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Library Bookwatch

Volume 3, Number 1 January 2008 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Photography Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Business Shelf World History Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Fiction Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Art Shelf Biography Shelf International Studies Shelf
Native American Shelf Gaming Shelf Parenting Shelf
Literary Shelf Travel Shelf Political Science Shelf
Library Science Shelf Sports Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Music CD Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Funny Business
Allen Rosenshine
Beaufort Books
c/o Author Marketing Experts (publicity)
PO Box 421156, San Diego, CA 92142
9780825305399, $24.95 www.midpointtradebooks.com

Funny Business: Moguls, Mobsters, Megastars, and the Mad, Mad World of the Ad Game is an uproarious anthology of stranger-than-fiction anecdotes from life in the creative world of the advertising business. Author Allen Rosenshine, who worked his way up to CEO of a major advertising corporation, tells of gently breaking bad news to mobsters, schmoozing with stars, warding off attempts to take him for a sucker, and many more madcap adventures. Funny Business is not a "how-to" book for would-be advertisers in the traditional sense; it's a slice-of-life with extra irony on top from an insider's point of view. An incredibly entertaining memoir from cover to cover, Funny Business is sure to delight readers of all walks of life with their recommended daily allowance of wit, wisdom, and mirthful laughter!


The Photography Shelf

Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day
Philip Plisson
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780810994485, $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190

Comprised of 365 full-color photographs taken by maritime photographer Philip Plisson (whose lifetime body of work includes more than 400,000 photographs and forty books), "Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day" features memorable images combined with sea-centric comments from a diversity of luminaries ranging from Albert Camus, to William Shakespeare, to Francis Bacon, to Herman Melville. Visually depicted are the oceans of the world in all of their diverse moods, states, and colors. From the sea's dream-like tranquility to its capacity for overwhelming violence, to images of waves and swells, to lighthouses, sails, and boats in an oceanic light, "Sailors' Wisdom: Day By Day" is an original compendium that would grace any personal, academic, or community library collection -- and is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the sea and the ships that sail up it.

Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups
State Nationalities Affairs Commission
China Pictorial Publishing House
c/o China Books
360 Swift Ave., Suite 48, South San Francisco, CA 94080
9787800249563, $24.95 www.chinabooks.com

Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups is a gorgeous, full-color photographic showcase of people of the 55 minority ethnic groups found in China, from Mongolian, Tibetan, and Korean to Yao, Bai, and Li to Uzbek, Russian, and Tartar, and many more. (The majority ethnic group of China is of course the Han Chinese; their photographic portrayal is left to other books). Images often focus upon unique cultural practices and customs, from marriage ceremonies to traditional dress, food, and celebrations. A handful of basic facts and taboos for each culture are also briefly described, but the core appeal of Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups lies in its vibrant and unforgettable imagery. Celebrating peaceful integration and cultural exchange as well as the tapestry that is China itself, Selected Pictures of Chinese Ethnic Groups is a joy simply to page through and highly recommended.

Holding Out And Hanging On
Thomas Neff
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217745, $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

The devastation and aftermath of hurricane Katrina brought to light a truly American vulnerability as being one of the worst disasters of our time. But as they years have begun to pass, the plight of the survivors, once so prominent on the evening news and in the speeches of politicians, has faded back into obscurity and neglect. Baton Rouge photographer Thomas Neff seeks to restore public awareness of the continuing necessity for attention to rebuilding the lives and communities that were so badly damaged by compiling his black-and-white photographs, combined with forty-five days of interviews with the people affected by the hurricane in "Holding Out And Hanging On: Surviving Hurricane Kartrina". Showcasing some remarkable people living and trying to rebuild under exceptionally difficult circumstances, as well as photographically documenting the extend of the damages still awaiting the promised attention and resources from state and federal agencies, "Holding Out And Hanging On" is a clarion testament to the enduring human spirit as representative individual stories are told. Simply stated, every community library in the country should have a copy of "Holding Out And Hanging On" in their collections so that the politicians and the people will remember what happened, what was done, and what remains to be done.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Rescue Me Uncensored
Dennis Leary & Peter Tolan
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557047915, $19.95 www.newmarketpress.com 1-800-669-3903

Featuring an informative preface by Denis Leary and Peter Tolan, "Rescue Me Uncensored: The Official Companion" includes complete episode guides with music playlists of the first four seasons of this popular and successful television drama series. Tolan was nominated for Outstanding Directory for a Drama Series for the first season of 'Rescue Me', and Leary was nominated twice for an Emmy for Outstanding lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on 'Rescue Me'. Enhanced throughout with a profusion of full color photography of actors and scenes, "Rescue Me Uncensored" features a 'Role Call' of cast members. Of special note is article about 'The Leary Firefighters Foundation'. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781557047922, $29.95), "Rescue Me Uncensored" is especially recommended reading for the programs legions of fans across the country.


The Business Shelf

The Go-Giver
Bob Burg & John David Mann
Portfolio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Kathryn Hall Publicist (publicity)
PO Box 1486, Ukiah, CA 95482
9781591842002, $19.95 www.us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515

The collaborative effort of Bob Burg (a top sales professional and successful public speaker) and John David Mann (author and business leadership authority), "The Go-Giver: A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea" is the story of Joe, an ambitious young man who seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar -- a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees as 'The Chairman'. Pindar introduces Joe to a series of 'go-givers' that include a successful restaurateur, a corporate CEO, a knowledgeable financial advisor, a real estate broker, and a man known simply as 'The Connector' who brought them all together. Between these men, Joe learns about the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and discovers how to open himself up to the power of giving as a means of success in business. Deftly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "The Go-Giver" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking success in the competitive marketplace of products, services, and ideas, as being informed and informative, as well as inspired and inspiring.

AdWords for Dummies
Howie Jacobson, Ph.D.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
9780470152522, $24.99 www.wiley.com 1-800-225-5945

Internet marketing strategist and AdWords coach Howie Jacobson, Ph.D. presents AdWords for Dummies, a user-friendly manual to using Google AdWords to serve one's marketing needs. and attract the right kinds of visitors to one's website. Chapters discuss how to set up a starter edition AdWords account, uncover one's online market, choose the right keywords, craft attractive ads, improve one's ad campaigns through keyword management, follow up on prospects, apply conversion tracking to cut costs, common beginner errors when working with AdWords, and much more. AdWords for Dummies lives up to the solid reputation of the Dummies series by blending professional expertise with a simple and straightforward tutorial anyone can follow. A, $25 Google AdWords gift card rounds out this enthusiastically recommended aid to Internet marketing in the twenty-first century.

The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations
Lisa Guerin
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306910, $39.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

One of the responsibilities of employers is to insure a safe and secure workplace. This necessitates dealing with employee accusations of harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, employee theft, and other challenges to the workplace security of employees -- whether the problem is perceived from emanating from management or other employees. Lisa Guerin, an attorney specializing is resolving workplace issues, has written "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations: How To Handle Employee Complains & Problems", a 350-page, 'user friendly' instruction manual for managers, human resources professionals, and business owners, on investigating and resolving common workplace issues in a manner that is fair, effective, and in adherence to federal laws and state regulations. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM with forms, sample polices, checklists, and other resources, "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations" is an informed and informative, offering step-by-step instructions on deciding whether or not to investigate a complain; taking immediate action if deemed necessary; selecting an investigator; planning the investigation; interviewing; gathering evidence; evaluating the evidence; taking appropriate action; documenting the investigation; and doing follow-up to insure future compliance. Simply stated, "The Essential Guide To Workplace Investigations" is an essential and basic reference for anyone charged with the responsibility of providing employees with a conflict-free work environment.


The World History Shelf

Use History Like a Tool
Steven Levi
Silver Lake Publishing
3501 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026
9781563437748, $19.95 www.silverlakepub.com

Use History Like a Tool: An Unconventional Guide To Reading the Past and Managing the Future is a different type of history book - one written to show students and adults alike the real value of history, and the lessons of history that can be applied to daily life. In particular, Use History Like a Tool shows how to tell the difference between positive, forward-thinking change and the endless, repetitive shuffle of stagnation, applying the lessons of history to accurately size up the condition of one's workplace (and possibly determine whether one has any chance of a good future staying in one's current workplace). "Using history as a guide, alas, there is no way to cut back on the weight attendance has in the workplace. Once deadwood is in place, it's hard to remove it. The key is to keep deadwood out of the system. This may mean refraining from hiring someone for a needed position. Think twice about whom you hire, even if it's for a janitorial position." Highly recommended.

The Trail Of 1858
Mark Forsythe & Greg Dickson
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550174243, $26.95 www.harbourpublishing.com 1-604-883-2730

Mark Forsythe is the long-standing host of CBC Radio One's 'BC Alamanc'. Greg Dickson was a journalist and producer at CBC radio and television for more than twenty years. Together they have collaborated to write "The Trail Of 1858: British Columbia's Gold Rush Past. In what was to become British Columbia, the non-aboriginal population was only about 700 in 1858 when gold was discovered along the shores of the Fraser River. Almost overnight some 30,000 prospectors (mostly American) descended upon the landscape and treated the territory as an extension of the United States. The colonial administration in Victoria was overwhelmed and the future of the area as a British possession was in doubt. But by the time the gold rush petered out about a decade after it had begun, the colony of British Columbia had come into existence and its destiny as a province of Canada was assured. "The Trail Of 1858" is the fascinating story of those turbulent times and showcases the personalities and issues through the use of period photography, anecdotal stories, and narratives drawn from fact and memory. The result is a very highly recommended book of Canadian history that is as informed and informative as it is engaging and entertaining.


The Genealogy Shelf

Flemish DNA & Ancestry
Guido Deboeck
Dokus Publishing
3850 North River Street, Arlington, VA 22207
0972552677, $45.00 www.dokuspublishing.com

"Flemish DNA & Ancestry" by Duido Deboeck is a genealogical history of three families down through five centuries utilizing both conventional and genetic genealogical research methods. A seminal genealogical case study illustrating how the new science of genetics can be of immense and practical value as a genealogical research technique, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" follows the featured families' complicated histories in business, migration, and war. Enhanced with an introduction to the Glanders-Flemish DNA Project, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" represents the first analysis of actual Flemish DNA records, as well as an informed and informative summary of the deep ancestry of people with Flemish roots. Very highly recommended as an addition to professional and academic library Genealogical Studies reference collections, "Flemish DNA & Ancestry" could well serve as a template for similar genealogical studies of other ethnic lines of decent incorporating the new DNA technologies.

Finding Your Canadian Ancestors
Sherry Irvine & Dave Obee
Ancestry Publishing
360 West 4800 North, Provo, Utah, 48604
978-1-59331-316-6, $18.95 www.theancestrystore.com 1-800-531-1790

"Finding Your Canadian Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide" is a superbly written and organized introduction for novice genealogists on tracing and recording their ancestry using Canadian genealogical resources. The information on Canadian genealogical records is organized by record type and then again according to province. Both government and ecclesiastical records, as well as Aboriginal, Acadian, and Loyalist records, are discussed. Of special note is the information provided about online resources, including the extensive holdings of Library and Archives Canada. Co-authored by genealogical research experts Sherry Irvine and Dave Obee, "Finding Your Canadian Ancestors" is the perfect introduction for aspiring and practicing genealogists wanting to utilize Canadian resources and records for their genealogical researches. Also very highly recommended for personal and genealogical library reference collections are two other specialized genealogical research guidebooks from Ancestry Publishing: David S. Ouimette's "Finding Your Irish Ancestors: A Beginner's Guide" (9781593312930, $14.95) and Kip Sperry's "A Guide To Mormon Family History Sources" (9781593313012, $16.95).

Family Roots Publishing Company
PO Box 830, Bountiful, Utah, 84011-0830
www.familyrootspublishing.com 1-801-949-7259

Genealogist William Dollarhide (co-author of the "Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses, 1790-1920 and author of five popular titles in genealogy) has created a new two-volume reference resource, "Census Substitutes & State Census Records". Volume One (1933194375, $32.95, #FR011) covers the Eastern States, while Volume Two (1933194383, $32.95, FR0112) covers the Western States. Taken together, this two volume set covers all the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The descriptive information is organized aby state, with each volume containing historical timelines, bibliographic descriptions of every colonial, territorial, and state census extant and available to genealogical research. Of special note are the hundreds of records that can be used as census substitutes. The Eastern States covers the Old Southwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic States, the Old South, the Old Northwest, and the Central Plains states. The Western States covers Texas, Oklahoma & the Indian Territory, California and Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii, Nuevo Mexico, the Mountain West, and the Oregon Country. A unique and invaluable resource, the two volume "Census Substitutes & State Census Records" is an invaluable contribution to the growing library of genealogical resource material and a core addition to any personal, professional, academic, community, and genealogical library reference collection.


The Education Shelf

The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists
Sonya Haskins
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764204432, $19.99 www.bethanyhouse.com 1-800-328-6109

Sonya Haskin draws upon her experience and expertise as a mother who homeschools her five children in writing and compiling "The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists". Accessibly organized by academic areas and subjects, there are more than 250 lists that will enable the homeschooling parent to customize and enrich unit studies, encourage and facilitate memorization work, as well as enabling parents to readily answer questions asked by their children in the course of their studies. These 'user friendly' lists about people, dates, mathematical formulas, word origins, etc., will substantially assist the sparking of curiosity and a desire to learn in the student -- and so much more! Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying CD that will enable any list in being printed out, "The Homeschooler's Book Of Lists" can be confidently recommended as an invaluable curriculum development aid and supplement for all homeschooling parents.

Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully
David H. Allsopp, Maggie M. Kyger, & LouAnn H. Lovin
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557668660, $29.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775

Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully: Solutions for Reaching Struggling Learners is a straightforward guide for mathematics educators of grades K-12 to instructing students challenged by learning disabilities, ADHD, or mild cognitive disabilities. Drawing upon experience-tested, research-based strategies, Teaching Mathematics Meaningfully discusses the common learning characteristics of students with learning difficulties, how to focus on the most important mathematical concepts and get the "big ideas" across, lesson plans and practical tactics for directly addressing students' learning barriers, how to analyze and improve one's own strengths and weaknesses, and much more. A smattering of black-and-white photographs, tables, and sample forms illustrate this step-by-step guide to teaching students what they most need to know about math from simple number operations to algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, probability, and more. Highly recommended for any educator responsible for teaching learning-challenged children, whether they teach at a public school, a private school, a summer school, or tutor in a private home.

The Effective Literacy Coach
Adrian Rodgers & Emily M. Rodgers
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807748015, $23.95 www.tcpress.com 1-800-575-6566

Assistant Professor Adrian Rodgers and Associate Professor Emily M. Rodgers present The Effective Literacy Coach: Using Inquiry To Support Teaching and Learning, a guide that goes a step beyond the nuts and bolts of day-to-day coaching in the search to understand how literacy coaching can breathe renewed life into instructional practice. Offering research-based strategies to improve the teacher-coach connection, The Effective Literacy Coach discusses how to guide group discussions, the art of asking the right question, how to get the most out of one-on-one coaching, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for remedial reading teachers, whether they work with children, teens, or adults.

The Well-Managed Classroom
Michele Hensley, M.S., Walter Powell, Susan Lamke, & Scott Hartman, M.S.
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010
9781889322919, $24.95 www.boystownpress.org 1-800-282-6657

Now in an updated second edition, The Well-Managed Classroom is a straightforward guide to maintaining a safe and motivational learning environment for young people. Written by authors who have trained teachers and school administrators as well as served the National Resource and Training Center at Girls and Boys Town, The Well-Managed Classroom offers strategies born from time-tested experience. Chapters cover how to connect with students, teach social skills as well as intellectual skills, encourage positive behaviors in students while correcting problem behaviors, partnering with parents and guardians, and much more. "In the event that a student not only refuses to leave the classroom, but also becomes increasingly violent or destructive, your best option is to get everyone else out. Moving students to a hallway, media center, or multipurpose room is preferable to attempting physical restraint or allowing the out-of-control student to show off his or her outrageous behavior in front of peers. Leaving the student alone may help de-escalate the behavior, and you will ensure that no one is at risk of getting hurt." Highly recommended.

Reading Assessment
JoAnne Schudt Caldwell
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street , New York, NY 10012
9781593855796, $28.00 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Reading Assessment: A Primer For Teachers And Coaches" by JoAnne Schudt Caldwell (Associate Dean of the College of Education and Leadership, Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is part of The Guilford Press educational series 'Solving Problems in the Teaching of Literacy'. Professor Caldwell provides classroom teachers and reading coaches with the information and tools they require to engage in the complex process of assessing the reading skills and needs of students. Practical strategies are provided for assessing students' strengths and weaknesses with respect to their literacy; how to properly analyze the evidence gathered through observation and testing; and making appropriate instructional decisions accordingly. Of special note are the sections devoted to new tools for assessing early literacy, guidelines for choosing among these options, high-stakes testing; and alternatives to standardized measures. Enhanced with numerous illustrative examples, professional development activities, and reproducibles, "Reading Assessment" is a critically important instructional and should be a core part of professional and academic library literacy testing and instruction reference collections.

Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students
Karen R. Harris, et al.
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557667052, $34.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775

"Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is the collaborative effort of academicians and teachers Karen R. Harris, Steve Graham, Linda H. Mason, and Barbara Friedlander. Comprised of thoroughly 'user friendly' curriculum lessons ranging from twenty to 60 minutes each, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is designed to enable the classroom teacher to advance and enhance their student's writing skills such as constructing essays and writing reports for state competency tests; work with every phase of the writing process from initiation to revision; reinforce new writing strategies and skills through individual practice and in group instruction; develop critical self-regulation skills students can use independently; support effective instruction with step-by-step guidelines and optional scripts; and even train students to use effective mnemonic devices that are easily grasped and remembered. Enhanced with photocopiable support materials including cue cards, graphic organizers, sheets for graphing writing performance, an mnemonic charts, "Powerful Writing Strategies For All Students" is a very strongly recommended as a language arts and literacy curriculum and classroom instruction plan supplemental resource.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Nature's Way
Marion Dusoir Ennes
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street , Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781879384736, $22.95 www.cypresshouse.com 1-800-773-7782

From 1986 to 1991, first-generation America, mother, socialworker, teacher, community leader, writer, and naturalist Marion Dusoir Ennes wrote essays that were published as feature columns in the New York Hudson Valley newspaper 'The Independent'. Her keen observations and detailed descriptions are exceptional in that she based her commentaries on science and personal values without lapsing into naive sentimentality. Expertly edited by Howard Ennes, the best of those essays has been collected into "Nature's Way: Observations Of A Good Earthkeeper" and made available to a much wider audience of appreciative readers far beyond the confines of the Hudson Valley. Of special note is that each reproduced article features a line drawing of the animal being described and discussed. Informed and informative, "Nature's Way" will prove to be of immense interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in nature, wildlife, and environmental issues.

Positive Training for Show Dogs
Vicki Ronchette, CPDT
Dogwise Publishing
PO Box 2778, Wenatchee, WA 98807-2778
9781929242467, $14.95 1-800-776-2665 www.dogwisepublishing.com

Author Vicki Ronchette, CPDT has worked with dogs for over twenty-two years. She offers her experience as well as the latest scientific research to dog handlers of all skill and experience levels in Positive Training for Show Dogs: Building a Relationship for Success. A no-nonsense guide to teaching show dogs how to behave in the ring, from raising people-friendly animals from puppyhood to teaching one's dog how to stack or gait to which pieces of equipment to use and more, Positive Training for Show Dogs walks the reader through necessary steps and guidelines with detailed text and numerous black-and-white photographs. Clear enough for novices yet packed with so many tips, tricks, and techniques as to be useful to seasoned professionals, Positive Training for Show Dogs is enthusiastically recommended for show dog owners everywhere.


The Fiction Shelf

Finesilver's Gold
Ruth Shalett Littman
Micah Publications, Inc.
255 Humphrey St., Marblehead, MA 01945
9780916288532, $18.00 www.micahbooks.com

Finesilver's Gold is a novel about two brave Jewish immigrants, based upon the diaries of the grandparents of author Ruth Littman. Over a hundred years ago, Jacob Finesilver sought to escape conscription into the Czar's army by walking from the Ukraine to the Klondike across the frozen Bering Sea. He nearly died during the perilous journey, and survived only by the kindness of an native Inuit rescuer. A year later, his betrothed braved the same deadly stretch of ice. Together, they marry in a new land and strive to hold on to their Jewish rituals and heritage, in a place where neither of them knows how to discern when Shabbat begins. An engrossing narrative of culture, survival, faith, and love, highly recommended.


The Cookbook Shelf

The New Alaskan Cookbook
Kim Severson with Glenn Denkler
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
1570612692, $19.95 www.sasquatchbooks.com 1-800-775-0817

Alaskan restaurant critic and food writer Kim Severson, with the assistance of restaurant chef Glenn Denkler, has compiled more than 120 superbly crafted recipes in "The New Alaskan Cookbook: Recipes From The Last Frontier's Best Chefs", each of which reflects the very best of contemporary Alaskan cuisine. Featuring a Recipe List, an informative introduction, information about the chefs who contributed creations are featured, and 'A Not About The Recipes', the dishes are arranged in sections devoted to Appetizers; Soups, Salads and Sandwiches; Entrees; Side dishes and Beverages; Sauces, Stocks, and Other Basics; and Desserts. The thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes themselves range from Alaskan Seafood Chowder; Wild Alaska Snapper with Stir-Fry Vegetable Curry and Quick Fried Noodles; Grilled Kodiak Scallops with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce; and Cured Oven-Roasted Duck Breasts with Dried Cherry and Green Peppercorn Sauce; to Roast Cornish hen with King Prawn; Twice-Baked Gorgonzola Potatoes; Sweet Onion Jam; and Yukon Sourdough Bread Pudding. Enhanced with two appendices (The Restaurants and Food Resources), "The New Alaska Cookbook" is a strongly recommended addition to any personal and community library cookbook collection!

Jenny Bristow USA
Jenny Bristow
The Black Staff Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9780856407895, $32.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

A popular television cooking celebrity, Jinny Bristow has a very special ability to effectively combine simple 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions with an anecdotal introduction to her featured dishes showcasing classic American cuisine while utilizing traditional ingredients and techniques in "Jenny Bristow USA". The dishes range from Fresh Herb and Sweetcorn Fritters with Cranberry and Chili Ketchup; Maple-Glazed Chicken Wings; and Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Sweet Ginger, Soy and Spring Onion Glaze; to Rum and Pecan Sauce; Hazelnut and Cappuccino Brownies; and (an all time favorite!) Fruit and Nut Snickerdoodles. Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photographs of finished dishes, "Jenny Bristow USA" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any family or community library cookbook collections!

New World Provence
Alessandra Quaglis & Jean-Francis Quaglia
Arsenal Pulp Press
341 Water Street, Suite 200, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6B 1B8
9781551522234, $22.95 www.arsenalpulp.com

There are reasons why French cooking enjoys a world-wide reputation for the excellence of its cuisine. Now the husband-and-wife team of Alessandra and Jean-Francis Quaglia (proprietor-chefs of the immently respected Provence Mediterranean Grill and the Provence Marinaside restaurants in Vancouver, Canada) have compiled "New World Provence: Modern French Cooking For Friends And Family", a cookbook collection featuring an impressive series of simple but elegant recipes specifically designed for the palates and preferences of contemporary North Americans. Graced with beautiful full color photography of finished dishes, "New World Provence" recipes are enhanced with a succinct anecdotal introduction introducing the recipe, which then lists the necessary ingredients and a series of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions for preparing the dish. From such gourmet delicacies as Stewed Squid in Tomato Saffron Sauce, to such hearty fare as Warm Potato Salad with L'Ancienne Mustard Vinaigrette, to impressive entrees like Seared Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine & Peppercorn Jus, to dessert delicacies such as a Lemon Tart, "New World Provence" is an elegant and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Texas Hill Country Cookbook
Scott Cohen & Marian Betancourt
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762743759, $24.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495

The collaboration of Scott Cohen (Executive Chef of Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas and the Pesca restaurant on the River in the Watermark Hotel and Spa) and food critic and author Marian Betancourt, "The Texas Hill Country Cookbook: A Taste Of Provence" is a showcase compendium of French influenced contemporary Texas cuisine. Superbly enhanced throughout with full color images of finished dishes by award winning food photographer Ron Manville, the recipes are organized into chapters dealing with appetizers; salads and sandwiches; fish, meat, and poultry; vegetables and side dishes; desserts; glazes and rubs. Replete with insightful and practical tips for preparing these memorable dishes, of special note are the many suggestions having to do with presentation and plating. From Squash Blossom Roasted Corn Huitlacoche Soup; Young Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad; Roasted Chilean Sea Bass; and Texas Pecan-Crusted Chicken Skewers; to Texas Home Fries; Honey Lavender Ice Cream; Chocolate and Roasted pepper Cheesecake; and Barbecue Pepper Glaze, each of these 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes would grace any dining occasion with gourmet quality meals.

Dinnertime Easy Slow Cooker Recipes
Better Homes & Garden
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50336-0001
9780696236297, $19.95 www.meredithbooks.com 1-800-678-8091

With an enclosed spiral binding permitting its pages to open and lay flat upon a kitchen table or counter, the Better Homes & Garden specialty cookbook, "Dinnertime Easy Slow Cooker Recipes" showcases more than 400 wonderfully delicious, easy to prepare, appetite satisfying, palate pleasing dishes that can be made with minimal effort in a slow cooker or crock pot. Even the most novice of kitchen cooks can successfully prepare a diversity of different dishes using the step-by-step recipes for appetizers and beverages, soups and stews, slow cooked sides, meaty main dishes, poultry entrees, meatless main dishes, desserts, and 'Holiday Make-Aheads'. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to using the slow cooker for 'Small Batch Cooking'. From a Tex-Mex Casserole, to Moroccan Short Ribs, to Turkey Brats In Beer, to a Meatless Shepard's Pie, this simply outstanding cookbook is confidently recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

The Prairie Table Cookbook
Bill Kurtis & Michelle M. Martin
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
9781402210495, $29.95 www.sourcebooks.com 1-800-432-7444

Featuring more than one hundred recipes contributed by such luminary experts as Chef Charlie Trotter (Charlie Trotter's Restaurant), chef rick Bayloess (Frontera Grill), Executive Chef Paul Katz (Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse), Chef David Burns (Stadium Clube, Wrigley Field), and such legendary feef experts as Will rogers, Gene Autry, Dale Evans, Kansas governor Kathleen Sebelius, and dodge City Mayor Jim Sherer, "The Prairie Table Cookbook" offers a culinary wealth of terrific recipes, including some favorites of Native Americans, pioneers, the U.S. Calvary, and trail riding cowboys of the old west. Also included along with the great recipes is the story of the Tallgrass Beef Company, the science underlying the great taste of grass-fed beef, historical photos, anecdotes, and stories drawn from cowboy life. Profusely illustrated throughout, the recipes range from Pemmican; Buffalo Tongue; Beef Jerkey; and Barbecue Style Meatloaf; to Texas Beef Tips; Filet of Beef Bourguignon; Mom's Recipe for Chicken Fried Steak; and Braised Tallgrass Beef Short Ribs Asian-Style with Baby Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Jasimine Rice. For appetite satisfaction, you can't beat the historic, gourmet quality, 'kitchen cook friendly' dishes that comprise "The Prairie Table Cookbook"!

Blokes With Stoves
Margaret Watson
Rain Publishing
2025 Guelph Line, Suite 264, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7P 4X4
9781897381113, $17.99 www.rainbooks.com

Spiral bound enabling it to lay out flat on a kitchen counter, "Blokes With Stoves: Hot As You Like It" by Margaret Watson is a collection of terrific recipes that any guy (or gal) with basic kitchen skills can put together and serve up for friends, family, or simply themselves. After an informative and succinct introduction, followed by a glossary of terms in 'First Things First', the chapters are composed of recipes suitable for cooking with children; comfort foods; brunch lunch dishes; hot and spicy items; quick and easy meals; and (it wouldn't be a guy's cookbook without it) barbeque. Of special note are the chapters 'Clean Out the Fridge Day'; 'Out to Impress'; Breakfast in Bed'. The concluding chapter 'Baker's Dozen and a Bit' offers twenty-five pages of culinary delights. Unique, 'user friendly', and suitable for any kitchen cookbook collection, "Blokes With Stoves" is a particularly ideal choice for guys with limited budgets, demanding appetites, and novice kitchen skills!

Cooking With Marie
Marie Hejl
Bright Sky Press
340 South Second Street, Albany, TX 76430
9781933979106, $29.95 www.brightskypress.com 1-866-933-6133

Marie Hejl is a self-taught cook who grew up in a family of two working parents and three hungry brothers. Learning how to cook for her family as a young girl, Marie hosted her first cooking show ('Kid's Cooking') at the age of ten. She went on to host another cooking show as an adult some twenty years later. In "Cooking With Marie On Any Occasion", Marie draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in the kitchen to compile some of her favorite recipes. Each individual recipe is introduced with a brief anecdotal story with the dishes being organized into chapters dedicated to Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Starter Soups and Salads, Side Dishes, Main Courses, and Desserts. Designed specifically for busy young professionals, people who genuinely enjoy entertaining, cooking enthusiasts, newly weds, college kids, guys wanting to impress a date by cooking a special dinner, women who don't feel particularly comfortable in the kitchen, and anyone else who qualifies as a culinary novice, "Cooking With Marie" is an ideal introduction to preparing dishes that are as impressive as they are nutritious, and as 'kitchen cook friendly' as they are appetite satisfying for any and all dining occasions. From a Sunrise Coffee Cake that serves 8, to Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches which serves 4 to 8, to Simple Sweet Potatoes serving 4, to a Something-To-Celebrate Carrot Cake that serves 10, "Cooking With Marie" will prove to be a very popular and nicely illustrated addition to personal and community library cookbook collections!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Age Of Bronze: Betrayal, Part One
Eric Shanower
Image Comics, Inc.
1942 University Avenue, Suite 305, Berkeley, CA 94704
9781582408453, $27.95 www.imagecomics.com

Artist and author Eric Shanower retells the story of the Trojan War in his unique graphic novel series "The Age Of Bronze". Shanower's opus is laid out incorporating the perspectives of both the Greeks and the Trojans. His artwork is visually detailed. His attention to accuracy in historical detail and minutia is truly impressive. His ability to make these historic characters speak in a modern linguistic style but still remain absolutely believable to the reader is the mark of a master storyteller. Complex, definitive, and memorable, Shanower is able to perfectly capture the basic drives, emotions, ambitions, loves, obsessions, jealousies, hardships, and human frailties of all the men and women, from bit players to center stage stars of one of the most popular sagas in all of human literature. As informed and informative as it is engaging and entertaining, "Age Of Bronze: Betrayal, Part One" is the first hardcover volume in this outstanding series and is enthusiastically recommended for school and community library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of history buffs and non-specialist general readers with an interest in this ancient history and the enduring recognizability of the human condition.

Ascend: Special Edition
Keith Arem
PCB Productions Inc.
5150 Amestroy Avenue, Encino, CA 91316
1600101372, $35.00 www.pcbproductions.com

"Ascend" by Keith Arem is the story of Sebastian, a young man who is tragically killed, only to find himself a reluctant draftee in the Purgatory Wars where he is reunited with his deceased brother Gideon -- who has become the most powerful angel in the Legions of heaven and plans to lead a coup to regain their family's power. Realizing he holds the key to ending this war in Heaven, Sebastian must face his brother before Gideon destroys the cycle of life on Earth. A superbly written and original story set in a post-apocalyptic heaven where Angles battle over 'harvested' human souls in the Purgatory Wars, "Ascend: Special Edition is also available in a hard cover edition (1600101380, $75.00), "Ascend: Special Edition" is a strongly recommended addition to personal and community library graphic novel collections and action/adventure fantasy reading lists.

Modern Masters Volume Fourteen: Frank Cho
Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614
9781893905849, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

The latest in TwoMorrows Publishing's tribute series to great comic book artists of today, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen: Frank Cho is an in-depth interview with award-winning Korean-American comic writer and artist Frank Cho, known for his penchant for drawing monkeys, dinosaurs, and beautiful women. Author of the popular comic strip "Liberty Meadows" as well as acclaimed runs on the Marvel comic titles "Shanna the She-Devil", "Spider-Man", and "The Mighty Avengers", among other works, Cho brings a refreshing balance of action, humor, and unabashed love for his work to the comic page. In Modern Masters Volume Fourteen, Cho talks about the pressures to pursue more traditional careers rather than become a comic artist, his efforts to break into the industry, the creators who most influenced him, the creative storytelling process, life, the universe, and everything. "I was all geared to go to the Maryland Institute of Art until I visited the campus... It was a bunch of modern art nonsense - abstract art and splatter paint and weird stuff just for weird's sake. It wasn't an art school, it was basically a playground for pretentious rich kids." Illustrated with black-and-white samples of Cho's work and art pieces that inspired Cho, including some rare sketches from Cho's college days, Modern Masters Volume Fourteen is not only a "must-have" for any fan of Frank Cho's comics; it's pure fun to read for any comic lover.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Arc Marine
Dawn J. Wright, Michael J. Blongewicz, Patrick N. Halpin, & Joe Breman
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589480179, $47.95 www.esri.com

Assembled by expert researchers, Arc Marine: GIS for a Blue Planet is an advanced guide to working with marine research data in a geographic information system (GIS) using a new geodatabase model. Intended especially for oceanographers, fishery managers, and other marine scientists and researchers, Arc Marine explains its standardized marine data model (named "Arc Marine", hence the book's title) for ESRI's ArcGIS software. Chapters walk the reader through how to use the data structure to craft research results that lend themselves to quick and easy integration and collaboration with the work of other researchers. Full-color illustrations, including numerous computer screenshots, enhance Arc Marine. A detailed, no-nonsense discussion of an invaluable scientific tool, highly recommended for professionals in the field.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Prisoner and the Kings
William Sears
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-2844
9781931847414, $12.00 http://books.bahai.us

Bahai teacher William Sears presents The Prisoner and the Kings: How One Man Changed the Course of History, a historical account of the Prophet Bahaullah, founder of the Bahai faith. Between 1867 and 1873, Bahaullah was a solitary prisoner in a Turkish penal colony who wrote a series of letters to kings and emperors, predicting the course of modern history with surprising accuracy. The Prisoner and the Kings examines what Bahaullah's letters have to say about the fall of kingdoms, the decline of religious institutions, all of which happened in his day, as well as what his predictions can tell us about humanity in the twenty-first century. An amazing account sure to fascinate readers of all faiths, especially recommended for Bahai religious history and college library shelves.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Wonder Women of the Bible
Brenda Poinsett
New Hope Publishers
100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242-5235
9781596690943, $14.99 www.amazon.com

Wonder Women of the Bible: Heroes of Yesterday Who Inspire Us Today is an inspirational discussion of notable female figures in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Discussing the biblical stories, including how God chose to involve each heroine in His holy plans, Wonder Women of the Bible offers a springboard of hope and a model for faithful living for Christian women of the modern day. From opening oneself to true wisdom and courage, as the Wise Women of Abel did, to preparing for battle when needed, as Deborah did, to embracing good works, as Dorcas did, Wonder Women of the Bible reveals a myriad of paths to self-improvement in both secular and religious spheres. An enlightening and spiritually uplifting guide.

Cradling My Heart
Cindy Zompetti
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781414108711, $11.99 www.winepressgroup.com

Author Cindy Zompetti seeks to share her breakthrough revelation in Cradling My Heart, the story of her journey from terrible depression to the peace and solace of God's love. Chapters teach the reader of her "Pain-to-Paper" method, that helped her deal with the suffering of losing her beloved mother, among other traumatic personal events. Written to help other readers let go of negative feelings, gain greater control over their own emotions, and feel the warmth of God's hands cradling one's wounded heart, Cradling My Heart is a spiritually uplifting and welcome addition to Christian household and church libraries.


The Poetry Shelf

First Things to Hand
Robert Pinsky
Sarabande Books
2234 Dundee Road, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40205
9781932511345, $9.95 www.sarabandebooks.org 1-800-283-3572

First Things to Hand is a free-verse poetry chapbook by teacher and prizewinning poet Robert Pinsky, contemplating the most elementary of ordinary items yet revealing the distinctions each object sheds upon the multifaceted human experience. Quickly absorbed yet promoting extended contemplation, First Things to Hand reveals the uniqueness within the mundane. "Photograph": Light-inscribed / Likeness // Vulnerable to light, / To the oils of the hand. // The paper sensitive / The dyes ephemeral // The very medium / A trace of absences. // Speed of the years / Speed of the shutter. // The child's father / Crouches level to her // With the camera and so / She crouches too. // Agile the dancer. / Little room // Of the camera, wide / Gaze of exposure- // Shiva the maker / Shiva the destroyer: // The flash of your hammer / Fashions the shelter.

Turkish Pears In August
Robert Bly
Eastern Washington University Press
705 West 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201
9781597660235, $19.95 http://ewupress.ewu.edu 1-800-508-9095

Previously only available to a select group of readers in a limited letterpress edition, the Eastern Washington University Press has republished "Turkish Pears In August: Twenty-Four Ramages", an enthusiastically recommended collection of memorable poetry by the Minneapolis-based poet Robert Bly. 'Ramage' is from the French word 'rameau' and echoed in the English word 'ramify'. Bly created a new poetic form and chose to call it 'Ramage' to signify the sensual, earthy, mystical, and vigorous life force of his new poetry. 'Lovers in the River': Peony blossoms open in starlight. The lovers/Cross the river carefully, secretly, secretly./All night horses stamp on the sandy island./Husbands feel uneasy tonight. Their wives/have gathered with Krishna in the river,/their bodies sweetened by glad bones./While David sings, stars fall into the sea; Uriah/Dies...It is the madness of the dark-faced God.


The Art Shelf

Connecting the Dots
Tyree Guyton, artist
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333204, $60.00 http://wsupress.wayne.edu 1-800-978-7323

Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project is the first thorough assembly of writings concerning this Detroit art installation, first created in 1986 by Tyree Guyton with the aim of transforming a decaying neighborhood scarred by crime, prostitution and gangs. With the ordinary materials around him (used toys, car parts, and debris) and his trademark affection for colorful polka dots, Guyton completely metamorphosed several homes and vacant lots on Heidelberg Street into a stunning art environment and one of the city's most well-known tourist attractions. Illustrated with full-color photographs. The transformation did not happen overnight; at first, some of Guyton's staunchest opponents were Detroit's leaders, who bulldozed his art on the claim that the buildings it decorated were safety hazards. Full color photographs illustrate this amazing tour of the power of art and one man's dedication to peacefully fight for a better neighborhood. Highly recommended as an inspirational addition to both public library and private artbook collections.


The Biography Shelf

Writing for Love and/or Money
Frank D. Gilroy
Smith & Kraus, Inc.
400 Bedford Street, Suite 322, Manchester, NH 03101
9781575255712, $19.95 www.smithandkraus.com 1-888-282-2881

Pulitzer-winning playwright Frank D. Gilroy presents Writing for Love and/or Money: Outtakes from a Life on Spec, a memoir of his life as a writer and a gambler, his service during World War II, and his double love affairs with failure and success. Composed entirely of brief vignettes strung together into a narrative whole - told in present tense, a technique that emphasizes the feel of the moment - Writing for Love and/or Money recounts the practical difficulties of writing to earn one's daily bread, whether as a journalist, a playwright, or a script writer, and the colorful ups and downs of a life boldly lived. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this unforgettable, flowing life story.


The International Studies Shelf

Everyday Subversion
Kerry Kathleen Riley
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
9780870138010, $69.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

"Everyday Subversion: From Joking to Revolting In The German Democratic Republic" by independent scholar and researcher Kerry Kathleen Riley, traces the evolution of the grassroots social movement in the former German Demoractice Republic (GDR) and its democratically spirited, ultimately subversive forms of communication that were practiced in resistance to the communist regime that dominated the country and its institutions until the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the eventual reunification of Germany as a truly functioning democracy. A superb body of original scholarship, "Everyday Subversion" is a seminal work enhanced with extensive notes, a selected bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it an informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking contribution to university and other academic library International Studies reference collections in general, and 20th Century German History supplemental reading lists in particular.


The Native American Shelf

The Rock Art of Arizona
Ekkehart Malotki
Kiva Publishing
21731 East Buckskin Drive, Walnut, CA 91789
9781885772381, $35.00 1-909-595-6833

Arizona is home to one of the largest and most diversity collections of rock paintings and engraving known to archaeology. These artistic expressions and pictographic communications are principally the work of paleo-indians. Author and rock art enthusiast Ekkehart Malotki has compiled more than 384 photographs in "The Rock Art of Arizona: Art For Life's Sake", a 200-page introduction to the functions and meanings of rock art so far as archaeologists can decipher them. Intrinsic works of beauty, often in peril of vandalism, "The Rock Art Of Arizona" is a timely, seminal, and invaluable contribution to the growing library of information on this unique from of human expression. "The Rock Art Of Arizona" is a strongly recommended addition to academic library Native American Studies reference collections, and will prove to be of immense interest to non-specialist general readers with an interest in Native American Art, as well as North American Archaeology.

Silver + Stone
Mark Bahti
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
9781887896351, $40.00 www.rionuevo.com

Profusely illustrated throughout with full color photography, "Silver + Stone: Profiles Of American Indian Jewelers" by Mark Bahti (a renowned Southwestern scholar, writer and art dealer who drew upon his many years of personal experience and professional expertise) is the story of some sixty-five Native American artisans who have created a distinctive contemporary jewelry that blends tradition and innovation in combining gemstones with the sheen of polished silver. The result is an informed and informative compendium of biographical vignettes that will lead to a broader and more appreciative recognition for the quality and artistry of contemporary Native American jewelry. "Silver + Stone" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Native American Cultural Studies and Native American Art reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Gaming Shelf

Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker
Ken Warren
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119
1580421024, $19.95 www.cardozapub.com 1-800-577-9467

Next to Texas Hold'em, Omaha is acknowledged as the second most popular tournament poker game -- and often rivals Texas Hold'em in popularity among European players. A complex, high-action 'flop' game, Omaha Poker is one of the premier tournaments in the annual World Series of Poker. Now Omaha poker expert Ken Warren draws upon his many years of experience to write the "Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker: The Smart Player's Guide To Winning At Omaha". Warren deftly covers the rules and basics of play; provides more than one hundred illustrative sample hands, has compiled expert tables of Omaha odds, features forty hand selection guidelines and tips, includes forty-one tournament play tips, even offers applicable information on internet play! Of special note are Warren's comments on fundamental and money-making concepts for those seeking to become professional Omaha Poker players. There is even a useful glossary that will prove invaluable to the novice Omaha player. Ken Warren's "Winner's Guide To Omaha Poker" is a fundamental and strongly recommended addition to personal and community library Gaming & Card Playing reference collections.

Girl's Guide To Poker
Eliza Burnett
Hamlyn/Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9780600615910, 49.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com 1-800-805-5489

Poker, especially No Limit Texas Hold 'em, is an exclusive province of male players no more. Every local, regional, and national poker tournament is seeing more and more women entering the fray to pit their skills against their fellow players. Indeed, an increasing number of women are following the examples of outstanding female players Annie Duke, Cindy Violette, Kathy Liebert, Jennifer Harman and Clony Gowan in becoming professional poker players and earn their living at Texas Hold 'em in both cash games and tournament play alike. Now poker enthusiast Eliza Burnett has written the "Girl's Guide to Poker" providing a comprehensive introduction to playing Texas Hold 'em, including the terminology and tactics of the game at all of its stages. Readers will learn when and how to call, check, raise, and fold. Often women will have an advantage over their male counterparts with a superior ability to read body language, calculate odds, and compete successfully in what once was a 'man's world'. Readers will learn basic strategy, intermediate strategy, and advanced strategy, how to analyze the game, as well as when, where, and how to go 'All In'. The "Girl's Guide To Poker" should be considered a 'must read' by women wanting to learn about (and try their hand at) the premier poker game that is Texas Hold 'em -- and has much of value for even the more experienced female player!

The Complete Chess Workout
Richard Palliser
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445329, $29.95 www.globepequot.com 1-800-243-0495

A skilled and prolific chess writer, Richard Palliser is also an International Master with numerous tournament successes and in 2006 became the Join British Rapidplay Champion. Clearly, he brings his many years of experience and expertise to bear in writing "The Complete Chess Workout", a comprehensive training manual for chess tactics that will prove invaluable for aspiring chess players from the novice to the expert. Special note should be made that all of the featured 1200 chess puzzles designed to built chess playing skills have been checked by computer engines. Thoroughly 'player friendly', "The Complete Chess Workout is nicely organized into eight distinct chapters: Warming Up!; Attack!; Opening Tricks and Traps; Skill in the Endgame; Loose Pieces and Overloading; Fiendish Calculation; Test Yourself; and Solutions. A comprehensive course of chess instruction under one cover, "The Complete Chess Workout" truly lives up to its title and will prove to be a welcome addition to personal, academic, and community library chess instruction reference collections.


The Parenting Shelf

Teaching Kids To Care
Bettie B. Youngs, et al.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
9781571745484, $16.95 www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009

The collaborative work of academician Bettie B. Youngs, clinical psychologist and philanthropist Joanne Wolf, business entrepreneur Joani Wafer, and cultural anthropologist Dawn Lehman, "Teaching Kids To Care: Nurturing Character And Compassion" focuses upon assisting parents to instill life-enhancing values into the characters of their children through the repeated practice of caring for others (and for themselves) through the five 'touchstones' of Interdependence, Connection, Perspective, Gratitude, and Inspiration. Of special note are the chapters devoted to 'Inspiring Testimonials from Kids Korps USA Experiences'; 'Kids Korps USA'; and 'Creating a Caring Epidemic in Your Community'. Enhanced with two appendices (Resources for Teaching Kids to Care and Suggested Reading), as well as extensive Endnotes, "Teaching Kids To Care" is thoroughly 'parent friendly' and highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Parenting Skills Development reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Literary Shelf

Desert Gothic
Don Waters
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587296241, $16.00 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Winner of the 2007 Iowa Short Fiction Award, "Desert Gothic" by Don Waters is a collection of superbly written short stories set against the desert backgrounds of Nevada and Arizona. The characters are memorable, the plots imaginatively original, the language beautifully rendered, and the cumulative effect clearly documenting Waters as a master storyteller. The individual stories comprising this outstanding and very highly recommended anthology include: What to Do with the Dead; Sheets; Mr. Epstein and the Dealer; Dan Buck; Mineral and Steel; Blood Management; Holiday at the Shamrock; The Bulls at San Luis; Little Sins; and Mormon in Heat. "Desert Gothic" is a welcome and impressive addition to personal, academic, and community library Contemporary American Literature collections and supplemental reading lists.

William Maxwell: Early Novels And Stories
Christopher Carduff, editor
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
9781598530162, $35.00 www.loa.org

The late William Maxwell (1908-2000) served for forty years as an editor at 'The New Yorker' magazine. An Illinois-boarn realist whose literary works provided his readers with 'windows' into small-town midwestern family life of the 1910 and 1920s, Maxwell's own mastery of American prose style was (and remains) unsurpassed by any of his contemporary including Eudora Welty, J. D. Slainger, John Updike, and Alice Munro (all of whom he was a first reader of their fiction in his professional capacity with 'The New Yorker'). Now his four early novels (Bright Centory of Heaven; They Came Like Swallows; The Folded Leaf; and Time Will Darken It) have been collected under one cover, along with nine of his early short stories, and his essay 'The Writer as Illusionist' which he wrote in 1955. "William Maxwell: Early Novels And Stories" is a valued and very strongly recommended addition to community, college, and university American Literature reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Tending The Heart Of Virtue
Vigen Guroian
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
0195117875, $35.00 www.oup.com/us 1-800-451-7556

First published in 1987, "Tending The Heart Of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken A Child's Moral Imagination" by Vigen Guroian (Professor of Theology and Ethics, Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland) illustrated and illuminates how fair tales and fantasies educate the moral imagination throughout childhood. Now in a new edition from Oxford University Press, a new generation of parents and teachers can benefit from what Professor Guroian has to say about the beneficial ethical and moral implications and embedded teachings in such literary classics as Pinocchio; The Velveteen Rabbit; The Little Mermaid; The Wind in the Willows; Charlotte's Web; Bambi; The Snow Queen; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Princess and the Goblin; and Prince Caspian. Of special note is Professor Guroian's bibliography essay that concludes this seminally informed and informative literary inquiry and study. "Tending The Heart Of Virtue" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to academic and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists in the fields of Literary Studies, as well as Philosophy & Ethics.


The Travel Shelf

Touring The East Tennessee Backroads
Carolyn Sakowski
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873507, $20.95 www.blairpub.com 1-800-222-9796

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Touring The East Tennessee Backroads" by travel writer and historian Carolyn Sakowski is an illustrated compilation of driving tours through the scenic and historic landscapes comprising the eastern Tennessee country. There are twelve distinctive 'user friendly' tours laid out, ranging from 'The First Frontier' that includes the Sycamore Shoals, Elizabethton, Wilbur Lake, Watauga Dam, Siam, Gap Creek Road, happy Valley, Milligan, and Johnson City; to 'The Trail of Tears Tour' that includes the Red Clay State Historical Area, Benton, Charleston, Cleveland, Blythe Ferry, Dayton, Pikeville, Fall Creek Fals State Resort Park, Dunlap, Signal Mountain, Jasper, and Lookout Mountain. Enhanced with an appendix, a select bibliography, and an index, "Touring The East Tennessee Backroads" is especially recommended for anyone planning a visit to the East Tennessee country -- and is perfect for the armchair traveler who would like to!

Ancient Greece: An Explorer's Guide
Robert Emmet Meagher & Elizabeth Parker Neave
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566566827, $24.00 www.interlinkbooks.com

"Ancient Greece: An Explorer's Guide" is the collaborative work of Robert Emmet Meagher (Professor of Humanities at Hampshire College) and Elizabeth Parker Neave (a travel writer and expert on the Greek islands). Impressively enhanced throughout with a profusion of photographs, maps, site plans, "Ancient Greece: An Explorer's Guide" is the ideal travel planning guide for visiting the sites, and surveying the beauty, and appreciating the history of Greece. Superbly organized, "Ancient Greece: An Explorer's Guide" begins with informative chapters on 'Envisioning and Planning Your Trip';'A Walk through Ancient Greece'; and 'Getting Acquainted with Greece'. Then follows four itineraries that are roughly chronological in history: Minoan Civilization: Crete 1900-1400 B.C.E.; Mycenaean Civilization: The Peloponnese 1500-1100 B.C.E.; Classical Civilization: Athens and Attika 480-336 B.C.E.; and Aegean Civilization: The Cyclades 30000-336 B.C.E. "Ancient Greece: An Explorer's Guide" is an impressive addition for any personal or community library travel guide reference collection, and (being perfect for the 'armchair traveler') is especially recommended for non-specialist general reader contemplating trip to Greece for business or pleasure.


The Political Science Shelf

Government Public Relations
Mordecai Lee
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
1420062778, $79.95 www.crcpress.com 1-800-272-7737

Every agency and faction of the federal government from the President to the Post Office has a public relations element for the purpose of explaining their policies, spinning bad news, and touted their accomplishments. In a very real season, contemporary politics and governance dictates that public relations is public administration. Organized, compiled, and edited by Mordecai Lee, "Government Public Relations: A Reader" is a compendium of articles, essays, and commentaries that address the theory, practice, and context of government public relations; underscores the importance, value and uses of PR as tools to advance the goals of government; covers the role of PR in media Relations, public reporting responsiveness, out-reach, and crisis management; examines the increasing use of nonprofit agencies to deliver government funded services; considers future trends likely to influence the field of public relations in government; provides an introductory overview, discussion questions, and a list of additional reading for each section; includes an extensive appendix consisting of an annotated bibliography of relevant historical literature; and compiles contemporary writings from international sources. A superb introductory text, "Government Public Relations" is strongly recommended as a core addition to professional, academic, and community library reference collections in the areas of Political Science, Business & Management, and Public Administration.


The Library Science Shelf

Virtual Reference Service
R. David Lankes, et al.
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555705282, $75.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

With the coming of the internet, the phenomena of the 'Virtual Library' has become ubiquitous for community, academic, corporate, and governmental libraries and library systems around the world. Compiled and edited by the team of librarians and information technology experts R. David Lankes, Scott Nicholson, Marie l. Radford, Joanne Silverstein, Lynn Westbrook, and Philip Nast, "Virtual Reference Service: From Competencies To Assessment" provides the cutting edge of Virtual Reference Services (VRS), summarizing important research, illustrating VRS principles and practices with real-world case examples and case studies. Of special note are the discussion on programs and tools that libraries can utilize to enhance their current offerings ranging from Instant Messaging, to subject-specific taxonomies enabling virtual medical and health reference support. "Virtual Reference Service" is a key and fundamentally recommended addition Library Science reference collections and library staff member in-house training supplemental reading lists.

Gamers... in the Library?!
Eli Neiburger
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909447, $42.00 www.alastore.ala.org 1-866-746-7252

Technology manager of the Ann Arbor District Library and lifetime gamer Eli Neiburger presents Gamers... in the Library?! The Why, What, and How of Videogame Tournaments for All Ages, a guide to planning, setting up, and running video game tournaments in a public library in order to earn a place in the hearts and minds of local video game fans. "Games are content too, and as a format, they are in high demand in your community, especially among those pesky nontraditional library users." Chapters discuss why tournaments specifically are a preferable option for incorporating videogames into the library (public game kiosks or unlimited browser-based games foster animosity over the limited resource of access to the game), why it's important to choose one's software before choosing hardware, why serving food can be beneficial (but there's no need for beverages other than ice water), and much more. A tournament based on a game that involves physical activity such as Dance Dance Revolution can even promote exercise and fitness! The step-by-step instructions for successfully hosting a tournament are especially appreciated in this top-notch resource, recommended not only for public libraries but also for anyone seeking to promote social fun and community-building through gaming.


The Sports Shelf

Backcountry Skiing
Martine Volken, Scott Schell, Margaret Wheeler
The Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
9781594850387, $19.95 www.mountaineersbooks.org 1-800-553-4453

The collaborative effort of Martine Volken (IFMGA certified Swiss Mountain Guide, founder and owner of Pro Guiding Services and Pro Ski Service of North Bend, Washington); Scott Schell, and certified AMGA Ski Mountaineering Guides Scott Shell and Margaret Wheeler, "Backcountry Skiing: Skills For Ski Touring And Ski Mountaineering" is an informed and informative instructional guide and manual for skiing safely in winter mountain terrains and trails. Aspiring skiers are provided with intermediate to advanced level techniques for ski touring and mountaineering; skills for mastering uphill travel; primers on mountain weather and avalanche safety; practical advice on selecting gear, troubleshooting, and adapting to varying conditions; vital information on constructing emergency shelters and sleds; as well as a wealth of useful tips for wilderness trip planning and navigation. Comprehensive, up-to-date, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "Backcountry Skiing" is strongly recommended for anyone contemplating skiing mountain terrain in winter conditions anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

The New England League
Charlie Bevis
McFarland & Company Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786431595, $29.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Author Charlie Bevis, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, presents The New England League: A Baseball History, 1885-1949, an amazing tour of the history of the New England League during the early decades of minor league baseball. Chapters explore the ties baseball had to the regional economy and the textile industry, as well as the groundbreaking first examples of playoffs, night baseball and integration. Chapters are arranged in more or less chronological order, surveying the changes that circulated through the sport every five to ten years, in this absorbing and one-of-a-kind study of baseball's origins, written for lay readers and sport historians alike.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Orc King
R. A. Salvatore
Wizards Of The Coast, Inc.
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
9780786943401, $27.95 www.wizards.com 1-800-821-8028

R. A. Salvatore is a master storyteller who particularly excels in the specialized genre of heroic fantasy. His originality and award winning literary talents are once again document with the release of "The Orc King", the first volume in a new trilogy of fantasy adventure involving the orc tribes, the dwarves of Mithral hall, and the struggle of Drizzt Do'Urden to bring about peace in a forgotten realm. A 'must' for Salvatore's legions of fans, "The Orc King" will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the next two installments of his Forgotten Realms 'Transitions' trilogy: "The Pirate King" (October 2008) and "The Ghost King" (October 2009). One happy serendipity is that this hardcover edition of "The Orc King" also features a bibliographic page in the beginning of the book that lists (in their proper order) all of the previously published titles in the Wizard Of The Coast thirteen book series 'The Legend Of Drizzt'; 'The Hunter's Blades Trilogy'; their three part series "The Sellswords'; and the five volumes comprising "The Cleric Quintet' series.


The Library DVD Shelf

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
AMP-9721, $149.99 www.acornmedia.com 1-800-949-8670

Now in a DVD boxed set containing all four seasons of one of the best British mystery series to every come out of the BBC production facilities, "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates" stars the brilliant British actress Patricia Routledge as a 60-something housewife-turned-detective. Her cases range from missing persons to homicides, all of which she tackles with the aid of Geoffrey (her young apprentice in the detective business) and the occasional assistance of her husband Robert. This boxed set not only contains all of the episodes in each of the four seasons of this popular series broadcast over PBS as part of their "Mystery!" programming, it also features a feature-length bonus program (Missing Persons) that served as the pilot episode, as well as an interview with Patricia Routledge, production notes, photo galleries, and cast filmographies. The thirteen discs comprising this enthusiastically recommended and unfailingly entertaining boxed set has a combined running time of 24 hours and 15 minutes.

Farewell Israel
Joel Gilbert, director
MVD Visual
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
Dan Smith (publicity)
DVD, $14.95 www.highway61ent.com dan@smithpublicity.com

"Farewell Israel: Bush, Iran and the Revolt of Islam" is a informed and informative political documentary discussing the political history of the Islamic religion and culture, and the dire resulting implications for Israel's future. Meticulous and thorough in its correction of common Western misperceptions - for example, the world "salam", mistranslated as "peace", literally means something closer to "truce" - Farewell Israel opens with an overview of Islam, then delves into a lengthy survey of Islamic history from the Prophet Mohammed's era through the rise and fall of an Islamic empire to World War II and the modern day. The last portion of Farewell Israel divests itself of political neutrality, instead forcefully proclaiming director Joel Gilbert's emotionally charged message that modern Islamic culture can only accept Jews living in their midst if they have second-class citizen status, and that modern Islam unilaterally demands the extermination of Jewish political independence. A doomsday scenario for Israel's future is presented, along with the insistence that Israel cannot trade land for peace - instead it is claimed that Israel will never get anything in return for giving up its land. As long as one is careful not to regard future projections, opinions, and political presumptions of the closing scenes as fact, Farewell Israel is an extraordinarily educational historical documentary.


The Music CD Shelf

Lagos By Bus
Aphrodesia
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
Cyber 1039, $15.99 www.aphrodesia.org www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Featuring an Afrobeat, but also drawing substantially on Afro-Cuban music, Ghanalan highlife, and jazz, the San Francisco-based band Aphrodesia offers two women vocalists whose songs alternate from chant to melodic song. With flawless production values, their new CD "Lagos By Bus" features nine outstanding tracks that include: Virgin of the Son God (5:00); White Elephant (3:34); Holy Ghost Invasion (1:55); Bus Drive (7:39); Ago Mado (1:33); Ochun Mi (6:25); Every Day (7:09); Agayu (6:21); and World Under Fire (7:50). Distinctive, rhythmic, original, and memorable, "Lagos By Bus" is a superb addition to personal and community library CD music collections.

New York
Ron Kaplan
Kapland Records
PO Box 742, Aptos, CA 95001
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CD, $13.47 www.RonKaplan.com www.greatamericansongbook.org

California native and contemporary jazz singer Ron Kaplan has long admired the energy, drive, and exuberance of New York City; his album New York is a tribute to the great, bustling metropolis. Assisting him are a talented assortment of fellow musicians: co-producer, arranger, and pianist Larry Dunlap; bassist Seward McCain and drummer Akira Tana for the rhythm section; and Erik Jekabson on trumpet and Noel Jewkes on saxophone and clarinet for the horn section. This band's unique take on a dozen classic tunes reflecting New York itself makes for an unabashed celebration of all the city's riches. The tracks are New York State of Mind, Jumpin' with Symphony Sid, New York New York/Broadway, Lullaby of Broadway, Take the "A" Train, Drop Me Off in Harlem, Harlem Nocturne, Forty Second Street, Sunday in New York, On Broadway, Give It Back to the Indians, and Manhattan. Highly recommended.

A Face in the Clouds
Marshall Styler
Styler Music
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
ESM0215D, $17.49 www.MarshallStyler.com

A Face in the Clouds is a restful music CD featuring instrumental piano and keyboard accompaniments. The result is an impressionistic, new age music style ideal for relaxation, meditation, yoga, or simply easing the stress away after a hard days' work. The tracks are A Face in the Clouds (6:42), Ballerina on the Bridge (5:50), If I Could Do It All Again (6:15), A Love Like This (5:09), Morning Hyde Park (Austin) (5:20), Ballad of an Abandoned Road (5:56), Midnight Rain (4th and Colorado) (6:34), Orchards, Vineyards, and Wildflowers Waltz (4:56), and Walking Mansfield Dam (5:58). A spiritually uplifting musical experience.

The Masters Return!
Fabian Zone Trio
Consolidated Artists Productions
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CAP 1010, $14.97 www.christianfabian.com www.jazzbeat.com

Bassist Christian Fabian, pianist Mike Longo, and drummer Lewis Nash, a.k.a. the "Fabian Zone Trio", present The Masters Return!, their latest collaboration recorded live-to-two-track (with the mix happening at the same time and no overdubs) so as to foster improvisation and capture the quintessential moment within the music itself. The result is a lively, one-of-a-kind jazz album sparkling from the unique dynamic that comes from longtime friends and experts intuitively playing to one another's strengths. The tracks are The Wayshowers (4:59), My One and Only Love (6:31), Bebop (4:46), Morning After (4:31), Chameleon (5:27), Summerland (4:32), Willow Weep for Me (4:59), Billies Bounce (3:47), Dear Thaddeus and Roland (4:21), Abian Blue (5:24), All Blues (5:32), and Milestones (5:56). Highly recommended.

Pathfinder
Will Clipman
Canyon Records
3131 West Clarendon Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85017
CR-7075, $15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-602-266-7835

Pathfinder is the creation of four-time Grammy nominee Will Clipman, who intermixes exotic wind instruments, light-touched percussion, and vocal chants, and a variety of drums into a blended palette of worldwide influences. Some songs are contemplative; others burst with energy; all are an uplifting listening experience. The tracks are Daybreak (4:38), Ibo Oye (3:52), One Race (3:51), Bodhisattva (2:37), Kona Honu (2:57), Desert Rain (3:30), Thirteenth Moon (3:12), Pathfinder (3:00), Ma Mere La Mer (4:00), Mi Sonora (3:10), Reflecting Pool (2:42), Barefoot in Cholla (3:36), and After the Storm (5:12). Highly recommended listening.

LoveMusik
Ghostlight Records
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
8-4425, $18.97 www.ghostlightrecords.com www.millerwright.com

LoveMusik is the world premiere CD recording of the Manhattan Theatre Club's new Broadway musical, which has been nominated for four Tony Awards. An epic romance following the complex, globetrotting dynamics between a brilliant German composer and the woman who became his muse and star, as inspired by the real-life letters exchanged between Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya, LoveMusik spans the course of twenty-five years. Divided into twenty-seven tracks, LoveMusik is a grand odyssey featuring the highest quality of singing by Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy, in the starring roles. An absolute "must-have" for any Broadway enthusiast's personal collection.

Nights at the Inn
Dave Tofani Quartet
Solowinds
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, Rhode Island 02910
SW-1723, $15.99 www.solowinds.com

Nights at the Inn is a new album by former Grammy nominee and saxophone artist Dave Tofani, accompanied by top-notch talent. A variety of pacing adds spice to the tracks, some created by Tofani himself while others pay homage to other master songwriters. All the tracks steeped in the ambience of clubs created especially to experience the heady mood of jazz. The songs are Angelica (4:09), Brushes on the Snare (6:21), A Child Is Born (4:26), You Caught Me (4:11), In a Sentimental Mood (5:37), Trip To Madrid (6:03), All the Things You Are (4:16), I Hear a Rhapsody (7:35), What Is This Thing Called Love (5:22), and Violets for Your Furs (5:55). Highly recommended especially for jazz lovers.

Tara Publications
29 Derby Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516
$16.98 each http://tara.com www.jewishmusic.com 1-800-TARA-400

Three music CD albums from Tara Publications celebrate Jewish heritage and culture with emotionally rousing music. "Thank God It's Shabbat!: Friday Evening at Congregation Beth Yeshurun" (TGIS) is an superbly recording CD showcasing a spirited Shabbat service, packed with modern service music, arranges of traditional melodies, and original compositions, making for an upbeat and involving album of worship. "The Z'mirot Sing-Along" (TM601-2) offers forty Shabbat Z'mirot, flawlessly recorded and enthusiastically sung by the popular Israeli duo "The Gilgalim", is a great listening experience for anyone seeking to learn the traditional songs or simply experience them in the moment. "Jewish Super Party" (TM710-2) is an especially lively compilation featuring twenty-one different Jewish party songs perfect for holiday celebrations, exercise, weddings, or bar/bat mitzvah. All are welcome additions to Jewish music CD collections.

In The Key Of Earth
Marjorie de Muynck
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
M1186D, $17.98 www.soundstrue.com 1-800-333-9185

"In The Key Of Earth is a musical celebration of the planet as a living organism, including its pulse, breath, rhythms, and cycles. a master musician and student of oriental medicine and the healing arts, Marjorie de Muynck bends and reinvents the boundaries of sound and music through the use of harmonics created with acoustic instruments. The overtones and harmonics are a kind of vibratory expressionist abstraction that is at once captivating, symphonic, and inspiring. With a total running time of 60:01, there are four pieces comprising this memorable CD: Pulse (16:24); Light (11:15); Ancient Aquifer (7:22); and Breath (24:57). Flawlessly recorded, "In The Key Of Earth" is a unique and welcome addition to personal and community libraries, and is especially recommended for those who appreciate the metaphysical concept of 'sound healing frequency'.


The Audiobook Shelf

Blazin' Boats & Cows on Fire! The Double CD
Baxter Black
Coyote Cowboy Company
PO Box 2190, Benson, AZ 85602
9780939343508, $24.95 www.baxterblack.com 1-800-654-2550

Blazin' Boats & Cows on Fire! The Double CD is an audiobook anthology of cowboy poetry and tall tales from Baxter Black's book of the same name - also including never before released audio versions of classic Baxter Black vignettes not found in the book, such as "I Know You'll Miss This Man" and "The Flag". Some of the tracks were recorded at a live performance; all have the down-to-earth, one-of-a-kind American Western flair that Baxter Black is so well known for. The 2 CDs feature over two hours of short tales, all of which are a treat to listen to, whether a few or a time or all at once. Highly recommended.

Bimbos Of The Death Sun
Sharyn McCrumb
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
C4215, $56.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

"Bimbos Of The Death Sun" is a murder mystery set within the context of a science fiction and fantasy convention. Author Sharyn McCrumb captures what these affairs are like with a detailed precision that resonates with authenticity. For hardcore, dedicated SF&Fantasy fans, some of the characters portrayed will be readily identifiable -- especially the harassed con coordinator, the obnoxious guest author, the social skills deficit guys and gals who dress up in costumes, sing "filk songs", and outside of the convention live the most mundane of personal lives. The "who dunnit" qualities of McCrumb's storytelling skills are simply superb and will engage the listener's total attention from beginning to end. With Recorded Books usual flawless recording qualities, and Ruth Ann Phimister's versatile and expert narration, "Bimbos Of The Death Sun" is a 'must' for any mystery buff or science fiction convention enthusiast -- and certain to be a popular addition to any and all community library audiobook collections.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

You Are Next In Line
Armiger Jagoe
Capital Books, Inc.
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102603, $12.95 www.capital-books.com 1-800-758-3756

Writing one's life story in the form of a personal memoir or an autobiography can have immense value for benefiting posterity. It can also help the author appreciate or otherwise come to terms with their own life experiences, their choices, their successes and failures, their aspirations and achievements, the people they've known, the places they seen, the events they've experienced. Written especially for those who have no special skills or experience in writing, "You Are Next In Line: Everyone's Guide For Writing Your Autobiography" by Armiger Jagoe is the perfect 'how to' instruction guide and manual for recording a life story that will prove worthwhile reading for friends, for family, and for the generations to come. There is also a genealogical value to writing an autobiography with pertinent dates, descriptive relationships, and the ephemeral minutia that will prove of immense interest to future readers and scholars about us in terms of how we lived, and the kind of world we lived in. "Your Are Next In Line" is especially recommended to the attention of anyone who has ever contemplated leaving a written record of their life story as a memorial testament to their own life and times and memories.

Undoing The Silence
Louise Dunlap
New Village Press
POB 3049, Oakland, CA 94609
Consortium Books Sales & Distribution (distributor)
34 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 101, Minneapolis, MN 55413-1007
9780976605492, $20.01 www.cbsd.com 1-800-283-3572

Louise Dunlap began her career as an activist writing instructor during the Berkeley Free Speech Movement of the 1960s. In "Undoing The Silence: Six Tools For Social Change Writing" she draws upon her more than forty years of experience and expertise to create a kind of instruction manual teaching the reader the power of a personal voice that can enable any citizen to effect change in our society through the use of the written word. Dunlap explains the writing process, using such real-life examples as the peace workers in California, labor organizers in South Africa, community organizers in Boston, and others who have use the written word as an essential instrument for social change and the redress of grievances. "Undoing The Silence' includes practical 'freewriting' techniques, strategies for reaching an intended audiences, innovative exercises for giving and receiving feedback, as well as tactics for rethinking, editing, and rewriting free-flowing drafts. Of immense and immediate value for aspiring writers wanting to effectively engage in the social, political, economic, and cultural issues of the day through the power of the written word in all of its forms and formats, "Undoing The Silence" will prove to be as informed and informative as it is instructively effective.

The Portable Writer's Conference
Stephen Blake Mettee, editor
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Avenue, Sanger, CA 93657
9781884956577, $19.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com 1-800-497-4909

Now in a newly updated edition, The Portable Writer's Conference: Your Guide to Getting Published is a compilation of wisdom from over forty-five editors, agents, and authors, presented to writers from all walks of life seeking publication. From developing a concept pitch to hear an agent say yes, to crafting a professional-quality feature article for a newspaper or magazine, to tips and tricks for running a successful home-based writing business, crafting nonfiction or self-help books, what every author must know about copyright, and much more, The Portable Writer's Conference is a wisdom-laden supplement to getting one's feet wet in the writing profession. Though not a substitute for a straightforward instructional manual to the writing business, The Portable Writer's Conference lives up to its title as a confluence of hard-earned wisdom gathered from expert writers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended.

The Screenwriting Formula
Rob Tobin
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
9781582974620, $14.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966

When it comes to creating scripts for films and television, professional scriptwriter Rob Tobin's maxim is that 'writing well isn't just a goal, it's a responsibility'. That attitude comes across loud and clear in "The Screenwriting Formula: Why It Works And How To Use It", his deftly written and thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction guide for aspiring screenwriters regardless of the genre they are working in. "The Screenwriting Formula" is nicely organized into three main sections: The Seven Elements (the hero, the flow, enabling circumstances, the opponent, the hero's ally, the life-changing event, jeopardy, combining story elements); The Structure (prologue, act one, act two: parts one and two, act three); The Big Picture (the logline, the outline, high-concept and low-concept stories, a titanic undertaking). Enhanced with the inclusion of two germane appendices (Prewriting Techniques and Adapting Novels to the Screen), "The Screenwriting Formula" is comprehensive, practical, and essential reading for anyone hoping to successful write a screenplay that will measure up to professional standards and commercial viability.

The Mind's Eye
Kevin Clark
Pearson Longman
51 Madison Avenue, 29th floor, New York, NY 10010
9780205498239, $25.33 www.ablongman.com

University academician Kevin Clark holds a Distinguished Teaching Award, as well as a widely published poet. In "The Mind's Eye: A Guide To Writing Poetry", he brings to bear his many years of experience and expertise to provide aspiring poets with a clear, instructive, and occasionally inspiring 'how to' manual and guide to writing clear, engaging poetry. All the elements of poetic expression are covered including imagery, sound, implication, conflict, transformation, lyricism, structure, portraiture, narrative, traditional forms, sequencing, and revision. Featuring more than one hundred skill building exercises in writing poetry, eighty model poems by diverse contemporary poets, a concise summary of at the end of each chapter distilling its main concepts, as well as suggestions for forming poetry-writing groups, arranging poetry readers, and even how to publish poems, "The Mind's Eye" is an ideal instruction manual and guide that will prove invaluable for aspiring poets whether writing for simple self-expression or who have ambitions to being published.

Seniorwriting
Marlys Marshall Styne
Infinity Publishing.com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
0741442965, $9.95 www.amazon.com

"Seniorwriting: A Brief Guide For Seniors Who Want To Write" by Marlys Marshall Styne is a succinct 81-page instruction manual specifically designed and intended for older men and women wanting to record their thoughts, their memories, their experiences, their observations, and their commentaries for the benefit of themselves, their friends and family, and future generations. Short writing examples and samples are provided based on Marlys Styne's own writing skills, expertise, and personal experience as a retired college English teachers who took up writing an award-winning book at the age of 73. "Seniorwriting" is a non-technical 'how to' manual and guide that is ideal for those who have never written anything before -- and holds much of value for those who have written things earlier in their lives, but who have not done anything along those lines since. There are no rigid rules or straight-laced requirements in "Seniorwriting", only practical advice, inspiring examples, alternative ideas, and motivating choices. If you are a senior and would like to record your thoughts be they simple observations or the next Great American Novel, then give "Seniorwriting" your attention. It will be one of the most rewarding reads you can do!

Ron Carlson Writes a Story
Ron Carlson
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555974770, $12.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077

Ron Carlson Writes a Story is an essay by published author Ron Carlson, who has written eight books of fiction as well as short stories that have appeared in "Esquire", "Harper's", "New Yorker", and "GQ" magazines. Offering a wealth of notes, tips, tricks, and techniques for writers, as well as a window into Carlson's personal creative process during his creation of the short story "The Governor's Ball", Ron Carlson Writes a Story is both inspirational and entertaining. Especially recommended for aspiring and novice writers for its insights into the art of creativity.

Write For Life
Sheppard B. Kominars
Cleveland Clinic Press
9500 Euclid Avenue, NA32, Cleveland, OH 44195
9781596240773, $14.95 www.clevelandclinicpress.com 1-216-444-1158

Sheppard B. Kominars began teaching writing in 1956 at Washington College, has been a journal writer for more than fifty years, and has written two previous books on the subject of recovery. In "Write For Life: Healing Body, Mind, And Spirit Through Journal Writing", Kominars draws upon his more than half a century of experience and expertise in the subject to provide a wealth of insights and techniques into the utilization of writing to promote personal transformation, meet life's challenges, and acquire a deeper and more enduring satisfaction in our lives. "Write For Life" offers cogent advice and instruction on using a personal daily journal to confront emotional issues; break through frustrating mental blocks; deal with personal, professional, and medical crisis; renew and define life's meaning and purpose; free up intellectual creativity; and use or dreams and aspiration to build a better life. Although the principle focus of "Write For Life" is on using the material in this superbly written and highly recommended book as a self-help, self-improvement vehicle, there is also an invaluable relevance for aspiring writers who could utilize the keeping of a daily journal to enhance their own literary creativity regardless of the genre in which they are working.

One Year To A Writing Life
Susan M. Tiberghien
Marlowe & Company
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
9781600940583, $15.95 www.marlowepub.com 1-800-788-3123

Susan M. Tiberghien draws upon her years of experience and expertise as a veteran writing instructor, writers' conference speaker, and graduate school lecturer in "One Year To A Writing Life: Twelve Lessons To Deepen Every Writer's Art And Craft". A gifted writer in her own right, Susan Tiberghien covers journal writing, personal essays; opinion and travel essays; short stories (included the 'Short-Short'); dreams and writing; dialogue; folklore, fairy tales, and contemporary tales; poetic prose and the 'Prose Poem'; memoirs and biography; rewriting; and more. Of special note are her chapters on 'The alchemy of Imagination' and 'Writing the Way Home'. Enhanced with a specialized bibliographies and a comprehensive index, " One Year To A Writing Life" is as informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring -- making it strongly recommended reading for all novice writers and aspiring authors.

Open Your Heart With Writing
Neil M. Rosen
Dream Time Publishing
6860 Gulfport Avenue South, Suite 950, South Pasadena, FL 33707
9781601660084, $14.95 www.dreamtimepublishing.com 1-866-623-6203

Writer, psychologist, academician, and Founder/CEO of eWay Direct (an e-marketing technology company), Neil M. Rosen brings a very special expertise to his advice in "Open Your Heart With Writing: Mastering Life Through Love Of Words". Inspired and inspiring, "Open Your Heart With Writing" was written for the specific purpose of helping people in all walks of life realize what they can achieve in terms of self-help and self-realization through the simple process of writing down their thoughts, their ideas, their observations, their reflections, their stories, poems, and essays. "Open Your Heart With Writing" is not intended as a guide to improving writing skills, nor is it intended as an instruction manual on getting published. Rather it shows how to take fleeting thoughts and cultivate them into richly embellished tales of mystery, drama, history, poetic expression, and even a kind of spiritual nourishment for the soul. Whether writing in a journal or diary format, or simply jotting things down in a convenient notebook, "Open Your Heart With Writing" will enable anyone to have confidence in writing for the simple, helpful, intrinsic joy of it.

How To Publish Your Novel
Ken Atchity, et al.
SquareOne Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY, 11040
0757000495, $18.95 www.squareonepublishers.com

An academician, literary manager, and the author of fourteen books (including 'A Writer's Time" and "Writing Treatments That Sell", Ken Atchity (with the assistance of Andrea McKeown, Julie Mooney, and Margaret O'Connor) offers sound, practical, instructive advice for aspiring authors on getting their fiction published in today's highly competitive publishing industry. Beginning with the basics of fiction publishing with respect to various and diverse types of fiction, "How To Publish Your Novel: A Complete Guide To Making The Right Publisher Say Yes" covers everything from finding the right literary representative and/or publisher, crafting an effective plan of action ranging from deciding to self-represent or use a literary agent; to developing a proposal package; to selecting a list of potential publishers; to publishing contracts; to building a career as a professional author, to promoting a published novel. Enhanced with an extensive section of resources including a glossary, specialized bibliographies, lists of writers groups, writer resource websites, and more, "How To Publish Your Novel" is an essential and basic addition to personal and community library Writing/Publishing reference collections.

Release Your Writing
Helen Gallagher
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing
PO Box 9949, College Station, TX 77842
9781602640603, $16.95 www.virtualbookworm.com 1-877-376-4955

A professional freelance writer and the author of "Computer Ease", Helen Gallagher draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way!" to provide an informative instruction manual that demystifies the publishing process, addresses the technological issues associated with publishing, and provides a profusion of effective, practical, immediately applicable marketing strategies to insure a book's commercial viability. Effectively organized into three major sections, 'Getting Published' covers contemporary changes in the publishing industry, the self-publishing option, Publish On Demand (POD) companies; and eBooks. 'You, The Word Processor' includes The Time to Write; The Writer's Toolbox; and 'Computer Power Tools'. The third section is devoted to the 'Business of Being a Writer' by focusing on book marketing and promotion, and keeping a book in print and available to the reading public. It should be noted that Helen Gallagher's writing style is conversational and engaging -- making it an ideal format for presenting her observations, ideas, and advice. Enhanced with an appendix listing writing resources, a glossary, and an index, "Release Your Writing" will prove invaluable and instructive reading for aspiring writers who have become published -- either on their own or through an independent publisher.


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