October 2022 Prime Picks
The
Culinary Corner
Kyle Books/Pyramid/Octopus
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Three new cookbooks
from Kyle are recommended picks for libraries seeking attractive covers and
books that will be popular lends.
Susie Theodorou's Mediterranean: Naturally Nutritious Recipes
from the World's Healthiest Diet (9781914239717, $27.99) explores the
Mediterranean diet lifestyle and eating patterns with a seasonal eye to
flexibility and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Theodorou was born
and raised on Mediterranean dishes, and has many new ideas for using its basic
ingredients while on a budget.
Recipes range from
Barbecued Lamb Rib Chops with Rosemary and Cherry Tomatoes to Pan-Roasted
Chicken with Sesame and Escarole and Pork Souvlaki.
Color photos on every
facing page bring the recipes to life and provide inviting images of finished dishes.
Rahul Mandal's Showstopping Cakes: Mastering the Art and
Science of Baking (9781914239236, $34.99) is recommended for cake bakers
who would take the extra steps and time to produce cakes that are eye-poppers,
and comes from a Great British Bakeoff winner.
From the kitchen
science and techniques involved in making Royal Icing and Honeycomb to such
cakes as a Spice Carrot and Walnut Cake with Whisked Miso Caramel, Cream Cheese
Frosting, Miso Caramel Drip and Honeycomb, this cookbook isn't for the quick
cook or inexperienced baker, but for those who already hold basic skills and
want to expend their visual results to a new level.
Artistic color photos
on facing pages accompany professional-looking cakes that will prove winners
for their explorations of unusual ingredients, techniques, and polished
presentations.
The Slow Cooker Bible: Super Simple Feasts for the Whole Family,
Including Delicious Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes (9780753734926, $24.99)
presents recipes by Sara Lewis, Saskia Sidey, and Libby Silbermann which make
the most of the slow cooker's promise of quick, flavorful results.
By eschewing the
usual meat-laden focus of slow cooker main course cookbooks, this book
demonstrates that plant-based meals can be accessible to the whole family,
alongside recipes that show how this method of cooking can turn tough cuts of
meat into mouth-watering, melting deliciousness.
Many of the fare
features international influences, such as Chillied Beef With Chocolate, which
nods to Mexican mole dishes; and Asian Glazed Ribs replete with ginger, star
anise, cinnamon, and wine vinegar.
Color photos on every
facing page accompany these simple, attractive dishes.
Modern Bistro
America's Test
Kitchen
America's Test
Kitchen, Publisher
9781948703468 $35.00
www.americastestkitchen.com
Modern Bistro: Home Cooking Inspired By French Classics offers everyday cooks
the opportunity to add some French flair into their cooking via 180 foolproof
recipes that pair traditional bistro fare with updated versions of classic
French dishes such as Coq Au Vin.
These often include
American bistro standards, as well, making for a marriage on both sides of the
pond which profiles some of the most attractive and popular dishes that lend to
the bistro theme and feel.
From Beef Burgundy
and Sole Meunière to Grown-Up Stovetop Macaroni and
Cheese, the inviting foods and good-sized color photos supporting them invite
home cooks to try French fare without the complicated feel that too many French
cookbooks impart.
Reviewer's Choice
Atlas of Abandoned
Places
Oliver Smith
Mitchell Beazley
9781784726928 $26.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Oliver Smith's Atlas
of Abandoned Places: A Journey Through
the World's Forgotten Wonders pairs good-quality full-page color photos
with the history of a range of forsaken sites ranging from palaces and
abandoned space shuttles to abandoned architectural developments and sites that
once represented social status as well as divisions.
The histories do more
than pair images with construction history. They chart changing cultural values
and stories that represent abandoned dreams both domestic and foreign, creating
a diverse landscape of photos and legends that will attract a wide audience, from
students of architecture to those interested in travel to places off the beaten
path.
Abandoned Places: A Journey Through the World's Forgotten Wonders is
highly recommended for arts and social history libraries, as well as
general-interest collections.
"Geology
Underfoot" titles
Mountain Press
Publishing
www.mountain-press.com
Two new Geology
Underfoot titles combine the best of science and tourism to provide readers
with destination-bound references that help them understand the geology of the
areas they travel though.
The second edition of
Allen F. Glazner, et.al.'s Geology
Underfoot in Death Valley and Eastern California (9780878427079, $24.00)
surveys a region influenced by volcanoes, earthquakes, flooding, and sand
storms.
The evidence of these
influences can be found in this full-color illustrated guide to 33 selected
geologic sites in the area.
Each featured site
includes instructions on what to see, how to identify and survey the geologic
wonders, and how to appreciate the science behind them.
Jack Shroder,
et.al.'s Geology Underfoot on Colorado's
Western Slope (9780878427086, $26.00) achieves the same for Western
Colorado, with illustrations by Beth Waldron Yuhas and Chelsea M. Feeney
enhancing the examination of this geologically-rich area.
Over twenty geologic
sites include four national parks to provide rock hounds, fossil collectors,
and science enthusiasts of all ages with lively, destination-oriented insights
about the area's unique geologic history.
Filled with inviting
color and facts, these are both highly recommended picks for travel libraries
looking for different takes on U.S. natural history.
Good Naked
Joni B. Cole
University of New
Mexico Press
9780826364364 $19.95
www.unmpress.com
Good Naked: How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier is a
humorous examination of popular writing that shows readers how their first
drafts can lend to a process that increases creative impulses and finished
products.
This approach has
here been revised and expanded to add psychological components into the mix of
creative writing exercises, anecdotes, and vignettes.
All are designed to
encourage those who would improve their writing and their approach to working
both alone and within writing groups to encourage feedback and better results.
Readers who want to
improve their writing and relationships with the written word and their
personal creative forms of expression will find Good Naked replete with examples that inject both fun and
thought-provoking insights into the mix.
The Life & Art of
Dave Cockrum
Glen Cadigan
TwoMorrows Publishing
9781605491134 $27.95
www.twomorrows.com
The Life & Art of Dave Cockrum follows the artistry and
evolution of one whose childhood obsession resulting in his revival of two
struggling comic book franchises.
Through his
background on costume design, he brought back to life a revamped Legion of
Super-Heroes and the X-Men, fostering them to greater heights and also creating
his own comic figures of fame with The Futurians, among many other
achievements.
These high points are
covered in a biographical sketch that features artwork from fanzines, unused
character designs, and other visuals in full color that explore the extent of
Cockrum's contributions.
No authoritative
comic book history collection should be without this in-depth inspection of
Dave Cockrum's life and art.
Lyons Press
www.lyonspress.com
Two new titles from
Lyons Press are recommended picks for discriminating general-interest
libraries.
Why re-look at the
third edition of Molly Shepard, et.al.'s Breaking
into the Boys' Club: The Complete
Guide for Women to Get Ahead in Business (9781493064304, $21.95)? Because
it keeps its place as the ultimate guide to business success by outlining (and
keeping up-to-date) practical paths to womens' career growth.
The latest changing
world of corporate life is reflected in this latest book, which shows women how
to build strategic networks, sell their strengths in today's competitive market,
and use mentors and sponsors to best effectiveness (among other topics), all
while keeping home and career balanced.
The tips and
strategies from real-world experience assure that readers receive all the
guidance they need for their own success.
William J. Miller,
Jr.'s Steel City: A Story of Pittsburgh
(9781493068432, $29.95) is a novel that brings to life the 1890s world of
Pittsburgh, when the town was at its height of wealth and success.
Pittsburgh was the
first city to foster new technological advancements. Its status is narrated
from the point of view of Jamie Dalton, a recent Yale grad who must decide
whether to acquiesce to his father's desires to become a lawyer, enter
Pittsburgh's blossoming steel business, or follow his own heart to become a
journalist.
Miller employs the
first person to bring this milieu to life through Jamie's eyes, ambitions, and
experiences. This creates a powerful survey of Pittsburgh's business elite as Jamie
operates both as an insider and a reporter.
Readers seeking
historical novels replete with adventure and growth will relish this vivid
portrait, which brings 1800s Pittsburgh's politics, business environment, and
issues to life.
Perfect Pitch
Tim Bouverie
Short Books/Octopus
Publishing
9781780725284 $16.99
www.octopusbooksusa.com
Perfect Pitch: 100 Pieces of Classical Music to Bring Joy, Tears,
Solace, Empathy, Inspiration (& Everything Else In Between) is a study
in connections between emotional draw and classical music, presenting a lyrical
analysis of Tim Bouverie's favorite pieces of classical music that celebrates
the genre.
Both 'insiders'
familiar with classical music and those who want a solid introduction on what
to listen to and how to connect it to life experience will find Perfect Pitch filled with stories,
suggestions, musical references, and history that illustrates remarkable facts
about major pieces and works.
The result is
accessible to classical aficionados and newcomers alike, and ideally will
become part of any library strong in musical studies for general-interest
readers.
Spirits of San
Francisco
Gary Kamiya and Paul
Madonna
Bloomsbury Publishing
9781635579819 $18.00
www.bloomsbury.com
Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City offers a
lovely tribute to this reviewer's native town with a blend of art by Paul
Madonna and new perspectives about the City's landmarks and lesser-known
history.
So much has already
been written about San Francisco that one might believe this book to be a
rehash of familiar scenarios and material, but the different perspective pairs
vignettes about San Francisco's underlying communities and their lively history
with black and white drawings by an award-winning artist to enhance its
emphasis on alternate views of the City.
The result is an
affectionate celebration of San Francisco that captures its history and spirits
in a manner attractive to newcomers and natives alike.
Train Stations of the
World
Martin Weltner
Schiffer Books
9780764363689 $39.99
www.schifferbooks.com
Train Stations of the World visits nearly 80 train stations on five
continents, exploring their history, unique stories, and why each railroad
building is a standout.
Modern color photos
provide visuals (including aerial views) that reinforce the nature of these
train stations, with succinct paragraphs of history accompanying the large-size
displays.
Libraries strong in
railroad history, architectural changes, and transportation will all find Train Stations of the World an
appealing, colorful catalog of modern stations and their changing histories.
W.W. Norton
www.wwnorton.com
Three new books are
especially highly recommended for libraries seeking diverse, memorable, lasting
acquisitions for general-interest audiences.
Susan Rogers and Ogi
Ogas provide This is What It Sounds Like:
What the Music You Love Says About You (9780393541250, $28.95), a survey of
music's psychological impact that comes from a two neuroscientists—one who is
also a legendary record producer.
The focus on
cultural, artistic, and scientific revelations that blend in this book is
exciting and revealing, delving into how music is perceived and absorbed and
how it can lead to self-awareness and psychological insights.
The result is an
uncommon synthesis between art and science that a wide audience of music fans
will find both important and unique.
James M. Scott's Black Snow: Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of
Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb (9781324002994, $35.00) covers the
deliberate firebombing of Japan's main cities in 1945: an event typically lost in
historic discussions of the aftermath of the dropping of the atomic bomb.
This firebombing,
instigated by the U.S. during World War II, vaporized some sixteen square miles
and killed more than 100,000 people.
The politics and
results of the horrifying attack marked a change in American military strategy,
injecting moral and ethical issues into military approaches to war that would
shake the foundations of such actions.
This complete story
uses first-person interviews in the U.S. and with Japanese survivors, along
with Air Force archives, to present a powerful story vastly under-considered in
modern times.
Nomads: The Wanderers Who Shaped Our World by Anthony Sattin
(9781324034459, $28.95) refutes the common notion that we all began as
hunter-gatherers who figured out how to settle down. According to Anthony
Sattin, that's only part of the bigger picture.
Many never settled
down and stopped moving, and research and recent discoveries support a
revisionist history which moves back in time 12,000 years to when everyone was
on the move, with nomads living in relative harmony with nature rather than
settling down to tame it.
Chapters explore the
progression of human movements to also refute the idea that nomads were uncivilized,
showing that nomads have long flourished and formed the foundations of
present-day civilizations.
Their stories,
profiled here, move beyond any description of them as 'backward,' instead
considering the social institutions, values, and causes they fostered with
their nomadic lifestyle.
Nomads is highly recommended for any library strong in revisionist
history as well as for readers who would receive an alternate vision of nomadic
patterns in human history.
Young Adult/Children
Amazingly Angus
Kiki Thorpe
Disney Press
9781368972250 $14.99
www.DisneyBooks.com
Amazingly Angus is a Level 2 chapter book adding to Disney's
Horsetail Hollow series. Illustrated by Laura Catrinella, it tells of the
adventure experienced by sisters who live on a farm with a magical wishing
well.
When a mixed-up wish
brings them a horse named Maximus, the two must found out how to get him back
home.
And then another
horse appears, as if by magic...
The appealing story
is highly recommended for chapter book readers who enjoy stories of horse
dilemmas and magical influences alike.
Candlewick Press
www.candlewickpress.com
These new titles from
Candlewick offer exceptionally engaging stories recommended for young readers
and libraries catering to them.
Megan Wagner Lloyd's Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure
(9781536216578, $17.99) tells of a cat's cozy life as an indoor pet who enjoys
the love of her rescuer, Ma Millie.
But when Ma becomes
ill, Haven decides to go for help, and must brave the forest and wild creatures
to help her human ally.
The story offers many
compelling adventures that will particularly appeal to young readers at the
chapter book level and above.
Jamie Michalak's Frank and Bean: Food Truck Fiasco
(9781536214413, $16.99) will also appeal to chapter book readers just embarking
on this journey, who will appreciate the wealth of zany, colorful illustrations
by Bob Kolar.
Bean has a food truck
and is going to sell donuts. Frank sells oatmeal; but it's too boring.
Can Bean's creative donuts
help fix Frank's oatmeal dilemma?
A fun story of
friendship and growth evolves.
Ben Mantle's Frog vs. Toad (9781536223599, $17.99)
explores the differences between frogs and toads with a consideration of two
very different creatures who want to correct common misconceptions about their
nature.
They are not two
frogs. Clearly, Road is the strongest and Frog is a much better hopper, for
one.
As the competition
between rivals heats up in the swamp, Frog and Toad discover that, even with
all their differences, they can come together when a challenge arises.
This offers not only
science-based facts about swamp life, toads and frogs, but a lesson about
friendships between different entities.
Jonathan Stutzman's The Mouse Who Carried a House on his Back
(9781536216790, $18.99) receives lovely illustrations by Isabelle Arsenault
which combine with cut-away features as the story tells of Vincent the mouse,
who carries his home on his back so he can have a home at all times.
There's only one
problem: the house also attracts a plethora of visitors. How can he turn anyone
away?
This gentle tale
lends particularly well to read-aloud, attracting parents with its lovely
illustrations and underlying message about generosity and a sense of place.
Amy Cherrix's Good Night Little Bookstore
(9781536212518, $17.99) is a warm acknowledgement of the allure and fun of
bookstores, welcoming night in a different way as a neighborhood bookstore becomes
a source for bedtime goodnights.
Lovely illustrations by E.B. Goodale celebrate the bookstore and the process of winding down from the day's events with a gentle series of observations that read-aloud parents will find alluring.
Octopus Shocktopus! by Peter Bently (9781536223965, $17.99)
outlines what happens when, one day, the narrator finds that an octopus
"had come to live on top of us."
As the giant octopus
that lands on the house causes confusion and fear, it's the neighborhood kids
who discern its real intentions, illustrating how even adversity can contain
the nuggets of good experience.
Steven Lenton's
colorful, full-page drawings enhance a whimsical story of fantasy and problem-solving.
Carlie Sorosiak's Books Aren't for Eating (9781536214963,
$17.99) tells of Leopold the goat, who loves his bookstore and picking out
books for his customers.
A variety of animals
frequent his establishment, but when Leopold meets another goat, trouble
evolves.
Can Leopold satisfy
his troublesome customer's literal appetite for the written word?
Cheerful drawings by
Manu Montoya add to the attractive story.
All are top recommendations for discriminating elementary-level libraries and read-aloud parents.
The Living Landscape
Eric Parrish and
Suzanne Anderson
Muddy Boots/Globe
Pequot/Rowman & Littlefield
9781630763961 $16.95
www.MuddyBootsBooks.com
The Living Landscape: Discovering the Critical Zone is a picture
book survey of the thin outer layer of landscapes that form integrated
ecological systems filled with life.
This is a concept not
normally addressed for such a young audience, but is just as critical for early
environmental understanding as the myriad of books that narrow the subject to a
particular zone of study, such as the seashore.
Here, lovely
illustrations and evocative descriptions cover scientific process, the changing
world of the critical zone, and such diverse topics as the important functions
of soil or the life below and above ground which contributes to this zone's
importance and landscape.
The Living Landscape: Discovering the Critical Zone is highly
recommended for any elementary-level picture book reader interested in natural
history and ecology.
Penguin/Dial
www.penguin.com/kids
Six new picture books
are highly recommended for young readers and libraries seeking superior
presentations.
Emily Neilson's The Rainbow People (9780593326589,
$17.99) is a special recommendation for LGBTQ+ collections looking for standout
stories that are different.
Mommy, Mama and Emily
take the train to the city to watch the Rainbow Parade, but when Mama suggests
they join it, Emily is nervous about their public display of support.
A first-person
presentation captures Emily's experience and discovery about the meaning of a
Pride parade in her own life, offering adult readers and kids some fine
discussion points.
Also strong in the
potential to open the gateway to discussion between different ages is Katrina
Moore and Joy Hwang Ruiz's Sometimes Love
(9780593323823, $17.99), which follows the kinds of life changes that lead to
revised love.
Love can mean sharing,
but it also can mean saying goodbye.
The focus on a
military family's experiences of love when a temporary overseas assignment
separates them from the family dog offers important lessons about love and
adaptation.
Elizabeth Olsen and
Robbie Arnett's Hattie Harmony: Worry
Detective (9780593351444, $17.99) receives whimsical, fun illustration by
Marissa Valdez as it explores a good friend determined to help those around
her, especially on the first day of school.
Hattie finds it easy
to help others calm down, but can she apply her tools to her own fears?
This fun story for
ages 4-8 offers important lessons in self-help.
Sana Rafi's A Mermaid Girl (9780593327609, $17.99)
receives delightful watery illustrations by Olivia Aserr as it explores a
girl's ethnic differences at the community pool.
She wears a special
swimsuit (a burkini), but stands out too much. Can she stay true to her culture
while making new friends, even while wearing a yellow burkini?
Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress (9780593354483, $17.99) by Leanne
Hatch explores the dilemma faced by a young girl who finds a lovely yellow
dress at her local thrift store, and begins to wonder about its previous owner.
As Rosie explores the
idea of this other owner's life and connections with the dress, young readers
receive a lesson about pre-owned magic and unusual life connections.
Jacqueline Woodson's The World Belonged To Us (9780399545398,
$18.99) receives engaging illustrations by Leo Espinosa as it explores summer
in the city, where urban kids are released from school to play in the streets
until adults call them home.
A rhythmic set of
descriptions accompanied by lively, action-packed illustrations captures the
milieu of a city where fun can come from many different places.
All are engaging,
unusual picture book tales.
Sleeping Bear Press
www.sleepingbearpress.com
These new titles from
Sleeping Bear Press are outstanding picture book recommendations for
elementary-level libraries and young patrons.
Keri Claiborne
Boyle's The Black Hole Debacle
(9781534111523, $17.99) tells of aspiring young astronomer Jordie, who loves
everything about space. However, when a powerful, hungry black hole appears
inside her desk and begins eating everything, Jordie doesn't find it as appealing
when she brings it home and it begins consuming the things she loves.
Deborah Melmon's alluring
illustrations add to the whimsical conundrum of too much of a good thing.
Rebecca Gardyn
Levington's Brainstorm!
(9781534111486, $17.99) follows a young student who is stuck in her school
assignment. Her mind is mired much like the rainy weather outside...until the
skies begin pouring and her ideas spark.
Sentences, phrases,
and rhymes follow from her soul and the reader's experience as inspiration
takes place, connected to the weather.
Kate Kronreif
provides the fun drawings that accompany this whimsical account of creativity
and storms of inspiration.
Frank Murphy and
Charnaie Gordon's A Planet Like Ours
(9781534111530, $17.99) is illustrated by Kayla Harren. It celebrates the
wonders of Earth and instructs young readers on how to care for the
environment.
The basics of
recycling and reducing one's footprint move to higher-level actions, from
planting a community garden to becoming involved in politics.
Especially lovely
visuals accompany this call to action and environmental awareness.
Elisa Boxer's Splash! Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of
Change (9781534111431, $17.99) provides a picture book biography of an
athlete who suffered from polio at an early age, yet made her mark in swimming
when she moved from its therapeutic benefits to competition.
Ethelda became a
three-time Olympic gold medalist and a health advocate and activist. This
follows her dreams and ability to turn her life into a success story to
influence others, and receives good-quality illustrations by Elizabeth Baddeley
that bring her biography and achievements to life.
Sophie Kennen's Some Bodies (9781534111417, $17.99)
receives appealing illustrations by Airin O'Callaghan as it surveys the
usefulness of bodies and how they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Youngsters receive a
lively celebration of these differences that teaches them about acceptance,
self-image, and the opportunities to change or augment themselves in different
ways.
The result is a
lesson not just in differences, but in social and self-acceptance which will provide
read-aloud adults with a fine opportunity to help youngsters better understand
diversity in the world around them.
Devin Scillian's A Parliament of Owls (9781534111448,
$17.99) enjoys especially fanciful, colorful animal illustrations by Sam
Caldwell as the story explores mischiefs of mice, shivers of sharks, and other
groups of animal plurals.
From the crash of
rhinoceroses to the tiniest culture of bacteria, readers receive lively
insights into words and collections of creatures that prove both inviting and
intriguing, spiced with a colorful sense of fun that adds to the educational
wordplay and natural history of this book.
Karen Konnerth's The Snowman Waltz (9781534111271,
$17.99) enjoys lovely illustrations by Emily Neilson as it follows a dozen
snowmen that make their way through the woods sporting classy top hats and
matching mittens.
Their dance brings
them to equally exuberant penguins that seem to move to a different tune. Can
the two join their disparate forces?
Counting, marching,
and colorful displays mark a story replete in educational opportunities for
read-aloud parents.
Luna's Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh (9781534111615, $17.99) tells
of the search for a pet that evades an apartment's strict policy of no pets
(which includes fish).
Luna finds the
perfect pet, but then stumbles into a conundrum in keeping it.
Carmen Mok's
engaging, fun drawings enhance a delightful story.
All are excellent
picture books, highly recommended for discriminating collections and young
readers.
Sterling Children's
Books
www.sterlingpublishing.com
Two fun children's
books by Marty Kelleyare attractive presentations highly recommended for unusual
and enlightening reading.
Almost Everybody Farts (9781454919544, $12.95) offers a playful
consideration of this bodily function that identifies flatulence as a common
occurrence, whether in grandmothers, terrifying creatures, dainty little
fairies, or goldfish and canaries.
The diverse display
of creatures and different language associated with flatulence makes for a
delightful story that kids will find fun.
Just when you think
it's all been covered, Almost Everybody
Farts the Reek-Quel (9781454943778, $16.99) appears to expand the theme
with a rollicking rhyme that is hilarious: "When
you're out in the woods and a roar fills the air, that's the terrible wind from
a bear's derrière."
Kids who are
enthralled by bodily functions and dysfunctions will find both books
hilariously entertaining, while read-aloud adults will find them educational
and fun.
Twelve Days of Winter
Sherri Maret
Muddy Boots/Globe
Pequot
9781493064090 $16.95
www.MuddyBootsBooks.com
Twelve Days of Winter is based on the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas, but presents a
picture book story in which winter wildlife is featured as snow comes.
As each animal reacts
differently to a new day of winter, the evolving story features a fine display
of animals who find different ways to cope with and celebrate the season.
Thomas Hilley's engaging animal illustrations will delight young picture book animal enthusiasts.