November 2022 Prime Picks
The
Culinary Corner
Kyle
Books/Octopus
Publishing
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Two fine new
titles from
Kyle Books are recommended for libraries seeking cookbooks that are
ongoing
attractors.
Paul A.
Young's The Joy of Chocolate: Recipes and
Stories
from the Wonderful World of the Cocoa Bean (9780857839909,
$34.99) is more
than another recipe collection. It's a celebration of chocolate which
considers
its history, culture, and various incarnations as Young shows how to
appreciate
its varied attractions.
From how to
taste
chocolate to 40 recipes ranging form Hazelnut Praline Bonbons to
Chocolate
Roses, the appearance of chocolate in art and society assumes center
stage,
here, spiced with lovely color photos throughout.
Pipers Farm: The Sustainable Meat Cookbook Recipes
& Wisdom for
Considered Carnivores by Abby Allen and Rachel Lovell
(9781914239274, $39.99)
is a celebration of meat. Not just any meat, but the sustainable
techniques
which once were part of their production.
The authors
explore
ideas of nature, farming, and sustainability, pairing belief systems
with
monthly recipes for not just cooking with meat, but presenting it in a
way that
supports modern lifestyles and sustainability ideals alike.
From
discussions of
native breeds of animals to preserving small-scale family farms and
choosing
farming philosophies that support the land and human needs alike, Pipers Farm is highly recommended for
its inviting meat recipes, rich color photos, and accompanying insights
into a
fuller flavor of sustainability than most meat surveys provide.
Mitchell
Beazley/Octopus Publishing
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Two new wine
guides
are top 'must have' acquisitions for culinary libraries seeking
high-quality
guides on the subject.
Hugh
Johnson's
always-updated Pocket Wine Book now
sports a 2023 edition (9781784728434, $17.99), making it an item of
choice for
both libraries and wine buyers who want a quick pocket reference to the
latest
wines.
Organized by
country
and packed with facts about wines, growers, and wine regions, Pocket Wine Book covers everything from
drink-now wines to those which benefit from aging, and includes a
Vintage
Report on 2021, new wines to try in 2023, and regional recommendations.
Smaller
print (which
is necessary for a pocket edition) requires good eyesight or assistance!
The Complete Bordeaux: The Wines, The Chateaux, The
People by
Stephen Brook (9781784727512, $75.00) appears in its 4th updated
edition to include
considerations of both top, much-publicized wine regions and
lesser-known areas.
The in-depth
survey
updates information on communes and appellations, major properties,
vintages
produced in the last four decades, and history, as well as differing
winemaker
styles and approaches.
Its colorful
descriptions and inclusive coverage lends it an authority and reference
approach unequalled in the wine guide genre, making The
Complete Bordeaux highly recommended for libraries seeking
an
authoritative coverage of the Bordeaux.
Vegan
Cooking for Two
America's Test
Kitchen
America's Test
Kitchen, Publishers
9781954210189
$34.99
www.americastestkitchen.com
With so many
cookbooks already on the market that cater to vegan audiences, one
might wonder
at the need for the specific Vegan
Cooking for Two, but this collection for the smaller
household is a recipe book
that all vegan eaters can enjoy.
Its
lower-volume
recipes, accompanying tips for customizing (and, thus, expanding) them,
and
quick production methods will appeal to busy vegan cooks who want a
no-fuss
recipe book heavy on flavor and light on production time and volume.
Small,
plant-based
families will appreciate this narrowed focus on portion sizes that
allow for
serving two, and will also enjoy the full-page, bright, glossy color
photos of
completed dishes that accompany each dish and add interest to making it.
Any library
interested
in vegan recipes needs this book, which additionally differs from
competitors
by having each recipe vetted by the staff of America's Test Kitchen,
making for
foolproof results.
Reviewer's Choice
Cyclist Climb
Cyclist Magazine
Mitchell
Beazley/Octopus Publishing
9781784728090
$40.00
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Cyclist Climb: The Most Epic Cycling Ascents in the
World is a
lovely showcase of the most epic European-centric cycling climbs in the
world,
and is designed both for armchair enjoyment and destination-oriented,
pro
cycling readers.
Some
thirty-five of
the world's most challenging cycling climbs are profiled by the experts
at Cyclist
Magazine, with lovely photos complimenting the practicalities of route
maps,
statistics, altitude charts, and descriptions by cyclists who have made
these
climbs.
The
world-wide
coverage encourages travel and the exploration of a rich collection of
routes
that all have been vetted by the experts at Cyclist Magazine, whether
they
occur in Italy, France, or Norway.
Sell Yourself
Dr. Cindy McGovern
McGraw-Hill
9781264846245
$26.00
www.mhprofessional.com
Sell Yourself: How to Create, Live, and Sell a
Powerful Personal Brand
comes from a Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose latest book
is all
about self-promotion.
Plenty of
other books
have discussed the importance and routines of branding; but Dr. Cindy
McGovern,
more so than most business writers, attends to the concurrent need to
know
yourself before promoting yourself.
She provides
a
step-by-step instructional on the entire process which includes common
pitfalls
of self-branding and ideas for creating distinct, unique brands that
hold both
appeal and creative messages.
Any business
library
interested in not just branding, but self-promotion, needs to acquire Sell Yourself, which is packed with
strategies and tips for creating a brand based on personality as well
as
purpose.
Wilder
Millie Kerr
Bloomsbury
9781472990389
$28.00
www.bloomsbury.com
Wilder: How Rewilding is Transforming Conservation
and Changing the
World is a much-needed positive note in the too-often
negative discourse on
environment and biodiversity, which charts rewilding efforts that are
paying
off.
Rewilding offers a new approach to
conservation that seeks to not
just preserve species, but restore entire ecosystems. Its special brand
of
conservation provides insights into ecological restoration projects and
programs which promote active rewilding in urban and rural areas alike.
The survey
of such
ecological efforts around the world offers many examples of modern-day
species
reintroductions and methods to help the environment not just survive,
but
recover.
Rewilding should be an intrinsic part of
any library strong in
subjects of conservation and environmental healing efforts.
It's that
important.
Young Adult/Children
Candlewick
Press
www.candlewickpress.com
These new
picture
books provide young readers with stories that are thought-provoking,
fun
standouts.
Logan S.
Kline's Finding Fire
(9781536213027, $18.99) is
a wordless picture book adventure set in prehistoric times. It tells of
a young
boy who searches for fire to bring back to his family before winter.
His efforts
to brave
storms and strange environments especially lends to parental
involvement as
children absorb the wordless descriptions and fill in the blanks
created from
colorful adventure.
Carrie
Fountain's The Poem Forest: Poet W.S. Merwin
and the
Palm Tree Forest He Grew from Scratch (9781536211269, $18.99)
enjoys lovely
illustrations by Chris Turnham as it surveys the life of William
Stanley and
his efforts to grow a wilderness of trees in Hawaii, in a place where
everyone
said that nothing would grow.
Stanley
feels
"at home in the wilderness," and so will young readers as they absorb
the life and efforts of a man who "heals the earth" via growing trees
and crafting poems.
Randi
Sonenshine's The Lodge That Beaver Built
(9781536218685, $18.99) is illustrated with engaging, whimsical
drawings by
Anne Hunter that is paired with equally inviting, lyrical language
based on the
'House That Jack Built' classic.
Here, "This is the crunch in the darkening wood/of
teeth against bark where the willow once stood/on the shore near the
lodge that
Beaver built."
Kids receive
a lovely
rollicking rhyme that also teaches beaver natural history.
Atinuke's Too Small Tola and the Three Fine Girls
(9781536225174, $15.99) is a chapter book that holds simple yet
appealing black
and white drawings by Onyinye Iwu as it presents a new adventure
experienced by
a small girl with big ideas and an interest in making a difference in
the
world.
The
creative, fun
tale holds many lessons about attitude and endeavors that will attract
elementary-grade readers just beyond the picture book stage.
The Winter Bird by Kate Banks
(9781536215687, $18.99) receives
lovely illustrations by Suzie Mason as it explores a nightingale with
an
injured wing that can't fly south when cold weather strikes.
How will it
prepare
for a winter it's never experienced? That's what friends are for as
help
arrives to educate the little bird and introduce it to a season it
fears, but
ultimately finds enchanting. The story of perseverance and friendship
holds
many lessons for the very young.
Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
(9781536222524, $17.99) is
illustrated by Monica Mikai and comes with an online link to a
recording by the
author and Yo-Yo Ma as it tells of an African-American family's
determination
to survive a legacy of violence.
Based on the
song
"Build a House" composed for the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth,
this compelling history of slavery in America brings events to life for
picture
book readers.
Kenneth
Kraegel's Mushroom Lullaby
(9781536219418, $17.99)
celebrates the mushroom and introduces its wonder to young picture book
readers,
providing the growth story of a miraculous mushroom that begins softly
underground and grows "high in the sky," and which "never stays
dry."
As the
mushroom
evolves in a gorgeous, unexpected fantasy manner, readers receive
beautiful
full-page color embellishments as the tale evolves in a delightfully
unexpected
direction.
All are
engaging, fun
picture books that are highly recommended picks.
The Happiest
Lion Cub
Oleksandr Shatokhin
Red Comet Press
9781636550381
$17.99
www.redcometpress.com
The Happiest Lion Cub is translated by
Zenia Tompkins, and tells of
a lion cub who dreams of being a musician.
His father,
however,
tries to teach him that lions should be busy menacing others; not
playing
instruments. Not if they want to be King of the Jungle.
Can the
little cub
fulfill his dreams and his destiny at the same time?
Creative,
whimsical
illustrations enhance this story of an unusual, ambitious little cub
who longs
to be more than his heritage dictates.
Parents will
find
this easy reader an excellent read-aloud choice.
Healthy As a
Dragon!
Štěpánka
Sekaninova and Veronika Zacharová
Albatros
9788000066028
$14.95
www.albatrossbooks.com
Healthy As a Dragon! is a discussion
about hygiene which gives
young picture book readers a lesson in everything from nutrition and
taking
care of teeth to washing the body and hands, keeping things tidy, and
exercising.
The dragon's
life at
the castle just keeps getting better and better as he absorbs the
lessons a
little Princess imparts, which seem distant from his cold, dirty forest
cave.
Parents who
choose
this inviting story as a read-aloud will find the whimsical dragon's
discoveries and the little girl's lessons prompt important discussions
and
revelations about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
The result
is a
different type of hygiene book that goes beyond the usual narrowed
focus on
exercise, teeth, or body cleansing to consider the full facets of a
well-conducted lifestyle.
If You
Laugh, I'm
Starting This Book Over
Chris Harris
Little,
Brown/Hachette
978031642882
$18.99
www.lbyr.com
If You Laugh, I'm Starting This Book Over
will surely earn many
re-reads if its title is to be followed literally, because Chris Harris
packs
the story with fun, enhanced by Serge Bloch's illustrations.
Read-aloud
adults who
choose this book as an interactive venture into laughter with the young
will
find much to relish as the demand "not to laugh" leads to moments
nearly impossible to stifle with serious approaches.
Twists of
story, fun
names, hilarious drawings by Serge Bloch, and an attention to whimsy,
whether
it's over a fear of cute yellow feathers or a contrast to seriousness,
makes
for a story that tackles the subject of humor in an innovative,
inviting
manner.
Kids Can
Cook
Anything!
America's Test
Kitchen
America's Test
Kitchen
9781954210240
$22.99
www.americastestkitchen.com
Kids ages 8
and older
receive the dual benefit of a cookbook that is not just geared to their
food
interests and abilities, but which features foolproof recipes
supporting the
notion that home cooking is possible to achieve without huge effort.
Kids Can Cook Anything! The Complete How-To
Cookbook for Young Chefs,
With 70+ Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved Recipes comes with the seal
of approval
of peers who like to cook. Kid-friendly dishes range from comfort foods
such as
Honey Butter Corn to Pasta with Kale-Basil Pesto, Open-Faced Tuna
Melts, and
Cheesy Breadsticks.
Attractive
color
photos, sidebars of information (such as how to drain and flake canned
tuna),
and history accompany a cookbook designed to attract a wide age range
of young
would-be chefs who want to move beyond the basics of cookbooks directed
to young
people.
The Last
Rainbow Bird
Nora Brech
Floris Books
9781782508007
$17.95
www.florisbooks.co.uk
The Last Rainbow Bird is a story about
extinction, discovery, and
children who embark on an adventure to locate the last rainbow bird
before it
is gone forever.
The topic of
wildlife
conservation receives a thought-provoking face-lift of adventure and
discovery
in this story, which follows their journey through nature and shows how
the
resourceful children's' desire to help can make a difference.
While the
tale is
fictional in presentation, its underlying message, supported by lovely
drawings
throughout, lend to early discussion about environmental issues and
challenges,
making The Last Rainbow Bird an
inviting
pick for elementary-level libraries looking for starting points to
discuss
conservation and natural history.
Penguin
Random House
www.penguin.com/kids
These new
books are
highly recommended picks for picture book readers and libraries that
look for
unusual stories paired with inviting, colorful illustrations.
Heidi
Woodward
Sheffield's Ice Cream Face
(9780825518488, $17.99) comes from an Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner who
tells of
a kid who loves all kinds of ice cream. It's too bad that he also
doesn't love
standing in line for it. That's when his mad face appears.
Fun
illustrations
capture the child's ups and downs as he awaits a treat with much
impatience and
finds it lends to a special face that celebrates the moment.
Read-aloud
parents
will relishthe opportunity to employ the action words that accompany
ice
cream-eating.
Becky
Scharnhorst's This Field Trip Stinks!
(9780593403334,
$17.99) offers zany, fun drawings by Julia Patton asandpresents the
journal of
young Stuart, who "doesn't belong in the wild," and who thinks that
nature
lessons are best gained from books rather than encountering "creepy
crawlies" in the outdoors.
As good news
and bad
news evolve from the experience, young readers will laugh over the
lessons they
transmit.
Alissa
Holder and
Zulekha Holder-Young's I Am Amazing!
(9780593327328, $17.99) receives large-size, attractive illustrations
by Nneka
Myers as it tells of young Ayaan, who feels like a superhero but
doesn't really
look like one.
Since
friends impart
this judgment, Ayaan feels he should hang up his mask and cape, until
his wiser
father teaches him a lesson about helping others and becoming a real
superhero.
Ages 3-7
will find
Ayaan's story an inviting lesson in appearances and good intentions.
Greg
Pizzoli's Pizza! A Slice of History
(9780425291078, $18.99) comes from a Geisel award-winning author and
illustrator who tackle the history of pizza and its colorful
attractions.
From the
slang
surrounding pizza ("pizza rat" and "pizzaiolo") to the
origins of pizza and some odd facts surrounding its ingredients ("For centuries, most Europeans thought
tomatoes were unhealthy—even poisonous—and many people refused to eat
them."),
kids will enjoy a lively chronicle of pizza's delicious history.
These are
inviting
picture books that any library collection would find attractive and
popular.
A Perfect
Day With
Wonderful Friends
Philip Waechter
Gecko Press
9781776574667
$18.99
www.geckopress.com
A Perfect Day With Wonderful Friends is
translated by Melody Shaw
and provides a gentle tale of friendship as friends visit one another
and
become involved in helping.
Each friend
holds a
different ability, which prompts a growing circle of participants as
problem-solving taps a host of issues.
This fine
story of
friendship and fun creates an engaging scene of cooperative thinking
and group
participation, teaching kids about aiding others in the process of
seeking help
for their own needs.
Simon
& Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com/kids
Simon
&
Schuster's latest picture books offer vivid illustrations and stories
that lend
to both read-aloud and young reader pursuit, standing out from the
crowd with
lively presentations suitable for library lending and home collections
alike.
Angela C.
Santomero's
I Will Always Be Your Friend!
(9781665920780, $12.99) is a 'Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood' title that
introduces another beautiful day in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.
Vibrant
characters in
full color panels supplement this supportive story of imagines and
play, giving
young readers a cozy story supported by a single pop-up at the end and
glossy
pages that create durability and attraction.
Rosemary
Well's Max Can Read!
(9781534493964, $18.99)
joins others in the Max & Ruby rabbit series about sibling
interactions and
growth.
Ages 4-8
receive a
vivid series of surprises that follow Max's growing abilities as he
receives a
present he must put together using his unique talents.
Older sister
Ruby is
too busy to either help Max problem-solve or oversee the construction.
It's up
to Max to help himself in this engaging story of following directions
and
handling impatience.
Jan Thomas's
Even Robots Can Be Thankful!
(9781665911672, $17.99) offers two illustrated panels per page where
robots
discuss the idea of thankfulness, even if the matters under
consideration would
seem to prompt fear, problem-solving trouble, and challenges to their
relationship.
The message
about
thankfulness will prove especially attractive in this format.
Little Red and the Big Bad Editor by
Rebecca Kraft Rector
(9781534469297, $18.99) receives fine drawings by Shanda McCloskey in a
different "once upon a time" story that leads Little Red to confront
an editor in wolf's clothing. The thank-you note she carries to her
grandmother
is full of errors, and the confrontational wolf editor pushes her for
impossible perfection.
Rector's
descriptions
are just as vivid as McCloskey's drawings: "Quick
as instant grits, Red shoved a cinnamon muffin in his mouth."
Tony
Johnston's Pages of Music
(9781665904339, $18.99)
receives inviting illustrations by Tomie dePaola as it tells of a
painter and
her son, who visits the island of Sardinia where a shepherd shares his
music
with them.
It's a
life-changing
event for young Paolo, who one day finds himself a noted composer and
conductor
and who, as an adult, returns to the island on Christmas morning to
share his
own musical celebration and influence.
Adults who
choose Pages of Music as a
read-aloud will find
the insights on giving back and growth to be perfect starting points
for
discussion.
Elana K.
Arnold's All By Himself?
(9781534488899, $18.99)
receives illustrations by Giselle Potter that spark the imagination as
a child
builds a masterpiece by himself. A gorgeous story of cause-and-effect
creates a
building block of connections that culminate in a solo creative effort
that
actually is not independently crafted, but results from a series of
connections.
Lauren
Stringer's The Dark Was Done
(9781534462922,
$18.99) tells of a universal fear of the dark. Everyone wishes the Dark
would
go away.
But, what
happens
when the Dark does decide to vanish? What would the world be like
without it?
Lauren
Stringer's
foray into "what if" offers many thought-provoking moments that will
lend particularly well to read-aloud and adult participation: "Then one day—or maybe it was night, no
one could tell the difference—the boy said, "I miss the song of
crickets."
"Their song is a gift of the Dark," said his mother. "When the
Dark left, the crickets' song left too."
Simply
outstanding, The Dark Was Done is a
powerful reminder
of the importance of darkness in the world, and the gifts it can bring.
Sophia N.
Lee's Holding On (9781534494459,
$18.99)
receives appealing illustrations by Isabel Roxas and reaches ages 4-8
with the
story of Lola, who introduces her granddaughter to the wonders of a
wide range
of music.
As Lola
slips into
silence herself, with age, her legacy lives on in a loving
granddaughter who
helps her grandmother remember the joy in music and their relationship,
too.
I Can't Draw by Stephen W. Martin and
Brian Biggs (9781534493414,
$18.99) tells of a boy who loves to draw, but isn't very good at it. He
asks
his friend Eugene for help, but this seems to change nothing until
Eugene comes
up with a different approach to the dilemma.
Kids ages
4-8 will
relish this creative problem-solving tale as they adopt a revised
approach to what
constitutes art.
All are
exciting,
compelling stories kids and read-aloud parents will find refreshingly
different
and inviting.
Sleeping
Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
These new
picture
books provide engaging, lively stories that will prove winning picks
for
elementary-level libraries and read-aloud parents alike.
Miss Mary's Christmas Mittens by Trinka
Hakes Noble (9781534111677,
$17.99) tells the story of a special teacher who is determined to make
the
holiday season a merry one for her students.
When she
learns they
are missing out on snow activities because they don't have mittens, she
decides
to knit every student a pair for Christmas. But when the local store
runs out
of yarn, what can she do?
Reminiscent
of an O.
Henry classic example of creative problem-solving and altruism, the
story
receives colorful embellishment by Renee Andriani as it provides an
inspirational story of giving.
Mr. Thatcher's House by Kristin Wauson
(9781534111578, $17.99)
tells of a house-builder determined to construct the perfect house.
The problem
is: no
matter how much effort he puts into it or how big it gets, it's never
perfect.
Will it ever be finished to his satisfaction?
The problem
is
compounded when strangers seek shelter for the night. How can he offer
them
something less than perfection?
Mr.
Thatcher, and
youngsters who read about him, ultimately discover the foundations of
accepting
imperfection and understanding what really makes a house a home in this
warm
story of family relationships, non-traditional families, and meaningful
connections in life.
Both are
lovely,
exceptional picture books.
Tiger Tales
www.tigertalesbooks.com
These new
picture
books from Tiger Tales offer kids enjoyable entertainment value with
memorable
stories and bright pictures.
Suzy
Senior's Who Will Kiss the Crocodile?
(9781680102840, $17.99) receives colorful, zany drawings by Claire
Powell that
accent this "snappy twist on Sleeping Beauty."
In a
hilarious
mishap, a vengeful (but not-too-adept) evil fairy who isn't invited to
the
party for the King and Queen's new daughter casts a wicked spell that
will turn
the baby into a crocodile, then force her into a deep sleep when she is
16.
Who would
kiss a croc
to break this enchantment?
A lesson in
perseverance lies in Smriti Prasadam-Hall's Dinos
Don't Give Up! (9781680102888, $17.99). Here, determined
Dinah the Diplodocus
is good at everything—until she tackles surfing.
How can she
win when
she can't even stay on her surfboard?
Richard
Merritt
provides engaging lessons that accent this determined dino's dilemma.
Angela
Woolfe's Agent Llama: Double Trouble
(9781680102857, $17.99) receives engaging, whimsical drawings by Duncan
Beedie
as it presents fluffy llama spy Charlie Parker, whose mission is to
stop Harley
Hacker, a rogue alpaca, whose Noodle Doom Machine is causing problems
with
spaghetti, sauce, and floods of adversity.
Charlie's
creative
re-purposing of apple pie and other devices to stop this Noodle Doom
makes for
many satisfying twists and turns of high adventure touched by humor.
All offer
lessons in
overcoming adversity, couched in picture book stories that are
attractive and amusing.
The Ugly
Place
Laura Deal
Inhabit Media
9781772274325
$17.95
www.inhabitmedia.com
Laura Deal's
The Ugly Place receives fine
illustrations by Emma Pedersen as it explores a child's Arctic world.
As the child
views
this barren landscape, its beauty begins to shine through. Ugliness is
not all
it seems to be, and the child discovers new things just by a change of
heart
and perspective.
Replete in
lessons about
social awareness and emotional realizations about bad moods and life
encounters, The Ugly Place provides
an excellent starting point for exploring emotional growth and the
impact of
negative and positive feelings.
Adults will
want to
choose The Ugly Place for
read-aloud
conversations about emotional issues.
The U-nique
Lou Fox
Jodi Carmichael
Pajama Press
9781772782585
$23.95
www.pajamapress.com
Fans of Harriet the Spy and other dynamic female
characters in books for advanced elementary to early middle grade
audiences
will find The U-nique Lou Fox a fun
adventure
with the added value of presenting a girl with dyslexia who dreams of
being Lou
Fox, a famous Broadway playwright, instead of Louisa Elizabeth
Fitzhenry-O'Shaughnessy, a girl with an impossibly long name and fifth
grade
angst.
Teacher Mrs.
Snyder
doesn't seem to know anything at ADHD or Lou's struggles.
However, Lou
finds
different ways to reinforce friendships and find joy in life in this
powerful
saga of ADHD, dyslexia, and a girl who both struggles with and
celebrates life
despite its obstacles.
Elementary-level collections seeking vivid, realistic characters will find The U-nique Lou Fox an intriguing, inviting story.