Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / California Bookwatch

California Bookwatch

Volume 3, Number 2 February 2008 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks Money/Finance Shelf Education Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Music Shelf Cookbook Shelf Photography Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Gardening Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Sports Shelf Business Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Social Issues Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Science Shelf Art Shelf Computer Shelf
Literary Shelf Education Shelf Library ScienceShelf
Nautical Shelf Military Shelf California Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Humor Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Fiction Shelf Native American Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Crafts Shelf    


Donovan's Picks

Electric Sounds
Steve J. Wurtzler
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
0231136765 $34.50 www.columbia.edu/cu/cup 1-800-944-8648

ELECTRIC SOUNDS: TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND THE RISE OF CORPORATE MASS MEDIA discusses the changing atmosphere of social interaction brought about by a revolution in sound and delivery, which changed not only the radio world but the cinema and more. The 1920s and 30s represented some of the most important developments in American mass media, offering new roles for those who saw in it opportunity for education and cultural expression, and bringing with it fears for changes in public standards and social mores. ELECTRIC SOUNDS is a top pick for any college-level holding strong in American culture.

The Secret Pulse of Time
Stefan Klein
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
160094017X $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

THE SECRET PULSE OF TIME: MAKING SENSE OF LIFE'S SCARCEST COMMODITY explores many time-related issues, from why some folks are morning people and others function best nights, why time either races or crawls, and other perceptions of time, memory, and efficiency. Stefan Klein is one of Europe's leading science journalists and writers, so his scientific perspective on the nature and function of time in society and in personal life makes for excellent, authoritative reading for not only college-level science and psychology collections, but for general-interest libraries who will find it lively enough for easy circulation and lay reader interest.

A Judge's Guide to Divorce: Uncommon Advice from the Bench
Judge Roderic Duncan
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413305685 $24.99 www.nolo.com

Most keys to understanding legal divorce come from lawyers, but this is different: it comes from a judge who has seen it all, and who has a vested interest in keeping courtrooms from becoming circus acts. The focus is on how to reach your own agreements outside the courtroom, as well as how to make any court proceeding as civil as possible. Judge Duncan presided over thousands of divorce cases in some twenty years as a judge, and his guide is crucial to understanding the options and processes involved. Any general interest library will find it an important lend.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Wall Street Journal Complete Retirement Book
Glenn Ruffenach and Kelly Greene
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307350992 $14.95 www.crownpublishing.com 1-888-523-9292

There are plenty of books on retirement on the market, but what makes The Wall Street Journal Complete Retirement Book stand out from the competition is its focus on how to plan financially and how to translate dreams into after-retirement reality. It comes from a Wall Street Journal editor whose bi-monthly guide to retirement planning pairs well with a Journal staff reporter expert on the same topic: together they show how to maximize profit and dreams alike, making this a top pick for any public library collection.


The Education Shelf

College Navigator: Find the School to March Any Interest from Archery to Zoology
The Princeton Review
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375765834 $12.95 www.review.com

Nearly three hundred original college lists, all compiled by the staff of The Princeton Review, lists almost any criteria a college applicant or parent might find important, from outstanding academic programs by major to schools with the highest percentages of students receiving financial aid, academic opportunities outside the classroom, and more. Any collection, whether it be high school or public lending library, catering to college-bound patrons needs this.

Excellence Without a Soul
Harry R. Lewis
Public Affairs
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
1586485016 $15.95 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

The author has been a Harvard professor for over thirty years and Dean of Harvard College for eight, and uses his experience to explain how his and other universities have lost sight of their educational objectives. EXCELLENCE WITHOUT A SOUL: DOES LIBERAL EDUCATION HAVE A FUTURE examines educational standards, objectives, and new challenges to the higher education goals and marketplace, considering major issues from grade inflation to date rape and how values translate in the college environment. It's a key consideration for any library strong in liberal education analysis, and for college-level education collections.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Acts of Faith
Eboo Patel
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807077269 $22.95 www.beacon.org

ACTS OF FAITH: THE STORY OF AN AMERICAN MUSLIM, THE STRUGGLE FOR THE SOUL OF A GENERATION tells of the author's coming of age and understanding of religious pluralism. He grew up outside of Chicago and was the subject of racist bullying and Muslim hatred - but learned in college what was at the root of prejudice. ACTS OF FAITH charts his ability to move beyond hate to deeper messages and provides inspiration for all, making it a special pick for any collection strong in spirituality or in Middle East politics and prejudices.


The Psychology Shelf

Surviving America's Depression Epidemic
Bruce E. Levine, Ph.D.
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392714 $16.95 www.chelseagreen.com

The rate of depression in the U.S. has increased tenfold in the last fifty years, indicating an underlying social issue as well as a health challenge. Surviving America's Depression Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy and Community in A World Gone Crazy surveys the roots of these issues, discussing how to revitalize depressed people and a depressing culture and offering insights on how to change ideas and behavior patterns. Both college-level holdings strong in psychology and general-interest lending libraries will find this a most accessible account identifying the foundations of societal depression and offering plenty of insights on how to combat it.

The Neuroscience of Fair Play
Donald W. Pfaff, Ph.D.
Dana Press
900 - 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005
9781932594270 $20.95 www.dana.org

THE NEUROSCIENCE OF FAIR PLAY: WHY WE (USUALLY) FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE offers a key to understanding behavior, based not on moral theory but neuroscience. The ethics governing everyday living have direct connections to brain circuitry, and Dr. Pfaff draws some important connections between brain signals and science to ethical behavior patterns in society. An excellent survey, this is especially recommended for libraries strong in business, science, or health.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Sex and Diabetes for Him and For Her
Janis Roszler, RD, CDE, LDN & Donna Rice MBA, BSN, RN, CDE
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402771 $16.95 www.diabetes.org

Most diabetes books only include a chapter on changed sex concerns, but diabetes complicates and strains relationships, posing new issues and problems. This book addresses all the issues, providing tips ranging from how to talk to a doctor about sexual complications of diabetes and drug treatments to control it to common physical and emotional complications for both men and women. From how losing weight and exercising affects sexuality to using music, movies, and even romantic foods to set new paths for intimacy, SEX AND DIABETES is an important acquisition for any health library or general-interest collection.


The Music Shelf

The Sound of Our Town
Brett Miland
Commonwealth Editions
266 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
9781933212302 $24.95 www.commonwealtheditions.com

Boston's had many big bands evolve from the rock scene and all are covered here - but what makes THE SOUND OF OUR TOWN: A HISTORY OF BOSTON ROCK AND ROLL special is not just an accounting of the many major bands which have evolved from the city, but a survey of the legendary places which fostered music. The author has frequented all these key places since arriving in the city as a music-crazy student: chapters are packed with Boston history and culture as well as music history, making this a top pick for any Boston native or music fan.


The Cookbook Shelf

Tastes from a Tuscan Kitchen
Madeline Armillotta and Diane Nocentini
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
0781811473 $24.95 www.hippocrenebooks.com

This isn't just another Italian cookbook, but a collection first of Tuscan dishes gathered from friends and family living in Tuscany, and secondarily a focus on those recipes used the most, and why. These tend to be modified for busy schedules and home kitchens and show how to quickly prepare fish cakes, Cauliflower Bake, Stuffed Tomatoes with Parmesan, and more. No color photos, but the easy dishes don't need them, and general-interest collections will find this a fine choice.

The Zen of Fish
Trevor Corson
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780060883508 $24.95 www.harpercollins.com

Sushi's origins, chiefs, and the fish which comprise the sushi dishes are reviewed here in THE ZEN OF FISH, an excellent survey by a journalist who shadows several American sushi novices and a Japanese master chef, revealing their drama, secrets and influences. From sushi's origins as an Indo-Chinese mainstay meal to its evolution to modern times, THE ZEN OF FISH offers many intriguing insights into how sushi came to the American table, and will reach not only general interest public libraries strong in culinary history, but college-level collections strong in either Asian history and culture or food preparation.

Fan Fare
Debbie Moose
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
9781558323384 $14.95 www.harvardcommonpress.com

Fan Fare: A Playbook of Great Recipes for Tailgating or Watching the Game At Home will appeal to any household where a game player is in residence, and any general public library lending collection catering to them. It packs in easy dishes ranging from nuts and mini-muffins to main courses quick and easy to eat in front of the TV set. While there are no color photos - just illustrations - the easy dishes don't need 'em, with such fare as Teriyaki Tip-Off Wings and Norma's Cool Veggie Pizza providing many excellent options.

The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese
Jeffrey P. Roberts
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392349 $35.00 www.chelseagreen.com

Any general interest lending collection or college-level culinary library strong in cheese history will find this a 'must', representing the first reference of its kind to use an illustrated atlas format to document artisan cheeses, cheesemakers, and more. A regional and statewide organization makes it easy to locate artisans in specific states, an important feature in a title which profiles over three hundred tiny cheesemaking operations across the nation, while color photos accompany in-depth descriptions of operations including all the contact details needed to get in touch with boutique operations and owners. A highly recommended atlas no serious culinary collection should be without.

The Best of America's Test Kitchen 2008
America's Test Kitchen Editors
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
1933615192 $35.00 www.cooksillustrated.com

If it's quick and failsafe you seek, you can't go wrong with an America's Test Kitchen cookbook, which tests and cross-tests all recipes to gain the maximum from flavor and foolproof results, and this 2008 edition collects dishes from the last year where over two dozen test cooks developed nearly 1,000 recipes for books, magazines and the associated TV show. Recipes which were either unique or winning standards both are featured here, along with a peppering of color photos and clear directions.


The Photography Shelf

Lighting and Posing Techniques for Photographing Woman
Norman Phillips
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781584282211, $34.95 www.Amherstmedia.com

Photographers who want to hone in on the lighting and poses that flatter women will love Lighting and Posing Techniques for Photographing Woman, covering a wide range of images from the traditional bridal image and business portraits to fashion shots, maternity images, and more. Posing techniques are presented to make women look their best, along with tips on using both studio and natural lighting, and different poses for business versus personal portraits. Approaches of a number of different pros outline different methods of achieving success.

Macro Photography Photo Workshop
Haje Jan Kamps
Wiley Publishing Inc.
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, N 07030
9780470118764, $29.99 www.wiley.com

By concentrating on small images and texture representation a photographer's overall approach and finished results can appear more professional. MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO WORKSHOP is thus an outstanding title not just for working macro photographers seeking to improve their results, but for any looking to understand macro images in everyday surroundings, and use the latest camera devices to capture the best shots. From common macro problems and digital editing techniques to shooting insects, flowers and more, MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO WORKSHOP is especially recommended as a supplemental classroom text for any photographer moving beyond the beginner levels.

Digital Stock Photography: How to Shoot and Sell
Michal Heron
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10110
1581154844 $21.95 www.allworth.com

Michal Heron has been a successful freelance photographer for over thirty years, not only selling her products to photo agencies but running her own stock business and giving lectures at seminars and workshops around the country. Her DIGITAL STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY packs in the basics of capturing digital images, from working with scans and delivering acceptable product to evaluating equipment, creating releases, handling copyright options and much more. No aspiring professional photographer should be without it: it's an essential key to understanding the routines and demands of the stock photo business, and photography as well as general-interest lending libraries catering to photographers will find it an invaluable reference.


The Interior Design Shelf

Smart Closet Makeovers
Cynthis Overbeck Bix
Sunset Books
80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
0376011149 $14.95 www.sunsetbooks.com 1-800-643-8030

Get the most out of a home's closets from bedroom to kitchen with a home handyman's guide to building efficient closet additions, upgrading existing closets, and using new storage products to enhance an existing closet. From pantry shelves and drawers to maximizing space, SMART CLOSET MAKEOVERS is a 'must' for any library catering to home handymen.

New Rooms for Old Houses
Frank Shirley
Taunton Press
Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781561588855, $40.00 www.taunton.com

Any who would convert an older house to more modern living purpose will find ideas galore in NEW ROOMS FOR OLD HOUSES: BEAUTIFUL ADDITIONS FOR THE TRADITIONAL HOME. The additions considered here are designed with two purposes in mind: to fit into a modern lifestyle, and to blend with an older home's decor and purposes. Color sidebars of architectural style detail accompany lovely color photos of successful projects and chapters packed with ideas for changes, making this an excellent choice for any library strong in home remodel projects.


The Gardening Shelf

Covering Ground
Barbara w. Ellis
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781580176651 $19.95 www.storey.com

There are many possibilities for covering ground, and many of them are covered here; from replacing grass on slopes and carpeting patches between stepping stones without overgrowing them to edging walkways or using plants as an alternative to traditional lawn-type ground covers. COVERING GROUND; UNEXPECTED IDEAS FOR LANDSCAPING WITH COLORFUL, LOW-MAINTENANCE GROUND COVERS addresses all issues revolving around yard and ground covers and is a top pick for any public lending library's home and garden reference collection.


The Audiobook Shelf

Stone Cold
David Baldacci
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
1600240526 $49.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Ron McLarty's acting skills and his background in both Broadway and film lend an impassioned, smooth voice to this riveting thriller of Oliver Stone, leader of a mysterious club which keeps watch over Washington leaders and politics. Interactions between con artists and their enemies and friends fuel a thriller that is a passionate, lively listen and recommended for any public library audio lending collection.

The Notebook
Nicholas Sparks
Time Warner Audiobooks
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
1600242561 $14.98 www.twbookmark.com

Barry Bostwick is the star of the hit TV series Spin City and has appeared in numerous TV mini-series, so if you think the narrator of THE NOTEBOOK sounds familiar, that's why. His passionate, smooth voice lends quiet drama to this love story of Noah, who is haunted by images of a girl he lost over ten years ago - and Allie, about to marry a wealthy lawyer but still in love with the past. Change and chance brings them back together in this riveting story of romance perfect for audio collections strong in human interest novels.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off
Stepanie Pearl-McPhee
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598875195 $24.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532

Humor blends with a love for knitting and fun guides to its ironies and methods in this fun survey of knitting. Most knitting guides don't translate well to audio because they are 'how to' book coverages, but the fine overview of knitting's appeal which began as a blog on the topic blends enough humor and action to make it a top pick for any audio listener interested in knitting. The author's own voice spices her engrossing story.

Dark Rivers of the Heart
Dean Koontz
Random House Audio
c/o Random House Audio Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780739341445 $39.95 www.randomhouseaudio.com 1-800-726-0600

Anthony Heald's extensive background in film lends a smooth and dramatic edge to DARK RIVERS OF THE HEART, a thriller revolving around one Spencer Grant, who is drawn to a bar only to find that a casual foray would lead to a narrow escape leaving him a wanted man on the run from unknown assailants - and in love with a stranger. Swift action, espionage and high drama makes for an audio hard to turn off, even more compelling in audio than in book format. Libraries specializing in thrillers and dramas will relish this involving account.

Creation in Death
J.D. Robb
Brilliance Audio
c/o Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1423337395 $38.95 www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Veteran narrator Susan Erickson's excellent voice fuels a thriller set in New York City in 2060, revolving around one Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who finds a series of bodies marked by signs of painful torture - and carved with the time it took each body to die. An earlier killing spree is brought to mind - and with it, a personal involvement which leads Eve on a desperate new chase. Stuart Woods' SHOOT HIM IF HE RUNS (9780143142461, $29.95) receives actor Tony Roberts' excellent narrative skills and follows Stone Barrington and Holly Barker, who are involved in a case driving the CIA crazy. Soon Stone if back on the island he visited in DEAD IN THE WATER - and on a desperate search which involves close, dangerous inspection into the island's underlying connected crimes. A fine pick for any audio collection or listener strong in mysteries.

The Chase
Clive Cussler
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
9780143142447 $29.95 www.penguin.com

In 1950 the remains of a steam locomotive rises from a Montana lake containing three people who died over forty years earlier - and in 1906 a string of two-year bank robberies by a single man who murders all witnesses then vanishes becomes connected to the event. Detective Isaac Bell has long pursued this maniac across state lines --and his use of science and intuition will bring him to an impossible conclusion in an amazing adventure audio listen which springs to life under the voice of Richard Ferrone.


The Sports Shelf

Workouts in a Binder for Indoor Cycling
Dirk Friel and Wes Hobson
Velo Press
c/o Inside Communications, Inc.
1830 North 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301-2700
1931382751 $29.95 www.velopress.com

The problem with most workout books is that they aren't designed to be used while in the process of a workout itself. Enter the spiral-bound, lay-flat and smaller 'Workouts in a Binder' series, of which FOR INDOOR CYCLING is the most practical. Here workouts are presented which use and also combine the three methods of heart rate, perceived exertion, power output for maximum results: workouts which can either stand alone or blend into an overall training regimen. Any cyclist involved in gym workouts needs this.


The Business Shelf

The Commercial Real Estate Investor's Handbook
Steven D. Fisher
Atlantic Publishing Inc.
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601380371 $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INVESTOR'S HANDBOOK: A STEP-BY-STEP ROAD MAP TO FINANCIAL WEALTH is for any who would invest in a commercial building, whether it be a warehouse, apartment, shopping center, hotel or other type of commercial income property. Beginners receive tips on how to find deals, how to finance wisely, and how to make purchase offers, with many case history examples and tips on taxation and development included along with math calculations and sample forms. It's a 'must' for any collection catering to real estate readers.

Voiceovers
Janet Wilcox
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York NY 10010
9781581154757 $24.95 www.allworth.com

Put a great voice to use as a voiceover actor in VOICEOVERS, a survey of opportunities in everything from network promos and documentaries to books on tape, radio, and animated films. A CD-ROM holds vocal exercises and interviews with voiceover actors, while tips for building strong demos rounds out an excellent survey. Other books don't go nearly as far: if only one on the topic were to be chosen for a business library, it should be VOICEOVERS: TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS FOR SUCCESS.

Igniting Gen B and Gen V
Nancy S. Ahlrichs
Davies Black
1055 Joaquin Road, 2nd Floor, Mountain View, CA 94043
9780891062264 $24.95 www.daviesblack.com

Longtime employees heading for retirement are cutting back hours, declining promotions and moving out of the demands of business, yet research indicates companies are healthiest when they have both young and older employees fully engaged. Igniting Gen B and Gen V: The New Rules of Engagement for Boomers, Veterans, and Other Long-Termers On the Job discusses barriers to full engagement and how long-term employees can achieve the most by blending their newfound goals and changed energy level with business requirements. Chapters are based on research and real-world scenarios alike making this in invaluable pick any serious business library must have.

Don't Just do Something, Stand There!
Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576754252 $19.95 www.bkconnection.com

Ten key principles to change how meetings are organized and presented focus not on behavioral change but on the dynamics of conditions under which people interact. It offers new and different approaches to helping people discover common ground and how to turn issues into strengths, and comes from leaders who contribute a global perspective to the meeting challenge. Arrange a meeting that accomplishes more by doing less? It can be done - and any business library catering to managers will find this a popular lend.

From Difficult to Disturbed
Laurence Miller, Ph.D.
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814409229 $22.00 www.amacombooks.org

In order to properly motivate employees, it's good to have a basic understanding of human psychology and how it operates in the business environment: linking these two disciplines is From Difficult to Disturbed: Understanding and Managing Dysfunctional Employees. Here are applied principles of psychology at their best, pairing real-world people-problems offices face with tips on how the manage issues. Psychological types are placed into categories for this purpose ("Emoters and Reactors", "Oddballs and Spoilers", "Preeners and Predators") with specific tips on handling each type. Any business library - and many a general lending collection - will find this an important acquisition.

Corporate Agility
Charles E. Grantham, James P. Ware, Cory Williamson
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814409113, $29.95 www.amacombooks.org

CORPORATE AGILITY: A REVOLUTIONARY NEW MODEL FOR COMPETING IN A FLAT WORLD tells of a new business model, one that enables businesses to embrace workworld changes on a global scale. Currently most companies are unable to adapt to new methods of doing business, and become crippled by high fixed costs and new competition. CORPORATE AGILITY tells how to break this destructive cycle, offering tried methods by leaders of the Work Design Collaborative and providing a survey of value to any business library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Way of the Fertile Soul
Randine Lewis, Ph.D., L.Ac.
Beyond Words
c/o Atria Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582701806 $14.95 www.beyondword.com

Women can use diagnostic questionnaires, qi gong exercises, and guided meditations to help how elements of nature express themselves in mind and spirit in THE WAY OF THE FERTILE SOUL: TEN ANCIENT CHINESE SECRETS TO TAP INTO A WOMAN'S CREATIVE POTENTIAL, which provides tools for women on how to identify imbalances, reduce stress and uncover creativity. Chapters are packed with analysis of underlying energies and spirit sources and make for an excellent survey of women's psychic and physical health issues.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Subversive Seamster
Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng, Melissa Rannels
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781561589258 $14.95 www.taunton.com

SUBVERSIVE SEAMSTER: TRANSFORM THRIFT STORE THREADS INTO STREET CULTURE as for any sewer who has patterns and methods down - and wants to move beyond them into the world of altering and enhancing existing offerings. Refashioning is covered with a host of tips and secrets to re-doing vests, purses, dresses and more, from a salsa skirt to a poncho, tops, and accessories. A 'must' for any collection catering to sewers.

Knitting With Balls
Michael del Vecchio
DK Publishing
375 Hudson Street, New York NY10014
0756622891 $20.00 www.dk.com

Men knit - and have for centuries. From soldiers and cowboys to sailors, men have long made their own garments - so a book offering modern men keys to new patterns and the basics to knit them shouldn't be seen as revolutionary. KNITTING WITH BALLS: A HANDS-ON GUIDE TO KNITTING FOR THE MODERN MAN is an excellent basic instructional for any male who aspires to knit - and any needlework collection for beginners. It provides tips on patterns, instructions for every stitch, and even advice on how to begin a men's knitting group. An excellent survey indeed.

Babies & Toddlers - a Knitter's Dozen
XRX Books
Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1525
9781933064062 $15.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

Knitters specializing in babies and toddlers clothes will find here a dozen specific plans for lovely sweaters, hats, and more. From initial ratings of projects appealing from beginner to intermediate to patterns, photos and step-by-step directions, this is an excellent collection for any knitter specializing in children's items -or libraries catering to them.

The Close-Knit Circle
Kerry Wills
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275992462 www.praeger.com

THE CLOSE-KNIT CIRCLE: AMERICAN KNITTERS TODAY joins others in Praeger's 'American Subcultures' series to examine modern times and trends, and thus will appeal not just to the usual circle of knitters public libraries cater to, but to college-level holdings strong in social issues and American culture. Journalist and knitter Kerry Wills examines the history of knitting through the lives of early knitters, moving to modern times and how knitting became more of the mainstream, and anticipating future trends in needlework. A fascinating history and read.

Handknit Skirts from Tricoter
Linden Ward and Beryl Hiatt
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564778352 $27.95 www.martingale-pub.com

Lovely knits from Tricoter are back and this collection of skirts offers a range of styles from dressy to casual: some 16 designs knitted in the round, so they're seamless and easy to produce. The emphasis on changing needle sizes rather than increasing or decreasing lends especially well to novice knitters, making HANDKNIT SKIRTS an excellent pick for any general knitting collection. The slightly oversized shape and full-page facing color photos of each finished skirt are particularly inviting features, here.

Knit Book: The Basics and Beyond
Landauer Books
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, IA 50322
9780979371127 $24.95 www.landauer.com 1-800-557-2144

A spiral-bound hardcover allows for both easy lay-flat use and quick shelf location with KNIT BOOK: THE BASICS AND BEYOND - a recommended pick for personal or gift use for any knitter. Libraries won't wish the 3-ring binder format but knitters will appreciate the ability to add new projects and stitch cards as wishes, to customize its organization, and to carry it along for quick project reference. The bright, colorful 108 pages of basics include 17 projects on carry-along cards, knit notes, and more. A learn-to-knit DVD included with the package is another exceptional feature, pairing convenience with teaching methods which are far superior to print alone. A highly recommended pick for any beginner who wants to learn the basics.

Pretty in Punk
Alyce Benevides and Jaqueline Milles
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
0811857441 $19.95 www.chroniclebooks.com

Knitters who want more than the usual mainstream contemporary knitting styles will relish PRETTY IN PUNK: 25 PUNK, ROCK AND GOTH KNITTING PROJECTS, pairing photos by Rob Benevides with punk-style contemporary projects which go far beyond the usual boring mittens-and-scarf gift ideas. Chapters provides scarfs, hats and tops which are styled on the alternative goth/punk styling to appeal particularly to younger recipients and knitters, with color photos and easy instructions making for clear step-by-step directions.

Fun with Chinese Knotting
Lydia Chen
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759
9780804836784 $26.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Chinese knotting or macrame is an old art form in China, with many patterns having been used for practical and decorative purposes for years. FUN WITH CHINESE KNOTTING: MAKING YOUR OWN FASHION ACCESSORIES AND ACCENTS focuses on the use and applications of Chinese knots as fashion accessories, clothing accepts, and home additions. Nine basic knots, nineteen compound knots and five tassel designs are featured in step-by-step instructions, diagrams and tips on typing and using materials. Collections strong in crafter's guides will find it an excellent pick.


The Social Issues Shelf

Javatrekker: Dispatches from the World of Fair Trade Coffee
Deab Ctcib
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392707 $19.95 www.chelseagreen.com

Coffee is more than just another drink: it's about politics, survival, and indigenous people - and Javatrekker is the perfect guide to the politics, culture and meaning of coffee. From Fair Trade business issues to adventure travel, anthropology and politics, JAVATREKKER surveys the peoples, customs and trade of coffee around the world in an invigorating, moving account recommended for any general-interest collection and in particular for college-level libraries strong in world economics.

The Great Neighborhood Book
Jay Walljasper
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1XO Canada
9780865715813 $19.95 www.newsociety.com

THE GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD BOOK: A DO-IT-YOURSELF GUIDE TO PLACEMAKING offers a host of practical, tested ideas for making a neighborhood come to life, combating the isolation of the typical urban environment with keys to personalizing the neighborhood experience for all. From keeping an eye on what happens up and down the block to calming traffic problems, observing people, and creating vibrant public interaction points in squares and other common neighborhood grids, this packs in some outstanding suggestions and is a top pick for any urban library interested in city planning options at the grassroots level.

"They Take Our Jobs!"
Aviva Chomsky
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-2892
9780807041567 $14.00 www.beacon.org

"THEY TAKE OUR JOBS!" AND 20 OTHER MYTHS ABOUT IMMIGRATION is key to any collection strong in immigrant history, culture and issues in America, whether it be for a public lending library or a high school or college collection seeking to foster debates and education on the topic. Over twenty of the most common myths are debunked in a series of discussions which examine realities about immigrant issues and the underlying assumptions which fuel these debates.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Title Design Essentials for Film and Video
Mary Plummer
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321445767 $39.99 www.peachpit.com

Experienced video editors and amateurs alike will find this handbook essential to any film project, with its narrow focus on how to create professional titles for projects and an approach that moves beyond genre or software. From avoiding the common pitfalls of confusing titles to understanding size, color, placement and more, these tips paired with a DVD of Quick Time movies offers essential keys to production which are the foundation works of a good design. Any film library or practicing film and video pro or neo-pro needs this.

Same Time, Same Station
James L. Baughman
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801879337 $ www.press.jhu.edu

SAME TIME, SAME STATION: CREATING AMERICAN TELEVISION, 1948-1961 comes from a historian who examines early broadcasting history, corporate influences on the future of television, and cultural concerns which influenced early decision makers as they developed and promoted radio, TV and film. As such college-level collections strong in media history will find this an attractive addition, offering an engaging survey of American media history during its formative years and including enough lively dialogue to make it accessible even to lay readers.


The Science Shelf

The Red Volcanoes
G. Brad Lewis and Paul-Edouard Bernard de Lajarte
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780500543405 $34.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

THE RED VOLCANOES: FACE TO FACE WITH THE MOUNTAINS OF FIRE surveys some of the most active volcanoes on earth - in Hawaii and on Reunion in the Indian Ocean - and are the focus of a photo essays by two photographers who have spent years capturing these most active volcanoes. While this could've also been featured in our Photography Shelf section, it's the science collection that will find it an extraordinary pick, capturing these volcanoes close-up and in action.

Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Creatures of the Deep
Mike Everhart
National Geographic
1145 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
9781426200854 $30.00 www.nationalgeographic.com

This companion to the screen film SEA MONSTERS stands alone well as an excellent addition to any general-interest lending library strong in sea exploration and ecology. Some 100 images taken from the film - many in 3-D - bring these sea monsters to life, while accompanying dialogue from pioneering paleontologists trace the vanished worlds and creatures of the past and brings prehistory to life. An excellent pick for any collection appealing to lay readers of prehistoric life or aquatic history.

Guide to Deserts
Andrew Warren & Tony Allan, General Editors
Firefly Books
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
1554072131 $19.95 www.firefly.com

General-interest libraries strong on biomes and natural history will find a fine lay reader's guide to deserts in this illustrated survey of the ecology and nature of world deserts. Color photos and illustrations abound in a presentation packed with not only natural history but cultural and social insights into the societies which inhabit desert environments around the world, making for an excellent pick for both science and social science holdings.

Research and Theory in Advancing Spatial Data Infrastructure Concepts
Harlan Onsrud, Editor
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589481626, $24.95 www.esri/com/esripress

College-level collections strong in geography and spatial data analysis will appreciate this scholarly volume presenting the latest research by international experts on the topic. These studies examine technical, legal and economic challenges of such data, offering models for planning and constructing SDI initiatives and assessing such projects around the world. Examples of key SDIs used in disaster planning, poverty management and more draw important links between spatial data and real-world applications, making this a pick not just for computer collections but for geography, sociology and history holdings alike.


The Art Shelf

Big Art Small Canvas
Joyce Washor
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581807775 $24.99 www.fwpublications.com

Learn to paint faster and easier by producing small oil canvases with BIG ART SMALL CANVAS, a survey including twelve step-by-step instructions for painting a range of still lifes, landscapes, and more. From locating supplies on a budget and scaling down small projects to painting realistic landscapes using basic artistic techniques, BIG ART SMALL CANVAS is beginner-friendly and thus a fine pick not just for art libraries but for the general lending collection.

Once Upon A Time
Bruno Girveau, Editor
Prestel Publishing
575 Prospect St., Lakewood, NJ 08701
9783791337708 $75.00 www.prestel.com 1-888-463-6110

Any collection strong in animation history and art needs ONCE UPON A TIME: WALT DISNEY: THE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FOR THE DISNEY STUDIOS. It packs in nearly four hundred color illustrations and essays by a number of authorities as it reveals the Paris exhibition of 'Once Upon a Time: Walt Disney' and considers the films which impacted animation and the film world. Over 300 original works by Disney artists, from paintings and drawings to film clips, backgrounds and cels blend with the Western European artworks which inspired them, offering a unique visual connection between Disney's efforts and their inspirational origins. The cross-cultural connections are simply outstanding and place this 'tops' in any collection strong on Disney, film or animation history.


The Computer Shelf

Advanced Ajax: Architecture and Best Practices
Shawn M. Lauriat
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.pearsoned.com 1-800-428-5331
0131350641 $39.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com

College-level and advanced computer holdings catering to Ajax developers and web programmers will find here an excellent guide to building business-quality web sites, covering the design and development issues associated with Ajax and offering patterns and code examples unavailable elsewhere. From planning Ajax interfaces for clear and smooth functions to using the best tools to debug code and achieve maximum security, ADVANCED AJAX covers many topics beginning books won't, and provides web programmers with a vast range of customization resources.

Intranets for Information Pros
Mary Lee Kennedy and Jane Dysert, Editors
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573873093 $39.50 www.infotoday.com

INTRANETS FOR INFO PROS is for informational professionals responsible for implementing or contributing to an intranet, and gathers the experiences of ten expert contributors who describe trends, best practices, and organizational change. Both computer and business libraries will find the details invaluable, surveying the technical directions of intranets and issues ranging from collaboration to management. From tailoring procedures for more effective company use and communications to initiating special governance efforts, INTRANETS FOR INFO PROS is a top pick not to be missed by any collection strong in library science or computer management.


The Literary Shelf

Caribbean Folklore: A Handbook
Donald R. Hill
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313336058 $55.00 www.greenwoodpress.com

Joining others in the 'Folklore Handbooks' series is a winning collection of Caribbean folklore perfect for high school or college collections seeking authoritative regional folklore guides. From examples and texts to definitions and classifications of Caribbean folklore, this reference covers customs, culture, and literary and social contexts alike, and is a key to understanding the body of literature on Caribbean folklore.

Essential Bierce
John R. Dunlap, Editor
Heyday Books
Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597140546 $11.95 www.heydaybooks.com

ESSENTIAL BIERCE: SELECTION OF THE WRITINGS OF AMBROSE BIERCE comes from an American critic, poet and editor who was admired for his role as a literary despot of the West Coast. His DEVIL'S DICTIONARY is excerpted here, but more important is the coverage showcasing his other notable achievements, making for an essential reference for any high school or college-level collection serious about literary studies.


The Education Shelf

Teaching for Intelligence
Barbara Z. Presseisen, Editor
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412955553 $39.95 www.corwinpress.com

Contributions by a range of educators address key issues for modern classrooms and make the second updated edition of TEACHING FOR INTELLIGENCE a 'must' for any college-level library strong in education and teaching programs. Articles by Robin Fogarty, Dorothy S. Stickland, John Barell and more survey what it means to teach for intelligence, how to recognize and foster an intelligent learner, and more. The latest research updates tips on classroom and instructional practices.


The Library Science Shelf

The Accidental Technology Trainer
Stephanie Gerding
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573872690 $29.50 www.infotoday.com

Library staff who find themselves responsible for technology training, whether in a classroom or computer lab setting or in the course of working with patrons, will find The Accidental Technology Trainer: A Guide for Libraries to be a key acquisition. It offers insights into common training issues, recommends tested tools and training options, and includes advice from the author's fellow library tech trainers. Chapters focus on both planning technology training and handling difficult scenarios, offering fine concrete plans for educating patrons in the most efficient manner. Any collection strong in library science or technology training options needs THE ACCIDENTAL TECHNOLOGY TRAINER, which easily moves beyond the librarian world to address any trainer's issues.


The Nautical Shelf

The Why Book of Sailing
Scott Welty
Burford Books
32 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081
9781580801461 $16.95 www.burfordbooks.com

THE WHY BOOK OF SAILING: THE CURIOUS SAILOR'S GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE OF SAILING AND SEAMANSHIP blends sailing with science and surveys a range of topics using an easy question-and-answer format linking common sailing issues and questions with nautical science. Back and white photos pepper an account considering changes in navigation and piloting strategy based on science discoveries, how boats can dock more effectively, and much more. Both science and nautical libraries will find this appealing and easy to digest.

Drift Boats and River Dories
Roger L. Fletcher
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
9780811702348 $49.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

A focus on drift-boat history and design isn't for every general lending collection but it should be considered a 'must' for any serious nautical holding or outdoor sports collection. It blends history with boat building illustrations by Samuel F. Manning along with a very specific guide to drift boats and river dories from history to construction and changing designs. Step-by-step photos on building a traditional boat to scale accompany discussions of the free-form method of drift boat construction, including enough detail to model ten such boats to scale or full size. It's a specific, important coverage for any serious nautical library.

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

Jerry L. Mahsaw and Anne U. MacClintock's SEASONED BY SALT: A VOYAGE IN SEARCH OF THE CARIBBEAN (1574092464, $16.95) follows one couple's cruise from Connecticut through the Caribbean and back, telling how they took leave of jobs and a 'real' life in Connecticut to sail for the tropics. Any landlubber or would-be sailor who loves boats and nautical true-life adventure will relish this story of sailing, with its high drama and fast action. Jack Becker's THE LILIBET LOGS: RESTORING A CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT (1574092383, $17.95) tells of the author's job of restoring a large 70-year-old wooden sailboat. He did it in two years, then he wrote about it - and he didn't even know how to sail. It's an amazing story of a 42-foot racing sailboat's recovery: any lending library strong in nautical accounts will find these excellent acquisitions.


The Military Shelf

The Veteran's Survival Guide, 2nd Edition
John D. Roche
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
1597970514 $17.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

The first edition of THE VETERAN'S SURVIVAL GUIDE packed in details on how to make legitimate claims for federal benefits, moving through a system replete with stumbling blocks. This second updated edition to disability benefits appears in a totally revised presentation that analyzes in detail, offering an updated guide that should be required reading for any military participant and their families. Any collection catering to veterans needs this 'bible' of information.

One Came Home
Vincent A. Krepps
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
1561679887 $26.95 www.americanliterarypress.com

Anecdotes and photos from the author depict the relationship between him and his twin brother Richard. At 18 the two enlisted in the Army and were sent to fight in Korea: Vincent's wartime experiences come to life in a description of battle experience, losing his brother, and how this fueled a determination to honor missing and fallen fighters. An unforgettable personal experience evolves.


The California Shelf

Stairway Walks in San Francisco, 6th Edition
Adah Bakalinsky with Marian Gregoire
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley CA 94710
0899974295 $16.95 www.wildernesspress.com

San Francisco has over 50 hills with scenic vistas and small neighborhoods - so these nearly 30 urban walks are top picks for any who want to walk the city's byways. The revised expanded edition has been updated with new maps and color photos and adds three new walks, while an appendix lists the City's 600-plus public stairways. It's a 'must' for any San Francisco travel collection going beyond the general-interest city guide.

Top Trails Sacramento
Steven L. Evans
Wilderness Press
1200 - 5th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1306
9780899973814 $16.95 www.wildernesspress.com

Any who would explore the valleys or mountains of California's state capital region must have TOP TRAILS SACRAMENTO: MUST-DO HIKES FOR EVERYONE in their collection. It covers opportunities both urban and rural and joins others in the 'must do' trips series, comes from a Sacramento resident and hiker, and reveals both major routes and lesser-known regions. With its trail feature charts documenting wildlife, scenic vistas and trails and its details on weekend getaways and maps, TOP TRAILS SACRAMENTO offers up key getaways for all and is a top pick for any California library, especially those closer to Sacramento.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Sister Time
John Ringo and Julie Cochrane
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781416542322 $26.00 www.baen.com

Cally O'Neal is official dead but is an active secret agent who hasn't used her real name - or spoken to her sister - in over 40 years of service. So when the two suddenly reunite, the potential for fireworks as well as love evolves; especially since Cally is the 'bad sister' and Michelle the 'good girl'. Politics is bringing them together - and threats of dishonor may part them in this fast-paced political thriller.


The Humor Shelf

The Secret Life of Cows
Glen Wexler
Andrews McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740763113 $14.95 www.andrewsmcmeel.com 1-800-851-8923

Full-page color photos of cows are anything but your usual field grazers: they present an alternate form of cow reality and depict cows in strange circumstances indeed, from science lab neo-robots and in secret agent dress to cows dressed for construction work and various kinds of jobs. Any collection specializing in 'alternate reality' color photos will relish THE SECRET LIFE OF COWS, with its zany and oddball cow photos and the potentials of truly odd lifestyles.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens
Katherine Jaeger and Q. David Bowers
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Rd. Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
0794822606 $29.95 www.whitmanbooks.com

Libraries catering to collectors as well as any interested in the history of American medals must have this oversized, lavish survey of rarities in the medal and token world, which explores the U.S.'s first coinage, medals and tokens and includes a foreword by numismatics Russ Rulau and David Alexander. Full page, large-sized color photos of coins and metals provide extraordinary, exceptional detail making this a 'must' reference for any library catering to coin collectors or American history buffs.

Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys!
Benjamin Holcomb
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614
9781893905825 $49.95 www.twomorrows.com

Collectors of Mego 8" Super-Heroes will find this an essential guide to the history of the Mego toy company and its many offerings, which dominated the toy industry in the 1970s. The visuals - all in full color - are simply outstanding, packing in full-page close-ups of figures, inserting panels of graphic visual detail, and providing a narrowed focus on the figure, head, and outfits of each Mego Super-Hero character - including accessories. No definitive toy library can be without it.

Collector's Toy Yearbook
David Longest
Collector Books
P.O. Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574325614 $29.95 www.collectorbooks.com

Any toy collector will find indispensable this survey of 100 years of toys in COLLECTOR'S TOY YEARBOOK IDENTIFICATION AND VALUES, a blend of outstanding, colorful close-up color photos and articles on toy and manufacturer history and toy trends over the last 100 years. Other books focus on pricing alone: this blend of in-depth detail and identification tips offers beginners and avid toy collectors much more and makes for a colorful, inviting reference suitable not just for toy collectors but for any general-interest lending library.


The Fiction Shelf

Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story
Kim Powers
Carroll & Graf
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
9780786720330 $25.00 www.carrollandgraf.com 1-800-788-3123

They were children - a tomboy and a summer visitor from the big city - and decades later he would be a famous writer while she struggled to tell the story of her childhood. He was Truman Capote; she was Harper Lee. This fictionalized account of their relationship and the story of two Southern backwoods residents who each became one of the biggest writers of their time - and stopped speaking to each other - makes for an engrossing, fantastic blend of strong characterization and gripping plot. Any who would categorize this as simply quasi-biography, fiction or ghost story will find its power and enchantment simply undeniable: an outstanding recommendation for general lending collections strong in fictionalized facts.


The Native American Shelf

Treaties With American Indians
Donald L. Fixico, Editor
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781576078808 $285.00 www.abc-clio.com

Any college-level holding strong in Native American history and culture needs the 3-volume reference Treaties With American Indians: it offers an encyclopedia of rights, conflicts and sovereignty and provides the first comprehensive introduction to the agreements pertaining to over 500 tribes of North America, including Alaska, Hawaii and Canada. More than just listings, this reference offers up extensive overviews of the treaties: their history, their contents, and their implications to tribal authority patterns. Any serious Native American collection needs this reference.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Day by Day in Jewish Sports History
Bob Wechsler
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9780881259698 $25.00 www.ktav.com

Over 400 pages packed with thousands of entries about Jewish sportsmen and women covers nearly every day of the year profiling records set, achievements, and participation in all kinds of events around the world, refuting the joke that Jewish sports heroes don't exist. Collections strong in Jewish history and culture will find this packed with facts and statistics.


The Crafts Shelf

Chinese Brush Painting
Caroline Self and Susan Self
Charles Tuttle
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0804838771 $16.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Chinese brush art is a special way of painting that uses ink, paper and imagination to create art, and beginners now have access to this thousand-year-old art form through a step-by-step guide that closely follows traditional Chinese methods. From simple materials painting traditional subjects with imagination, this is an excellent starting point recommended for any library where introductory painting in general is of interest, and Chinese art in particular is a focus.

Janet Wittle's Watercolour Flowers
Janet Whittle
Search Press
Wellwood, North Farm Road, Turnbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 3DR
1844481328 $29.95 www.searchpress.com

Any who would watercolor flowers needs Janet Wittle's Watercolour Flowers, an inspirational guide to color and techniques which assumes no prior knowledge of watercolor. Pages packed with color are perfect for general-interest lending libraries where art is an attraction, and show how to produce professional results, from combining species of flowers to best effect to a series of reference paintings from black and white patterns to finished projects for individual flowers. An outstanding, easy approach beginners will appreciate.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design