March 2023 Prime Picks
The
Culinary Corner
The Complete
Small
Plates Cookbook
America's Test
Kitchen
America's Test
Kitchen, Publisher
9781954210370
$34.99
www.americastestkitchen.com
The Complete Small Plates Cookbook
features over three hundred
shareable dishes that can be defined as anything from Spanish tapas to
bar
snacks and salads. In keeping with the modern trend to eat less, but
more
flavorfully and diversely, this notion of sharing several small plates
initially might feel like a challenge for home cooks used to producing
a single
large meal with a few side dishes.
The trick of
easy
preparation lies in putting the pieces together that result in
different dishes
using similar ingredients, then balancing tastes, textures, and food
displays
for maximum diversity and appeal.
The Complete Small Plates Cookbook
presents foolproof recipes for
dishes such as Apple-Fennel Rémoulade, Crab Croquettes, and Sweet
Potato Hummus, with colorful photos of dishes combining eye-catching
attraction
with food that home cooks can easily reproduce to support the concept
of small
dishes shared among family and friends.
Libraries
seeking a
fine, diverse representation of small dish recipes should include The Complete Small Plates Cookbook in
their collections.
Egg
Lizzie Stark
W.W. Norton
9780393531503
$28.00
www.wwnorton.com
Egg: A Dozen Ovatures is a rousing
tribute to the egg that will
attract cooks and anyone with an interest in historical and scientific
facts
about eggs.
The egg
represents a
paradox in many ways. This is thoroughly explored by an author
interested in
all of the egg's facets, from myths and realities about eggs to the
possibilities of utilizing them more widely in the kitchen.
While this
far-ranging examination brings it far from the typical cookbook recipe
format, Egg is featured here
because it should
not be missed by any with an interest in food history in general and
eggs in
particular.
Libraries
will find Egg unparalleled in its
in-depth focus,
lively considerations of history, and ability to appeal to historical
readers
as well as cooks who normally don't receive such an expansive survey.
The Slimming
Foodie
in Minutes
Pip Payne
Aster/Octopus
Publishing
9781783254989
$26.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
The Slimming Foodie in Minutes: 100+ Quick-Cook
Recipes Under 600 Calories
combines speedy dishes with a healthy perspective on cooking, offering
recipes
that can each be prepared in under 30 minutes, containing under 600
calories.
Pip Payne
proves that
"low-fat" needn't translate to "high effort," presenting
dishes packed with flavor. Examples include Light Lemon, Smoked Salmon
&
Pea Spaghetti, Sweet & Spicy Mango Prawns, and Creamy Chinese
Five Spice
Chicken Curry (the cream comes from light coconut milk).
With
attractive
facing color photos accompanying each recipe, even the busiest cooks
can easily
produce healthier main dishes that shine.
Reviewer's Choice
The Devil's
Element
Dan Egan
W.W. Norton
9781324002666
$30.00
www.wwnorton.com
The Devil's Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of
Balance is an
unusual science and social history of phosphorous, one of the planet's
most
important and dangerous natural resources. It was first refined from
human
urine in a 18th-century lab, and The
Devil's Element follows its development and importance to
human life.
Today
phosphorous is
at the center of a threat to environmental freshwater sources, but this
is a
story too often understated in popular news, which doesn't reach the
non-science reader's attention.
That's why
the
history and science in The Devil's
Element is so important to include not just in libraries
devoted to books
about ecology, environment, or science; but in those reaching
general-interest
audiences.
Its colorful
argument
about the impact of human phosphorous use and its damage simply should
not be
missed.
Dyslexia
Advocate!
Kelli Sandman-Hurley
Jessica Kingsley
Publishers
9781839971709
$19.95
www.jkp.com
The second
edition of
Dyslexia Advocate! How
to Advocate for a Child with Dyslexia
within the Public Education System offers an updated toolbox
of lessons
about education advocacy processes. This makes it a key recommendation
for
libraries strong in education, health, and social issues subjects.
Kelli
Sandman-Hurley
focuses on how parents and advocates can understand and apply US laws
to obtain
the right educational opportunities for a dyslexic child.
Case studies
and
examples cement lessons on techniques that work, helping those
unfamiliar with
advocacy processes to absorb the strategies, language, and approaches
to
gaining services and support from the educational system and the legal
structures governing it.
Libraries
should
consider Dyslexia Advocate! a key
acquisition for any collection strong in education rights issues,
dyslexia, or
child education advocacy.
Four
Battlegrounds
Paul Scharre
W.W. Norton
9780393866865
$32.50
www.wwnorton.com
Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial
Intelligence
goes beyond the usual consideration of AI potentials and threats to
consider
the underlying battle to control it which has already pitted nations
against
one another.
It comes
from a
defense expert whose position lends to an in-depth coverage of the
political
maneuverings and possibilities of those who would harness AI for their
own
purposes, providinga framework for understanding both these rivalries
and their
impact on political structures, from democratic processes to
totalitarian
regimes.
AI is
already
shifting power dynamics at all levels of society; often quite
unconsciously to
ordinary consumers and citizens. This is why a thorough grounding in Four Battlegrounds is so necessary in
order for everyone to understand the lines being drawn, the stakes in
winning
this battle, and the intersection of AI and technology with human
interests.
Get Changed
Kat Farmer
Mitchell Beazley
97811784727789
$24.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Get Changed: Finding the New You Through Fashion
comes from a
digital style guru and fashion expert who covers the basics of finding
and
adopting a personal style that supports a new sense of identity.
Humor blends
with a
professional stylist's insights throughout a coverage that blends Kat
Farmer's
experiences with candid discussions on how and why fashion choices
work—or
don't: "People don't necessarily
agree on this BUT I've always found it a great tip for the apple-shaped
and
those with a tummy: jumpers and sweatshirts that have a waistband."
Farmer's
candid approach
to typical fashion snafus and challenges makes for a lively read that
will
attract even those not normally immersed in the world of style, making Get Changed a top pick for
general-interest as well as arts libraries.
Hopeland
Ian McDonald
TOR Books
9780765375551
$30.99
www.tor-forge.com
Hopeland is a highly recommended pick for
sci-fi readers interested
in stories of time travel and futuristic struggle. It presents the
attempts of
Raisa Hopeland to become the next electromancer of London, and the
controversy
her effort introduces as climate change and political interests vie for
control.
From
journeys to
hidden places to dialogues between those that move through time and
special
intentions to change the world and its possible futures, Ian McDonald
builds a
powerful saga that is hard to predict or put down.
McDonald has
long
been influencing the sci-fi world, and his latest new effort doesn't
disappoint. It's a thought-provoking journey that will linger in the
reader's
mind long after Hopeland's final
struggle takes place.
I Will Die
on This
Hill
Meghan Ashburn and
Jules Edwards
Jessica Kingsley
Publishers
9781839971686
$19.95
www.jkp.com
I Will Die on This Hill: Autistic Adults, Autism
Parents, and the
Children Who Deserve a Better World is a powerful examination
of the divide
between autistic advocates and parents of autistic kids.
From
crossroads after
diagnosis and life-changing realizations to parenting issues that
intersect
with disability justice efforts, this book's ability to explore both
sides of
the communities activating for and supporting autistic children and
their
families makes for a powerful unification effort that should be in any
library
interested in advocating for the good of a wide, diverse community.
The
Imagineering
Story
Leslie Iwerks
Disney Press
9781368049368
$35.00
www.disneybooks.com
The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of
Walt Disney Imagineering
is not for the casual
Disney fan used to books packed with colorful Disney illustration, but
for the
avid arts reader interested in an authorized biography of how Walt
Disney
Imagineering created a theme park that captured world attention.
Connections
between
Walt Disney's own life and interests dovetail nicely with the story of
how
Disney films, theme parks, and the brand evolved.
Accompanying
a TV
documentary of the same name, The
Imagineering Story is replete with insider information and
history not seen
elsewhere, as well as film-specific insights which will educate and
attract
film students.
From
worldwide Disney
teams to incarnations of Walt Disney's dream, this book is a definitive
'must'
addition not just for Disney fan collections, but arts libraries strong
in
animation and film history, who will receive an in-depth, weighty
survey of the
evolution of Disney's dream.
Even with
all the
Disney biographies and discussions on the market, there is nothing as
in-depth,
authoritative, or wide-ranging as The
Imagineering Story.
Kyle Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Two new
titles from
Kyle Books provide libraries and readers
with notable books.
Knead Peace: Recipes from the World's Best Bakers
in Support of Ukraine
(9781840191118, $29.99) is edited by Andrew Green. It gathers baked
goods
inspired by Anna Makievska and The Bakehouse in Kyiv, which continues
to bake
throughout the war.
"We, the bakers, create. And this is the opposite
of what fascist
aggressors do every day. We need peace, so let's knead it."
This quote
from Makievska inspires this cookbook, representing a gathering of
bakers who
donated recipes and time to raise money from this cookbook's sales.
Besides
supporting
Ukraine, the recipes themselves will appeal with their variety, from
savory
bakes to original sweets such as Helen Goh's Blood Orange, Filo and
Custard
Cake.
Knead Peace is a group effort that should
be celebrated and in the
collections of any culinary library and those interested in showing
support for
Ukraine.
70s House by Estelle Bilson
(9781914239694, $22.99) tells readers
how to take 70s-style design and incorporate it into a modern home,
offering
the author's expert tips and her experiences changing her three-bedroom
home
into a 1970s showcase.
How she
created each
room lies at the heart of a colorful exploration that juxtaposes the
basics of
70s and modern design concepts, creating a colorful interplay between
the
written advice and color photos packed throughout.
The result
is a
winning display that captures both the eye and the imagination.
Queer Heroes
of Myth
and Legend
Dan Jones
Radar/Octopus Books
9781804190463
$19.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Queer Heroes of Myth and Legend: A Celebration of
Gay Gods, Sapphic
Saints, & Queerness Through the Ages will prove of
special interest to
libraries interested in lively discussions of queer heroes throughout
time.
This is
achieved
through fifty profiles accompanied by black and white illustrations
that bring
to the forefront thousands of years of myths, legends, and figures that
come
from historic and cultural icons.
All this is
presented
in a lively, accessible format that lends to leisure reading and
browsing as
much as pursuit by those interested in historical facts.
The result
is a romp
through history that returns the importance, impact, and presence of
queer
heroes to modern times.
Young Adult/Children
Berani
Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press
9781772782608
$18.95
www.pajamapress.ca
Berani will reach advanced elementary to
middle grade readers with
the story of Malia, who has experienced a privileged life in Indonesia
until
her father dies and her Canadian mother proposes moving back to Canada.
Invested in her home and already involved in the fight to preserve
Indonesia's
rainforests, Malia resists the uprooting.
Ari, in
contrast,
works hard for his privileges, and while he is luckier than his village
peers,
he is worried about his uncle's pet orangutan, who lives in a small
cage far
from her rainforest home.
Two lives
and
seemingly disparate experiences coalesce as the kids explore their
word,
values, and revised options in a moving story that will especially
appeal to elementary-level
libraries looking for stories set in other countries that explore
environmental
issues.
Candlewick
Press
www.candlewickpress.com
Patricia
Toht's Together With You
(9781536223514, $17.99)
tells of a young boy and his grandmother who share changing seasonal
delights
together.
While
seasonal change
is one topic in the story, the heart of the tale lies in the
relationship
between a child and his grandparent, and the different ways they share
joy by
exploring their worlds together.
Fine
illustrations by
Jarvis capture the thread of happiness that runs through this
relationship
survey.
Dashka
Slater's Wild Blue (9781536215670,
$18.99)
receives colorful embellishment by Laura Hughes as it tells of Kayla
and her
"pink pony" (a little bike with training wheels). She loves her bike,
but it's time for her to get a bigger bike with just two wheels.
As her
previous
bike-riding skills seem to fall by the wayside, Kayla wonders if she'll
ever get
used to the "wild" new blue bike, much less grow to love it.
This fine
story of
growth and new experiences proves involving and inspirational.
Tony Piedra
and
Mackenzie Joy's One Tiny Treefrog: A
Countdown to Survival (9781536219487, $18.99) offers a
lovely blend of
counting book and exploration of the Costa Rican rainforest frog as it
counts
down the cycle of a frog from tadpole to adulthood.
Lovely color
drawings
accompany a countdown which is fun and educational on several different
levels.
All are
solid picks
for picture book readers and libraries catering to them.
Cultured
Donuts
Chloe Tyler
Flowerpot Press
9781486718719
$19.95
www.flowerpotpress.com
Cultured Donuts: Take a Bite Out of Art History
explores the art
styles of various master artists via an unusual display of donuts
created to celebrate
their techniques.
Each donut
example is
paired with details about the artist and their style, bringing
delicious
insights to young readers who need a draw beyond artwork itself.
Picture book
readers
receive a full-page donut representation, a smaller example of the
artist's
work, and a biographical sketch that identifies the artist's
significant
creations and contributions.
What better
way to
present young readers with a connection to art than via one of their
most
beloved and familiar foods?
Elephants
Remember
Jennifer O'Connell
Tilbury House
Publishing
9780884489283
$19.95
www.tilburyhouse.com
Elephants Remember is a true story
written for picture book readers
interested in stories of animal intelligence and their connections with
humans.
The animals
that move
to Lawrence Anthony's South African reserve are traumatized and angry.
Lawrence
adapts new methods of reaching them, understanding their pain, and
healing
them, as well as introducing the idea of animal emotions to those who
reject
such a notion.
His life,
experiences, and efforts to save these elephants help audiences of all
ages
understand his life mission and its ultimate impact on the elephants
and the
world.
Colorful
illustrations enhance a story which reads with the drama and passion of
fiction
backed with real-world facts about Lawrence and his efforts, making Elephants Remember a powerful attraction
for picture book audiences interested in animal rescue efforts.
How to Eat a
Book
Mr. & Mrs.
Macleod
Union Square Kids
9781454945444
$17.99
www.unionsquareandco.com
How to Eat a Book is a whimsical picture
book story of three
Gruinon family members. Each is strange. Each harbors an unusual habit.
As
child Sheila sits down to eat her first book, the oddest thing happens.
As the
entire family becomes
consumed by literature, young readers will enjoy a whimsical lesson in
family
oddities and impossible circumstances which reach out to involve kids
and
read-aloud adults in an adventure that grows into other worlds.
The
unexpected
evolution of the story will please those of all ages looking for
something
delightfully surprising and easily digestible.
Loonicorns
Ced, Waltch and
Gorobei
Magnetic Press, LLC
9781951719517
$24.99
www.magnetic-press.com
Graphic
novel
libraries interested in appealing full-color stories for young people
will find
Loonicorns just the ticket for a
wild
ride through the mythical creatures that inhabit this fantasy world.
The
adventure holds
many unexpected twists, high-octane action, and realizations about
beauty and
ugliness as a little girl from the real world encounters Looniland and
its
strange inhabitants, with its social divisions between the Pretties,
who have
it easy, and the Uglies, who do all the work.
There are
also
lessons suitable for classroom and peer discussion, couched in the
magnetic
attraction of a vivid story and the exploration of a very different
world.
Penguin
Random House
www.penguin.com/kids
Four new
picture
books offer diverse and interesting topics that will attract a range of
elementary-level libraries and readers.
Max
Greenfield's This Book is Not a Present
(9780593462362, $18.99) receives fun drawings by Mike Lowery as it
explores a
gift book that is being disparaged by the narrator.
A gift is
'anything
other than a book.' Or, is it?
The
discourse on
reading and books is lively and fun.
My Town/Mi Pueblo by Nicholas Solis
(9780593109915, $17.99) enjoys
inviting color by illustrator Luisa Uribe as it presents a bilingual
exploration of a child's home town.
Town
activities,
connections between residents, and holidays that lead the entire town
to
celebrate, result in a fine display of connections and observations.
Tameka Fryer
Brown's Twelve Dinging Doorbells: An
Ever-Holiday
Carol (9781984815170, $17.99) includes illustrations by Ebony
Glenn as it
presents a family reunion that involves the entire household in
preparations
and joy.
Parents
looking for
vivid read-alouds that reinforce Black family connections and
interactions will
find this modern take on the 'twelve' holiday theme attractive for
year-round
enjoyment: "At the third dinging
doorbell/this holiday I see/three posh sibs,/two selfie queens/ and a
sweet
potato pie just for me."
Welcome to the Big Kids Club by Chelsea
Clinton (9780593350737,
$18.99) features pictures by Tania De Regil as it instructs siblings on
understanding their younger charges, from what to do with babies to
understanding
their physical changes and differences, such as why a baby isn't born
with
teeth.
All are fine
picks
for discriminating elementary-grade libraries and home collections
alike.
Simon
& Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com
Libraries
and adults
reading books to kids who look for evocative and lasting stories will
find
these new arrivals just the ticket for leisure reads that engage and
attract.
Apryl
Sottt's Find Your Brave
(9781534499119, $18.99)
is a Coco and Bear tale for ages 4-8 that provides a companion to their
prior
best-selling Share Some Kindness, Bring
Some Light!
Here, Coco
and Bear
are called upon to perform their special dance at a summer festival.
But, Coco
has lost her courage. How do you find it again?
A fine
message creates
a lovely story about approaching life positively while tapping inner
resources
and friends.
Alison
Lester's Noni the Pony Counts to a Million
(9781665922289, $17.99) is a simple story about best friends Noni the
pony,
Dave the Dog, and Coco the Cat, who embark on a rhyming adventure that
goes far
beyond the usual one-to-ten counting story.
As dozens,
hundreds,
thousands, and bigger examples of numbers enter the scene, a fun tale
evolves
that parents will find delightfully whimsical.
Alyssa Satin
Capucilli's The Library Fish Learns to
Read (9781534477070, $18.99) is illustrated by Gladys Jose
and will reach
ages 4-8 with another Library Fish adventure.
As she
observes the
happiness of young readers who visit the library, Library Fish decides
to learn
to read, too. As she learns the alphabet, puts together words, and
practices
her newfound skills in the library, young readers will find her sense
of wonder
and achievement inviting, while read-aloud parents will relish the
underlying
lessons on perseverance and goal-setting.
Jane Yolen's
The Giants' Farm (9781534488588,
$17.99)
enjoys fine and fun drawings by Tommie dePaola as it presents an
addition to
the 'Quix Fast Fun Reads' series for chapter book readers ages 5-8.
Five very
different
giants are featured, along with their desire to live together on a
farm. They
know little about living rurally, however, and have much to learn about
each
other, as well. Black and white drawings throughout enhance the fun
tale of
discoveries.
Marla
Frazee's In Every Life
(9781665912488, $18.99) is
a simple picture book about hope, blessings, achievement, and mixed
emotions,
including sadness and the comfort that responds to it.
The promise
and
mystery of life and daily routines come to life in an evocative tale
that is a
fine study in positivity and understanding, particularly well suited
for adult
read-aloud and discussion with the very young.
All are inviting stories that promise to engage young readers.