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The Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 9 September 2010 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Environmental Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Biography Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Sports Shelf Computer Shelf
Travel Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Education Shelf
Photography Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Business Shelf Audiobook Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
World History Shelf Art Shelf Military Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Psychology Shelf Crafts Shelf Railroading Shelf
Nautical Shelf Native American Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Wind Power Basics
Dan Chiras
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716179, $12.95, www.newsociety.com

WIND POWER BASICS offers homeowners a clean view of wind technology, covering wind energy systems ranging from turbines to batteries, and including site assessment and maintenance of wind power options. Any considering a small-scale wind energy system will find this a satisfying basic introduction.

The Lost Cyclist
David V. Herlihy
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116
9780547195575, $26.00, www.hmhpub.com

THE LOST CYCLIST: THE EPIC TALE OF AN AMERICAN ADVENTURER AND HIS MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE tells of one Frank Lenz of Pittsburgh, a high-wheel racer and long-distance tourist who dreamed of cycling around the world. He championed the 'safety bicycle' with inflatable tires and in 1892 he quit his accounting job and set out west to cover twenty thousand miles over three continents. Two years later, on his approach to Europe, he vanished in eastern Turkey - sparking an international outcry. This previously untold story offers a gripping survey of a bicycle adventurer who braved areas that had never seen a bicycle, and is suitable for any lending library.

Sisters on the Fly
Irene Rawlings
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
0740791311, $14.99, www.amiuniversal.com

SISTERS ON THE FLY: CARAVANS, CAMPFIRES, AND TALES FROM THE ROAD offers insights by a group of nearly 1,500 women ranging in age from 25 to 90 who share many active passions, from fly-fishing and poker-playing to camping. The Sisters have been finding and restoring decorated trailers for a long time, and offer adventurous and fun visual and written tribute to lives well lived.

Fully Present
Susan L. Smalley & Diana Winston
DaCapo LifeLong
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142
9780738213248, $16.95, www.dacapopress.com

FULLY PRESENT: THE SCIENCE, ART AND PRACTICE OF MINDFULNESS offers general collections a fine book on the art of living in the moment. From reducing stress and easing chronic physical pain to handling negativity and encouraging happiness, this uses the latest brain research and meditative techniques in a satisfying combination that makes it more than a reference for either health or new age collections alone.

Power of Purpose, second edition
Richard J. Leider
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605095233, $17.95, www.bkconnection.com

The second updated edition of POWER OF PURPOSE has been revised and expanded twenty-five years after publication of the first edition, and includes new stories, new practices, and the expansion and elimination of chapters. The result is a dynamic spiritual and personal process for uncovering - and living - life purpose, and a top pick for spiritual and general lending libraries alike!

Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Man Skills
Joshua Piven, David Borgenicht & Ben H. Winters
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811874830, $24.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Man Skills packs in over 500 pages of manly survival scenarios and new advice for modern perils. From survival times in various degrees of water to how to obtain an emergency reservation or apologize when you haven't done anything wrong, this offers a range of survival skills plus a searchable DVD. The range of scenarios that can be survived makes for a lively addition to many a general library.

Horse-Drawn Days
Jerry Apps
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870204456, $24.95, www.amazon.com

HORSE-DRAWN DAYS: A CENTURY OF FARMING WITH HORSES is a fine pick for any collection strong in horses or rural history. It captures stories of rural life at a time when horses were key on the farm, and it pairs historic photos, ads, posters, and modern color photos of today's working horses with a lively blend of personal narrative and folk history perfect for any rural library holding!


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Climate War
Eric Pooley
Hyperion
114 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9781401323264, $27.99, www.hyperionbooks.com

THE CLIMATE WAR: TRUE BELIEVERS, POWER BROKERS, AND THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE EARTH provides a portrait of an American civil war, and considers the hearts and minds the most important players in global warming issues. Why do so many believe global warming isn't happening? The author spent three years with scientists and politicians who either warned or disputed climate science: his is an outstanding survey and a 'must' for both science and social issues libraries concerned with climate change issues.

The Flooded Earth
Peter D. Ward
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465009497, $25.95, www.perseusbooks.com

THE FLOODED EARTH: OUR FUTURE IN A WORLD WITHOUT ICE CAPS comes from a noted earth scientist who argues that conventional estimates on the extent of global warming are too conservative, and that a much greater fluctuation in water levels may be expected. His background lends to a scientific approach to climate change and uses the Earth's past to predict its future. Any interested in the effects of climate change should have this!


The Social Issues Shelf

Unequal Protection, second edition
Thom Hartmann
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605095592, $19.95, www.bkcurrents.com

The second updated edition of UNEQUAL PROTECTION: HOW CORPORATIONS BECAME "PEOPLE" - AND HOW YOU CAN FIGHT BACK updates and features Hartmann's analysis of two recent Supreme Court cases which tossed out corporate campaign finance limits. While this analysis deserves a spot in any business library, it also is recommended for social issues collections considering the legal and social remedies possible to end corporate 'rights' entitling them to the same rights as human beings. A fine survey suitable for debate.

Al'America
Jonathan Curiel
New Press
38 Greene St., New York NY 10013
9781595584816, $16.95, www.thenewpress.com

Al'America: Travels Through America's Arab and Islamic Roots argues that American suspicion of Muslim and Islamic culture misses the cultural relationships between Arab and American culture, which are a part of our society. From literature and architecture to language and more, Al-America probes the collective history of Arab Americans and Western and Arab culture.

The Citizen Machine
Anna McCarthy
New Press
38 Greene St., New York NY 10013
9781595584984, $28.95, www.thenewpress.com

THE CITIZEN MACHINE: GOVERNING BY TELEVISION IN 1950S AMERICA offers a new history of the ideas that have shaped American television and its viewing, drawing important links between TV media and American citizenship. From the early influence of massive corporations on television content to how modern leaders affect TV sponsorship choices, this comes from a media historian who offers an eye-opening glimpse into the evolution of TV and American democracy.

Born Digital
John Palfrey & Urs Gasser
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465018567, $16.95, www.basicbooks.com

BORN DIGITAL: UNDERSTANDING THE FIRST GENERATION OF DIGITAL NATIVES has been revised with a new afterword and provides sociology collections with a powerful assessment of young people who have been raised in a digital world. From their technological prowess to a range of issues affecting their digital personas, from cyber-bullying to privacy, this is a powerful assessment of the special circumstances affecting those raised in a digital age.


The Fiction Shelf

Death is Not an Option
Suzanne Rivecca
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393072563, $23.95, www.wwnorton.com

DEATH IS NOT AN OPTION: STORIES offers a fine debut collection about girls and women in a world where sexuality and worldviews offer changed perceptions. Real-sounding slices of life permeate diverse plot lines that show how women struggle to find truth and meaning in the modern world. Any general lending library must have this!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Forbidden Fruit
Kerry Greenwood
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Avenue #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590587386, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

FORBIDDEN FRUIT provides a fine thriller centered around one Corinna, owner of a bakery, who hates Christmas in the oppressive season of heat in Australia. Her romantic interest is tracking two runaways - and leads to encounters with a dangerous religious cult in this engrossing thriller, perfect for any mystery library and offering many unusual twists of plot.


The Biography Shelf

North Star
Peter Camejo
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago IL 606018
9781931859929, $18.00, www.haymarketbooks.org

NORTH STAR: A MEMOIR provides Peter Camejo's autobiography and tells of a man who spoke out against the Vietnam War and for the rights of migrant workers. His long involvement with civil rights, antiwar and socialist movements made him a key speaker on many campaigns, and his description of his life devoted to fighting for justice makes this a top pick for any social issues or biography collection.

Walking Papers
Francesco Clark
Hyperion
114 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9781401323431, $23.99, www.hyperionbooks.com

WALKING PAPERS: THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE, AND THE BUSINESS THAT GOT ME BACK ON MY FEET provides the true story of a 24-year-old paralyzed from the neck down by a diving accident. Defying predictions from doctors that he'd never move from his bed, Francesco began a miraculous comeback that involved cutting-edge therapies and much determination. His new career in botanicals evolved from his therapies and led to yet another unexpected - and positive - change in his life in this powerful, inspirational autobiography highly recommended for any general lending library.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch
Alison Arngrim
It Books
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061962141, $25.99, www.youritlist.com

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch tells of Alison, who played a lying, manipulative brat on Little House on the Prairie - and was hated by viewers who disliked her evil character. Here Arngrim describes growing up in Hollywood with eccentric parents, her friendship and childhood pranks with fellow actress Melissa Gilbert, and more, recounting her struggle to overcome abuse and shyness to become a star. A pick for any film or memoir collection.


The Cookbook Shelf

Grapes & Wines
Oz Clarke & Margaret Rand
Sterling Epicure
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016-8810
9781402777301, $24.95, www.sterlingpublishing.com

GRAPES & WINES: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO VARIETIES AND FLAVOURS provides a fine survey offering a guide to world wine grapes and wines, describing over 300 varieties in an A-Z format and providing keys to hundreds of recommended producers and good wines to try. Lovely botanical drawings by British artist Lizzie Riches accompanies over 550 photos, maps and works of art in this top pick!

How to Cook Like a Top Chef
Emily Miller, Editor
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811874861, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

How to Cook Like a Top Chef offers a technique primer highly recommended for any general or specialty culinary library. It provides over 80 recipes and techniques demonstrations from some seven seasons of Top Chief Masters, presenting interviews, chef insights, and tips for home chefs. Color sidebars and photo-illustrated recipes throughout make this a top winner!

Cat Cora's Classics With a Twist
Cat Cora & Ann Krueger Spivack
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780547126036, $30.00, www.hmhbooks.com

Cat Cora is best known to the general public as one of the 'Iron Chefs' on what is perhaps television's most popular cooking shows. Now in Cat Cora's Classics With a Twist, this master chef offers different takes on favorite 'comfort food' dishes, and tells how to present casual fare that looks as if one has spent hours on it. Fast, healthy meals with inspiration were dishes Cat put together after work for her own large family, so they not only look pretty, but appeal to practical cooks.

Cakes to Die For!
Bev Shaffer
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster St., Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589806917, $26.95, www.pelicanpub.com

CAKES TO DIE FOR! THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR CAKE LOVERS offers nearly two hundred sweet cake recipes for bakers of all skills levels, and offers a tasty survey perfect for any cake collection. It's organized by cake type - layers, cupcakes, coffeecakes and stack cakes and more - and peppers color photos with clear instructions. A lovely collection of many unique offerings, this will reach any library where cake cookbooks are popular!

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen
Yuan Wang, Warren Sheir, Mika Ono
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142
9780738213255, $19.95, www.dacapopress.com

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen shows how easy it is to blend food with East Asian healing ideas. From 'superfoods' such as goji berries and ginger, garlic and mint to over 150 healing recipes for common ailments, this pairs Asian dishes with health concerns and presents relatively easy dishes ranging from Sesame-Mushroom soba Noodles and Sweet Black Rice Pudding to Black Sesame Asparagus.

Fiesta at Rick's
Rick Bayless with Deann Groen Bayless
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393058994, $35.00, www.wwnorton.com

FIESTA AT RICK'S: FABULOUS FOOD FOR GREAT TIMES WITH FRIENDS comes from a celebrity chef at three hot Chicago, who has spent the last thirty years studying Mexican local dishes and adapting them for American home cooks. FIESTA AT RICK'S is an outstanding cookbook which goes beyond the usual recipe to also show how to plan a meal. Menus for parties and dinners can be used either individually or in the course of planning a celebratory meal and offer satisfying adaptations of Mexican cuisine! Any general culinary library will welcome this different approach.

Twain's Feast
Andrew Beahrs
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781594202599, $25.95, www.penguin.com

TWAIN'S FEAST: SEARCHING FOR AMERICA'S LOST FOODS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAMUEL CLEMENS blends a food writer's history with a literary survey of Samuel Clemens' food and places. He was an early champion of regional cuisine and composed a fantasy menu of American dishes he missed most when he toured Europe. This blends travel, biography, and literary and culinary history in a lively probe of food history recommended for any general lending library.


The Sports Shelf

Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
www.hkusa.com

Dennis K. Graver's SCUBA DIVING (0736079009, $24.95) appears in its fourth updated edition to pair lovely photos with clear diving instruction guidelines. Recreational divers, instructors and more receive direction from a famous diving instructor who tells how to select and care for diving equipment, how to use reference charts, and how to prevent or manage underwater emergencies. Highly recommended as an outstanding survey of the sport and technique of scuba diving! Also a top sports library pick is Brian Lopes and Lee McCormack's MASTERING MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS (0736083715, $23.95), appearing in its second updated edition to prove technical direction for trail, downhill, racing and other mountain bike riders. Photo sequences and demonstrations show how to handle jumps, do wheelies, and more. Buddy Lee's JUMP ROPE TRAINING (0736081593, $18.95) appears in its second updated edition to provide jump rope workouts and the latest on rehabilitation of sport injuries and optimizing body composition. From a power skier's jump to basic conditioning programs for a range of sports, this is a fine addition for any fitness library.

Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance
Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM
Andrea Chernus, MS, RD, CDE
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736087648, $17.95, www.hkusa.com

Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance: The Right Food, the Right Time, the Right Results provides a fine survey from two sport nutritionists who have worked with top athletes. Their focus on the latest dietetic research offers practical advice and guidelines specific to training and competition, and provides athletes with plenty of inside details on nutrient management throughout the entire training process. Athletic collections will find the tips specific and useful.


The Computer Shelf

Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.quepublishing.com

Steve Johnson's ADOBE FLASH PROFESSIONAL CS5 ON DEMAND (0789744430, $34.99) is a fine pick for any library seeking a visual step-by-step format in full color covering the basics of Flash Professional CS5. With its keys to creating animation, tracking Flash changes, using blend modes and more, this provides keys to fine design and is a top pick for any computer instructional collection. USING FILEMAKER BENTO by Jesse Feiler (0789744481, $24.99) provides a fine survey covering the latest version of FileMaker Bento. From step-by-step video tutorials and audio sidebars delivered through the Free Web Edition to black and white screen shots that clearly cover steps outlined in the text, this is a recommendation for any collection seeking Filemaker Bento-specific instruction. Bill Jelen's POWERPIVOT FOR THE DATA ANALYST: MICROSOFT EXCEL 2010 (0789743159, $34.99) offers keys to data analysis using Microsoft's free PowerPivot add-in for Excel 2010. From adding calculated columns using new DAX functions and creating reports from PowerPivot data to using the data for sales comparisons to multiple tables, this is packed with specific, real-world examples. Paul McFedries' FORMULAS AND FUNCTIONS: MICROSOFT EXCEL 2010 (078974306X, $39.99) comes from an Excel expert who shows how to use Excel 2010's core features to solve problems. From creating powerful formulas and using conditional formatting to understanding data analysis and connections and troubleshooting formulas problems, this is packed with keys to success and is a 'must' for any business or Excel computer collection

Facebook Marketing an Hour a Day
Chris Treadaway & Mari Smith
Sybex, Inc.
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470569641, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Facebook Marketing an Hour a Day tells how to create an integrated Facebook strategy for an organization using Facebook. From how Facebook fits into a business marketing plan to developing a strategy based on content, Facebook ads, and events, this goes far beyond the usual guide to social media in specifically targeting Facebook's potentials, and is a pick for computer and business libraries alike!

Cisco Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ciscopress.com

Brian Morgan, CCIE, et.al.'s CISCO UNIFIED PRESENCE FUNDAMENTALS (1587140446, $60.00) offers companies and programmers tips on how to improve productivity by building on the move to IP telephony and Cisco Unified Communications environments. From configuring Cisco Unified Presence to sample applications, this will appeal to any network professional interested in the new technology. David Hucaby, Steve McQuerry and Andrew Whitaker's CISCO ROUTER CONFIGURATION HANDBOOK, 2ND EDITION (1587141167, $60.00) provides a fine survey covering router configuration basics, network protocols, packet processing, and more. The second updated edition offers new coverage of IPv6 addressing, multicast routing, and VPNs, and packages related features together for quick reference in a top pick for any advanced programming collection.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

Susan Prosser & Stuart Gripman's FILEMAKER PRO 11: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449382599, $39.99) is an outstanding guidebook explaining the strengths of Filemaker Pro and how to use it to run a business. Non-technical newcomers to Filemaker Pro receive easy explanations on how to get a database started, how to organize data, and more. From beginning instructions to advanced work with charts and more, this offers all the basics key to using FileMaker Pro 11. Robin Nixon's UBUNTU UP AND RUNNING (9780596804848, $44.99) reviews the popular Linux-based program in a manner that readers with little technical background can readily absorb. It includes a DVD with the complete Ubuntu system and several special editions and it offers tips on all the basics, from connecting printers and phones to using cameras, operating in a networked environment, and using WINE to run Windows programs. Peter B. MacIntyre's PHP: THE GOOD PARTS (9780596804374, $29.99) provides an easy introduction perfect for any newcomer and for any library that seeks a basic coverage of the programming language's syntax, variables and more. From using strings and PHP's special functions to understanding how it interacts with databases and hot to prevent security breaches, this includes PHP 5.3 Good Parts and is a winner for any programming collection.

Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/ph

The fourth updated edition of Evi Nemeth, et.al.'s UNIX AND LINUX SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION HANDBOOK (0131480057, $59.99) provides a winning edition of a classic reference, packing in approaches to Unix and Linux systems for new administrators and experienced pros like. 'Best practices' for all system management needs explore different options in configuration, scripting and virtualization, covering security and IT needs alike. From restoring systems after a failure to new options, this is a pick for any computer library, especially recommended for its easy language and candid approaches to common systems issues. Also recommended for computer libraries is Benjamin Mako Hill, Matthew Helmke and Corey Burger's THE OFFICIAL UBUNTU BOOK (0137081308, $34.99), appealing in a fifth updated edition telling how to customize Ubuntu for home or business applications. Learn how to update the program, troubleshoot problem areas, and how to install Ubuntu on a netbook with a book that includes a DVD with the complete Ubuntu Linux operating system for PCs.


The Travel Shelf

Without A Paddle
Warren Richey
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312630768, $24.99, www.stmartins.com

WITHOUT A PADDLE: RACING TWELVE HUNDRED MILES AROUND FLORIDA BY SEA KAYAK is a pick for any travel, memoir or nautical library, offering a fine survey of the author's discovery of kayaking the Ultimate Florida Challenge. With only 30 days to complete 1,200 miles, Richey found himself recovering from loss and undertaking many challenges. A top pick!

Lonely Planet Romania, fifth edition
Leif Petterson & Mark Baker
Lonely Planet
150 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
9781741048926, $24.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

LONELY PLANET ROMANIA packs in over seventy maps and includes full coverage of Transylvania as it offers itineraries, insights into local culture, tourist suggestions, and more. This fifth edition includes color highlights, dedicated activities in a chapter packed with outdoors options, and a 'green' index to profile ecofriendly choices, making this a 'must' for any destination-oriented traveler and libraries catering to them.

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland, fourth edition
Paul Gerald
Menasha Ridge Press
Box 43673, Birmingham, Al 35243
9780897328814, $17.95, www.menasharidge.com

The fourth updated edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland is a 'must' for northwest collections and any library interested in outdoors opportunities around Portland. It offers hiker many day trip opportunities and all the details on how to get to and experience each trailhead, locating and covering the best hikes within a 60-mile radius of Portland. Highly recommended for any Oregon outdoors collection or travel collection catering to hikers!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Modern Masters Volume 21: Chris Sprouse
Todd Dezago & Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
160549013X, $14.95, www.twomorrows.com

Modern Masters Volume 21: Chris Sprouse pairs the modern artwork of Chris Sprouse with interviews by Todd Dezago and the author, who explore Sprouse's background and what made him such an influential artist in the comics community. Fine insights reveal his projects, reflections and contributions to the industry.


The Education Shelf

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Jessica K. Parker's TEACHING TECH-SAVVY KIDS: BRINGING DIGITAL MEDIA INTO THE CLASSROOM, GRADES 5-12 (9781412971508, $33.95) provides powerful tools for engaging students in critical thinking, and is written for middle- to high-school teachers. From using social networking platforms, Wikipedia, and digital music to showing how young people use digital media, this is packed with fine insights, examples, and field-tested strategies, and deserves a place in any teaching collection! Richard A. Villa, et.al.'s COLLABORATING WITH STUDENTS IN INSTRUCTION AND DECISION MAKING: THE UNTAPPED RESOURCE (9781412972178, $35.95) provides an invaluable guide that tells how to use a diverse student population in mixed-ability classrooms to great advantage. Strategies for empowering students are directed to K-12 general and special education teachers and include clear tips on how to make students responsible for decisions in the classroom. Cheryl D. Roddick and Julie Sliva Spitzer's SUCCEEDING AT TEACHING SECONDARY MATHEMATICS YOUR FIRST YEAR (9781412927635, $25.95) comes from authors who focus on NCTM content and offers guidelines for instructing and assessing English language learners and others in math. From focusing on big ideas in math to designing a curriculum that is meaningful and engaging students on various levels, this comes packed with keys to successful secondary math instruction. Roberta L. Sejnost and Sharon M. Thiese's BUILDING CONTENT LITERACY: STRATEGIES FOR THE ADOLESCENT LEARNER (9781412957151, $30.95) tells how to increase adolescent learners' success across the board in learning, offering step-by-step instructions, examples, and student reproducibles to provide a fine approach secondary school teachers can all use. From techniques to help students better comprehend narrative texts to new approaches to helping students integrate reading and writing skills with new knowledge, this is a fine pick for any teacher's reference collection! Also tops is Sheila Alber-Morgan's USING RTI TO TEACH LITERACY TO DIVERSE LEARNERS, K-8: STRATEGIES FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM (9781412969529, $28.95), a survey of practical intervention strategies for diverse learners and teachers who use RTI to reach them. Specific strategies for interventions for Tiers 1,2 and 3 provide evidence-based practices, real-world examples, and methods for teaching spelling, keyboarding, writing and more. Janet Alleman, et.al.'s HOMEWORK DONE RIGHT: POWERFUL LEARNING IN REAL-LIFE SITUATIONS (9781412976534, $35.95) provides a key for teachers drawing connections between homework assignments and student lives. Vignettes describe how teachers have changed homework practices and offer tips on helping students use homework assignments to improve social and collaboration skills. Reproducibles offer plenty of specific assignments. Katy Farber's WHY GREAT TEACHERS QUIT AND HOW WE MIGHT STOP THE EXODUS (9781412972451, $28.95) tells why today's best teachers are leaving, and come from 'the horse's mouth' as teachers talk about their challenges, strategies to make sure teaching remains a joy, and how to cope. Real-world suggestions contribute to a top guide any practicing teacher needs to prevent burnout. Randi Stone's MORE BEST PRACTICES FOR HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS: WHAT AWARD-WINNING SECONDARY TEACHERS DO (9781412963442, $30.95) provides field-tested practices for everything from co-teaching and using new technology to teaching science, music and math. The best teachers in the nation contribute to tips on how to reach high school students in this winning survey. Gene Siciliano's FINANCIAL MASTERY FOR THE CAREER TEACHER (9781412975001, $19.95) provides a powerful survey written by a certified financial advisor and speaker. It covers financial concerns of educators, from how to provide for a family on a teacher's salary to investing and tax planning - each discussion specific to teacher history and concerns. No education collection should be without this! Lane Narvaez and Kay Brimijoin's DIFFERENTIATION AT WORK, K-5: PRINCIPLES, LESSONS, AND STRATEGIES (9781412971317, $35.95) offers keys to understanding how to apply differentiated instruction methods to reach a wide range of classroom talents, from struggling students to the gifted. Real classrooms and nine sample lesson plans offer experienced, applied success formulas. BEYOND DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION by Jodi O'Meara (9781412982030, $38.95) provides a 10-step approach to such instruction, offering further and different strategies and management techniques using a step-by-step framework paired with case studies and recommendations. Claude Goldenberg and Rhoda Coleman's PROMOTING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG ENGLISH LEARNERS: A GUIDE TO THE RESEARCH (9781412955492, $31.95) provides a fine survey exploring academic success among language-minority students. From bilingual education and academic content to facts in bilingual student success, this is an outstanding pick!

Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor, New York NY 10006
www.kaplanpublishing.com

GMAT PREMIER 2011 (9781419549892, $39.99) provides a fine test preparation guide packed with invaluable details, from a practice test and its detailed answer explanations to strategies for raising scores, an extensive online companion, and a CD holding 18 practice tests and four computer-adaptive tests. Expert instructors share their insider tips for top results! The GRE PREMIER 2011 (9781419549915, $34.99) offers a similar format, pairing a book packed with practice questions and strategies with tips for success and an online companion paired with a CD. The MCAT PHYSICS REVIEW (9781607146421, $45.00) packs in practice and advice in a full-color guide packing in three exam-length practice sessions devoted just to MCAT-style physics questions. With dozens of practices and discussions of key physics ideas, this is a 'must' for any MCAT test-taker needing physics-specific help. Kaplan's MCAT GENERAL CHEMISTRY REVIEW (9781607146391, $45.00) achieves the same for students of chemistry taking the exam, offering specific guidelines in three exam-length practice sessions that include only MCAT-style General Chemistry questions. The narrowed focus offers opportunity for a very specific test-taking approach to the MCAT's subjects. 12 PRACTICE TESTS FOR THE SAT (9781607146643, $24.95) appears in its sixth updated edition to pack over 1,000 pages with clear test-taking guidelines. Practice for every type of question on the SAT includes detailed answers and a breakdown of the tests, going far beyond rote memorization! MCAT Biology Review (9781607146438, $45.00) achieves the same for the biology section, offering dozens of practice questions, explanations, test examples, and color illustrations with charts, graphs and diagrams covering the most-tested material from partner Scientific American. MCAT ORGANIC CHEMISTRY REVIEW: COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, PRACTICE, AND STRATEGIES (9781607146414, $45.00) provides a full-color guide packed with tips from Kaplan's instructors. From 3 exam-length practice sections that include just MCAT-style Organic Chemistry questions to dozens of practice sessions, this packs in charts, graphs and images. These are highly recommended picks for any student taking the advanced placement exams.

Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam, 2010 Edition
Tom Meltzer & Jean Hofheimer Bennett
Princeton Review
2315 Broadway, New York NY 10024
9780375429521, $18.99, www.princetonreview.com

The 2010 edition of Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam offers practical information on the exam's different essay questions, documents, and strategies to crack its multiple-choice section. With its extensive keys to planning and organizing a winning test strategy, this promises to be a winning pick for any student tackling the AP U.S. History Exam.

Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com

The 29th updated edition of PROFILES OF AMERICAN COLLEGES (0764197681, $28.99) provides the latest details on enrollments, tuition and fees, covering campus environment, academics, athletic programs and more. It packs in details organized by state and alphabetized by college name, and includes everything from programs of study and requirements to transfers, visiting options, financial aid and more. Any high school reference library should have this! Any studying for civil service clerical exams need Barron's CIVIL SERVICE CLERICAL EXAMS guide (0764143026, $16.99), which offers the latest review material available in an updated sixth edition. From gathering information and preparing for different clerical exams to requirements for each exam, this covers all the keys to success in an at-home 'classroom in a book' study guide.


The Photography Shelf

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.AmherstMedia.com

Damon Tucci and Rosena Usmani's THE BUSINESS OF PHOTOGRAPHY (9781584289975, $34.95) should be on the shelves of any who would turn their passion for photography into a lucrative business. It covers all the basics, from legally establishing a company and planning for taxes to controlling expenses, setting prices, and handling customers. Photographers starting a business will welcome its tips! Also important is Allison Earnest's DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER'S GUIDE TO LIGHT MODIFIERS: TECHNIQUES FOR SCULPTING WITH LIGHT (9781608952229, $34.95). It covers all the basics of light and how modifiers can help adjust light, showing how to use modifiers to blend light indoors and out and how to create dramatic results from unusual light modifiers.

Photographer's Survival Manual
Edward C. Greenberg, J.D. & Jack Reznicki
Lark Photography
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781600594205, $24.95, www.larkbooks.com/digital

PHOTOGRAPHER'S SURVIVAL MANUAL provides a fine survey of legal issues affecting photographers in the digital era, covering everything from basic rights, copyrights and forms to releases, filling out applications, and more. No photographer should be without this: packed with color sidebars of detail, it's an easy read for non-legal photographers who need quick, at-a-glance information.

Photoshop CS5 for Nature Photographers
Ellen Anon & Josh Anon
Sybex
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470607343, $49.99, www.sybex.com

Photoshop CS5 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book packs a book with the authors' spectacular photos shot in exotic places around the world along with insights on their field-tested methods and Photoshop techniques. From workflows to new timesaving ways to optimize images and details on Photoshop Elements, this is a 'must' for any library strong in photography in general or nature photography in particular.

Wildlife Photography
Uwe Skrzypczak
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission St., Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2432
9781933952567, $39.95, www.rockynook.com

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: ON SAFARI WITH YOUR DSLR: EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES, WORKFLOW is a fine survey from a photographer and environmentalist who aims to teach technical and workflow aspects of digital wildlife photography. Any who plan to go to Africa on safari will appreciate the Africa-specific survey based on the author's own experience in the field, and will appreciate literally hundreds of images to accompany facts perfect for beginning wildlife photographers and pros alike.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Legacies
Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
TOR Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780765317612, $9.99, www.tor.com

While this young adult title - first in a Shadowgrail series - is a teen pick, it's reviewed here for its engrossing and complex twists and turns of plot which will appeal into adult audiences, as well. Oakhurst Academy is a blend of school and orphanage in the middle of Montana - and someone is stalking its students. Spirit White learns she's a legacy to magic - and that students with magical powers are vanishing. A riveting, engrossing saga evolves filled with exquisite tension, strong characterization, and the complex twists that will satisfy adult and young adult readers alike.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar
Jeffrey Armstrong
Beyond Words
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781582702810, $22.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar: Ancient Wisdom for a New World discusses the real meaning of the word Avatar and its modern relevance, using Vedic spiritual traditions from India to discuss cultural and social references to Avatars and their roots. Avatars restore karmic balance and guide humans to higher forms: this provides a key survey recommended for new age and spirituality collections alike, especially those strong in Eastern teachings.


The Business Shelf

Marketing in a Web 2.0 World
Peter VanRysdam, CMO
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601383174, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Marketing in a Web 2.0 World offers small businesses keys to using the latest technologies to market a business. Most require no money to implement but do involve understanding the nature and etiquette of the world of social networking - which is taught herein. From optimizing a web site to reach customer demographics to understanding how the social web can link to business concerns, this is a fine choice for any collection catering to the small business owner.

The Why of Work
Dave Ulrich & Wendy Ulrich
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
0071739351, $27.95, www.mhprofessional.com

THE WHY OF WORK: HOW GREAT LEADERS BUILD ABUNDANT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WIN offers keys to understanding what people really seek in work. It admonishes employers to ask why employees are working - and how they find meaning in work choices, and it uses the model of the abundant organization to show how employers can create meaning - and motivation - in their unique work places. Business libraries need this!

Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers, sixth edition
William G. Droms and Jay O. Wright
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465018499, $22.00, www.basicbooks.com

Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers: All the Basics You Need to Know appears in its sixth updated edition to provide a definitive guide to the principles of finance and accounting. This edition has been vastly expanded and updated, offering new examples and the latest trends in the economy and finances.

Business Analysis: Microsoft Excel 2010
Conrad Carlberg
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0789743175, $39.99, www.quepublishing.com

Business Analysis: Microsoft Excel 2010 is a 'must' for any business or business-oriented computer library. It goes beyond the usual Excel basics to show how to use Excel 2010 to gain deeper insights into business. Excel expert Conrad Carlberg shows how to use Excel 2010 to perform core financial tasks from analyzing statements and managing sales to creating and using advanced queries. Very highly recommended!


The Audiobook Shelf

Triumph
Carolyn Jessop with Laura Palmer
Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307715779, $30.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

TRIUMPH: LIFE AFTER THE CULT - A SURVIVOR'S LESSONS receives a fine reading by Ann Marie Lee, whose TV credits and experienced voice lends drama to the story of Carolyn, a member of an extremist Mormon sect who gathered her eight children and escaped to freedom. Her story was told in 2007 in her memoir ESCAPE; TRIUMPH continues the saga, telling the truth behind a state raid on the Mormon sect. Any who enjoyed ESCAPE will find this survey involving.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Elin Hilderbrand's THE ISLAND (9781607882404, $34.98) enjoys a fine narration by author Elin Hilderbrand herself and offers a fine novel centering around one Birdie Cousins, who is deeply involved in her daughter's lavish wedding - until her daughter announces she's canceled her engagement. Birdie involves the entire family in recovering from a series of blows in this fine survey! Malcolm Gladwell's THE BOX SET (9781607882077, $79.98) includes a bonus feature, appears unabridged on 22 CDs, and is narrated by Gladwell himself, who does a fine job of narrating THE TIPPING POINT, BLINK, and OUTLIERS. The deluxe box set offers all three books in one easy package and is a 'must' for business and self-help collections already seeing popularity with any of the separate titles. Michael J. Losier's LAW OF ATTRACTION (9781600245824, $17.98) is narrated by the author unabridged on two CDs and provides a fine three-step program showing how to use his techniques for attracting an ideal mate and putting practices into life goals. Discover true callings and bring in more clients and referrals with a fine set of insights into attraction's laws. Katie Crouch's MEN AND DOGS (9781607881834, $29.98) receives a fine reading by Gabra Zackman, who has narrated numerous audiobooks and who lends a fine voice to this story of Hannah, whose father vanished while fishing. Two decades later Hannah is convinced her father is alive somewhere - and her obsession threatens her life and world in this moving story. Carlos Ruiz Zafon's THE PRINCE OF MIST (9781607883722, $24.98) receives a fine narration by Jonathan Davis, a critically-acclaimed reader, and includes original background music by the author as it tells of the Carver family, who discover a mysterious being called the Prince of Mist, who crosses boundaries between life and death. Three friends are caught up in an adventure that will change their lives in this engrossing tale.

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

These fine audio picks should be part of any audio lending library, as they pair powerful multivoice presentations with fine collections. P.N. Elrod edits MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING (1441834664, $29.99) and MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON (1441834710, $29.99). Both offer satisfying fantasy blends of werewolves, vampires, witches and romance. WEDDING offers satisfying stories of supernatural wedding dilemmas by Jim Butcher, P.N. Elrod, and others; HONEYMOON presents tales by Butcher, Kelley Armstrong, Ronda Thompson and more. Many stories represent inter-fantasy-species romances, such as a romance between a werewolf and a vampire. P.N. Elrod also edits STRANGE BREW (1441834613, $29.99), presenting tales by Butcher, Elrod, Charlaine Harris and others and packing in yet more urban fantasy featuring characters steeped in supernatural alliances. Stephen White's CRITICAL CONDITIONS (1423394615, $36.99) receives a fine reading by veteran Dick Hill as it tells of a teen recovering from a suicide attempt and a family heavily involved in murder. Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves' EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 2.0 (1441842233, $19.99) provides a fine audio step-by-step program for increasing emotional intelligence using a step-by-step program. Listeners can help identify their EQ skills, and can use these strengths to pursue life goals. Mary E. Pearson's A ROOM ON LORELEI STREET (1441805222, $24.99) receives a fine performance by Natalie Ross and tells of teen Zoe, trying to cope with an alcoholic mother and a controlling grandmother. She rents a room from an eccentric old lady - and finds new challenges in moving away from her dysfunctional family. Simon Tolkien's THE INHERITANCE (1423390288, $29.99) receives a fine recording by the author himself, grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, as it provides a fine mystery following the court case of a young man set to hang for his father's murder. A search for the real killer leads to some terrible truths. Robert Sawyer's, www:WATCH (9781441843982, $29.99) provides a fine multivoice cast and brings alive the second volume in a fine trilogy. Owners of the first volume will relish the continuing story of Catlin, born blind and able to see the world thanks to an implant. She can also see webspace, the structure of the World Wide Web - and the consciousness she's inadvertently helped to bring alive in this haunting saga. FIRST THRILLS edited by Lee Child (1441864466, $39.99) provides a fine collection of intense stories profiling many of the Thriller Writers Inc. group's best writings. Works by Stephen Coonts, Jeffrey Deaver, Child, Michael Palmer and more provide many top listens, performed by various narrators. Tess Gerritsen's ICE COLD (1423392051, $36.99) provides a vivid suspense novel set in Wyoming and telling of Boston medical examiner Maura Isles, who finds herself stranded with a group of friends when her SUV stalls on a snowy mountain road. A search for refuge reveals danger and a vanished town this powerful novel of suspense. All are top picks for any audio collection!


The Needlecraft Shelf

Design It, Knit It
Debbie Bliss
Sixth&Spring Books
233 Spring St., New York NY 10013
9781933027760, $24.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

DESIGN IT, KNIT IT: SECRETS FROM THE DESIGNER'S STUDIO packs in 15 original designer patterns to knit, pairing a design workbook with templates and knitters' graph paper with keys to creating sensational knits. Each chapter offers an in-depth look at one of the most important elements of design: shape, color, texture and details on how to create perfect designs. Any who would design and knit clothes for all ages needs this in-depth coverage.

Crocheted Flowers
Nicky Epstein
Sixth&Spring Books
233 Spring St., New York NY 10013
9781933027951, $19.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

CROCHETED FLOWERS offers crochet projects for layered petal flowers, twisted-technique flowers, felted flowers and more, offering a range of crochet designs for a wide variety of different flowers from calla lilies to roses. A fine pick for any library where small crochet projects are of interest!

Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Kathy Brown's TAKE 5: QUILTS FROM JUST 5 FABRICS (9781564779090, $22.99) tells how to take 5 patterns, stack them, and cut them simultaneously for quick, easy results. Some 15 designs look intricate but are very simple to produce - a lap-sized quilt can be made in one weekend or even a day, for example! Quilters will relish this fine approach. Crocheters at all levels will find appealing A TO Z OF CROCHET; THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNER TO ADVANCED CROCHETER (9781564779984, $18.99). Small step-by-step photos illustrate each piece of the crochet move and the close-up photos do wonders for learning each crochet piece. Any general needlework collection needs this!


The World History Shelf

The World That Never Was
Alex Butterworth
Pantheon
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375425110, $30.00, www.randomhouse.com

THE WORLD THAT NEVER WAS: A TRUE STORY OF DREAMERS SCHEMERS ANARCHISTS & SECRET AGENTS offers a fine history of the rise of anarchism and is told through the stories of a number of prominent revolutionaries and the agents of secret police who pursued them. Already a hit in the UK, this book reaches American shores and audiences with a fine survey of revolutionary histories and those who tracked them. A fine addition to any history collection!

The Rule of Empires
Timothy H. Parsons
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780195304312, $29.95, www.oup.com

THE RULE OF EMPIRES; THOSE WHO BUILT THEM, THOSE WHO ENDURED THEM, AND WHY THEY ALWAYS FALL comes from a researcher who writes from the viewpoint of a common subject and provides an account of the empire from its origins in ancient Rome to its modern presence. Rome, British world rule, and the Third Reich are all used to consider features common to empires - and why these imperial ideas still are viable in this world.


The Art Shelf

David Choe
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811869539, $45.00, www.chroniclebooks.com

DAVID CHOE offers a collection of his various arts, which range from graffiti-like embellishments to paintings, cartoons, and startling commentary blending social observation with profanity. Art libraries will easily consider this a key acquisition for any collection profiling modern arts: it displays a range of pieces and accompanying angst and observations by an artist who offers no platitudes or compromises for his subjects and approaches. A fine and involving piece, this will reach any modern arts collection.


The Military Shelf

Search & Destroy
Keith W. Nolan
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760333129, $30.00, www.zenithpress.com

SEARCH & DESTROY: THE STORY OF AN ARMORED CALVARY SQUADRON IN VIET NAM comes from a military historian and author who spent most of 20 years researching and writing about the battles waged by thousands of American troops during the Vietnam War. A year and a half after his death, Keith Nolan's final survey has finally been released, and is a 'must' for any military history library focusing on Vietnam.

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219, Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Mark Lardas' ROUGHSHOD THROUGH DIXIE: Grierson's Raid 1863 (9781846039935, $18.95) tells of how Grierson led a force of 1,700 Union cavalrymen across enemy lines into Confederate-held Tennessee, spending 17 days creating havoc in a successful, unparalleled raid. Any Civil War military collection will appreciate this complete coverage of a daring Union raid. Tim Moreman's LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP PATROLMAN: THE WESTERN DESERT 1940-43 (9781846039249, $18.95) tells of a group tasked with strategic reconnaissance and raiding operations during World War II. Their desert operations penetrated deep into enemy territory, and this studies the life of an LRDG patrolman and considers the rigors of desert battle. Gordon L. Rottman's US COMBAT ENGINEER 1941-45 (9781846035791, $18.95) provides a fine survey covering the men who served as combat engineers in the second world war. At one point the U.S. army contained over 700 engineer battalions: this covers the special roles and history of the engineer soldier. DOGFIGHT: WAR IN THE SKIES (9781849081665, $15.00) provides a fine box set featuring artwork by known aviation artists. It's not a book: it's a vivid postcard gift set of some 40 unique scenes of air battle and depicts aircraft in action, from bi- and tri-planes to modern stealth fighters.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time
Richard Conniff
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393304572, $15.95, www.wwnorton.com

Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: My Life Doing Dumb Stuff With Animals offers a hilarious natural history and travel memoir alike and comes from an author who charts his world journeys doing outrageous things in the course of being a field naturalist. His journeys make for a fine account perfect for any general lending library!

Last Dog on the Hill
Steve Duno
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0312600496, $24.99, www.stmartins.com

Last Dog on the Hill: The Extraordinary Life of Lou tells of a dog who began life as the feral offspring of guard dogs on a secret marijuana farm in California. His early life as part of a wild pack changed when author/teacher Steve Duno rescued him. Lou went on to become a hero, moving from a wild feral animal to a beloved pet - and the first real dog Steve ever trained.

Zoo Story
Thomas French
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401323462, $24.99, www.hyperionbooks.com

ZOO STORY: life in the garden of captives is based on six years of research and follows a handful of animals at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - a chimp, a tiger, and a more. Each offers specific animal quirks and also includes discussion of extinction and threats to wildlife, framing animal personalities with wider issues. General lending libraries will find this an outstanding pick.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

2011 Writer's Market
Robert Lee Brewer, Editor
Writer's Digest Books
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781582979489, $29.99, www.writersmarket.com

Continuing its history of publishing annual, winning references - a 90-year history - this provides over 3,000 updated listings key to any would-be writer's professional success. From book publishers to magazines, literary agents, newspapers and greeting card companies, this covers virtually anyone using a writer's output, juxtaposing listings detailing needs and acceptance routines with interviews and articles on basics such as what to charge for writing and how to produce a professional query letter. No library should be without this key reference!

Telling a Research Story
Christine B. Feak & John M. Swales
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472033362, $16.00, www.press.umich.edu/esl/

TELLING A RESEARCH STORY: WRITING A LITERATURE REVIEW presents Volume 2 of the revised, expanded edition of ENGLISH IN TODAY'S RESEARCH WORLD, and covers the basics of writing a literature review. It's a revision of a work on writing abstracts that appeared in English in Today's Research World and presents a range of issues particular to the writing of literature reviews. College-level collections will find this a powerful addition!

Inside the TV Writer's Room
Lawrence Meyers, Editor
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
9780815632412, $24.95, www.amazon.com

INSIDE THE TV WRITER'S ROOM: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR SUCCEEDING IN TELEVISION collects interviews with some of today's top episodic writers and explores the artists' keys to succeeding in the television writing world. From compromises on creative efforts to how to start writing and find a unique focus, this is packed with clear, winning instructions perfect for an aspiring TV writer or college-level libraries catering to them!

Essentials of Screenwriting
Richard Walter
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452296275, $16.00, www.penguin.com

ESSENTIALS OF SCREENWRITING: THE ART, CRAFT AND BUSINESS OF FILM AND TELEVISION WRITING offers an updated book with new material blending lessons and principles from Screenwriting with material from Walter's companion book The Whole Picture, which follows the entire process from written word to screen. From writing effective dialogue to revising and obtaining an agent, this covers all the basics any screenwriter must know!


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Healing Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Pain
Carol Krucoff, E-RYT
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Ave, Oakland CA 94609
9781572247123, $17.95, www.newharbinger.com

Healing Yoga for Neck & Shoulder Pain: Easy, Effective Practices for Releasing Tension & Relieving Pain provides readers with simple, yoga-based practices that can be done at home and work to relieve muscle tension. It's a unique self-care program developed by the author herself, so is not to be found in competing collections. Health and general collections where yoga and workplace health are of interest will relish this title.

Harrison's Neurology in Clinical Medicine, second edition
Stephen L. Hauser, Editor
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
0071741038, $79.95, www.mcgraw-hillmedical.com

The second updated edition of Harrison's Neurology in Clinical Medicine is a winning title for any college-level health reference collection, gathering the latest coverage of neurology topics, from clinical manifestations of neurologic disease and nervous system diseases to details on drug dependency and psychological disorders. Over eighty questions and answers and over fifty chapters written by physicians make for a powerful set of references and articles, all updated since the publication of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.

Lexi-Comp's Drug Information Handbook with International Trade Names Index, 19th edition
Charles F. Lacy, et.al., Senior Editors
Lexi-Comp
1100 Terex Road, Hudson, OH 44236
9781591952794, $69.95, www.lexi.com

Lexi-Comp's Drug Information Handbook with International Trade Names Index appears in its 19th updated edition for 2010-11 and is a clear 'must have' reference for any serious college-level health collection. It offers nearly fifty new drug monographs, a new introductory section on preventing prescribing errors, new appendix topics, and more, providing updates and including over 100 route-specific monographs. Endorsed by the American Pharmacists Association, this is a clinician's desk reference key to any practice.


The Psychology Shelf

Managing Family Meltdown: The Low Arousal Approach and Autism
Linda Woodcock and Andrea Page
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050098, $18.95, www.jkp.com

Managing Family Meltdown: The Low Arousal Approach and Autism offers a fine survey of the challenging behaviors and outbursts that can strain the entire family of a child diagnosed with autism. It offers a guide to many different strategies to diffuse and resolve common challenging behaviors, using a low arousal approach to behavior modification based on avoiding confrontation and reducing stress. Any family handling an autistic kid needs this.


The Crafts Shelf

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Anna Elizabeth Draeger's CRYSTAL BRILLIANCE (9780871162953, $21.95) deserves repeated, ongoing recommendation as an outstanding guide to making beaded jewelry. Bracelets and necklaces come in a range of styles and can be paired with earrings and alternating colors on projects that focus on using crystals to create glamorous jewelry. Step-by-step instructions assure success! Also recommended is Peggy Krzyzewski & Christine Hansen's MAKING MIXED MEDIA ART CHARMS & JEWELRY (9780871164018, $21.95) offers a fine survey of mixed-media art charms and tricks for working with all kinds of materials, from wood to resin and glass. Found objects, clay and more are featured in this powerful, top pick for any crafts or jewelry-making collection!


The Railroading Shelf

The Cars of Pullman
Joe Welsh, Bill Howes, Kevin J. Holland
Voyageur Press
400 First Avenue North #300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760335871, $40.00, www.voyageurpress.com

The Cars of Pullman is a 'must' for any train history collection, covering the Pullman which served the U.S. rail travel industry for more than half a century. Packed with vintage photos and illustrations, this covers the Pullman's evolution and includes rare archival photos, diagrams, and period ads alike. Three Pullman experts contribute the history, making this an authoritative 'must' for any transportation or train library.


The Nautical Shelf

Sheridan House
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
www.sheridanhouse.com

Dr. J. Hauert's DOCTOR ON BOARD (9781574092981, $19.95) provides a powerful survey for mariners who need a quick medical reference. From basic first aid to recognizing the symptoms of common and unusual illnesses and treating them aboard, as well as handling sailing-based injuries, this should be on board any sailing craft as a basic boater's reference whilst at sea. Peter H. Spectre's THE MARINER'S BOOK OF DAYS 2011 (9781574092936, $14.95) provides an outstanding survey blending a nautical desk diary and calendar with tips on charts, sailing, and more. History notes on every calendar block adds historic insights in this lovely gift book for any mariner!


The Native American Shelf

Storytelling Time
Arthur F. Jones & Lucy A. Ganje, Editors
Hudson Hills Press
3556 Main St., Manchester, VT 05354
9781555953164, $60.00, www.hudsonhills.com

STORYTELLING TIME: NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN ART FROM THE COLLECTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA is a winning title presenting objects made by native North Americans and examining them in a manner which allows for cultural insights. History notes accompany a variety of full-page Native art works documenting sacred ceremonial objects as well as paintings and other mediums. The result should be added to any holding interested in more then Native art alone.


The Self-Help Shelf

Always Change a Losing Game
David Posen, MD
Key Porter Books
Six Adelaide St East, 10th Floor, Toronto Ontario M5C 1H6 Canada
9781554702251, $18.95, www.keyporter.com

Always Change a Losing Game: Winning Strategies for Work, For Home, and For Your Health is now in its eleventh printing and has been published on four continents with great acclaim. It should be in any general lending library: it covers the basics of how to turn a losing situation into a winning one, showing how to make positive personal changes. A 'must' for self-help and general holdings, it's very specific in its examples and approaches.

A Secret Sadness
Valerie E. Whiffen, Ph.D.
New Harbinger
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246928, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com

A SECRET SADNESS: THE HIDDEN RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS THAT MAKE WOMEN DEPRESSED is a pick for self-help and women's issues collections alike. It reveals hidden relationship influences that make women depressed - and provides strategies to finding happiness. Three case studies from her own practice provide psychologist Valerie Whiffen's perspective on how interpersonal problems can depress women's lives.

Is It Just Me?
Shane Watson
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780452296374, $15.00, www.penguin.com

Journalist author Shane Watson met and married her love in her mid-forties - and assures women that it's never too late to find love. Her insights on everything from women's friendships and mothers to fashion and beauty tips for the over-forty woman make for a wine guide to middle age issues and management, perfect for any general lending library.

Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life
Ian K. Smith, MD
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312606350, $23.99, www.stmartins.com

Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life defines happiness and discusses what makes people happy, showing the difference between getting something desired and being truly happy. Specific directions, exercises and plans lend to a survey of how to make life a happier one.

Most Good, Least Harm
Beyond Words
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
1582702063, $15.00, www.simonsays.com

MOST GOOD, LEAST HARM: A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE FOR A BETTER WORLD AND MEANINGFUL LIFE provides a fine survey of spirit and how to change a world steeped in materialism and injustice, by taking a personal approach to change and positive directions. It doesn't advocate retreat, but rather practical tools to face global issues and challenges. Highly recommended!

Authoring Your Life
Marcia B. Baxter Magolda
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166-2102
9781579222710, $29.95, www.styluspub.com

Authoring Your Life: Developing an Internal Voice to Navigate Life's Challenges provides a fine guide to addressing life's challenges and demands, but goes beyond most self-help guides to offer the stories of over thirty adults who she has followed and interviewed for over twenty years. Their life stories are meant to reflect parallels in reader experiences, offering keys to individual values, identity, and how self-reliance may be developed. Accompanying these stories are exercises and questions designed to further break down barriers to communication. Any lending library needs this!


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

How to Make Animated Films
Tony White
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
30 Corporate Drive, Burlington, MA 01803
www.focalpress.com, www.elsevier.com
9780240810331, $49.95, www.amazon.com

HOW TO MAKE ANIMATED FILMS provides a fine survey of the basics of animation, comes from a renowned animator and lecturer who has worked in the industry for over 30 years, and packs in all kinds of basic s on the principles of animation. This takes the form of an animation complete course, packing in keys to filmmaking basics and animation challenges in particular, and makes for a fine survey for any who would learn animation from a 'course in a book' approach, complete with accompanying disc.

Hollywood Hellraisers
Robert Sellers
Skyhorse Publishing
555 - 8th Avenue, Suite 903, New York NY 10018
9781616080358, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

HOLLYWOOD HELLRAISERS: THE WILD LIVES AND FAST TIMES OF MARLON BRANDO, DENNIS HOPPER, WARREN BEATTY, AND JACK NICHOLSON provides a fine biographical coverage of four of Hollywood's baddest boys, describing the lively adventures of Hollywood celebrities whose misdeeds were legendary. Their personal lives were ribald and dangerous - but in their professional worlds they succeeded in changing acting and how movies were made. Any library strong in Hollywood personalities will find this inviting.

The Real Housewives Get Personal
Martha O'Connor
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811874168, $24.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

The Real Housewives Get Personal is for any avid fan of the TV series and offers a powerful blend of trivia, actress insights, and color photos packed on every page. Behind-the-scenes truths about the actresses permeate a TV insider's guide that Real Housewives fans must have.

Chords of Strength
David Archuleta
Celebra
c/o Penguin Publishing, USA
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451230188, $22.95, www.penguin.com

Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance comes from a music artist and runner-up on American Idol who was named one of the 'Breakout stars of 2008' by Forbes Magazine. He shares his inspirational story of how he overcame vocal cord paralysis to achieve his dream of becoming a singer, surveying his inspirations of faith and family and discussing self-belief as a motivator for achievement. Any who have enjoyed his TV appearances and singing will welcome this memoir of his struggles and successes.


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