May 2018 Prime Picks
Arts and Crafts
Art
Collecting Today
Doug Woodham
Allworth Press
9781621536376
$19.99
www.allworth.com
Art Collecting Today: Market Insights for Everyone
Passionate About Art
pairs real-world stories about the art market with insights designed to
help both
newcomers and seasoned collectors understand what is often a mercurial
and
confusing world, and is recommended reading for anyone who would be
aware of how
the art marketplace really works.
Chapters
consider the
basics of not just evaluating and purchasing art, but mistakes and
common
problems involved in buying and selling art. Especially notable is the
section
that covers tax laws about collecting art, which favor "art
investors" over "art collectors."
From
cultural art
genres and acquisitions to acquiring works by big-name artists, Art Collecting Today is a basic manual
that should be required reading for anyone either involved in or
desiring to
become immersed in the world of art collecting.
Beginning
Color
Mixing
Kimberly Adams
Walter Foster
9781633224902
$21.95
www.quartoknows.com
Beginning Color Mixing: Tips and Techniques for
Mixing Vibrant Colors
and Cohesive Palettes adds to Walter Foster Publishing's Portfolio series for aspiring artists
and teaches the basic concepts for mixing colors for different artistic
purposes.
Color theory is, of course, one of the foundations of this survey; but
equally
important (and nicely presented) are tips on hue, color values, and
associations between color choice and atmosphere.
Another plus
to Beginning Color Mixing is that
one need
not be working in a particular artistic medium in order to benefit from
of this
information: artists working with oil, watercolor, and drawing will
learn from
step-by-step exercises and a host of personal tips ("Mauve
(red-purple) is easier to pair with my choice of colors
than dioxazine violet (blue-purple). I keep both in my palette,
however, I usually
use dioxazine violet for deep and dark shadows that are almost black.").
It's the
inclusion of
these very specific personal insights on best practices and results
that sets Beginning Color Mixing
apart from
others, lending it a more customizable flexibility than basic artistic
color
theory competitors: that, and a wealth of color illustration examples
throughout.
Graphic
Design for
Art, Fashion, Film, Architecture, Photography, Product Design &
Everything
In Between
Andy Cooke
Prestel
9783791383507
$34.95
www.prestel.com
Graphic Design for Art, Fashion, Film,
Architecture, Photography,
Product Design & Everything In Between packs in over
four hundred color
illustrations as it explores how graphic designers can collaborate with
other
creative professionals in the art and business world to produce new
designs in
the art, fashion, and film industries.
Beautiful
color
spreads illustrate the works of various designers and agencies while
discussions provide insights into the collaborative process, its
marketing and
organization, and how designers work together.
The result
is a fine
reference for the industry which shows how creative and promotional
forces can
collaborate towards a greater end result for all.
Horses:
Portraits
& Stories
Shelley S. Paulson
Amherst Media
9781682033302
$24.95
www.amherstmedia.com
Horses: Portraits & Stories comes
from an equestrian
photographer whose excellent images accompany photographic tips
specific to
capturing horses and human handlers alike.
Animal
photography is
often covered in more general-interest guides; but having a survey
specific to
horses allows for an in-depth approach to creating images that capture
the
wonder of the horse both in individual and group settings.
As page
after page presents
extraordinary artistic shots, Shelley S. Paulson provides the technical
discussions key to learning how better to approach and shoot the horse
through
all kinds of seasons and environments, both indoors and out.
Inspired
Bead
Embroidery
Sherry Serafini
Kalmbach Publishers
9781627003872
$24.99
www.JewelryandBeadingStore.com
Inspired Bead Embroidery features jewelry
designs by the author; so
it's not just a collection of techniques but also a project design
gathering of
unique approaches to jewelry-making from a celebrated teacher and
jewelry
artist.
Sixteen new
projects blend
building blocks of details on how to produce bead embroidery with
step-by-step
color photos that synthesize Serafini's thoughts on creative designing.
Specific
written
stitching directions supported by the good-sized color photos
illustrating each
step are enhanced by notes about the creative wellsprings of each piece.
Jewelry
makers
interested in bead embroidery techniques will relish both the diversity
and
insights in this collection, which should be in any jewelry-making
library.
Kimono and
the Colors
of Japan
Kimono Collection of Katsumi Yumioka
PIE International
Inc.
9784756250186
$35.00
http://pie.co.jp/english/
Kimono and the Colors of Japan comes from
an antique kimono
collector whose acquisitions have appeared in high-profile fashion
shows around
the world, and offers fashion and arts holdings a very specific, brand
new
printing of a 2005 classic.
More than
just a
collection of antique kimonos, however, it covers Japanese style and
color
theory by taking each single kimono color and discussing its meaning in
Japanese culture and the arts.
Textile
artists and
anyone with a prior interest in the kimono in general and Japanese
color
concepts in particular will be pleased to learn that the focus here is
not on
the usual style and traditional cultural display of the kimono itself,
but on the
colors of kimono and obi; not their construction or how to wear them.
These
uniquely-Japanese color combinations offer insights into the various
the ways
in which Japanese textile artists perceive colors.
Packed with
vibrant
examples and images, Kimono and the
Colors of Japan is a 'must' for any arts collection holding a
specific
interest in Japanese images, as well as for general Japanese cultural
studies
holdings.
Loulou
& Yves
Christopher Petkanas
St. Martins Press
9781250051691
$45.00
www.stmartins.com
Loulou & Yves: The Untold Story of Loulou
de la Falaise and the
House of Saint Laurent is recommended for biography and arts
libraries
alike (and many a women's history collection) and provides an in-depth
survey
of Loulou de la Falaise, a freewheeling bohemian whose unique sense of
style
caught the eye of designer Yves saint Laurent.
Their
evolving
professional relationship resulted in thirty years of collaboration
where
Loulou become his muse and the creative source of many of the images
associated
with his brand.
It would
have been
easy to just focus on the duo's impact on the fashion world by
providing a
singular focus on their work; but Petkanas traces their impact through
the
memories of some two hundred people around them, from friends and
family to
competitors, enemies, and famous fans.
The result
analyzes
lives devoted to style, emotions entangled and relationships that
evolved
against all possible odds, and provides detailed, complex insights of
the
Loulou and Yves partnership that supersedes any more casual fashion
survey,
closely examining the hearts and minds of a volatile, creative pair and
their
lasting impact. Loulou & Yves
is
very highly recommended for its multifaceted and in-depth examination.
Retro Cameras
John Wade
Thames & Hudson
9780500544907
$27.95
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Retro Cameras: The Collector's Guide to Vintage
Film Photography
covers some 50 years and over a hundred cameras and their film formats,
offering a blend of camera and film history, artistic examination, and
photography insights.
Collectors
will
appreciate the book for its wide-ranging tips on choosing old cameras
and using
them, while artists will appreciate the tips on how to create
inspirational
images from older models. Images of both cameras and their products
provide a
fine cross-comparison of vintage images to digital creations, showing
not just
how to build a camera collection, but how to take best advantage of
older
models by understanding their capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
No camera or
photography buff should be without this in-depth survey of old-style
vintage
film analog devices.
The
Culinary Corner
Bring It!
Ali Rosen
Running Press
9780762462728
$25.00
www.runningpress.com
Bring It! Tried and True Recipes for Potlucks and
Casual Entertaining
gathers special dishes for easy entertaining, and pairs color photos
with
exotic-sounding (but easy to make) fare such as Asparagus and Goat
Cheese Tart,
Sweet and Sour Fish, Red Wine Pasta, and Cherry Tomato Tart.
The emphasis on dishes that look and sound time-consuming but actually
rely on
a minimum of ingredients and preparation time creates the perfect title
for
food lovers who like shortcuts. Bring It!
Features guides to both practical and foolproof dishes that
promise
attainable and eye-catching results.
While some
dishes,
such as Shepard's Pie, certainly aren't unique concepts particular to
this
book, their new incarnation as easy entertainment choices makes the
entire
endeavor especially recommendable to working home cooks who like to
entertain
with style.
The Pesto
Cookbook
Olwen Woodier
Storey Publishing
9781612127651
$16.95
www.storey.com
The Pesto Cookbook: 115 recipes for Creative Herb
Combinations and
Dishes Bursting with Flavor proves that the definition of
'pesto' needn't
include basil at all, and actually refers to pureed sauces that can be
produced
from a range of ingredients such as red peppers and walnuts, peanuts
and
sesame, or even herbs and breadcrumbs.
Home chefs
can easily
produce these different sauces from this cookbook, which include many
variations
and flavors from around the world, and will also appreciate recipes
that show
how to use the pestos in everything from salads to desserts.
A peppering
of
full-page color photos completes the education of readers who may have
formerly
thought 'pesto' and 'basil' were synonymous.
Quick
& Easy
Southwestern Cookbook
Jane Butel
Turner Publishing
Company
9781681624730
$19.99
www.turnerpublishing.com
The Quick & Easy Southwestern Cookbook
is the sixth in the updated Jane Butel Library and provides a
collection of
recipes that range from Grilled Squash Medley with Herbs to Grilled
Lamb Soft
Tacos, a honey-spiced Sweetheart Barbecued Chicken, and a Southwestern
Vegetable Lasagna made from corn tortillas and beans.
Jane Butel's
attention to pairing Southwestern flavors with dishes that are
exceptionally
easy to put together will attract readers who may have heard of
Southwest
cuisine, but have little idea that it can be duplicated across the
country with
very basic ingredients.
The emphasis
on quick
dishes filled with Southwest spices and flavor makes this cookbook a
recommendation above others on the subject which may appear more
complex, but
actually don't hold any more flavorful dishes than this.
Repertoire
Jessica Battilana
Little, Brown
9780376360340
$32.00
www.littlebrown.com
Repertoire: All the Recipes You Need
features over seventy recipes
from San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jessica Battilana's kitchen and
reviews
the basics and techniques of making foolproof dishes at home, pairing
these
with stories, anecdotes, and discussions about daily meals that adults
and young
children can enjoy together.
It promotes
a
versatility and flexibility not always seen in cookbooks; but even more
importantly, it explains the logic when extra steps are needed, such as
slow-cooking tomatoes to render them sweet and soft, or making the
effort to
look for bucatini hollow noodles rather than more familiar spaghetti
noodles when
making a simple Bucatini all'Amatriciana.
The color
photos and
family tidbits of information nicely compliment a collection the entire
family
will enjoy testing.
Risotto
& Beyond
John Coletta
Rizzoli
9780847862368
$37.50
www.rizzoli.com
Risotto & Beyond: 100 Authentic Italian
Rice Recipes for Antipasti,
Soups, Salads, Risotti, One-Dish Meals, and Desserts goes
beyond most
risotto cookbooks in exploring Italian rice cookery as it pertains not
just to
main courses, but everything from entrees to salads and desserts.
An
introduction
discusses and contrasts various types of Italian rice, while recipes
range from
Warm Rice Salad with Chicken, Spinach and Mushrooms to Risotto with
Tomato
Pesto and Fresh Mozzarella, Rice from Vercelli with Lardo, Red Wine,
Borlotti
Beans, and Dried Salami, and Venetian Seafood Risotto.
The regional
focus,
good-sized color photos throughout, and advice on wine pairing for each
dish
compliments recipes that often require a good amount of preparation,
but
include many specifics to help make the dishes practically foolproof
for those
new to making risotto.
The result
is a
highly recommended 'must' above other competing risotto cookbooks on
the market
because it takes the time to thoroughly explain the Italian cultural
influences
and regional origins of each dish and covers not just basics, but the
kinds of
culinary approaches that produce exceptional results.
Education Matters
Corwin
www.corwin.com
Two
outstanding new
publications are highly recommended picks for educators looking for
additions
to a lasting reference collection.
Karin Hess's
A Local Assessment Toolkit to Promote Deeper
Learning (9781506393759, $39.95) is a treasure trove of
research and best
practices, featuring tools that pertain to measuring data and applying
them to
real-world situations.
This isn't
entirely
new research: the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrices have long been used by
educators for assessing different modules in an assessment system; but
here
they are put together into one resource for professional development
and
long-term use.
These
techniques can
be used for individual and professional development, have been
field-tested,
and offer task examples in a workbook form that includes highlighted
tips for
better teaching, discussion of guiding principles of assessment
practices, and
keys to successfully monitoring student progress over time.
Educators
looking for
hard statistics that blend with teaching approaches will find that
these
rigorous tools comply with state standards in a book that examines how
superior
assessment practices are developed and applied.
The second
edition of
David A. Sousa and Tom Pilecki's From
STEM to STEAM: Brain-Compatible Strategies and Lessons That Integrate
the Arts
(9781506322452, $32.95) shows teachers how to add the arts into
sometimes-rigid
non-arts teaching programs, offering lessons from actual classrooms
that have
successfully added arts subjects to STEM structures.
From
school-wide
applications for transitioning STEM to STEAM objectives to individual
classroom
approaches, this collection of tested strategies will assure that the
liberal
arts don't fall to the wayside as STEM objectives take over.
Educated: A
Memoir
Tara Westover
Random House
9780399590504
$28.00
www.randomhousebooks.com
Educated: A Memoir combines a family
story and the author's growth
and education with the fascinating saga of a Cambridge scholar who was
raised
by survivalists, and who didn't attend school until she was seventeen.
Tara's
father
distrusted public schools and all government institutions, so she was
not
allowed to go to school, and taught herself advanced subjects. It was
only when
one of her brothers got to college that Tara realized there was a
bigger world
beyond preparing for its end; and she taught herself math, grammar and
science,
entering Brigham Young University to study many of those subjects in a
formal
setting for the first time.
The story of
her
education and her family's isolation makes for a fascinating account of
not
only the education system, but her ability to intellectually survive
isolation
and then enter a totally unfamiliar mainstream situation. Educated: A Memoir is highly recommended
reading for education,
biography and general-interest readers alike.
LSAT Logic
Games, 2nd
Edition
Carolyn Nelson, Esq.
Barron's
9781438011264
$24.99
www.barronseduc.com
The second
updated
edition of LSAT Logic Games
features
fifty practice games and explanations designed for student success in
taking
the LSAT's Analytical Reasoning section of the test, and offers a
specific
five-step approach to helping master logic games through exercises,
strategies,
and an overview of the test.
Both
newcomers to the
LSAT and those re-taking the exam will find specific challenges that
address
what students are being asked, how to figure out answers, and how to
gather and
assess clues that lead to the right responses.
Anyone
interested in
the logic section of the LSAT needs this in-depth self-study guide's
pointers
to success.
Health Matters
When Food is
Comfort
Julie M. Simon
New World Library
9781608685509
$16.95
www.newworldlibrary.com
When Food is Comfort: Nurture Yourself Mindfully,
Rewire Your Brain,
and End Emotional Eating reminds readers that overeating or
eating the
wrong foods may not come from hunger alone; but from emotional needs
unrelated
to physical desires.
The focus is
on why
people eat in the absence of physical hunger cues and why they equate
unhealthy
foods with comfort.
Others have
considered
this same message; but Julie Simon's goal is to teach readers how to
strengthen
their inner impulse to nurture themselves through a better application
of
stress-reducing measures that take the focus off of food and unhealthy
eating
habits.
Case
histories of how
clients were taught to pay mindful attention to their beliefs and
habits
outline the process of not only self-realization, but guided teachings
surrounding food and brain rethinking processes.
The result
is
recommended for heath and food collections alike, and will please any
interested in the intersection of science, health, and matters of the
heart.
When Likes
Aren't
Enough
Tim Bono, PhD
Grand Central
Publishing
9781538743416
$25.00
www.GrandCentralLifeandStyle.com
When Likes Aren't Enough: A Crash Course in the
Science of Happiness
considers the often-discussed topic of happiness; but does so in a way
that
younger audiences—particularly those involved in social media—can
understand.
Changing
methods of
gaining approval and feeling worthy receive close inspection from a
professor
of positive psychology who uses his popular college course on the
subject to
teach young adults the basics of finding happiness and real purpose in
life.
Based on Dr.
Bono's
own search for elusive happiness in modern society, When
Likes Aren't Enough provides concrete steps to identifying
the
sources of happiness and social connections surrounding them, including
many
important studies to support these efforts.
Spirituality
The Flight
of the
Wild Gander
Joseph Campbell
New World Library
9781608685318
$18.95
www.newworldlibrary.com
The Flight of the Wild Gander: Explorations in the
Mythological
Dimension explores spirituality, mythology, and myths that
have shaped and
influenced everyday life and experience, and gathers Joseph Campbell's
writings
from 1944-1968 which are key to understanding the nature of mythology
and the
human psyche.
While new
age readers
will be the most likely to appreciate this literary mythological
history,
spirituality readers interested in discussions of transformation
processes,
spiritual ideologies, religions of identity, and basic theological
principles
will find the collection goes far beyond mythological examination to
provide a
studied, passionate survey that embraces a range of belief systems and
learning
processes.
These wider-ranging considerations make The Flight of the Wild Gander a recommendation not just for new age or spirituality readers, but those who appreciate history served with an added dose of philosophical and religious inspection.
www.gefenpublishing.com
Five
excellent new
titles are highly recommended picks for readers interested in Israeli
and Jewish
Biblical topics, offering material suitable for all kinds of religious
collections.
Israel
Drazin
provides three close examinations of Biblical interpretation and
history and
comes from a religious scholar whose books focus on what the Bible
actually
states.
Who Really Was the Biblical David?
(9789652299284, $24.95) considers
the early life of David before he became king of Israel, from 1 Samuel,
and
uses the words of the Bible to examine David's psyche, life, and
efforts.
It's
important to
note that Drazin reveals significant differences between Biblical
presentations
about David and what is presented as truth as interpreted by churches,
synagogues,
and those who embellish Biblical descriptions to create quite a
different
viewpoint.
His The Authentic King Solomon: A Close
Examination of the Biblical Verses (9789652299338, $24.95)
asks many hard
questions about the character of a king renowned for his wisdom. Was he
really
a wise king? Biblical commentators of all religious have interpreted
King
Solomon in different ways; but Drazin's attention to detail includes a
consideration
of how he ruled the Israelites, whether or not his actions were
predicated on
self-interest, and how his choices sometimes conflicted with his
actions, which
reveal something different.
The Tragedies of King David
(9789652299291, $24.95) adds another to
the Rational Series collection that include the two books mentioned
above,
focuses on II Samuel and the first two chapters of 1 Kings, and
considers what
the Bible states about David when he was king.
Anyone who
has
studied David and who thinks they know his character and psyche will
find this
story fills out many aspects of his life and times, adding new
dimensions based
on not on speculative interpretations, but actual Bible passages.
Ken Spiro's Destiny: Why One Tiny Nation Plays such a
Huge Role in History (9789652299093, $21.00) gives an
overview of basic
themes in Jewish history, discusses Jewish values on humanity as a
whole, and
considers how Jewish spiritual and historical perspectives have
affected and
changed how human stories have evolved.
Black and
white
fold-out movie storyboards by Hollywood movie illustrator Yariv Newman
depict
Jewish history in movie form, reinforcing the intention of this survey
to not
only clearly explain Jewish history and peoples; but to convey it in
such a
manner as to capture the excitement and passion of drama at the
intersection of
real facts.
The result
is a
'must' read that places Israel and Jewish peoples' importance in solid
perspective of the whole of human history.
Rabbi Ari
Ze'ev
Schwartz's The Spiritual Revolution of
Rav Kook: the Writings of a Jewish Mystic (9789652299130,
$21.95) comes
from a modern spiritual thinker whose approach to recognizing and
charting
God's work in the world led him to produce thought-provoking writings
about
spiritual connections between religion, culture, and political forces
at work
in the world.
Kook
(1865-1935) was
one of the best-known early thinkers in Jewish history; but this book
centers
on his revolutionary writings which offer insights into the Torah,
prayer,
Zionism, science, and lifestyle choices. It should be a part of any
serious
Jewish history or spirituality collection; especially those with prior
Rav Kook
productions.
Scintillating Science Fiction and Fantasy
If Tomorrow
Comes
Nancy Kress
TOR Books
9780765390325
$27.99
www.tor-forge.com
If Tomorrow Comes continues a trilogy
begun in Nancy Kress's
novella Tomorrow's Kin, and is
especially recommended for those readers who avidly read the prior book
about
aliens arriving in New York Harbor in an adventure told from an obscure
scientist's perspective.
It's been
ten years
since the aliens left Earth, and mankind has built a ship to follow
them to
their homeworld. It carries a crew of scientists and diplomats.
When the
ship
arrives, they find little to help them address the spore disease that
ravaged
Earth, and discover that time is not on their side as they race to save
what's
left of humanity from a crippling virus.
Taunt, gripping, and packed with scientific and cultural revelation, If Tomorrow Comes demands no prior familiarity with its predecessor in order to prove thoroughly accessible and absorbing (though newcomers will likely want to consult Tomorrow's Kin to get the complete picture).
Sizzling Social Issues
The China
Mission
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
W.W. Norton
9780393240955
$28.95
www.wwnorton.com
The China Mission: George Marshall's Unfinished
War, 1945-1947 comes
from a former State Department official who now edits Foreign
Affairs Magazine, who here traces diplomatic and guerrilla
war efforts in China in the years after World War II.
The day
after he
retired from the Army at the end of the war, Marshall received a call
from
President Truman to embark on a final mission to thwart revolution in
China and
the possibility of deeper U.S. involvement in China's affairs.
Marshall
successfully
brokered deals that would shortly fall apart and challenge his mission
and his
retirement. This book provides an in-depth inspection of two years that
proved
even more difficult than all his battlefield strategies put together.
No
definitive World
War II or American political history should be without this
eye-opening,
detailed survey.
History
Teaches Us to
Resist
Mary Frances Berry
Beacon Press
9780807005460
$26.95
www.beacon.org
History Teaches Us to Resist: How Progressive
Movements Have Succeeded
in Challenging Times comes from a historian who demonstrates
that
resistance to presidential administrations has ultimately resulted in
positive
changes in the future even if, at the time, they seemed ineffective.
Perhaps in
no other
era could the appearance of this book be so timely: it provides a
history of
presidential powers, resistance to them, and the ultimate results of
progressive movements that succeeded against all odds, offering
insights into
not just protests, but their strategies, logic, and long-standing
effects on presidential
policy and power.
The result
belongs in
collections appealing to social advocates, political science readers,
and
anyone interested in how presidential politics is influenced and,
ultimately,
changed.
It's Time to
Fight
Dirty
David Faris
Melville House
9781612196954
$24.99
www.mphbooks.com
It's Time to Fight Dirty: How Democrats Can Build a
Lasting Majority in
American Politics comes from an associate professor of
political science
who provides readers with a concrete, actionable plan to help revamp
and
revitalize all three branches of government.
Unlike other
discussions on the topic, It's Time to
Fight Dirty pinpoints the inefficiency of the Constitution
in regards to
this modern country and its contemporary dilemmas and outlines areas
for
improvement as well as the process of implementing a more progressive
government.
From how
Americans
vote and organize political institutions and parties to sweeping
changes
designed to revitalize political processes and districts, It's Time to Fight Dirty features a wide
variety of restructuring
ideas that will surely meet with controversy, debate, and
counter-proposals;
some of the cornerstones of the democratic process.
The Opposite
of Hate
Sally Kohn
Algonquin Books
9781616207281
$27.95
www.algonquin.com
The Opposite of Hate: A Field Guide to Repairing
Our Humanity comes
from a CNN political commentator who here considers the evolutionary
and
cultural roots of hate in communities, countries, and personal choices.
Sally Cohn
is a
well-known liberal commentator on Fox News who has given talks about
practicing
kindness and cultivating understanding between opposing political
forces and
belief systems. The 2016 process, however, challenged her progressive
views as
hate began to permeate the political environment, causing her to more
closely
examine the foundations and influences of intolerance.
The Opposite of Hate examines the
evolutionary and cultural roots
of hate and not only includes a political focus, but a scientific
approach that
follows Cohn's travels around the world interviewing those who
successfully
banished hate from their own politically and socially challenged lives.
The result
offers
important food for thought for any political and social issues reader,
and is
highly recommended for its broader-reaching approach to the subject
than might
have been expected from a professional liberal news reporter.
The
Seminarian
Patrick Parr
Chicago Review Press
9780915864126
$26.99
www.chicagoreviewpress.com
The Seminarian: Martin Luther King Jr. Comes of Age
doesn't provide
the usual broad focus on King's life or narrowed examination of his
writings,
but considers his early years at Crozer: three years that would form
the
foundations of his beliefs.
The seminary
school
gave him a different view of the world than he'd been raised to believe
from
his Southern Baptist church teachings, and The
Seminarian follows his courses, describes his classes and
academic papers,
and shares his evolving interest in social reform as well as religious
studies.
King's
former
girlfriend Betty Moitz agreed to be interviewed here for the first
time, and
contributes both a unique perspective about this process and a powerful
review
of how racial tension destroyed their relationship.
No
authoritative King
collection should be without this unique and specific examination of
this key
era in his life.
Show Trial
Thomas Doherty
Columbia University
Press
9780231187787
$29.95
www.cup.columbia.edu
Show Trial: Hollywood, HUAC, and the Birth of the
Blacklist charts
the history of how the Cold War entered Hollywood with a blast, with
nine days
of hearings by the House Un-American Activities Committee examining
alleged
instances of Communist subversion practices in the movie industry.
These
actions
prompted the rise of blacklisting in the movie industry and other
circles,
resulting in hundreds of artists and Hollywood personnel being ousted
from the
profession they loved.
There have
been many
coverages of these events, but Show Trial
offers the first in-depth probe of media and political
influences on
entertainment and political circles, documenting stories ranging from
the
Hollywood Ten to those who testified and implemented the blacklist.
The result
is a
detailed political and social survey of how blacklisting was
implemented, making
Show Trial a key acquisition for
any
collection interested in political processes and their social impact.
The War on
Normal
People
Andrew Yang
Hachette Books
9780316474241
$28.00
www.hachettebooks.com
The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's
Disappearing Jobs
and Why Universal Basic Income is Our Future considers the
looming
dominance of automation in the workplace and how a new wave of
unemployment is
set to result from streamlined, automated functions.
The idea
that
technological advancement may be a destabilizing influence on America's
society
and economy may be startling on some levels; but this specter has long
been
looming and shouldn't be a surprise to any who have worked in an
industry that
already has seen jobs drop as faster robotic replacements arrived in
the workplace.
Where other
books
talk about this trend, McKinsey departs from the usual focus by
envisioning a
future based not on job security; but one on Universal Basic Income,
which
guarantees all citizens a minimum income and which may be a different
approach
to job security and making a living.
No serious
social
issues or business collection should be without The
War on Normal People, which moves beyond the usual
examination
of robotic replacements in the workplace to consider social changes
that can
replace traditional employment and economic structures.
Needlework
Knitted
Tanks &
Tunics
Angela Hahn
Stackpole Books
9780811717977
$24.95
www.stackpolebooks.com
Knitted Tanks & Tunics: 21 Crisp, Cool
Designs for Sleeveless Tops
is recommended for knitters who want to create a range of styles and
tops, from
camisoles to tunics, and covers extended size ranges from XS to 3X as
it imparts
skills and creative ideas through basic projects.
Knitters
receive
detailed instructions that also include tips on how to work with linen,
silk,
and other yarns; while skill levels are mentioned and tips on needles
and notions
are provided.
These are
tops for
summer, which makes the timing of this book perfect for seasonal
pursuits.
Stack
& Cut
Hexagon Quilts
Sara Nephew and Marci
Baker
C&T Publishing
9781617454691
$29.95
www.ctpub.com
Stack & Cut Hexagon Quilts: Mix &
March 38 Kaleidoscope Blocks
& 12 Quilt Settings is for any quilter (especially
those past the
novice stage) who wants to work with large-scale prints, but doesn't
know how
to best incorporate them into a quilt.
These quilt
designs
are made from blocks that use stacked repeat fabrics and big patterns
to create
striking designs. Specific notes introduce each discussion and provide
insights
to quilters who want to know the basics of separating blocks, setting
triangles
from end pieces, and other tricks of creating hexagons.
Another plus
to this
collection is that it uses clear color photos from a range of projects
and many
different quilters, including each quilter's unique approach to
creating
quilts, wall hangings, and more.
The result
is a
diverse collection that goes beyond one designer's approach to gather
the best
tricks, tips, and construction examples from array of quilt artists;
and is
especially recommended for quilters looking for a solid introduction to
hexagon
stack and cut techniques.
Novels and Thrillers
Beside the
Syrian Sea
James Wolff
Bitter Lemon Press
9781912242139
$24.00
www.bitterlemonpress.com
Beside the Syrian Sea is a spy thriller
written by an author who
worked for the British government for the last ten years, who was asked
to
write under the pseudonym of James Wolff to
protect his identity.
This in and
of itself
lends an unusual atmosphere of authenticity to the story; but add a
setting in
Beirut, the story of a young British intelligence officer who tries to
free his
father from ISIS captivity, and an effort which toes the line between
terrorists and British intelligence pursuers alike for a sizzling hot
adventure
centered around Jonas, who becomes so entangled in intelligence efforts
that
sometimes there seems no clear path to salvation.
No casual
pursuit,
the taunt exploits and real backdrop of Beside
the Syrian Sea will thoroughly immerse thriller audiences who
like their
plots complex and action-packed and their reading thought-provoking and
hard to
put down.
The City
Where We
Once Lived
Eric Barnes
Arcade
9781628728835
$24.99
www.arcadepub.com
Set in a
near future
where climate change has changed the world, the North End of an unnamed
city
has long been abandoned. Only a few thousand people live there: some,
like the
narrator, haunted by their dreams of the past.
As the city
decays
and things fall apart, the 'everyman' narrator observes that this
actually is a
microcosm of the world he once knew, and finds his self-imposed
isolation
crumbling in turn as the attraction of better-situated sanctuaries also
begins
to fail.
A compelling
cli-fi
saga evolves which is both compelling for its sci-fi elements and
revealing for
its wider-ranging psychological, social, and philosophical insights.
Science, Nature & Technology
Birds New to
Science
David Brewer
Christopher
Helm/Bloomsbury
9781472906281
$60.00
www.bloomsbury.com
Birds New to Science: Fifty Years of Avian
Discoveries documents
some half a century of new discoveries about some 300 species of birds;
but its
value lies as much in lovely color close-up photos as in the
descriptions of
these birds and their natural history.
Ornithologists
and
collections catering to them will welcome a vivid collection that pairs
color
images with descriptions of movements and range, conservation status,
discovery
history, and sometimes several images of each bird.
Ornithologists
are
still discovering new bird species yearly, from points around the
world, and
this culmination of half a century of such discoveries will be
especially
interesting to amateurs and professionals alike.
Galapagos: A
Traveler's Introduction
Wayne Lynch
Firefly Books
9780228100195
$19.95
www.fireflybooks.com
Galapagos: A Traveler's Introduction
ordinarily would appear in our
travel section, but its solid biology and rich color photos from
naturalist
author Wayne Lynch makes it a special recommendation for armchair
readers with
any interest in the visual and scientific processes of these unique
islands.
The lovely
photos are
the backbone of a discussion designed to visually illustrate Darwin's
theories,
providing amateur naturalists with beautiful color images that make it
easier
to understand not only Darwin's observations and conclusions, but the
special
allure of the Galapagos.
It's a rare
visual
treat highly recommended for armchair naturalists, would-be visitors,
and
nature enthusiasts alike.
A Last Wild
Place
Mike Tomkies
Whittles Publishing
9781849953139
$24.95
www.whittlespublishing.com
A Last Wild Place reprints a classic
wilderness book that includes
a discussion of Mike Tomkies's life and work as the naturalist writer
lived for
over thirty years in remote, wild places in the Scottish Highlands,
Canada, and
Spain.
His
experiences led
to unique observations and insights that fuel a powerful story of not
only
wildlife, but living in the wild amongst them, observing animal
behavior.
Tomkies
employs the
first person in his descriptions, and this lends a satisfyingly
powerful
"you are there" feel to his encounters with and within nature, making
A Last Wild Place a fine survey that
armchair
naturalists will appreciate for both its vivid tone and engrossing
animal
insights.
Return of
the Sea
Otter
Todd McLeish
Sasquatch Books
9781632171375
$19.95
www.sasquatchbooks.com
Return of the Sea Otter: The Story of the Animal
That Evaded Extinction
on the Pacific Coast comes from a science journalist who
journeyed along
the Pacific coast from California to Alaska to track the sea otters
unique to
the coastline, and is recommended reading for anyone interested in the
natural
history and plight of marine mammals in general and sea otters in
particular.
Of special
note are
discussions of ecosystems affected when sea otters vanish and
reflections on an
era where the sea otter was hunted nearly to extinction. The comments
on the
comebacks of both otters and the ecosystems they support and depend on
makes
for an especially important set of connections between animal and
environment,
contributing to an appealing book that is lively, educational, and hard
to put
down.
The Space
Barons
Christian Davenport
Public Affairs
9781610398299
$28.00
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the
Quest to Colonize the
Cosmos examines a group of billionaire entrepreneurs who are
committed to
rebuilding the presence of Americans in space, and provides a history
not only
of government-backed NASA expeditions, but how these billionaires
perceive
financial gains to be had from rebooting the Space Age.
It was once
thought
that a commercial business could not fund a space program; but these
are some
of the richest individuals in the world, and their efforts use
technological
advancements to move beyond any NASA or government-funded vision of the
future.
The result
will
delight anyone who perceives a future in space; whether it be for
scientific or
business purposes.
Who We Are
and How We
Got Here
David Reich
Pantheon Books
9781101870327
$28.95
www.pantheonbooks.com
Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the
New Science of the
Human Past considers how recent scientific studies of DNA
extracted from
human bones have changed concepts of human prehistory and evolution and
how
these concepts, in turn, have solved many questions about human
development.
These basics
on the
human genome project and how ancient DNA is changing ideas about the
lineage of
modern humans, including new ideas about long-standing inequality
between the
sexes and amongst populations makes for a series of insights that
discuss
genetic revolutions in different populations such as Native Americans.
David
Reich's lively
tone makes his technical-sounding pursuit quite accessible to lay
audiences;
even those with minimal familiarity with genetic research and the
latest applications
of DNA analysis.
Reviewer's Choice
Cartech
www.cartechbooks.com
Three new
CarTech books
are top recommendations for transportation history and car buff
collections;
each offering special insights, lively history, and car facts that
would be
hard to find elsewhere.
Steve
Magnante's 1001 Corvette Facts
(9781613253731,
$24.95) comes from an expert already known for his knowledge of
automotive
trivia; but here focuses on the Chevy Corvette and the changes it's
experienced
during its sixty years of production.
All the
models are
covered through different generations, with chapters in chronological
order
presenting a host of facts about each car's manufacture, design,
interior
redesigns, style changes in response to changing consumer demands, and
more.
The volume
joins
other car books in the '1001 Facts' series and will provide trivia fans
with a
host of authoritative insights collected by a Corvette enthusiast who
reveals
technical and production specifics about all the models.
Linda Vaughn: The First Lady of Motorsports
by Linda Vaughn with
Rob Kinnan (9781613252321, $39.95) is from a woman who has been a
marketer of
automotive goods for over 55 years, who documents her annual
appearances at
some of the top automotive and racing events in the country.
Vaughn's
long career
in motor sports and promotions is captured through photos that recall
events,
encounters with car racers and automotive professionals, and some of
the top
motor sports news in history.
While some
may not
immediately recall her name, her image as a buxom model will prove
familiar to
even those with only a casual interest in motor sports history. Such an
audience will find her many lively memories key to understanding not
just her
life, but the culture of motor sports as a whole.
Mike
Mavrigian's Automotive Machining: A Guide to
Boring,
Decking, Honing and More (9781613252833, $29.95) is a
reference recommended
for auto restorers, shops, and students of auto mechanics, and provides
a
complete guide to engine machining which covers all aspects of engines
and
redesigns.
Tips include
how to
inspect and evaluate engine components; how to bore, hone, and service
engines;
and how to adjust ratios, valves, rods, and other engine components for
optimum
performance.
Color charts
and
good-quality photos throughout assure that all these techniques are
nicely
detailed and leave nothing to wonder; even for relative newcomers to
engine
machining.
All are top
recommendations for auto history and transportation collections alike.
The
Encyclopedia of
Misinformation
Rex Sorgatz
Abrams Image
9781419729119
$19.99
www.abramsimage.com
The Encyclopedia of Misinformation holds
the feel of an internet
browser combined with the lively display of topics in a trivia history
text,
and offers a wide-ranging focus on misinformation that examines frauds,
spoofs,
delusions, conspiracies, and more.
While
general-interest library holdings will be the likely audience for this
inspection, this collection comes from a culture writer who has
researched
basic misinformation concepts, evidence of masquerades and illusion,
and
different types of deception from gaslighting and Photoshopping to
scientific
snafus.
The result appears in encyclopedic form, but is anything but dull: it employs a vivacious set of illustrations, facts, and 'fake facts' to consider the foundations of cultural oddities, ironies, and outright lies. This dynamic approach to a range of topics makes for entertaining as well as informational reading on everything from pareidolia to jabberwockys and phantom limb hypotheses. Trivia buffs and cultural studies readers will find it thoroughly engrossing and highly educational.
My Father's
Wake
Kevin Toolis
Da Capo Press
9780306921469
$26.00
www.dacapopress.com
My Father's Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live,
Love, and Die examines
the Irish way of death and how it is as much about social obligation
and public
spectacle as an opportunity for coming to terms with death.
The author's
own
unsuccessful attempt to come to terms with the death of his father and
brother results
in a blend of personal memoir with a survey of the rituals of the Irish
wake
and its lasting lessons not just about death, but for the living.
Does the
heritage and
legacy of the Irish wake provide guideposts on how to die and how to
live?
Social, historical, and personal reflections create a thought-provoking
cultural examination that should be part of any definitive collection
on death
and dying.
New Society
Publishers
www.newsociety.com
Two
excellent new
titles from New Society Publishers are recommended picks for home
gardeners, small-scale
organic farmers, and those who look for books about mindful gardening
and
eating practices.
The second
edition of
Linda Glikeson's Backyard Bounty; The
Complete Guide to Year-Round Organic Gardening in the Pacific Northwest
(9780865718418, $29.99) has been revised and expanded to include the
latest
information on organic fertilizers, seasonal planting schedules,
greenhouses
and containers, and pest and weed management.
It adds more
listings
to the previous fruit and vegetable profiles, updates variety choices,
and
includes monthly 'what to do' lists of chores for year-round success in
the
Pacific Northwest.
Residents of
the
region will especially appreciate the specific basics for successful
growing practices,
which move from foundation ideas and approaches to more advanced
adaptations
for the Pacific Northwest's environment.
Jenni
Blackmore's The Food Lover's Garden: Growing,
Cooking,
and Eating Well (9780865718425, $29.99) pairs gardening and
cooking tips
with a guide to growing and preserving vegetables and herbs which are
commonly
used and easy to grow.
From growing
instructions for using even small spaces like balconies to tasty
recipes for
using these vegetables to best advantage, The
Food Lover's Garden covers the basics of cultivating and
preparing meals
and teaches not only shortcuts and basics of producing the best foods;
but
using them during all seasons and for different palates.
Urban
homesteaders
and gardeners receive a discussion replete with color photos and
drawings that
enliven discussions of terminology, skills, and making the move from
gardening
gloves to apron.
The result
is a
lively read designed for bare-bones newcomers to gardening or cooking
as well
as gardeners who operate somewhere between novice and semi-pro.
Racial
Worldmaking
Mark C. Jerng
Fordham University
Press
9780823277766
$30.00
www.fordhampress.com
Racial Worldmaking: The Power of Popular Fiction
belongs not only
in literature collections but in college-level social issues and
American
history holdings. It examines the works of popular writers to consider
circumstances in which racial descriptions embody racism itself. The
argument
is that readers are taught when, where, and how to notice racial
differences by
a set of narrative and literary strategies that go beyond biological
presentation to set racial foundations for behaviors and social
environments.
Chapters
include such
topics as epic fantasy and S&S traditions, hero depictions, and
narratives
of adventure that incorporate social and economic depictions under
various
fictional conditions. These are literary examples of circumstances
where racial
depictions often serve to create assumptions in the reader's mind.
Racial
formation is
also discussed in relation to African American and Asian American
studies,
considering how scholars have analyzed and presented relationships in
literature based on racial ideology.
The result
is a
discussion especially recommended for college-level students of popular
fiction
who are considering its impact on popular cultural perception.
Tinsel,
Tumbleweeds,
and Star-Spangled Celebrations
Sherry Monahan
TwoDot
9781493018024
$24.95
www.globepequot.com
Tinsel, Tumbleweeds, and Star-Spangled
Celebrations: Holidays on the
Western Frontier from New Year's to Christmas arrived too
late for timelier
holiday mention; but as a solid and lively history, it's recommended as
a fine
addition not just for American history holdings, but to
general-interest
leisure readers who like accounts of early American holiday
celebrations.
The book
covers
songs, games, food, and the evolution of celebratory events using
information
from source materials such as early journals and newspaper articles,
first-hand
accounts, and even recipes and outlines of early game rules.
Anyone
interested in
how major Americanholidays were celebrated in the 'old days' will find Tinsel, Tumbleweeds, and Star-Spangled
Celebrations a thought-provoking, revealing read.
A Walk Through Paris: A Radical Exploration
Eric Hazan
Verso
9781786632586
$22.95
www.versobooks.com
A Walk Through Paris: A Radical Exploration
is for destination
travelers to Paris and armchair adventurers alike, offering a walking
tour that
pairs historical insights and geographic descriptions with literary and
cultural references as Eric Hazan takes readers through lesser-known
Paris and
its radical past.
From the
worlds of
the May '68 uprising and the battlefields of the Rue Saint-Martin to
history
that even many Parisians may be unaware of (such as the fact that the
largest
esplande in front of the Gare du Nord has been known since 1987 as the
Place
Napoleon-III, an era when neoliberalism became common dogma), Hazan
provides
something many other walking tours omit: a studied survey of the city's
radical
influences and roots.
Perhaps it's
Hazan's
own radical foundations as a social critic in Paris which lends this
examination
such a unique flavor, creating a compilation of insights and
observations not
readily seen in other Paris travel or history guides. Destination
visitors will
want to pack this guide for take-along consultation.
Wonderland
Matthew Dickman
W.W. Norton
9780393634068
$26.95
www.wwnorton.com
Wonderland is a modern poetry collection
exploring familiar themes
of family, community, and violence from a personal perspective and
presents the
works of a May Sarton Prize-winning poet, who pairs reflections of his
1980s
Oregon childhood with images of youthful hijinks, violence, and change.
Free verse
poetry
tends to be mercurial in its presentation and subject and Wonderland is especially flexible and
thought-provoking in its
consistent juxtapositions of excitement, danger, wonder and angst: "Some of the walnuts are rotten but
most/of them are not./Most of them are not bothering anyone./The
walnuts wear
brown snap-back/Starter caps/in between the blades of grass."
Winsome,
musical, and
reflective, Wonderland is a dual
celebration of youth, coming of age, and life which offers a push/pull
sense of
both enchantment and dismay that will resonate in the mind long after
the
flavor of Matthew Dickman's words are fully absorbed.
Film, Stage, and Television
Indie
Science Fiction
Cinema Today
Kathleen
Fernandez-Vander Kaay and Chris Vander Kaay
McFarland
9781476669335
$39.95
www.mcfarlandpub.com
Indie Science Fiction Cinema Today
provides more than the
anticipated survey of independent film productions in the sci-fi genre:
it
charts a massive shift in subject matter in 21st century productions as
it
follows the emerging new subgenres stemming from indie filmmaker
efforts and
considers how these differ from 20th century films of the past.
From the
history and
emergence of the 'Diseases and Pathogens' subgenre's emphasis that
diseases can
be genetically modified and how that subgenre substantially changed
after the
events of 9/11 to the indie arena's involvement in creating social
commentaries
from the classic 'Deadly Creatures' genre, Indie
Science Fiction Cinema Today breaks down sci-fi into
recognizable and
long-held plot approaches and then differentiates indie efforts from
traditional filmmakers' approaches.
Interviews
with and
profiles of feature filmmakers and producers compliment profiles of
selected
indie movies for a completely engrossing discussion which should be on
the
reading lists of any sci-fi film buff.
Something
Wonderful
Todd S. Purdum
Henry Holt
9781627796341
$32.00
www.henryholt.com
Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's
Broadway Revolution affords
a strong portrait of collaborative musical partners Rodgers and
Hammerstein and
how their efforts transformed and redefined Broadway shows, pairing
anecdotes
about the stars of their productions with a history and insights into
the
writing team's biggest achievements and how they succeeded in
transforming 20th
century entertainment.
There have
been other
surveys of the duo and their influence on musical theater history. Few
have
succeeded in pairing psychological profiles and insights with an
in-depth
survey of the process of collaboration that resulted in the creation of
the
serious musical play genre, spicing drama with song, dance, and acting
skills
alike.
With its
iconic
dashes of history, psychological insights, the excitement of writing
and
scripting fresh new shows, and how true collaborations evolve among
different
artists, Something Wonderful is an
especially lively read for anyone who appreciates the musical form and
who want
a thought-provoking read about its evolution and the artistic
collaboration
involved in the making of a show.
Stanley
Kubrick: New
York Jewish Intellectual
Nathan Abrams
Rutgers University
Press
9780813587102
$34.95
www.rutgersuniversitypress.org
Stanley Kubrick: New York Jewish Intellectual
is a multifaceted and
in-depth biographical survey of a film director whose approach produced
some of
the world's greatest productions.
While
readers might
anticipate that this survey will focus on his techniques, Nathan
Abrams, a
professor of film studies in Wales, takes a different approach by
tracing his
roots in New York as a member of the Jewish community and considering
Kubrick's
works in light of his cultural influences and background.
The result
discusses
key themes in his pictures, how they reflected New York Jewish
intellectual
concerns of the times, and how his Jewish identity ultimately
influenced the
creation of some of the most engrossing films of his era.
No film or
Jewish
history holding should be without this different approach to Kubrick's
film
magic.
Audiobooks
Highbridge
Audio
www.highbridgeaudio.com
Four
excellent new
audiobooks pair sturdy plastic cases suitable for library lending with
solid
authors and readers who bring each book to life, promising ongoing
patron
attention and listening interest.
Chris Grosso
and
Alice Peck's Dead Set on Living
(9781684410729, $29.99) is narrated by Roger Wayne, whose ability to
dramatize
Chris Grosso's memoir and advice makes for compelling listening indeed.
Grosso
recovered from
drugs and alcohol and embarked on a journey to understand why people
repeat
mistakes in their lives even when it's very evident that these are
self-destructive actions not in their best interests.
His finding
shares
his intimate conversations with doctors, teachers, spiritual leaders
and
writers, offering insights paired with the new meditation techniques he
learned
in the course of his investigations.
Travis Langley edits The Walking Dead Psychology (9781684411504, $34.99), which receives a powerful dual reading by Adam Verner and Allyson Ryan as it analyzes the premises and popularity of the zombie apocalypse concept.
Nineteen
chapters
from various contributors analyze the psychology and impact of The Night of the Living Dead and its kin,
offering solid inspections in an analysis especially recommended for
zombie
movie fans.
Terry
Goodkind's The Girl in the Moon
(9781684411108, $39.99)
is read by Elisabeth Rodgers, who lends a passionate tone and clear
reading to
this story of an ordinary girl with a rare ability.
Forced by
family
circumstances to grow up too soon, Angela lives a secretive life due to
her
special talent of detecting killers: a secret that soon leads her to
become the
target of a group of terrorists.
Deep secrets
and
closely-held lives permeate a thriller that's hard to stop listening
to,
carried by the power of Rodgers' smooth and compelling attention to
drama.
Bill
Petrocelli's Through the Bookstore Window
(9781684412525, $34.99) enjoys a narrative by Suzanne Elise Freeman as
it tells
of a San Francisco bookstore manager still haunted by her harrowing
escape from
the Balkan War.
Her past is
not only
a part of her fear; it's actually threatening her new life as forces
still
search her out and someone from her past turns up alive.
All are
powerful
narratives especially recommended for the lending rigors and diverse
interests
of library patrons.
Young Adult/Children
806
Cynthia
Weil
Tanglewood
9781939100146 $16.99
www.tanglewoodbooks.com
806 tells of three very different siblings who seem totally unalike in every way, their only connection being a biological father they have never met.
When KT, Jesse, and Gabe embark on a cross-country adventure to find their shared biological father, these sperm donor kids face many new challenges to their talents and each other during a very different kind of road trip from those stories usually directed to older readers.
Cynthia Weil's use of the first person succeeds in capturing the personalities, interactions, and struggles between all three in a moving story that charts inner and outward journeys alike, creating an appealing and different sense of family in a leisure read teens will relish both for its fun tone and its psychological depth.
Atheneum/Simon
and
Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Nina Laden
and
Melissa Castrillon's Yellow Kayak
(9781534401945, $17.99) presents the bright story of a child and friend
who
embark on an adventure when they hop on a yellow kayak to sail away.
The gentle
rhyme ("Yellow kayak. Blue sky.
Paddle swiftly. Wave good-bye.") supports lovely, colorful
drawings by
Melissa Castrillon in a tale that lends well to read-aloud enjoyment.
Emily
Gravett's Old Hat (9781534409170,
$17.99) tells of
Habet, who likes his knitted hat, even though it's not the latest
fashion. Poor
Harbet just can't keep up with current styles: every time he gets a new
hat,
it's already old. There's only one thing a dog can do; and maybe that
involves
a different perspective on fitting in.
Christian
Trimmer's Teddy's Favorite Toy
(9781418480796,
$17.99) is illustrated by Madeline Valentine and tells of Teddy, who
has many
nice toys, but one favorite. His female toy is the best one in his
collection;
but when disaster strikes, only another female may be able to solve his
dilemma
and make things right again.
Denise
Fleming's This is the Nest That Robin Built
(9781481430838, $17.99) is a lovely collage picture book from a
Caldecott Honor
award-winner.
Here Robin
is
building a nest with a little help from her friends. Each creature
contributes
something to her nest, but at first the contributions seem a disparate
set of
objects that Robin will be well challenged to make use of.
Based on the
'House
That Jack Built' classic, This is the
Nest That Robin Built demonstrates that many paws, beaks, and
much goodwill
makes for light work.
Alyssa Satin
Capucilli and David Mottram's Mighty Tug
(9781481476812, $17.99) tells of a female tug who may not be the
biggest boat;
but she's the most powerful, the bravest, and the proudest in the
harbor.
As the brave
little
tug performs many different duties, young readers receive a gentle
rollicking
rhyme, fun drawings, and basic boating lore.
Jessie
Sima's Harriet Gets Carried Away
(9781481469111, $17.99) tells of Harriet, who loves costumes and
insists on
wearing them everywhere she goes. Her fathers have decorated the house
for a
party and Harriet has her favorite costume of all picked out for her
special
day; but when she encounters real penguins, her penguin costume gets
her in
trouble.
Can she find
her way
back home in order to celebrate in a proper manner?
All offer
intriguing,
different, fun blends of original stories and appealing drawings that
kids will
relish.
Candlewick
Press
www.candlewick.com
Three
picture book
presentations are outstanding winners that kids will find vivacious and
fun.
Yuval
Zommer's Big Brown Bear's Cave
(9780763696467,
$16.99) tells of a new cave that somehow just doesn't feel like home.
Brown Bear
decides
that maybe if he fills his new home with stuff, he'll feel more
comfortable.
The question is: how much stuff translates to a warm feeling?
When Brown Bear takes lessons from human homes, he discovers they may
not quite
translate to his own perception of what makes for a comfortable den.
Jenni
Desmond's Albert's Tree
(9780763696887, $15.99)
tells of Albert's dilemma when his favorite tree begins crying, and he
has no
idea what to do.
Different
friends
offer insights about the source of the tree's sorrow and what can be
done to
make things better, based on their own experiences; but somehow
everything
Albert does is futile—even yelling at the tree to stop.
When he
stops for a
moment himself to contemplate an alternative, a surprising result
teaches kids
about empathy and easy solutions to pain.
Lauren
Child's A Dog with Nice Ears
(9781536200362,
$17.99) features Charlie and Lola and tells of two kids who pretend to
be dogs
with nice ears, even though their parents have banned dogs from their
lives.
What makes
for the
perfect pet? Nice ears are only the beginning of the equation as Lola
and
Charlie explore the attributes important in animals, getting further
and
further from reality in the process of their whimsical pursuits.
All are
lovely, fun,
innovative reads that kids and parents will appreciate.
Firefly
Forest
Robyn Frampton
Imprint/Macmillan
Publishing
9781250122636
$18.99
www.mackids.com
Firefly Forest is beautifully illustrated
by Mike Health, whose
gorgeous, vivid green backgrounds of the forest lend to the stunning
pairing of
a beautiful fantasy story and forest images.
Firefly Forest holds shimmering color, an
attention to
light-accented blends of real and fantasy elements, and a fun and
whimsical
display of tiny houses and magical worlds that evolve into a lesson on
kindness
and love.
Kids and
parents will
find its beauty and message suitable for re-reading and much reflection.
My Pet Wants
a Pet
Elise Broach
Henry Holt and
Company
9781250109279
$16.99
www.mackids.com
My Pet Wants a Pet is illustrated by Eric
Barclay and tells of a
boy who wants a pet of his own to care for and love.
He
continually begs
his mother for such until she says yes, and then he loves his puppy and
enjoys
him. However, the puppy suffers from the same need to have something of
his own
to care for ... and so the puppy gets a pet, and things expand from
there.
How many
pets are too
many? A lovely story evolves, perfect for kids who love animals and
always want
more.
Pig and Small
Alex Latimer
Peachtree
9781682630365
$7.95
www.peachtree-online.com
Pig and Small tells of Pig and Bug, who
want to be friends despite
the huge difference in their sizes.
It seems
that Pig has
developed Squeaky Nose Syndrome, but when it turns out to be something
else, he
decides he has a new friend; not an ailment.
Unfortunately,
that
friend isn't contributing his share to the relationship, and trouble
ensues in
this delightfully original story of a pig and a bug who face seemingly
overwhelming obstacles to what they want from each other.
Sleeping
Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
Three fun
new picture
books provide young readers with energetic and appealing tales,
promising
lasting parental read-aloud and library lending value.
Karlin
Gray's An Extraordinary Ordinary Moth
(9781585363728, $16.99) receives beautiful drawings by Steliyana Doneva
as it
surveys an ordinary, dusty gray month who compares himself to more
colorful
kin.
It doesn't
help that
even a human child who sees him thinks he's ugly, but when that child
receives
a lecture on why the little moth is special, she learns to cultivate a
different sense of self-awareness in this story of a moth who learns
her real
talents and why her appearance, though dull, matters.
Brad
Herzog's W is for Welcome: A Celebration of
America's
Diversity (9781585364022, $17.99) is illustrated by a group
of nationally
acclaimed artists and pairs poetry, art, and history in a survey for
ages 6-10.
Good reading
skills
and an appreciation for a primer that explores diversity and the
achievements
of minority groups in this country lend to appreciation of a creative
discussion
that kids will find lively and educational.
Astronaut
Clayton
Anderson writes A is for Astronaut:
Blasting Through the Alphabet (9781585363964, $16.99), a
lively A-B-C
primer with space as its subject and science facts about space flight
as its
mission.
Scott Brundage illustrates a lively history of NASA and the experience of being a space astronaut, while fun poems and topics that lend to curriculum studies make for a colorful and revealing science book for leisure readers and young researchers alike.