Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / The Bookwatch

The Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 10 October 2009 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Parenting Shelf Travel Shelf
Mathematics Shelf Self-Help Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Computer Shelf Business Shelf American History Shelf
Political Science Shelf International Studies Shelf World History Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Photography Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Psychology Shelf
Education Shelf Art Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Sports Shelf
Literary Shelf Biography Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Military Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Crafts Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Alien Hand Syndrome
Alan Bellows and editors of Damn Interesting
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014-4381
9780761152255, $12.95 www.workman.com

ALIEN HAND SYNDROME gathers nearly a hundred amazing but true stories taken from history and re-created for modern audiences. From the Molasses Flood of 1919 and the development of the Sun Gun to Mike the Headless Chicken and oddities of all kinds of science, this gathering of too-weird-not-to-be-true tales is the perfect leisure reader's choice and will appeal to any general lending library.

All We Need is a Paradigm
S. Phineas Upham, Editor
Open Court
70 East Lake St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696356, $44.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

ALL WE NEED IS A PARADIGM: ESSAYS ON SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, AND LOGIC FROM THE HARVARD REVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY offers a range of solid contributions by Ned Hall, Simon Saunders, Warren Goldfarb and others, collecting for the first time in one place some of the most important essays from the Harvard Review of Philosophy and examining the philosophical basics of how the world works. From physics and math to music, this packs in analysis and asks questions key to understanding the applications of philosophy across disciplines.


The Parenting Shelf

Baby Smarts
Jackie Silberg
Gryphon House
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
9780876590652 $12.95 www.ghbooks.com 1-800-638-0928

You want your child to get every edge they can possibly get. "Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning" is a parent's guide to playing with one's child to promote education and put their brain to work for a better future. Suggesting that playing with one's child is the best way to promote a healthy mind and intellectually stimulate them, "Baby Smarts" is a strong choice for parents who want their children to be the next great thinkers of the world.


The Travel Shelf

The Spiritual Traveler: Spain
Beebe Bahrami
Hidden Spring
c/o Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
www.hiddenspringbooks.com 1-800-218-1903
9781587680472 $24.00 www.paulistpress.com

A gateway of sorts between Africa and Europe, Spain has an incredible amount of history. "The Spiritual Traveler: Spain: A Guide to Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes" is a guide to the many spiritual locations of Spain, which has been ruled by Catholic Europeans, Muslim Moors, Wiccan Celts, and other peoples whose faiths have left an undeniable mark. A fascinating read for tourists of any faith, "The Spiritual Traveler" is especially recommended for any spiritual person visiting Spain.


The Mathematics Shelf

Master Math: Solving Word Problems
Brita Immergut
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1598639838, $17.99 www.courseptr.com

Master Math: Solving Word Problems provides a comprehensive reference guide that explains word problems and offers alternatives for understanding them. From the most common types of word problems to more advanced issues, Master Math: Solving Word Problems shows how to focus on the words in a problem, breaking them down into smaller segments and choosing the right math tools to solve them. Highly recommended for either general or school libraries.

Mathematical Amazements and Surprises
Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027232, $20.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

Any library strong in math and science will find Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers delightful and stimulating. It provides fun math insights, highlighting the beauty and significance of numbers, and offering both novices and professionals arithmetic entertainment at its best. Many a high school to college-level library will find a winner here - but general-interest lending libraries will also find it a fun, different pick.

Bar Harbor's Gilded Century 1850-1950
Lydia Bodman Vandenbergh
Earle G. Shettleworth Jr.
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727056, $18.95 www.downeast.com

Over 250 historic photos, some never before published, follow a light documentary of Bar Harbor from the 1850s, when it was established as a farming and fishing community, to modern times when mansions and resorts made it famous. Any familiar with the region will find this a lovely pictorial history blending local color with trivia and offering a carefully researched, historically accurate story.

Extraordinary Book of Facts and Bizarre Information
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
Bathroom Reader's Institute
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
1592236057, $17.95 www.advmkt.com

The most intriguing, entertaining material from nine previous 'Bathroom Readers' is compiled in a gathering of fun facts and easy topics, perfect for bathroom and other trivia reading. Quick, fun facts are arranged in sections ranging from 'Fruits and Vegetables' to 'Skin and Bones' in a fine gathering of hilarious trivia, perfect for any general lending library or as a giftbook.

Dreaming in Hindi
Katherine Russell Rich
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
9780618155453, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

DREAMING IN HINDI: COMING AWAKE IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE tells how Rich took on a writing assignment in India, where she became involved in trying to speak Hindi. Her decision to study the language in India led to a range of experiences of Indian culture, recounted here in a hilarious, moving personal memoir of linguistics and language. Any general lending library as well as college-level libraries strong in linguistics and Indian culture will find this fascinating.


The Self-Help Shelf

Your Ex-Factor
Stephen B. Poulter, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027249, $18.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

YOUR EX-FACTOR: OVERCOME HEARTBREAK AND BUILD A BETTER LIFE offers a step-by-step survey taking readers from divorce to a separate life then a more fulfilling emotional attachment. From how breakups happen to how to put them behind, this is a key resource for any general lending library and many a psychology collection.

Ditching Mr. Wrong
Nicholas Aretakis
Next Stage Press
24950 N. 107th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
9780977622436, $24.95 www.nextstagepress.com

Why do so many women find Mr. Right impossible to locate? Because they are all too often wasting time on Mr. Wrong! Men's personalities - the wrong ones - are typed in this guide to 'wrong men'. Exercises, quizzes, and checklists help women recognize Mr. Wrong more quickly. Ditching Mr. Wrong is the perfect gift for that woman who can't seem to find 'Mr. Right' in her life.

What Do You Want From Me?
Terri Apter
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393066975, $25.95 www.wwnorton.com

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? LEARNING TO GET ALONG WITH IN-LAWS is a pick for any general-interest library, offering a look at how in-laws affect married life, well-being and more. The author's a psychologist versed in family dynamics with prior successful books to her name: she draws on two decades of research and provides a concrete guide for any interested in developing better relationships with in-laws.

Time Well Spent
Lyndon Jones and Paul Loftus
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
www.koganpage.com 1-800-232-0223
9780749456498 $17.95, www.amazon.com

Time is money, and if you're wasting time, you're wasting money. "Time Well Spent: Getting Things Done Through Effective Time Management" is a guide to help business leaders more effectively manage their time for greater productivity. With advice on knowing one's own limits, combating procrastination, running quicker meetings, and so much more, "Time Well Spent" is a top pick for any manager who wants to budget their time more efficiently.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Barcelona Cookbook
Sasa Mahr-Batuz, et al.
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
0740773941, $29.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

From a tapas party for 4-8 to specialty breads and foods intrinsic to Spanish culture, recipes and color photos abound in THE BARCELONA COOKBOOK, a team project by Sasa Mahr-Batuz and Andy Pforzheimer with Mary Goodbody, is simply packed from cover to cover with food, wine and cultural discussion. Consider this more than just another cookbook - it's a celebration of tradition.

The Dessert Architect
Robert Wemischner
Delmar Cengage Learning
5 Maxwell Drive, Clifton Park, NJ 12065-2919
www.cengage.com/delmar
1428311777, $55.95, www.amazon.com

THE DESSERT ARCHITECT is a guide to building versatile, creative desserts and developing a balanced dessert menu geared to neo-professional cooks. From pairing beverages with desserts and locating ingredients to essential kitchen equipment and photos of each completed dessert - including step-by-step shots - this is a real winner for any library catering to professional-quality cooks.

Jam Today
Tod Davies
Exterminating Angel Press
1892 Colestin Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.exterminatingangel.com
9781935259046 $15.95, www.amazon.com

Sometimes one needs to improvise to get things done. "Jam Today: A Diary of Cooking with What You've Got" is a blend of cookbook and memoir, about going to the cabinet and cooking with whatever one can find in there (instead of preplanning ingredients and other aspects). With no recipes, author Tod Davies comes to readers with a more practical approach to cooking for those who don't plan their meals weeks in advance. "Jam Today" is recommended reading for any who cook on their whim instead of reading a recipe.

Dishes With Dashers
Katie Dashwood
Quiller
Wykey House, Wykey, Shrewsbury, SY4 1JA, UK
www.countrybooksdirect.com
9781846890376, $24.95, www.amazon.com

DISHES WITH DASHERS: ENTERTAINING WITH PANACHE comes from a self-taught cook who provides a range of recipes and ideas, from a savory Tomato Pudding to Borscht and Cranberry Soup and Cherries with White Chocolate Dipping Sauce. Drawings and tips enhance an appealing and fun guide of quick and easy dishes perfect for entertaining.

Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook
Barbara Fairchild
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9780470399125, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Longtime editor Barbara Fairchild returns after the success of her BON APPETIT COOKBOOK to provide over a thousand recipes that are perfect for quick cooking at home. It's inspired by the 'Fast Easy Fresh' section of the magazine and offers a focus on seasonal ingredients, quick dishes and inspirational international flairs. A peppering of color photos lends to an outstanding presentation of options perfect for any general lending library.

Robin Rescues Dinner
Robin Miller
Clarkson Potter
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1 New York, NY 10019-4305
www.clarksonpotter.com
9780307451408, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Food Network television star Robin Miller provides 52 weeks of quick meals and a plan to get them on the table quickly with ROBIN RESCUES DINNER. A peppering of color photos accompanies a wide range of dishes, from Seared Pork with Warm Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette to Sweet Ginger Shrimp with Coconut-Curry Sauce. Any general lending library needs this.

Just Food
James E. McWilliams
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316033749, $25.99, www.amazon.com

JUST FOOD: WHERE LOCAVORES GET IT WRONG AND HOW WE CAN TRULY EAT RESPONSIBLY counters the myths of the locavore movement and use facts to tell the truth about fresh food, challenging myth and misinformation to reveal that the 'greenest' food choices may not be as presented. Transporting fruits and vegetables from thousands of miles away, for example, may be more energy efficient than growing locally. This and other truths are provided in a title sure to be controversial - and a key discussion point in any library concerned with green movements in general and food consumption habits in particular.


The Computer Shelf

Modular Java
Craig Walls
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356401, $34.95, www.amazon.com

MODULAR JAVA provides a fine guide to developing modular applications using OSGi, the framework for modularity in Java. Beginners will find excellent step-by-step coverage of the basics of creating loosely coupled modules and how they are applied to larger applications, and will learn how to build a complete web application made up of several such modules. Packed with programming tips, this is a 'must' for any serious Java collection.

Dynamic SOA and BPM
Marc Fiammante
IBM Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
0137018916, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

DYNAMIC SOA AND BPM: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT AND SOA AGILITY tells how to integrate SOA and BPM for maximum business flexibility and comes from an IBM SOA architect who offers a step-by-step tutorial on combining the two. From moving from simplified integration to a dynamic process to planning for services and providing an integration layer, this is a key pick for any technical computer business library.

Programming Scala
Venkat Subramaniam
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356319, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Developers facing issues in programming and working with different applications may have heard of the power of Scala in bringing disparate devices together - and PROGRAMMING SCALA offers this audience a fine key to understanding its strengths and how to use it to write traditional code. Libraries catering to software developers will find this packs in details on how to create concurrent applications that run on Java's JVM platform, and will quickly come to consider PROGRAMMING SCALA essential.

Vue 7: Beyond the Basics
Richard Schrand
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
159863884X, $59.99 www.courseptr.com

VUE 7: BEYOND THE BASICS is for any 3D artist and animator who owns the program and wants to learn how to use its new, updated features for either Vue 7 or 7.5. A series of tutorials and projects offer all the tips and tricks needed to expand knowledge on creating everything from realistic underwater environments to texturing land and building neighborhoods with cartoon effects. A CD offers project files based on the book's tutorials.

The Passionate Programmer
Chad Fowler
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
1934356344, $23.95, www.amazon.com

THE PASSIONATE PROGRAMMER: CREATING A REMARKABLE CAREER IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT is for any avid programmer who wants success in IT development. In its new edition it tells how to become a programming entrepreneur, using a step-by-step format to cover all the basics of building, marketing and selling programming skills to specialized audiences. Plans link skills to employment and provide the latest paths and venues, and include perspectives from successful members of the programming world. Perfect for computer or business collections alike.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/devlibrary

Jim Highsmith's 2nd edition of AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: CREATING INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS (0321658396, $44.99) is a powerful set of software development best practices for managing projects in agile environments - and has been updated with new techniques for larger projects. From understanding when and how agile methods work in project management to setting realistic business goals and optimizing all stages of an agile project, AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT is a recommended pick for business and computer libraries alike. Walker Royce, Kurt Bittner and Mike Perrow's ECONOMICS OF INTERATIVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: STEERING TOWARD BETTER BUSINESS RESULTS (0321509358, $34.99) provides software development libraries with a strong software management guide discussing how business and technical managers can blend economics and integrative development to receive the best from limited budgets. From improvement in development to using automated tools to improve effectiveness, both business and software collections will welcome this. J. Jeffrey Hanson's MASHUPS: STRATEGIES FOR MODERN ENTERPRISE (032159181X, $39.99) is a top pick for any library strong in web services and tells how to create quality web 2.0 mashups. From understanding how to use presentation-based and other mashup styles to applying proven patterns to the mashup infrastructure and building mashups with third-party tools, this packs in solid, creative ideas for businesses and web users alike.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Jan Goyvaerts' and Steven Levithan's REGULAR EXPRESSIONS COOKBOOK (9780596520687, $44.99) provides over 100 recipes to help blend data and text with regular expressions, offering programmers and software development collections a powerful set of step-by-step instructions for using C#, Java, Perl, Python and VB.Net, among others. Learn how to format input, manage lines, find solutions for common markups and paths, and more in this advanced programmer's cookbook of basics. Rick Rogers, et.al.'s ANDROID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT (9780596521479, $39.99) provides an in-depth book on the concepts and code needed to build smartphone applications with the Android program. Android lies at the heart of core functions available for modern mobile devices, and this provides a specific guide for programmers seeking to use Android's UI elements and take advantage of provided code to implement special features. As an adjunct to Android's documentation, it's a winner. David Pogue's IPHONE: THE MISSING MANUAL (9780596804299, $24.99) provides a lavishly illustrated guide to the tips and workarounds of the latest iPhone - the 3GS that offers a camcorder, compass and speed all in one, the 3.0 software for older models offering new features, and more. This expanded edition covers it all in a colorful guide to the latest iPhone's many features. Toby Segaran, et.al.'s PROGRAMMING THE SEMANTIC WEB (9780596153816, $39.99) tells how to use graph data to build solid, flexible applications - applications in which machines can find, share and combine data on the Web. Several ways to implement semantic web applications are explored in a guide that covers different pieces of semantic technology and how to use it to solve real problems.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Computers and data storage devices have become entwined in all parts of society and business and law enforcement and information technology professionals alike will thus find key Christopher L.T. Brown's 2nd updated edition of Computer Evidence: Collection and Preservation (1584506997, $49.99), a survey of computer forensics and data storage evidence. The focus on digital evidence in court cases provides a fine survey for computer forensics students and tells how to preserve case integrity during the computer examination process. Law enforcement libraries especially will welcome this. Michael Jang's LPIC-1 IN DEPTH (1598639676, $49.99) explores the LPIC-1 exams and offers nearly 500 practice questions to provide the latest test prep guide available for both Linux Professional Institute Level 1 exams 101 and 102. It's a 'must' for any taking the exams, with chapter summaries, key terms, review questions and more offering multiple learning paths. Very highly recommended.

Modular Web Design
Nathan Curtis
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com
0321601351, $44.99, www.amazon.com

User experience design teams often suffer from a broad approach to documenting a design solution for different projects. MODULAR WEB DESIGN: CREATING REUSABLE COMPONENTS FOR USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION discusses components and how to use them based on an established design system, defining their role and discussing how to apply them to practices. Any library catering to neo-professional web designers will find this a key to understanding user interface components.

The Official Ubuntu Server Book
Kyle Rankin and Benjamin Mako Hill
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit/com/ph
0137021186, $39.99, www.amazon.com

College-level collections catering to Linux programmers and developers will find The Official Ubuntu Server Book a top addition to the collection, covering a complete, free server operating system in a guide to getting going quickly. From making the most of Ubuntu Server's latest technologies to automating installs and protecting the server using Ubuntu's built-in security tools, The Official Ubuntu Server Book is packed with keys to success for any Ubuntu user.


The Business Shelf

Beyond Success
Jeffrey L. Gitterman
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814413366, $22.00 www.amacombooks.org

BEYOND SUCCESS: REDEFINING THE MEANING OF PROSPERITY tells what happened to make author Jeffrey Gitterman so successful - and how any can follow his lead. He went from earning less than, $20K a year as an insurance salesman struggling with debt to running his own financial company and multiplying his income. At the peak of success he began to question assumptions about happiness and money - and found a way to achieve and enjoy a different kind of success. His inspirational guide is a top pick for both business and general lending libraries.

Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/seiseries

The second updated edition of Bill Curtis, William E. Hefley, Sally A. Miller's People CMM (032155390X, $69.99) documents Version 2 of the People CMM and describes practices for different maturity levels, explaining workforce development at each level and how to apply the framework of CMM as an assessment tool. Human resources and business managers personnel and college-level business libraries catering to them will find PEOPLE CMM packed with tips on a structure broadly adopted by small and large organizations around the world. Pollyanna Pixton, Niel Nickolaisen, et.al.'s STAND BACK AND DELIVER: ACCELERATING BUSINESS AGILITY (0321572882, $39.99) offers the agile leadership tools needed to achieve extraordinary performance levels. It offers immediately usable frameworks and a step-by-step process that helps focus efforts and tells how to use the author's model to make better investment decisions. Chapters offer guidelines on everything from bringing agility concepts to projects to developing innovative collaborative styles. Business libraries will find this inspiring.

Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com

Edward E. Gordon's WINNING THE GLOBAL TALENT SHOWDOWN: HOW BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES CAN PARTNER TO REBUILD THE JOBS PIPELINE (9781576756164, $27.95) maintains that the U.S. and world talent pool is emptying - and it shows how a more global approach to talent shortages can help if communities act now to change the trends. Any serious business collection strong in global business practices needs this survey of future talent shortages and solutions. Kellie A. McElhaney's JUST GOOD BUSINESS: THE STRATEGIC GUIDE TO ALIGNING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND BRAND (9781576754412, $29.95) uses ten years of the author's consulting experience inside companies to build a basic treatise on CSR practices in a title for managers and leaders alike. From knowing a customer to practicing consistency, JUST GOOD BUSINESS is a top pick. John Kador's EFFECTIVE APOLOGY: MENDING FENCES, BUILDING BRIDGES, AND RESTORING TRUST (9781576759011, $19.95) challenges thinking about fundamental values of apology to giver and receiver alike, exploring the basics of apologies that heal versus other types and offering advice on how to accept or reject an apology, and a quiz to test your Apology Quotient. A key guide for any business organization as well as general libraries seeking self-help/self-improvement guides.

Land the Tech Job You Love
Andy Lester
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356265, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Programmers, project managers and graphic designers have a harder time finding and landing a job: companies are demanding, the competition is smart and resourceful, and standard skills and approaches likely don't work in the tech industry. That's why Land the Tech Job You Love is a key acquisition for computer and business libraries alike: it tells how to locate the right job, understand the hidden jobs market of the tech industry, and shows what works and why. Real-life stories pepper an account covering everything from interviews to the kind of technical job likely to make you happy.

And Then The Roof Caved In
David Faber
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9780470474235, $26.95, www.amazon.com

AND THEN THE ROOF CAVED IN: HOW WALL STREET'S GREED AND STUPIDITY BROUGHT CAPITALISM TO ITS KNEES tells of the realities behind the current economic crisis, detailing what happened to cause the greatest economic collapse since the Depression. It comes from an award-winning correspondent who has covered Wall Street for over two decades and is packed with firsthand accounts of the bankers who have contributed so heavily to this disaster. Any business library needs this.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

In the 'Perspectives' business series the two authors never collaborate - so you get the truth from very different angles on each subject. Michael A. Fina's MANAGING EMPLOYEES (1598638734, $29.99) presents the management perspective of Michael Fina, VP who has worked in his family's business and is regarded as an innovator, as well as the employees of different business structures. From how to get the most from new hires and building relationships to rewarding employees and managing problems, this provides a real winner for any business library catering to managers at any level. Howard Podeswa's UML FOR THE IT BUSINESS ANALYST, 2ND EDITION (1598638688, $49.99) offers a guide to the Unified Modeling Language and tells how to create a business requirements document that confirms to the UML 2.2 standard. From using job aids while working on the job to details for both new IT business analysts and experienced ones, UML FOR THE IT BUSINESS ANALYST updates the latest information for any considering using the Unified Modeling Language.


The American History Shelf

Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World
Mike Evans and Paul Kingsbury, Editors
Sterling
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781402766237, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World covers all aspects of the music festival and appears in three parts: a survey of its origins in the music and cultural trends of its times, a chronicle of the event with coverage of each act and their performance, and a survey of media coverage, follow-up festivals and the ongoing impact of Woodstock. Add a survey packed with color photos and you have a 'must' for any library strong in American cultural history, music, or Woodstock events.

Introducing the Sky Blazers
Jack Jacobson
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
9781597972857, $26.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

In New York City in 1939 neither the author nor his teen friend Murray Davison had any idea of joining the military. After Pearl Harbor the two decided to enlist in the Air Corps, persuaded their commander to let them use their skills as a comic and a jazz trumpet player to entertain the troops, and formed the first Combat Special Services Entertainment Unit. It eventually became a 15-piece troupe of comics, singers and musicians, The Sky Blazers: this is their story and should be a key part of any serious military or music library.


The Political Science Shelf

Framing the Future
Bernie Horn
Berrett Koehler
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576754597, $24.95 www.bkconnection.com

FRAMING THE FUTURE: HOW PROGRESSIVE VALUES CAN WIN ELECTIONS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE tells how American can identify the values that the most American voters hold, and how to translate these values into political campaign goals. Research, polling and testing methods help identify America's progressive core values of freedom, opportunity and security and offer candidates directions on how to reclaim these values.


The International Studies Shelf

Africa's Freedom Railway
Jamie Monson
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton St., Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253352712, $39.95 http://upress.indiana.edu

In the 1970s a team of Chinese railway workers and their Tanzanian counterparts faced a team of American-led road workers advancing across the same countryside - in direct competition with the Chinese railway project. A standoff ensued between the two development projects - and first-hand experiences of engineers and laborers contribute to a survey of the railroad's design, construction, and effects on the local social and economic atmosphere of one of the poorest countries in Africa. College-level collections strong in African culture and history need this.


The World History Shelf

Belligerents, Brinkmanship and the Big Stick
John Dobson
ABC-CLIO
P.O. Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841312, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com

Belligerents, Brinkmanship and the Big Stick: A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts offers five chronologically arranged sections describing key events and relationships and over 200 alphabetical listings of major events in the history of American foreign relations. College-level libraries strong in political science history will find this a key acquisition, packing in excerpts from key foreign policy documents, treaties, statements and more.

The Koreas
Mary E. Connor, Editor
ABC-CLIO
P.O. Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841602, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com

Joining others in the 'Asia in Focus' series, THE KOREAS is a history and social survey of the contrasts and similarities between two nations. History, geography, politics and cultures are considered in chapters exploring the countries and their connections, making this a top pick for high school to college-level libraries strong in Asian studies.


The Social Issues Shelf

Being White in the Helping Professions
Judy Ryde
Jessica Kingsley Publishing
400 Market St #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109365, $39.95, www.jkp.com

White people in the helping professions may try to practice without discrimination but often are unaware of their own cultural influences and their impact upon others. Judy Ryde reveals how white people have implicit and explicit advantages and tells how to work with and overcome this privilege when working in a multicultural setting. From understanding the foundations of a white identity to exploring racial awareness and its training, Being White in the Helping Professions is a pick for any seeking an understanding of being white in a diverse society.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Ryan Grim's THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY ON DRUGS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF GETTING HIGH IN AMERICA (9780470167397, $24.95) comes from a journalist who challenges everything you knew about America's drug culture and how it evolved. From government rules, standards and responses to drugs to social movements and links between drugs and the modern mass media's evolution, THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY ON DRUGS is a key blend of history and social issues essential for any library, from high school and college-level collections to general lending libraries. Peter Tertzakian works with Keith Hollihan in THE END OF ENERGY OBESITY (9780470435441, $27.95), exploring solutions to the problem of a widening appetite for energy and showing how to change the fuel diet for a better future. His focus on practical options and immediate applications makes for a comprehensive survey key to any serious understanding of energy usage and alternatives: a pick for both college and general lending collections.


The Photography Shelf

HDR Photography
Pete Carr and Robert Correll
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Blvd, Indianapolis IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9780470412992, $39.99, www.amazon.com

HDR photography can create photos that mimic fine paintings, provide outstanding images, and more. Learn how to create HDR images using camera features, how to process and tweak them using Photoshop and Photomatix, and how to create landscapes, interiors, and more from single exposures using the basics covered in HDR Photography Photo Workshop. Any library catering to digital photographers needs this, which is packed with color photo examples and screenshots throughout.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
Philip Andrews
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521572, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Any studying Photoshop Elements 7 will find this a fine introductory survey packed with tutorials for every step of Elements. From hundreds of images designed to show the specific results of every Elements 7 command to creating scrapbooks, albums, and making easy image changes, Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography is a 'must' for any serious photography or Photoshop collection.

Selling Your Photography
Richard Weisgrau
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156607, $24.95 www.allworth.com

SELLING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN NEW AND TRADITIONAL MARKETS offers a fine survey of the market for professional and amateur photographers, considering magazines, newspapers, books, greeting cards and a range of alternative business sources such as annual reports and more. The focus on more diverse markets than the usual photography sales guide provides a fine set of options.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Traffickers
W.E.B. Griffin
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143144564, $39.95 www.penguin.com

Scott Brick's smooth acting voice lends drama and intrigue to this powerful story of a homicide sergeant seeing too many murders in Philadelphia. Gangs trafficking in guns, drugs and human lives makes for a colorful story stretching coast to coast in an audio replete with high drama, intrigue, and action.

I Can See You
Karen Rose
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781600246456, $34.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Elisabeth S. Rodgers is a film actress and stage person and adds a spicy, clear voice to Karen Rose's dramatic I CAN SEE YOU, a suspense novel telling of an injured woman who once chose online life over reality. Now a graduate student researching the addictions of online communities, Eve Wilson finds test subjects turning up dead from suicide, and soon has her hands full in a top thriller recommended for any audio collection.

The Neighbor
Lisa Gardner
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com
9780739366622, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Emily Jance Card, Kirby Heyborne and Kirsten Potter's reading of THE NEIGHBOR makes for a gripping story indeed, telling of a young mother who vanishes from her South Boston home without a trace, leaving behind a toddler as the only witness and her secretive husband as the suspect. Detective D.D. Warren sense something wrong about the whole setup - and his probe of the missing woman's life leads to some startling revelations in this winner, recommended for any library strong in murder mystery high drama on audio.

Brilliance
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Phil Gigante provides the seasoned, passionate reading for Daniel Silva's THE DEFECTOR (142332806X, $36.99), taking place six months after Moscow Rules and telling of Gabriel's attempt to honeymoon with his new wife in the hills of Umbria. A defector who once saved his life has vanished and is suspected of being a double agent - but Gabriel knows better and is once again drawn into intrigue and adventure in a thriller that comes to life in audio. Greg Iles' THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL (1423318137, $38.99) receives veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth voice and brings to life the thriller revolving around a new mayor of Natchez, Mississippi who faces challenges from the gambling industry and dangerous vices that could lead to murder. When his childhood friend with evidence of these crimes is murdered, Penn finds his own family in danger in this engrossing thriller. P.J. O'Rourke's DRIVING LIKE CRAZY (1423396715, $24.95) receives Christopher Lane's seasoned voice as it tells of a gearhead and a terrifying driver's passion for autos. This anthology celebrates cars and details America's love affair with them, gathering over thirty years of journalistic writing in a hard-hitting audio perfect for any with an affection for cars and humor. Nevada Barr's BORDERLINE (1423325702, $26.99) receives Joyce Bean's fine voice and provides another Anna Pigeon novel set in Southwestern Texas. Here Amanda is on administrative leave and hopes a rafting trip will ease her spirits - but when the raft is lost in the rapids and a dead body is discovered, the holiday turns into another riveting murder investigation in this tense thriller. David Rollins' A KNIFE EDGE (1423332539, $38.99) pairs Mel Foster's background in acting and his smooth expressive voice with the story of a strange murder and an ex-Air Force special investigator's involvement in military secrecy and danger. A scientist's murder and Vin Cooper's investigation leads to some deadly secrets in this powerful thriller. David Weber's ON BASILISK STATION (1423393384, $29.99) presents Book 1 in the 'Honor Harrington' series and receives Allyson Johnson's fine narrative voice as it tells of Honor exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by her superior. Her post to a wayside station makes for an involving story of politics and space opera perfect for science fiction audio libraries.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Ultimate Metabolism Diet
Scott Rigden, MD
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935104 $15.95 www.hunterhouse.com 1-800-266-5592

Metabolism is different from person to person. "The Ultimate Metabolism Diet: Eat Right for Your Metabolic Type" is a metabolic guide for readers who want a more scientific and personalized approach to dieting. Outlining the various metabolic types and discussing the potential disorders with each, author Scott Rigden, MD does well in educating his readers about the metabolic system. "The Ultimate Metabolism Diet" is a must read for those who want a greater understanding of how to control their own weight.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sourcebook, 4th edition
Laura Larsen, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780810730, $78.00 www.omnigraphics.com

Joining others in the red-edged 'Health Reference' series is the 4th updated edition of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sourcebook, packing in the latest research on treatments and options for STDs and couching them in a language any general library can use as a solid reference. From symptoms to key groups, testing options, and clinical trails and vaccines, this is a 'must' not just for college-level health libraries, but for any serious lending collection strong in general health issues.

iUniverse Inc.
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com

Three powerful titles are top picks for any health or general lending collections. Nick Rogen's A LIFE WORTH LIVING (9781440146947, $17.95) tells of the author, an average small-town teen until his mother's bipolar disorder lead him to know a world of doctors, electroshock treatments and his own battle with substance abuse. His story tells how he began to find hope in the course of a trip to China that changed his perspective when his family adopted an abandoned Chinese girl. Debra J. Suchy's BELLOWED WHISPERS: JOURNEYING BACK TO WHO YOU ARE (9781440151118, $12.95) offers both new age and health libraries an alternative healing treatise from a Usui Reiki Master and intuitive counselor and teacher. From uncovering the magic of rocks and animal totems to healing through past lives, this offers a blend of the author's personal journey and how others may follow in her footsteps. R. Lee Hall's AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE: A BREAST CANCER STORY (9781440150821, $13.95) offers a medical autobiography telling of a caregiver's experiences caring for his wife Brenda during her struggles with breast cancer. It is both a tribute to her life and a survey of caregiving challenges and a cancer patient's struggles.

Menopause Illustrated
Jan Brehm
Planet Sweet Pea
c/o Sweet Pea Productions
833 SE Main #310, Portland, Or 97214
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.planetsweetpea.com

MENOPAUSE ILLUSTRATED in DVD is actually a guy's guide to menopause and blends humor and an entertaining, guy-friendly format with real insights on how to handle spouses and partners going through menopause. From what happens during the 'change of life' to guidelines to understanding a woman's shifts, this is packed with real advice as well as entertaining perspectives.

Overcoming ADHD
Stanley I. Greenspan, MD with Jacob Greenspan
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213552, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

OVERCOMING ADHD: HELPING YOUR CHILD BECOME CALM, ENGAGED AND FOCUSED - WITHOUT A PILL discusses the range of symptoms that form ADHD as a syndrome, relating them to different sensory, motor and self-regulation issues and discussing the role of emotions in the development of the nervous system. It shows how kids can learn to engage, understand their senses and maintain focus without medication and offers an alternative set of ideas for parents and educators seeking different management approaches.

Your Brain After Chemo
Dan Silverman, MD, PhD & Idelle Davidson
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738212593, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

Any health library or general collection catering to cancer patients will find specific and key the guide Your Brain After Chemo: a Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus. One of the foremost researchers in chemotherapy's effects and a journalist and cancer survivor combine talents to explore emotional and physical reactions to chemo treatments, blending science with health insights in a book that should be a foundation title in any serious health or general library.

Drug Information Handbook for Nursing, 2010
Beatrice B. Turkoski, RN, PhD, et.al.
Lexi-Comp
1100 Terex Road, Hudson, OH 44236
9781591952572, $42.95 www.lexi.com

Administration, assessment, monitoring, guidelines and more pack Lexi-Comp's drug reference handbook for nurses and college-level libraries catering to them. Now in its 11th updated edition, Drug Information Handbook for Nursing offers 40 new drug monographs, new fields from product availability to drug interactions, and appendix updates of abbreviations, compatibility issues, immunizations and more. Over 4800 medications are alphabetically indexed by brand and generic names and provides an outstanding, at-a-glance reference.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Milton and Monotheism
Abraham Stoll
Duquesne University Press
600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
9780820704104 $62.00 1-800-666-2211

God is a strange character in the fact he resists being a character. "Milton and Monotheism" is a scholarly discussion of the work of Milton, a man who spent much of his life writing fiction and poetry focusing on God and Christianity, often retelling biblical stories. Author Abraham Stoll discusses Milton's use of God as a character, and does well in outlining Milton's thought processes when approaching the omnipotent being. An intriguing analysis of God in Milton's writings (and in a way, fiction in general), "Milton and Monotheism" is recommended for readers who want a greater understanding of Milton's work, as well as college and community library literary studies collections.


The Psychology Shelf

Connecting Through Music with People with Dementia
Robin Rio
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109051, $22.95, www.jkp.com

People with dementia often perceive the world as a frightening, isolating place - and music has been proven to overcome cognitive issues and bring people together. Connecting Through Music with People with Dementia explains to caregivers how they can learn to use melody or rhythm to connect with otherwise non-responsive dementia patients, and is packed with practical advice on using music - including a songbook suggesting popular and effective song choices. Both family and professional caregivers with no former experience of music therapy will find this a key, specific approach.

Free From Lies
Alice Miller
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393069136, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

FREE FROM LIES: DISCOVERING YOUR TRUE NEEDS shows how former victims can heal the scars of their childhood by finding the true history of their childhood instead of denying it. Therapists should become partial witness to the survivor of obvious cruelty - and Dr. Miller proposes a way to help patients find the right therapist who will stay on the wide of their wounded child self. The dynamics of abused kids and their reactions as adults makes for a particularly engrossing self-help title key for any psychology or general lending collection.

Mental Health Disorders Sourcebook, 4th edition
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780810419 $93.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The 4th updated edition of MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK offers consumers all the basics and latest facts about medications, treatments, mental health concerns in all ages, and tips on living with mental illness. From recognizing signs to following preventative lifestyles and handling a diagnosis, no health collection should be without this resource, which will reach into many a general lending library as well.

Object Relations Self-Psychology
Barry Joseph Weber and David I. Downing
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 E. Hanna Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
www.uindy.edu/universitypress
9781880938720, $39.95, www.amazon.com

OBJECT RELATIONS & SELF-PSYCHOLOGY: A USER-FRIENDLY PRIMER offers a primary text introduction to complex theories. It blends developmental theory and treatment methods to assist clinicians and psychology students alike, covering a new theory that offers new foundations. Any working in short-term psychoanalytical psychotherapy will find specific listings of symptoms and approaches in this key college-level survey.


The Education Shelf

The Power of Your Child's Imagination
Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D.
Perigee
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780399535079, $14.95 www.penguin.com

THE POWER OF YOUR CHILD'S IMAGINATION: HOW TO TRANSFORM STRESS AND ANXIETY INTO JOY AND SUCCESS shows how to empower a child for survival and how to handle daily stress-related problems from headaches and coping with death and divorce to schoolwork concentration issues and squabbling with siblings and others. Parents and educators alike will find this a key acquisition.

Creative Activities for Young Children, 9th edition
Mary Mayesky
Delmar Cengage Learning
10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002-3098
1428321802, $127.95, www.cengage.com

The 9th updated edition of CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN offers a comprehensive coverage of two-dimensional activities, development levels, creative language experiences, and a host of learning tools for young kids, making this a top pick for any library strong in early education. Color photos, sidebar charts, clear explanations and more make for a fine and comprehensive guide.

RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul MN 55117
www.redleafpress.org

Preschoolers receive a fine educational foundation based on tested techniques and tools of success and assessment in an activities guide any educator will relish, Harlan S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Ruth M. Hansen, Ph.D.'s LESSONS FOR LITERACY (9781933653907, $24.95). From classroom basics that reinforce literacy learning to building letters, numbers, vocabulary and strong family participation in the process, this is packed with important keys to successful preschooler engagement. Education collections will also welcome Aerial Cross' ANTS IN THEIR PANTS: TEACHING CHILDREN WHO MUST MOVE TO LEARN (9781933653877, $29.95). Here's a fine survey of busy children who are constantly in motion and curious - who require tactile experiences through the day to thrive. Educators learn how to tailor atmospheres for these kids, offering a hands-on resource for sensory-play activities and more. Lisa Burman's ARE YOU LISTENING? (9781933653464, $27.95) provides a fine series of dialogues between teachers and children and uses examples to illustrate how to listen more and talk less. From focusing conversations in a classroom to setting up a learning environment that encourages kids to communicate amongst each other more effectively, educators receive an outstanding guide.

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

John L. Badgett and Edwin P. Christmann's DESIGNING ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT USING THE COGNITIVE DOMAIN (9781412971218, $26.95) provides a fine tool for any teacher seeking an easy resource of step-by-step guidelines for writing measurable objectives and developing assessments. Teachers learn how to develop unit and daily objectives based on local and national standards and receive examples of assessment items from three major subject areas in this pick for any education library. Also a top pick is Bob Algozzine, et.al.'s 63 TACTICS FOR TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS GRADES 6-12 (9781412942423, $33.95), a survey packed with field-tested teaching methods for students with diverse needs. From how to blend different learning styles into a classroom to supportive worksheets and tips from teachers who have used these methods, this is packed with real-world, research-based teaching. Victoria Groves Scott's PHONEMIC AWARENESS: READY-TO-USE LESSONS, ACTIVITIES AND GAMES (9781412972154, $33.95) provides an outstanding second, updated edition packed with an updated collection of nearly fifty lessons for children in grades K-3 or students in grades 4-6 who have reading difficulty. Activities are arranged in phonemes or sounds and teaches can sequence them according to skills ranging form rhyming and blending to identification in a fine overview of lesson plans paired with reproducible forms. Very highly recommended for any working with young kids. Jan Miller Burkins' PRACTICAL LITERACY COACHING: A COLLECTION OF TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK (9780872074736, $24.95) offers literacy coaches a fine set of tools for defining a coaching role, developing learning communities, coaching teachers, and documenting work. Any involved in literacy support work will find this packed with key approaches. Elaine K. McEwan's TEACH THEM ALL TO READ, 2nd edition (9781412964982, $35.95) shows teachers how to help students read, offering the latest research in reading instruction, effective instructional practices, graphic organizers of key concepts, and more. Educators are proving successful at teaching every child how to read, and this surveys strategies and tells how to keep kids from falling through the cracks.


The Art Shelf

Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

A fine collection of images explores the homes of three of the finest wood artist of our times: Tina Skinner and Steven Paul Whitsitt's ESHERICK, SAM MALOOF AND GEORGE NAKASHIMA: HOMES OF THE MASTER WOOD ARTISANS (9780764332029, $49.99). Gardens, work areas, and diverse settings contrast well with these very different styles with very different influences, with color photos of both interiors and exteriors packing every page. Perfect for any college-level collection strong in architectural styles. Donna McMenamin's POPULAR ARTS OF MEXICO 1850-1950 (9780764332845, $59.99) provides a survey of a hundred years of Mexican art, offering nearly four hundred color photos illustrating over 675 selected objects. The history, techniques and artists who produced these figures are surveyed along with personal interviews and research on the histories of artistic families. Add room shots displaying collections and you have an outstanding, key survey for any collection strong in Mexican art.

Space Planning Basics, 3rd edition
Mark Karlen
John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470231784, $60.00, www.wiley.com

Any college-level library appealing to architecture and interior design students - especially those involved in commercial buildings - needs SPACE PLANNING BASICS. The third updated edition includes coverage of stair design, a new section on such design, and programming examples for small and large commercial spaces (up to 4,000 square feet). Hands-on exercises and advice are perfect for intermediate-level students in construction management and interior design.

Voices of Contemporary Glass: The Heineman Collection
Corning Museum of Glass
Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
9781555953140, $85.00 www.hudsonhills.com

VOICES OF CONTEMPORARY GLASS tells of two longtime Chicago residents who assembled one of the largest, finest collections of studio glass sculptures in the U.S. Over 240 objects by nearly ninety artists from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan offer a range of examples of historical developments in the field and make for a fine survey of the Heineman Collection's importance.

Down By the Sea with Brush and Pen
Claudia Nice
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com
160061163X, $26.99 www.artistsnetwork.com

DOWN BY THE SEA WITH BRUSH AND PEN begins with the basics of composition and creating watercolors, offering some sixty step-by-step demonstrations to focus on different coastal scenes and colors. From mixing different colors to reflect different kinds of water to creating textures and using reference photos, Down By the Sea with Brush and Pen is a fine pick for any aspiring artist or library catering to water colorists.


The Interior Design Shelf

Building Systems for Interior Designers, 2nd edition
Corky Bingtgeli, ASID
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470228470, $90.00, www.wiley.com

This updated guide to technical building systems for interior designers comes from members of the building design team and has been revised in its second edition to address the concerns of blending the interior designer's functions with a design team's overall building objectives. Technical building systems and engineering systems are explored for interior designers in chapters that discuss how to communicate with architects, engineers, and contractors alike. Any college-level arts collection needs this.


The Needlecraft Shelf

C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com

Two sisters share their love of quilting and their interest in using fat quarters in Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover's STRATAVARIOUS QUILTS (9781571205018, $21.95), a fine guide to techniques of joining and sewing some nine strip quilts from these quarters. From using large blocks to assembly, step-by-step directions for quilt projects come packed with color photos for inspirational assembly. M'Liss Rae Hawley's FAST FAT QUARTER BABY QUILTS (9781571205278, $25.95) provides 8 cotton and flannel quilts for infants and toddlers in small projects so easy to make that one can be finished in a day. Some forty quilts go beyond the usual pastels to projects in different color schemes and assembly options in this fine guide. Princess Mirah Batiks' COLOR YOUR WORLD (9781571205636, $19.95) offers over twenty projects to sew, knit, crochet and bead home embellishments, and tells how to make quick personal and home accessories with batiks. From coordinations for bedroom and dressing room to new-sew projects perfect for teens, this is packed with artful presentations. Rayna Gillman's CREATE YOUR OWN HAND-PRINTED CLOTH (9781571204394, $27.95) provides 8 techniques for one-of-a-kind fabric making showing how to produce original fabric prints. Any material can be used and these easy directions will provide lovely art cloth on the fly in a book recommended for any needlework library. Carol Armstrong's BEST IN SHOW (9781571206107, $26.95) offers quilters the opportunity to show of 24 dog breeds in little applique portrait quilts, includes patterns with full-size applique templates, and offers basic materials, cutting instructions and more. Any who would blend animal pictures into quilts will find this packed with eye-catching suggestions.

Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing
Kathy Cano-Murillo
Potter Craft
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
www.pottercraft.com
9780307406668, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Any sewer who wants crafts that don't necessarily conform to traditional patterns and rules will find Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing a key attraction. Its projects range from place mat purses to scarf dresses and embellishments using edgy stitching, and it provides a set of projects that teach the basics of a stitchery style that can easily lead to new and different sewing approaches. Libraries catering to needleworkers will welcome this different, unique perspective.

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

Lesley Chaisson's CHARMED, I'M SURE: QUILTS AND MORE FROM 5" SQUARES (9781564779014, $24.99) offers some 15 projects ranging from lap quilts and table runners to bed quilts and provides projects to make the most of modern coordinated sets of 5" squares. Templates, patterns, and color photos abound in a set of patterns perfect for any who would take the 5" square further. Mary Hickey's WARM WELCOME: COZY QUILTS FOR BABY (9781564778956, $26.99) follows up on the SWEET AND SIMPLE BABY QUILTS best-seller and offers a new selection of original quilts from Mary Hickey - some 17 projects small, quick and easy enough for beginning quilters. Basic piecing and a few machine applique projects make for a fine selection of fun baby quilt ideas perfect for newcomers to quilting. For a holiday title, Cheryl Almgren Taylor's DECK THE HALLS: QUILTS TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS (9781564779106, $26.99) packs in a collection of Christmas patterns for the home: everything from mantels and tables to doors. Ten projects for decorating or gifts offer pieced and appliqued projects replete with all kinds of interesting motifs, in full color.

Punchneedle: The Complete Guide
Marinda Stewart
Krause Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati OH 45236
0896896528, $29.99 www.fwmedia.com

Any needlecraft collection strong in embroidery guides will welcome PUNCHNEEDLE: THE COMPLETE GUIDE, providing an overview of materials, tools, and techniques including working with novelty threads and creating special effects. Nine embroidery projects on a range of surfaces included a photo album cover, napkins and Christmas ornaments in this highly recommended guide.

Quilt National 2009
Lark Books & Dairy Barn Arts Center
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781600594236, $24.95 www.larkbooks.com

QUILT NATIONAL 2009: THE BEST OF CONTEMPORARY QUILTS offers some 80 quilt designs award-winning at the annual Athens, Ohio exhibit. These have been chosen from more than 1,000 entries for the 2009 exhibition and feature quilters from over 24 states and 13 foreign countries. Each entry was judged as a work of art before it was judged as a quilt: color photos compliment notes on their making in a title for any needlework library.


The Science Shelf

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
www.prometheusbooks.com

Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould was America's best-known natural scientist until his death in 2002, producing monthly essays in a popular natural history publication and winning awards for his books. Most books about Gould cover his science: David F. Prindle's STEPHEN JAY GOULD AND THE POLITICS OF EVOLUTION (9781591027188, $26.98) is the first to be written about his political connections and how they influenced his science career, and provide a fine survey of how Gould's mind worked along both scientific and political paths. A top pick for any interested in Gould's approaches and their origins. Kendrick Frazier edits SCIENCE UNDER SIEGE: DEFENDING SCIENCE, EXPOSING PSEUDOSCIENCE (9781591027157, $21.98) offers a new collection of recent articles presented in The Skeptical Inquirer magazine and offers some of the best writing on topics of current interest, from Carl Sagan's final question/answer piece on science and skeptical inquiry to physicians who defend the value of vaccinations. Over thirty articles explore the science and nature of skeptical inquiry and provide a fine series of analytical articles perfect for high school and college-level science libraries alike.

Life Ascending
Nick Lane
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065961, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

LIFE ASCENDING: THE GREAT INVENTIONS OF EVOLUTION comes from a biochemist who uses the latest scientific findings to tell of life's evolution and the process of life evolution. Drawing on new scientific knowledge, Nick Lane reconstructs this history by describing the ten greatest inventions of evolution based on their impact in the living world.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Wild Marsh
Rick Bass
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780547055169, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

THE WILD MARSH: FOUR SEASONS AT HOME IN MONTANA provides a rich account of the author's life in Yaak Valley, where he marks seasonal changes and reflects on what it means for his children to grow up surrounded by nature. His discovery of the Yaak's secrets and passing on of nature history knowledge makes for a moving, intimate nature journal suitable for any general lending library.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Vanished
Kat Richardson
ROC
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451462770, $23.95 www.penguin.com

VANISHED provides a fine urban fantasy telling of a small-time PI who died for two minutes - and became a Greywalker, moving between the living world and the psychic universe. Her new abilities are bringing her all kinds of strange cases - and her own case investigates her transition to becoming a Greywalker in this blend of intrigue and fantasy: a pick for both mystery and fantasy libraries alike.

English Trifle
Josi S. Kilpack
Deseret Books
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
9781606411216 $17.95 www.DeseretBook.com

Cooking seems so secondary when there's a corpse around. "English Trifle" follows chef and wannabe detective Saide Hoffmiller as she takes her daughter Breanna to England. Their vacation goes sour when they finds a corpse, and Saide may have to put down the recipe rolodex to solve a murder. "English Trifle" is a delightful combo of mystery and gourmet cooking, highly recommended.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Yasmine Galenorn's MURDER UNDER A MYSTIC MOON (9780425200025, $7.99) tells of Emerald's party preparations for a teen daughter's birthday, when she's called upon to use her psychic abilities to look into a friend's disappearance. Her discovery of a body and a murder also uncovers a possible monstrous force in this fine thriller. Elizabeth Lynn Casey's SEW DEADLY (9780425229101, $6.99) tells of Tori, trying to forget gossip about her cheating ex in her small town home when she discovers the tow sweetheart dead at her back door. A fine mystery involves her in intrigue. Sheila Connolly's ROTTEN TO THE CORE (9780425228760, $6.99) provides a new Orchard Mystery revolving around Meg's apple orchard and a killer season when a local organic farmer is found murdered in her springhouse - involving her as the prime suspect. Annette Blair's LARCENY AND LACE (9780425229118, $7.99) tells of Madeira's new vintage clothing store housed in a renovated old town morgue and a dead body uncovered in one of the old body drawers. Add a break-in and intrigue is heavy, here. Chaz McGee's DESOLATE ANGEL (9780425228739, $6.99) tells of a second-rate cop murdered in a drug bust gone bad - and left wandering in limbo. A first-person story of the soul's determination to become a good ghost makes for a fine ghostly mystery. Kaye Morgan's KILLER SUDOKU (9780425228395, $6.99) tells of Liza, looking forward to a sudoku competition to break way form her boyfriends and job - until her toughest opponent drops dead. Contestants are being murdered and she may be next unless she can stem the tide. Jennie Bentley's SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (9780425229132, $6.99) tells of a home renovation gone awry when a home's inhabitants are dead. Avery's boyfriend wants to flip a ranch house where murder once happened - and renovations come to a halt when an unhappy ghost is unearthed. All are outstanding mysteries.

Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Gail Oust's WHACK N ROLL (9780451227690, $6.99) tells of an active hen group of bunco players who come across a dismembered arm during a golf game and decide to roll out their own investigation as a team. A fine thriller of elderly investigators evolves. Juliet Blackwell's SECONDHAND SPIRITS (9780451227454, $6.99) provides a fine witchcraft mystery telling of Lily, whose spell-casting powers draw mischievous spirits. Her vintage store could become a hit - but a client's murder and children's disappearances involve Lily in a crime-solving path. Sheila Lowe's DEAD WRITE (9780451228123, $6.99) tells of Claudia, on a new assignment to investigate an elite dating service whose members are dying. Claudia's latest investigation places her at odds with her LAPD detective boyfriend, who suspects a dangerous world is being probed. Karen E. Olson's THE MISSING INK (9780451227461, $6.99) tells of Brett, a tattoo artist catering to clients in Las Vegas who does murder investigation on her free time. A dead body, danger and more involve Brett in a questionable world in this fine thriller.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Ann Parker's LEADEN SKIES: A SILVER RUSH MYSTERY (9781590585771, $24.95) is set in the Leadville, Colorado 1880s era and tells of a part-owner of a saloon whose backroom deal fires when she discovers one of her women dead. It's up to Inez Stannert to investigate - only to find her past has come back to haunt her in this revealing saga, perfect for historical mystery holdings. Tim Maleeny's JUMP (9781590585740, $24.95) tells of a hated San Francisco landlord who jumps off the roof of his own building. The police want to call it suicide, but ex-cop Sam knows it was murder - and knows he could be a suspect. His quest to prove his innocence involves him with neighbors and ultimately danger in this highly charged mystery. Jeffrey Siger's MURDER IN MYKONOS (9781590585818, $24.95) tells of a young woman on holiday in Mykonos in Greece when she vanishes, leading politically incorrect detective Andreas Kaldis on a journey to find a killer nobody cares about before the media destroys the island's reputation as a safe paradise. Another young woman vanishes, and tensions mount in this fine thriller. Margit Liesche's HOLLYWOOD BUZZ (9781590585795, $24.95) tells of one Pucci Lewis, who has been dispatched to a motion picture unit doing a documentary on women airforce service pilots. A suspicious plane crash is threatening the operation, a cover-up is in process, and it's up to Pucci to found answers from a dangerous homicide case in this powerful thriller, a pick for any solid mystery collection. Priscilla Royal's CHAMBERS OF DEATH: A MEDIEVAL MYSTERY (9781590586402, $24.95) packs in a powerful story of Prioress Eleanor, who accepts lodging at a nearby manor and finds underlying family affairs are affecting not just lodging but leading to murder. But the sheriff doesn't really want to investigate the real killer, so it's up to Prioress Eleanor to find out the truth in this revealing historical thriller. Mary Anna Evans' FLOODGATES (9781590585917, $24.95) is set in New Orleans and tells of centuries of tragedy and a flood that killed a thousand people. Faye and her team of archaeologists discover a corpse too new to be part of their historic dig - and become involved in a deadly murder investigation. New Orleans setting and history makes for a fine thriller.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Manual of Clinical Procedures in Dogs, Cats, Rabbits & Rodents, 2nd edition
Steven E. Crow, et al.
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9780813813042, $59.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled and written by the team of Steven E. Crow, Sally O. Walshaw, Jennifer E. Boyle, this second updated edition of a classic clinical guide continues a top pick for practicing vets and vet students alike, covering the basics of small exotic mammals as well as dogs and cats. A survey of classic veterinary clinical material geared to these smaller animals is accompanied by the latest clinical procedures and expanded coverage of rodents in an exceptional guide.

Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Lila Miller and Kate Hurley's INFECTIOUS DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN ANIMAL SHELTERS (9780813813790, $79.99) provides a specific, college-level guide to preventing, managing and treating disease outbreaks in shelters. From basic principles of disease control and management to practical information on population health risks, this survey is a 'must' for any shelter-specific worker or libraries catering to them. Pharmacology and canine and feline common health issues alike are covered. The seventh updated edition of Rowen D. Frandson, W. Lee Wilke and Anna Dee Fails' ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FARM ANIMALS (9780813813943, $79.99) represents a thoroughly updated, revised version of a classic and includes new clinical extracts, a new chapter on poultry species, and explanations in species differentiation and physiology. Collections strong in veterinary and agricultural science must have this. The same audience also needs Shelly L. Vaden, et.al.'s BLACKWELL'S FIVE-MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: LABORATORY TESTS AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES: CANINE & FELINE (9780813817484, $99.99). It offers a comprehensive, one-stop reference on the diagnostics used daily in treating dogs and cats, covering nearly three hundred procedures and tests and offering a volume of essays written by experts in their areas of specialty. Any serious practicing vet or vet's collection must have this. Robert Bill's pocket-sized handbook MEDICAL MATHEMATICS AND DOSAGE CALCULATIONS (9780813823638, $39.99) appears in its second, updated edition substantially revising topics ranging from basic math to the latest drug prescription and dosing information. Step-by-step instructions for calculating dosages, concentrations and more have been revised to include more details on the calculations, expanding chapters with new drawings and offering all the basics in new sections, as well. No practicing vet's library should be without it.

How Birds Migrate, 2nd edition
Paul Kerlinger
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
9780811732307, $21.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

Paul Kerlinger was director of the New jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory for seven years and offers a revised edition considering migration. Case studies and drawings explain the basics of flight, flight strategy, and the science involved in bird migration processes, offering a survey of scientific investigations into bird patterns. Any general lending library will find this a fine acquisitions.

Herding Dogs
Christine Hartnagle Renna
BowTie
c/o Kennel Club Books
40 Broad St., Freehold, NJ 07728
9781593787370, $14.95 www.kennelclubbooks.com

HERDING DOGS: SELECTING AND TRAINING THE WORKING FARM DOG comes from a life-long rancher and herding-dog trainer and introduces readers to working farm dogs, discussing everything from selecting the right herding-breed puppy to training and health. Any who contemplating acquiring such a pet will welcome this treatise with its specialized focus on the herding dog.


The Sports Shelf

Haynes
861 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
www.haynes.co.uk www.amazon.com

Two fine motorsport titles are 'must' acquisitions for any serious library where patrons demand great car racing books. Gordon Spice's LIFE OF SPICE; THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GORDON SPICE (9781844255689, $49.95) tells of a driver who blended his successful business career with 23 years of professional driving. He won four consecutive FIA World Endurance Drivers' titles in the 80s driving sportscars produced by his own engineering company and he here provides an outstanding survey of his own life and achievements, discussing how innovations led to his business success and long-time involvement in the motor sports industry. Anthony Pritchard's FERRARI: MEN FROM MARANELLO (9781844254149, $70.00) provides an A-Z biography of all significant Ferrari racing drivers, engineers and team managers and is a 'must' for racing collections where Ferrari is a focus. Biographies of some 200 individuals who have contributed to Ferrari's success pack a fine survey crossing years to include even team managers in the roundup. Very highly recommended.

Fight or Die: The Vinny Paz Story
Tommy Jon Caduto
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599215563, $24.95 www.lyonspress.com

FIGHT OR DIE: THE VINNY PAZ STORY tells of an American boxer who changed from a street fighter to a champion in two weight divisions over his twenty-year career. His best friend chronicles his life and the boxing world's special challenges in a gritty biography perfect for any general lending library strong in boxing history and personalities.


The Literary Shelf

The Mythology of Imperialism
Jonah Raskin
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583671863 $19.95 www.monthlyreview.org 1-800-670-9499

How does the classic literature of Britain's imperial era come into play in today's world? "The Mythology of Imperialism: A Revolutionary Critique of British Literature and Society in the Modern Age" was first published in 1971, but today it still holds much ground as Britain and its former colonies continue to grow more distant from the principles of the Empire, as author Jonah Raskin predicted almost forty years ago. His work is a must read for anyone evaluating and criticizing modern English literature in comparison to the literature of the empire. "The Mythology of Imperialism" is a core addition to any collection focusing on British literature.

Gods and Soldiers
Rob Spillman, Editor
Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780143114734, $16.00 www.penguin.com

GODS AND SOLDIERS: THE PENGUIN ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN WRITING is a top pick for any library strong in African representation. It provides stories reflecting the modern continent's concerns and experiences - some thirty - and reflects different cultures and perspectives across the continent.


The Biography Shelf

Cop Book
Richard Greelis
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
9781592982820 $14.95 www.BeaversPondPress.com 1-952-829-8818

They are the protectors of society - a dull day is a good day for a cop. "Cop Book: True Stories of Life, Death, and the Cops Who Manage the Space Between" is a collection of anecdotes about author Richard Greelis' decades long career as an officer of the law. His career ranged from being on the beat to running operations for the Republican National Convention. Seeking to give the reader a glimpse into the life of a police officer, "Cop Book" is a fascinating read about real-life heroes of society.

It's Not Me, It's You
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781416954149, $23.99, www.amazon.com

IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU offers a lively, involving and introspective autobiography that takes the form of essays showing how a New York Jewish girl became a Hollywood produce and writer. Her journey's highlights and pitfalls are narrated in a fun and lively voice perfect for any general lending library strong in narratives about Hollywood successes.

Einstein: A Biography
Jurgen Neffe
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801893100, $29.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Shelley Frisch translates EINSTEIN: A BIOGRAPHY and provides a new portrait of the physicist in a very different approach to Einstein's life and work. New documents - including a series of letters from Einstein to his sons - provide a richer psychological portrait of the genius and goes beyond the usual focus on his science alone (though plenty of science is included in the course of discussions), making this a pick not just for science collections but for any general holding interested in Einstein's life.

Travels With Mae
Eileen M. Julien
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton St, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253353160, $19.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu

Any collection strong in African-American memoirs or discussions of black experiences in urban settings will find TRAVELS WITH MAE: SCENES FROM A NEW ORLEANS GIRLHOOD to be a top pick. It tells of a middle-class life in a city usually portrayed by its black population's poverty, and provides lovely stories of an Afro-Louisiana Creole background. Any library catering to African-Americans must have this touching, revealing memoir.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The End of Materialism
Charles T. Tart, Ph.D.
Noetic Books
c/o New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246454 $29.95 www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273

Could science reveal evidence of there being something more than what simply is? "The End of Materialism: How Evidence of the Paranormal is Bringing Science and Spirit Together" brings a different approach to the paranormal and spiritual, drawing upon both science and what author Charles T. Tart believes to be evidence of the existence of the paranormal and supernatural. His theories make for intriguing reading; "The End of Materialism" is a read that many metaphysical readers will be entranced with.

Tao of Letting Go
Bruce Frantzis
Blue Snake Books
c/o North Atlantic Books
Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556438080, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Collections strong in Taoism, meditation and spirituality will find a powerful pick in Bruce Frantzis' "Tao of Letting Go: Meditation for Modern Living", which teaches techniques to help people overcome obstacles and learn to relax. From working with chi to improve health and mind, to understanding Taoist methods of letting go internally and externally, "Tao of Letting Go: Meditation for Modern Living" is a powerful pick for any new age library strong in meditative techniques.

The Power of Shakti
Padma Aon Prakasha
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773167, $16.95 www.destinybooks.com

Both new age and women's collections will relish THE POWER OF SHAKTI: 18 Pathways to Ignite the Energy of the Divine Woman, a survey of basic Tantra Yoga principles and how to open the 18 energetic pathways of the Shakti Circuit. While the volume is designed for use by both men and women, it's women who will find this most powerful - and new age collections that will benefit from its wisdom and spiritual teachings.

The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion
Michael A. Jawer with Marc S. Micozzi, MD,PhD
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772887, $24.95 www.destinybooks.com

Modern science contends the brain rules the body and generates feelings and perceptions: these two authors argue that it is feeling that underlies consciousness and determines how life is lead. The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion supports this theory using the latest scientific research on immunity, stress, cognition and emotions to show how emotion leads to extraordinary perception abilities. Neurochemistry and new age thought blend in a fine research-based examination perfect for new age and science libraries alike.

The Return of the Dead
Claude Lecouteux
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773181, $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

New age collections strong in writings on ghosts and paganism will find this discussion of ghosts and their role in indigenous cultures and pagan circles blends history, cultural inspection and spirituality in a satisfying survey. The modern world sees a border between that of the living and the dead - but ancestors have viewed it as less rigid. Claude Lecouteux is a former professor of medieval literature and civilization with numerous books on pagan afterlife beliefs and history: his expertise lends to a powerful survey.


The Military Shelf

Peace At Last
Deborah L. Grassman
Vandamere Press
Box 149, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
9780918339720, $19.95 www.vandamere.com

PEACE AT LAST: STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES is a fine inspirational piece for veterans and their families and comes from the author's work in a hospice setting at a VA hospital. Stories of pain and peace are built into a book for caregivers, family members and vets and offers their stories juxtaposed with hospice experiences and lessons in an inspirational fine guide.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Cameos Old & New, 4th edition
Anna M. Miller, GG, RMV
Gemstone Press
Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
0943763606, $19.99 www.gemstonepress.com

CAMEOS OLD AND NEW appears in its fourth updated edition, revised and expanded by Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV in a newly updated set of details for both novice and advanced jewelry collectors. This is the first - and only - guide to cameos and covers everything from where to hunt for them to how to value and identify them. Many new cameo photos and key factors for defining value contribute to an exceptional survey of where, how and when to buy cameos whether it be at auction, from a dealer, or via the Internet. Any serious collector's library must have this.

Standard Knife Collector's Guide, 6th edition
Ron Stewart
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326185, $16.95 www.collectorbooks.com

The updated 6th edition of identification and values packs in black and white photos of all kinds of knives and covers their history as well as collector ratings by condition and the latest values. Knife collectors will find Standard Knife Collector's Guide a detailed, important reference perfect for identifying and assessing a collection.

Mauzy's Depression Glass, 6th edition
Barbara & Jim Mauzy
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764332753, $29.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Any library strong in glass collecting or references to glass must have the latest updated edition of MAUZY'S DEPRESSION GLASS. It packs in color photos glassmaker histories, and offers an exceptional photographic reference and price guide to include good-sized color photos of glass and sidebars of the latest information. The extensive historical backgrounds of glass manufacturers of the times makes this a powerful, in-depth history.


The Crafts Shelf

Creative Beading V. 4
Bead & Button Publishers
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162892, $29.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

Any jewelry maker seeking a specific guide to beading inspirations will relish the 4th volume of CREATIVE BEADING, packing in color photos and step-by-step instructions tested by the editors of Bead & Button Magazine. From necklaces to bracelets to earrings, a range of editor-tested products assures success at all levels in this top pick.

Silhouettes
Sharyn Sowell
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781600592782, $19.95 www.larkbooks.com

Over eighty patterns to copy pack a paper cutting crafts guide perfect for any interested in creating romantic silhouette designs to enhance home decor. Learn to case a shadow using a digital camera, cut a freehand design, or copy patterns included in the book and receive instruction on transferring these to home accents in this outstanding guide.

Amulets and Talismans
Robert Danlik
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com
1600611613, $24.99 www.mycraftivity.com

Learn how to make jewelry with meaning in a different kind of jewelry-making title: one that shows how to learn cold-connection jewelry techniques to expand creativity. From creating jump rings to blending inlays, concrete, paper pulp and more into the jewelry-making process, Amulets and Talismans: Simple Techniques for Creating Meaningful Jewelry is packed with images and directions perfect for any library containing jewelry-making basics.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Revealed Texts, Hidden Meanings
Hayyim J. Angel
KTAV Publishing
930 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801288, $25.00 www.ktav.com

Revealed Texts, Hidden Meanings: Finding the Religious Significance in Tanakh is the second collection of studies and essays on Tanakh, providing in-depth text studies and four articles exploring the basics of learning methodology, followed by sixteen studies applying these foundation principles. Jewish scholars and college-level collections catering to them receive a fine survey highly recommended for any student of Tanakh.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Modern Masters V. 20: Kyle Baker
Eric Nolen-Weatherington, Editor
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1605490083, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

Cartoon artist Kyle Baker is known for his funny comic productions, but he does do serious works too - and this collection blends black and white examples of his work with detailed interviews on how he works with characters, plots and properties to produce exceptional results. Any library strong in modern cartoon artists needs this survey of the extent of his works, which will interest any enthusiast of either Baker or cartoons in general.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design