August  2018 Prime Picks

   

The Culinary Corner

America's Test Kitchen
www.America'sTestKitchen.com 

Three excellent new titles from America's Test Kitchen offer two big pluses over similar-sounding cookbooks on the market: all the recipes have been tested in the Kitchen's labs and are virtually foolproof; and many are accompanied by color photos. Another big 'plus' is that they pair familiar and traditional dishes with innovations not seen elsewhere. 

The Perfect Cake: Your Ultimate Guide to Classic, Modern, and Whimsical Cakes (9781945256264, $35.00) packs in well over two hundred kitchen-tested dishes, from an innovative Blackberry-Mascarpone Lemon Cake to a traditional Jelly Roll Cake and a strawberry/blueberry/white  whipped cream layered Patriotic Poke Cake. 

Most recipes hold color photos, only 3-5 instructions, and an overview of "why this recipe works" which provides a history of the cake and how the Kitchen staff tracked down and tested recipes until they found the ultimate representative of each dish. 

The Best Simple Recipes: 200 Flavorful Recipes that Cook in 30 Minutes or Less (9781933615592, $29.99) holds a satisfying international flare as it presents a range of quick, hearty fare, from Chickpea Cakes with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce to Foil-Baked Fish with Black Beans and Corn or Vietnamese-Style Caramel Chicken with Broccoli. Color photos of finished dishes abound, sidebars of information hold tips on smart shopping and quick prep tips, and details on why the recipe works provide insights into the testing process and why the recipe earned the 'best' rating and was included in this cookbook. 

With its emphasis on simplicity, quick prep, and foolproof results, The Best Simple Recipes delivers on a promise many competing cookbooks claim but few actually produce, with the added benefit of the varied tastes an international focus provides. 

Just Add Sauce (9781945256240, $29.99) imparts the basics of making almost two hundred simple sauces, showing how to pair them with over 100 easy recipes that incorporate international flavors along with traditional, more familiar fare. 

Color photos illustrate such dishes as Sichuan Stir-Fried Pork, Baked Rigatoni with Garden Vegetable Marinara Sauce, and Red Thai Curry with Beef. 

There are plenty of sauce cookbooks on the market; but this one's attention to kitchen-tested, foolproof dishes that pair completed sauce with options for its use makes this book recommended similar-sounding titles. 

Apollo Publishers
www.apollopublishers.com

Two new titles from Apollo Publishers offer excellent new books that are culinary cookbook standouts. 

Angus Kennedy's Bittersweet: The Life and Times of the World's Leading Chocolate Taster (9781948062046, $24.99) is a memoir by an industry professional who surveys world confectionary and covers both the evolution of his career and the growth and changes affecting the industry as a whole. 

Kennedy's role as an insider leads to many important points, insights on how the industry works, and related subjects, such as how he controls his weight despite his daily involvement with food. 

Equally interesting and inspiring is how a struggling adolescent who initially botched school and work managed to find his calling as Britain's top chocolate taster, making for a compelling read for anyone envisioning a career in the food industry. 

A Taste of Cuba: A Journey Through Cuba and Its Savory Cuisine by Cynthia Carris Alonso with Valerie Feigen and Jose Luis Alonso (9781948062008, $35.00) gathers dishes by some of Cuba's most notable chefs, blending a recipe collection with a culinary tour of Cuba. 

From Caramel Cake and Fillet of Fish Florida with Orange Sauce to a classic Four-Milk Cake, A Taste of Cuba tours the small nation, pairing 75 recipes from the chefs with images of people, countryside, and finished dishes. 

The result captures a full flavor of the cuisine and the country and is a top recommendation for any culinary collection. 

The China Study Cookbook
LeAnne Campbell, PhD
BenBella
9781944648954             $24.95
www.benbellabooks.com 

The China Study Cookbook appears in a revised, expanded edition to cover over 175 whole food- and plant-based recipes, including 75 additions to make this latest edition a winner for new and prior fans alike. 

Based on the nutrition findings of The China Study, it focuses on easily-prepared plant-based recipes which use minimal sugar and salt and hold no added fat. 

The international flavors incorporated into this cookbook are also big plus, offering such fare as Dominican Chapea Stew, Hearty Salsa Stew, Sweet Potato Enchiladas, and more. 

The China Study Cookbook is a 'must have' for anyone who knows about The China Study's promise of better health and who want a cookbook based upon its findings. 

Cured Meat Smoked Fish & Pickled Eggs
Karen Solomon
Storey Publishing
9781612129037             $19.95
www.storey.com 

Cured Meat Smoked Fish & Pickled Eggs: Recipes and Techniques for Preserving Protein-Packed Foods will prove especially intriguing to those seeking to add more protein to their diets, and creates over sixty original recipes for preserving meats, eggs, and other sources rich in protein. 

A big 'plus' to this collection is its focus on international preservation techniques and recipes, from South African dried meats to French Pork Belly Confit, a Mediterranean Bacalao, Tomato and Olive Stew, or a Curry Pickled Eggs recipe. 

One doesn't usually think 'gourmet' when considering smoked and picked foods; but Cured Meat Smoked Fish & Pickled Eggs focuses on dishes which are packed with flavor, easy to reproduce, and a cut above the ordinary, making it highly recommended for any meat or protein-oriented cook. 

Dosa Kitchen
Nash Patel and Leda Scheintaub
Clarkson Potter
9780481499103             $18.99
www.clarksonpotter.com 

Dosa Kitchen: Recipes for India's Favorite Street Food gives a narrower focus than the usual Indian recipe collection and shows how to produce traditional and innovative dishes using dosas: thin, rice-and-lentil-based pancakes. 

One key to appreciating the innovative focus of this book is to not expect standard Indian fare. From The Dosa Dog, which uses the dosa in place of the bun to wrap hot dogs, Cheddar cheese and a decidedly Indian-inspired Masala Sauerkraut to Cheddar Cheese Dosa Pancakes with chutney and Smoky Chicken Curry Dosa, the pairing of East meets West is nicely done and enhanced by full-page color photos throughout. 

Don't expect another Indian cookbook with Dosa Kitchen. Do expect an easy, fun collection that takes the dosa pancake and expands its possibilities. 

Kyle Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com 

Two new titles are bright, exciting new cookbooks that add the concept of innovative, new take-offs on traditional cuisines. 

Rawia Bishara's Levant: New Middle Eastern Cooking from Tanoreen (9781909487727, $34.95) profiles original dishes from a restaurant noted for its focus on Middle Eastern food that has 'caught up with time without compromising authenticity.' 

The New York City restaurant Tanoreen not only made a splash in the Big Apple, but the City (and travels by family members) had an impact on Tanoreen's evolution, as well. 

Tthe cuisine featured herein is a real 'melting plot' of flavors and cultures in such dishes as Jerusalem Artichoke & Sweet Potato Soup, a vegetarian version of Jordan's 'makdous', Stuffed Eggplant Over Toasted Pita, and Lamb-Stuffed Potatoes in Tamarind Sauce. 

Even cooks who are already well-versed in Middle Eastern traditional dishes will find plenty of innovations unique to Levant. 

Jonah Miller and Nate Adler's The New Spanish: Bites, Feasts, and Drinks (9781909487833, $29.99) is also rooted in tradition, adapting Spanish traditions to modern diners who look for more than the same old tapas presentations. 

These dishes receive makeovers that lighten heavy original fare, offering recipes that have roots in Spain, but embellish them with many international influences. 

From Scrambled Eggs with Shrimp and Broccoli with Anchovies to Duck Breast With Sherry Sauce, the dishes are enhanced by full-page color photos and lively discussions of what makes them appealingly easy to reproduce. 

Even cooks with many solid Spanish cookbooks will want to prioritize this addition to their collection, which features many modified dishes not to be seen elsewhere. 

Oxmoor House
www.oxmoorhouse.com 

Todd Richards' Soul: A Chef's Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes (9780848754419, $35.00) expands the definition of 'soul food' and redefines 'soulful cooking' in African-American history and culture, mixing cuisines and traditions for modern audiences. 

This approach creates such winning take-offs on tradition as Popcorn-Crusted Scallops on Corn Porridge with Pickled Baby Corn and Beet Salad; Peach Salad; Shrimp and Grits with Grits Crust and Shrimp Butter; and Blackberry-Balsamic Roasted Venison. These are just a few of the dishes which are embellished by full-page color photos for maximum attraction and impact. 

The recipes themselves aren't overly complicated, but do require a prior interest in cooking beyond the basics. Introductions explain the finer science of pairing different flavors, such as a method of quieting the gamey flavor of venison using maple syrup, or countering the inherent sweetness of watermelon with pickled rind. 

The result is a treasure trove redefining the basic concepts of soul food using a gourmet twist that modern cooks will appreciate. 

Siriously Delicious by Siri Daly (9780848755805, $26.99) comes from a TODAY Food Contributor who is a busy cook, producing daily meals for three kids under the age of 10 and a bicoastal husband. 

Daly's Midwestern roots influence this gathering of a hundred easy recipes created to appeal to kids and adults alike, offering dishes that pair traditional comfort with innovative twists even novices can easily duplicate. 

Notes on nutrition, how to make presentations fancier (as time or energy permit), and simplifying preparations (if kitchen equipment is lacking) make it a snap to reproduce such fare as Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup, Greek Nachos, Spaghetti Primavera Pie, and Roasted Carrot and Pumpkin Seed Salad. 

Busy cooks looking for something different will find Siriously Delicious a collection packed with seriously flavorful innovations. 

Robert Rose Inc.
www.robertrose.ca 

Two new cookbooks contain over a hundred recipes each and require only one special piece of equipment per book to prove successful. 

Marilyn Haughen and Jennifer Mackenzie's 150 Best Waffle Maker Recipes (9780778805892, $19.95) includes savory dishes in its lineup, making it a standout among waffle cookbooks that largely focus on sweet fare. 

One will find all the classics here, from buttermilk to buckwheat waffles; but there are also vegan and gluten-free waffles, kid-friendly fare that young cooks can make, and the aforementioned savory dishes such as Beefy Waffled Tamale Pies, Greek-Inspired Spinach and Feta Bundles, and a Middle Eastern-inspired Lentil-Stuffed Waffled Bread. 

These recipes aren't just about adding toppings: they actually expand what the waffle iron can produce and how the results are used. The Beefy Waffled Tamale Pies were tested by this reviewer and found to be outstanding. 

150 Best Waffle Maker Recipes is highly recommended for any owner of a waffle iron who wants to take the next step beyond the basics and especially beyond the sugary productions waffles usually encompass. 

Julie Anne Hession's Beautiful Bundts: 100 Recipes for Delicious Cakes & More (9780778805762, $24.95) also takes a step beyond the usual recipes for and applications of the Bundt pan to feature cakes typically based in other kinds of pans, from layered productions to cream-filled cakes, pudding cakes, a Savory Cheese and Herb Monkey Bread Bundt, and more. 

There are even non-cake recipes, such as a Retro Cranberry Bold or a Raspberry Truffle Challah Bundt cakey bread production. 

Owners of Bundt pans looking for something different to do with their pans will find Beautiful Bundts provides the perfect starting point for innovative ideas. 

Route One Food Run
Vinnie Penn
Globe Pequot
9781493028016             $24.95
www.globepequot.com 

Route One Food Run: a Rollicking Road Trip to the Best Eateries from Connecticut to Maine includes signature recipes in its travelogue covering regional cuisine, and will appeal to travel and culinary readers alike with its tour of Route One restaurants and fare. 

Full-page color photos of both featured dishes and local eateries and landscapes create colorful embellishments to stories and recipes which range from Luigi's Famous Party-size Antipasto Salad Recipe to the fare of Iggy's Doughboys, which produces a killer New England Clam Chowder and unabashedly shares its signature recipe for a Strawberry Doughboy. 

The result is a colorful cast of characters profiled in a regional celebration that assumes a livelier format than a recipe book alone could have achieved. 


Education Matters 

Barron's AP U.S. Government and Politics, 11th Edition
Curt Lader, M.S.Ed.
Barron's
9781438011684             $22.99
www.barronseduc.com

The 11th updated edition of Barron's AP U.S. Government and Politics holds online content to support the latest edition on test preparation for the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, including practice tests and approaches that reflect the 2018-19 curriculum and exam contents. 

Reviews of multiple-choice questions come with answers for self-testers, while highlights of key concepts profile the basics key to the overall approach of the subjects being tested. 

From key terminology to charts of information and citations of cases, Barron's AP U.S. Government and Politics provides a comprehensive survey highly recommended for any test taker who wants the latest focus and versions of this exam.

Jessica Kingsley, Publisher
www.jkp.com 

Two outstanding new titles provide educators with practical ideas and strategies that teachers can use to enhance their classroom atmospheres and further educational goals. 

Frederika Roberts and Elizabeth Wright's Character Toolkit for Teachers: 100+ Classroom and Whole School Character Education Activities for 5- to 11-Year-Olds (9781785924903, $24.95) is for teachers who would develop character in kids at an early age, featuring a hundred activities designed to help teachers teach and promote concepts of gratitude, positive thinking, and strong relationships. 

These aren't just a teacher's singular ideas, but are based on validated character education and psychology research, profiling classroom-tested techniques even busy teachers and parents can easily apply. 

Anna Lubelska edits How to Be a Peaceful School: Practical Ideas, Stories and Inspiration (9781785921568, $24.95) and comes from the co-founder of the Peaceful Schools Movement. She gathers stories and experiences from teachers and charity workers alike, who explore their goals of promoting peace in students, the educational community, and the world as a whole. 

Key to this process is understanding conflict resolution, stress reduction, and encouraging peacemaking skills and values in kids. 

From acknowledging the basics of creating and maintaining meaningful relationships to feedback from staff involved in building peaceful schools, How to Be a Peaceful School's collection of real-world experiences is essential reading for teachers, school leaders, and parents.

A Passion for a People
Avraham Infeld with Clare Goldwater
Gefen Publishing
9789652299635             $14.95
www.gefenpublishing.com 

A Passion for a People: Lessons from the Life of a Jewish Educator considers the concept of Jewish Peoplehood around the world and surveys Avraham Infeld's idea that Judaism is not just a religion, but embraces history, memory, family, country, and connections. 

It comes from a philosopher and educator who examines common teachings about the Jewish people and messages on how to unify Jewish peoples around the world, supplying insights on Jewish leadership and education processes and ideas which will prove controversial to some and thought-provoking to many. 

From Jewish traditions to the concept of 'Peoplehood', this book provides a solid consideration of the past, present, and future of Jewish people and should be in any Jewish educational collection. 

Why Write in Math Class? K-5
Linda Dacey with Kathleen O'Connell Hopping & Rebeka Eston Salemi
Stenhouse
9781625311603             $33.33
www.stenhouse.com 

Why Write in Math Class? K-5 builds on the idea that "math talk" in classrooms promotes stronger communications and a better understanding of math concepts. 

This survey focuses on five types of writing in math (exploratory, explanatory, argumentative, creative, and reflective) and contrasts a variety of strategies teachers can employ to blend writing exercises into math classes and learning objectives. 

Illustrative examples from student writings offer visual reinforcement to the lesson plan ideas within, covering the basics of how to craft and use a procedure, how to identify interesting questions that promote student interest and response, and how to use templates and investigative writing to keep students involved and on track. 

Teachers looking to integrate math and creative writing disciplines to reinforce both will appreciate the fluid structure and specific approaches of Why Write in Math Class? 

Health Matters

Close Yours Eyes, Get Free
Grace Smith
DaCapo
9780738219714             $15.99
www.dacapopress.com 

Close Yours Eyes, Get Free: Use Self-Hypnosis to Reduce Stress, Quit Bad habits, and Achieve Greater Relaxation and Focus tells how hypnotherapist Grace Smith came to realize that hypnotherapy could not only alleviate mental conditions and improve moods, but actually help the body recover.

This realization led her to leave corporate America to pursue her career full-time. The revelations she experienced form the foundation of Close Yours Eyes, Get Free, which covers the science, health benefits, approaches, and possibilities of hypnotherapy in working through pain and mental barriers to health. 

Directed to readers who would both understand more about the therapy's possibilities and apply self-hypnosis to their own objectives of reprogramming mind and body, Close Yours Eyes, Get Free offers routines that build upon one another for successful results. 

The Fears of the Rich, the Needs of the Poor
William H. Foege
Johns Hopkins University Press
9781421425290             $24.95
www.press.jhu.edu 

The Fears of the Rich, the Needs of the Poor: My Years at the CDC goes beyond the usual autobiography approach to document not just Dr. Foege's life in public health, but the history and evolution of the CDC, which began as a malaria control program and evolved to become an institution working with in health issues around the world. 

William H. Foege's survey goes beyond either history or memoir in narrating stories of key moments in public health, juxtaposing the various health issue crises the CDC has faced with his own struggles with the program's changing objectives and effectiveness. 

This insider's history of the politics, health processes, and management issues involved in maintaining and expanding the CDC's influence around the world should be required reading for anyone interested in public health on a global scale.

 Jessica Kingsley Publishers
www.jkp.com 

Three important new titles on autism and eldercare should be staples in any serious health collection, offering narrowed focuses and approaches designed to present models of understanding and therapy. 

James Woodward and Jenny Kartupelis encourage creating environments for shared living between generations in Developing a Relational Model of Care for Older People (9781785923340, $29.95). 

Based on recent research into eldercare and the effects of environments on the needs and health of older people, they examines the nature of interpersonal relationships and how a sense of home may be created or enhanced under various living conditions. 

Although the UK is the basis for this consideration of eldercare, its observations and techniques will apply to anyone interested in ideas of independence and support in the aging population. 

Dr. James Warner and Dr. Nori Graham collaborate in the second edition of A Pocket Guide to Understanding Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias (9781785924583, $16.95), written by leading dementia experts who provide the latest research and health insights on dementia's diagnosis, treatment, and tips for those living with dementia. 

This updated edition incorporates all the latest thinking on the topic, making for a top reference not just for professionals, but for general-interest collections strong in healthcare issues. 

Jonas Torrance's Therapeutic Adventures with Autistic Children: Connecting Through Movement, Play and Creativity (9781785924552, $24.95) considers a diverse set of techniques from various innovative therapies as he explores different methods of working with autistic children using play approaches.  

It addresses many common issues autistic children face, from anger management to obsessive habits, and surveys different therapeutic approaches to these problems, from physical play to meditation and applied arts, to help kids direct their energies depending on their individual needs, talents, and interests. 

Therapists open to this range of alternatives, from yoga to using puppets, will find Therapeutic Adventures with Autistic Children an excellent collection of various tried and tested methods that moves away from a singular approach to profile approaches that can be individually tailored to a particular autistic child's special needs. 

No therapist or educator working with kids on the autism spectrum should be without this synthesis of successful efforts. 

Biography & Autobiography

Because I'd Hate to Just Disappear
Don Hardy, with Heather Hardy
University of Nevada Press
9781943859733             $17.95
www.unpress.nevada.edu 

Because I'd Hate to Just Disappear: My Cancer, My Self, Our Story differs from many other autobiographical narratives about fighting cancer in that it benefits from a dual narration by Don Hardy and his wife Heather, who recount the step-by-step challenges of facing cancer together. 

One doesn't expect humor in a book about cancer; nor a loving, honest story that embraces not just physical challenges, but moral and psychological changes. 

In documenting not just the experiences but the changes to a relationship that occur in the course of a health crisis, this book offers a memoir that is brutally honest from one who reveals how to live and experience a more 'examined life'. 

Readers of cancer stories will find this added insight on enlightenment and growth contributes to a more multifaceted story than most. 

Bloomsbury Publishing
www.bloomsbury.com 

Two excellent new memoirs are very different, top recommendations for readers of biography and autobiography. 

Edmund White's The Unpunished Vice: A Life of Reading (9781635571172, $28.00) isn't another story of how a well-known writer made a name for himself; but a memoir that follows White's life as a reader. It covers the books he's read and the most notable of their lessons, blending literary criticism with a review of his life and work stemming from the influence of these distinguished books. 

Writing that has appeared in the New York Review of Books and other literary sources contributes to a powerful memoir that delves into the literary moments that shaped White's life and approach to writing, making for an inspirational read especially recommended for aspiring writers and bibliophiles alike. 

Edward M. Hallowell, MD's Because I Come from a Crazy Family: The Making of a Psychiatrist (9781632868589, $28.00) follows the author's troubled childhood, surrounded by mental illness. His father was a manic-depressive, his mother an alcoholic, and his step-father abusive. Hallowell himself grew up with learning disabilities which further complicated his life. 

While other psychiatrists have identified a desire to know self better as a reason for entering the profession, this survey is designed to help readers identify their own family dysfunctions and their influences upon careers, choices, and motivations. 

Anyone who has had a dysfunctional family structure or who has overcome the trials of childhood to become a successful adult will appreciate this candid romp through a psychiatrist's early life and its lasting impact on his adult patterns of behavior. 

Living with the Monks
Jesse Itzler
Center Street
9781478993421             $27.00
www.centerstreet.com 

Living with the Monks: What Turning Off my Phone Taught Me About Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus isn't just a memoir: it's a spiritual journey that blends Jesse Itzler's business success and social explorations with the next step in his growth: entering a monastery in the mountains of upstate New York. 

What he learned about the often-striking differences between monasteries of the world and their perspectives and purposes turns into an exploration that blends Itzler's discoveries with the kind of explicit insights into monastery life and monks that is usually hard to come by outside the walls of any given establishment. 

Readers seeking a blend of humor, adventure, business pursuits, and spiritual enlightenment will find Living with the Monks a powerful reflection. 

Mother American Night
John Perry Barlow with Robert Greenfield
Crown Archetype
9781524760182             $27.00
www.crownarchetype.com 

Mother American Night: My Life in Crazy Times comes from an author who penned the lyrics for some thirty Grateful Dead songs while serving as a campaign manager for Dick Cheney's run for Congress. 

He also cultivates a sense of humor and storytelling abilities which shine in this survey of his life, a wild romp made all the more memorable by his encounters with some of the top cultural icons of his time from Neal Cassady and Jerry Garcia to Timothy Learn, Steve Jobs, and members of the Kennedy family. 

One doesn't expect a spiritual component to appear in a story of encounters with memorable counter-culture personalities; but John Perry Barlow provides a set of insights that are multifaceted, surprising, and often in contrast to one another and the influencers on his life. 

Readers will find this an intriguing series of encounters with lifestyles and changes that run headlong into chaos with an attention to detail and a style of finesse that is engrossingly introspective. 

Rising Star: The Making of Barak Obama
David J. Garrow
William Morrow
9780062641847             $34.99
www.harpercollins.com 

So many books have been written about Barak Obama both before, during, and after his presidency that one might wonder at the need for yet another; but if only one biography were to be chosen, Rising Star: The Making of Barak Obama should be at the top of the list. 

Pulitzer-Prize winning historical author David J. Garrow spent some nine years researching and writing this survey of Obama's life before he was elected, interviewing over a thousand people who contribute special insights on Obama's tumultuous upbringing in Honolulu, his school years, and his growth as a leader. 

The intersection of biographical examination, social and political insights, and specifics on the extent of Obama's early influences makes for an in-depth coverage that's highly recommended and not to be missed by anyone who would understand Obama's background and the sources of his influence on American politics. 

Uncensored
Zachary R. Wood
Dutton
9781524742447             $26.00
www.penguinrandomhouse.com 

Uncensored: My Life and Uncomfortable Conversations at the Intersection of Black and White America shares Zachary R. Wood's life story against the backdrop of his leadership of the student group Uncomfortable Learning, considering the intersection of intellectual and cultural controversies and how beliefs are formed and promoted. 

His personal story explains how he became involved in free speech advocacy, revealing how his childhood as a poor black boy in Washington D.C. led to perceptions that he struggled to change later on in life. 

Because he outlines many of the dialogues and struggles that are preventing black and white Americans from connecting today, Uncensored is recommended not only as a powerful autobiography, but as a social history that's especially potent as a starting point classroom debate. 

Well, That Escalated Quickly
Franchesca Ramsey
Grand Central Publishing
9781538761038             $27.00
www.grandcentralpublishing.com 

Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist offers a funny collection of personal essays from a veteran video blogger who explores race, activism, and communication challenges both on and offline.

Using humor to present a difficult message isn't an unusual tactic; but what is unique is the juxtaposition of serious message and light-hearted autobiography that pairs social justice issues with Franchesca Ramsey's life story. 

Ramsey didn't make it her goal to be a social commentator, but her video "What White Girls Say...to Black Girls" went viral and gained her an avalanche of publicity and attention. At that point, she had to make a choice: step back from the controversy and conversation she'd created, or continue the dialogue. 

While this memoir focuses on her experiences as an accidental activist, it also makes important points about communication between cultures, races, and individuals, and will be appreciated by anyone interested in social introspection and discussion. 

History 

Civil War Tails
Ruth & Rebecca Brown
Stackpole Books
9780811719858             $21.95
www.rowman.com 

Think Civil War history is dull and overdone? Think again; because Civil War Tails: 8,000 Cat soldiers Tell the Panoramic Story is not your typical dry reviews of facts, but a quirky, offbeat pairing of Civil War history with color diorama displays made using—of all things—plastic cats. 

One might anticipate that the quirky element of this presentation would supersede its serious aspect; but the scholarship is impeccable; it deftly recreates stories of Civil War battles and experiences; and it adds a lively tone using cats as models for soldiers as it outlines moment-by-moment battle encounters, strategies, and leaders. 

The result is a quirky but captivating representation of Civil War history certain to intrigue a wide audience; especially normally-reluctant history readers who will find the colorful displays and exact details more than lightly intriguing. 

The Global Imagination of 1968
George Katsiaficas
PM Press
9781629634395             $24.95
www.pmpress.org 

The Global Imagination of 1968: Revolution and Counterrevolution provides a history of various social movements of the 1960s, but the global approach to these movements differs from the usual method of examining the 1960s from a US perspective only. 

From the Prague revolt against communism to African anticolonial revolutions, civil rights issues in South America, and working class revolts in Czechslovakia, The Global Imagination of 1968 covers organizations, objectives, social climates, and various struggles. Having a global focus and various revolution and counterrevolution history under one cover makes for a solid coverage of politics and history that allows for contrasts between different social issues in different countries. 

College-level collections strong in global politics and international influences would do well to include this in-depth survey in their collections. 

The Jersey Shore
Dominick Mazzagetti
Rutgers University Press
9780813593748             $29.95
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org 

The Jersey Shore: the Past, Present & Future of a National Treasure provides a lively yet comprehensive history of a popular American shore icon, covering its evolution and culture from the 1600s to modern times. 

This sweeping panoramic view of events allows readers to thoroughly understanding how the Jersey Shore area evolved, its early recognition as a national resort in the late 1800s, and its exploration, settlement, tourism development, and the impact of technology and social changes on the Jersey Shore image. 

The result is both an enlightening history of a popular vacation spot and a revealing probe into how it came to be seen as a national treasure. Both regional collections and those interested in American development will find The Jersey Shore well-detailed and nicely integrated with broader American issues and developments. 

Phantom Nation
Sha'I ben-Tekoa
Gefen Publishers
9789652299253             $70.00
www.gefenpublishing.com 

If an authoritative, in-depth, meticulously researched history of Israel and Palestine is required for a college-level history collection, then Phantom Nation: Inventing the "Palestinians" as the Obstacle to Peace should certainly fit the bill. 

Sha'I ben-Tekoa is an American-Israeli journalist versed in both comparative religion and history. He served in the Yom Kippur War of 1973 and his articles on Arab-Israeli relations have appeared in numerous authoritative publications, from the Wall Street Journal to the National Review and the Jerusalem Post. 

This culmination of his research provides an authoritative two-volume set that examines historical precedent, considers the definition and nature of the "Palestinians" and why there's no good book narrating their history, providing controversially compelling food for thought refuting popular beliefs about the Palestinians and their place in the region. 

Many controversial and surprising contentions are presented here; among them the notion that "Palestinian" nationalism masks belligerent Islam and serves to promote fear and hatred of Jews. 

No light condemnation, this is a weighty consideration that delves deeply into religious, historical, social, cultural and political events, belief systems, and special interests, and is packed with detail suitable for classroom discussion and debate and history holdings alike. 

Very, very highly recommended, this two-volume study is certain to raise eyebrows and enlighten even those who have previously studied Israeli history. 

The Promise of the Grand Canyon
John F. Ross
Viking
9780525429875             $36.00
www.penguin.com 

The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West offers some startling insights into the role John Wesley Powell played in early concepts of climate change and water management, discussing his revolutionary map of America, his visionary insights into the American frontier, and his travels through the Grand Canyon as he completed the survey Lewis and Clark began nearly 70 years earlier. 

Powell's studies of the Grand Canyon and his insights into its geology and the development of the West is a detailed survey of Powell's experiences and contributions to science and geography alike. 

It reads with the lively tone of a novel, but holds many important details on national surveys, political processes, and environmental history and deserves a place not just in history holdings, but many a science collection. 

Audiobooks 

 Highbridge Audio
www.highbridgeaudio.com 

Five new audio titles are special picks from Highbridge's latest releases, offering libraries durable plastic cases suitable for lending, talented narrators who enliven the stories, and selections that promise lasting patron appeal. 

Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas's How to Rig An Election (9781684410941, $34.99) is read by Matthew Josdal, who provides a firm and clear voice to an exposé about the limits of selections and the kinds of strategies employed by leaders to tip the balance to winning an election. 

This in-depth discussion of electoral exploitation goes beyond a singular approach to consider media manipulation, hacking, and more, and is based on the experiences of election watchers, political figures, and election officials who all offer eye-opening insights from the real world. 

Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick's The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users (978168441341, $29.99) is narrated by Amanda Ronconi, who clearly captures Guy Kawasaki's words. 

Over a hundred tips, tricks, and strategies come from his successful associations in the business world and his effective use of tweeting, blogging, and more social media venues. 

Going beyond 'how to use' each social platform, Kawasaki considers how to build digital assets that blend business pursuits with social media's structures and, especially, politically correct usage. 

Travis Langley and Mara Wood edit Wonder Woman Psychology: Lassoing the Truth (9781684411528, $29.99), which receives a fine dual reading by Stephanie Bentley and Todd McLaren that highlights the history and psychology of the Wonder Woman phenomenon. 

This close analysis of heroic behaviors and the ways differences in culture and gender can affect these efforts bases itself on the Wonder Woman mythology and current popularity but moves far beyond the fictional history of Wonder Woman to consider various themes that resonate with modern-day women. 

Women's psychology and issues readers (as well as those who like the mythology and fictional figure of Wonder Woman) will appreciate the many considerations presented in this diverse collection which provides much food for thought, approaching the Wonder Woman phenomenon from many different directions. 

Stacy Horn's Damnation Island: Poor, Sick, Mad & Criminal in 19th-Century New York (9781684411988, $34.99) receives a lively reading by Pam Ward, whose voice brings to life this history of daily life on Roosevelt Island (nee: Blackwell's Island), once the home of New York City's lunatic asylum, prison, hospital and almshouse. 

This history is narrated against the backdrop of those who were sent to Blackwell's, pulling articles from city records, journals, and personal accounts to document court battles, inmate experiences, social and political controversy, and more. 

Anyone with a special interest in early New York history will find this a rare glimpse into the social issues and programs of the 19th century. 

Come West and See by Maxim Loskutoff (9781684412389, $29.99) receives a dual narration by John Mclain and Wendy Tremont King as it covers the armed occupation of a wildlife refuge in the remote corner of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

As different personal and political lives come into plan in this isolated area, issues of militia involvements, military might, social change, and divided Americans create a tense thriller that documents the interactions and clashes between different facets of society in the microcosm of a small region. 

Novel New Novels 

Probable Claws
Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
Bantam
9780425287156             $27.00
www.randomhousebooks.com 

Probable Claws adds to the bestselling Mrs. Murphy mysteries, but no prior familiarity with the series is needed in order for newcomers to begin with this latest story. 

Winter has arrived in the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Crozet, Virginia, but that's not the only cloud covering the village. When Harry and Deputy Cynthia Cooper's friend Gary is shot to death by a masked motorcyclist right in front of them, Harry begins an investigation into her friend's past that reveals some big secrets: secrets someone would kill to keep hidden. 

A trail of clues leads Harry and her crime-solving cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter (not to mention sidekick Corgi Tee Tucker) on a search for not just the perfect perp, but ancient secrets as deadly to modern times as they were in the past. 

Corruption, deadly confrontations, and animal involvements in a terrible truth keep Probable Claws fast-paced and hard to put down: perfect for mystery enthusiasts who enjoy animals added into the intriguing mix. 

William Morrow
www.harpercollins.com 

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd (9780062669605, $26.99) is a post-apocalyptic story set in the near future and tells of ordinary folk facing the impossible. It all begins when a man's shadow vanishes in an Indian market. Then people begin exhibiting new abilities that come with a terrible price tag: the sacrifice of their memories. 

As the Forgetting spreads, Ory and his wife hide in the woods and form a semblance of the normal world they once knew, until the reality overtakes them and changes their lives and love. 

Driven by a desire to maintain their connections when everything is falling apart, the two embark on a journey of loss and peril through a world equally shattered. It's a riveting story that goes beyond most apocalyptic scenarios to add insights and food for thought on the foundation connections of memory, love, and staying human in a world gone mad.

The Book of M is highly recommended for a riveting story that keep readers not just guessing, but reflecting on these points of humanity. 

Joe Hill's Strange Weather (9780062683122, $16.99) is eerie fiction at its best, excelling at creating disturbing, dark, and enriching literary pieces that discuss the stuff of nightmares, probing shards of human reaction and insight against the backdrops of seemingly normal days that turn extraordinary. 

Hill is especially masterful at taking the ordinary world and turning it upside down. One moment, readers enter a familiar scenario (such as a stranger taking Poleroid photos of the world); the next, the stranger might be capturing more than an image; or a parachute jump can lead to an impossible castaway situation where an island in the sky becomes home. 

Engrossing and evocative, Strange Weather's novelettes are hard to put down and linger in the mind long after their initial reading. 

 

Arts & Crafts 

The Enthusiast's Guide to Travel Photography
Jordana Wright
Rocky Nook
9781681983244             $24.95
www.rockynook.com 

The Enthusiast's Guide to Travel Photography: 56 Photographic Principles You Need to Know covers the basics of shooting images during travel, breaking the process into progressive lessons that teach how to capture a place, work under different conditions, and how to distill the unique essence of a journey into a photograph. 

Many specifics are included on how to accommodate challenging mobile settings, such as composing shots from a moving car window and keeping photography equipment in good working order and safe while on the road.

From angles and perspectives to capturing textures and patterns in an image, all the basics of photographic composition and camera usage accompany the special challenges of capturing images from unfamiliar and often uncontrollable places and settings, making The Enthusiast's Guide to Travel Photography a 'must' for travelers who want to do more than produce casual snapshots of their vacation. 

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist
Caroll Michels
Allworth Press
9781621536130             $24.99
www.allworth.com 

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself without Selling Your Soul appears in its 7th updated edition to help fine artists who are on the cusp of success as well as established artists interested in new approaches, adding new chapters to this edition that range from revised business models for artists and employing social media as a marketing tool to understanding the differences between art buyers and art appreciators. 

These new chapters make this 7th edition invaluable, expanding on previous editions with new information reflecting the changing opportunities and environments for marketing one's art. 

Caroll Michels is a career coach as well as an artist. Her dual expertise stands out in a genre where art is too typically divorced from business savvy, bringing the two together in a guide that should be in every artist's studio. 

Japan in Early Photographs
Grégoire Mayor and Akiyoshi Tani, Editors
Arnoldsche Verlagsanstalt/ACC Publishing
9783897900271             $95.00
www.accpublishinggroup.com 

Japan in Early Photographs: The Aimé Humbert Collection at the Museum of Ethnography, Neuchâtel gathers photos taken in Japan between the late Edo and early Meiji periods that formed the foundation of how Westerners viewed the Japanese, providing a specific focus on the works in the Aimé Humbert Collection in the 1860s. 

These pieces, in particular, were critical images used as sources for widely-distributed pieces; so it's surprising to note that they appear in print for the first time in a gathering that profiles both the images and their historic importance. 

As the editors survey the history of these images and how they were preserved, acquired, and used by foreigners, they create a powerful survey that should extend beyond arts holdings alone. Packed with images and key information, Japan in Early Photographs should be an essential acquisition for any authoritative collection strong not just in Japanese arts, but in Japanese history. 

Lush & Layered Beadweaving
Marcia Balonis
Kalmbach Books
9781627004534             $22.99
www.jewelryandbeadingstore.com 

Lush & Layered Beadweaving: Stitch Jewelry with Texture and Dimension goes beyond the usual beginner's focus on beads or weaving to teach the basics of multi-dimensional jewelry design, and comes from a teacher and designer who uses projects to demonstrate the potentials of working with texture in jewelry-making efforts. 

Crafters who like working with beads but who want to branch beyond the usual beadwork focus will find plenty of ideas for adding gems and crystals into the mix. 

Some twenty pieces of jewelry come with step-by-step instructions and a blend of color photos and illustrations, including alternate construction options. 

The result should be in any crafter's collection, especially those with some basic familiarity with bead weaving who want to expand their horizons when it comes to adding texture and detail. 

Making America Modern
Marilyn F. Friedman
Bauer and Dean, Publishers
9780983863236             $50.00
www.baueranddean.com 

Making America Modern: Interior Design in the 1930s provides a reference for design professionals and historians alike as it covers the evolution of modern interior design in the U.S. in the 1930s. 

Over two hundred photos and examples of model homes, from exhibition displays to private commissions, profile the 1930s designers who moved away from a revivalist trend in interiors to foster an edgy new creative design style that blended art deco, Shintoism, and other approaches using new construction materials. 

The new principles they promoted would affect interior design far beyond the 1930s era and are clearly outlined in a survey that should be basic to any architecture or interior design history course. The focus on over a hundred interiors by some fifty designers provides a close inspection unequalled in other, more general surveys of American interior design trends. 

Outside the Jukebox
Scott Bradlee
Hachette Books
9780316415736             $23.00
www.hachettebooks.com 

Outside the Jukebox: How I Turned My Vintage Music Obsession Into My Dream Gig blends autobiography with a reflection on work, the music world, and the musical gig Scott Bradlee created, Postmodern Jukebox, which came from his experiments with different musical styles, instruments, and sounds. The result defies easy categorization. 

One of the challenges in reading Bradlee's story is that it's steeped in music and tells of a young musician's struggles in the industry; but it is also a survey of how innovative approaches can stem from adversity and life challenges. 

As Bradlee's memoir evolves, it educates readers with a powerful investigation of the contemporary music industry, the creative efforts of an aspiring artist who launched a new humorous YouTube series to support his Postmodern Jukebox series, and a series of collaborative efforts which nicely describe the experience of creating new music and working with other musicians. 

Readers interested in the modern music world and the efforts of an aspiring dreamer to fit his life work into that genre will relish Bradlee's lively story of creative thinking and musical pursuits. 

Snapshot: The IDF as Never Seen Before
Yaov Limor and Ziv Koren
Gefen Publishing House
9789652299383             $50.00
www.gefenpublishing.com 

Snapshot: The IDF as Never Seen Before is recommended first and foremost to history collections strong in Israeli studies and social science holdings strong in Jewish studies. However, it's profiled here because these two areas will be the more obvious purchasers of this title than the third type of collection, which should be just as interested in this oversized photo documentary: arts and photography holdings strong in photojournalism topics. 

This audience will find that Snapshot's oversized format lends well to full-page color displays of military forces and battles particular to the Israeli Defense Forces, offering sterling photos by Israeli photographer Ziv Koren to supplement a narrowed focus on the IDF's work and security operations. 

Previously unpublished stories and photos from their operations, including some of their secretive units, makes for an unparalleled close-up shot that any photojournalism or Jewish studies collection will want to consider an essential acquisition worthy of not just display, but discussion. 

Wedding Storyteller
Roberto Valenzuela
Rocky Nook
9781681981864             $49.95
www.rockynook.com 

Wedding Storyteller: Elevating the Approach to Photographing Wedding Stories provides the first volume in a series and goes beyond the usual approach of a typical wedding photography book to consider the various themes, subjects, and approaches photographers need to put together a superior wedding photography shoot. 

Where other, more singular discussions focus on 'looks' or poses, Wedding Storyteller is not a short list of examples but more of a foundation approach to the concept of storytelling as it relates creating to a visual narrative. As such, chapters build skills in the storytelling arena, offering four sections that focus on location, people, story crafting, and techniques the author uses to build his "wedding story". 

Final chapters draws these pieces together in a detailed and in-depth survey that may frustrate novices looking for quick examples and insights; but which will delight neo-professionals seeking more depth and detail than the usual wedding style guide offers. 

 

Science, Nature & Technology 

Digital Human
Chris Skinner
Wiley
9781119511854             $32.50
www.wiley.com 

Digital Human: The Fourth Revolution of Humanity Includes Everyone comes from a financial expert who poses and explores the 'fourth age' of humanity: one in which digital transformations are affecting human nature and business relationships alike. 

This could have been featured in a business column, but its importance goes beyond business pursuits and well into the realm of science and technology; so Digital Human is featured here and highly recommended for its diverse insights into the process of digitalizing the human race's perceptions, pursuits, and experiences. 

From bitcoin and government control to Chinese tech pursuits and superiority in comparison to Western efforts, Digital Human considers innovations, the future impacts of digital technology on humanity, and the possibilities and impacts of this 'fourth revolution' on future generations. 

While tailored for business audiences, science or technology readers will find it offers much food for thought. 

The Ecocentrists
Keith Makoto Woodhouse
Columbia University Press
9780231165884             $35.00
www.cup.columbia.edu

The Ecocentrists: A History of Radical Environmentalism traces the emergence of a new style of environmentalism in the 1980s: one which involved direct action, protest, and active physical resistance against those who would decimate natural environments. 

This movement ascribed to a brand of active radical protest that obstructed, confronted, and blocked would-be environmental transgressions. The Ecocentrists features an approach that presents a history of radical environmental thought and processes that considers and moves beyond the protest group Earth First! to examine the rudiments of radical challenges over resource usage. 

By considering the political, philosophical, economic and social effects of environmental activism, Keith Makoto Woodhouse produces an astute history of environmental politics in the U.S. and examines fundamental beliefs and changing approaches on all sides. 

No survey of environmentalism in the U.S. would be complete without Woodhouse's narrowed focus on radical environmental beliefs and actions. 

Happily Ever Esther
Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter, and Caprice Crane
Grand Central Publishing
9781538728147             $27.00
www.grandcentralpublishing.com 

Happily Ever Esther: Two Men, a Wonder Pig, and Their Life-Changing Mission to Give Animals a Home provides a memoir complimenting the authors' prior book Esther the Wonder Pig and documents their life on the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, which now holds 42 animals. 

When Steve Jenkins and Derek Walter adopted a 'micro pig' who turned out to be a full-sized 600-lb commercial pig, it lead to many challenges and changes; including moving to a new farm that offered a sanctuary to animals. 

This book continues their story, following the challenges of becoming a farmer with no prior experience, adjusting to animal care routines, and handling different animals as well as the nuts and bolts of the advocacy process. 

The result is a lively, fun account that will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who would learn more about farm ideals, operations, and animal rescue processes. 

How to Be Good at Science, Technology & Engineering
Ben Morgan, Sr. Editor
DK Publishing
9781465473592             $19.99
www.dk.com 

How to Be Good at Science, Technology & Engineering is recommended for a wide age range, from middle school to adult readers who would learn more about science. While How to Be Good at Science, Technology & Engineering  supports the STEM curriculum and will likely be chosen for school collections, it should be consulted by anyone who would absorb the basics of science in a volume packed with colorful cutaways and examples throughout. 

Whether it's illustrating how engines work, concepts of stretching and deforming forces, various acids and their applications, or ecosystems, How to Be Good at Science, Technology & Engineering  excels at explanations backed with color examples from real-life experiences and applications, simplifying and emphasizing the connection between basic science and everyday life. 

Power in Numbers
Talithia Williams, PhD
RacePoint Publishing
9781631064852             $28.00
www.QuatroKnows.com 

Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics documents code breakers, scientists, computer programmers, and women who worked their mathematical magic in different disciplines, documenting 30 extraordinary individuals whose work not only refuted popular stereotypes about women and math, but helped change the world. 

200 photos pair with original interviews with several of these women in a survey that comes not from a reporter's perspective but from an Associate Professor of Mathematics and co-host of the TV show NOVA. 

Her background lends authority and insight to a lively set of biographical and scientific sketches that consider the effective presence of women in math and why it's a particularly supportive, exciting time for women to be participating in applied and pure mathematics fields. 

From how cancer may be battled with math to how quantum mechanics discoveries can change everyday life, readers will look forward to a satisfying dose of mathematical concepts and research in this wide-ranging discussion, which should be in any women's studies, science, or high school collection. 

Rescue Cats
Susannah Maynard
Amherst Media Inc.
9781682033449             $21.95
www.amherstmedia.com 

Amherst Media is primarily known for its how-to books instructing neo-professional photographers; so while one can say that Rescue Cats: Portraits and Stories is somewhat of a departure from their usual catalog, it should also be noted that this portrait of an animal advocate and photographer's cat rescues is as much a celebration of domestic rescue processes as it is a photo essay about cats. 

Readers receive instruction on the characteristics of various breeds, the individual personalities of the subjects under the lens, and also learn about the process of capturing cats on film in a photo survey that pairs close-up color photos of each cat with a biography of their personality and rescue needs. 

The colorful photos show how cat personalities may be captured on film to optimum advantage, making Rescue Cats a recommendation for photographers and nature lovers alike. 

The Secret Life of Cows
Rosamund Young
Penguin Press
9780525557319             $23.00
www.thepenguinpress.com 

The Secret Life of Cows blends organic farming insights with the charming animal story of Rosamund Young's growing understanding of cows and other farm animals, blending humor with insights into a farming approach in England where all the animals roam free. 

Left to themselves, the cows exhibit distinct personalities and interests documented in a survey that is fun, appreciative of cow psychology, and which blends insights on organic farming and raising animals with discussions of bovine needs and common cow misconceptions. 

Anyone interested in cows and farming will find The Secret Life of Cows a charming book that marries animal wisdom with farming insights using a lively format that general-interest readers will appreciate. 

She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Carol Zimmer
Dutton
9781101984598             $30.00
www.penguinrandomhouse.com 

She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity explores the history, definition, and meaning of heredity, following the way the concept has changed over the years and why heredity is more than documenting genetic predispositions. 

Where other coverages offer lighter views and take standard paths of explanation, it should be mentioned that over 600 pages here offers much more detail about not just the latest research on heredity, but its wide-ranging applications in genealogy, law enforcement, and to reproduction issues, disease control, and social science as a whole. 

Many books hold familiar discussions about the topic; but She Has Her Mother's Laugh not only breaks new ground in its diverse approaches to the science of heredity, but pairs case histories and examples with research and social reflection in a multifaceted survey designed to appeal to general-interest audiences, scientists, health professionals, and social scientists alike. 

Very highly recommended as a powerful treatise that will change the way readers think about heredity. 

Smilodon
Lars Werdelin, et.al., Editors
Johns Hopkins University Press
9781421425566             $110.00
www.press.jhu.edu

Smilodon: The Iconic Sabertooth is written by a team of academic experts who gather all the latest research about the prehistoric sabertooth cat Smilodon for fellow paleontologists, mammalogists, and anyone who would receive the latest research about the beast. 

Here are all the known facts about the animal's natural history, anatomy, evolution and interactions with its environment, profiling all three Smilodon species across North and South America and including original, unpublished research supplemented by historical background. 

A centerfold of color finite element models taken from teeth and skulls outlines the scientific process of subjecting them to various loads to determine muscles, stress distributions, and bites; while black and white photos and charts throughout lend visual clarity to support technical discussions. 

Any college-level science collection strong in paleontology must have this in-depth and authoritative survey. 

Reviewer's Choice 

1970 Plymouth Superbird
Geoff Stunkard
CarTech
9781613253007             $18.95
www.cartechbooks.com 

Adding to the 'Muscle Cars in Detail' series is #11, 1970 Plymouth Superbird, a recommended pick for any collection strong in automotive history in general and muscle cars in particular. 

The highly specialized muscle car differed in style and presentation; but this specific focus on the 1970 Plymouth Superbird model offers a detailed survey of the design, creation, marketing, and making of the car, including specifics about options and the Superbird's history. 

Filled with black and white and color photos, charts, and specs, muscle car fans will find 1970 Plymouth Superbird a fitting and in-depth survey. 

A Mouse Divided
Jeff Ryan
Post Hill Press
9781682816277             $27.00
www.posthillpress.com 

A Mouse Divided: How UB Iwerks Became Forgotten and Walt Disney Became Uncle Walt is an eye-opening surprise because most Disney fans will likely never have heard of UB Iwerks and its original invention of Disney's signature Mouse. 

The story goes back to 1928, when Walt Disney and Ub Iwerk were best friends. One man invented Mickey Mouse. The other stole his idea, wresting it from a friendship that caused a stormy relationship that turned into a rivalry. 

Disney fans will find A Mouse Divided a shocking exposé which details not one but two men involved in the Mickey Mouse phenomenon: one well-known and much loved; the other relegated to obscurity, until now. 

Any fan of the Disney icon must read this story, which covers not only the evolution of Disney's empire, but the backdrop of the times and how protecting Mickey became the focus of an entourage of legal processes. 

Alone Time
Stephanie Rosenbloom
Viking
9780399562303             $27.00
www.penguin.com 

Alone Time: Four Seasons, Four Cities, and the Pleasure of Solitude is a travel book with a difference: it focuses on the growing presence of solo travelers in the world and comes from a New York Times travel columnist who explores the methods, benefits, and experiences of traveling unaccompanied. 

Stephanie Rosenbloom's own experiences blend with broader discussions by psychologists, sociologists, and others who promote independent, solo travel experiences. 

Another plus to this book which elevates it above the usual travelogue is that it's divided into four parts by season and city: Spring in Paris; Summer in Istanbul; Fall in Florence; and Winter in New York City. This approach allows for a seasonal exploration of vastly different places, using four locales as pivot points to illustrate how journeying alone provides a different lens on the world. 

The result reviews best solo practices, provides insights into the benefits of singular travel opportunities, and is highly recommended for would-be travelers who are entertaining thoughts of going it alone. 

Madame Zero
Sarah Hall
Custom House/William Morrow
9780062657077             $15.99
www.harpercollins.com 

Madame Zero: 9 Stories presents nine original short works of fiction that offer pointed observations about life, politics, social issues, and women's experiences, creating a diverse mix of contemporary short stories that craft dark windows into a strange, challenging modern world. 

These surreal, haunting stories chronicle controversies, confrontations with mortality and ethics, relationships between husbands and wives, and difficult choices that hold lasting ramifications. 

Darkly introspective and compelling, each tale in Madame Zero: 9 Stories stands nicely on its own; but when taken in context of the book as a whole, creates a powerful set of commentaries on women's conditions and the state of society as a whole. 

Readers seeking literary pieces which are thought-provoking far beyond the initial read will relish the approaches and focus of Madame Zero, which is also highly recommended for literary and women's issues college course assignment. 

Social Issues 

The Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea
Vannak Anan Prum as told to Jocelyn and Ben Pederick
Seven Stories Press
9781609806026             $24.95
www.sevenstoris.com 

The Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea: A Graphic Memoir of Modern Slavery is a full-color graphic novel from an author who left his Cambodian village to seek work in Thailand, only to find himself taken hostage on a fishing boat for four years of hard labor. 

Sold into virtual slavery by seeming rescuers, Vannak found himself forced into labor a second time before he managed to return to Cambodia and reunite with his family. 

Vannak's flair for illustration and description create a vivid graphic novel that illustrates the experiences and plight of men and boys forced to work on fishing boats in Asia. 

More than just a literary or artistic work, The Dead Eye and the Deep Blue Sea documents an experience of modern slavery and offers a graphic, rare glimpse into that world, making Vannak Anan Prum's firsthand, true story a unique and highly recommended piece for a wide range of collections, from Asian issues and history holdings to memoir and graphic novel collections. 

Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies
Donald A. Barclay
Rowman & Littlefield
9781538108895             $30.00
www.rowman.com 

Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies: How to Find Trustworthy Information in the Digital Age should be on the reading lists of anyone who uses a computer to research any subject, from high school and college students to average adults, journalism students, and readers concerned about current issues. 

Rather than taking the usual approach of regaling media or news processes, Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies offers specific keys on how to recognize the trademarks of deceptive information, how to identify trustworthy sources, and how to understand how statistics may be used or abused. 

Donald A. Barclay is a librarian who specializes in teaching university students how to conduct proper research. His background is especially significant because he doesn't promote a particular political agenda, but outlines the basics needed to conduct the types of research that dispute fallacies and promote fact-supported truths. 

No serious collection should be without this specific approach to independent, critical thinking and fact-finding. 

Owning Tomorrow
Jon Frederick Furth
Indie Books International
9781947480223             $19.95
www.indiebooksintl.com 

Owning Tomorrow: The Unstoppable Force of Disruptive Leadership surveys the presence, impact, and techniques of disruptive leadership, turning the lessons of great disruptive leaders like Jeff Bezos and Elton Musk into a series of lesions and exercises for senior executives who can use them to transform business environments. 

But this isn't a book for managers alone: anyone who would consider the disruptive leadership model for effecting change and growth on both personal and professional levels will find Owning Tomorrow a solid set of tools that can be applied not just to business pursuits, but life. 

From how to exert pressure on group members to perform above standards to fostering the kinds of communications in small business settings that lead to innovation and growth, Owning Tomorrow isn't just about theory, but surveys applied, proven techniques from real-world interactions. 

Business leaders who would better understand how disruptive leadership works in the real world, and who want specific tools to learn such techniques, will find Owning Tomorrow a treasure trove of examples and proven paths to success. So will anyone looking to better understand the disruptive leadership model's potential to change everyday interactions. 

The Poisoned City
Anna Clark
Metropolitan Books
9781250125140             $30.00
www.henryholt.com 

The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy is the first full account of Flint events and probes what happened, who caused it, and what is still not being done today. 

Even more than its focus on Flint's racial issues and the reasons why American responses have failed so epically is a bigger-picture focus on American political process, social issues, and urban deterioration which lies at the heart of why and how events played out in Flint. 

Understanding all these facets and weaving them into a unifying story line is no light task; but journalist Anna Clark lives in Detroit, and her proximity and personal involvement in the story creates a multifaceted consideration that should be a 'must' not just for readers with a particular interest in Flint's history, but for anyone interested in racial and urban infrastructure issues in modern-day America, and safe drinking water. 

The Social Climber's Handbook: A Shameless Guide
Nimrod Kamer
BIS Publishers
9789063694838             $12.00
www.bispublishes.nl 

The Social Climber's Handbook: A Shameless Guide pokes fun at those who would get ahead in society, offering a humorous observation of these methods based on Nimrod Kamer's experiences trying to penetrate elite galas, social media sites, and celebrity events. 

These funny tips and hints offer pointed observations of interpersonal relationships affected by the status quo and they also create a reality-based self-help title for those who would aspire to either reach the top or have some fun in the process. 

Want to sneak into a gala, invoice celebrities, or achieve status recognition against all odds? 

Kamer maintains that it's "better to be blacklisted than to not be on the list at all." Readers will find much to love about his pointed snafus and observations about the precarious state of the social ladder. 

Your Happiness Was Hacked
Vivek Wadha and Alex Salkever
Berrett-Koehler
9781523095841             $24.95
www.bk-life.com 

Your Happiness Was Hacked: Why Tech is Winning the Battle to Control Your Brain—and How to Fight Back deserves consideration for both social science and science collections, examining how technology's promises actually are overshadowed by its misuse, making consumers weaker, less happy, and less in control of their brain functions and options. 

From user data manipulation to how applications used in four key areas of life affect happiness, moving from promise to addiction and destruction, Your Happiness Was Hacked addresses the challenges of living with technology, assessing the price of its ultimate benefits, and changing behaviors and choices to beat tech's control over modern lives. 

Many a computer science collection will want to include Your Happiness Was Hacked as an introductory discussion and debate source for young people entering tech industries where the lure of new apps and devices is part of the reward of work. 

Young Adult/Children

Countdown
Suzanne Slade
Peachtree Publishers
9781682630136             $22.95
www.peachtree-online.com 

Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon is directed to ages 10 and older, is illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez, and pairs Suzanne Slade's verse with lovely colorful drawings that trace the events that led the human race to land on the moon. 

Most coverages of the Apollo missions assume the dry narrative style of nonfiction; but Countdown is designed to entertain as well as enlighten, examining how goals were set, how successes and failures led to further hard work and new dreams, and how Project Apollo evolved in response to these technical challenges. 

A surprising degree of science, psychology, and "you are there" insights are imparted in the course of detailed descriptions pairing astronaut experience with the objectives of Team Apollo. 

From mutiny to the manifestation of success, Countdown's surprising format, delivery, and expansive coverage make it a more appealing, interesting coverage than most accounts of the space program for younger audiences. 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
www.hmhco.com

Three excellent, whimsical reads are recommended for picture book collections looking for a combination of original, superior artistry and powerful plots. 

David Goodner's Ginny Goblin is Not Allowed to Open This Box (9780544764156, $17.99) receives fun drawings by Louis Thomas which illustrates the dilemma of a little goblin who is presented a frustrating dilemma: she can't open an attractive box until dinnertime. This barrier leads her to desire the forbidden, and Ginny's creative approaches invites young picture book readers to understand her motivations, methods, and the real nature of the surprise presented in the box. 

Jane Yolen collects and tells Not One Damsel in Distress: Heroic Girls from World Folklore (9781328900203, $15.99), gathering fifteen folk stories from around the world which feature powerful female protagonist who are knights, warriors, clever fighters, and more. 

Different cultures around the world are the source of these heroine tales, which appear in a new edition that includes two new stories and enhanced illustrations. 

Color drawings might have made more of an impact, but Susan Guevara's black and white illustrations are intricately done and fine embellishments for these stories, which require either good reading skills or parental read-aloud assistance. 

Cat Wishes by Calista Brill (9780544610552, $17.99) features fun drawings by Kenard Pak, who provides lovely embellishment to a fairy tale about a skeptical Cat who is uncertain about wishes and magic.  

When the snake he catches promises him three wishes, hungry Cat doesn't believe him until the magic begins. 

All are excellent books recommended for young readers and their read-aloud adults. 

Penguin Young Readers/Viking/Atheneum
www.penguin.com 

Four new titles are vibrant, intriguing stories that young readers will relish, offering plots that are fun and creative leisure choices. 

Betty G. Birney's Life According to Og the Frog (9781524739942, $16.99) presents Humphrey the hamster's best friend, a frog who must get used to life in a classroom. 

More leisure time for Og (from not having to search for food or shelter) means that he can indulge in some creative writing, but he senses that he may ultimately be returned to the swamp, and wonders how and why his life will change. 

A fun story of a frog's viewpoint of his classroom world will especially resonate with readers in grades 4-5 who enjoyed the adventures of Humphrey. 

Drew Sheneman's Don't Eat That! (9781101997291, $17.99) follows a hungry bear searching for the perfect snack. Gertie wants to help him satisfy his hunger, but why is it so difficult to find a snack that a hungry bear will love? 

This whimsical, fun story will delight all ages; including the picture book parental readers who can use it for read-aloud. 

Lorinda Bryan Cauley's Hello, Baby Animals (9780735229228, $16.99) pairs lovely drawings with a simple survey of the properties of baby animals, from tail to toes. Kids receive an easy book that invites them to guess each baby animal's identity from its physical features. 

David Covell's Run Wild (9780670014118, $17.99) for ages 3 and up invites kids to go outdoors, sprout, chase the wind, and enjoy nature. Drawings are somewhat dark but high-spirited as they follow an active child who runs through shore, forest, and ocean exploring the wider world of nature. 

All are inviting, different reads that will attract a wide audience.

 Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com/kids

Two picture books for kids and five readers for older grades offer a diverse range of fun leisure readers that stand out from the crowd and represent the best of Simon and Schuster's many new releases. 

Stephanie Calmenson's Our Principal is a Frog! (9781481466677, $16.99) receives simple, fun black and white line drawings by Aaron Blecha and joins other 'Quix Fast Fun Reads' as it provides an easy chapter book for kids five to eight years old.

Here Mr. Bundy, the principal at PS 88, has been magically turned into a frog, which leads to a series of zany mishaps in a story that is lively and unpredictable. 

William Joyce's Buddy (9781481489614, $17.99) is based on the true story of Gertrude Lintz, and will reach picture book readers ages 5-9 with its account of a woman and a gorilla named Buddy who walk the streets of New York City dressed up together. 

Good reading skills are necessary for this vivid account of the gorilla's history and true-life adventures. 

Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers (9781481470377, $17.99) will reach ages 4-8 with an evocative story of young Finn, who recalls stories his grandfather told him about a magical place where the ocean meets the sky. 

Missing his visionary grandfather, Finn decides to find that place, building a boat and embarking on a journey. 

Beautiful drawings bring this evocative fantasy to life, creating a warm production that parents will want to choose over other read-alouds. 

Readers ages 6-9 will find Chris Mould's Pocket Pirates: The Great Cheese Robbery (9781481491150, $17.99) a fun story of a dusty ship in a bottle that sits in an old junk shop. 

More than just a ship in bottle, it also holds a tiny pirate crew that only comes out when nobody is watching. What adventures can a mini-pirate crew experience? 

When mice kidnap the ship's cat and send a ransom note for cheese, the Pocket Pirates embark on the most dangerous endeavor of all: raiding the old place called the Fridge. 

Kids will relish this lively adventure of an unusual mini-crew. 

Samantha M. Clark's The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast (9781534412552, $17.99) for ages 8-12 tells of a boy who washes up on an uninhabited island with no idea of his past. 

He has his hands full, between surviving impossible odds and uncovering his identity and how he came to be a castaway, and readers will relish this story of being lost, found, and surviving the impossible. 

Alison McGhee's What I Leave Behind (9781481476550, $17.99) will reach teens ages 14 and older with the story of young Will, who tries to address his helpless feelings by helping those around him after his father commits suicide. 

One hundred chapters of a hundred words each capture the teen's walk in search of strangers to help. Mature issues, from his father's death to his childhood friend Playa's rape at a party he attended, make What I Leave Behind a recommendation for mature audiences. 

Michelle Kim's Running Through Sprinklers (9781481495288, $16.99) will reach ages 10 and older with its story of Sara and Nadine, who have been best friends for as long as they can remember. 

When Nadine skips a grade and leaves for high school without Sara, their friendship changes immensely. This change can't be good...or, can it? 

A fine story of growth emerges which takes the threat of best friends growing apart and turns it into a delightfully unexpected message. 

Phoebe Will Destroy You by Blake Nelson (9781481488167, $18.99) will reach ages 14 and older with the story of Nick's seventeenth summer, when he meets a girl in the sleepy beach town of Seaside, Oregon as he escapes from his alcoholic mother and stressful home. 

Phoebe is quirky, unique, legendary, and is as self-destructive as his alcoholic mother, and suddenly Nick is both in love and torn about a relationship which brings him as much stress as his home life. 

An engrossing story of love obsession and reality makes for an engrossing and different teen romance read. 

Sleeping Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com 

Two new picture books are top recommendations from Sleeping Bear's new releases, promising lasting value and interest for libraries and picture book readers alike. 

Michelle Markel's Hanukkah Hamster (9781585363995, $16.99) will reach ages 4-8 with the simple story of Edgar, who is spending his Hanukkah holiday away from his home in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he works as a taxi driver. 

When Edgar finds that someone left their hamster in his cab, he finds himself beginning Hanukkah with something new that was something missing in his life. As the concept of family and togetherness assumes a new form, Edgar learns much about holiday connections. 

Mike Ornstein's Kindergarrrten Bus (9781585363988, $16.99) is illustrated by Kevin M. Barry and will reach very young picture book readers and their read-aloud parents with the fun story of a pirate captain who becomes a bus driver for the first day of kindergarten. 

Fun drawings and pirate-oriented lingo and observations impart a gentle message about fear, adaptation, and fun. Plenty of read-aloud noises parents and kids can make together create an especially lively opportunity for discovery and interactive fun.