November 2023 Prime Picks

The Culinary Corner

The Core of an Onion
Mark Kurlansky
Bloomsbury Publishing
9781635575934 $28.00
www.bloomsbury.com

The Core of an Onion: Peeling the Rarest Common Food packs over 100 historical recipes with a flavorful history of the onion, considering its presence not just in culinary circles, but in folklore, medicine, and healing applications.

In following the journey of the onion family throughout the world, Mark Kurlansky creates a literary and historical survey of the allium that links its presence to ancient and modern lives, pinpointing its ongoing relevance, appeal, and presence in kitchens and communities of the world.

Paired with vintage illustrations, the author's own pen-and-ink drawings, and a rich set of descriptions of usage, variations, and attractions, The Core of an Onion is highly recommended not just for culinary collections and recipe readers, but for history buffs interested in how foods influenced and changed the world.

A Very Chinese Cookbook
With Kevin Pang and Jeffrey Pang
America's Test Kitchen
9781954210479 $35.00
www.americastestkitchen.com

Given the wealth of Chinese cookbooks (both general and regional) on the market today, one might wonder at the need for yet another.

However, A Very Chinese Cookbook: 100 Recipes from China & Not China (But Still Really Chinese) arrives with a difference—a focus on authentic and expanded Chinese-influenced fare that considers the intrinsic flavors and cooking approaches which give Chinese food its unique flair and attraction.

From tradition Shu Mai to Stir-Fried Rice Cakes, Three-Cup Chicken, and Gai Lan With Oyster Sauce, each recipe is not only vetted by America's Test Kitchen staff as being foolproof, but comes with a difficulty rating, test kitchen tips, a facing page full-color photo, and smaller photos of preparation methods (where applicable).

Another feature that distinguishes it from other Chinese cookbooks is that it is co-authored by James Beard Award winner Kevin Pang and his father Jeffrey, hosts of a hit YouTube cooking series.

Designed to incorporate and teach specific methods through step-by-step photos and inviting recipes, A Very Chinese Cookbook is a top recommendation for anyone new to Chinese cooking at home, and for libraries catering to them.

Reviewer's Choice

TwoMorrows Publishing
www.twomorrows.com

TwoMorrows Publishing excels at comic history creations that profile classic comic artists and the evolution of the genre. These new arrivals continue to expand the boundaries of knowledge for anyone interested in the past, present, and possible futures of comic book art.

Working with Ditko by Jack C. Harris (9781605491226, $24.95) examines the Bronze Age of comic history as the editor and writer Jack C. Harris recalls his many collaborations with artist Steve Ditko.

Not only does this embrace the art of the legendary man, but it pairs these insights and discussions with previously unpublished preliminary sketches and pencil art that stem from Harris' work with Ditko on The Creeper, the Demon, Wonder Woman, and many others.

Between these redesigns and original characters that even his avid fans have not seen, Working with Ditko is a one-of-a-kind history that should be considered a 'must have' for any serious comics history collection.

Stephan Friedt works with Jon B. Cooke in Pacific Comics Companion (9781605491219, $29.95) to examine the story of the rise of this California imprint, which rested on the growing appeal of such legendary artists as Jack Kirby, Neal Adams, and Steve Ditko.

Examinations and discussions revolve around not just artistic development, but business acuity and the inspirations for the characters developed for the comics produced by this company.

As a comprehensive, in-depth, and personal study of this publisher's artists and creations, Pacific Comics Companion is essential for any serious comic history collection.

Both books are packed with color and black and white art and reproductions that add visual reinforcement to the value of their historical explorations.

Young Adult/Children

The Brothers Zzli
Alex Cousseau
Wm. B. Eerdmans
9780802856098 $17.99
www.eerdmans.com

The Brothers Zzli by Alex Cousseau will reach ages 6-10 with an engaging story of tall, furry brothers who arrive at the doorstep of little girl Welcome. They have no place else to go, and she has vast room in her house, and so they move in.

However, their great differences lead other forest members to wonder about the makeup of this strange family.

Anne-Lise Boutin's engaging illustrations enhance a story translated by Vineet Lal that creates a compelling tale of an unusual family makeup that works both within the home and, ultimately, for others who at first wonder about its disparity.

Copy That!
Katrina Tangen and Giulia Orecchia
Barefoot Books
9781646869992
www.barefootbooks.com

Copy That! Inventions Inspired by Animals is an interactive lift-the-flaps book that pairs riddles with natural history information for board book readers.

The blend of interactive format and riddles which challenge young minds to identify flippers, showshoes, and bike reflectors pairs animal attributes with human attempts to mimic them through mechanical or physical innovations.

This level of thought goes above and beyond simplicity, drawing important and interesting associations between the natural world and what humans can learn from it.

Copy That! thus holds many insights that board book readers typically don't receive in a manner that challenges their young minds, giving them yet another reason why the natural world is important and inspirational.

Disney Press
www.DisneyBooks.com

Two winning picture books are outstanding picks for young readers seeking holiday winners, retaining their value year-round for libraries seeking lasting lending value from their acquisitions.

Ryan T. Higgins provides a funny take on the Halloween Sleepy Hollow legend with Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow (9781368059589, $18.99).

Bruce the Bear not only dislikes all holidays, but he hates Halloween in particular. If he's to ever enjoy the season, it's up to his diverse animal family to engage him with an attractively spooky story.

Said tale turns too realistic, however, when the spook makes an in-person appearance at the campfire. As Bruce flees the phantom, hilarious moments keep kids and read-aloud parents thoroughly engaged through satisfying twists and turns.

Patricia Tanumihardja's The Sugar Plum Bakers (9781368089579, $17.99) receives engaging illustrations by Bonnie Lui as it provides a story of twelve holiday treats created by magical 'bakerinas.'

Treats from around the world are profiled in a story that mixes history, cultural traditions, and holiday origins in a manner that will delight kids and adults with magical thinking blended and enriched with facts and bright, engaging drawings throughout.

Moth in a Fancy Cardigan
Charlotte Lance & David Booth
Berbay Publishing
9781922610577 $19.99
www.berbaybooks.com

Moth in a Fancy Cardigan will appeal to middle-grade readers with its story of fitting in, standing out, and cardigans which encourage different personalities to try on new possibilities.

Gary Gray Moth blends in but wants to be seen; while Florence Butterfly is sick of all the attention her colors earn. As they consider the pros and cons of each others' lives and swap identities, they discover new facets of attraction and understanding that evolve in the course of adventures and realizations.

The story is whimsically presented, but embraces much food for thought about identity, discovery, and transformation. This makes it a top pick for young reader discussion groups, from advanced elementary into middle grade levels.

Nature's Yucky in the Sea
Lee Ann Landstrom and Karen I. Shragg
Mountain Press Publishing
9780878427109 $12.00
www.mountain-press.com

Nature's Yucky in the Sea: Gross Stuff That Helps Ocean Animals Survive adds to the picture book 'Nature's Yucky' series, inviting kids interested in gross subjects to connect the dots between nature's behaviors and disgusting facts. Its inviting manner explores some of the oddest of ocean denizens.

Lovely color illustrations by Rachel Rogge lend realistic attraction to the 'yucky' facts, inviting adult read-aloud interest with surprisingly in-depth details that the very young typically don't receive in an accessible format such as this book sports.

With its high interest level and solid connections to entertainment and educational value, Nature's Yucky in the Sea not only deserves to be in elementary-level libraries, but spotlighted for its added attractions in explaining the importance of seemingly-gross facts.

Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com

Robert Heidbreder's My Cat Does Ballet (9781665917032, $18.99) is illustrated by Matt Schu and presents the engaging story of a dancing cat whose excess energy is directed into ballet.

Ages 4-8, especially those familiar with feline antics, will appreciate the leaps, en pointe stands, and human and feline ballet class which evolve from the young narrator's observations and teaching.

It's not a washing machine, it's a wishing machine in Jonathan Hillman's The Wishing Machine (97816659222302, $18.99). Nadia Alam provides fun illustrations of an ordinary visit to the Laundromat turned extraordinary when the washing machines turn into something different.

Ages 4-8 will appreciate the magic and fun an ordinary washday assumes in this inviting tale.

Erica Simone Turnipseed's Bigger Than Me (9781665900324, $18.99) is illustrated by Kara Bodegón-Hikino and will also appeal to ages 4-8 with its story of big adult words that grown-ups like to throw around, which make them sad.

The kids would like to help, but these words feel too big and confusing. What if the children join together to tackle a problem which seems too large for them to handle?

Big dreams, small changes, and attempts to tackle the impossible make for a moving story of achievement and perspective which will delight read-aloud parents and adults interested in the story's underlying messages of problem-solving and finding solutions through cooperative thinking.

When Dad's Hair Took Off
Jörg Mühle
Gecko Press
9781776575206 $18.99
www.geckopress.com

When Dad's Hair Took Off is translated by Melody Shaw and tells of a rebellious head of hair that wants a life of its own, and to see the world.

One day, Dad's hair springs to life and makes a run for it, leaving a now-bald father determined to get it back.

The delightful story of freedom and the pursuit of hair and happiness will intrigue advanced elementary readers with a zany, hair-raising adventure topic that kids ordinarily don't receive—hair lost and found.