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California Bookwatch

Volume 3, Number 10 October 2008 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks Needlecraft Shelf Photography Shelf
Fashion Shelf Dance Shelf Art Shelf
Computer Shelf Architecture Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Literary Shelf Science Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Cookbook Shelf Education Shelf
Military Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf California Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Sports Shelf International Studies Shelf
Travel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Audiobook Shelf    


Donovan's Picks

Frank Gehry in Pop-Up
Jinny Johnson and Roland Lewis
Thunder Bay Press
10350 Barnes Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121
1592237908, $26.98 www.thunderbaybooks.com

FRANK GEHRY IN POP-UP provides extraordinary 3-D creations through paper engineering that is outstanding: architectural marvels in pop-up replica accompanied by commentary on structure's history, design and construction. From colorful photos discussing Gehry's contributions to the extraordinary pop-ups themselves, FRANK GEHRY IN POP-UP is a unique achievement perfect for pop-up book fans.

The Home Creamery
Kathy Farrell-Kingsley
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603420310, $16.95 www.storey.com

"The Home Creamery" could've been featured and recommended for library acquisition in our 'Food and Wine' section, but is also of immense interest and value for its broader interest to any rural homeowner seeking to create a 'home creamery' environment by making butter, yogurt, source cream ricotta and more. A commercial kitchen isn't necessary to produce these or fresh buttermilk or cram cheese: instructions tell how to turn fresh milk and cream into cultured dairy products and offer accompanying instruction on using them in other recipes. Both cookbook and rural homeowner's libraries will find it a popular lend.

Everyone's Crazy Except You and Me… And I'm Not So Sure About You
Lionel
Hyperion Books
777 West 66th Street, New York NY 10023-6298
9781401303662, $22.95 www.hyperionbooks.com

Lionel's hilarious, fun observations on life, liberty and oddities offers a fun set of reflections from a former prosecutor who examines national justice and its fallacies. Any who would enjoy pointed, quirky commentary on American political and social ills, and any who have enjoyed Lionel on his syndicated TV show The Lionel Show, will find this a fun read. General-interest libraries will find it a popular lend.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Gathered from the Garden
Cindy Lammon
Martingale & Company
20205 – 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564778130, $26.95 www.martingale-pub.com

GATHERED FROM THE GARDEN: QUILTS WITH FLORAL CHARM tells how to create and combine blocks with flower motifs, and includes tricks for appliqueing perfect stems, circles and shapes. Full-page patterns and color photos spice a quilting book which stands apart from the norm and is a recommended pick for any needlework collection strong in contemporary quilter's options.

101 Designer One-Skein Wonders
Judith Durant, Editor
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176880, $18.95 www.storey.com

From a host of knitwear designers comes a title focusing on what can be made with one skein of yarn – and the options are surprisingly many. Each requires only a single ball and ranges from footwear and arm warmers to bags, scarves, cable mittens, and more. An easy organization by yarn weight makes it simple to produce by yarn type, while explanations of techniques and step-by-step directions will appeal to all levels of crocheters or knitters, especially those who have the basics of reading knitting code and who want to progress to the next level.

Love to Machine Applique
Caroline Price
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574329568, $26.95 www.americanquilter.com

Any newcomer to machine applique who wishes to get started quickly will find extensive discussion of techniques, tools, stitches and shapes in LOVE TO MACHINE APPLIQUE: A MEDLEY OF TECHNIQUES. From using 3-D applique and working with bias strips to reverse applique, this book offers all the tools needed to make the LOVE AFFAIR quilt and master skills needed in nine sample projects with beginners in mind.


The Photography Shelf

Femmes Fatales of the 1950s
Bunny Yeager
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764330308, $19.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Bunny Yeager is a photographer active in the field to this day, capturing images of women outdoors and indoors. Her photos sold before she even graduated from photography school and she never had any troubles selling her works: FEMMES FATALES OF THE 1950S presents full-page black and white photos of her captivating images and is a 'must' for any collection strong in pin-up art.

Stephen Shore
Christy Lange, et.al.
Phaidon Press Inc.
180 Varick Street, 14th Floor, New York NY 10014
9780714846620, $39.95 www.phaidon.com

Stephen Shore was a child prodigy of photography, taking his first photo by age 6 and exhibiting by age 14. By age 35 he was Director of the Photography Program at Bard College. This survey of his career and works pairs full-page black and white and color photos – many images published here for the first time – with a survey of his career. From inspirations to choices, the details are extensive and revealing making for a title highly recommended for any college-level art library specializing in modern photographers.

Strangely Familiar
Michal Chelbin
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9781597110563, $45.00 www.aperture.org

STRANGELY FAMILIAR: ACROBATS, ATHLETES AND OTHER TRAVELING TROUPES provides full-page black and white and color photos of troupe members both in group and individually, making for a strong portrait photo pick for both photo libraries and those containing books on social and cultural issues. Chelbin's various approaches to photography are highlighted in an outstanding survey highly recommended, especially for modern photography libraries.


The Fashion Shelf

The Fashion Designer Survival Guide
Mary Gehlhar
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor, New York NY 10006
9781427797100, $22.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com

If you're a fashion designer with a personal line or label, The Fashion Designer Survival Guide is a 'must have' pick. Libraries and individuals needing fashion designer business savvy will find here a fine guide on all the industry basics, from how to find financing and market and manufacture a line to the experiences of industry pros from Tommy Hilfiger to lesser-knowns such as Zac Posen. The revised, updated edition also offers tips on business plans, sources for fabric and materials, introducing a brand to a store, and organizing a runway show. Essential: a 'must have' title!

Young Fashion Designers Americas
Patrice Farameh, editor
Daab
575 Prospect Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701
9783866540156, $37.95 www.daab-online.com

The latest creations from young and new fashion designers from the Americas includes creations from Mexico, New York, Los Angeles – anywhere where young designers are making names for themselves with eye-catching unique fashion lines. Each designer receives full-page color displays of runway models wearing their works, an overview of history and philosophy, and a web site listing. Any college-level library strong in contemporary fashion designers needs this.


The Dance Shelf

Dance in a World of Change
Sherry B. Shapiro, Editor
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736069437, $34.00 www.humankinetics.com

College-level libraries with strong holdings in dance history need Dance in a World of Change: Reflections on Globalization and Cultural Difference. It provides an anthology of international perspectives on dance, offering a blend of critical, political and social insights into the art from writers around the world. From dance as a form of cultural resistance or means of expressing cultural diversity to the powerful impact of shared experience through dance, DANCE IN A WORLD OF CHANGE has potential to cross over into college-level collections strong in world social issues and interactions.


The Art Shelf

A Brush With Animals: Japanese Paintings 1700-1950
Robert Schaap
Hotei Publishing
PO Box 95001, 1090 HA Amsterdam
9789070216085, $81.00 hotei-publishing.com

Any college-level art library strong in Japanese arts needs A BRUSH WITH ANIMALS, which was compiled from collections of members of the Society for Japanese Arts (both private and public museum collections are members). It pairs essays explaining the stories and legends behind the animal imagery with background information on the social and artistic context of Japanese hanging scroll paintings, and will appeal to artists, collectors, and any with an interest in Japanese art with its powerful survey.

Painter in a Savage Land
Miles Harvey
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781400061204, $27.00 www.atrandom.com

PAINTER IN A SAVAGE LAND; THE STRANGE SAGA OF THE FIRST EUROPEAN ARTIST IN NORTH AMERICA is a top pick for any art history collection: it offers a well-researched yet lively survey of one Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, the first European artist to travel around the U.S. capturing its wonders I pencil and paint. In 1564 he and three hundred other French Protestants landed off the coast of Florida – he was one of the few to live the experience, returning home to create dozens of illustrations of America's Native Americans. A powerful, highly recommended art history, this also deserves a place in any collection strong in early American history.

Georgia O'Keeffe: Circling Around Abstraction
Norton Museum of Art/Hudson Hills
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
0943411491, $55.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Georgia O'Keeffe is celebrated as a pioneer and is known for her striking images; many of which are offered in this book, accompanying a traveling exhibition of her work organized by the Norton Museum of Art. The focus on her use of circular forms as an abstract choice makes for a narrowed focus different from the usual overall O'Keeffe catalog, with scholarly essays accompanying full-page color images. Any serious art library with an in-depth focus on O'Keeffe will find this a winner.

Ary Stillman: From Impressionism to Abstract Expressionism
James Weschler, Editor
Merrell Publishers
740 Broadway, #1202, New York NY 10003
1858944333, $59.95 www.merrellpublishers.com

Ary Stillman was a key figure in the development of 20th century modern art, abandoning the popular impressionist techniques in his early career and becoming a member of the New York School and the avant-garde wing of modern painters who exhibited regularly. He has many accomplishments – but is relatively unknown – so any college-level art history collection needs ARY STILLMAN, a guide to his abstract works and reviewing his life and achievements in a blend of essays and full-page color illustrations. Very highly recommended.


The Computer Shelf

Software Testing: Interview Questions
S. Koirala & S. Sheikh
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015247, $49.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

The quality of software testers are often judge by their techniques, making this book of interview questions and self-study testing important for any certification course review and professional refresher courses alike. A question-answer format lends to review and covers a range of topics, from spoilage and Phage to automation testing and pair-wise. An accompanying cd-rom features the Test Complete software in a pick key for any advanced software engineering library.

Cisco Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

David Hanes, CCIE and Gonzalo Salgueiro, CCIE's FAX, MODEM, AND TEXT FOR IP TELEPHONY (1587052695, $55.00) is a top pick for any in-depth computer collection catering to college-level administrators and programmers: it offers a comprehensive assessment of information transporting, from the basic theory and operations of fax, modem and text telephony to assessment of current available options. From configuring systems to troubleshooting, it also surveys common routes and options. Kevin Wallace, CCIE's AUTHORIZED SELF-STUDY GUIDE TO CISCO VOICE OVER IP (CVOICE), 3RD EDITION (1587055546, $65.00) offers a college-level student's guide for the CVOICE exam 642-436, and is a pick for advanced colleges offering study in this area. Software programmers and students receive a manual covering all the elements of VoIP calls, dial plans, and implementation of gateways and Cisco systems. Both are highly recommended specialty acquisitions.

SAMS Teach Yourself Ajax, JavaScript and PhP All in One
Phil Ballard and Michael Moncur
Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.samspublishing.com 1-800-428-5331
0672329654, $39.99 www.informit.com/sams

No previous Ajax programming experience is needed to use this book, which provides step-by-step lessons on using Ajax, programming with JavaScript and PHP, and understanding their technological foundations. The cd includes a complete Ajax programming starter kit with all tools needed to set up a learning and testing environment, while the pages of black and white screen shots and applications provide all the detail necessary to follow through. Both computer libraries and college-level courses will find it a winner.

Apple Training Series: Mac OSX Deployment v.10.5
Kevin M. White
Peachpit Press
1249 – 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
032150268X, $59.99 www.peachpit.com

Completely updated for the Mac OSX v10.5 Leopard and certified by Apple is this official reference for the certification course, a highly recommended pick for any attempting certification. Classrooms will consider it a valuable text, self-educators will consider the task-based instruction and strong visuals lend to self-study, and Apple administrators will learn from this how to deploy a range of items to multiple systems in all sizes of organizations. With its Apple-certified branding, this training manual is a treasury of focused lessons, step-by-step building blocks, and even chapter goals and time management insights. Very highly recommended.

Ubuntu Unleashed 2008 Edition
Andrew Hudson and Paul Hudson
Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.samspublishing.com 1-800-428-5331
067232993X, $49.99 www.informit.com/sams

College-level and serious programming collections will find UBUNTU UNLEASHED 2008 EDITION an excellent acquisition, presenting a fine coverage of Ubuntu Linux for Windows, Max and Linux users. From basic installation and using its features to setting up server workstations and productive Linux designs, UBUNTU UNLEASHED comes from professional developers and writers and makes for a comprehensive coverage of all the professional details.

Mastering Dojo
Rawld Gill, Craig Riecke and Alex Russell
Pragmatic Publishers
sales@pragmaticprogrammer.com
1934356115, $38.95 www.pragprog.com

MASTERING DOJO: JAVASCRIPT AND AJAX TOOLS FOR GREAT WEB EXPERIENCES is an essential key to modern web programming problems resolvable by Dojo. From basic usage of Dojo to advanced tutorials, MASTERING DOJO takes the form of a class in the program with chapters building a foundation of knowledge and discussing scripting, searches, and Dojo systems alike. It's an outstanding, detailed account filled with real-world examples and perfect for students and programmers applying Dojo to web problems.

Dojo: The Definitive Guide
Matthew A. Russell
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596516482, $39.99 www.oreilly.com

Any computer library strong in web development will find DOJO: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE an excellent introduction which covers all 1.x versions and offers plenty of examples and tested code sets. From customizing Dojo to overseeing developers using Dojo in larger settings, this offers the programmer/manager a set of keys to working efficiently with Dojo to produce superior layouts and web applications.

Character Animation with Poser Pro
Larry Mitchell
Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1584505176, $49.99 www.courseptr.com

Learn how to bring Poser characters to life through a survey of the latest version of the 3D figure design software, which provides a fine introduction to methods, techniques and character development. Beginning to advanced Poser Pro users receive a survey on integrating animated characters into the 3D applications, including how to fine-tune results. All files needed to create the animations are included on a companion DVD, along with visual training tutorials. Very highly recommended.

The Official Ubuntu Book, 3rd Edition
Benjamin Mako Hill, et.al.
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.pearsoned.com 1-800-428-5331
0137136684, $34.99 www.informit.com/ph

Advanced programming libraries strong in Linux will find this in-depth coverage written by Ubuntu experts offers programmers clear support and information, with the 3rd updated edition providing tips on customization, upgrades, and installation and administration. From what to do when Ubuntu won't start to command options, useful features and more, this is an item of choice for any serious Ubuntu collection or software designer's library.


The Architecture Shelf

Green Building Products, 3rd Edition
Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716001, $37.95 www.newsociety.com

Interest in green, sustainable building practices is great and the prior editions of GREEN BUILDING PRODUCTS have helped builders choose among the latest offerings, so any library strong in homeowner construction or builder guides needs the revised edition, which provides descriptions and manufacturer contact details for over 1,600 environmentally preferable products and materials. A 'must' for any collection regularly catering to builders and owner-builders.

A Builder's Guide: Green from the Ground Up
David Johnston & Scott Gibson
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781561589739, $24.95 www.taunton.com

GREEN FROM THE GROUND UP: SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME CONSTRUCTION will find its place in any builder or homeowner library. It provides an easy step-by-step course in green building packing in details for building professionals and covering the nuts and bolts of the green construction trend. The latest theories and proven methods of new and remodeled green construction habits are explained, from the basics of building to site planning, materials, and energy concerns. Color photos and charts pack a title filled with specifics, not theory.


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Carbon Buster's Home Energy Handbook
Godo Stoyke
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BDC V0R 1X0 Canada
0865715696, $12.95 www.newsociety.com

General-interest lending collections strong in home energy handbooks will find this will enhance any home improvement and construction section, offering the first book in North America to provide a detailed carbon accounting of a typical family's emissions and how to reduce them by over seventy percent. From assessing changes for maximum returns to considering what systems to invest in first, it's an outstanding survey.

The Carbon-Free Home
Stephen & Rebekah Hren
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392622, $35.00 www.chelseagreen.com

The authors weaned their lives of fossil fuels in their standard 1930s urban house – and they then tell consumers how to retrofit existing homes to do the same, obtaining all power and heating and cooling from renewable sources. From cooking with biogas to using earth plaster to increase the biomass of a house, THE CARBON-FREE HOME is packed with tips and practical retrofit ideas, making it a fine acquisition for any homeowner's library and for general-interest lending collections.

The Outdoor Shower
Ethan Fierro
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 02147
158017552X, $19.95 www.storey.com

Any who would build and enjoy an outdoor shower needs THE OUTDOOR SHOWER: CREATIVE DESIGN IDEA FOR BACKYARD LIVING, FROM THE FUNCTIONAL TO THE FANTASTIC. It comes from a designer/builder who adds unique inspiration to dozens of outdoor showers, offering a gathering of stunning designs all photographed on location across North America. Full-page color photos accompany descriptions of materials and different showers for different purposes. Home and garden libraries will find it a specific, wonderful guide.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Multicultural Mystique: The Liberal Case Against Diversity
H.E. Baber
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025535, $25.95 www.prometheusbooks.com

Most writings on multiculturalism assumes that ethnic minorities prefer to identify with their culture; but philosopher H.E. Baber criticizes these assumptions, asking whether members of ethnic minorities want to really be assimilated into the dominant culture, and suggesting that the concept of multiculturalism imposes ethnic restrictions on minorities who don't wish to become part of the 'melting pot'. An intriguing discussion evolves arguing against the concept of integrating diversity.


The Literary Shelf

The Soul of Creative Writing
Richard Goodman
Transaction Press
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854
1412807468, $34.95 www.transactionpub.com

Richard Goodman's creative collection was written after a lifetime of working with language: it gathers examples from writers past and present, great and small, which illustrate how different elements of written language can be used and analyzes words for effective structure. As such THE SOUL OF CREATIVE WRITING should be considered a top pick for any library strong in teaching creative writing, whether at the college or high school grade levels.

Mark Twain's Travel Literature
Harold H. Hellwig
McFarland & Company
Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786436514, $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

Advanced high school to college-level collections strong in Mark Twain history and literature will find Mark Twain's Travel Literature a delightful critical study analyzing the major concepts in his works. From his representations of time and place to his survey of regional styles, his travel works ROUGHING IT, INNOCENTS ABROAD, LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND MORE enjoy a powerful analytical style students will appreciate.


The Science Shelf

The Black Hole War
Leonard Susskind
Little, Brown & Company
c/o Grand Central Publishing
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hbgusa.com 1-800-759-0190
0316016403, $27.99 www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com

This insider's account of the theoretical battles between Stephen Hawking, the author and Gerald t'Hooft over the true nature of black holes, THE BLACK HOLE WAR, is a rare, fascinating examination of how scientists interact, how theories are created and challenged, and how the reputations of three of the world's greatest scientists – as well as the nature of physics itself – were affected by black hole research. THE BLACK HOLE WAR details the battle as much as the science, making it a 'must' for not only science collections strong in physics and history, but for the general public library.

Einstein's Mistakes: The Human Failings of Genius
Hans C. Ohanian
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393062939, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

When asked by his student how he'd respond to evidence against his famous theory of relativity, Einstein maintained his belief in it against all possible empirical evidence – seemingly. His sense of humor may have outsmarted him but it also reflected his singular mind and stubborn purpose – and his reliance on intuition and inspiration over all. EINSTEIN'S MISTAKES comes from a physicist who offers a biography of Einstein by way of analyzing his failures and mistakes: as such it provides an involving survey which considers the history of physics and Einstein's mistakes as well as those of other leading scientists over the decades. An involving, moving survey.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

A Supremely Bad Idea
Luke Dempsey
Bloomsbury Press
175 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
159691355X, $24.99 www.bloomsburyusa.com

A SUPREMELY BAD IDEA: THREE MAD BIRDERS AND THEIR QUEST TO SEE IT ALL tells of the author's mad involvement in the world of birding, and an ensuing journey around America in search of the rarest, most beautiful birds in the country. His sidekicks join him in a hilarious and bird-filled road trip providing an inviting, lively first-person travelogue perfect for general libraries with patrons interested in either travel or birding.

Backyard Birdsong Guide: A Guide to Listening
Donald Kroodsma
Chronicle Books
680 – 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
$24.95 Each www.chroniclebooks.com

Any home library strong in field guides probably has more than one bird book; but this is something different, offering an interactive format in audio word as well as written language and visual images. Some seventy unique birds from Western North America (9780811863971) and Eastern North America (9780811863421) are featured in books which offer one-touch buttons of digital audios to pair with descriptions of songs, calls and behaviors. Home birders who want to identify by more than pictures will find this an easy, appealing guide with a difference.

We Give Our Hearts to Dogs to Tear
Alston Chase
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412807791 $34.95 www.transactionpub.com

We Give Our Hearts to Dogs to Tear: Intimations of Their Immortality is a thirty-year love story between humans and their animal companions, Jack Russell terriers, and tells of the authors' search for the immortality of dogs and what makes them special. First-person accounts of his dogs blends with philosophical reflection in a memoir which is warm and fuzzy.

Atlas of Small Animal Ultrasonography
Dominique Penninck & Marc-Andre d'Anjou
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
9780813828008, $199.99 www.blackwellpublishing.com/vet

College-level vet libraries as well as practicing vets and students need Atlas of Small Animal Ultrasonography, a visual guide to the use of diagnostic ultrasound in small animal practice. The most commonly performed ultrasound examinations are covered in chapters which cover techniques, diagnosis, and provides outstanding and numerous supporting ultrasound images to help teach readers diagnosis procedures. Very highly recommended: a specific, technical and essential volume for any vet involved in ultrasound diagnosis.

Mini-Aquariums
David E. Boruchowitz
TFH Publications
One TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793805730, $26.95 www.tfh.com

Nano aquaria is tempting and difficult: here the nano concept in miniature is explored in detail, offering tips on buying freshwater and marine species suitable to the environment and plants guaranteed to survive in any nano setup from tanks to ponds. From choices to maintenance and proper setup, MINI-AQUARIUMS offers potential and excitement for even the smallest space, and is a pick for any library offering aquarium books to the general public.


The Cookbook Shelf

Cake Love: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch
Warren Brown
Stewart, Tabori & Chang
115 W. 18th Street, New York NY 10011
9781584796626, $27.50 www.hnabooks.com

Renee Comet's fine color photos add spice and attraction to CAKE LOVE, a survey of inspired scratch cakes that pairs the author's notes with step-by-step easy instructions on the art of baking. From pound cakes and cupcakes to sponges and layered cakes, chapters cover all the basics of ingredients, equipment and techniques, and pair this with a lively text and inviting recipes. Any library including dessert and baking cookbooks will find this an attractive, popular lend.

The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook
Fadela Williams
Struik Publishers
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756
9781770074057, $15.95 www.struik.co.za

The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook offers up a host of traditional Cape Malay dishes not normally seen outside of South Africa, making this a fine pick for any library strong in world cuisines. Liz Mills provides small color drawings throughout, while dishes such as traditional babootie, rotis and sostie reflect the best of authentic local cuisine. Ingredients are fairly simple to locate and the spiced dishes will prove especially intriguing to cooks who have nearly everything in the way of foreign cookbooks and dishes.

Bistros and Brasseries
John W. Fischer and Lou Jones
Lebhar-Griedman Books
425 Park Avenue, New York NY 10022
9780867309249, $29.95 www.lfbooks.com

BISTROS AND BRASSERIES offers a delicious set of bistro-style dishes paired with culinary comments on different regional cuisine origins and spiced with color photos throughout in this artistic, appealing guide. From Baked Potatoes and onions and White Veal Stew to Peach and Goat Cheese Tarts, dishes come with extensive introduction and culinary notes and reflect classic cafe cooking.

Favorite Minnesota Recipes & Radio Memories
Joyce Lamont & Linda Larsen
Voyageur Press
400 First Avenue North Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760332917, $19.95 www.voyageurpress.com

Author Joyce Lamont was a broadcaster at WCCO Radio and received over 10,000 letters monthly, and co-author Linda Larsen is a professional home economist who was created and tested recipes for major companies since 1987. Their Favorite Minnesota Recipes & Radio Memories blends household hints with recipes – some 300 tested dishes in all – and offers a blend of plastic lay-flat binding and durable hardcover prefect for home cooks or any with an affection for Minnesota. Joyce read many recipes on the air: hers is a lively collection home cooks will relish. No photos, but the easy dishes don't need them.

Trattoria Grappolo
Leonardo Curti & James O. Fraioli
Gibbs Smith Publisher
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423602153, $29.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

Deserving of ongoing recommendation is TRATTORIA GRAPPOLO: SIMPLE RECIPES FOR TRADITIONAL ITALIAN CUISINE, a recipe title pairing striking color photos and recipes with wine suggestions from over 75 wineries in Italy and Central California's Santa Ynez Valley. From the Sardinian gnocchi Malloreddus to a swordfish Pesce Spada Alla Puttanesca, with capers, tomatoes and spices, any Italian cookbook collection will find this an appealing winner.


The Education Shelf

Practical Solutions for Serious Problems in Standards-Based Grading
Thomas R. Guskey, Editor
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412967259, $28.95 www.corwinpress.com

Standards-based education holds many challenges for grading and reporting, and also offer challenges for applications in traditional settings. This collection considers critical points in such grading practices, providing clear and specific suggestions for improving grading policies and practices and considering legal issues, variations in assessment scores and methods, and more. Teachers and administrators receive practical applications over theory in this outstanding survey, a 'foundation pick' for any serious educator's collection.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

Specialty military collections will find these new Osprey titles important, detailed references. John Weal's JUNKERS JU 87 STUKAGESCHWADER OF THE RUSSIAN FRONT (9781846033087, $22.95), for example, offers the final volume in a trilogy and is a recommended pick for those with the prior 2, covering the aircraft that represented the Nazi Blitzkrieg and completing the publishers' history of the Luftwaffe's World War II bomber. Stephen Turnbull's THE SAMURAI INVASION OF KOREA 1592-98 (9781846032547, $19.95) is for any collection of early military history and covers the early invasions of Korea launched by Japanese dictator Hideyoshi: a unique event in that he was the only samurai to invade a foreign country – and planned to move from Korea to China. Mark Stille's IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY BATTLESHIPS 1941-45 (9781846032806, $17.95) covers the 12 big Japanese battleships that saw service during World War II. The author's use of primary sources and dramatic photos provides a visual survey of the ships: in fact all the coverages are powerful in original resources and vintage illustrations.

Redcoats & Rebels
Christopher Hibbert
Casemate
1016 Warrior Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
1844156990, $32.95 www.casematepublishing.com

Military libraries strong in early American military history will love this survey, based on a range of sources that provide character sketches and eyewitness accounts of the War of American Independence. Each of the major battles and fights is considered with an overall focus on the war and it's larger political and economic impacts on both sides, making this a fine blend of specialty in-depth examination and wider-ranging analysis. Any library strong in early American military history needs this.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Finding Life in the Land of Alzheimer's
Lauren Kessler
Penguin Books
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9780143113683, $14.00 www.penguin.com

Nearly five million in the U.S. live with Alzheimer's, and the author is a child of an Alzheimer's sufferer – a journalist who signs on as a caregiver at an Alzheimer's facility in response to her mother's illness to better understand the condition. Her memoir provides insights into the field of dementia care and offers many poignant survival tactics and even a hopeful story. Highly recommended for both health and general interest lending libraries.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Soul Wisdom
Dr. Zhi Gang Sha
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1416588930, $16.00 www.simonsays.com

SOUL WISDOM: PRACTICAL SOUL TREASURES TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE is packaged with a bonus 'soul song' cd and comes from an internationally acclaimed Soul Master, healer and author who discusses tapping into the soul to transform consciousness. From chants to evoke and tap into 'soul language' to translating discoveries and experiencing divine joy, this is a fine addition for any New Age library.

Jewelry & Gems for Self-Discovery
Shakti Carola Navran
Llewellyn
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738714431, $16.95 www.llewellyn.com

JEWELRY & GEMS FOR SELF-DISCOVERY: CHOOSING GEMSTONES THAT DELIGHT THE EYE & STRENGTHEN THE SOUL provides a different focus on jewelry, discussing 'soul jewelry' and using the author's thirty plus years of experience in both jewelry design and astrology to fine purpose. This discussion of the metaphysical properties of over sixty precious stones makes for an outstanding guide perfect for new age libraries.

The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Joseph Campbell
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577315933, $21.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

The Collector's Edition of this keepsake represents a fine presentation of a classic first released in 1949. THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES is a journey blending modern psychology with comparative mythology, and this edition offers new audiences a fine hardcover packed with black and white illustration and detail.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Wacky Packages
The Topps Company Inc.
Harry N. Abrams Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York NY 100011
9780810995314, $19.95 www.hnabooks.com

'Wacky Packages' are a series of collectible stickers featuring parodies of consumer products and brands. They first appeared in 1967 and were the only Topps Company product to achieve higher sales than their line of baseball cards – but until now have received relatively slim mention. This new book is the first collection of Series One through Seven and offers images of over two hundred rare stickers. Collections strong in advertising, art, or collectibles will find it a popular pick with each page offering a full-page color image of a 'wacky package' sticker.

Pocket Guide to Depression Glass & More 1920s-1960s
Cathy & Gene Florence
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326000, $12.95 www.collectorbooks.com

The authors have written extensively about Depression glass collecting and some of the hardcovers are quite specific and weighty. Collectors and libraries seeking more affordable, toteable and general values and identification guides will find the 16th updated edition of Pocket Guide to Depression Glass & More 1920s-1960s an excellent pick. It pairs an organization by maker with color photos of typical glassware lines, and the latest prices arranged by glassware color. Perfect for a flea-market tote.

100 Greatest Ancient Coins
Harlan J. Berk
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Rd Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
9780794822620, $29.95 www.whitmanbooks.com

Any library strong in ancient coin history will relish 100 GREATEST ANCIENT COINS, an oversized presentation from one of the country's top ancient-coin researchers who examines the finest coins of antiquity. The oversized presentation allows for full-page, large-sized and close-up images of the front and back of each selected coin, while history provides a lively discourse of their origins. Any interested in early coins will find this a winner.

Classic Wristwatches 2008-2009
Stefan Muser and Michael Horlbeck
Abbeville press
137 Varick Street, Suite 504, New York NY 10013
9780789209351, $35.00 www.abbeville.com

Vintage watch collectors and libraries catering to this audience will find this invaluable: it's updated every two years to keep the values and market information current, and it reviews details on over 1,100 wristwatches made by over forty of the most interesting makers. These are watches solely no longer in production, with descriptions illustrating each and providing invaluable tips on identification, current value, and characteristics influencing price.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

And Less Than Kind
Mercedes Lackey and Roberta Gellis
Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1416555331, $25.00 www.baen.com

When it became certain one Edward VI was dying, he wanted his Protestant cause to remain on the throne after his death – and this was further affected by the dark elf-lord who wants an inheritor who will bring misery to his kingdom. AND LESS THAN KIND covers politics, power, religion and otherworldly influences in a striking, fast-paced fantasy highly recommended for any lending library strong in fantasy writing.

Son of Man
Robert Silverberg
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591026464, $15.00 www.pyrsf.com

Clay is a man from the 20th century who is transported into a distant future, where earth and its life have been changed. Humans have evolved into different forms who now coexist on the planet – and are indeed the unusual 'sons of man' in new form. But Clay is an original human – and his journey will lead him to examine that humanity in a fine reissue of a 1970s classic perfect for replacing worn lending library editions.

A Darkness Forged in Fire
Chris Evans
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1416570519, $26.00 www.simonsays.com

Book one of the 'Iron Elves' fantasy is a powerful opening act highly recommended for any solid fantasy collection. It introduces a world where a former commander of the Empire's elite Iron Elves has murdered, been court-martialed, and been banished to the forest – but not to peace. A mysterious elf daughter, a dangerous journey, and a new commission with a new army leads Konowa on a dangerous mission. A riveting plot evolves, hard to put down.

Tesseracts Eleven
Cory Doctorow and Holly Phillips, Editors
Edge Science Fiction
Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 2L7
9781894063036, $19.95 www.edgewebsite.com

Fans of speculative fiction will relish this new collection of Canadian winners, blending famous writers with those not so well known and providing a range of speculative fiction plots and tales. While American audiences may recognize few of the names, the stories, ranging from giants and hunters to repeating history and parent/child relationships, are compelling and haunting.

The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made
David Hughes
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781845767556, $14.95 www.titanbooks.com

From Alien 5 and Night Skies to early vampire movies, any fan of science fiction film and any collection catering to them needs The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made, a survey of legendary unmade films in an expanded, updated edition covering movies that 'nearly were'. Interviews with writers, designers and directors celebrate Hollywood choices, oddities and ironies and is a key acquisition for any collection strong in science fiction.

Harvest of Changelings
Warren Rochelle
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
9781930846524, $14.95 www.goldengryphon.com

Witchcraft, fairy tales, and would-be author Russell form an involving read in HARVEST OF CHANGELINGS, a gathering of outstanding events revolving around half-fairies and their uncertain futures. Ben has raised his half-fairy son alone when his wife was killed: now he needs the help of the fairy world he rejected when his son's developing powers prove uncontrollable. A warm story of different worlds emerges, fueled by strong characterization.

Steampunk
Ann & Jeff Vandermeer, Editors
Tachyon Publications
1459 – 18th Street #139, San Francisco CA 94107
9781892391759, $14.95 www.tachyonpublications.com

Neal Stephenson, Joe R. Lansdale, Mary Gentle, Paul di Filippo and other notables are featured in a fine gathering of 'steampunk' writings. The genre pairs Victorian images with modern technology – such as steam-driven robots and space-faring dirigibles. A satisfying blend of technology, Victorian plots and romance and compassion mark stories that hold many delightful scenes, and are hard to put down.


The California Shelf

California Water II
Arthur Littleworth and Eric L. Garner
Solano Press Books
Box 733, Point Arena, CA 95468
9780923956752, $75.00 www.solano.com

Any California library strong in water issues needs the 2nd updated, 2007 edition of California Water II; especially college-level libraries strong in California natural resources management. It's a reference about California water supplies and covers everything from changing use patterns and environmental issues to water litigation, conservation, and the long battles over Colorado River water. It's packed with detail and references and is a 'must' for any California library, particularly at the college level.

Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com

Dr. William C. Shipley's TALES OF SONOMA COUNTY: REFLECTIONS ON A GOLDEN AGE (0738507679, $29.99) comes from an 1872 Healdsburg, California resident whose grandfather came to California for the Gold Rush before becoming a Sonoma County rancher. Shipley's articles first appeared in the Healdsburg Tribune in 1938 and were gathered for a different collection by the Sonoma County Historical Society in 1965 before appearing here. Any collection strong in regional California history – especially Sonoma County – needs this. The 'Images of America' series ($19.99 each) expands with more regional guides based on archival photos public and private. Anne M. Papina's NICASIO (0738558028) surveys a Marin County outpost that even today is little-known to many. From pioneers and their establishment of The Rancho Nicasio to modern scenes, NICASIO is a fine celebration. Carola DeRooy and Dewey Livingston's POINT REYES PENINSULA (0738558486) includes Olema, Point Reyes Station and Inverness and discusses the history of three small inter-related towns. Livingston is a historian and mapmaker and an archivist at Point Reyes National Seashore who become involved in West Marin history: his survey is detailed and involving. The Western Sonoma County Historical Society's SEBASTOPOL (0738528528) surveys the many changes of a small town from its first Apple Fair and railroads to modern times. And Lyn Kalani and Sarah Sweedler's FORT ROSS AND THE SONOMA COAST (073852896X) considers an early outpost of the county with strong Russian roots. Drawings, maps, and vintage black and white photos make these powerful visual presentations perfect for regional California history collections.

Building San Francisco's Parks 1850-1930
Terence Young
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801889812, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The history of San Francisco's park system, from early city drawings which didn't even call for a public park through the private garden movement of the 1850s and 60s, is revealed in a title essential for any collection strong in either California gardening or regional San Francisco history. Other books have focused on Frederick Law Olmsted's early involvement in the park plan, but few others go into greater overall detail, surveying the influences on park development, design and construction and covering political, cultural and social influences of the times.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Women, Science and Myth
Sue V. Rosser, Editor
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara CA 93116-1911
9781598840957, $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

WOMEN, SCIENCE AND MYTH: GENDER BELIEFS FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT provides a chronological arrangement of entries describing people and events influencing scientific research on gender, and offers some 40 entries considering regional and social issues alike. Women's issues and science libraries at the college level will find it a thorough blend of history and social science considering influences of women's perceptions on women's rights and women scientists' work. An outstanding reference highly recommended for women's studies collections.


The Sports Shelf

Picture Yourself Shooting Pool
Matthew Sherman
Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1598635190, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

Any who would understand and play the game of pocket billiards will relish the book/DVD combo PICTURE YOURSELF SHOOTING POOL. Libraries catering to gamers will find a popular pick in a book loaded with color step-by-step, play-by-play photos throughout, covering the basics from selecting equipment to grip and guiding the cue and moving about the pool table. An outstanding beginner's guide.

Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, 4th Edition
Nancy Clark, MS, RD
Human Kinetics
P.O. Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736074155, $19.95 www.hkusa.com

Active spots participants and athletes may know full well how important nutrition is; but where does one gain information on making a range of healthy choices from grocery stores and drive-throughs to restaurants? Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook is in its 4th updated edition covering everything – including the latest sports nutrition research on supplements, energy drinks and organic foods. Chapters review fueling before and during exercise, discuss losing weight without starving, and review all food options. Any library catering to athletes or exercisers will find it an important reference.


The International Studies Shelf

Nations and Nationalism: A Global Historical Overview
Guntram H. Herb and David H. Kaplan, Editors
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851099078, $395.00 www.abc-clio.com

The weighty four-volume set NATIONS AND NATIONALISM is a top pick for both high school and college-level libraries, offering a survey of the entire time period of modern nationalism from its 18th century origins to post-Cold War manifestations. Over 150 contributors come from scholars in a range of disciplines who offer thematic essays pairing country studies with analysis of interactions. The result is a fine historical reference packed with maps, charts, discussions, and analysis.


The Travel Shelf

Traveler's Advisory
Jessica Lehrer, Rick Lightstone and Alice Murray
Mark Batty Publishers
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York NY 10018
9780979554636, $14.95 www.markbattypublisher.com

This represents the perfect gift choice for any traveler who 'has it all', and any who would journey with a sense of humor and a set of practical tips in mind. Adages and advice juxtapose funny photos that identify the pitfalls and challenges all travelers face. It's a stylish, fun title highly recommended for any planning a journey to a foreign country – and for libraries where humor or travel guides are popular lends.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Iron Tongue of Midnight
Beverle Graves Myers
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Avenue Suite 103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590582329, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

This Tito Amato mystery will find an audience with any who enjoy historical mysteries. In 1740 singer Tito Amato receives an invitation from Weber, rehearsing a new opera at an isolated villa, accepts a mysterious lead role, and finds a notorious figure from his past coincides with a murder. It's up to Tito to pursue leads and answers in this riveting mystery.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Bone & Beyond
Jeff Smith
D.A.P. Publishers
155 – 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York NY 10013
9781881390466, $24.95 www.artbooks.com

Jeff Smith's BONE comics represent the success of an independent, self-published series which has enjoyed world fame and been translated into sixteen languages: BONE AND BEYOND celebrates this success with the Wexner Center, who put together an exhibition reflected in this accompanying book. Extensive conversations with the creator of Bone accompany color and black and white images from the exhibition. The extensive detail assures a lasting place in any art or graphic arts collection.

Sharks Just Wanna Have Fun
Jim Toomey
Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
0740773879, $12.99 www.amuniversal.com

The 13th Sherman's Lagoon collection by Jim Toomey, SHARKS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN is an outstanding winner, joining others in the syndicated strip's growing library and providing especially winning and valuable to any area devoid of regular Sherman comics. A year in the life of a great white shark and his lagoon friends receives black and white and a few color embellishments in one of the funniest comics ever drawn: a top pick for any collection serious about representing syndicated comics and top-notch productions.


The Audiobook Shelf

Bloodfever
Karen Marie Moning
Brilliance Audio
Box 887, Grand Haven MI 49417
1423341937, $34.95 www.brillianceaudio.com

Veteran audio narrator Joyce Bean adds a compelling voice to this story of a dead sister in Ireland and a quest for revenge that uncovers sorcery and cults. Mac must find a million-year old black magic book that holds ancient powers during her quest in a series of tense encounter that make this an excellent audio addition for any library catering to listeners of mystery and thrillers.

My Stroke of Insight
Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D.
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143144007, $29.95 www.penguin.com

The author, a neuroanatomist affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine, narrates her own autobiography which tells how a 37-year-old brain scientist experienced a massive stroke from an aneurysm, observed her own extensive deterioration and recovery process, and came to understand the brain from more than a researcher's viewpoint. Her audio provides help and hope to any who would understand stroke sufferers and is a top pick for both medical and general lending collections.


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

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


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