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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Donovan's Picks
Striking Change
Michael F. Moran
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Road Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
0794823564, $24.95 www.whitmanbooks.com
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was a striking figure in 19th-century art and culture and Theodore
Roosevelt was a new kind of president with a vision: together these two men would change
American history through a partnership which influenced and re-invented the nation's
numismatic art world. First-person accounts, biography and politics blend in an in-depth survey
highly recommended Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt
and Augustus Saint-Gaudens for any collection strong in either collecting or American
history.
Coal River
Michael Shnayerson
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York NY 10003
9780374125141, $25.00 www.fsgbooks.com
Coal is used to generate over half of this country's electricity, and in West Virginia coal mining is
the biggest industry in the state, destroying forest, Appalachian environments, and threatening
not just one state but huge land masses in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. COAL RIVER
charts this destruction and offers a wake-up call essential for any general-interest collection
strong in environmental issues. It offers unparalleled analysis of a dangerous, growing trend.
The Business Shelf
Laughing at the CIO: A Parable and Prescription for IT Leadership
Bob Boiko
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9780910965781, $29.95 www.infotoday.com
Deserving of repeat, ongoing mention is LAUGHING AT THE CIO, a survey for IT executives
and professionals catering to them. The focus is on changing technology 'solutions' which never
quite seem to address or solve problems: a fable parable teaches information leaders how to
identify more effective applications, how to create a workable IT strategy to support strategic
goals, and how to overcome common challenges in IT leadership. A top pick any business library
needs.
The Go-Giver
Bob Burg and John David Mann
Penguin Portfolio
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9781591842002, $19.95 www.penguin.com
The secret to business as well as personal success is giving, and The Go-Giver: A Little Story
About a Powerful Business Idea offers up this idea in the form of a parable about one Joe, who
yearns for success. He's a go-getter - but constantly sees his goals elusive. A consultant
introduces Joe to a new business model with a series of 'go-givers' in different business
environments - and the easy lessons of THE GO-GIVER will thus reach many different
collections, from the college-level business library into general-interest libraries.
The Audiobook Shelf
Because You Loved Me
M. William Phelps
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1523349067, $36.95 www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859
When murder unexpectedly strikes a small New England town, hitting a single mother and
affecting a teen daughter and her older internet lover, a tangled web of psychological drama
ensues in this powerful investigative mystery, narrated by J. Charles - who has 50 years
background in professional theatre - and perfect for any lending library strong in suspense
audios.
Beach Road
James Patterson and Peter De Jonge
Hachette Audio
1600242510, $14.95 www.twaudiobooks.com
Billy Baldwin and others narrate an excellent unabridged production of BEACH ROAD, which
comes to life as it explores the richest resort town in America, a one-man law firm who operates
on a shoestring there, and a triple murder involving Tom's good friend. Add a Manhattan
superlawyer and Tom's ex-girlfriend and a hidden truth which will rock the town's foundations
and you have a gripping thriller any general-interest audio lending library will want.
Audio Anecdotes III
Ken Greenebaum and Ronen Barzel, Editors
A.K. Peters
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568812151, $79.00 www.akpeters.com
AUDIO ANECDOTES III: TOOLS, TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL AUDIO is about
digital sound, and is directed to college-level collections strong in details on recording,
processing and analyzing music and sound. From the physics of sound and its effect on the
human psyche to the basics of recording, playback, and techniques used in high-performance
audio systems, AUDIO ANECDOTES III provides articles important for sound producers, game
developers, musicians and a range of technical audio producers.
Metal Swarm
Kevin J. Anderson
Brilliance Audio
P.O. Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1597372277, $42.95 www.brillianceaudio.com
Veteran audio narrator David Colacci provides an action-packed reading of the epic science
fiction space political thriller METAL SWARM, which tells of alien robots whose friendly
overtures towards Earth are finally revealed for the insidious plot it is War results, with
swarms of nasty black robots facing off with a heavily armed set of Earth's best battleships. A
vivid reading brings to life an action-packed plot that never lets up.
Lifeguard
James Patterson
Time Warner Audiobooks
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
1600242537, $14.98 www.twbookmark.com
Billy Campbell spices Patterson's latest thriller with his Broadway background, lending a perfect
dramatic touch to LIFEGUARD, telling of a romance between two unlikely individuals: a rich
woman and a working class guy. Ned is thus tempted by a get-rich-quick scheme - but high risk
brings dangers and causes him to walk away from his former life in this riveting thriller.
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
Jim Dale provides a gripping performance and has been named as 'best children's narrator,
winning seven Audie Awards for his work - and that means the fantasy for young adults, Peter
and the Secret of Rundoon (1423338650, $36.95), is moving enough that it shouldn't be limited
to children's collections alone. This is recommended for prior listeners of the 'Starcatchers'
trilogy and tells of Peter and Molly, trapped in the land of Rundoon ruled by an evil king. A
gripping story evolves, highly recommended for any audio collection strong in fantasy. Dean
Koontz's THE HOUSE OF THUNDER (1423339126, $36.95) received Luaral Merlington and
Mel Foster's exceptional joint narration as it tells of a cave where Susan watches her lover die in
a brutal death in a college hazing. Over the years those involved also die violently - or did they
die? Susan has cause to doubt her sanity when the dead seem to return to life in this gripping
thriller, perfect for libraries strong in audio suspense. Terry Brooks' GENESIS OF SHANNARA:
THE ELVES OF CINTRA (1423322657, $38.95) receives Phil Gigante's excellent voice, spiced
with 20 years experience in film and theatre, as it provides the second volume in the Tale of
Shannara's Beginnings series. Here two pilgrims are trying to save the cause of good, entering a
world of gangs, mutants and more to e4scape invasion and facing an impossible mission to fight
against evil from another dimension - even a demon spy. The plot springs to life under the
smooth voice of Gigante making this a top pick for lending collections that plan on adding the
series to their science fiction audio shelves. Dean Koontz's WINTER MOON (1423339193,
$38.95) receives an outstanding reading by veteran audio narrator Christopher Lane as it tells of a
lone man who fights a dangerous force and an nightmare which comes alive in isolated Montana.
Swift supernatural action makes for a gripping story line. Karen Marie Moning's TO TAME A
HIGHLAND WARRIOR (1423341333, $29.95) enjoys Phil Gigante's smooth and evocative
voice as it tells of a man born to a clan of warriors of supernatural strength who is determined to
escape his ancestors' fate. He hides from the rival clan which hunts him --but he also hides from
love. A moving story of romance and courage spices an action-packed audio listen.
The California Shelf
Dogfriendly.com's California and the West Dog Travel Guide
Tara and Len Kain
Dogfriendly.com, Inc.
6454 Pony Express Trail #33-233, Pollock Pines, CA 95726
0971874271, $21.95 www.dogfriendly.com
Any who would travel with a pet in California, and any libraries catering to California pet owners
- which is most general-interest California collections - needs CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST
DOG TRAVEL GUIDE. It highlights all kinds of lodging, from standard hotels and motels to
upscale resorts, campgrounds and RV parks too, and includes assessments of attractions that
welcome dogs as well. This means dog owners can now plan a holiday without the usual
uncertainty of what to do with a pet (take it along!), and can travel with confidence knowing
exactly where the pet parks, beaches, and even restaurants with pet-friendly patios are located.
It's a unique, essential acquisition.
Walking San Francisco
Tom Downs
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780899974194, $17.95 www.wildernesspress.com
Any California collection specializing in San Francisco explorations will relish WALKING SAN
FRANCISCO: 30 SAVVY TOURS EXPLORING STEEP STREETS, GRAND HOTELS, DIVE
BARS, AND WATERFRONT PARKS. There have been other books on San Francisco's walking
opportunities, but this comes from an insider who offers a blend of history, gossip, architectural
and cultural insights and includes pubs and bars for added interest. It's a great collection for any
walker who would see the City by foot.
The Science Shelf
Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones
David Longshore
Facts on File
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York NY 10001
9780816062959, $75.00 www.factsonfile.com
Since the publication of the previous edition of this encyclopedia, research and public interest in
hurricanes and tropical storms has evolved and improved forecasting techniques and new
record-keeping abilities have changed the knowledge base of weather events. Encyclopedia of
Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones provides some 400 cross-referenced entries - more than 80
new to this edition - covering the science and history of such storms, making it a strong pick for
any collection strong in weather science at the high school or college levels.
The Music Shelf
The Singer's Companion
Brent Monahan
Amadeus Press/Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671502, $14.95 www.amadeuspress.com
THE SINGER'S COMPANION: A GUIDE TO IMPROVING YOUR VOICE AND
PERFORMANCE packs in a range of tips on how to sing and includes a cd with over twenty
musical examples of teachings, plus two sample songs. This allows individuals who want to
learn singing to practice easily at home, absorbing the basics of breathing, range, interpretation,
and even understanding how to choose a teacher and assess music instruction. The author has
been a singer since age 11 and has taught for over thirty years: his insights on vocal issues and
the basics of good singing make for an exceptional guide highly recommended for any individual
who would learn to sing, and for music libraries able to handle the accompany cd lend.
The Social Issues Shelf
Winning Our Energy Independence
S. David Freeman
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423601564, $19.95 www.gibbs-smith.com
Author David Freeman has some thirty years of clean energy pioneering and a business
knowledge which applies this knowledge to objectives of profit in the renewable energy realm.
His focus on the potentials of renewable resources challenges the U.S. and the world to recreate
its energy grid through independent national homegrown, carbon-free renewable energy sources.
A dream? Freeman explains how the reality can be now in a survey perfect for general-interest
lending libraries and specialty college-level holdings alike. Perfect for debates and
discussion.
Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of the Little County That Couldn't Be Bought
Susan Cragin
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814474303, $24.95 www.amacombooks.org
In 1989 five states and two multinational corporations schemed to locate a 'low level' nuclear
waste dump in an isolated northern Nebraska county by offering them, $3 million a year for 40
years. The town officials agreed to host the site - but what evolved was unexpected on all sides: a
fierce battle by Boyd county's farmers who fought corporations, the state and the federal
government to prevent this from happening. Author Susan Cragin was asked to write this story
by Greg Hayden, Nebraska's commissioner to the Compact charged with sitting the dump, who
was opposed to the Boyd County selection process. Her eye-opening account is moving and
revealing.
The Big Switch
Nicholas Carr
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393062281, $25.95 www.wwnorton.com
THE BIG SWITCH: REWIRING THE WORLD, FROM EDISON TO GOOGLE examines
where computers are taking the world: while this could also have been featured in our Computer
Shelf area, it's reviewed here for its wider importance to any general-interest collection strong in
social trends and issues. It provides a historical analogy and analysis of changing methods of
industry power, explaining how computing is undergoing a revolution akin to the modern electric
grid where computing is moving from private PCs to massive data-sharing centers. Any
collection strong in computer trends needs this.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Jodi Crowell's CHARMED: A FRESH TWIST ON CHARM QUILTS (9781564777744, $16.95)
offers six projects that focus on appliqued quilts with fine borders. These are unusual quilts that
take traditional styles and offer up creative twists: Small color photos and larger patterns
accompany tips specific and easy for beginners, making this an excellent introductory pick for
any newcomer to quilting, and for collections catering to them. Melinda Bula's CUTTING
GARDEN QUILTS: FABULOUS FUSIBLE FLOWERS (9781564777591, $27.95) uses an easy
paint-by-number style to create lovely floral quilts, combining a layer/fuse technique with easy
color-placement tips. Five patterns feature five different flowers, with color charts, tips for
matching hues, and inspirations on using machine quilting to 'paint' with thread. Kim Diehl's
SIMPLE SEASONS: STUNNING QUILTS AND SAVORY RECIPES (978156477270, $29.95)
comes from a designer who here offers up a new collection of quilts, pairing food designs of
pumpkins, berries and more with thirteen projects including a bed, lap and wall quilt, easy
patchwork and applique designs for seasonal garden embellishments, and over a dozen recipes.
The combinations are winning and gorgeous, perfect for any needlework collection.
Mosaic Picture Quilts
Pat Durbin
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564777355, $24.95 www.martingale-pub.com
MOSAIC PICTURE QUILTS: TURN FAVORITE PHOTOS INTO STUNNING QUILTS is a
top pick for any who would learn a square-by-square technique for transforming photos of
landscapes, people or flowers into a patchwork production. Print the photo onto paper, use at
transparent grid to lay out fabrics, then use raw-edge patchwork for easy sewing with a guide
highly recommended for any collection catering to quilters or sewers.
The Great American Afghan
Elaine Rowley and Rick Mondragon, Rditors
XRX Books
1933064129, $12.95 www.knittinguniverse.com
THE GREAT AMERICAN AFGHAN has appeared in Knitter's Magazine and has appeared to
first-timers as well as those who never thought they could master an involved project as large as
an afghan. Here the basic square is used to demonstrate a range of knitting techniques which
include incorporating bobbles, applique, lace and more. An important acquisition for any
beginning knitting library.
Knit With Beads: Beautiful Gifts
Scarlet Taylor
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823016765, $14.95 www.watwsonguptill.com
Knitting offers the ability to make special gifts for friends and family, and KNIT WITH BEADS
provides the basics of how to add sparkle and color to a hand-knit gift. Eighteen original patterns
will delight readers offering bags, hats and socks and more, loading pages of colorful completed
projects with easy step-by-step directions. Any basic needlework or general-interest library will
find it a popular pick.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Gems from the Equinox
Aleister Crowley, Selected by Israel Regardie
Weiser Books
500 - 3rd Street Suite 230, San Francisco, CA 94107
1578634172, $49.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
Aleister Crowley devoted several years to blending the Aim of Religion with the Method of
Science, publishing his findings in a ten-volume series Equinox from 1909-13. While his
complete production is rarely available, this thick one-volume GEMS FROM THE EQUINOX
gathers some of the most important writings from the set, reproducing them for new age
collections serious about Crowley's writings. Regardie, Crowley's one-time secretary and
biographer, provides an authentic and serious tone to over a thousand pages of writings
perfect for beginners as well as advanced Crowley students and any student of Golden Dawn or
Occultism.
Schiffer Publications
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
Schiffer's informative series of regional ghost guides are top picks for libraries located in these
areas AND for any general-interest collection strong in travel guides to haunted places. Each
includes history, anecdotes, and specifics suitable for both armchair and destination-oriented
travelers. E. Ashley Roony's BERKSHIRE GHOSTS (9780764327971, $14.95), Todd Cobb's
GHOSTS OF PORTLAND (9780764327988, $12.95), Marla Brooks' GHOSTS OF
HOLLYWOOD (9780764328831, $14.95), T.G. Gray's GHOSTS OF MAINE (9786764328275,
$14.95), Christopher Forest's BOSTON'S HAUNTED HISTORY (0780764328749, $12.95),
Brian Righi's GHOSTS OF FORT WORTH (9780764328138), D.P. Rosenberry with Psychic
Laurie Hall's CAPE MAY HAUNTS (9780767328213, $14.95), and Beckah Tolly, Ramen
Duclos and Katie Boyd's GHOST QUEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE (9780764328862, $14.95) all
pack in vivid accounts of ghostly happenings, and include plenty of history, investigative drama
and details suitable for a wide audience. All are top additions to Schiffer's ongoing line of
regional ghostly exposes.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Creating Money
Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781932073225, $13.95 www.newworldlibrary.com
CREATING MONEY: ATTRACTING ABUNDANCE was a best-selling book around the
world, selling over 500,000 copies with its easy step-by-step process on achieving prosperity
through spiritual laws of abundance. This edition has been vastly revised and updated, adding
new examples, stories, and techniques on how to attract abundance in all walks of life.
Abundance means more than just money: readers here learn to link empowerment with choice in
a powerful recommendation for any collection strong in New Age materials.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest
William Neill
Mountain Press Publishing Company
P.O. Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425372, $18.00 www.mtnpress.com
Butterfly watchers who live in or regularly travel through the Pacific Northwest, as well as
libraries located there, need the reference BUTTERFLIES OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, a
basic reference which pairs color photos of all listed species with tips on identifying some 118
butterflies. Chapters provide an easy field guide which also include natural history details on how
butterflies hatch, eat, mate and adapt, as well as tips on best viewing.
Civilizing the City Dog
Pamela S. Dennison with Jolanta Benal
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Road, Crawford, CO 81415
9781577790891, $9.95 www.alpinepub.com
CIVILIZING THE CITY DOG: A GUIDE TO REHABILITATING AGGRESSIVE DOGS IN
AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT is a fine pick for city dwellers who hold aggressive dogs in urban
places. Pamela Dennison and Jolanta Benal address the special training needs of such animals,
offering concrete training tactics and details for owners of such animals and making for a
reference any urban library strong in pets and dog training will want.
Equine Neurology
Martin Furr & Stephen Reed
Wiley
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0813825199, $100.00 www.wiley.com
Any college-level collection strong in large animal veterinary studies as well as practicing interns
and vets needs EQUINE NEUROLOGY, a reference for clinical students and specialists. Three
sections on treating horse disease offers clinicians a reference of neuralgic diseases and resources
for treatment, offering color photos, charts, and plenty of technical detail. Quite simply, a 'must
have' reference which goes far beyond general, introductory equine texts.
The Fiction Shelf
The Nature of Monsters
Clare Clark
Harcourt
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
9780151012060, $25.00 www.harcourt.com
Set in 18th century London is THE NATURE OF MONSTERS, a vivid novel of science and
deception, revolving around a teen's employment as an apothecary's maid to a strange scientist
who is always veiled and who conducts secret experiments. A fast-paced novel of deception,
danger and high drama evolves in a complex psychological thriller highly recommended for
public libraries strong in thrillers.
The Education Shelf
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
$15.95 Each www.corwinpress.com
The different grade levels and approaches of these workbooks make them a top pick for any
library strong in classroom workbooks and activities for teachers. Each workbook holds some 96
pages of projects, with fill-in blanks and ideas perfect for photocopying and classroom use.
Teachers of grades 6-8 will appreciate Gayle Gregory and Carolyn Chapman's ACTIVITIES
FOR THE DIFFERENTIATED CLASSROOM: SCIENCE (9781412953443), their
ACTIVITIES: LANGUAGE ARTS (9781412953436), MATH (9781412953429), Marcia Tate's
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND OTHER VISUAL STRATEGIES: MATH (9781412952316)
and LANGUAGE ARTS (9781412952309), David Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE
ACTIVITIES (9781412952736) and Toby J. Karten's INCLUSION: ACTIVITIES THAT
WORK (9781412952347). Grades 3,4 and 5 receive modified activities in Tate's GRAPHIC
ORGANIZERS AND OTHER VISUAL STRATEGIES Grade 3 (9781412952279), her
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS AND OTHERS for Grade 5 (9781412952293), and Grade 4
(9781412952286), Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES GRADES 3-5
(9781412952729) and Toby J. Karten's INCLUSION ACTIVITIES for grades 3-5
(9781412952354). Grades K-2 receive further modifications of projects and approaches in sets
geared to their skills in Tate's GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS GRADE 1 (9781412952255), her
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS GRADE 2 (9781412952262) and GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
GRADE K (9781412952248), David Sousa's BRAIN-COMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES GRADES
K-2 (9781412952712) and Toby Karten's INCLUSION ACTIVITIES THAT WORK FOR K-2
(9781412952330). All are outstanding workbooks teachers will appreciate.
The Art Shelf
A History of Western Art
Antony Mason, Edited by John T. Spike
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
9780810959668, $18.95 www.abramsyoungreaders.com
Typically the Amulet Books imprint of this publisher are featured in our Children's Bookwatch
issue - but A HISTORY OF WESTERN ART is simply too good an introduction to the cultural
legacy of western art to limit its readership to young readers alone, and deserves a place in the
libraries of any collection strong in introductory arts titles for all students of art history and for
none-specialist readers with an interest in art regardless of their age. A HISTORY OF
WESTERN ART: FROM PREHISTORY TO THE 20TH CENTURY is lavishly illustrated with
over two hundred color reproductions of art pieces, photos, and supporting documents, offering
an intensely visual approach which captures the essence of world art trends and progression.
The Art of Collecting: The Spaulding Brothers and Their Legacy
Frederic A. Sharf
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9780878467235, $24.95 www.mfa-publications.org
Frederic Sharf is a historian and collector specializing in late 19th and 20th centuries, and The
Art of Collecting: The Spaulding Brothers and Their Legacy offers insights into some of the
foundation pieces of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, charting the important contributions of
the Spaulding Brothers who expanded and furthered the archives and collections of the Museum.
A focus on the men behind these key acquisitions profiles not only their lives and contributions,
but the very foundations of an art museum's construction, making this a fine selection for any
college-level art library.
Bulgari
Daniela Mascetti and Amanda Triossi
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, Suite 504, New York, NY 10019-1105
9780789209450, $75.00 www.abbeville.com 1-800-343-4499
Any college-level art library strong in jewelry history needs BULGARI: a lavish, oversized and
powerful collection of color photos and archival pictures that trace the unique Bulgari style
which was born in Rome in 1884. The book first appeared in 1996: its updated edition represents
an extensive revision and reflects newly-discovered historical material and historical facts on the
Bulgari firm, making it a top pick.
The Literary Shelf
Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye
Sarah Graham
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane suite 704, New York NY 10038
9780826491329, $14.95 www.continuum-books.com
Joining others in Continuum's 'Reader's Guides' series is an introduction to the key literary text
The Catcher in the Rye, a book often assigned for both high school and college-level reading.
This study examines different ways of thinking about the novel offering both general and specific
analysis and inviting students to learn more about history, language, and literary approach. High
school and college-level collections will find it involving.
Student Encyclopedia of African Literature
Douglas Killam and Alicia L. Kerfoot
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313335808, $85.00 www.greenwood.com
College-level libraries strong in African literary studies will welcome the introductory Student
Encyclopedia of African Literature, which offers biographies of writers, synopses and analysis of
major African literary works, and discussions of trends affecting individual African nations.
Bibliographic references for further reading enhance discussions and make for an excellent
reference introduction perfect for curriculums including African literary studies.
The Cookbook Shelf
Party Food for Kids
Caroline Marson
Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th Floor, new York NY 10012
9781845974770, $12.95 www.rylandpeters.com
Not to be limited to children's collections if PARTY FOOD FOR KIDS, a cookbook that
assembles a range of kid-friendly foods for all ages from toddlers to ten years old. Kids love
seeing a feast of appetizing food at a party, but it can be tricky choosing popular dishes that are
healthy as well as tempting. These dishes are high in 'eye appeal' and ease of preparation, and
range from dips and finger foods small children will love to sandwiches, desserts and even a
range of easy fruity children's 'cocktails'. Highly recommended.
Cooking for Two
James Barber
Harbour Publishing
Box 219, Maderia Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550174168, $21.95 www.harbourpublishing.com
This reprint of the classic cookbook COOKING FOR TWO returns a basic cookery classic to
new audiences. The focus here is on shared cooking experiences for busy duos: chapters tell how
to prepare food together, add a healthy dose of humor to recipes both practical and easy, and
packs in over hundred dishes for both everyday and special occasion, making COOKING FOR
TWO a very basic, foundation pick for any collection catering to cooks in general and beginners
in particular.
Classic Stars Desserts
Emily Luchetti
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
0811847039, $29.95 www.chroniclebooks.com
Pastry chef Emily Luchetti provides a fine collection of over a hundred of her own creations from
her best-selling Stars Desserts and Four-Star Desserts, making this a fine 'best of' collection for
any cookbook collection and for newcomers in particular. From a traditional Apple Pandowdy to
Cranberry Linzertorte and Drunken Chocolate Cake, these are favorites packed with flavor and
innovation, with a peppering of color photos throughout adding interest. Public libraries strong in
culinary guides will find this appealing.
The Library DVD Shelf
The Man From U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Series
TimeLife/Turner
www.timelife.com
Any avid viewer fan of the Man From U.N.C.L.E. series will find this box set - or should we say,
box suitcase - of the complete series a 'must have' acquisition. Each season comes slipcased in a
set of DVDs that include plenty of bonus features, including two separate bonus discs of
'debriefing' materials from TV appearances and spots to photo and image galleries, interviews,
and more. Each complete season package set includes a featurette and bonus feature. Its
presentation - in a cardboard 'briefcase' - doesn't hold up to repeat opening an closing, but it's a
fine decorative enhancement suitable for gift-giving and storage, making it a top pick for any
seeking a gift for avid TV fans.
The Ritchie Boys
Docurama Films
$26.95 www.docurama.com
THE RITCHIE BOYS has been short-listed for the 2005 Academy Awards and provides an
excellent account of a small contingent of German Jewish intellectuals who escape from Nazi
Germany - then return as U.S. soldiers to battle the Third Reich with revenge in mind. Their story
has until now been largely hidden from even Nazi historians, making Christian Bauer's THE
RITCHIE BOYS a significant addition to any serious DVD history collection.
The Gardening Shelf
The Walled Garden
Leslie Geddes-Brown
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
1858943639, $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com
Walled gardens are enjoying a revival in enthusiasm, with old ones being renovated and new
ones created. Gardens expert Leslie Geddes-Brown celebrates such gardens in THE WALLED
GARDEN, an excellent sourcebook for homeowners who would like reference and resource to
some of the world' best walled gardens. Descriptions of both construction and garden plants
accompany walled garden history, making for an outstanding survey perfect for any homeowner
who would create a walled garden, and any library catering to homeowners.
The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub
Penelope O'Sullivan
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580175708, $29.95 www.storey.com
There are plenty of books on lawns and flowers but trees and shrubs are equally important, and
the author is passionate about them. Three in-depth sections cover the design, care and plant
profiles of gardens with a focus on trees and shrubs, moving from the basics of incorporating
them into an overall garden design to considering expectations of results and growing conditions.
An encyclopedia of hundreds of tree and shrub options offers a host of fine images by Karen
Bussolini while plant profiles cover ease of maintenance, cultivation, availability, growth rare
and more. Libraries strong in homeowner's garden guides need this.
The Photography Shelf
The Creative Digital Darkroom
Katrin Eismann & Sean Duggan
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596100477, $49.99 www.digitalmedia.oreilly.com
Classic photo and darkroom concepts are important for using even modern digital cameras and
tools - and thus a manual pairing tested photo techniques with Adobe Photoshop, which includes
original photo examples with each lesson. From coverage of traditional darkroom skills and
abilities and how these translate into Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom to the basics of producing
initial high-quality images and understanding both black and white and color darkroom
techniques, this packs in details and lessons for both artists and educators, making for an
outstanding and colorful lesson plan.
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10110
www.allworth.com
Novice photographers who want to shoot sports, whether they be sports fans, parents or
participants, will find Peter Skinner's SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO CAPTURE
ACTION AND EMOTION (1581154801, $24.95) an exceptional key to capturing a fast-action
genre. From selecting the right equipment and working with different cameras to understanding
sports action shots options, color photo examples pack a guide essential for any photography
library. Kathleen Hawkins' DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY
PORTRAITURE, 2ND EDITION (9781584282143, $34.95) tells how to create dazzling images
of families and children, offering novices practical tips from pros on how to take advantage of
changing trends in portraiture, how to select equipment and promote images online, and how to
organize and achieve an efficient shoot. There's more practical business advice in this title than
most, with a focus on both achieving image success and promoting a business doing so. Mairlyn
Sholin's STUDIO PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY OF CHILDREN AND BABIES
(9781584282129, $34.95) surveys the difficult task of photographing kids and babies, showing
how to get winning expressions from subjects and how to create a safe, child-friendly studio
environment packed with incentives for kids to become photogenic. From equipment to tips on
working with all ages, no photographer will want to be without this.
The Travel Shelf
Antarctica: Life on the Ice
Susan Fox Rogers, Editor
Travelers' Tales/Solas House
853 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781932361537, $17.99 www.travelerstales.com
What's it like to live and work in Antarctica? The next best thing to going there is the collection
Antarctica: Life on the Ice, which explores the challenges of living in Antarctica. Essays from
some twenty writers offer insights into challenges, ironies, and even funny tales of life in the
region, contributed by those who chose to live and work there. It's a lively armchair read perfect
for any general-interest library strong on adventure travel.
The Computer Shelf
Windows Vista Annoyances
David A. Karp
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527624, $34.99 www.oreilly.com
Windows Vista holds many annoyances for users and has many quirks stemming from bad
design, so having WINDOWS VISTA ANNOYANCES in a developer or web applications
collections is an important key to successfully using the system and working around common
issues. From customizing Explorer and managing Vista's Registry options to optimizing the PC
and using it to work a network, WINDOWS VISTA ANNOYANCES is packed with tips on how
to make it work efficiently and well. Highly recommended as a methodical, practical series of
applied steps and insights.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Endless Blue
Wen Spencer
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1416573852, $25.00 www.baen.com
The appearance of the warp drive from a lost spaceship begins a quest for the rest of the ship in
ENDLESS BLUE, which tells of genocide, a desperate quest, and Captain Mikhail Volkov, who
crashes into the Sargasso and discovers a graveyard of rusting spaceships, both human and alien.
The Sargasso holds secrets which could save the human race, but now Volkov's ship is damaged
and in danger of never making it home - unless Paige, born on the Sargasso and captain of a
salvage boat, can help him. Fast action and drama keep ENDLESS BLUE unpredictable and
satisfying to the end - and perfect for discriminating science fiction collections.
The Metatemporal Detective
Michael Moorcock
PYR/Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591025962, $25.00 www.pyrsf.com
Each story in the Metatemporal Detective carries with it a powerful blend of detective cases
which mirror worlds like our own and a blend of fantasy and science fiction challenging one's
deductive abilities. Seaton Begg and his companion pathologist Dr. 'Taffy' Sinclair head the
secret British Home Office section of the Metatemporal Investigation Department, and covers
crimes in dozens of alternate worlds. His travels take him to strange universes, challenging
settings, and mind-boggling crime puzzles in a collection recommended not just for science
fiction collections, but for libraries patronized by mystery and detective fans as well.
The International Studies Shelf
The Genius of China
Robert Temple
Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594772177, $29.95 www.innertraditions.com
The ancient Chinese were masters of discovery and innovation for 3,000 years, and THE
GENIUS OF CHINA: 3,000 YEARS OF SCIENCE, DISCOVERY & INVENTION documents
these discoveries, originally winning five literary awards with its original publication. Its
republication makes for a top pick for any college-level collection strong in Chinese history and
culture, offering a revised full-color edition that brings to life elements of ancient Chinese
history. China's early contributions to science, engineering, medicine and technology are
documented in an outstanding survey highly recommended for any collection strong in Chinese
history and culture.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Avon Collector's Encyclopedia
Bud Hastin
Collector Books
P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325652, $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com
Both specialty collector libraries catering to neo-pro collectors and general-interest public
libraries will find AVON COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA: AVON AND CALIFORNIA
PERFUME COMPANY PRODUCTS 1886 TO PRESENT an invaluable acquisition, appearing
in its 18th updated edition to provide the latest prices and details. Here are thousands of products,
paired with the latest prices, black and white and color photos throughout, making for an
invaluable at-a-glance reference.
The World History Shelf
Food and Cooking in Victorian England: A History
Andrea Broomfield
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275987086, $44.95 www.praeger.com
College-level culinary libraries strong in Victorian history will appreciate Food and Cooking in
Victorian England: A History, with its survey of Victorian times introduced by nine recipes
detailing examples of food production, cooking and diet in early England. Discussions go far
beyond the usual cookbook to include surveys of kitchen arrangement and duties, dining habits,
social influences on food and wine choices, and much more. An excellent survey any
college-level culinary collection specializing in food history will relish.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Gender Relationships in Marriage and Out
Rivkah Blau, Editor
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9780881259711, $29.50 www.ktav.com
Volume seventeen of The Orthodox Forum of Yeshiva University Press offers an in-depth survey
of gender relationships which surveys the state of marriage, the Talmudic approach to marriage,
changing male/female roles in the 10th and early 20th centuries in Eastern European circles, and
more. A sociologist and a rabbi discuss how unmarried adults should be integrated into the
Orothodox community, while a psychologist and two singles discuss special challenges singles
face in such a community. College-level Jewish studies libraries, especially those with Orthodox
studies, will find this an invaluable key to linking Orthodox Jewish perception to history and
modern life.
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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