An excellent resource for anyone interested in studying the geographical and environmental layout of Michigan in the past, or for possible comparisons to Michigan in the modern day.


The Education Shelf

Teaching Unprepared Students
Kathleen F. Gabriel
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2102
9781579222307, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

Teaching is a tough job, especially when your pupil is under prepared. "Teaching Unprepared Students: Strategies for Promoting Success and Retention in Higher Education" is a guide for this all too common situation where a student is dangerously in over his or her head in the class they are in. Aiming for students to get the resources they need to turn a subpar student into a superb one, "Teaching Unprepared Students" is an invaluable manual for when traditional methods just aren't good enough.

Behave Yourself!
Ambrose Panico
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47404
9781934009413, $19.95, www.solution-tree.com

Every classroom teacher must not only instruct their students academically, but must also help them learn behaviors that will be advantages for their academic and social development within the school setting. That's the underlying reason for "Behave Yourself!: Helping Students Plan To Do Better" by Ambrose Panico, who draws upon his experiences and expertise as a teacher, coach, dean, principal, Due Process Hearing Officer, and central office administrator to develop a simple, effective, five-step process for fostering the development of a healthy relationship between students, parents, and school personnel. Teachers are provided with classroom tools for engaging students as active participants in the behavior change process; create problem-solving teams; identify alternatives to a classical reward/punishment conditioning; personal and environmental variables with respect to behavior modification; and so much more. Of special note is the chapter of reproducibles for teachers and administrators for gathering student information with respect to the behavioral change process. Informed and informative, "Behave Yourself!" is a welcome, 'user friendly', and confidently recommended addition to private and public school behavior modification programming resources.

Gifted to Learn
Gloria Mehlmann
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1
0888644981, $24.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

Academia is the last place one expects to find prejudice, but it's there. "Gifted to Learn" is Gloria Mehlmann's reflections on her long and storied career in the field of public school education. A Cree/Saulteaux woman, she faced discrimination. She overcame the racism of the time, and had a phenomenal and successful career. An inspirational story direct from the source, "Gifted to Learn" is highly recommended reading.

A Librarian's Guide to Cultivating An Elementary School Garden
Bonnie Mackey & Jennifer Mackey Stewart
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586833286, $39.95, www.linworth.com

Gardening has long been utilized to introduce children (especially city kids) to such educational issues as the environment, the value of fruits and vegetables in a health diet, and the growth cycles of plants. The collaborative work of Bonnie Mackey (an elementary school teacher for 13 years and a now college professor teaching courses in emergent literacy, reading instructional strategies, developmental assessments, and community programs) and Jennifer Mackey Stewart (a freelance writer and instructor with the Texas' Round Rock Independent School District Community Education Program), "A Librarian's Guide to Cultivating An Elementary School Garden" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guidebook for justifying, designs, and implementing a school garden for the express purpose of improving children's academic performances overall. Of special note are Mackey and Stewart's highlighting of the five most common gardening habitats (wetlands, urban, vegetable, wildscape, butterfly) in substantial detail. An ideal reference and resource for classroom teachers and school librarians, "A Librarian's Guide to Cultivating An Elementary School Garden" is also of significant value for home schooling parents by providing useful information on funding sources, guidance on designing and maintaining a garden, as well as offering a bibliography of related books, specific instructional activities, and 'webliographies'.


The American History Shelf

Historic Photos Of Honolulu
Clifford Kapono
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950
Nashville, TN 37219
9781596524996, $39.95, www.turnerpublishing.com

There is so much more to 19th and 20th century Hawaiian history than hula dances and surf boarding. With an informative text and captions by Clifford Kapono, "Historic Photos Of Honolulu" showcases a compendium of black-and-white historical photos of the people and places that comprise the Hawaiian city of Honolulu. Here laid out in chronological order are enduring visual images organized into four sections: The Life of the Land (1850-1899); Territorial Transition (1900-1919); Sugar, Sand, and Surf (1920-1940); Pearl Harbor and After (1941-1970). Enhanced with the inclusion of copious notes on the photography and a selected bibliography, "Historic Photos Of Honolulu" is a welcome addition to personal, community, and academic library Historical Photography and American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Railroading Shelf

A Railroad Atlas Of The United States
Richard C. Carpenter
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801890024, $65.00, www.press.jhu.edu

In the 19th century, railroads were a key factor in the expansion of the United States from coast to coast and border to border. In the 20th century railroads continued to be a bedrock of American commerce. Expertly compiled by Richard C. Carpenter, and published by The John Hopkins University Press, "A Railroad Atlas Of The United States: Volume 3" is an impressive compilation of railroad maps for Indiana, Lower Michigan and Ohio. This compendium begins with an informative introduction, as well as advice on how to use this specialized railroading atlas. The atlas is then divided into three sections: Key Map, Map Symbols and Abbreviations; and the maps themselves. Enhanced with an Appendix listing all of the railroads in the atlas, with copious notes on the maps and a list of references, "A Railroad Atlas Of The United States" also features indices that include coaling stations, interlocking stations and former interlocking stations, passenger and non-passenger stations, track pans, tunnels, and viaducts. Comprehensive, authoritative, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "A Railroad Atlas Of The United States" is a highly recommended addition to personal and academic library American Railroading History reference collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Symply Too Good To Be True: American Version
Annette Sym
c/o Booth Media Group, Inc.
1386 Nightshade Road, Carlshad, CA 92011
9780957716179, $19.95 www.boothmedia.com

Illustrated with full-page, close-up color photographs of every mouth-watering dish, Symply Too Good To Be True: American Version is a compendium of over 150 delicious, low-fat, healthy recipes. A bonus 28-day weight loss plan is included to help readers get started on positive diet and lifestyle change. In addition to the easy-to-follow cooking directions, Symply Too Good To Be True features nutritional information for each dish, including calories, fat and saturated fat, sodium, carbs, sugar, fiber, and protein per serving. Delicacies range from the basic Ham and Cheese Omelette to Chicken Pizziola, Lite Pesto, Deluxe Potato Salad, Strawberries Romannette, and much more. A "must-have" for anyone who wants to prepare healthier meals without sacrificing taste!

Kneadlessly Simple
Nancy Baggett
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470399866, $24.95 www.wiley.com 1-800-225-5945

Baking expert, food journalist, and award-winning cookbook author Nancy Baggett presents Kneadlessly Simple: Fabulous, Fuss-Free, No-Knead Breads, a straightforward guide to making delicious breads that do not require the tedious hassle of kneading dough. From yeast breads to old word classics to sweet breads and even gluten-free breads, Kneadlessly Simple offers meticulously thorough directions that bakers of all skill and experience levels will find easy to follow. A handful of color plates illustrate this welcome addition to any baker's library.

Great Chefs Cook Vegan
Linda Long
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423601531, $35.00, www.gibbs-smith.com

A vegan diet is one that excludes meats or animal products of all kinds and categories, including egg and dairy products. The vegan diet is one of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. The dishes prepared to vegan specifications are low in fat, contain no cholesterol, and are rich in both fiber and nutrients for the human body. Herself an accomplished vegan chef, in "Great Chefs Cook Vegan", cookbook author showcases vegan recipes from twenty-five of highly accomplished and professional chefs ranging from Daniel Boulud, to Jean-George Vongerichten, to Cat Cora. Superbly illustrated throughout, each individual chef section includes a three or four-course vegan meal laid out with 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipe instructions. The dishes themselves range from Curried Cauliflower with Currants and Pine Nuts; to Apple Confit, Quince Ras el Hanout Puree, Poached Dates, and Apple Chips; to Homemade Garlic Tortillas with Tofu Scrambled Eggs, Roasted Seven-Tomato Salsa, and Fresh Guacamole. A simple gorgeous compendium of truly elegant dishes certain to please any palate and satisfy any appetite, "Great Chefs Cook Vegan" is an ideal addition to personal and community library cookbook collections for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike!

New Southern Cooking
Nathalie Dupree
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-4901
0820326305, $19.95, www.ugapress.org

Combining regional recipes that reflect both traditional and original culinary dishes, Nathalie Dupree has compiled "New Southern Cooking", a compendium of truly extraordinary dishes that are as thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are palate pleasing and appetite satisfying. Ranging from Asparagus Topped with Scallops; Sausage and Apple Overnight Casserole; Mushroom, Pumpkin Seed, and Lettuce Salad; and Fried Spicy Cheese Grits Pieces; to Barbecued Quail; Fast Unstuffed Turkey with Peanut Dressing; Sweetbreads and Turnip Greens with Tomato-Lime Sauces; and Moravian Cookies, "New Southern Cooking" offers 345-pages of superlative recipes suitable for any dining occasion from simply family meals to elegant celebratory feasts. Simply stated, "New Southern Cooking" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections!

The Genius Of James Barber
James Barber, et al.
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
9781550174496, $26.95, 1-800-667-2988

Born in the United Kingdom in 1923, James Barber eventually moved to British Columbia to pursue a career food, eventually becoming a food critic at the 'Vancouver Sun'. Barber went on to write eleven cookbooks and star in 'The Urban Peasant', a popular television cooking show on CBC that ran for ten years. Barber retired to his farm in the Cowichan Valley of Vancouver island, continuing to experience the joys of cooking until his death in November 2007 at the age of 84. Now with informed and informative contributions by ten of his fellow food enthusiasts, chefs, and restauranteurs, "The Genius Of James Barber: His Best Recipes" has been published both as a tribute to his culinary accomplishments and to bring those contributions to the tables of a whole new generation of appreciative kitchen cooks. The recipes range from Hummus on the Cheap; Poorman's Hot and Sour Soup; Eight-Legged Chicken; and Shrimp Egg Foo Young; to Bachelor's Fried Rice; Spicy Potato Pancakes; Good Ol' Southern Corn Bread; and Chocolate Con Leche, making "The Genius Of James Barber" a welcome and highly prized addition to personal and community library cookbook collections.

The Amish Cook At Home
Lovina Eicher & Kevin Williams
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740773723, $29.99, 1-800-851-8923

The Amish are most popularly known for their dedication to the simple life. Arising from their own unique culture is culinary tradition that emphasis seasonal agricultural bounties. Co-authors of the syndicated newspaper column 'The Amish Cook', showcasing Amish culture, tradition, and cooking, Lovina Eicher and Kevin Williams have expertly collaborated to publish a cornucopia of classic Amish dishes in "The Amish Cook At Home: Simple Pleasures Of Food, Family, And Faith". Beautifully illustrated with color photography throughout, the recipes range from Dandelions with Gravy; Rhubarb Juice; Pancakes with Fresh Strawberries; and Zucchini Bars; to Bacon-Wrapped Jalapenos; Concord Grape Streusel Pie; Easy Chicken Casserole; and Caramel Corn. "The Amish Cook At Home" is replete with anecdotal descriptions of Amish life and customs which when combined with the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, make this a superb addition to family and community library cookbook and Amish Studies collections.

Cooking From China's Fujian Province
Jacqueline M. Newman
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781811835, $29.95, www.hippocrenebooks.com

Fujian is a province in southeastern China and home to a distinctive culinary tradition that goes back a thousand years in the recorded history of the country. In "Cooking From China's Fujian Province", Jacqueline M. Newman (editor-in-chief of 'Flavor and Fortune', the only food magazine in the U.S. dedicated specifically to Chinese cuisine) has compiled two hundred authentic recipes from the Fujian province. Along with the recipes themselves, "Cooking From China's Fujian Province" also features cultural and historical notes, glossaries of equipment and ingredients, suggested menus, and eight pages of color photographs showcasing the culinary beauty of selected dishes. From Pork and Spinach Dumplings; Firecracker Shrimp with Litchi; Duck and Taro in Oyster Sauce; and Meatballs with Crab Meat; to Bean Curd Rice Rolls; Stuffed Sweet Potato Pancakes; Chicken Soup with Pear; and Razor Clams with Black Bean Sauce, "Cooking From China's Fujian Province" is an impressive culinary collection and enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook shelves.

One Pot French
Jean-Pierre Challet
Sellers Publishing
81 West Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101
9781416205258, $19.95, www.makefun.com

One-pot cooking is a time-saver for the harried kitchen cook. But one-pot meals can be as delicious and as culinarily elegant as any up-scale French restaurant dining thanks to "One Pot French", a profusely illustrated compendium of recipes by Jean-Pierre Challet with the assistance of Jennifer Decorte. The more than one hundred speciality recipes range from Galette de Crabe Et Sar Rouille (Crab Cakes with Rouille Sauce); to Salade D'Hiver Aux Legumes Rotis (Roasted Winter Vegetable Salad); to Cassoulet (Navy Bean Stew with Duck Confit and Sausages); to Tarte Tartin (Upside-Down Caramelized Apple Tart). With its thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', step-by-step recipes, "One Pot French" will make a welcome and sophisticated addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection.

150 Best Diabetes Desserts
Barbara Selley
Robert Rose, Inc.
c/o Firefly Books Ltd.
66 Leek Crescent, Richmond Hills, ON, Canada, L4B 1H1
9780778801931, $24.95, www.fireflybooks.com

Being diagnosed with diabetes does not mean having to go without dessert! Compiled and edited by Barbara Selley, "150 Best Diabetes Desserts" is a compendium of kitchen cook friendly dessert recipes that include muffins, loaves, scones, biscotti, shortbread, cookies, bars, squares, brownies, cakes, cheesecakes, coffee cakes, pies, tarts, crips, fruit desserts, and even frozen or chilled desserts. Along with an ingredients list and cooking instructions, each individual recipe is also provided with estimated serving amounts, a nutrient description, and both American and Canadian exchanges information. Of special value are the 'Tips', 'Variation', and 'Make Ahead' tips scattered throughout the recipes. Enhanced with a section of full colored photos of finished dishes, the recipes range from Sunrise Zucchini Muffins; Oatmeal Orange Coconut Cookies; and Mixed Fruit Bran Bars; to Chocolate Angel Food Cake; Sour Cream Apple Pie; and Frozen Jamoca Mousse. Simply stated, Barbara Selley's "150 Best Diabetes Desserts" is an essential addition to any and all diabetic cookbook shelf collections.

Slow & Easy
Natalie Haughton
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470229408, $22.95, www.wiley.com

Slow cookers and crock posts are an invaluable addition to the kitchen of any time-stressed family chef who would like to have dinner ready for the table when their loved ones come home from work or school. Now such kitchen cooks can have access to more than 250 thoroughly 'user friendly' recipes specifically designed for the electric slow cooker or crock pot with "Slow & Easy". This simply outstanding compendium of superb recipes compiled by Natalie Haughton showcase recipes for everything from appetizers, dips and drinks; to soups and chowders; to pasta and pasta sauces; to chicken, turkey and seafood; to beef, pork, and lamb; to one-pot meals; to vegetables, grains, and side dishes; to breakfast and brunch repasts; to great slow cooker desserts; and even preserves, chutneys, and salsas. Ranging from Roasted Red Pepper Cheesecake; French Onion Soup; and Chunky Italian Beef Sauce with Zucchini; to a Hot Dog-Pineapple Bean Bake; Balsamic-Glazed Onions; and Wild Rice with Apricots and Almonds; each delicious and nutritious recipe is provided with service size estimates an a bit of preparation advice and commentary, along with the ingredient list and cooking instructions. "Slow & Easy" is a welcome, practical, and highly recommended addition to both family and community library cookbook collections.


The Self-Help Shelf

Winning in the 5th Quarter
Bob Beck
Morgan James
1225 Franklin Ave Ste 32, Garden City, NY 11530-1693
9781600374555, $17.95, www.morganjamespublishing.com

The playbook doesn't have to become useless once the big game is over. "Winning in the 5th Quarter: Apply the Secrets of Football to Your Life-Strategy Playbook" is a guide to using the game of football to get one ahead in life. A strange trend in the recent business world is that Ex-Football players seem to earn nice jobs in corporations, and author Bob Beck seeks to explain why. Teamwork, determination are two qualities among several others that one learns from the game of football and can be applied quite well to improved business success. "Winning in the 5th Quarter" combines sports with life success, a combination some may relish.

Healing from Despair
Elie Kaplan Spitz
Jewish Lights Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580233606, $21.99, www.jewishlights.com

Despair is an ailment that everyone will suffer from at one point in their lives. "Healing from Despair: Choosing Wholeness in a Broken World" is a guide to returning to wholeness after dealing with a bout of despair, be it from the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or just depression in general. Depression and despair can have lead to physical health problems, and Spitz offers much advice in dealing with it soundly and pro-actively "Healing from Despair" is an excellent read and a solid gift for those who are dealing with a serious case of the blues.

The Sports Lover's Guide to Recovery
Andrew L. Dieden
Hazelden Foundation
PO Box 11, Center City, MN 55012-0011
9781592854851, $14.95 www.hazelden.org

Sports fans seeking a tactical approach to sobriety will find a set of concrete tips from a recovering addict who offers keys to overcoming addiction based on sports ideas. From understanding the rules of a new game to training, applying athlete models of success to the recovery process, and understanding how to handle tough calls, "The Sports Lover's Guide to Recovery" by Andrew L. Dieden and published by the Hazelden Foundation makes for a fine blend of sports analogy and psychology, perfect for psychology and general-interest libraries strong in either sports models or recovery, as well as highly recommended for personal self-help, self-improvement reading lists.


The Literary Shelf

A Complete History Of American Comic Books
Shirrel Rhoades
Peter Lang Publishing USA
29 Broadway, Rm. 1800, NY, NY 10006-3221
9781433101076, $39.95, www.peterlangusa.com

American comic books had their origins as reprinted compilations of newspaper comic strips. It was with the introduction of super heroes beginning in the 1930s with Superman and Batman that illustrated books of original material began to appear on the market along side the popular 'pulp fiction' magazines of the day. In "A Complete History Of American Comic Books", former Marvel Comics publisher and executive vice present of Marvel Entertainment Shirrel Rhoades draws upon his considerable experience and expertise to provide an updated history of the American comic book industry from its beginnings in the 'Platinum Age' of the 1930s, through the 'Golden Age', and through the highs and lows of this literary genre down to the present day with the evolution of the comic book in the form of graphic novels. "A Complete History Of American Comic Books" is also a record of the personalities, hustlers and visionaries that created the colorful worlds of adventure, excitement, heroes and villains, secret identities and angst that won the allegiance of whole generations of readers. A work of seminal importance for both scholarship and non-specialist general readers alike, "A Complete History Of American Comic Books" is a highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic American Literature and Popular Culture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The One Marvelous Thing
Rikki Ducornet
Dalkey Archive Press
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785190, $13.95, www.dalkeyarchieve.com

Good fiction uses the reader, invoking a wide range of emotions. "The One Marvelous Thing" is an anthology of short stories from Rikki Ducornet. Not typecasting herself into any one style, she ranges from humor to joy to love to suicidal depression. Accompanied by charming black and white art from T. Motley, "The One Marvelous Thing" is a short fiction collection that can't help but be enjoyed.


The Travel Shelf

Panama
William Friar
Moon Handbooks
c/o Avalon Travel Publishing
245 W. 17th St., 11th fl., NY, NY 10011-5300
www.avalontravelbooks.com
9781598800852, $19.95, 1-800-788-3123

While it is quite well known that the Central American country of Panama is home to the Panama Canal, less recognized are its many other attractions for the vacationer or business traveler. Panama travel expert William Friar has compiled a compact, highly portable, 567-page compendium of descriptive information for hundreds of sights, activities, restaurants, and accommodations for the Panama-bound. Of special note are the practical trip itinerary suggestions including a 21-day 'Best of Panama' excursion; a 14-day 'Tarzan Tour'; 'Quetzal Spotting', 10 days of 'Family Fun', Embera-Wounaan Art; and 'Six Days for History Buffs'. Enhanced with twenty-five detailed maps and William Friar's own anecdotal experiences and insightful perspectives, "Panama" is the ideal and thoroughly 'user friendly' vacation planning guide and a welcome addition to community library Travel Guide reference collections as well.

Stern's Guide To The Cruise Vacation 2009
Steven B. Stern
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589806146, $26.00, www.pelicanpub.com

Steven B. Stern has personally inspected and sailed aboard every major cruise ship and visited every major port of call around the globe. In this newly revised, expanded, and updated ninth edition of his travel information compendium, "Stern's Guide To The Cruise Vacation 2009" offers 736-pages of detailed information that will enable even the most novice cruise ship vacationer with all the information required to select the ship and cruise best for them, and to derive maximum comfort and enjoyment of their trip. "Stern's Guide To The Cruise Vacation 2009" provides the vital statistics such as the layout, physical details and history of almost three hundred cruise ships including their on-board attractions (restaurants, shopping, and recreational resources); their concierges, technology and medical facilities; and their ports of call. Of special note is the seasoned and expert advice on making the most of an eight-hour visit to those ports of call. Profusely illustrated with photographs, shipboard menus, daily activity programs, and more, "Stern's Guide To The Cruise Vacation 2009" is an essential resource for planning any and all cruise ship vacations.

Backcountry Roads: Idaho
Lynna Howard & Leland Howard
Caxton Press
312 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
9780870044595, $27.95, www.caxtonpress.com

Some travel guides are merely compiled collections of demographic information. Others are more coffee-table picture books meant more for recreational browsing than serious itinerary planning. Knowledgeably written by Lynna Howard and impressively illustrated with the photography of Leland Howard, "Backcountry Roads: Idaho" is a superbly crafted travel guide that combines detailed information with stunningly beautiful photos of what the travel can expect to encounter while traveling along the lesser road systems and off the 'beaten trails' of Idaho. Arranged along geographic lines, "Backcountry Roads: Idaho" covers Idaho's North Panhandle; North-Central Idaho; West-Central Idaho; Southwest Idaho; South-Central Idaho; East-Central Idaho; Eastern Idaho; and Southeast Idaho. Each individual destination is provided with a succinct description that includes maps, approach routes, land administration organizations and websites, total milage and road ratings, and expedition directions with GPS instructions. Anyone planning a trip for business or for pleasure would be well advanced to begin planning their travel itinerary by browsing through the information packed pages of Lynna and Leland Howard's "Backcountry Roads: Idaho"!

Antarctica
Jeff Rubin
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741045499, $27.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

While visiting the Antarctic Circle isn't in most people's plans when they think of traveling the globe, there is a great deal to interest both the causal visitor, the scientist, and the commercial traveler. That's where Jeff Rubin's compact, 380-page travel guide compendium of facts, maps, advice, and descriptive commentary comes in. A wealth of essential background information that includes how to start planning for a trip to antarctica, itineraries, history, expeditions, culture, environment, wildlife, as well as antarctic science are all relevant issues, and provided with solid information for the curious reader. The remaining chapters of Jeff Rubin's "Antarctica" guide book is organized regionally beginning with the Southern Ocean; and continuing with South Georgia, Shag Rocks & South Orkney Islands; Falkland Islands/Isles Malvinas; South Shetland Islands; Other Peri-Antarctic Islands; Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea; Ross Sea; East Antarctica; and the South Pole. Enhanced with the inclusion of a directory, the Antarctic Treaty, a section on Transportation and another on Health, a glossary, an Index, the World Time Zones, and more, Jeff Rubin's "Antarctica" should be considered an essential guide for anyone traveling to or through the region of the Antarctica.


The Psychology Shelf

The Angry Smile, second edition
Jody E. Long, Nicholas J. Long, and Signe Whitson
Pro-Ed, Inc.
8700 Shoal Creek Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757-6897
9781416404231, $23.85 www.proedinc.com

Now in an updated second edition, The Angry Smile: The Psychology of Passive-Aggressive Behavior in Families, Schools, and Workplaces is a straightforward, psychological assessment of passive-aggressive behavior and how best to deal with it. Passive-aggressive behavior comes from underlying anger that the passive-aggressive individual cannot or will not express in a healthy way, and so it is expressed as a subtle assault of a thousand cuts - from ignoring or "forgetting" requests to intentionally doing unacceptable work to self-destructive behavior. Outraged reactions to passive-aggressive behavior (throwing a tantrum) emotionally rewards the passive-aggressive individual; The Angry Smile instead teaches ways to calmly defuse potential problems before they start by setting pinpoint clear guidelines, as well as the skill of benign confrontation. A useful reference tool for psychologists and counselors, and an absolute "must-have" for teachers, parents, or anyone with a managerial or supervisory position job. "Counter-aggressive behaviors are the common cold of the anger world. They occur when a nonaggressive person interacts with other people who are aggressive or hostile and, in a sense, 'catches' their anger, as they would an airborne disease. By acting on counter-aggressive feelings, the normally 'healthy' person mirrors the behaviors of the person who had the original anger bug. Both end up behaving badly."

Handbook Of Depression
Ian H. Gotlib & Constance L. Hammen, editors
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781593854508, $75.00, www.guilford.com

Depression is a psychological state of mind that ranges from mild and episodic to severe and continuous. Its causes can be organic or environmental -- or a combination of both. It is a condition experienced by everyone and in some cases, can become life-threatening and require comprehensive intervention. Now in a significantly updated and expanded second edition, "Handbook Of Depression", meticulously co-edited by Ian H. Gotlib (Professor of Psychology at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Mood and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory) and Constance L. Hammen (Distinguished professor of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles) is a 708-page compendium of information drawn from leading experts in their field and presents a reference archive of data and commentary on depression, mood disorders, and their treatments. Beginning with a review of the epidemiology, course, assessment, and diagnosis, the "Handbook Of Depression" provides models of depression with respect to the interplay of factors ranging genetics, neurobiological, developmental, and psychosocial processes. The "Handbook Of Depression" goes on to address prevention and treatment, current theories, and on-going developments in the study of depression and mood disorders. Simply stated, the "Handbook Of Depression" is a core reference work on the subject and an essential addition for professional and academic library Psychology & Psychiatry reference collections.

The Child In The World
Eva M. Simms
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333754, $29.95, http://wsupress.wayne.edu

The phenomena of a child's psychological development has been a fascinating and ever evolving field of study from the earliest days of modern psychology and psychiatry. Knowledgeably written and addressing psychological development issues of early childhood, "The Child In The World: Embodiment, Tim, And Language In Early Childhood" by Eva M. Simms (Associate Professor of Psychology, Duquesne University) challenges commonly held assumptions as part of her analytical approach that includes the educational and psychological institutions relevant to childhood and that directly and indirectly impact upon the psychological development of children, including such issue as therapeutic play, body language, the emergence of self-awareness, and early language acquisition. Enhanced with extensive notes, a bibliography of cited works, and a comprehensive subject index, "The Child In The World" is a seminal body of meticulous and articulate scholarship, making it a highly recommended and welcome addition to the growing body of childhood development studies for professional and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Art Shelf

Shadowline
Iain McCaig
Palace Press International
3160 Kerner Blvd., Unit 108, San Rafael, CA 94901
9781933784243, $65.00, www.palacepress.com

The fantasy art of Iain McCaig is as spectacular and memorable as it is flawlessly exercised in detail and concept. Often incorporated as a part of McCaig's storytelling process, "Shadowline: The Art Of Iain McCaig" is a compilation of his storyboard drawings, sketches, illustrations, cover art, and paintings for over two decades. A beautifully produced, 240-page, hardcover, coffee-table art book, "Shadowline" showcases more than 500 full-color annotated images is a 'must' for McCaig's legions of fans and admirers, as well as a welcome and highly recommended addition to both academic and community library American Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Contemporary Glass Sculptures And Panels
Tina Oldknow
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
9780872901681, $40.00, www.hudsonhills.com

From antiquity down to the modern era, glass has been an enduringly popular medium for artist expression. In "Contemporary Glass Sculptures And Panels", Tina Oldknow begins with an extended and informative essay titled 'Contemporary Sculptures and Stained and Painted Glass in The Corning Museum of Glass: An Overview' in which she provides an informed introduction of especial benefit for the non-specialist general reader. Then "Contemporary Glass Sculptures And Panels" showcases an extensive series of full color photographic plates providing a visually impressive and detailed images of captioned examples of glass sculptures and works of art taken from The Corning Museum of Glass collection. Of special note is the section devoted to succinct biographies of the artists who works are represented, along with an index of those artists. A work of impeccable research and scholarship, "Contemporary Glass Sculptures And Panels" is a welcome and highly prized addition to personal, community, and academic library Art Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Art Through The Pages
Jack Perry Brown
The Art Institute Of Chicago
111 So. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60603-6110
9780865592278, $16.95, www.artic.edu

The Art Institute of Chicago is home to some of the finest collections to be found in North America and a respected publisher of seminal works based upon those collections. In "Art Through The Pages: Library Collections At The Art Institute Of Chicago", Jack Perry Brown (Executive Director of Libraries for the Art Institute of Chicago) provides the reader with an informed essay, 'The Book in the City Beautiful: Scholarly collections at the Art Institute of Chicago', followed by a serious of informative contributions by scholars in 'Printed Books' and 'Archival Collections'. With its profusely illustrated text, "Art Through The Pages" is enhanced further with an extensive section of notes, making it an especially valued reference and highly recommended reading for scholars and non-specialist readers alike with an interest in the holdings and collections of art museums in general, and The Art Institute Of Chicago in particular.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries
Blood-Horse Publications Staff
Eclipse Press
3102 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581501933, $24.95, www.eclipsepress.com

Acclaimed to be the sport of kings, thoroughbred horse racing is epitomized by racing's 'Triple Crown' and the legendary rivalries associated with these contests. In "Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries" the staff of Blood-Horse Publications has compiled twenty of the greatest match-ups as selected by a panel of turf writers and racing historians. Readers will be treated to informed and informative descriptions of such well known examples as Seabiscuit and War Admiral, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer, as well as such lesser known but equally important pairings such as the filly Galloreet and the nineteen races she ran against her older male rival named Stymie. Profusely illustrated with period photographs, "Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries" is a riveting history, especially recommended reading for all thoroughbred horse racing enthusiasts, and a unique and welcome addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.


The Computer Shelf

Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts
Steve Pugh
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271824, $29.95, www.nostarch.com

Nothing will put a coder to sleep faster than mindless tedium that their job brings. "Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts: Useful Scripts That Solve Difficult Problems" is a tech manual on the Ruby programming language and how coders can use the language to create useful programs, to help them get through the hated busywork and get to the proverbial fun part of program design and code. "Wicked Cool Ruby Scripts" is a must have for any dedicated Ruby coder who wants the most complete toolbox possible available to them.

Murach's SQL Server 2008 For Developers
Bryan Syverson & Joel Murach
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774516, $52.50, www.murach.com

The rapidity of advancements in computer technologies necessitates computer program developers to embark on a continuous study in order to stay current in the their field. In a newly updated and expanded edition, "Murach's SQL Server 2008 For Developers" is the collaborative work of Bryan Syverson and Joel Murach and includes coverage of 2008 SQL features including FILESTREAM storage, the MERGE statement, new date/time data types, 'user-defiended' table type, the SPARSE attribute, filtered indexes, and a great deal more. Specifically designed for application developers, "Murach's SQL Server 2008 For Developers" addresses how to query a database, then goes one to show developers how to design and create a database, advanced features developers will need including views, scripts, stored procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, transactions, locking and security, handling XML and BLOB values, employing CLR integration. Of special note are the coding examples in "Murach's SQL Server 2008 For Developers", providing models for a wide range of SQL jobs. Thoroughly user friendly, "Murach's SQL Server 2008 For Developers" is a 748-page compendium packed with useable and critically important instruction and insight, making it a very strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library Computer Science reference collections and SQL-based program developer supplemental reading lists.


The Political Science Shelf

How People View Democracy
Larry Diamond & Marc F. Plattner, editors
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801890611, $19.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Democracy in American popular culture is viewed as the ultimate good. But how is it viewed world wide? "How People View Democracy" is a look at public opinion as a whole throughout the world and it's the somewhat shocking fact that not everyone wants democracy. Some Communist regimes gained popular support and how some failed democracies hurt the system's reputation world wide. Enlightening and intriguing reading, "How People View Democracy" is a scholarly and unbiased look at the power of the vote in today's world.

The Opinion Makers
David W. Moore
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807042328, $23.95, www.beacon.org

The polls, the polls, the polls. It was the talk of the nation during the 2008 presidential race. "The Opinion Makers: An Insider Exposes the Truth Behind the Polls" is a look behind the numbers at what's really going on with these opinion polls that cover all forms of news media. Saying that there's really no such thing as a completely unbiased poll, Moore breaks down how polls are created, how they are administered and what they truly mean in today's information age. "The Opinion Makers" is a read that must be read for those who want to know the truth behind the statistics.

An Anarchist FAQ
Iain McKay
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
9781902593906, $25.00, www.akpress.org

FAQ stands for 'Frequently Asked Questions'. Iain McKay's "An Anarchist FAQ" is a 555-page compendium packed with descriptive information on every aspect of the political concept of anarchy. Beginning with an extensive explanation of the term, McKay goes on to explain why anarchist oppose the current political system with its authority, hierarch, capitalism based private property constructs, and the continued existence of class systems within modern society. "An Anarchist FAQ" then addresses the commonly held myths of capitalist economics, the effects of statism and capitalism upon the society, anarchist perspectives on environmental and ecological issues, as wells as 'anarcho' (capitalism as a form of anarchism). Of special note is an appendix addressing the symbols of anarchy. "An Anarchist FAQ" is an impressively thorough and 'reader friendly' body of work which is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

The Glascow Style
Laura Euler
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764330445, $69.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Arts and crafts movements are categorized and named to distinguish their history and evolution. "The Glascow Style" by Laura Euler focuses upon a decorative arts movement that is applied to a distinctive style associated with such diversity of materials and objects as textiles, dress, pottery, furniture, metalwork, jewelry, embroidery, book illustration, stained glass, and more. The values of these objects (always subject to their condition) can range from a few dollars for a book to millions of dollars for a desk. Profusely and handsomely illustrated with 530 color and black-white photographs, "The Glascow Style" also provides item values, as well as biographical information on many of the men and women whose artistic endeavors are collectively associated with the Glascow arts and crafts movement. With its informed and informative text so beautifully augmented with stunning, diverse, representative examples of the spectrum of objects decorated in this distinctive mode, "The Glascow Style" is a welcome and highly prized addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Antiques and Collectibles reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Collecting Sports Legends
Joe Orlando
Zyrus Press
PO Box 17810, Irvine, CA 92623
9781933990217, $34.95 www.zyruspress.com

Illustrated with full color photography of hundreds of sports memorabilia images on virtually every page, Collecting Sports Legends: The Ultimate Hobby Guide is an amazing tour through sports history via the collectible icons of great athletes. A treasury for anyone interested in sports memorabilia, Collecting Sports Legends is sure to fascinate hardcore collectors and casual sports fans alike. The text of this coffee table book treats its subject matter in great detail; any sports fan will learn more about collectible cards for baseball, basketball, boxing etc. than he or she ever imagined. Highly recommended.


The Social Issues Shelf

Waste Management
Jacqueline Vaughn
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841503, $55.00, www.abc-clio.com

No environmental activist can neglect the issue of waste management and disposal as a critical aspect of developing, protecting, and rehabilitating the environment. The problem of such waste management issues as landfill utilization is tied tightly to such concepts as recycling, biodegradable products, governmental policy, and community health. A part of the ABC-CLIO 'Contemporary World Issues' series, "Waste Management" by academician and environmentalist Jacqueline Vaughn (Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University) is a complete and comprehensive introduction to contemporary waste management issues and features a chronology of thematically relevant events, legislation, and movements; biographical summaries of activists, advocates and legislators with reference to waste management; tables, figures and documents; a directory of waste management relevant organizations and agencies; annotated lists of print, website, and other resources for waste management issues; a glossary and an extended subject index. An ideal textbook for Environmental Studies curriculums, "Waste Management" is also very highly recommended reading for environmental activists and non-specialist general readers with an interest in waste management issues.

The Reality Overload
Annie Le Brun
Inner Traditions
1 Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772443, $16.95, www.innertraditions.com

Too much information is something that could be consuming the modern world's soul. "The Reality Overload: The Modern World's Assault on the Imaginal Realm" discusses the recent events of the world and the seeming plummet of creativity. Reality TV over saturates the market, and the world grows more and more conformed to each other. Brun says that information excess is fueling it and explains that on the current path, imagination could become a thing of the past and the world will become a much more boring place to live in. "The Reality Overload" is an intriguing treatise on modern society, highly recommended.


The Philosophy Shelf

Visions of Utopia
Fred E. Baumann
The Modern Scholar
c/o Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
UC124, $98.75, www.recordedbooks.com

Cognitive imagination, the ability to conceive of a society and a culture that would embody ideals of human conduct, is the foundation upon which all utopian philosophies of communal and governmental arrangements are based. Superbly recorded, "Visions Of Utopia: Philosophy And The Perfect Society" is a series of fourteen informed and informative lectures given by philosopher, political scientist and academician Fred E. Baumann (Harry M. Clor Professor of Political Science, Kenyon College) that begins with an insightful introduction to the concepts of utopia or idealized societies, and then specifically addresses 'The Republic' in three lectures, 'Utopia' in two lectures, 'New Atlantis' in one lecture, 'The Social Contract' in two lectures, 'Rousseau in Practice: Jacobins and Communal Utopians' in one lecture, 'Marx' in two lectures, 'Walden Two' in one lecture, and a concluding summary lecture. Professor Baumann not only provides descriptions of these utopian works and the men responsible for them, he also provides an historical context where utopian schemes were attempted. Articulate, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Visions Of Utopia" is a very highly recommended addition to community and academic library Philosophy and History collections, and is especially appropriate for non-specialized general listeners with an interest in the history of utopias ranging from antiquity through the twentieth century.


The International Studies Shelf

World Geography
Majid Husain
Rawat Publications
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Ave., #300, Portland, OR 97213
8131601587, $40.00, www.isbs.com, 1-800-944-6190

Every academic library should have at least one good world geography textbook for the benefit of their students, and every community library needs one for the benefit of non-specialist general readers seeking to become informed about demographic details of any country anywhere around the globe. Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded third edition, "World Geography" authored by Majid Husain (a former professor of geography for Jamia Millia Islamia or Central University, New Delhi, India) meets that need perfectly. Enhanced with numerous maps, appendices, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "World Geography" is organized regional beginning with Africa, then Asia, then Europe, followed by North America, Middle America, South America, Oceania, and Antarctica. Providing comprehensive, compact, and 'reader friendly' coverage, readers will be informed on how people around the world live, work, organize and transform those places. An outstanding single-volume text, "World Geography" is highly recommended for high school, college, university, and public library reference collections.

The Institutions Of the Enlarged European Union
Edward Best, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781847203458, $140.00, www.e-elgar.com

The European Union grew out of centuries of turmoil and national conflicts. The economic alliance upon which it is founded as survived many challenges, no the least of which is represented by its continuing expansion to include more and more nations. Collaboratively compiled and edited by the team of European Institute of Public Administration faculty members Edward Best and Thomas Christiansen, and Pierpaolo Settembri (an official with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union), "The Institutions Of the Enlarged European Union: Continuity and Change" is comprised of informed and informative commentaries by fifteen contributors. The result is an impressively detailed introduction to the institutions and committees that form the core framework of EU activities including the EU Parliament, the European Central Bank, and the effects of EU membership expansion."The Institutions Of the Enlarged European Union" is very strongly recommended as an addition to governmental and university library International Studies reference collections in general, and European Union Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

Fidel Castro Reader
David Deutschmann, editor
Ocean Press
PO Box 1186, Old Chelsea Stn., New York, NY 10113-1186
Perseus Distribution (distributor)
193 Edwards Drive, Jackson, TN 38301-7716
9781920888886, $19.95, www.oceanbooks.com.au

One doesn't have to agree with him, but to deny the impact of Fidel Castro on the world is insane. "Fidel Castro Reader" is a collection of writings and speeches from the Cuban revolutionary leader-turned-dictator Fidel Castro. Analyzing Castro's worlds in regards to Cuba's purpose and how the recent Democratization of Latin America will affect the future of Castro's life as well as Cuba after his death, "Fidel Castro Reader" is a must read for any political or historical reader.

The Wizard of the Nile
Matthew Green
Olive Branch Press
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567367, $20.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

"The Wizard of the Nile: The Hunt for Africa's Most Wanted" is a look at the fighting force of the LRS, the Lord's Resistance Army, a force that is notorious for battling the Ugandan government for decades on end in order to bring the country under their control, in the name of Christianity. Most American Christians would condemn their tactics as un-Christian - such as employing child soldiers. With a special focus on the LRS's leader, Jospeh Kony, "The Wizard of the Nile" is a heartily recommended read for any who want to understand Uganda's conflict.


The Criminology Shelf

Crime In The United States: 2008
Bernan Press
4611-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391
9781598882667, $76.00, www.bernanpress.com

Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, "Crime In The United States: 2008" from the Bernan Press (formerly published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation) is a 581-page compendium of national crime statistics based on submissions of city, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies. All crimes, wether against property or persons, is enumerated, including arrest figures, clearance data (crimes solved by police or other means), and law enforcement manpower numbers. "Crime In The United States: 2008" is an essential reference for academic library Criminology Studies reference collections and an invaluable resource for governmental public safety policy makers.


The Gardening Shelf

The Apple Grower
Michael Phillips
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781931498913, $40.00, www.chelseagreen.com

Apple trees can be grown in almost any climate zone and are to be found in dozens of different variations around the world. Now with this newly revised and significantly expanded edition of Michael Phillips "The Apple Grower: A Guide For The Organic Orchardist", anyone can plant, nurture, and harvest organically grown apples of any variety whether it is for their own private consumption or for commercial distribution and sale. All relevant aspects are covered from considerations of climate and soil, to cultivar selection and planting, to orchard maintenance and care, to apple pests, diseases and spraying, to harvesting, storage, and transportation, to marketing locally (including pricing, niche marketing, advertising, and more). Informed, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly', Michael Phillips' "The Apple Grower" is necessary reading and an essential reference for anyone seeking to grow, harvest, consume, and/or sell organic apples.


The Military Shelf

Valkyrie
Dennis R. Jenkins & Tony R. Landis
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012
9781580071307, $26.95, www.spibooks.com

With any theatre of war in the past century, control of the air has been paramount to ultimate success on the battlefield. The resulting aviation arms race has been one of continuous, non-stop technological innovation. One such sterling example is the high-altitude rapid response bomber aircraft such as North American Aviation's XB-70A Valkyrie. Co-authored by military aviation experts Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis, "Valkyrie: North American's Mach 3 Superbomber" showcases an aircraft that flew just 164 times, but was so spectacular in its concept and execution that it became an iconic example of what was technologically possible, only to be scuttled by the political and fiscal conditions that dominated the 1960s. Profusely illustrated with 100 color and 500 black-and-white photographs, "Valkyrie" provides a superbly detailed history of this remarkable and impressive aircraft, making it a highly prized and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Military Aviation History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Critique of Intelligent Design
John Bellamy Foster, Brett Clark, & Richard York
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583671733, $15.95, www.monthlyreview.org

Intelligent Design is one of the most heatedly debated things in today's world of education. "Critique of Intelligent Design: Materialism versus Creationism From Antiquity to the Present" discusses the recent push by some Republican politicians at many levels of the American government encouraging teaching of Genesis and Creationism in American schools alongside or instead of the scientific ideals of Charles Darwin. Suggesting that the idea of bringing them into schools damages true science, "Critique of Intelligent Design" discusses the matter with well, and is a heartily recommended read for educational professionals.

I Will Make Of Thee A Great Nation: Old Testament Stories
Val D. Greenwood
American Book Publishing
5442 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117-7204
http://www.american-book.com
9781589824393, $29.95, 1-888-288-7413

The Old Testament is a compilation of some of the most famous and enduring stories cited in the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Now Val D. Greenwood has created a compendium succinctly re-telling two hundred of these Old Testament tales in "I Will Make Of Thee A Great Nation" in a more accessible and 'reader friendly' language style than the traditional Biblical translations that most people are familiar with. Placing each story within an historical context and through the profuse use of source citations and footnotes, this 367-page anthology is thoroughly appropriate for the non-specialist general readers, as well as Bible students, making it a very highly recommended addition to personal, family, church, and community library Religion/Spirituality reference and reading list collections.

The Visigoths in the Time of Ulfila, second edition
E.A. Thompson
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715637005, $24.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Now in a second edition featuring a new foreword with additional bibliography information by Michael Kulikowski and an additional appendix, "The Life of St. Saba", translated and annotated by John Matthews, The Visigoths in the Time of Ulfila is a classic study of the earliest history of Christianity among Germanic people. Examining the era of Ulfila, who was a fourth-century Christian bishop and missionary credited with being the first to deliver Christianity to the Goths, creating the Gothic alphabet, and writing the earliest translation of the Bible in a Germanic language. A scholarly text scrutinizing the evolution of religious history, The Visigoths in the Time of Ulfila is a welcome addition to religious studies shelves and a "must-have" for college library collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Strategies
Tami Brady
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
9781932690484, $17.95, www.tami-brady.com

To be faced with a rare disorder is a lonely thing. "Strategies: A Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Journey" is an inspirational guide to those who have either of these debilitating diseases that zap the energy out of its sufferer. Tami Brady has dealt with it for much of her life, and relays her story hoping to motivate others not to let the disorder control their life. "Strategies" is an excellent choice for those who want to overcome what ails them.

Practical Carbohydrate Counting
Hope S. Warshaw & Karen M. Bolderman
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
9781580402828, $22.95, www.store.diabetes.org

For most people, eating is a mindless action. For those trying to improve their health, it's another story. "Practical Carbohydrate Counting: A How-To-Teach Guide for Health Professionals" is a solid reference from the American Diabetes Association for nutritionists who are trying to teach their patients the skills they need to deal with carbohydrate management in their everyday life. With plenty of advice on carbohydrate's relationship with insulin and blood sugar, "Practical Carbohydrate Counting" is a must for any nutritionist dealing with diabetics.

Understanding Death And Illness And What They Teach About Life
Catherine Faherty
Future Horizons
721 West Abram Street, Arlington, TX 76013
www.FutureHorizons-autism.com
9781932565560, $24.95, 1-800-489-0727

How to deal with death and dying is always a sensitive and complex issue that is even more complicated in helping someone with autism or Asperger's when someone they love becomes terminal ill or passes away suddenly. An autism expert, parent consultant, child therapist, and teacher trainer, Catherine Faherty has created "Understanding Death And Illness And What They Teach About Life: An Interactive Guide for Individuals With Autism Or Asperger's And Their Loved Ones", a consumable 341-page workbook that addresses what steps can be taken and activities engaged in to help those with autism or Asperger's to deal end-of-life issues and experiences. Replete with useful checklists, "Understanding Death And Illness And What They Teach About Life" address such diverse but germane issues as illness and injury, recuperation and healing, what happens to a person in the process of dying, what happens when they die, rituals and traditions associated with death, and so much more. Of special note is the topic of putting pets to sleep. "Understanding Death And Illness And What They Teach About Life" is especially recommended to teachers, counselors, parents, and care givers dealing with children and young adults who are autistic or who have Asperger's Syndrome.


The Fiction Shelf

Branded Outlaw
L. Ron Hubbard
Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
9781592122585, $9.95 www.galaxypress.com www.goldenagestories.com 1-877-842-5299

Branded Outlaw reprints a classic Western pulp story by famous science fiction author and founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard. Originally published in the October 1938 issue of "Five-Novels Monthly", Branded Outlaw is a gripping saga of Lee Weston, a young man seeking survival and revenge when all legal avenues of justice have been cut off. Nursed back to health from the brink of death by the beautiful daughter of his family's blood enemy, Weston strives to avenge his slain kin even though it may cost him the love of the only girl he's ever looked at twice. A rip-roaring adventure from cover to cover, as exciting today as it was when it was published.

Bahama Burnout
Don Bruns
Oceanview Publishing
61 Paradise Rd., Ipswich, MA 01938, 800-829-7062
9781933515205, $24.95 www.Oceanviewpub.com

Don Bruns is a master storyteller and "Bahama Burnout" is the latest evidence of his gift for originality with this, his latest mystery novel. Mick Sever is back again, this time becoming involved in a recording studio fire that reveals a charred body and another mystery to solve. When his friends Jonah and Rita Britt rebuild the studio, there's a distinct possible that more murders are to come -- if Mick can't get to the 'who, what, and why' of that first lethal fire. A riveting read from first page to last, "Bahama Burnout" is a complete 'stand alone' mystery novel that will be sought after by Bruns' growing number of fans, and will serve those new to his work to seek out his previous (and highly recommended) titles including "St. Barts Breakdown"; "Stuff Dreams Are Made Of"; "Stuff To Die For"; "South Beach Shakedown"; "Barbados Heat"; and "Jamaica Blue".

Oranges in No Man's Land
Elizabeth Laird
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859561, $9.95, www.cbsd.com

A war zone is a terrifying place. "Oranges in No Man's Land" follows young Ayesha during the blackest time in Lebanon's history, its civil war. Elizabeth Laird has many terrifying experiences of her own and applies them liberally throughout the story. Ayesha has to cross a war zone in order to get medicine that her Grandmother needs to survive. At age ten, Ayesha must show bravery that some fully grown men never do. "Oranges in No Man's Land" is an entrancing story, well worth the read.

Out of Eden
Lillian Faulkner Baggett
Florida Academic Press
PO Box 540, Gainesville, FL 32602-0540
9781890357221, $29.95

Just as Adam and Eve were cast out of their paradise, many others throughout history were as well. "Out of Eden" takes a look at the before and after of the quiet Deep South and what World War II did to it. Before, it was a quiet romantic place that author Baggett remembers fondly. After, the shadow of modernization began to change things forever. "Out of Eden" is a must for those who want to get more in tune with the South in the early twentieth century and the post war boom periods, and those who enjoy a good story.

Driftless
David Rhodes
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
9781571310590, $24.00, www.milkweed.org

With decades of thought, David Rhodes returns to the novel game with "Driftless". A story set in Wisconsin, Rhodes makes the star and main concept of the story his characters as they go through life. The different characters range from Amish to farmers and invalids, all bringing a certain charm and purpose to the story. "Driftless" is a triumphant return to fiction from David Rhodes, and a solidly recommended read.

Mantids
Ron Dakron
Black Heron Press
PO Box 13396, Mill Creek, WA 98082
9780930773861, $20.95, www.blackheronpress.com

Insects were never thought of by anyone as 'sexy'. "Mantids" takes a look into the love life of the mantis, and a certain male of the species who can't seem to get enough due to a certain pill a human misplaced. Making no acclaims to being highbrow, Dakron draws from many sources in order to provide his readers with a side-splitting adventure that'll give anyone the much needed laugh they deserve in life. "Mantids" is a must for humor readers seeking something with a twist.

Godblog
Laurie Channer
Darkstar Fiction
c/o Napoleon & Company
178 Willowdale Avenue, Suite 201, Toronto, ON Canada, M2N 4Y8
9781894917667, $22.95, www.napoleonandcompany.com

The internet is anonymous, and when that cover is removed, trouble can brew. "Godblog" follows Dag as he wage slaves his life away in a coffee shop. By night, he gains notoriety as a highly opinionated blogger, who has a problem with the corporations that Dag happens to work for in his day job. Dag's secrecy and job are in danger, making "Godblog" an entertaining and humorous romp through the relationship of cyberspace and the real world.

Moon's Blood
Bill Brooks
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780753180105, $27.99, www.ulverscroftusa.com

Ben Moon was in his day one of the most feared gunfighters to ever slap leather. But the west had been changing as the years rolled by -- and so had Ben. The decades of drinking, shooting, and killing had damaged something in his soul. Then in 1882 he met Jane, a once fast living woman he'd once thought about marrying. But now she's dying and all she wants to see is the child she'd given up at birth. So Ben rides out to look for the little girl only to find himself going up against hard men with guns in their hands aiming to establish their reputations by killing him for his. One of Bill Brook's best western yarns, this large print edition of "Moon's Blood" is ideal for older men needing the visual assistance of a large print format and especially recommended for community library large print fiction collections.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Healer's Touch
Anne Gray
Sumach Press
1415 Bathurst Street #202, Toronto, ON Canada M5R 3H8
9781894549776, $12.95, www.sumachpress.com

A good healer cures the ailment, not the symptoms. "Healer's Touch" follows young woman named Dovella, gifted with the power of healing. A sorcerer bent on domination threatens her home, and Dovella seems to be the only one able to resist him. Dovella must master her natural gift, or Fvlad the Sorcerer isn't going have much opposition for his plans. "Healer's Touch" is a solid fantasy that will grip the genre's fans all the way through.

The Stowaway
R.A. & Geno Salvatore
Mirrorstone Books
c/o Wizards of the Coast
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
9780786950942, $17.95, www.mirrorstonebooks.com

When someone is marked for death, you don't expect the target to be a preteen. "The Stowaway: Stone of Tymora Volume 1" is another entry in the popular Drizzt Do'Urden series following a young boy named Maimun, who has found himself hunted for a secret he never wished to know. He finds the legendary dark elf and his adventure drags him across a hostile sea. A riveting tale of action, adventure, and strangely family, "The Stowaway" is a must have Drizzt Do'Urden.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

What Book!?
Gary Gach, editor
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
0938077929, $15.00

Poetry and Buddhism have more in common than one would believe. "What Book!?: Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop" is a collection of poems and essays on both poetry and Buddhism, sometimes both, outlining the many things in common with both the religion and the art form. A wide range of writers come from a wide range of backgrounds to discuss and practice the two things that unite them - poetry and Buddhism. "What Book1?" is a must read for other like minded individuals.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Women Only Over 50
Diana Black, Mary Cunningham, & Melinda Richarz Bailey
Echelon Press
9735 Country Meadows Lane, 1-D, Laurel, MD 20723
9781590806067, $12.99, www.echelonpress.com

Mid-life still means you have about half of it to go. "Women Only Over 50: Who Are Still Puppies at Heart" is targeted at the middle-aged woman who is faced with several new challenges but still wants to live their lives to the fullest. Wrinkles, the departure of children, weight gain, and so much more is discussed with wit and wisdom, making "Women Only Over 50" an ideal gift to oneself or a beloved WOOFer.

Women Create!
Hilda Ruch
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812150, $24.95, www.brownbooks.com

Anyone can be creative with the right motivation. "Women Create!: A Seriously Whimsical Celebration for the Creative Feminine" is a book aimed at encouraging and inspiring women in their many creative endeavors, not limiting itself to a single art form. Humorous, witty, it doesn't take itself too seriously in its recommendation, stating that creativity is something that is rarely serious in itself. "Women Create!" is an ideal gift to any young woman one wants to inspire creativity in.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Common Judaism
Wayne O. McCready & Adele Reinhartz
Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800662998, $37.00, www.fortresspress.com

Judaism, just like Christianity, has many branches. "Common Judaism: Explorations in Second-Temple Judaism" is an examination of these branches and their relationships with one another, focusing on second-temple Judaism. Designed to be a stepping stone for educational discussion, it outlines the origins and concepts that divide one branch of Judaism from another and is utterly intriguing reading for anyone, Jew or gentile. "Common Judaism" is a strongly recommended pick for Judaic studies collections or general religious collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Black Land, White Land
H. C. Bailey
Rue Morgue Vintage Mystery
87 Lone Tree Lane, Lyons, CO 80540
9781601870292, $14.95, www.ruemorguepress.com

A cold trail is tough to get hot again. "Black Land, White Land" is another mystery novel following the adventures of one Reginald Fortune. When the bones of a young boy are found. In order to find the child's assailant, a decade after the crime was committed, Fortune has to deal with the feuding families of Durshire, far more concerned with their pettiness than justice. Another old school detective novel from Rue Morgue, "Black Land, White Land" is a strong choice for any classic mystery lover.

Blood Island
H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing
2817 West End Ave., Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
9781933515212, $24.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

Cults are not the most reasonable things to deal with. "Blood Island" follows Matt Royal, an ex-lawyer as he searches for his ex-wife's step daughter on Blood Island. Matt finds that Peggy may have been forced to become a prostitute by a crazed cult, but it seems that's not the worst of it, as even finding the cult's prostitution ring, Peggy is nowhere to be found. Matt soon finds that more than sexual exploitation could be out there when he looks deeper into the cult. "Blood Island" is a riveting thriller that'll keep a reader going all the way to the end.


The Poetry Shelf

Millikin University Haiku Anthology
Dr. Randy Brooks and collaborators, editors
Bronze Man Books
Millikin University
1184 W. Main, Decatur, IL 62522
9780978744168, $25.00, www.bronzemanbooks.com

The simple 5-7-5 format of the haiku have made the Japanese oriented form of poetry gain world wide fame. "Millikin University Haiku Anthology" is a collection of hundreds of haiku from the fine people at Millikin University. A wide variety of people lead to a wide variety of poetry, and "Millikin University Haiku Anthology" is a solid recommendation due to that. A sample from Kristen Robinson: sharing the last slice/after everyone is gone/one more dirty fork.

The Old Man's Verses
Ivan Divis, author
Deborah Garfinkle, translator
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047558, $25.00, www.hostpublications.com

One of Czechoslovakia's best, "The Old Man's Verses" is a collection of the best poetry from the late Ivan Divis. A wide-ranging account of Czechoslovakia in the twentieth century, Ivan lived through World War II and the Cold War, and as such gives a vast and varied account through poetry. A new perspective on Europe during a tumultuous time, "The Old Man's Verses" is well worth the effort to enjoy.

Please
Jericho Brown
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
9781930974791, $14.00, www.wmich.com/issues

A doctor of Creative Writing, Jericho Brown steps into the world of poetry with "Please". Seeking to speak the unspoken thoughts of the African American and the male, his verse seeks to explain the actions and ideas that men of one or the other belong to. "Please" is poignant and realistic writing, and an excellently entertaining read. "Open": I often lie open as a field. Sharecroppers have no fixed names.

Another Country
Jane Griffiths
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852247942, $28.95

The senses take in so much that it's a true skill to interpret it lyrically. "Another Country: New & Selected Poems" is an anthology of poems from Jane Griffiths, consisting of poems from her earlier collections and a good pick of newer work. Exploring the meaning of the world and settling down, "Another Country" is profound reading. "Origami Cat": Demanding never less than perfection -/first he steep pitch of the ears, then/six sharp creases for the shoulder-bones - all to poise it to turn its back./And whiskers? This is the difficult one.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Mortgage Free!, 2nd Edition
Rob Roy
Chelsea Green
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580656, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

When five or six or even more figures in debt, getting out of it seems impossible. "Mortgage Free!: Innovative Strategies for Debt-Free Home Ownership" is a guide to breaking free of the bank's grasp on one's finances, and conquering a plaguing mortgage that all too often dominates an American's life. Rob Roy has a huge selection of tips and advice for digging one's way out of debt, outlining what's truly necessary in one's life, smart shopping in the homeowner's market, planning for the long term, and so much more. Anyone plotting buying a home needs "Mortgage Free!".


The Parenting Shelf

Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power
Holly Engel-Smothers & Susan M. Heim
Great Potential Press
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
9780910707909, $15.95, www.giftedbooks.com

From birth, a baby's entire body is rapidly developing, including their brain. "Developing Your Baby's Brain Power" is a guide to enabling one's child to have all the benefits possible to encourage a healthy, prosperous brain. Explaining the many elements of what's understood of an infant's neural development, it discusses everything from crying to language development, vision, personality, motor control, and so much more. "Developing Your Baby's Brain Power" is a must for the intellectual parent who wants the brightest future possible for their child.

Reconcilable Differences
Cate Cochran
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401, Toronto, ON Canada, M5V 2M5
9781897187296, $19.95, www.secondstorypress.ca

Divorce is not the end of a family. "Reconcilable Differences: Marriages end. Families don't." is a guide for parents who have divorced but don't want to spoil their family because of it. Successful failing, although sounding like an oxymoron, is very possible and recommended. Cate Cochran offers a whole smorgasbord of tips and advice for readers and divorces, making "Reconcilable Differences" a must for the recent or potentially divorced.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Pocket Dictionary of Church History
Nathan P. Feldmeth
InterVarsity Press
PO box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830827039, $8.00, www.ivpress.com

With two thousand years under its belt, Christianity has created quite the history for itself. "Pocket Dictionary of Church History" is a comprehensive solid reference to well over three hundred terms that the Church frequently uses, with their definitions and their history. Leaders, sects, places, and more are covered, making "Pocket Dictionary of Church History" an ideal quick reference.


The World History Shelf

Encyclopedia Of The Ottoman Empire
Gabor Agoston & Bruce Masters
Facts On File, Inc.
c/o Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street, 17th fl., NY, NY 10001
www.factsonfile.infobasepublishing.com
9780816062591, $85.00, 1-800-322-8755

Founded in the 13th century by a migrating people who had been expelled from their homeland by the Mongols to found a new beginning for themselves in northwestern Asia Minor, the Ottomans established one of the largest empires ever recorded in the annals of human history. It was an empire that would last until its ultimate dissolution and official abolition in 1923. Even then, its legacy would continue to exercise influence in 20th century Middle Eastern politics and culture. The first comprehensive compendium to provide modern readers with an complete history in English, the "Encyclopedia Of The Ottoman Empire" draws upon the expertise of ninety contributors under the collaborative editorship of Gabor Agoston (Associate Professor, Department of History, Georgetown university) and Bruce Masters (John Andrus Professor of History, Wesleyan University). Enhancing an informed and informative text with 85 black-and-white photographs, various maps, and replete with cross-references, "Encyclopedia Of The Ottoman Empire" also features a chronology, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index, making it an invaluable and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library World History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Humor Shelf

Without Stress My Life Would Be Empty
Born to Shop
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
9781593598181, $9.95 www.peterpauper.com

Without Stress My Life Would Be Empty is a delightful book of wry insights into women's daily lives, featuring playful color illustrations and witty doses of levity. From "My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance" to "When you don't know what you're doing walk fast and look worried" to "Chocolate is nature's way of making up for Mondays", Without Stress My Life Would Be Empty is sure to spark smiles. An excellent giftbook especially recommended for housewives, mothers, career women, or any woman needing an extra dose of mirth.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Che: A Graphic Biography
Spain Rodriguez
Verso
180 Varick Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10014-4606
9781844671687, $16.95 www.versobooks.com 1-800-233-4830

Did you know that Che was asthmatic? Che: A Graphic Biography is a black-and-white graphic novel presentation of the life, death, and ideals of revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara. From his motorcycle journey through Latin America to his rise to fame as a leader of Fidel Castro's movement to his travels through Africa to his involvement in the Bolivian insurgency that ultimately led to his death, Che: A Graphic Biography is a surprisingly in-depth and sympathetic portrayal of this complex figure. Highly recommended.


The Library CD Music Shelf

EclecticIsM
M. Nahadr
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

African-American albino music artist M. Nahadr disregards the politics of identity in his latest music CD album EclecticIsM, a set of songs ranging from improvisation to jazz ballads to toe-tapping pop anthems. M. Nahadr's amazing multi-octave vocal range distinguishes these enthralling "free jazz" songs, which have a natural flow that keeps the listener captivated to the very end. Highly recommended.


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


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