April 2018 Prime Picks
Business Sense
5 Day Weekend
Nik Halik and Garrett
B. Gunderson
Bard Press
9781885167811
$24.99
www.bardpress.com
5 Day Weekend: Freedom to Make Your Life and Work
Rich With Purpose
(9781885167811, $24.99) is for anyone who would cultivate more leisure
time in
their lives, and presents a better way to balance work and pleasure
through a
plan for building multiple streams of passive, independent income.
Case
histories and
stories compliment charts, case histories that contribute foundations
of
knowledge, tips on understanding the financials of how a business makes
money,
and ideas about how to re-envision the American Dream.
The result
is a book
rich in purpose and approach that covers everything from investment
strategies
to the kinds of savings that translate to financial freedom and a
different perception
of work.
Make It Rain
Areva Martin with
Donna Beech
Center Street
9781478998975
$26.00
www.hachettebookgroup.com
Make it Rain: How to Use the Media to Revolutionize
Your Business and
Brand comes from a media and legal expert who shows how to
use media to
reach the right audiences, using pitches that attract audiences and
attention.
Areva Martin
has
herself used media appearances to cement her brand, build her business,
and
supersede advertising. Her expertise has won her appearances on Dr.
Phil and other
television and news shows; but her book expands the reach of her
approach and
offers business readers many concrete nuggets of advice.
From how she
took
media appearances to a new level to seeing every appearance as an
opportunity
to connect with new people, Make it Rain
presents a powerful program that no business owner should be without;
especially those who envision media attention as being part of their
approach
to success.
Organize
Your Team
Today
Dr. Jason Selk &
Tom Bartow with Matthew Rudy
DaCapo Press
9780738233794
$26.00
www.dacapopress.com
Organize Your Team Today: The Mental Toughness
Needed to Lead Highly
Successful Teams outlines a program for success which can
apply to all
kinds of teams, from sports to business.
It surveys a
range of
motivational and organizational strategies that lend to high-performing
team
structures and distils a combined fifty years of experience into a
structured
game plan that moves from understanding a team's working bandwidth and
expectations of self and each other to resisting powerlessness, making
adjustments, and understanding that high-level success is not just
about control.
Techniques
for
ensuring winning strategies make for an engrossing discussion highly
recommended for anyone who wants a team approach to success.
The
Culinary Corner
150 Best
Waffle Maker
Recipes from Sweet to Savory
Marilyn Haugen &
Jennifer Mackenzie
Robert Rose
9780778805892
$19.95
www.robertrose.ca
150 Best Waffle Maker Recipes from Sweet to Savory
offers a recipe
collection of tips for making waffles. Why the need for another waffle
cookbook? Because this doesn't just feature the standards: it offers a
wide
range of innovations, from a savory Cheddar Cheese Waffle accompanied
by a
sweet and sour sausage/onion sauce to actually using the waffle maker
to
produce snacks and pizzas.
This focus
on
expanding the waffle maker's traditional purpose allows for using it
somewhat
like a grill, making leftover meat loaf into a rye sandwich, a pizza
pie dough
layered with toppings that bake in the waffle iron, or even
tandoori-style
chicken.
While the
best recipes
incorporate dough bottoms with toppings, this cookbook's attention to
expanding
the boundaries of the waffle iron itself makes it a top recommendation
for
waffle iron owners seeking a different approach to using the iron more
broadly.
On the Side
Ed Smith
Bloomsbury Publishing
9781408873151
$28.00
www.bloomsbury.com
On the Side: A Sourcebook of Inspiring Side Dishes
is a narrow
focus on side dishes to main courses, and goes beyond most concepts of
the side
dish to profile over a hundred recipes for making side dishes become
the center
of a table's appeal.
From Steamed
Marinated Fennel with feta cheese and Chorizo Roast Potatoes that
elevates the
roast potato concept with fresh ideas to a Cheesy Polenta made with
mature
Cheddar and spiced Cinnamon, Chickpea and Apricot Couscous, this is
filled with
lovely full-page color photos of finished dishes that are meant to be
standout
attractions.
It should be
noted
that some terms are British ('aubergine' rather than the American
'eggplant'
for one example); but this won't deter cooks familiar with British
terms who
seek a side dish book that's innovative and different.
Parties
Around a
Punch Bowl
Kimberly Schlegel
Whitman
Gibbs Smith
9781423648901
$21.99
www.gibbs-smith.com
Parties Around a Punch Bowl comes from an
experienced hostess who
provides a worldwide history of the punch bowl and creates festive
party ideas
around it, from an Easter Egg Hunt to a Margarita Mixer for Taco
Tuesday.
Recipes for
alcoholic
and nonalcoholic punches offer versatility for any occasion, while
discussions
include assessing and incorporating punch bowls, glasses, and settings
suitable
for entertaining.
From
skewered fruits
for dipping to cupcakes and sides to accompany the punch, this
well-rounded
guide is highly recommended for any home cook who would create special
occasions centered around the punch bowl.
The Tex-Mex
Slow
Cooker
Vianney Rodriguez
Countryman Press
9781682681268
$24.95
www.countrymanpress.com
The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker: 100 Delicious Recipes for
Easy Everyday Meals
emphasizes easy Tex-Mex creations that create big flavors in a slow
cooker
environment, offering many tricks and tips for producing dishes that
are
standouts and often unique to this cookbook.
Examples of
the
latter include a Hominy Squash Casserole; a Rio Grande Valley Lemon
Cake made
with Valley lemons, cake mix, and zest; and a twist on the traditional
Texas
Sweet Tea called Texas Tea Cocktail, made with vodka and orange liqueur.
The result
is a
wide-ranging set of adaptations and innovations highly recommended for
fans of
Tex-Mex fare who look to expand the notion of the cuisine and adapt it
to the
slow cooker environment.
Vegetarian
Viet Nam
Cameron Stauch
W.W. Norton
9780393249330
$35.00
www.wwnorton.com
Vegetarian Viet Nam comes from a
professional chef who introduces
readers to meatless Vietnamese fare and comes from years he spent
living and
cooking in Vietnam; but with a difference that sets his approach apart
from the
typical Vietnamese cookbook.
These
recipes were
based on those created by Mahayana Buddhist monks over a period of
centuries
and use Vietnamese herbs and sauces to produce such dishes as
Translucent Mung
Bean Dumplings and Green Banana Tomato Tofu Soup: fare not seen in many
competing Vietnamese cookbooks.
Also notable
are
handy tips on how to make parts of the dishes ahead of time for quicker
last-minute assembly: something most Vietnamese cookbooks also don't
include.
Full-page
color
photos throughout and dishes as varied as Magenta Beet Tofu Soup,
Crunchy
Lemongrass Mushroom Rice Bowl, and Cucumber Pineapple Rolls with
Coconut Soy
Sauce contribute to a winning collection that is not only accessible to
newcomers to Vietnamese cooking, but especially recommended for
vegetarians who
want a collection filled with innovative and exciting new flavor
combinations.
Education Matters
Building
Positive
Momentum for Positive Behavior in Young Children
Lisa Rogers
Jessica Kingsley
Publishers
9781785927744
$27.95
www.jkp.com
Building Positive Momentum for Positive Behavior in
Young Children
discusses common behavioral issues in kids ages 3-9, and includes
targeted
strategies to improve these behaviors and encourage lasting change.
Educators
can serve
as role models for kids while school staff can collaborate with
families in the
course of developing classroom routines that encourage behavior
modification
and growth.
Theory is accompanied by real-world examples that teachers will find especially useful for handling emotional disturbances, improving teacher-student relationships, and turning unwanted behaviors into positive alternatives.
Cathy J.
Schlund-Vials, Editor
Fordham University
Press
9780823278619
$35.00
www.fordhampress.com
Flashpoints for Asian American Studies
provides a critique of Asian
American studies by practitioners in the field, and calls for a
reconsideration
of how Asian American studies takes place in American university
settings.
College-level
students of educational processes and politics will find it an
engrossing
survey of the history and field of Asian American studies, considering
how they
have responded to and changed in the presence of social pressure and
how they
have been transformed in the face of political change and shifts in
thinking.
The result
is a
varied set of ethnic flashpoints and their impact on Asian American
educational
perspectives and processes that makes for an engrossing study that
should be
required reading for any serious college-level Asian American studies
reader or
educator.
Teaching
Readers of
English: Students, Texts, and Contexts, 2nd Edition
John S. Hedgcock and
Dana R. Ferris
Routledge
9781138206212
$59.95
www.routledge.com/education
Everything
to know
about such teaching is included in this survey, with new changes
specific to
the second edition including updated, revised chapters on formative
reading,
updated information on reader demographics, new chapter summaries and
notes for
activities and review, and notes on vocabulary development.
From text
structure
and approaches to reading to assumptions behind common approaches to
teaching
reading, Teaching Readers of English
is an in-depth, comprehensive survey that should be in any educator's
collection.
Health Matters
Jessica
Kingsley
Publishers
www.jkp.com
Three
excellent
titles are highly recommended for health collections strong in
eldercare and
dementia psychology, offering specific insights and focuses not to be
found in
many competing books.
Felicity
Chapman's Counselling and Psychotherapy with
Older
People In Care: A Support Guide (9781785923968, $42.95) is
directed to
psychotherapists and professionals working with older people, and
addresses
mental health service options for older adults.
From
residential
living options and assessment processes to different options for
engaging
elders, considerations of what aspects of engagement processes may
prove
especially challenging to some therapists, and different emotion
barometers and
tests and how to interpret and respond to them, this is a solid
discussion
therapists will want to consider.
Dr. Shibley
Rahman
and Professor Rob Howard's Essentials of
Dementia: Everything You Really Need to Know for Working in Dementia
Care
(9781785923975, $29.95) is for professionals who want to keep up to
date in
care options and processes, and provides a basic introduction for
students and
practitioners alike.
It serves as
a
textbook and is based on a standard course structure for dementia
education, covering
everything from diagnosis to legal and ethical concerns surrounding
dementia
patients and their management.
Footnoted
references,
discussions of issues accompanied by case history examples, and surveys
of
support services and assistance technologies contribute to a
well-rounded and
powerful survey suitable for self-study and classroom pursuit alike.
Cameron Camp
and
Linda Camp's Teaching Empathy and
Conflict Resolution to People with Dementia: A Guide for
Person-Centered
Practice (9781785927551, $19.95) shows how to develop and use
empathy and
respect when caring for older people with dementia, providing a
blueprint for
helping those with dementia and their caregivers to develop new
interpersonal
skills.
Professional
and
family caregivers receive instruction on how to help dementia patients
gain a
better level of independence and communication, resulting in improved
living
conditions for all.
Chapters
strong in
conflict resolution processes and mindfulness are particularly well
done,
offering important insights that can be applied to a wide range of
situations.
Sleep
Nick Littlehales
DaCapo Press
9780738234625
$15.99
www.dacapopress.com
Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of Naps, and
the New Plan to
Recharge Your Body & Mind proposes a new regimen for
better sleep which
takes the various stages of sleep, the sleeping environment, and
individual
needs into consideration for a better sleep experience.
Gone are
many of the
former ideals of sleep and habits supporting it. This book uses
examples from
professional athletes to consider optimizing and personalizing the
sleep
experience, from napping and sleeping in the right temperature
conditions to
defining one's ideal sleep situation and adapting it to partner and
family
needs.
From
activities for
sleeping smarter to tips on snoozing and recharging one's system, Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of
Naps, and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body & Mind
is recommended for in
any health collection, with its new perspectives on a sleep process
that favors
customization over general admonitions.
A Woman's
Guide to
Living with Heart Disease
Carolyn Thomas
Johns Hopkins
University Press
9781421424200
$19.95
www.press.jhu.edu
A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease
discusses the daily
challenges of living with heat disease and is based on author Carolyn
Thomas's Heart Sisters blog.
The
anticipated
basics are here, from recognizing the early signs of a heart attack
(which are
different for women than men) and understanding how cardiac
rehabilitation
works to daily life with heart disease and how to alleviate
accompanying
depression without drugs.
The blend of
memoir
and practical health science makes A
Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease an accessible,
involving survey
any women's issues or health library will find a popular read.
Audiobooks
Highbridge
Audio
www.highbridgeaudio.com
Three new
audiobook
titles are top recommendations for library lending collections and
individuals
seeking durable packaging, memorable authors, and an audio narration
that
places each production above its print counterpart.
Thomas
Perry's The Bomb Maker
(9781681689746, $39.99)
is a psychological thriller brought to life by narrator Joe Barrett,
whose
ability to highlight plot and action enlivens the story of a LAPD Bomb
Squad
team changed by an unexpected trap that destroys half its members.
It's up to
Dick, a
former Bomb Squad commander who left the force to run his own security
company,
to find out who set the trap, what mastermind is creating a series of
bomb-based weapons, and how to stop him.
This
completely
engrossing thriller/mystery is hard to stop listening to.
Melinda
Metz's Talk to the Paw
(9781684410682, $29.99)
is read by Elise Arsenault, whose smooth voice brings to life the story
of
Jamie Snyder, who has commitment issues around males ... not including
her
tabby, a cat burglar who is stealing from the neighbors.
MacGyver
knows his
human is lonely; and he has the perfect man in mind for her. Can his
ability to
steal things extend to stealing a man's heart on her behalf?
This fun cat
romance
story is especially recommended listening for prior cat fanciers.
The Man in the Black Suit by Sylvain
Reynard (9781681688930,
$34.99) is read by Robertson Dean, whose crisp and clear voice brings
to life
the story of a seemingly random mugging at a prestigious hotel in Paris
that
involves concierge Acacia in a mystery surrounding Nicholas Cassirer, a
suave
customer who uses an assumed name every time he checks into the hotel.
As Alicia
finds her
job threatened, she also discovers that Nicholas has his eye on her,
and
trouble becomes a winding road into danger.
All are
superior
audiobooks, perfect for leisure listeners.
California Books
Napa at Last
Light
James Conaway
Simon & Schuster
9781501128455
$26.00
www.simonandschuster.com
Napa at Last Light: America's Eden in an Age of
Calamity provides a
regional history of a California county that began as an isolated,
rural small
wine region and blossomed into a powerhouse of wine relationships
between old
family dynasties and big business. It should be read by anyone who
would
understand the growth of California's winery business in general and
Napa
Valley's many changes in particular.
This book is
the
third in James Conaway's Napa trilogy, and traces land destruction,
industry growth,
and sometimes-calamitous routes to development that are changing the
face of
Napa's lands forever.
The demise
of old
family landmarks as multinational corporations take over and the
destruction of
Napa's promises, dreams, and wealth makes for a somber, fitting
conclusion to
Napa's story that should not be missed by anyone interested in either
California history or the wine industry's lasting impact in the region.
See You at
the 7
Vanessa Garcia with
Regina Abuyuan
7 Mile House
9780692990643
$45.00
www.7milehouse.com
See You at the 7: Stories from the Bay Area's Last
Original Mile House
offers a unique story of a 1800s San Francisco institution which, until
now,
has received little attention in the annuals of City history. As such,
it
should be on the bookshelves of any serious San Francisco history
holding as a
key acquisition.
7 Mile House
was
built circa 1858 as a stagecoach stop located seven miles from the San
Francisco Ferry Building, and was one of a number of 'mile houses'
which served
as stagecoach stops and local post offices. It's the last one standing
and still
in operation.
In 2003,
author
Vanessa Garcia purchased the establishment completely ignorant of its
venerable
history. A faded photograph on its wall led to years of research as she
pieced
together more and more facts about one of the Bay Area's most venerable
establishments.
See You at the 7 is packed with vintage
photos, contemporary color
images of personalities who frequented the watering hole, colorful
stories by
those who had a relationship with 7 Mile House, and a wealth of
historical
background about its notorious past and present-day incarnation.
It's hard to
pair a
historian's attention to detail with a lively survey of a popular,
changing
bar's ability to survive so many changes over so many years; but See You at the 7 achieves this fine
balance and presents a colorful compendium of personalities and events
that
represents an essential addition to San Francisco's history. It's a
'must have'
acquisition for any serious California history collection.
New Age
Ancient
Sounds for a
New Age
Diáne
Mandle
Top Reads Publishing
9780998683829
$22.95
www.topreadspublishing.com
Ancient Sounds for a New Age: An Introduction to
Himalayan Sacred Sound
Instruments is recommended for body, mind and spirit
collections strong in
new age music topics, and shows how to use the Tibetan bowls, ganta,
and dorje
as doorways to better connecting with and understanding one's soul.
It provides
an
overview of sound healing techniques using Himalayan instruments,
considering
what is needed to enter this field, how to apply techniques from other
fields,
and how author Diáne
Mandle has used her experience
with the Tibetan bowl to best advantage.
Access to a
digital
one-hour instructional video that demonstrates these practices lends
value to
the step-by-step techniques described in her book, while questions and
answers
explore the work and its applications to common issues such as
addiction.
The result
is a
wide-ranging and well-studied introduction to the concept and art of
sacred
sound and its use in spiritual and mental well-being.
New Page
Books/Red
Wheel Weiser
www.redwheelweiser.com
Two new age
titles
are top, recommended picks for collections looking for solid
discussions and
specific focuses.
Nick
Redfern's The Slenderman Mysteries: An
Internet Urban
Legend Comes to Life (9781632651129, $15.99) discusses The
Slenderman's
origins as an Internet phenomenon, maintaining that he may be a
thought-form
that has made the transition from thought to reality based on how many
people
believe in him.
The
Slenderman is
born of rage, nightmares, and murder; and perhaps may be a form of
revenge as
the Internet conjures up a digital nightmare.
Chapters
review
disturbing documentaries about The Slenderman, offer case histories and
stories
of obsessions, emergencies, and encounters with the figure, and provide
much
food for thought about The Slenderman's appearances, purpose, and
origins.
Jason
Miller's The Elements of Spellcrafting: 21
Keys to
Successful Sorcery (9781632651204, $16.99) tells how to get
things done
with magic, reviewing the principles and strategies for how to apply
magic
before one's first spell is cast.
From methods
almost
guaranteed to assure a positive result to how to build a spell to
incorporate
spiritual and material success beyond its original incarnation, The Elements of Spellcrafting offers a
solid survey and foundation for spellcrafting and offers many
specifics, from
gathering incense to understanding micro-enchantment.
Sizzling Social Issues
All the Women in My Family Sing
Deborah Santana,
Editor
Nothing But the
Truth, LLC
9780997296211
$16.95
www.nothingbutthetruth.com
All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the
World—Essays on
Equality, Justice, and Freedom gathers prose and poetry by
women of color
who address various topics, from struggles for physical survival to
self-identity, immigration, love and career. These wide-ranging
discussions provide
opportunities for reflection and healing on many different levels and
create a
thoroughly engrossing set of insights that will lend well to classroom
and
individual pursuit alike.
Most
writings by
women assume literary proportions and are therefore too often regulated
to
literary readers and collections. This anthology addresses social
issues and
women's experiences, layering creative writing and literature with an
eye to
considering and exposing social injustice and struggles for freedom.
The result
is a
highly recommended collection powerful in literary approaches, diverse
in
subject and presentation, yet accessible to all thinking women who look
for a
blend of emotion-based experiential pieces and ways of navigating
through
wounded pasts to better futures.
Enough As
She Is
Rachel Simmons
Harper Collins
9780062438393
$27.99
www.harpercollins.com
Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond
Impossible Standards of
Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives
discusses a growing
mental health crisis among teen girls who often bear the brunt of toxic
cultural norms, and comes from an educator and writer who works on a
college
campus.
Rachel
Simmons
interviewed over a hundred girls, school professionals, and parents to
consider
the common hurdles they face and overcome, from social media and
self-esteem to
college applications and insecurities about the future.
Chapters go
beyond
identifying common issues: clear strategies are offered for halting
overthinking, helping girls practice self-compassion, and for parents
who would
better manage their own anxieties to offer stronger lessons to their
daughters.
From
encouraging
healthy risk-taking to halting negative thinking, Enough
As She Is provides a powerful set of techniques for helping
girls achieve real happiness in and contentment with life.
Everybody
Lies
Seth
Stephens-Davidowitz
Dey Street
9780062390868
$16.99
www.harpercollins.com
New data
presentation
methods and digital information can go far in helping people get at the
heart
of truths about themselves and the world. In fact, Google and online
searches
are places where many people are at their most honest and genuine.
It's hard to
fathom
that online behaviors may be a truer indicator of personas, values, and
objectives than real-world encounters, but this book makes a strong
case for
how online behaviors and big data can be used to more clearly answer
basic
questions about how people interact in the world.
Readers of
social
science will find Everybody Lies a
lively, engrossing presentation that's hard to put down.
Google Me:
One-Click
Democracy
Barbara Cassin
Fordham University
Press
9780823278077
$22.95
www.fordhampress.com
Google Me: One-Click Democracy is
recommended for media studies,
social issues, and philosophy holdings alike, and comes from a
philosopher who examines
big data and the idea of democratic processes in its management and
access.
It considers
the
culture of information access and unlimited information dissemination
and
collection, examining the foundations of informational culture and the
moral issues
raised by the globalization of knowledge.
Terminology
is
analyzed, mass society and mass culture are discussed, and Google as a
champion
of democracy is considered in a powerful survey that will lend
particularly
well to college-level classroom discussion and debate.
Happy Daze:
The
Summers of Love
Baron Wolman
ACC Editions
9781851498741
$25.00
www.aacartbooks.com
Happy Daze: The Summers of Love stands
out from the wealth of books
written about the heyday of the hippies published to commemorate the
50th
anniversary of 'The Summer of Love' because it comes from an insider
photographer who lived the times, whose images captured three pivotal
years
from 1967 to 1969.
He was the
first
chief photographer for the then-new Rolling Stone Magazine, and his
works not
only captivated audiences but served as iconic portraits of the mid-60s
environment.
Wolman was a
witness
to one of the most incredible cultural changes in U.S. history, and Happy Daze displays these changes using
visuals which are captivating and iconic.
No
collection strong
in 1960s American history and culture should be without this
photographically
significant history.
The Heavens
Might
Crack
Jason Sokol
Basic Books
9780465055913
$32.00
www.basicbooks.com
The Heavens Might Crack: The Death and Legacy of
Martin Luther King Jr.
is published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of King's
assassination, and
details a vivid history of the days immediately following King's death,
as the
world struggled to deal with his sudden absence.
Before his
death,
landmark civil rights laws had been enacted and interracial
relationships
seemed to be on the mend. After his death, riots not only shook
American
cities, but attitudes of blacks towards whites changed virtually
overnight, and
King's dream seemed to die with him.
The
short-term
effects were evident; but the long-term effects of a rising anger and
conflicts
between racial groups is even more of a legacy, and are explored here
in a
pointed examination of the differences between King's ideals and world
before
his death and those which emerged afterwards.
No civil
rights
holding should be without this thought-provoking survey.
My Father
&
Atticus Finch
Joseph Madison Beck
The University of
Georgia Press
9780820353081
$21.95
www.ugapress.org
My Father & Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight
for Justice in 1930s
Alabama is a Southern memoir reminiscent of the classic novel
To Kill a Mockingbird, but is firmly
rooted in the story of the author's late father, who defended a black
man
accused of raping a white woman in 1930s Alabama.
Joseph
Madison Beck
was often told his father's case might have inspired Harper Lee's
story, which
led him to locate the trial transcript and newspaper articles
reconstructing
his father's legacy.
Foster
Beck's actions
changed a community and challenged convention. The legal and social
controversies which swirled around his efforts and court case should be
required reading for any civil rights history buff, and will appeal to
collections strong in memoirs, Southern history and culture, and legal
challenges around defending minorities.
Newsreal: A
View
Through the Lens When...
Tim Ortman
Incorgnito Publishing
9781944589684
www.incorgnitobooks.com
It's hard to
imagine
a more timely publication for media insights and assessment than Newsreal: A View Through the Lens When...
The changing
world of
network news and what has led to its issues today comes from an
Emmy-award
winning cameraman and producer with thirty-plus years of being a
producer for
every major U.S. television news network and the Foreign Press Corps.
This
extensive background places Tim Ortman in the ideal role to turn the
camera upon
his occupation to provide a personal, social, and political story of
three
decades in broadcast news and changing issues in reporting and
broadcasting.
Part
autobiography
and part industry examination, Newsreal
is a lively, revealing read that's highly recommended beyond media
specialist
circles, nicely capturing the milieu of journalism and reporting with a
lens
sent to long-term viewpoints and lasting historical impact.
A Spy in
Canaan
Marc Perrusquia
Melville House
9781612193410
$28.99
www.mhpbooks.com
A Spy in Canaan: How the FBI Used a Famous
Photographer to Infiltrate
the Civil Rights Movement should be in social issues and
photographic
history holdings alike, and considers the double life of civil rights
photographer Ernest Withers, exposing a closely-held secret in the
process.
Wither is
best known
for capturing many images of the civil rights movement; but what is
less known
is that he was also an FNI informant who used his images to help the
bureau
identify and track these same figures.
Journalist
Marc
Perrusquia has been a reporter for over 25 years: his research appears
on the
50th anniversary of King's assassination in a powerful and often dark
survey
that's a 'must' not just for social science collections, but for any
American
history holding looking at the civil rights era's hidden history.
The Arts
Amherst Media
www.amherstmedia.com
Four new
photography
titles are top recommendations for aspiring professionals who would
move beyond
basic techniques and further into the arena of photographic artistry.
They
juxtapose how-to
basics with instructions for posing, shooting, and artistic techniques,
including
business savvy directed to those who would earn a living from their
photography
efforts.
Towards this
goal,
Tracy Dorr's How to Start a Photography
Business (9781682031285, $37.95) teaches the basics of how to
build the
photography business of one's dreams, outlining a series of strategies
for
either building a thriving business or redoing an existing studio with
a
clearer focus.
As chapters
move
through the essentials of branding, niche marketing and photography,
studio
photography setups, and working at a quick enough pace to ensure a
healthy
profit margin, readers receive a solid discussion of the connections
between
photography as an art and photography as a venture that successfully
pays the
bills.
Wedding
photography
is one of those ventures that pays the bills nicely, and Doug Gordon's Flow Posing: Fast and Furious Posing
Techniques for Wedding Photographers (9781582031445, $37.95)
shows how to
create a range of poses that capture the special moments of a couple's
wedding
day.
Doug Gordon
focuses just on posing, showing how
easy changes
can create the kinds of images couples find exceptional. Where other
wedding
photography guides focus on setting and lighting, Gordon's exclusive
focus on
posing techniques creates a winning approach that aspiring wedding
photographers will relish.
Eric Curry's
Painting with Light: Lighting &
Photoshop Techniques for Photographers (9781682031520,
$37.95) appears in
its second updated edition to help photographers identify optimal
scenes and
subjects, design shooting plans, and take everyday scenes to new levels.
It's an
artistic
approach to 'painting with photography' that compiles a fine set of
techniques
using simple equipment and approaches, from considering how photography
can be
a poor model for reality to how to use this to best advantage for
superior
results.
The basics
are combined
with an artistic approach, from getting permission for shoots (where
such is
needed) to thinking through compositions as much as possible.
Curry's
injection of
his own first-person experiences enhances a solid discussion filled
with
colorful examples throughout.
Andy Long,
columnist
and assistant editor for Nature Photographer
magazine, produces Photographing the
Aurora Borealis: How to Shoot the Northern Lights
(9781682032084, $24.95),
which is especially recommended for those who anticipate being in the
northern
locales where this beautiful phenomenon is a regular winter attraction.
Included in
this
how-to discussion is a survey of the science of the aurora, the
physical
challenges of shooting in subzero weather, how to capture the aurora at
night
and refine images in postproduction, and how to create a composition
that best
profiles the aurora.
Packed with
color
photo examples throughout, Photographing
the Aurora Borealis: How to Shoot the Northern Lights is a
top
recommendation for understanding the special technical and composition
challenges of photographing the aurora borealis.
The Big
Picture
Ben Fritz
Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt
9780544789760
$27.00
www.hmhco.com
The Big Picture: The Fight for the Future of Movies
is a 'must'
read for anyone interested in Hollywood traditions and how they are
being
challenged by new models, film standards, and big buck franchises; and
surveys
the chaotic changes affecting the entire film industry.
Today, the
future of
Hollywood is being affected by big business and international
interests. Wall
Street Journal reporter/author Ben Fritz interviews major people at
Disney,
Marvel, Netflix and others to examine specific changes that are
changing not
only how movies are marketed and sold, but how they are conceived of
and made.
While a
sense of doom
accompanies artistic transformation, there's also a feeling of hope for
the
resurrection of film in a new manner. The
Big Picture captures all of these nuances in a hard-hitting
examination of
such topics as why studios stopped making mid-budget dramas, how Disney
is
perfectly positioned to benefit from the age of film franchising, and
why
big-business decisions affected the ownership of some films.
No student
or fan of
film should be without The Big Picture's
set of insights into where filmmaking was and where it's heading.
The Tropical
House
Elizabeth V. Reyes
Tuttle Publishing
9780804840828
$39.95
www.tuttlepublishing.com
The Tropical House: Cutting Edge Design in the
Philippines features
color photography by Lucia Invernizzi Tettoni, which comes to life in
an
oversized presentation surveying tropical house interior designs.
More than 25
houses
and condos in and around Manila are profiled in a focus on homes that
blend
East-West influences, modern furnishings, and contemporary design
approaches.
Well over
two hundred
color photos of Filipino residences accompany written descriptions of
their
architectural influences from the founders of architectural firms and
those
involved in building these houses.
The modern feel of interiors which blend traditional tropical style with modern accessories and approaches makes for an attractive, revealing survey that should be in any arts collection strong in architectural design.
History
American
Empire
A.G. Hopkins
Princeton University
Press
9780691177052
$39.95
www.press.princeton.edu
American Empire: A Global History is a
weighty, sweeping survey
contrasting the trajectories of the U.S. and Western Europe as they
grew and
influenced the world, considering three centuries of history and the
changing
imperial conditions of Europe and the American republic.
From the
revolt of
the American colonies and how it reflected an overall crisis in
Europe's
imperial progression and role to the expansion of the American republic
and how
its processes paralleled developments in Western Europe, American
Empire considers forces of change, imperialism's progression
and issues, and the global forces that affected the establishment and
maintenance of empires around the world.
While American Empire is highly recommended
for American history holdings, its broader contexts and comparisons
make it
essential for world history collections, as well.
Before the
Refrigerator
Jonathan Rees
Johns Hopkins
University Press
9781421424590
$19.95
www.press.jhu.edu
Before the Refrigerator: How We Used to Get Ice
examines the
history of the ice industry from the 1880s to its collapse after World
War I in
a lively survey that tells how people got ice before mechanical
refrigeration became
common.
From the
types of
inventions that made the ice industry possible to how it changed daily
life in
America until something more advanced came along, Before
the Refrigerator offers a solid look into technology's
effects
on everyday consumer lives.
This history
is
especially recommended for anyone involved in the food industry who
holds an
interest in the changing influences on the American consumer's food
storage and
usage patterns.
Blood Letters
Lian Xi
Basic Books
9781541644238
$30.00
www.basicbooks.com
Blood Letters: The Untold Story of Lin Zhao, a
Martyr in Mao's China
is published on the event of the 50th anniversary of Zhao's execution
and comes
from a historian who profiles a woman who was a resister, steeped in
Democratic
ideals and Christian faith in the face of Communist powers.
In 1968, at
age
thirty-six, she was shot after she refused to submit to "thought
reform" in prison, writing a constant litany of protest, often in her
own
blood.
This
powerful story
of determination against all odds makes for a compelling profile in
courage
which is hard to put down, adding much insight about Communist China's
rule and
the fate of dissidents in general, and should be required reading for
anyone
who would learn more about that era and Lin Zhao's extraordinary life
and
sacrifices in particular.
Science, Nature & Technology
The Book of
Seeds
Paul Smith, Editor
University of Chicago
Press
9780226362236
$55.00
www.press.uchicago.edu
The Book of Seeds: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred
Species from Around
the World is a 'must have' acquisition for any serious botany
or science
collection interested in seed species, covering some six hundred world
species
in detail.
There is no
limit to
the size or kinds of seeds covered; but the real strength of The Book of Seeds lies not just in its
diversity, but in its unexpected details and visual impact.
No serious
science
library should be without this authoritative scientific survey.
Particle
Physics
Brick by Brick
Dr. Ben Still
Firefly Books
9780228100126
$24.95
www.fireflybooks.com
Particle Physics Brick by Brick: Atomic and
Subatomic Physics Explained
in Lego® features a fine pairing of Lego® construction and
physics in a
lively discussion by a British physicist who does an excellent job of
linking
the building blocks of Lego® to
the
building blocks of life.
It
introduces basic
rules of physics and discoveries about how the world works, considers
models
that explain and explore how the universe came to be and how it works,
and
assigns bricks to each atomic element.
Readers who
assemble
these real or imaginary bricks receive lessons on their interactions
and learn
particle physics in a most accessible, colorful and interactive manner.
Particle Physics Brick by Brick is
a top
educational approach especially recommended for prior Lego® enthusiasts
who
want to learn science through a familiar and attractive structural
approach.
Reviewer's Choice
All Over the
Map:
True Heroes of Texas Music
Michael Corcoran
University of North
Texas Press
9781574417104
$19.95
www.untpress.unt.edu
All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music
comes from an Austin
music critic who gathers some forty-two profiles of Texas music
pioneers in an
updated second edition that includes fifteen new portraits and six
behind-the-scenes heroes.
Photographer Scott Newton provides the visuals while Michael Corcoran
covers
the recording careers and influences of such varied artists as Freddie
King,
Johnny Gimble, the Butthole Surfers, and more.
Most books
about
Texas music focus on country-western musicians; so it's especially
pleasurable
to find a broader survey in All Over the
Map, which tells of musicians who influenced different
regions of Texas,
documented on a map and in extensive descriptions of their achievements.
The
geographic
arrangement allows for a more specific focus than most surveys of Texas
musicians, making for an excellent contribution to popular music
collections
seeking a broader interpretation of Texas's influence than most.
The Creature
Chronicles
Tom Weaver with David
Schecter and Steve Kronenberg
McFarland
9781476673868
$39.95
www.mcfarlandpub.com
The Creature Chronicles: Exploring the Black Lagoon
Trilogy is an
in-depth examination of the famous monster movie productions that is
not for
the faint-hearted or casual reader; but a 'must' reference for anyone
with more
than a passing interest in these classic horror films.
Interviews,
production history specifics, biographies, photos, and insights from
everyone
involved in the productions, from costume designers to actors, create a
detailed, in-depth survey that goes beyond the usual casual movie
history to
delve into production details. These include explorations of the music,
script-to-screen comparisons, editing and added scenes, various remakes
and the
choices involved in new Creature incarnations, and more.
Film and
performing
arts collections, as well as those with a special and specific interest
in
monster movie history in general and the classic Creature productions
in
particular, will find The Creature
Chronicles packed with invaluable reference material and
insights,
complimented by black and white photos throughout.
Green Sun
Kent Anderson
Mulholland
Books/Little Brown
9780316466805
$27.00
www.mulhollandbooks.com
Green Sun shows what great crime fiction
looks like, adds a new
book to the autobiogaphical Hanson Trilogy, and is set in 1983 Oakland,
California, where a Vietnam veteran has returned home from one war to
enter a
different kind of battlefield.
Hanson
believes that justice
is most effective when it comes from within a community—and so he lives
in the
same neighborhood he patrols, cultivating some unusual relationships
with such
locals as a drug king who has a deep sense of fairness and honor, an
outspoken
black woman, and a young man well on his way to becoming a dope dealer.
Especially
notable is
Hanson's tightrope walk between being a law enforcer and a member of
the
community; an effort which too often places him at odds with one side
of the law
or the community.
The
engrossing and
sharp portraits of Oakland's street life bring Hanson's world to life
whether
or not the reader has been to Oakland or is familiar with urban crime
scenarios, making Green Sun an
outstanding saga that moves well beyond typical crime scenes and into
the arena
of solid literary achievement.
Harry: Life,
Loss,
and Love
Katie Nicholl
Hachette Books
9781602865266
$27.00
www.hachettebooks.com
Harry was
known for
being a rebel, but he is also much loved by the British people.
His
biography traces
his romances, personal experiences, and life in a close inspection of
his world
which exposes life in the royal palace and the influences that made
Prince
Harry who he is today.
The only
prerequisite
for complete appreciation of this biography is a prior affection for
Prince
Harry and the world of British royalty.
Kitchen
Ideas You Can
Use
Chris Peterson
Cool Springs Press
9780760360675
$19.99
www.quartoknows.com
Kitchen Ideas You Can Use appears in an
updated edition to cover
the latest kitchen appliances, styling trends, and tips for any
homeowner
looking to renovate their kitchen, and is packed with color photos of
very
different kitchen projects paired with invaluable short notes about how
these
projects address common kitchen arrangement issues.
From zinc as
an
alternative to stainless steel and its history of being used for
countertops in
Europe for over a century to creating an ADA-accessible kitchen with an
open
design, this collection covers all kinds of purposes, styles, and
options, and comes
packed with information on key decisions and choices and how to adapt
materials
to special needs.
With so many
clear
discussions of contrasting options and why one choice would be better
than
another for a given purpose, Kitchen
Ideas You Can Use is a go-to guide any kitchen remodeler will
want to
consult before work begins.
Israel Rising
Doug Hershey
Citadel
Press/Kensington Publishing Corp.
9780806539072
$29.95
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Israel Rising: The Land of Israel Reawakens
is published to
celebrate the 70th anniversary of the birth of Israel, and uses an
oversized
format to provide a pictorial, visual history of Israel's rise from a
barren
desert country to a thriving nation.
This is
meant to be a
celebration of Israel. It captures the nation's rise using photos taken
from
the 1880s to 1940s, pairing them with modern images of those same
locations to
create a powerful tribute to the region's history, meaning, battles,
and
achievements.
Author Doug
Hershey
worked with photographer Elise Monique Theriault as they traveled
throughout
the country to match these original vintage photos and their angles
with
modern-day places. The facing full-page images capture past and present
perfectly, making Israel Rising a
powerful
visual testimony to the many changes Israel has seen in its 70 years of
history.
It Crept
from the
Tomb
Peter Normanton,
Editor
TwoMorrows
9781605490816
$29.95
www.twomorrows.com
It Crept from the Tomb is the second
collection of horror comics
history to follow 'atomic comics' lost to the Cold War, and includes
early
artists, British horror productions, and a range of comics both
above-board and
famous in underground circles only.
A nice
centerfold of
color cover art from these comic productions accompanies pages packed
with
black and white visuals and discussions of notable comic issues, gum
card
productions, editorial and artistic competition for comic book
reproduction,
and more.
From the
weird history
of short comic strips to macabre renditions of classic stories, this
collection
of articles provides a powerful set of insights and history that should
be on
the shelves of any horror comics fan.
Truth
Hector Macdonald
Little, Brown
9780316510820
$28.00
www.littlebrown.com
Truth: How the Many Sides to Every Story Shape Our
Reality is a
thought-provoking consideration of truth, falsehood, and how knowledge
is
disseminated, judged, and assessed. It considers everything from
selective
truths and changing truths to suit or inspire situations to how truth
is used and
abused in all walks of life. These narratives blend examples from case
studies
with an analysis of how actions and hearts are influenced by
perceptions of
truth and lies.
From attitudes towards risk and value to apparent and unknown truths and their impact, chapters consider various kinds of truths, moral values, cultural contexts, and more, creating a thought-provoking discussion especially recommended for psychology and social issues readers.
Wake Up!
Chris Baréz-Brown
The Experiment
9781615194100
$15.95
www.theexperimentpublishing.com
Wake Up! A Handbook for Living in the Here and Now
collects some
fifty-four strategies to help readers live a fuller, more engaged life,
and addresses
the problem, perils, and solutions to sleepwalking through one's world.
It's packed
with
ideas inviting readers to try something new, from experiences with
writing to
saying yes to something you'd normally say no to.
The book is
organized
into three types of actions: plugging in, turning in, and powering up.
Each
strategy is presented in three parts, with the book as a whole offering
tips
for year-around engagements. All experiments have been tested on
hundreds of
people, but only those are included where over eighty percent of the
participants reported positive changes, with nearly a hundred reporting
they
felt happier.
The result
is a
winning approach that goes beyond theorizing to examine concrete
routines that
work.
Will's Red
Coat
Tom Ryan
William Morrow
9780062444998
$16.99
www.harpercollins.com
Will's Red Coat: The Story of One Old Dog Who Chose
to Live Again
comes from the best-selling author of Following
Atticus and tells of a depressed old dog and the man who gave
him new life.
Author Tom
Ryan
initially thought to give Will a peaceful place to die; but given Tom's
attention and love, Will actually began to thrive. In turn, he gave
Ryan
lessons in recovery and resilience that can apply as much to human
lives as a
canine's world.
Any reader
who enjoys
heart-warming animal stories with underlying messages of love and
recovery will
relish Will's Red Coat, a touching,
beautiful story of a special bond between man and dog as age takes its
toll.
Political Matters
Eisenhower:
Becoming
the Leader of the Free World
Louis Galambos
Johns Hopkins
University Press
9781421425047
$26.95
www.press.jhu.edu
Eisenhower: Becoming the Leader of the Free World
is a biography
following the career of Eisenhower that ordinarily would be recommended
for
biography collections alone; but which offers many insights into the
politics
and history of his times. Political issues and history holdings will
thus find
this book packed with not just biographical insights, but military,
social, and
political history as well.
From how
Eisenhower's
reputation and leadership abilities changed over the years to the ups
and downs
of his growth, his decisive military battles, and his presidency, Eisenhower: Becoming the Leader of the Free
World charts the course of a post-World War II leader whose
decisions shaped
the world for decades to come.
Political
history
readers will find Eisenhower a
powerfully revealing account.
Life in the
Marble
Palace (In Praise of Folly)
Honorable Clifford B.
Stearns
FriesenPress
9781460287606
www.friesenpress.com
Life in the Marble Palace (In Praise of Folly)
comes from a former
Congressman who examines his 24 years in Congress with an eye to
considering
the American political process and its strengths and weaknesses.
Years of
experience
both in political circles and in private business lend to a discussion
that closely
examines political routines, differences, and issues ranging from
financial
conflicts of interest in the highest offices in the country to how
Republicans
need to step up to offer an alternative vision of how the American
economy
should grow and be managed.
The result
offers
many thought-provoking assessments based not on an outsider's
experiences, but
an insider's decades of work within the 'marble palace'.
Pretend I'm
Not Here
Barbara Feinman Todd
William Morrow
9780062445124
$16.99
www.harpercollins.com
Pretend I'm Not Here: How I Worked with Three
Newspaper Icons, One
Powerful First Lady, and Still Managed to Dig Myself Out of the
Washington
Swamp is the powerful political autobiography of a woman who
began as a
copy aide at the Washington Post and worked her way up to associate
with some
of the biggest reporters and political figures of her times.
While her
story is
highly recommended for journalism readers, it's reviewed here for its
important
consideration of government processes, interactions with journalists,
and how
writers and reporters contribute to public image and wrestle with their
own
ethical and moral dilemmas during the reporting process.
From her
work with
Bob Woodward to her own revelations about the process, Pretend
I'm Not Here is an engaging story that should not be missed
by anyone interested in either journalism or Washington politics.
The Woman's
Hour
Elaine Weiss
Viking
9780525429722
$28.00
www.penguin.com
The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote
surveys a lively,
in-depth history of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which
granted women
the right to vote.
Where other
books
provide a more wide-ranging, sweeping examination, journalist Elaine
Weiss
narrows her subject to the campaign's last six weeks, which revolved
around the
decision made by Tennessee which swung the vote.
This allows
for a
specific focus on the suffragists in that state, the reasons behind its
ambivalence,
the political and social pressures on not just women voting but black
women's
participation in the process, and how democratic ideals came to clash
with
political rights in Nashville.
The result
is a
lively survey of how close the issue was and why it nearly didn't pass,
making
for a thought-provoking read which benefits from a narrow focus that
comes
right down to a riveting finish line.
Young Adult/Children
Charlesbridge
www.charlesbridge.com
These three
new
picture books stand out from the crowd, each offering an unusual
subject,
interesting facts, and approaches that are refreshingly different from
competitors.
Barry
Wittenstein's The Boo-Boos That Changed the
World: A True
Story About an Accidental Invention (Really!)(9781580897457,
$16.99) tells of the invention of Band-Aids. While this may initially
sound
dull, it's a fascinating story of a 1920s Johnson & Johnson
cotton buyer's
accident-prone wife and how he invented a strip to help her prevent
infection
from her many cuts and scrapes.
Kids ages
4-8 will
find fascinating the Band Aid's dubious beginnings, the involvement of
the Boy
Scouts in the new product, and how innovations come to public attention.
Chris Hsu's
appealing
drawings enhance an unexpectedly lively story that many an adult will
want to
read aloud just for their own edification.
Cynthia
Grady's Write to Me: Letters from Japanese
American
Children to the Librarian They Left Behind (9781580896887,
$16.99) will
reach the same age group with a lively story illustrated by Amiko Hirao
and
provides a different perspective of Japanese-American internment
experiences.
San Diego
Public
Library children's librarian Clara Breed had to say goodbye to many of
her
young readers, who were sent off to prison camps. But before they left,
she
asked them to write to her, and gave them books to take with them.
Over the
course of
three years, many of the children corresponded with her. Write
to Me this uses excerpts from these actual writings to
capture their experience, especially powerful when paired with Amiko
Hirao's
lovely colored pencil illustrations, which are overlaid with drawings
of
postcards with the children's notes.
David L.
Harrison's A Place to Start a Family: Poems
About Creatures
That Build (9781580897488, $17.99) will engross young readers
ages 5-9 with
a different kind of poetry collection that follows up on a prior
collaboration
between writer Harrison and illustrator Giles Laroche.
The
paper-cut
illustrations provide lovely 3-D renditions of underground builders'
homes,
land efforts, and the works of beavers and others whose creations
center around
water sources, while a rollicking rhyme cements facts and adds a
delightful
flavor to the effort.
All are
compelling,
highly recommended reads.
Houghton
Mifflin
Harcourt/Clarion
www.hmhco.com
Three
excellent
productions will appeal to the very young, with bright color images and
fun
tales that lend to read-aloud adult and youngster enjoyment alike.
Toddlers now
have
access to the classic Curious George monkey tales with Curious
George's Box of Books (9781328798954, $18.99), a slipcased
collection of four books for toddlers.
This basic
introduction to Curious George includes Curious
George's ABCs, Curious George's Are
You Curious?, Curious George's
Opposites and Curious George's 1 to
10 and Back Again.
The board
books
present basic topics, add the attractive, colorful, mischievous
monkey's
antics, and will delight kids with fun explorations of the alphabet,
feelings,
opposites and counting.
Holly
Thompson's Twilight Chant
(9780544586482, $17.99)
receives gorgeous drawings by Jen Betton as it tells of the special
creatures
who come out at desk. The beautiful art captures twilight and the
nature that appears
when human play is done and dusk falls.
The gentle
repetitive
theme of "twilight/the low light" reinforces a beautiful survey that
young
picture book readers and their read-aloud parents will find attractive
and
appealing.
David
Wiesner's I Got It! (9780544309029,
$17.99) holds
very few words and uses realistic, large-size drawings to tell most of
the
story, inviting picture book readers to pay attention to images to
discern
their meaning.
There's the
usual
pitch and baseball hit story; but what transpires next moves from
reality into
the world of fantasy and will best be read and understood with adult
assistance, who will find the unexpected story fascinating.
All offer
exceptional
stories and lasting lending potential.
In the Rain
Elizabeth Spur
Peachtree Publishers
9781561458530
$6.95
www.peachtree-online.com
The board
book In the Rain, illustrated by
Manelle
Oliphant, provides the third book in and closes the 'In the Weather'
series
about weather. A young girl heads outside to enjoy a rainy day with her
dog,
finding many activities that impart a special appreciation of rain.
Parents
looking for
durable board book formats that lend to reading aloud will relish
Oliphant's
watercolors and colored pencil drawings, which nicely compliment the
charming
approach of a story designed to help the very young appreciate rain's
enjoyable
aspects.
Simon
& Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Three fine
books are
recommended picks for kids interested in unusual topics and lively
renditions
of stories.
Lisa
Mantchev's Jinx and the Doom Fight Crime!
(9781481467018, $16.99) uses simple language and fun drawings by
Samantha
Cotterill to explore the story of siblings who fight crime together.
They used
to fight each other, and they lived ordinary lives until they decided
to use
their powers for good and not evil, defending the innocent and
protecting the
planet while still being kids.
The premise
and the
juxtaposition of everyday events with lively imagination provides a
creative,
different take on the superhero notion that kids and parents will
appreciate.
Amy June
Bates' The Big Umbrella
(9781534406582, $16.99)
is co-written by Juniper Bates and tells of a big, friendly umbrella
that likes
to help others. But, how many different refugees can it assist during a
storm?
An excellent
story of
giving and helping emerges.
The U.S.
Army Air
Force was forced to hire women when they faced a big lack of skilled
pilots.
Over a thousand female pilots had to prove their abilities in a
male-dominated
industry in this story of how these female civilians overcame many
obstacles to
serve their country.
Almost two
hundred
pages of information reads with the lively description of fiction, but
profiles
real individuals and their challenges, and includes an index,
bibliography, and
additional notes perfect for report purposes.
Sleeping
Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
Three new
picture
book arrivals are top recommendations for libraries looking for
exceptional
reads.
Aiko
Ikegami's Seed Man (9781585363797,
$16.99) is more
than just a story of a man who loves plants: it tells of a mysterious
stranger
who calls on fairies to help nurture the seeds he plants. The result of
his
special approach involves an entire town in both magic and kindness in
a story
that goes far beyond any idea of Johnny Appleseed.
The heart of
the
tale, which even delves into how joy is received by those who have a
hard time
with life, will reach read-aloud parents and the very young with a
gentle
message about special fruit accessible even by those who don't know
they need
such gifts.
Dow
Phumiruk's Mela and the Elephant
(9781585369980,
$16.99) enjoys fun drawings by Ziyue Chen as it tells of a girl who
decides to
explore new territory, a little brother who is told to go home, and a
dilemma that
evolves when Mela's boat is swept into the jungle and she becomes lost.
Giving,
rewards, and
kindness are all themes explored as Mela makes her way through a
strange world
in a new fable embedded with authentic Thai customs. The conclusion
includes an
author's note about Thai traditions and the Thai language, further
educating
kids who harbor good reading skills and an interest in folk stories
based on
the history and cultures of other countries.
Margie
Markarian's The Princess and the Café on the
Moat
(9781585363971, $16.99) is illustrated by Chloe Douglass, who tells of
a very
busy castle preoccupied with assignments, daily chores, and work.
Everyone has
a job except the princess, who longs to be busy like everyone else.
Nobody
seems to need anything she has to offer.
So she sneaks away in search of somebody to help, and embarks on a mission to rescue others in this delightfully different take on good deeds and a royal, giving person.