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Library Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 8 August 2009 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Business Shelf
Library Science Shelf Audiobook Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Biography Shelf Native American Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Education Shelf Cookbook Shelf Automotive Shelf
Art Shelf Literary Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Poetry Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Large Print Shelf
Fiction Shelf Political Science Shelf Science Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Senior Cohousing Handbook
Charles Durrett
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com
9780865716117, $34.95, www.amazon.com

In the United States it was the creation of the Social Security and Medicare that help to diminish what had been a chronic problem of poverty among the elderly. But while economic assistance went a long way to improving the quality of their lives, the increasing fragmentation of the family structure continued to exacerbate problems of isolation and loneliness among the aged. That was a driving force behind the creation of community approach to independent living for the elderly. This newly emerging concept now has a documented track record of providing senior citizens with a living environment that contributes to a healthy, safe, stimulating, and socially active retirement. This is all laid out, replete with real-life examples, in the pages of Charles Durrett's "The Senior Cohousing Handbook" which defines, explains, and demonstrates the concepts, organization, structures, and benefits of a co-housing approach to senior living. A thoroughly 'reader friendly' and profusely illustrated instruction manual, "The Senior Cohousing Handbook" is especially recommended for anyone considering joining or establishing such a senior citizen housing arrangement in their own community.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Break Into Fiction
Mary Buckham & Dianna Love Snell
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
www.adamsmedia.com
9781605500157, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Writing the 'Great American Novel' is the easy part. Getting it published is a great deal more difficult. That's why two award-winning novelists, Mary Buckham and Dianna Love Snell, have collaborative in writing "Break Into Fiction: 11 Steps To Building A Story That Sells". This deftly written instruction manual is based upon the author's own workshops where they have created a novel-writing system that even the most inexperienced novice can follow and apply with relative ease to produce original stories of depth, complexity, emotion, and excitement. There are 'user friendly' templates taking the novel writing process from first draft to finished manuscript. Reference examples are drawn from popular genres ranging from suspense and classics, to children's fiction and romance films. Of special note are the worksheets designed to build strong stories plot point by plot point, and troubleshooting tips on finding and fixing problematic holes that weaken a plot. A complete course of do-it-yourself study in a single volume of practical, step-by-step, explanatory instruction, "Break Into Fiction" is especially recommended to the attention of neophyte authors yearning to break into print and become established novelists in their own right.

Ascend Beyond Publishing
1639 Bradley Park Drive, Columbus, GA 31904
http://ascendbeyond.com http://turnkeypublisher.com

There is now a brand new two-volume series by Matthew S. Chan designed specifically to help individuals and niche groups profitable publish books as a source of revenue for themselves and/or their projects. "TurnKey Publishing" (9781933723013, $21.95) is a complete course of step-by-step instruction on creating a commercially successful book. Chan debunks such common myths as it being too difficult to write a book, too expensive to publish a book, it being necessary to sell through bookstores to be successful, needing an agent to become reputably published. Readers will learn how to retain total creative control over their own work; use accelerated publishing to turn out three or more titles a year; produce and build a book -- instead of simply writing one; sell books outside a traditional bookstore, publish outside of a traditional publisher, create a business that provides a revenue stream, convert and package personal knowledge, experience and stories into an income-producing book, and market oneself successfully even when beginning as a totally unknown author. "The TurnKey Publisher's Audio Publishing Handbook" (9781933723150, $20.95) has as its specific focus the creation and self-publication of an audio book and/or audio program -- without going through a traditional audio book publisher or using a professional recording studio. Of special note is the cogent and practical information provided with respect to finding the right vendors to design and manufacture an audio CD package and adapting a print book to an audio book format. Every novice author aspiring to publish their manuscript and every group seeking to fund raise through publishing a book should give "TurnKey Publishing" a very careful (and profitable!) reading. Every published author and every niche publisher should carefully read "The TurnKey Publisher's Audio Publishing Handbook" with an eye towards considering turning their print publications into an audio book format to augment their revenue stream.

The Restructuring Of Scholarly Publishing In The United States 1980-2001
Barbara G. Haney Jones
The Edwin Mellen Press
415 Ridge Street, Lewiston, NY 14092
9780773447271, $129.95, www.mellenpress.com

One of the primary missions of university supported publishing is to provide academia with a venue to publish works that would not be able to find a commercial publishing outlet because the subject matter of the texts would not have a broad public appeal. Another purpose of university subsidized publishing is to provide academics with an opportunity to publish their works as part of the 'publish or perish' aspect of obtaining academic promotion and tenure. But for the past 30 years universities and their presses have experienced dramatic changes in their funding sources, substantial decreases in their monograph sales, increasing competition from specialty trade publishers, as well as the challenges and changes represented by a rapid evolution in computer, telecommunications, and publishing technologies. That is the subject of "The Restructuring Of Scholarly Publishing In The United States 1980-2001: A Resource-Based Analysis Of University Presses" by academician Barbara G. Haney Jones (University of Wales). Professor Jones provides an informed and informative exploration of how university presses met these various challenges over a two decade span from 1980 through 2001. Her impressively rigorous and rigorous research has produced a seminal study which incorporates a wide variety of factors and issues ranging form financial support, to physical facilities and equipment, to back title management, to academic reputations, to staff and director expertise. "The Restructuring Of Scholarly Publishing In The United States 1980-2001" is a highly recommended work of impeccable scholarship and of especial interest to the academic publishing community as well as authors and academicians seeking university press publication of their own works in these currently stressful economic times.

Yes! You Can
Nancy I. Sanders
E & E Publishing
1001 Bridgeway, #227, Sausalito, CA 94965
www.EandEgroup.com/Publishing
9780979160660, $19.95, www.amazon.com

It is every writer's dream to have their book sold to a publisher before it is even written. But that's no pipe dream! Not with "Yes! You Can: Learn How To Write Children's Books, Get Them Published, And Build A Successful Writing Career". This is a 366-page compendium of insider information, tips, tricks, techniques, tactics and strategies that can be readily adopted by anyone seeking to establish themselves as professional authors and earn their living by writing books for young readers. "Yes! You Can" is more than just a 'how to' instruction manual for beginning children's books authors, it is a combination workshop, seminar, tutorial, professional reference, career guide, and inspiring motivational. Replete with practical, real-world, insights into how publishing works and how writer's can best advantage themselves within the industry, "Yes! You Can" also delves into writing as a business, including such aspects as publicity and marketing. Of special note is the bibliography of recommended professional books for children's writers and a glossary of specialized terms. "Yes! You Can" is especially recommended for anyone aspiring to successfully write and have published books for young readers, and has a great deal of background value for writers in other fields seeking successful publication for their work.

The Writer's Essential Tackle Box
Lynn Price
Behler Publications
22365 El Toro Road, #135, Lake Forest, CA 92630
www.behlerpublications.com
9781933016344, $19.95, www.amazon.com

A 'truth in advertising' moment: the Midwest Book Review and an extensive interview with me form an entire chapter of "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box", a 368-page compendium of information and insight into the publishing industry in all of its elements and aspects by Lynn Price (Editorial Director of Behler Publications). But I can say with absolute sincerity that the Midwest Book Review is in excellent company and just one of the informative interviews along side those with publishing industry professionals such as Wilda Williams from 'Library Journal', professional literary agents such as Rita Rosenkranze, Andrea Brown, Laurie McLean, and Peter Cox, ABA President and Changing Hands bookstore owner Gayle Shanks, and so many others. "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box" addresses writers' boards, writer conferences, writer and publisher blogs, and a myriad of 'how to' books for writers. Of special note is 'The Writer's Survival Style Guide" delineating the most common mistakes made by aspiring authors seeking publication. Informed and informative, "The Writer's Essential Tackle Box" is very strongly recommended reading for anyone seeking to become a published and professional author in today's highly competitive, complex, and evolving publishing industry.


The Business Shelf

The New World Of Wireless
Scott Snyder
Wharton School Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780137003792, $34.99, www.amazon.com

We now live in a world where communication over telephone wires and telegraph cables is being replaced with a new digital and orbital satellite age of communication without wires or cables. This new wireless technology is having a rapidly expanding impact on business and how business is being conducted. That is why "The New World Of Wireless: How To Compete In The 4G Revolution" by Scott Snyder (President and CEO of Decision Strategies International, Inc.) is so timely and so important, especially for those relatively unfamiliar with the ramifications of wireless technology. Informed, informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "The New World Of Wireless" will provide cogent explanation of wireless communication, how to utilize it for new opportunities and advantages, and mitigate risks associated with the transformations compelled by wireless technology. Of special note are the two appendices on 'Taking the WiQ Survey' and 'Wireless 101: Inside the Technology'. Enhanced with the inclusion of copious 'endnotes' and an index, "The New World Of Wireless" is highly recommended reading for entrepreneurs and business managers having to understand the implications and ramifications of wireless technology with respect to their own corporate developments in a highly competitive, often volatile market, and expanding global marketplace.

Financial Statements
Thomas R. Ittelson
Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.careerpress.com
9781601630230, $17.99, www.amazon.com

Financial statements are basic documents specifically designed and intended to codify a company's fiscal status with respect to revenues, expenditures, assets, and liabilities. Now in a newly revised, expanded, and updated edition, "Financial Statements" by business developer and marketing consultant Thoms R. Ittelson explicitly instructs the non-fiscally trained business manager on how to create a financial statement, including cogent explanations of how balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements combine to provide accurate and accessible information delineating a company's fiscal status so fundamentally important for decision making. Of special note are the two new chapters on capital budgeting analysis techniques of net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) set out in clear, comprehensive, 'reader friendly' exampled explanations. "Financial Statements" is especially recommended for entrepreneurs and business managers who have no previous background in the creation or interpretation of corporate financial statements -- as well as non-specialist general readers considering investing in a company and needing to examine financial statements as a part of their deliberations.

The Introverted Leader
Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
9781576755778, $19.95, www.amazon.com

While there are a great many extroverts like Donald Trumps throughout the business world, there are also a large number of highly successful introverts like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett as well. Author and executive trainer/consultant Jennifer B. Kahnweiler highlights the common challenges introverts face in the workplace in "The Introverted Leader: Building On Your Quiet Strength". These challenges within the corporate world include stress, 'invisibility', perception gaps, and all the vicissitudes of office politics. Of special note is the Leader Quiz that will reveal to the reader what he or she needs to utilize their natural work style so as to best advance their career and add substantial and appreciated value to their company or organization. Deftly written, informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "The Introverted Leader" is very highly recommended reading -- especially for anyone who feels themselves at risk with respect to management skills, leadership responsibilities, public speaking, and progressing toward their career goals.


The Library Science Shelf

Booktalking Authentic Multicultural Literature
Sherry York
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586833006, $39.95, www.linworth.com

Young readers often like to read about their ancestors. It just so happens that often these ancestors aren't white. "Booktalking Authentic Multicultural Literature: Fiction and History for Young Readers" is a guide for librarians trying to encourage multiculturism and reading in younger readers when dealing with the topic of history, drawing authors from many different ethnicities and helping librarians and educators to fully comply with the guidelines of No Child Left Behind. "Booktalking Authentic Multicultural Literature" is a read that educators and librarians should strongly consider if trying to build a more multi-cultural selection and curriculum.

The Librarian's Book Of Quotes
Tatyana Eckstrand
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838909881, $22.00, www.amazon.com

The school and community libraries of my earliest years down to the present day are far more than mere repositories of books. They are sanctuaries where I spent endless hours browsing, reading, thinking and writing. Librarians had as much influence on my intellectual life as did my teachers. It was within libraries that I found education, recreation, and inspiration. That's one of the reasons why I was immediately drawn to Tatyana Eckstrand's "The Librarian's Books Of Quotes", a fabulous and entertaining compilation of quotations on and about libraries. Sayings that are drawn from an enormous roster of insightful individuals ranging from Ray Bradbury and William Shakespeare, to Carl Sagan and Victor Hugo, to Mark Twain and Bill Moyers. There are almost 300 pithy and memorable remarks that will provide very pleasant browsing for all library enthusiasts and supporters. "At the moment that we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold, that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better." Barack Obama (Keynote Address, ALA Conference, 2005).

Liven Up Your Library
Jennifer A. Wetzel
Upstart Books
c/o Highsmith Inc.
PO Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
9781602130470, $17.95, www.upstartbooks.com

Libraries are an incredibly valuable resource, one that children must be taught how to make the best use of. Instilling this attitude toward, and appreciation of, what a library can offer them will prove to be a life long benefit regardless of their eventual socioeconomic status as adults. That's why "Liven Up Your Library: Creative & Inexpensive Programming Ideas" by Jennifer A. Wetzel (Library media Specialist, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School, Paducah, Kentucky) is such a tremendous resource for librarians with restrictive budgets and a desire to assist their young patrons into getting maximum benefits from what the library has to offer them -- now and throughout their lives. This compilation of program ideas will enthuse young patrons and includes detailed lessons plans, material and preparation lists, rubrics, extension ideas, and reproducible activities to liven up the library in atmosphere and approach. An enduringly valuable asset for working library staffs, "Liven Up Your Library" is also highly recommended as a curriculum supplement for School of Library Science departments at the university level as well.


The Audiobook Shelf

Daniel X Watch the Skies
James Patterson & Ned Rust, authors
Milo Ventimiglia, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781600246197 $22.98 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

Bestselling mystery author James Patterson and "Rolling Stone" magazine writer Ned Rust team up to present Daniel X Watch the Skies, an unabridged audiobook adventure pitting Daniel X against a virtually demonic television personality whose drive for fame endangers the population of a town - and potentially much more. The whole world is at risk from the villain's desire for an extreme grand finale, and Daniel himself braves danger at every turn in a desperate attempt to stop the devastation! A thrill ride from start to finish, highly recommended. 4 CDs, 4.5 hours.

Acoustic Learning Inc.
215 Prospect Ave., Highland Park, IL 60035
www.poeaudio.com

Two unabridged audiobooks from Acoustic Learning bring classic tales by immortal author Edgar Allan Poe to life. " The Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection #6-8: The Cask of Amontillado and Other Stories" (9780980058147, $19.99, 3 CDs, 3 hours 30 min.) presents Poe's dark stories "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Premature Burial", "Message Found in a Bottle", "The Oblong Box", "Liceia", "Eleonora", and "The Light-House". Recurring themes of death, grief, even murder and revenge haunt Poe's tales, which remain as suspenseful and chilling today as they were over a century ago. "The Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection #9: The Pioneers" (9780980058154, $29.99, 6 CDs, 7 hours 32 min.) collects Poe's stories with common themes of intrepid exploration (and sometimes even science fiction): "Hans Pfaal", "The Journal of Julius Rodman", "The Balloon-Hoax", "Stonehenge", "The Isle of the Fay", "Harper's Ferry", "The Capitol at Washington", and "Morning on the Wissahickon". Both collections are superbly narrated by stage actor and radio artist Christopher Aruffo, and are enthusiastically commended especially to Poe fans and public library audiobook collections.

The Bride's Farewell
Meg Rosoff, author
Susan Duerden, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780143144632 $29.95 http://us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515

The Bride's Farewell is an unabridged audiobook presentation of award-winning author Meg Rosoff's stirring novel, chronicling the story of a young woman who runs away from home on the day she is slated to marry her childhood sweetheart. Having grown up watching her mother struggle to provide for too many children with too little money and even less help from her preacher father, Pell Ridley has determined to escape the same fate. She takes her only possession, a majestic white horse, as she heads for Salisbury Fair in search of work and a new destiny. Yet her emotional ties to her family, her childhood, and her abandoned lover remain, forcing her to rethink her options during the course of her journey, in which she encounters gypsies, lost things, and romance in the unlikeliest of places. An emotionally moving saga, skillfully told by award-winning theater actress Susan Duerden. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

Vanished
Joseph Finder, author
Holter Graham, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427206725 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com 1-800-221-7945

Vanished is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a thrilling novel by espionage and international affairs expert Joseph Finder (whose writing on both has appeared in the "New York Times", "Washington Post", "Wall Street Journal", and "The New Republic"). When Lauren Heller and her husband are severely attacked, Lauren recovers consciousness in a hospital only to find that her husband is missing. Her one hope of finding him lies in his brother Nick, a private investigator who specializes in uncovering secrets. Determined to protect Lauren and her son, Nick begins to unearth the threads of a murderous conspiracy surrounding his missing brother! A heart-stopping saga of suspense, smoothly read aloud by Holter Graham. 9 CDs, 10.5 hours.

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
1580815634 $25.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863

Oscar Wilde's the Picture of Dorian Gray is a full-cast, audio theater dramatization of a timeless classic of modern Western literature. When the young gentleman Dorian Gray becomes the subject of a stunning portrait by artist Basil Hallward, his innate narcissism grows to overtake his life. His growing vanity leads him to practice unconscionable hedonism and thoughtless cruelty, until he is forced to confront his inner self - a harrowing experience to the brink of shattering his soul. An absorbing audio drama from beginning to end, Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray is particularly recommended for public library audiobook collections. 2 CDs, 97 min.

Theseus
Geraldine McCaughrean
Full Cast Audio
PO Box 6110, Syracuse, NY 13217
www.fullcastaudio.com
9781934180235, $34.00, www.amazon.com

The legend of Theseus is a story of Greek antiquity about a young man who saves his people from the predacious practice of human sacrifice by the Minoan king by slaying the dreaded human hybrid monster known as the Minotaur. But there is so much more to both the legend and the man. That is the basis for Geraldine McCaughrean's beautifully crafted novel of Theseus as the teenage son of a Greek King who sets out upon a quest to fabled Athens to find his father. In his travels he encounters and must deal with a variety of monsters and enemies, all of which are a kind of prelude to what will be his immortal battle with the Minotaur. This complete and unabridged audio book edition is superbly narrated by Cynthia Bishop and enriched as a true 'theatre of the mind' experience with the Full Cast Audio actors who provide distinctive (and age-appropriate) voices for all the principle characters. Enhanced with music, "Theseus" is a technically flawless 3 disc CD recording with a total running time of 3 hours, 30 minutes. Highly recommended for listeners from 9 to 90, "Theseus" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to school and community library audio book collections. Also very highly recommended from Full Cast Audio is Kristin Cashore's imaginative and original fantasy novel "Graceling" (9781934180891; $39.95; 12 hours 30 minutes) narrated by David Baker and the "Full Cast" actors. School and community librarians seeking to build up their audio book collections would be well advised to visit the Full Cast Audio web site at www.fullcastaudio.com for a complete listing of their impressive and diverse titles.

The Doomsday Key
James Rollins
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com
9780061774522, $39.99, www.amazon.com

Three murders on three continents all have one thing in common. Each of the victims has a Druidic pagan cross branded into their bodies. What does a Vatican archaeologist in Roman found dead in St. peter's Basilica; the son of a U.S. Senator killed outside a Red Cross camp in Africa; and a geneticist discovered lifeless in a biohazard lab at Princeton University have in common besides that mysterious marking? Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma Force are assigned to investigate and discover a riddle centuries old within a cryptic medieval codex revealing an horrific crime against humanity. Helped by two women from his past, one of which will have to be sacrificed, Commander Pierce must find an ancient artifact called the 'Doomsday Key' if he is to prevent what is to come according to dark prophecy and solve the deaths of those three original victims. Superbly written by author James Rollins, this complete and unabridged, 11 compact disc, 13.5 hour, 'theatre of the mind' Harper Audio edition is skillfully narrated throughout by Peter Jay Fernandez and a prized addition to personal and community library audio book collections.

The Devil's Queen
Jeanne Kalogridis
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.macmillanaudio.com
9781427207135, $34.95, www.amazon.com

A member of the famous Medici family, and before she became known to history as one of the cruel monarchs of France, Catherine de Medici was simple Caterina, a young girl who, upon the unexpected deaths of her parents, because a person of wealth who was married off to the handsome heir of the French throne in order to avoid imprisonment and other threats from her family's enemies. When she must compete with her husband's mistress, the lady Diane de Poiters, Catherine dabbles in black magic for the purpose of enhancing her fertility and to destroy her enemies at court. Her new found sorcerous abilities afflict her with bloody visions of the future predicting the deaths of her husband and her son. Viewed by historians as one of the principle architects of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre and a cruel queen to aristocracy and commoners alike, Catherine was also the monarch who kept France intact as the Protestant/Catholic wars tore bloody swaths into the political and cultural fabric of Europe. Jeanne Kalogridis's deftly written historical novel is superbly narrated by Kate Reading in this complete and unabridged audio book edition from Macmillan Audio. A technically flawless, 5 CD, digitally recording with a total running time of 16.5 hours, "The Devil's Queen" is enthusiastically recommended as a personal 'theater of the mind' experience and a popular addition to community library audio book collections. Also very highly recommended for more time constrained listeners is the abridged audio book edition of "The Devil's Queen" (9781427207128, $29.95).

The Cheater
Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com
978143327795, $100.00, 1-800-729-2665

Assigned to the FBI's 'Support Unit' in charge of serial murderers, Special Agent Mary Stevens is called upon to investigate a killing spree where the perpetrator is using 'alibi services' (companies that provide philandering husbands and unfaithful wives with cover stories) to pick out his victims. Men who are committing adultery are being slain and their bodies dismembered as a form of vigilante justice. A superbly crafted mystery/suspense novel, "The Cheater" by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg, this complete and unabridged Blackstone Audiobook edition is masterfully narrated by Hillary Huber. A technically flawless, 9 disc, 11 hour audio book, "The Cheater" is thoroughly engaging from beginning to end and a welcome, popular and recommended addition to community library collections.

Borderline
Nevada Barr
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
C5904, $123.75, www.amazon.com

Nevada Barr's mysteries featuring the adventures of Anna Piegeon, a female roving park ranger, is a successful and popular series with "Borderline" as the fifteenth and newest title. This time Anna is in the Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas, a country of rugged mountains, dangerous deserts, and untamed waters. Anna is basking in the glow of her marriage to Paul and on a honeymoon vacation. But rafting down the Rio Grande, Anna and Paul find themselves embroiled in yet another mystery of murder and intrigue that ranges from the Mexican desert to the mansion of a Texas governor. Professional and award-winning narration by Barbara Rosenblat is perfectly suited to provide a true 'theater of the mind' experience. A technically flawless, 12 disc, 12 hour, Recorded Books production "Borderline" is complete, unabridged, and an ideal addition to community library audio book collections.


The Library DVD Shelf

Art Talk
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
9781562906351 $39.95 www.crystalproductions.com 1-800-255-8629

Art Talk: Conversations with Working Artists is a DVD of professional musings while in the process of creating art, as given by sculptors, painters, glass artists, and even a totem carver and a ceramist. A candid, inspirational account that allows the viewer to glimpse the incredible diversity in the world of art as well as different approaches to the process of creation, Art Talk is especially recommended viewing for public school art education classes, and a gem for public library collections. Individual artists are also sure to enjoy and perhaps even draw insights from the wisdom of their contemporaries!

Local Color: A George Gallo Film
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943465 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Inspired by a true story, Local Color is the award-winning movie of a young student who, in 1974, befriended an alcoholic yet brilliant master painter. The student longs to learn the master's wisdom, while the master struggles to find any meaning in his life or his work. Together, they learn from each other - the student comes to see the world as an artist sees it, while the master takes inspiration from the innocence and yen for life in his student. An enthralling saga about learning to recognize and remember the beauty in life, Local Color is highly recommended. 107 minutes, rated R.

Black Money
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
FRL62711, $24.99, www.shopPBS.org

Originally aired as a 'Frontline' television show special, "Black Money" reveals the results of investigative correspondent Lowell Bergman's examination of international bribery on the part of American corporations as a means of doing business in foreign lands. This practice amounts to illicit expenditures amounting to billions of dollars and is illegal under United States law. That's why there is a crackdown being mounted by prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice and its allies in foreign governments where such corporate behavior is being perpetrated. This 60-minute, full color, informed and informative DVD is highly recommended viewing and an important addition to school and community library collections. Also highly recommended is the PBS Home Video DVD 'Frontline' one-hour episode "The Madoff Affair" (FRL62714, $24.99) which lays out the Bernie Madoff ponzi scheme that is the largest such white-collar criminal enterprise in Wall Street corporate history.

Pure Pump
Tonya Larson
Bridgestone Multimedia Group
804 N. 2nd Avenue, East Rock Rapids, IA 51246
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
#318979, $14.95, www.TonyaLarson.net

In "Pure Pump", AFAA Certified group Exercise and Step Instructor Tonya Larson draws upon her extensive expertise and experience to provide a fun and effective weight-training workout specifically designed to meet the needs of viewers whose fitness levels can range from beginner to advanced. Beginning with two entertaining and vigorous 22-minute body sculpture workouts to tone all of the major muscle groups, "Pure Pump" also provides a five-minute and effective core routine targeting lower and oblique abdominal muscles. Also featured is a calm and meditative stretching segment, essential for safe and healthy physical exercise regimes. This superbly produced exercise DVD is enhanced with the addition of three Bible-based four-minute 'spiritual warm-ups' to help with the mental motivation required for successful attitudes towards self, food, and exercise. Also very highly recommended is Tonya Larson's companion exercise DVD "Step Pump" (#314827, $14.95) showcasing three thoroughly 'user friendly workouts to tone the body, enhanced with four Bible-based spiritual warm-ups to tone the soul.

Last Extinction
Nova
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
WG43129, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Some 13,000 years ago a great many mammals suddenly died out in a brief period of time. "Last Extinction: What Killed The Mammoths?" is a superbly produced, informed and informative NOVA television episode that explores an iconoclastic theory behind the sudden demise of mammoths, giant ground sloths, saber-tooth cats, and American lions. The trigger for this catastrophic event is speculated to be a comet breaking up over North America and resulting in widespread forest fires that wiped out plants, animals, and even pre-historic humans. Archaeological evidence is identified and discussed in depth, along with the contributing theories of climate change and the end of the Ice Age as causes of the disappearance of so many species of large mammal. Informed and informative, and with this 56 minute DVD format including such special features as printable materials for educators, scene selection, and access to the NOVA web site, "Last Extinction" is a highly recommended addition to school and community library collections.

The Helen West Casebook
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornmedia.com
AMP-8246, $49.90, www.amazon.com

Helen West is a middle-aged workaholic British crown prosecutor whose personal and professional lives are complicated by a strained romance with a handsome police chief, a by-the-book supervisor, and a keen sense of justice that inevitably gets her into trouble with her colleagues. Produced with the usual high quality technical and performance standards of a BBC production, "The Helen West Casebook" is now available on DVD in a three-volume boxed set that has a total running time of 289 minutes, and includes as bonus features biographies of actress Amanda Burton and author Frances Fyfield. Certain to please British mystery and courtroom drama fans, "The Helen West Casebook" is an excellent and highly recommended acquisition for personal and community library DVD collections.

Pax Service
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
www.visionvideo.com
#501313D, $24.99, 1-800-523-0226

Vision Video is a premier producer of Christian videos for personal, family, seminary, and church school collections. "Pax Service: An Alternative To War" is a 43 minute DVD about how approximately 1200 young men, between 1951 and 1976, refused to join the American military because of their religious beliefs. Instead, these conscientious objectors volunteered to serve humanity in other ways including the building of homes for World War II refugees, teaching African farmers modern farming methods, helping Greek villagers to preserve food for the winter months, even building a road through the exceedingly difficult terrain of the Paraguayan Chaco. The program under which they labored was called PAX, a movement serving forty countries. This informative DVD is enhanced with several 'Bonus Features' including an extended version of the originally broadcast program; a Pax Reunion Tour to Europe; a Day in Pax slide show; a discussion guide, and the option of a sound track in English or Spanish. Also very highly recommended and newly released by Vision Video are two DVD programs for adult viewers: "Cancer Stories" (#501311D, $19.99, 2 hours); "Perpetua: Early Church Martyr" (#501317D, $19.99, 61 minutes); and three DVD programs for children: "Torchlighters: The Perpetua Story" (501301D, $14.99, 35 minutes); "Carlos Caterpillar #8: Batter Chatter" (#501314D, $9.99, 25 minutes); and "Carlos Caterpillar #9: Buggy Breakup" (#501315D, $9.99, 25 minutes). Parents and librarians seeking to build up a 'family values friendly' DVD collection would be well advised to visit the Vision Video website at www.visionvideo.com for a complete listing of their large numbers of superbly produced and inexpensive DVD titles.


The Biography Shelf

Booker T. Washington
Raymond W. Smock
Ivan R. Dee, Inc. Publisher
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2632
9781566637251 $26.00 www.ivanrdee.com 1-800-462-6420

Written by Raymond W. Smock, the first official historian of the U.S. House of Representatives, Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow is an interpretive biography of Booker T. Washington, an African-American scientist, educator, and leader. For all his accomplishments, Booker T. Washington has been severely criticized for the compromises he was willing to make with the white South - namely, the sacrifice of civil rights of black Americans in exchange for their economic and educational improvement. Yet in the post-Civil War South, when opportunities for advancement were scarce, Booker T. Washington ascended from slavery and achieved his personal quest for freedom amidst a severe racial climate. Smock presents evidence for the case that Washington was not a sellout, but rather a practical man and a realist, who considered education and economic advancement the most effective means to a lofty end. His amazing ability to survive and thrive in a world where black people were considered second-class citizens at best is impressive, and his talent for leadership as well as his legacy hold much for current and future generations to learn from. Booker T. Washington: Black Leadership in the Age of Jim Crow is a highly recommended addition to public and college library biography shelves.


The Native American Shelf

Court-Martial of Apache Kid
Clare V. McKanna, Jr.
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726529 $29.95 www.ttup.ttu.edu

San Diego State University teacher and Native American history specialist Clare V. McKanna, Jr. presents "Court-Martial of Apache Kid: Renegade of Renegades", the true story of how "Apache Kid", a first sergeant in 1887, left his post to avenge his grandfather's murder in the tribal manner - and the court-martial trial that followed. The Apache, military, and civil legal systems all had a claim to him, in the wake of his deeds; though Kid was originally sentenced to death by firing squad, he was spared this sentence on appeal. Civil authorities convicted Kid of assault to murder and sentenced him to seven years at the Arizona Territorial Prison at Yuma. A meticulously researched, in-depth examination of the execution of law and justice over a century ago, Court-Martial of Apache Kid is accessible to lay readers and scholars alike, and is highly recommended especially for Native American history shelves.

Custer's Arikara Indian Interpreter
Marvin Woods
Vantage Press Inc.
419 Park Avenue South, 18th floor, New York, NY 10016
9780533160525 $14.95 www.vantagepress.com 1-212-736-1767

Custer's Arikara Indian Interpreter is an intriguing examination of one of the lesser-known participants at the famous Battle of Little Bighorn - Frederick Francis Gerard, who served as Custer's Indian interpreter. Though Gerard had a formidable reputation from his battles against the Indians, he was also an ardent advocate for Indians who were peaceful or friendly to the United States. An excellently researched account of a remarkably multifaceted military man, Custer's Arikara Indian Interpreter is an enthusiastically welcome addition to biography and American History shelves, particularly for the unique perspective it brings to a singularly famous battle.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Will to Resist
Dahr Jamail
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859882 $20.00 www.haymarketbooks.org 1-773-583-7884

Award-winning independent journalist Dahr Jamail The Will to Resist: Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan is the true story of those within the U.S. military service whose consciences prompt them to resist the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. From battalions that refuse orders, to active-duty soldiers who sign antiwar petitions, individual soldiers who refuse redeployment, those who dare to take a public stand against the occupation, and more, The Will to Resist is a fascinating examination of what motivates such opposition amid the United States' loyal defending force. The Will to Resist is not a politically neutral book; chapters reflect a decidedly negative and critical view of the American occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet the heart of The Will to Resist is not its politics, but rather the true stories of the men and women who serve - and who choose to resist what they perceive as unjust, whether it be sexism, discrimination, or apparent crimes of war. An eminently readable account that, once started, cannot be put down.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jews of West Point
Lewis L. Zickel
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9781602801172 $35.00 www.ktav.com

Written by 1949 West Point graduate Lewis L. Zickel The Jews of West Point: In the Long Gray Line consists of three portions: a studious look at the role of Jews in military history, specifically as connectd to the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point; an autobiographical portrayal of Zickel's adolescence in New Jersey and his years of service as a cadet, and then as a member of the Army during and after the Korean War; and a selection of excerpts from a questionnaire that Zickel sent to each of the 630 living Jewish graduates of West Point. Few of the graduates recounted any personal experiences of anti-Semitism at West Point; many even reported that West Point helped bring them closer to their Jewish roots because of activities connected to the Jewish Chapel. A down-to-earth human examination of the two-way influence that West Point has had upon Jews, and that Jews have had upon West Point, especially recommended for college library Judaic studies or military history shelves.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Surangama Sutra
Buddhist Text Translation Society
4951 Bodhi Way, Ukiah, CA 95482
9780881399622 $30.00 www.drba.org

The Surangama Sutra: With Excerpts from the Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua is a new translation of one of the major scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. The text recounts a question-and-answer discussion between Ananda, the Buddha, and Purna, concerning instruction in the art of Samadhi (concentration). This particular translation was assembled over the course of six years by a committee of expert Buddhist academics and ordained monks led by Dr. Ronald Epstein (retired professor of religion and philosophy, California State University, San Francisco). The result is an extensive compendium that succinctly captures the essence of the original yet has been rendered into straightforward modern English. An absolute "must-have" for anyone interested in the serious study or practice of Mahayana Buddhism.

The Leader's Way
Dalai Lama, author
Feodor Chin and Marc Cashman, narrators
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780739383834 $34.00 www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600

The Leader's Way: The Art of Making the Right Decisions in Our Careers, Our Companies, and the World at Large is the unabridged audiobook presentation of wisdom gleaned from a decade of exchange between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and international management consultant Laurens van den Muyzenberg. Revealing that ethical, financially sound business practices and Buddhist principles have much more in common than one might guess, The Leader's Way addresses issues crucial to the modern international business world - widespread poverty, the risk of destructive environmental practices leading to climate change or overpollution, the interconnectedness of the global economic system, and what the principle of impermanence means to business. A surprisingly practical guide, enthusiastically recommended for business owners and proprietors of all faiths. 5 CDs, 6 hours.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Eternal
Huun Huur Tu and Carmen Rizzo
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $10.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

A new album born from the collaborative work of Huun Huur Tu, a band best known for their re-interpretation of Tuva's musical classics, and electronic musician/producer Carmen Rizzo, as well as expert composer and arranger Mark Governor, Eternal blends the rhythms of a traditional Mongolian culture with the latest sound studio electric re-imagining. The result is a captivating meld of old and new, creative in its application of melody and sure to excite listeners interested in experiencing a unique audio sensation. Highly recommended especially for public library collections international music album shelves. The tracks are Ancestors Call (5:47), Mother Taiga (6:49), Saryglarlar Maidens (5:46), Saryglarlar Reprise (1:12), Dogee Mountain (Interlude) (8:21), In Search of a Lost Past (4:59), Orphaned Child (5:10), and Tuvan Prayer (2:21).

Global Lingo
Project Ahimsa
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Project Ahimsa, founded as a positive, nonviolent rebuttal to hate crimes in America after September 11th, and has since created seventy grants for youth empowerment programs in fourteen countries, serving 10,000 children in need. Global Lingo is a benefit album, intended to not only to raise funds but also help young people of the world connect through the universal power of music. An eclectic medley of life-affirming songs by a diversity of artists, Global Lingo boldly speaks to the common human thread in all of us and deserves the highest possible recommendation. The tracks are Speak It, Any Day Now, Hello Bonjour, Liberation 3000, Africa for Learn, Sunshine, Fire-Cottonbelly Remix, He Mana Visvaas, Why?, Much To Do - Back to Guahan, Hear It Loud, He Manav - GOONDA Dubwise Edit, BodaNathu, El tiburon del Lago Cocibolca, Dolare, Ahimsa Street Dub, and Bobby Friction Shoutout / BBC Radio 1.

Salaam
Salaam
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$15.00 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.SalaamBand.com

Salaam is the self-titled album of the band Salaam, which is composed of a Chicago-born Iraqi-American woman in search of her roots, her loyal spouse, and a cast of thoughtful and dedicated musicians. The band has dedicated years to researching and practicing strictly traditional forms of music such as Iraq's maqam; now they transform their knowledge into new, experimental creations. The result is a unique Middle Eastern ensemble performance that does far more than recite and repeat the old forms of music. Salaam is an unforgettably exotic experience to listeners of all backgrounds, and highly recommended. The tracks are Layla (5:41), Sellefeena (4:39), 21st Century Gypsy (2:56), Chobi Party (4:33), Hadha Mu Insaaf Minnek (4:29), Mandira (2:12), Arazbar Pesrevi (7:25), Yugrug (6:58), Retik (4:16), Taqsim Lami (1:58), Gulli Ya Hilw (3:42), and Nihavent Saz Semaisi (6:39).

The Burt Bacharach Songbook
Gold Note Music
7300 W. 110th St, 7th Fl, Overland Park, KS 66208
Miller Wright & Associates (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, NY, NY 10019
GNM2403, $19.99, www.goldnotemusic.com

Burt Bacharach is legendary for his smooth musical compositions and performances. In a new album showcasing Bacharach's musical genius, vocal artist Carol Duboc is very ably backed up by flautist Hubert laws, as well as guitarist Danny Embrey, pianist Joe Cartwright, with Bob Bowman on bass, Tim Cambron on drums, and Luis Conte on percussion. The individual pieces comprising this outstanding anthology of Burt Bacharach classics include What The World Needs Now Is Love; Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head; Wives And Lovers; My Melody; Anyone Who Had A Heart; Walk On By; I'll Never Fall In Love Again; The Look Of Love; A House Is Not A Home; Close To Your; Always Something There To Remind Me; and Say A Little Prayer. The technical qualities of the recording are as flawless as the performances. The "The Burt Bacharach Songbook" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library music CD collections.


The Education Shelf

Emergent Literacy And Language Development
Paula M. Rhyner, editor
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
www.guilford.com
9781606233009, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Acquiring language and the introduction of symbol interpretations such as the alphabet and simple sentence structures must be mastered as early as a child's emerging intellectual development will permit to insure social and academic success throughout a child's school years and beyond. "Emergent Literacy And Language Development: Promoting Learning In Early Childhood" is a compilation of six major essays by distinguished researchers and practitioners in Early Childhood Education under the deft editorship of child language specialist and academician Paul M. Rhyner (Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). "Emergent Literacy And Language Development" addresses, will illustrative case examples, effective instructional approaches for promoting language learning in children with typical development and those who are experiencing developmental language delays. Representing a body of seminal scholarship and a core addition to academic and professional library Early Child Hood Development reference collections and supplemental reading lists, "Emergent Literacy And Language Development" is especially recommended reading for reading specialists, speech-language pathologists, classroom instructors, early childhood development specialists, and concerned parents.

Fun With Finance
Carol Peterson
Teacher Ideas Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.teacherideaspress.com
9781591587590, $30.00, www.amazon.com

One of the most important 'life skills' to be taught to children in order for them to become successful adults is that of financial literacy founded upon the principles of sound basic math as applied to 'real life' circumstances. That's the underlying foundation for "Fun With Finance" which is deftly written and nicely illustrated by Carol Peterson specifically for students in grades 4 through 6. There are informed and informative chapters covering money as currency, employment, business, savings, credit, budgeting (including balancing checkbooks), real estate, stocks, bonds, commodities, and more. There are 'theater scripts' as part of each chapter that aptly introduce students to these various aspects of finance ranging from investments to planning a financial future. Enhanced with numerous instructional games and activities, as well as resource lists, "Fun With Finance" is an especially appropriate and highly recommended supplement for traditional classroom and home schooling curriculums.


The Cookbook Shelf

Raw For Dessert
Jennifer Cornbleet
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672361, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Those who must, for personal or medical reasons, confine themselves to a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or other health-conscience diet can still enjoy really terrific deserts as meal time or snack time treats with Jennifer Cornbleet's "Raw For Dessert: Easy Delights For Everyone" culinary compilation of tasty recipes for cakes, pies, compotes, crumbles, custards, sorbets, ice creams, cookies, and even candies! Enhanced for browsing with occasional full color photographs of mouth-watering desserts, the recipes range from Almond Milk; Mango Carpaccio; Brazil Nut-Vanilla Ice Cream; and Chocolate Lava Cake; to Banana Cream Pie; Key Lime Pots de Creme; Pine Nut Caramels; and Blackberry Sorbet. A thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' collections of easy do-it-yourself step-by-step recipes, "Raw For Dessert" will make a welcome and exceptionally popular addition to family and community library cookbook collections!

Cooking With Lavender
Suzanne Smith
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos de ABQ, NM 87107-5647
www.nmsantos.com
9781890689773, $12.95, www.amazon.com

Lavender is a lovely flower, as well as key ingredient for perfumes and scented soaps. What most people are not aware of is that lavender is also a plant that Spanish settlers first brought to the Americas and has a great many culinary uses as well! That's what makes Suzanne Smith's "Cooking With Lavender" such a unique compendium of recipes that incorporate lavender among the ingredients for a wide range of main and side dishes, beverages, butters, sweets, rubs, and herbal mixtures. From Lavender-Fried Apples; Red Raspberry-Lavender Soup; and Lavender Lemonade; to Grilled Marinated Filets Mignons on Lavender Foil Bread; Broiled Salmon with Lavender Champagne Sauce; and Lavender Shortbread Cookies, "Cook With Lavender" is a unique addition to personal and community library cookbook collections -- and a lot of fun to browse while seeking novel dishes to embellish any mealtime occasion!

Easy Japanese Cooking: Bento Love
Kentaro Kobayashi
Vertical, Inc.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd floor, New York, NY 10036
www.vertical-inc.com
9781934287583, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Japanese cuisine, while not as ubiquitous as Chinese restaurant fare, is nonetheless highly prized by those with a gourmet taste for Asian dishes. What is especially appreciated with Kentaro Kobayashi's "Easy Japanese Cooking: Bento Love" is that this collection of elegant entrees take as its inspiration traditional Japanese box lunches called 'bento', and includes the author's childhood favorites such as Salt-Grilled Chicken Steak Bento; Spicy Sweet Beef and Shiitake Stir-fry Bento; and Crispy Dumpling Bento. But this gourmet quality Japanese alternative to ordinary American hamburgers and hot dogs does not stop there, but includes such selections as Fish and Chips Bento; Cheeseburger Bento; and Veggie-Filled Meatballs Bento. Profusely and beautifully illustrated in full color throughout, "Easy Japanese Cooking: Bento Love" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.

A Garden Supper Tonight
Barbara Swell
Native Ground Books & Music
109 Bell Rd, Asheville, NC 28805-1521
www.nativeground.com
9781883206598, $12.95, www.amazon.com

More than just a nostalgic collection of yesteryear recipes, "A Garden Supper Tonight" by food historian and author Barbara Swell is a compilation of anecdotal commentaries, quotations, illustrations, and advice on home and garden that perfectly showcase the original recipes for dishes prepared and served by our great-grandmothers in the decades of the late 19th and early 20th century. A superb browse, "A Garden Supper Tonight" is organized into the four seasons of three months each and features a wide diversity of dishes whose ingredients are seasonal. The dishes range from Fried Squash Blossoms; Buttermilk Biscuits; and Blackberry Grilling Glaze; to Lemon Cornmeal Plum Cake; Strawberry Mint Jam, and Rhubarb Claret Sorbet. Enhanced with the inclusion of a resources list, a bibliography, and a recipe index, "A Garden Supper Tonight" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library collections.

Cupcakes, Cupcakes & More Cupcakes!
Lilach German
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, NY, NY 10016
www.imaginebks.com
9780982293980, $18.95, www.amazon.com

The sign of a truly great cookbook is that merely browsing through its pages will evoke a compulsive and irresistible desire to repair immediately to the kitchen and get to work! "Cupcakes, Cupcakes & More Cupcakes!" with its superbly produced full color photographic illustrations showcasing some seventy mouth-watering recipes for the confection of the cupcake is just such a culinary collection. Lilach German is a master baker (and founder of Lilach: Food and Design, a gourmet catering company located in Tel Aviv, Israel) who provides a diverse range of cupcake recipes from colorful treats for kids to elegant deserts for their elders. From Pear Crumble Cupcakes; Banana Chocolate Cupcakes; Oreo Cupcakes; and Mini-Me Marshmallow Cupcakes; to Baby Shower Cupcakes; Vegan Dark Chocolate Cupcakes; Pomegranate Cupcakes; and Marzipan Cupcakes, there's a gourmet quality treat available for every occasion and each of these easy-to-follow recipes is guaranteed to be 'kitchen cook friendly' in their preparation. "Cupcakes, Cupcakes & More Cupcakes!" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Kerala Kitchen
Lathika George
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com
9780781811842, $32.00, www.amazon.com

Along the Malabar Coast of Southern India there are communities of Syrian Christians, originally founded in the first century by St. Thomas who converted several Brahmin families to Christianity. It was these early Christians who then intermarried with Syrians settling there. The result was the creation of the vibrant Syrian Christian community of Kerala and its rich culinary heritage that is so superbly showcased in Lathika George's elegant ethnic cookbook "The Kerala Kitchen: Recipes And Recollections From The Syrian Christians Of South India". Interlaced with the recipes for exotic dishes are anecdotal stories associated with them and the community from which they spring. The recipes range from Rice Flatbread; Yams with Ground Coconut; Fish Roasted in Banana Leaves; and Kerala Chicken Roast; to Spiced Cooked Buttermilk; Sweet Plantain Chips; Smoked Gooseberry Preserve; and Mango Mousse. Enhanced with a section of full-color photographs of finished dishes, a glossary of specialized terms in both English and Malayalam, a five-title bibliography, and an index, "The Kerala Kitchen" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library ethnic specialty cookbook collections.

Tea With A Twist
Lisa Boalt Richardson
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736925792, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A graduate of the Specialty Tea Institute, Lisa Boalt Richardson is a certified tea specialist who draws upon her experience and expertise to create "Tea With A Twist: Entertaining And Cooking With Tea". This is a truly elegant instruction manual for anyone wanting to treat friends and family to the memorable experience of a well-planned, well-executed, theme-oriented tea party. After an extensively informed and informative introduction, the reader is provided with complete and instructive chapters for putting on a 'Flower Power Tea Party'; a 'Bubble Tea Party'; a 'Tropical Tea by the Sea Party'; a 'Mexican Fiesta Tea Party'; a 'Southern Tailgate Tea Party'; an 'All About Chocolate Tea Party', an 'Indian Chai High Tea', and an 'Under-the-Table Tea Party'. Replete throughout with 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from a Broccoli and Cauliflower Floret Salad; Jack Cheese and Green Chili Scones, and Key Lime Coconut Bars; to Smokey Tea First Down Barbeque; Easy Microwave Bittersweet Chocolate Truffles; and Rolled Ham Horns, "Teas With A Twist" is superbly enhanced for browsing with Lauren Rubinstein's full-color photography throughout. A perfect gift book for a friend, "Tea With A Twist" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Spanish Table
Steve Winston
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423603733, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Native Spanish cuisine from the Iberian peninsula is one of long tradition and distinction. In "The Spanish Table: Traditional Recipes And Wine Pairings From Spain And Portugal", author Steve Winston draws upon his many years of travel throughout the Iberian countryside and seashore communities to compile a 222-page compendium of truly outstanding recipes that perfectly showcase the versatility, breath, and variety of Spanish and Portuguese fare for any and all dining occasions. Of special note are the wine-pairing suggestions, recommendations, and commentaries. With recipes ranging from The Spanish Table's Classic Paella; Azorean Beef Stew; Amy's Chorizo Bread Pudding; and Tortilla Espanola; to Blackberry-Saffron Sorbet; Artichoke Heart and Manchego Cheese Spread; and Chocolate Port Wine Cake, "The Spanish Table" is a highly recommended, 'kitchen cook friendly', and seminal addition to any personal, professional, family, or community library ethnic cookbook collection!

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook: Volume 2
Wanda E. Brunstetter
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, OH 44683
www.barbourbooks.com
9781602603455, $14.97, www.amazon.com

Wanda Brunstetter has a great many friends in various Amish settlements throughout the United States. Her first compilation of Amish recipes (Amish Friends Cookbook, 9781597896443, $14.97) from Barbour Publishing was so successful and appreciated that she has now published a second collection of Amish recipes further showcasing their culinary legacy adapted for modern American kitchens. Along with the recipes themselves, "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook: Volume 2" is enhanced with the addition of interesting facts from Amish country providing a chapter by chapter introduction to those memorable and mouth-watering recipes. With a spiral binding allowing it to be laid flat upon a kitchen counter or table, "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook: Volume 2" even includes a special chapter on snacks. With some 200 wide-ranging recipes from Apple Pancakes; Old-Fashioned Ginger Cookies; Streusel-Top Fruit Pie; and Strawberry Pizza; to Poor Man's Steak; Savory Meat Loaf; Wiener Stew; and Cauliflower Salad, "Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Cookbook: Volume 2" will prove to be a popular addition to personal, family, and community library collections.

Lobel's Meat Bible
Stanley Lobel, et al.
Chronicle Books
680 Second St, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
9780811858267, $40.00, www.amazon.com

Showcasing 135 recipes that will delight any non-vegetarian, "Lobel's Meat Bible: All You Need To Know About Meat And Poultry From America's Master Butchers" is the collaborative effort of Stanley, Evan, Mark, and David Lobel who, with the able assistance of Mary Goodbody and David Whiteman, have organized this compendium of meat lore into eight specific chapters: Beef; Veal; Pork; Lamb; Poultry & Rabbit; Game Birds & Game; Variety Meats; Sauces, Chutneys, Condiments & Stocks. Each chapter begins with a glossary defining and describing the various cuts associated with that particular meat grouping, then follow thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes featuring those various cuts. From Steak Tartare and Korean-Style Barbecued Short Ribs; to Veal Scaloppine with Prosciuto and Sage; to Pork Chops with Chorizo Vinaigrette and Braised Pork Tacos with Ancho Chilies; to Stuffed Lamb Breast and Indian-Style Fritters with Lamb; to Jerked Chicken and Rabbit with Sherry and Garlic Sauce; to Squab with Umbrian-Style Game Sauce and Rack of Venison with Warm Shallot-Apple Relish and Wild Mushrooms; to Deep-Fried Sweetbreads and Vegetables; to Salsa Mexicana and Corned Beef Pickling Spice, "Lobel's Meat Bible" is a complete course of study in a single volume and a very strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

Country Living: The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen
Teri Edwards & Serena Thompson
Hearst Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781588167293, $27.95, www.amazon.com

'Country Living' magazine has been a staple of American popular culture for decades. One of the best prized and regular features is its dedication to bringing outstanding recipes to the attention of its readers. "Country Living: The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen" is the collaborative effort of two women, Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson, who founded 'Farm Chicks', a successful business that hosts an annual antique show. They are also well noted and known for their recipes and craft ideas published in the pages of 'Country Living'. They compiled the best of their published recipes in "Country Living: The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen" with their personal stories, an overview of the entrepreneurial business Farm Chicks, and a culinary wealth of wonderfully illustrated recipes for appetizers, lunches, breakfasts, and desserts. Each recipe is also enhanced for the browser with succinct anecdotal comments. The recipes themselves range from Sour Cream & Onion Zucchini Cakes; Apple Puff Pancakes; Savory Sweet Potato Soup; and Margaret's Special Oatmeal Cookies; to Cherry Breakfast Swirl; Maple Oat Scones; Elaine's Farm Style Chicken Salad Sandwiches; and Brushchetta Salad. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections, "Country Living: The Farm Chicks In The Kitchen" is a delight to browse and a menu planning bonanza!

Harvest Kitchen
Gooseberry Patch
PO Box 190, Delaware, OH 43015
www.gooseberrypatch.com
9781933494531, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Even the chapters comprising "Harvest Kitchen" make a dedicated kitchen chef want to browse. 'Classic Casseroles & Mains' showcases American staples for the family table. 'Slowly-Simmered Suppers' is an ideal collection of 'user friendly' crock-pot cuisines. 'Fireside Favorites' offers menu ideas for all manner of cookouts. 'Touchdown!' is a compilation of dishes suitable for any 'tailgate' party or picnic. 'Halloween Tricks & Treats' offers fun foods for any and all holiday celebrations and events. 'The Thanksgiving Table' includes practical tips for 'Turkey Day' dining year round. 'Thanksgiving on a Bun' is a continuation of meal entrees suitable for formal and informal dining. 'Gifts that say Thanks!' offers ideas for kitchen treats suitable for any and all gift giving occasions. Succinct anecdotal comments precede each recipe and are a treat in themselves! Spiral bound so that it will lay out flat upon a kitchen table or counter, and with recipes ranging from Frosted Cashew Cookies; New England Wild Rice & Apples; Wild West Quesadillas; and Swiss-Ham Noodle Casserole; to Black Walnut Caramels; Peanut Butter Popcorn; Savory BBQ Muffins; and Aunt Barb's Veggie Casserole, "Harvest Kitchen" will prove to be a popular, practical, and appreciated addition to family and community library cookbook collections!


The Automotive Shelf

Semi-Trucks Of The 1950s
Ron Adams
Iconografix
PO Box 446, Hudson, WI 54016
www.iconografixinc.com
9781583881873, $29.95, www.amazon.com

It was Germany's autoban road system that inspired President Dwight David Eishower to lead the American Congress into authorizing the construction of the Interstate Highway System. Originally created for reasons of enhancing national security, this new system of interstate 'freeways' significantly contributed to the post-war prosperity of the country as a whole and lead to the creation and expansion of private trucking companies in the 1950s to move goods quickly and efficiently anywhere within our national borders. The cargo transporting vehicle of choice was the 18-wheel semi-truck and was manufactured in great diversity and quantity by America's automotive industry. An informatively captioned gallery of 300 color and black/white photos of those diverse and manifold trucks are compiled in Ron Adam's "Semi-Trucks Of The 1950s" making this a prized and very highly recommended addition for personal, academic, and community library American Automotive History collections.


The Art Shelf

Sculptor In Buckskin
Katharine C. Ebner, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806140070, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Alexander Phimister Proctor was a big-game hunter and explorer who was as comfortable in the salons of Paris and the cafes of New York, as he was in the wilds of the Colorado wilderness or the vast unsettled regions of Alaska. An academically trained artist who painted and sculpted the characters and wild creatures of the West, Ebner's work as a painter and as a sculptor is to be found in private homes and business, as well as public buildings and parks. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Sculptor In Buckskin: The Autobiography Of Alexander Phimister Proctor" relates the personal life story of a young man with undeniable artistic talent, enhanced with more than 125 illustrations, historical photographs, and reproductions of his sketches, paintings, and sculptures, along with annotations by Art historian Katharine C. Ebner. The result is a remarkable and beautifully illustrated memoir that is informed and informative, making it especially recommended and appropriate for academic and community library 20th Century American Art History reference collections and supplemental reading list.

The Mosaics Of Louis Comfort Tiffany
Edith Crouch
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764331411, $99.99, www.schifferbooks.com

The Tiffany name is synonymous with elegance and beauty with respect to the creation of functional as well as decorative glass artifacts ranging from jewelry to lamps created from 1880 to 1931, and is closely associated with the homes of the wealthy and culturally elite. One of those areas of particular elegance was in the creation of Tiffany glass mosaics designed for palatial homes of the affluent, public buildings, and churches. In "The Mosaics of Louis Comfort Tiffany, mosaic and stained glass artist and teacher Edith Crouch has compiled more than seventy superbly illustrated examples of Tiffany's best work. Informed and informative, "The Mosaics Of Louis Comfort Tiffany" also provides a wealth of background information on the mosaic artists who worked with Louis Tiffany, provides readers with a glossary of terms, a chronology of Tiffany's life with respect to his mosaic creations, and a complete listing of the locations of his mosaic masterpieces. A seminal work that will prove indispensable to students of Louis Tiffany's mosaic artistry, "The Mosaics Of Louis Comfort Tiffany" is an impressive and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Literary Shelf

Beckett's Books
Matthew Feldman
The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com
9780826443434, $49.95, www.amazon.com

One of the outstanding literary figures of the 20th Century, Samuel Beckett and his work is an aspect of every college and university English Literature curriculum. Of special note is the body of scholarly analysis of his work between the end of World War I and the beginning of World War II and his views propagating what is termed by scholarship as an 'art of failure' in his works. "Beckett's Books: A Cultural History of the Interwar Notes" is an informed and informative monograph by Matthew Feldman (Promising Research Fellow at University College, Northampton) who bases his keenly insightful literary analysis of recently available notebooks and transcriptions compiled by Beckett from 1929-1940. These are hitherto unavailable primary resource documents providing insights and information on Beckett's working methods, original sources and literary development. "Beckett's Books" is the a seminal study and a classic example of how archival discoveries contribute to the fundamental transformation of our understanding of equally seminal figures in English literature. "Beckett's Books" is a work of superlative scholarship and a welcome addition to academic library collections in general, and Samuel Beckett studies in particular.

100 Most Popular Thriller And Suspense Authors
Bernard A. Drew
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781591586999, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Most readers of popular genre fiction, upon discovering an author they like will seek to read all the novels the author has ever written. Many a dedicated bibliophile will seek to collect all the works of their favorite authors. Librarians seeking to build up their genre collections will try to provide as wide a selection of authors within that genre as possible for the benefit of their library patrons. When a given author proves popular, even small and mid-sized libraries can accommodate requests for a given author's titles not in their collections through the use of the InterLibrary Loan Service. That's why bibliographic reference titles such as "100 Most Popular Thriller And Suspense Authors: Biographical Sketches And Bibliographies" compiled by freelance writer and literary researcher Bernard A. Drew are so invaluable. Organized alphabetically, the one hundred authors include such famous authors as Dean Koontz and Tom Clancy, and will aptly serve to introduce lesser known but equally talented authors such as David Baldacci and Minette Walters. "100 Most Popular Thriller And Suspense Authors" is confidently recommended as a seminal addition to library staff reference collections.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Tracking King Kong
Cynthia Erb
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814334300, $29.95, www.amazon.com

When the film 'King Kong' was first released to the viewing public in 1933 it was the cutting edge of film making technology, with original, riveting, superbly presented subject matter that shocked and thrilled its audiences as few other films in that fledgling industry had yet to do. 'King Kong' became an iconic film against which all of its successors were measured. In "Tracking King Kong: A Hollywood Icon in World Culture", Cynthia Erb (Associate Professor of Film and English, Wayne State University) has written and compiled a seminal work of history and analysis of the original film and its subsequent remake in 1970, as well as films like 'Might Joe Young', and even the Japanese 'Godzilla', as well as a number of other sequels, remakes, and theatrical spin-offs. A work of insight, scholarship, and substance, "Tracking King Kong" is informed, informative, and a highly recommended, core addition to academic library Film Studies history and reference collections.


The Poetry Shelf

Season Of Mangos
Clarence Wolfshohl
Adastra Press
16 Reservation Road, Easthampton, MA 01027
9780982249512, $16.00, www.amazon.com

An established poet in his own right, Clarence Wolfhohl edited and was letter press printer of Timberline Press for thirty years. "Season Of Mangos" is a collection of a dozen of his poems showcasing the people and culture of Belem, Brazil which is a vibrant and complex community situated at the mouth of the Amazon River where mango trees line the boulevard and life is lived at a very special temp. In twelve beautifully crafted and elegantly published poems, "Season Of Mangos" is highly commended to the attention of anyone who appreciates the use of language to conjure up memorable, descriptive, narrative, free verse images. "Photos With Ruy Barata": The poet of Belem / sits on a tiled bench-- / his sleeves rolled up, / a book in hand. // His left leg crosses / the right, pants leg / hitched above / his sock line. // His left hand strokes / his chin in thought / of art-formed eternity. / We take pictures of him, // with him. At first / with both feet flat / on the ground, our hands / brached on our knees. // Then our chins / like Rodin's Thinker, / still too solid // as if we too are bronze / or mere flesh afraid / of some unsaid curse. / Diogenes slumps first, / noting Ruy's slightly drooped / left should. And then / we cross our legs, left over right, // drop our shoulders / pretend we hold a volume / of his verse, and fondle / our chins like the breast / of a lover.

Don't Leave Hungry
James Smith, editor
The University of Arkansas Press
McIlroy House, 201 Ozark Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701
www.uapress.com
1557288933, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The 'Southern Poetry Review' is an iconic poetry journal with a long history of introducing distinguished poets to its readers, many of whom went on to literary honors and success. Now the very best of these poets published in its pages over the past half-century are represented in "Don't Leave Hungry: Fifty Years of Southern Poetry Review" has been selected, compiled, and edited by James Smith (Associate Professor of English, Armstrong Atlantic State University). Enhanced with an informed and informative foreword by Billy Collins (U.S. Poet Laureate from 2001 to 2003), the "Don't Leave Hungry" anthology is organized chronologically by decade, and includes a contributors list, and author index, a title index, and appendices listing the winner's of the Gary Owen Prize. "Don't Leave Hungry" is a seminal and strongly recommended contribution to personal, community, and academic library American Poetry collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Booties, Blankets & Bears
Debbie Bliss
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05033
www.trafalgarbooks.com
9781570764387, 23.95, www.amazon.com

Needlecraft expert Debbie Bliss is justifiably considered to be one of the country's foremost designers of hand knits and is the author of several highly acclaimed needlecraft project books. "Booties, Blankets & Bears: 20 Irresistible Hand Knits For Your Baby" is her latest collection of superbly crafted projects suitable for even the most novice knitter and elegant enough for the most sophisticated needlecrafter. Each of the twenty showcased projects feature Debbie's own special machine washable yarns that are ideal for newborn skins. The six blanket patterns (including reversible and hooded varieties) are ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. The seven types of booties, socks, and sandals are utterly charming. Superbly illustrated in full color throughout, the step-by-step instructions for each project are thoroughly 'user friendly', ideal for the novice and experienced knitter alike. "Booties, Blankets & Bears" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

WillowBerry Lane Gorgeous Quilts For Gracious Living
Sonja Moen & Vicki Lynn Ochlke
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9780980068863, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Beautifully illustrated throughout, "WillowBerry Lane Gorgeous Quilts For Gracious Living" is the collaborative project of master quilters Sonja Moen and Vicki Lynn Ochlke. This compilation of twenty-four gorgeous quilts and accessory projects showcase style and a master of color for the benefit of aspiring novices and seasoned needlecrafters alike. There are do-it-yourself projects for romantic bedroom collections, indoor and outdoor decor, dressed-up chairs, traditional pillows, shams, and even a shower curtain. Each project comes with clear, concise, 'user friendly', step-by-step instructions, along with color and size options.


The Large Print Shelf

Fighting Rawhide
Lewis B. Patten
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753182543, $27.99, www.amazon.com

"Fighting Rawhide" is a classic western novel pitting ranchers against farmers. The year is 1872 and Old John Sunblade means to defend his New Mexico cattle empire against the incursions of 'nesters'. A ruthless man with the law on his side, only his son Dane can stand up to his father and put an end to the feud, save the ranch, and marry the girl of his dreams. Lewis B. Patten is a gifted storyteller and a master of the western genre. Originally published in 1958 under the title "Sunblade", and then a year later in 1959 published again as "Fighting Rawhide", this large print edition is part of the outstanding 'Sagebrush' western series published by Ulverscroft Large Print and is enthusiastically recommended for all western fans and community library large print collections for those patrons who could benefit from the format.


The Fiction Shelf

Voyage To Oblivion
Theodore Gardner
Allen A. Knoll, Publisher
200 West Victoria Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-3627
www.knollpublishers.com
1888310103, $27.50, www.amazon.com

Every now and then there comes a novel that deserves the accolade of 'epic'. Theodore Gardner's "Voyage To Oblivion" is just such a massive and impressive work of imaginative fiction. Set aboard a luxury liner, the cast of memorable characters includes Izzy, a wealthy and curmudgeon widower; Tessie, a down-to-earth woman who is the object of Izzy's desire; Burt & Ellen, a CEO and his wife who are on the brink of disaster; Neil, the cruise pianist with a past and the center of attention from the women on board; Gene, a man trying to recapture a lost love, and Hector, an academic professor drawn to the charms of a shipboard Lolita. All of them dine at table 13, half of whom are convinced that this voyage is their last adventure, the other half persuaded that they've yet to achieve their ultimate destiny. Theodore Gardner's narrative talents, his ability to create fully realized and memorable characters, his gift for basic storytelling, all combine to make "Voyage To Oblivion" a truly remarkable and highly recommended read -- and a popular addition to community library contemporary fiction collections.


The Political Science Shelf

Political Campaigns And Political Advertising
Frank W. Baker
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313347559, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Politics and the media have been inseparable from the founding of our country down to the present day. In the colonial era media came in the form of local newspapers and printed broadsheet tacked up on bulletin boards and distributed by hand. Today media has evolved into the cybernetic world of the internet. In order to understand how the American political system works it is necessary to understand the fundamentally central role that media plays in all its various forms. That's where "Political Campaigns And Political Advertising: A Media Literacy Guide" by Frank W. Baker (a professional media consultant and the webmaster of Media Literacy Clearinghouse) proves to be such a highly recommended addition to academic and community library Political Science reference collections. "Political Campaigns And Political Advertising" begins by defining the term 'media literacy', the concepts of propaganda and 'spin', the role of media consultants, the media categories of photography, radio, television, political advertising, campaign event analysis, and the new internet media applications and technologies. Of special note is the chapter focused on 'Trying to Fix the Money Problem in Elections'. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary, a resources list, and an index, "Political Campaigns And Political Advertising" is especially commended to the attention of the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the role media plays in American politics today.


The Science Shelf

Archaeoclimatology Atlas Of Oregon
Reid A. Bryson, et al.
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
www.uofupress.com
9780874809268, $55.00, www.amazon.com

When it comes to the Earth's natural climate, we can more accurately understand the present, and even predict the future, when we have an accurate record of the past to draw information from. Information basic to being able to develop computer models of how and under what circumstances change occurs in the Earth's climate. The late Redi A. Bryson (1920-2008) was an emeritus professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, geography, and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. With the collaborative work of Alison Stenger (Director of Research at the Institute for Archaeological Studies, Portland, Oregon) and Katherine McEnaney DeWall (academician and macrophysical climate model expert), "Archaeoclimatology Atlas Of Oregon: The Modeled distribution In Space And Time of Past Climates" is an impressive compendium of academic scholarship presenting a new and innovative means of modeling climatic and environmental history of the Oregonian region for the past 14,000 years, analyzing the relationship between climatic variables and the people of the region. Broad-scale reconstructions and defined times are provided with more than seventy-five detailed site-specific graphs of precipitation, temperature, evaporation, snowfall. A seminal work of impeccable and detailed scholarship representing an invaluable contribution to the science of climatology and climate-human interactions, "Archaeoclimatology Atlas Of Oregon" is a core addition to professional, governmental, and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Introduction to Pharmacology, third edition
Mannfred A. Hollinger
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
1420047418, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Pharmacology and toxicology are fundamental aspects of modern medicine. Research in pharmacogenomics and proteomics (including DNA technology) continue to advance every year necessitating physicians and pharmacists to keep abreast of these increasing new developments. That's why this newly updated third edition of "Introduction to Pharmacology by Professor Mannfred A. Hollinger (Department of Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of California - Davis) is such a critically important addition to professional, medical school, and academic library reference collections. This new edition has been expanded to include chapters on smooth muscle pharmacology covering gastrointestinal and pulmonary pharmacology; advances in pharmacology at the molecular level; RNA interference and dopamine signaling; and two new appendices featuring the determination of molecular structure in nucleic acids and the breakthrough drugs that made modern medicine. Comprehensive and superbly organized, "Introduction to Pharmacology" is a seminal body of work and an ideal textbook for medical school curriculums.


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


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