Last week, I was visiting the White House in Washington D.C. to accept the National Medal for Library Service from First Lady Michelle Obama.  That visit, and the extraordinary holiday decorations have made me more interested in the history of this grand residence for the United States President.

            Inside the White House by Betty Boyd Caroli tells the story of America’s most famous home from the Presidencies of John Adams to Bill Clinton.  The photos, maps and diagrams featured in this book very clearly demonstrate how the White House has changed over the years.  It is a good place to start for a readable history of the “People’s House”.

            The White House edited by Frank Freidel and William Pencak also looks at the first 200 years of the historic residence.  A collection of essays by writers such as Daniel J. Boorstein, David McCullough and Elise K. Kirk.  David Herbert Donald details the trials and tribulations of the Lincoln family during their White House stay.  At this time, access to the White House was not restricted and visitors were found throughout the house day and night.  This is quite a change from the strict security in place today.

            The Secret Lives of the First Ladies and Secret Lives of the Presidents by Cormac O’Brien both show how life in the White House affects the First Family.  Many residents bemoan the lack of privacy as well as constant attention to their every word.  Little known facts and interesting tidbits of information give the reader a more human vision of the Presidents and First Ladies.

            Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry Truman, is well known for her many books about Washington D.C., First Ladies, Presidents, Presidential pets and Capital Crimes series of mysteries  She shares the history and secrets of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with readers in The President’s House.  A true Washington insider, Truman has an interesting viewpoint to share about the place she called home.

            The definitive story of the White House has to be The President’s House by William Seale.  This two volume set is a partnership between the White House Historical Society and National Geographic. Seale began his project with the intent to detail the architectural history of the White House.  What resulted is a detailed history of the building, renovations and day-to-day operations of the White House.

            Bonnie Angelo explores the impact of the White House on First Families in First Families.  She describes how the White House is a home, museum, institution and symbol.  The reaction to each family to the history and responsibilities that the White House brings to their lives determines whether it is a palace or a prison.  Lady Bird Johnson expressed the role of First Lady that is shared by many of those who followed here when she said “I feel as if I am suddenly onstage for a part I never rehearsed.”

            Mr. President by David Rubel is a personal look at the U.S. Chief Executives from George Washington to Bill Clinton.  Each short biography details facts about the President’s life, family, Presidency and gives a timeline of key events that happened during his tenure.

            The Peter White Public Library has many more books about the White House, First Ladies and Presidents available for all ages.

            Tis’ the time for holiday giving and the Peter White Public Library collection benefits from the generosity of local groups and patrons.  Thanks to them, you can find new books in the vegan, music, mental health and travel collections.

            The local chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, recently gave money to purchase new titles.  Three of these new books are:

            Divided Minds:  Twin Sisters and their Journey through Schizophrenia by Pamela Spiro Wagner and Carolyn S. Spiro.  This dual memoir of identical twins, one of whom faces a life sentence of schizophrenia, and the other who becomes a psychiatrist, is told in the alternating voices of the sisters, now in their fifties, Divided Minds reveals how devastating schizophrenia is to both the victim and those who love her.

            For 20 years, Dr. Sandy Newmark has specialized in successfully treating children diagnosed as having “ADHD” using methods other than psychostimulant medications.  Now he has put his best advice into ADHD without Drugs: a Guide to Natural Care, a guide for parents, educators and other physicians to read.

            Johanna S. Kandel, founder and executive director of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, struggled with her eating disorder for ten years before finally getting help.   Kandel knows firsthand how difficult the healing process can be.  Life beyond Your Eating Disorder is her guidebook which provides a set of practical tools for the journey back to health.

            The Northern Vegans have been regular donors to the library.  Last month their gift included:

            In The Indian Vegan Kitchen: more than 150 Quick and Healthy Homestyle Recipes, renowned nutritionist and cooking instructor Madhu Gadia offers a fresh take on Indian recipes that will appeal to vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who loves Southeast Asian cuisine.

            Worried about contaminated pet food from China?  The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book: Cruelty-free Recipes for Canines by Michelle A. Rivera can help you safely transition your companion dog to a nutritious, healthful, plant-based diet.  Whether you wish to supplement or completely transform mealtimes, Rivera’s recipes can provide your dog with delicious, nutritious biscuits, daily staples, and special occasion treats.

            Winner of five film festival awards for Best Documentary, The Witness asks its audience to consider how a tough New York City construction contractor could possibly become an impassioned animal activist. Eddie Lama tells the story of his remarkable change of consciousness—how the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals, become a vegetarian, and ultimately, to bring his message of compassion to the streets.

            The Friends of PWPL used some of their book sale profits to help us update our travel collection.  Three new guides among the 78 new Frommer’s, Fodor’s, and Lonely Planet guides to places all over the world are:

            Rock-climbing in Croatia, dog-sledding in Greenland, and whale-watching in South Africa—are just three of the 200+ worldwide adventure activities profiled in A Year of Adventures:  a guide to the World’s Most Exciting Experiences by Andrew Bain. Published by Lonely Planet, fully updated, and packed with astounding full-color images.

            Since 1979, The Intracoastal Waterway—Norfolk, Virginia to Miami, Florida by Bill Moeller has been the piloting guide of choice for the tens of thousands of boaters traversing the 1,094-mile Intracoastal Waterway between Virginia and Florida each year. This sixth edition, double the size of its predecessor, includes greatly enhanced coverage of anchorages, pilotage, and facilities.  Moeller’s long-established mile-by-mile navigation guide is better than ever.

            USA’S Best Trips; 99 Themed Itineraries across America from Lonely Planet takes travelers across America, from New England to the Pacific Northwest. Easy-to-use maps for every trip, plus driving times and directions, are included.  Check it out now to plan next summer’s adventures.

---In 1827, 15 year old Ferdinand Hiller visited Beethoven several times with his music teacher, Johann Hummel.  After several visits, Beethoven passed away, and upon paying their final respects, Hiller cut a lock of hair from Beethoven’s head.  Eventually it became encased in glass and framed with a dark wood oval frame.  Later in his life, Hiller wrote in a special issue of Salon magazine, celebrating the 100th year of Beethoven’s birth:  The master’s music remains unmatched because it achieved “softness without weakness, enthusiasm without hollowness, longing without sentimentality, passion without madness.”  Hiller said Beethoven’s music expressed great joy, but also noted that when it expressed the deepest suffering of humankind, the composer didn’t lose himself in the suffering, but rather triumphed over it.  Hiller wrote of Beethoven, “… never did an artist live whose creations were so truly new—his sphere was the unforeseen.” (ref:  The Mysteries of Beethoven’s Hair, by Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley, publ. by Charlesbridge, c.2009, p. 38.)  

This remarkable true story offers insight into Beethoven’s turbulent life, but it also investigates the intriguing events that surrounded a single curly, graying lock of his hair for nearly 200 years after his death.  Follow Beethoven’s hair from when it was clipped from the composer’s corpse as a keepsake, through three generations and beyond as the keepers flee Germany during WWII, until it is purchased by two passionate fans of Beethoven at auction. They in turn find renowned scientists to do forensic tests on it and try to unlock its mysteries.  The results have surprised the world.   But in the meantime, the reader may just rediscover a passion for something in their own lives that may have been deemed too small or unimportant to pay attention to previously.   For something so unremarkable as a simple lock of hair, this story stimulates the reader's sense of history, mystery, and anticipation.

--Going from famous body parts to the next selection isn't much of a stretch.   How scared can you get in thirty seconds?  I dare you to read this book and find out!  Half-minute Horrors, edited by Susan Rich, is a collection of stories that prove how powerful a storyteller's choice of words can be. From creeping fingers, misplaced teeth, spooky sounds, unlikely shadows, and unexpected guests, these are the spookiest little hair-raising spine-tinglers I've read in a long time, and most of them are only a handful of paragraphs in length!  Of course, it helps that the authors that contributed to this collection are some of the most popular writers for young people today (including Lemony Snicket, James Patterson, R.L. Stine, Chris Raschka, Jon Scieszka, Erin Hunter, Margaret Atwood, and many more), and they all know the power of insinuation and the fact that what you don't say is sometimes more powerful than what you do.  Check it out… I dare you!   (www.halfminutehorrors.com)

By the way, Half-minute Horrors is published in partnership with First Book, a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own new books.  Visit them online at www.firstbook.org.

---In the same vein, Readers Theatre for Middle School Boys—Investigating the Strange and Mysterious, by Ann N. Black,  promises to both entertain and educate everyone—but it's aimed at tempting middle school boys—by introducing them to the lively arts of literature and performance with spine-tingling tales like "Masque of the Red Death", "Headless in Sleepy Hollow", "The Monkey's Paw", and "White Grizzly"  written in dramatic script format.  Readers Theatre has been shown to be very effective in promoting good reading skills while drawing in more reluctant readers.  This particular collection, featuring many classic authors with dramatic twists in their stories looks like a good read for both enthusiastic and reluctant readers alike!

---I'm always on the lookout for a great read aloud book that demands vocal inflection and enthusiastic interpretation.  One of my favorite storytellers, Jay O'Callahan, has written a new one that came out this summer called "Raspberries!"   I can just hear O'Callahan's colorful telling style as I read the story, a familiar theme involving the hero helping out a magical being disguised as a poor, ragged local townsperson who in turn helps him out later on in the story.  Actually, I can actually hear him tell the story, because there is an accompanying CD!  It's a classic story, well-told and  portrayed in detail  by illustrator Will Moses in a style reminiscent of his grandma, Grandma Moses.  Check it out!

---Scat (No, not that! It's workless vocal music!) is the subject of another great read aloud by Muriel Harris Weinstein When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat.  It simply revels in the joy of playing with language and sound: OOoba lee cooo,oooba lee cat, blow me a bubble in bubble gum Scat!  With historical notes at the end, the story involves a little girl to learns to scat about bubble gum from Louis Artmstrong himself and it's just plain fun!

---Pythagoras’ discoveries about music and math are made very accessible to the intermediate  reader in a new book by Julie Ellis:  Pythagoras and the Ratio (sounds like a band!)—A Math Adventure, illustrated by Phyllis Hornung Peacock.  Pythagoras’ cousin Octavius wants to win the music contest, but his pipes are out of tune.  Pythagoras’ pipes are perfect, so together they work to find a relationship between the longest and shortest of Pythagoras’  pipes, which helps them fix Octavius’ pipes.  Well, then of course his other cousins want him to fix their lyres in time for the contest as well! Can he do it?  Read it and find out, and improve your math skills at the same time! 

 --- Another new good read aloud is Hip and Hop, Don’t Stop!  by Jef Czekaj.  It is basically a very fresh, fun take on the Tortoise and the Hare, involving rap and rhyme; and as an added bonus, it brings up diversity issues and getting along with those who are different from yourself, put into a context that both children and adults will enjoy.   Hip is a turtle who raps really slowly. Hop is a bunny who raps superfast.  The other hip hop “artists” like Jay Zebra, The Notorious P.I.G. and Ludafish, may not be jokes that the kids get, but the adult readers just might.  The animals are cute without the funny names.  This book is fun!   Also--the book's website is great.

---If you love music enough to want to make it yourself, and are looking for some helpful tips on subjects like making and writing your own music, the nitty-gritty of actually forming a band and recording, how to find a gig, doing promotion, and even what you could do if you really want to work in the music world but aren't really interested in performing, check out  Learn to Speak Music: A Guide to Creating, Performing, & Promoting Your Songs, by John Crossingham.   He is a long-time musician and veteran of several world tours and uses his experience playing stages from Letterman to Lollapalooza to ease the reader's way into the music world.  The opinions of many other musicians are also sought in this informative and detailed book, and he has thought of everything, right down to the smallest details such as where and how to load-in to a gig site, how to do a sound check, and proper gig etiquette so you might even get invited back.  There are even "secret" tips on each instrument to help you get the best possible sound.   I wish this book had been written as I was making decisions about becoming a musician!

---When National Public Radio refers to you as "the Lennon and McCartney of kids’ music," you’ve got a lot to live up to.  Four time Grammy-nominated duo and 30 year veterans Trout Fishing in America  (Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet) rise to the challenge as the featured performers on My Name is Chicken Joe, the latest kids’ book/CD combo release by Canadian publisher, The Secret Mountain.  This is essentially a "best of" collection of some of Trout's more loquacious tracks. The "star" of the 11-track collection is "Chicken Joe,"  a cat whose story is told through the lyrics of Trout Fishing in America and the illustrations of Stéphane Jorisch. 

Like the best kids’ music, Trout Fishing in America’s songs manage to appeal lyrically to children without being condescending, while offering enough variety and musical prowess to maintain the interest of adults.  The final third of the hardcover book contains single-page illustrations with the lyrics to each of the remaining 10 songs, featuring titles like My Best Day, I Can Dance, It's A Puzzle, Fill It Up,  and, offering the obligatory reference to eating boogers that’s guaranteed to get kids rolling around and laughing, the klezmer-touched Boiled Okra and Spinach!    The inclusion of lyrics to all the songs raises the appeal for more advanced readers.  The songs are catchy and diverse enough in style to keep parents’ fingers away from the CD player’s eject button on a road trip for the 33 minute duration of the disc.

During WWII, there was an ad placed in papers across the country that went like this:
            "GIRLS---Interested playing in orchestra…Would like to hear from girls eleven to fifteen years old, who play at least third grade piano, and have natural musical ability, who desire to learn saxophone or other instruments of dance orchestra…. Now ready to book Fall engagements… For information on above, write Mrs. J.D. Hardy, Piney Woods, Mississippi."  The remarkable swing band that evolved from this little ad traveled the American home front,  performing in the most famous ballrooms in the country, providing solace during the hardest years of the war.  The band broke several taboos:  it was interracial despite the Jim Crow laws, and the musicians dared to assert themselves in a "man's" profession.   Their story is an analogy for some of the greatest challenges America had faced thus far,  beautifully laid out in thought-provoking poems and arresting images.

Author Marilyn Nelson writes:
            "Every swing tune tells a story without words: The truth of people breathing in unison,
            The democracy of harmonies and chords;  unique, disparate voices raised as one…
            …It was "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," but it was a prayer for peace.
            She was trying to change the world through sound…"

---Coincidentally, another book about the power of music also came out this year:  We Shall Overcome—A Song that Changed the World, by Stuart Stotts, illustrated by Terrance Cummings with a foreword by Pete Seeger who suggests that "no one can prove how important music is, but people in power believe it is, and they try to control it."  Stuart Stotts, himself a musician changing the world by writing and singing music particularly with young people, has crafted a thorough, colorful, sometimes disturbing and always hopeful book, including many historical photos, engravings, and graphic illustrations telling the story of a song that evolved over more than a century of American history, and has since found its way overseas to assist those in other places such as Beirut, Bangladesh, North Korea, South Africa, and most recently northern Pakistan.  A close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King once said, "I wouldn't be surprised if, when we colonize the moon, there aren't little green people who will join their antennae and sing 'We Shall Overcome.'" 

Stotts writes, "'We Shall Overcome' is not elaborate or complicated. The first verse has only twenty-two words, and most of them are repeated.  The melody is straight-forward and easy to learn.  the chords are basic.  Overall, the song could hardly be simpler.  yet it has played a unique and important role in United States history.  Even beyond our borders, it has provided strength, connection, courage, and faith to millions of people working to make our planet a more peaceful, just, and loving place."

A lock of hair – a tiny scare – a well-worn song to sing along ---The importance of small, simple things…like a tantalizing book to curl up with on a blustery day!

It is truly enjoyable to work with collection development and check in the new books after they are processed and nearly ready for circulation. There’s a definite thrill to see the new books, all shiny with crisp pages and bright covers. Most of these titles are sequels to prior novels, but one is a debut novel and another is a new series line for a well-known author.

The first book to grab my attention was by Billy Coffey. The cover of his debut novel, SNOW DAY, reminded me of sledding trips with my sons and now grandchildren. This novel begins with a snow storm in Virginia that causes Peter, the main character, to reflect on his life which is currently filled with uncertainties. As he enjoys the ramifications of the day’s storm with others, he realizes that he is not the only one having to deal with life’s storms.

Dewey’s Nine Lives: the legacy of the small-town library cat who inspired millions  continues the tales of Dewey, the library cat. Written by Vicki Myron with the help of Bret Witter, Dewey is personified and becomes the main character in all sorts of cat escapades. Myron and Witter write funny, heartwarming stories that cat-lovers, and other animal lovers, will enjoy.

Rita Mae Brown has written another mystery entitled A NOSE FOR JUSTICE. This is the debut book in another series by Brown that is set in Red Rock Valley, Nevada. Magdalena “Mags” Rogers arrives in Red Rock Valley to visit her great-aunt, Magdalena “Jeep” Reed who owns Wings Ranch in the valley. As Mags is attempting to put her 32-year-old life in order, Aunt Jeeps enjoys her jam-packed, busy life. Mags, Jeep and their two dogs join forces with Deputy Pete Meadows to find out who set off the nearby pipe-bombs and the identity of the 100-year-old corpse found in Jeep’s barn. This title is currently available in Large Print only. 

Busy Body by M.C. (Marion Chesney) Beaton is  the 21^st book in her mystery series about Agatha Raisin and the detective agency. In this installment, it’s nearly Christmas and the decorating of her village, Carsely, England has begun. Agatha is one of many who are angry at the village’s Health and Safety Board officer, John Sunday, who has declared so many of the local yuletide traditions to be dangerous and can no longer be done. But someone wants what Sunday has prohibited enough to kill him. Agatha and her young protégé, Toni Gilmour, work together to kill the major suspect while attempting to find the real murderer.

Author John Casey wrote his latest, Compass Rose, as a follow-up to Spartina, a book that won him the National book Award in 1989.  Both books are set in the fictional estuary of salt ponds and marshes in coastal Rhode Island, but this one follows the maturing of Rose, daughter of fisherman Dick Pierce (introduced in Spartina) and local game warden Elsie Buttrick, from baby to spirited teenager. Although everyone in Sawtooth Point loves Rose, her birth brings change to relationships throughout the town.

Debbie Macomber’s latest book is Call Me Mrs. Miracle. Mrs. Miracle, who is really Emily Merkle, is a seasonal employee in the toy department of Finley’s, a family-owned department store. Department Manager Jake Finley has 500 expensive robots to sell. Enter Holly and her nephew, Gabe, who only wants a robot for Christmas. Mrs. Miracle works her magic to sell 500 robots, get Holly and Jake together and renew the Christmas spirit in Jake and his widower father. This book’s prequel, Mrs. Miracle, was made into a Hallmark Channel movie in 2009.     

Alexander McCall Smith has a new book, The Charming Quirks of Others: an Isabel Dalhousie novel, that continues the adventures of Ms. Dalhousie in her Edinburgh, Scotland. Ms. Dalhousie looks into the backgrounds of the three candidates for headmaster at the local boys’ school. During her investigation she finds skeletons in several people’s closets, including her own. The text and word choices make this a good read while Smith shows us Isabel is an intelligent woman who cares for her fellow man—and woman.

The Templar Salvation by Raymond Khoury is a sequel to his 2005 book, The Last Templar. Khoury’s fast-paced story has all the classic elements of a mystery; it also relates religious details of a past segment of the Catholic Church known as the Templar knights. These come together in an excellent example of a religious thriller subgenre that readers enjoy. FBI agent Sean Reilly is the modern knight who seeks Templar documents that will free his kidnapped girlfriend, Tess.        

Jan Karon’s In the Company of Others continues with Father Timothy Kavanagh and his wife, Cynthia, as they leave Mitford and venture around Ireland on a genealogy search for his Kavanagh family roots. Shortly after their arrival at a bed & breakfast, Cynthia injures her ankle, a painting is stolen and secrets are discovered. Father Tim steps forward to help those involved as he enjoys the Irish countryside.

Young readers have lots to look forward to in the new juvenile fiction section at the Peter White Public Library. Here are some favorites.

Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas
When an old woman tricks middle-school student Griffin Penshine into accepting a box of “lucky” pennies carrying stolen wishes, Griffin finds her own wishes begin to go horribly wrong.  To undo the curse Griffin must return the stolen wishes to their original owners or find suitable replacements, often with surprising and heart warming results.  Readers may wish to join Griffin’s favorite charity, “Pennies for the Planet” on-line to see their wishes for a better ld come true.

January Joker by Ron Roy
One night during a sleepover Bradley Pinto isn’t sure what to think when he and his friends see a strange yellow light and broccoli-shaped aliens in the backyard. Is it a hoax or is it real?  Teamwork and the local fire department help solve this great new mystery written for third grade, intermediate readers.

Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 written and illustrated by Eric Wight
Frankie knows he needs to step up his game by winning the upcoming Pine Run 3000 in order to keep pace with the other possum scouts.  What Frankie doesn’t realize is that it’s his drive for creativity that will ultimately score him the points he needs to succeed. Eric Wight’s blend of strong graphic illustration and story are sure to be a hit with “Speed Racer” fans and intermediate readers alike.

The Fizzy Whiz Kid by Maiya Williams
All Mitch Mathis wants to do is fit into his new school, the Cecil B. De Mille Elementary School in Hollywood, California where all of his classmates have star dust in their eyes.  Everything’s great when Mitch first wins a role as the new Fizzy Whiz spokesman, but Mitch’s popularity plunges overnight when public opinion swings sharply against the super sugary soda.  Desperate to get out of his contract, Mitch teaches Jeeves, a mischievous orangutan, to take over his role as the new Fizzy Whiz kid on the block.

Attack of the Growling Eyeballs by Lin Oliver
A book that starts with the sentence, “It all started with pizza.” promises to deliver a real slice of American life in microcosm. For Daniel Funk, the book’s main character, life in miniature becomes real when he finds himself, “bamo-slamo”, shrunk to the size of a pea and discovers he’s got a twin brother named Pablo whom he’s never met before.  As one enthusiastic reviewer puts it: Lin Oliver’s newest fictional series for kids offers “big-time laughter in pint-sized packages”. 

The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein
Zack Jennings is a normal eleven-year-old who happens to have a special talent—seeing ghosts.  In this sequel to The Crossroads, Zack accompanies his step-mother, Judy Jennings, to the Hanging Hill Playhouse where her children’s book, Curiosity Cat, is being premiered as a musical.  The show’s director, Reginald Grimes, is the grandson of a Vaudeville magician named Professor Nicholas Nicodemus who has been imprisoned since 1939 following a performance of sorcery in which a little girl was killed.  It’s up to Zack to save himself and two other children from a similar fate.  Luckily, Zack has his little dog Zipper, Hanging Hill’s ancient custodian, several stage mothers, and a full cast of ghostly thespians to help him.

The Peter White Public Library offers these new non-fiction books.

Our Patchwork Nation: The Surprising Truth About the "Real" America by Dante Chinni.

Journalist Chinni (Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor) takes a deep look at political and socio-economic realities in the United States. The author identifies twelve distinct types of communities, and illustrates how they vote, invest, shop, and otherwise behave. The book includes interviews with influential people in example communities, as well as empirical data.
New Non-Fiction 307.0973 CH

Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation by Steven Johnson.

Johnson (author of Everything Bad is Good for You and The Invention of Air) gives an all-encompassing glimpse into the history on innovation and the processes behind it. He identifies “Seven Key Principles” that are driving factors behind innovation.
New Non-Fiction 303.484 JO

The Man Who Left Too Soon: The Biography of Stieg Larsson by Barry Forshaw.

Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy has been one of the hottest series of books in recent years, selling over 27 million copies in 40 countries (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest). Unfortunately, the books have all been released posthumously. Larsson, a journalist by trade, died in 2004 of a heart attack at age 50. Spoiler alert: if you are in the process of, or are planning to read the three books by Stieg Larsson, you may want to wait until you finish them before picking up this book. Much of this work relates to Larsson’s novels.
New Non-Fiction 921 LA 

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow.

Ron Chernow has previously published well-received biographies on John D. Rockefeller and Alexander Hamilton. This time, he writes about the iconic George Washington. Aware of the multitude of biographies about Washington, Chernow focuses on Washington’s psychology to bring him to life. Booklist gave it a starred review, calling it “the author’s masterpiece.” 904 pages.
New Non-Fiction 921 WA

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cooking--for Guys by Tod Dimmick.

Tod Dimmick presents the latest volume in the condescendingly named series of how-to books. Even if you are not a complete idiot, you may find some recipes and tips in this book that will help advance your cooking skills. The author tries to break down cooking techniques to a more rudimentary level to explain them. Includes over 230 recipes, not relying too heavily on processed or unhealthy ingredients.
New Non-Fiction 641.5 DI

Gardeners hoping to extend the season might be interested in checking out Microgreens by Eric Franks and Jasmine Richardson. This illustrated manual describes the benefit of growing fresh greens which are a step beyond traditional sprouts, and how to harvest them to receive the full benefit of flavor and nutrition. The tiny plants can be grown indoors from seed using good quality organic potting soil on bright windowsills or under grow lights. The book includes suggested types for growing success, composting hints and mouth watering recipes for using your fresh picked greens to their best advantage.

How to Find Morels by northern Michigan mushroom hunter, Milan Pelouch, will make for fascinating autumn reading for those longing for the first warm rains of spring. Morel hunting is a well loved Upper Peninsula pastime in mid May to early June. This short book gets to the point teaching the reader what to look for, where to look and how to cook those elusive delicacies. The book concludes with a chapter on mushroom hunter’s etiquette as well as where to go for more information.

Look to Vegan Brunch by Isa Chandra Moskowitz for recipes using those late season garden harvests. Award winning vegan chef and author, Moskowitz shares 175 home-style recipes worth waking up for from asparagus omelets to pumpkin pancakes. Treat your family and friends to a fantastic Thanksgiving brunch of delicious diner style breakfasts free of animal products. Color photographs and serving suggestions complete this appetizing vegan guide.

For the more traditional cooks, Sara Moulton’s Everyday Family Dinners provides the answer to the perennial question, “What’s for dinner?” Geared specifically to cooking for families, the book is organized into chapters with titles such as five-ingredient mains, Sunday night comfort meals, soup suppers and “egg-stra’ specials. Vegetarian recipes are included as well as classic recipes with a twist using sustainable seafood and poultry, pork and beef. Moulton is a chef, author and TV host of Sara’s Weeknight Meals on PBS. She served as executive chef for Gourmet magazine for 23 years and is a food editor for Good Morning America.

For readers who are into ‘homemade’ but hate to cook, Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts is the book for you. Filled with techniques and projects for creating albums to etching glass to marbleizing and quilling, to wreaths, Stewart provides detailed step by step instructions, templates and clear photographs illustrating the numerous projects. Designed to create that special something for every age and interest, this 400 page book may be just the thing to get those creative juices flowing.

Finally, for the armchair historian, Your Land, Our Land provides a  trip through the files of  the National Archives for a look at two centuries of American words and images. Our nation’s heritage captured in photographs and documents provides stunning and profound glimpses into what makes us American. Assembled by Monroe Dodd, Brian Burnes and the National Archives staff, the book is organized into 13 regions highlighting snippets of our nation’s history. A wonderful coffee table book to pick up again and again.

Enjoy the changing season and the chance to snuggle up with a good book.

Several of the most fascinating literary characters you will ever get to know travel four light years away to Rakhat, a planet near Alpha Centauri, to meet, study and come to love the creators of the first alien music heard on Earth. "The Sparrow," by Mary Doria Russell, is this fall's One Book One Community read. Book discussions and programs accompanying this title will be held throughout October. Russell will speak to the community on Tuesday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Lakes Rooms of Northern Michigan University. For more information, go to www.pwpl.info.

If you wanted to visit someplace closer than Rakhat, perhaps Paris, you’d pack a bag, book a seat on a plane, and arrive tomorrow. Belle’s journey to Paris, however, took nine months, the attention of many creative people, three cows, and an umbrella. Belle, a giraffe, was presented to King Charles X by the Pasha of Egypt in 1827. Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris describe Belle’s journey up the Nile, across the Sea, and on her five hundred mile walk through France in a new book for children, “A Giraffe Goes to Paris.”  Belle was the first giraffe hundreds of thousands of French people had ever seen. Her celebrity rivaled that of any star today and inspired giraffe songs, paintings, jewelry, hair styles and even cough-drop boxes!

In the early 1600’s, Europeans believed that insects and frogs sprang from mud magically in a process called spontaneous generation. In "Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian" by Margarita Engle, we meet a young German girl who thought otherwise as she studied and painted caterpillars, butterflies and moths. Merian's paintings and scientific work taught people about the metamorphosis of insects and small animals and eventually inspired Carl Linnaeus. Colorful folk-style paintings of insects, flowers and small imaginary creatures illustrate this biographical sketch of a woman far ahead of her time.

"The Goose Man: The Story of Konrad Lorenz" by Elaine Greenstein portrays another person whose love of wildlife, especially geese, led to a lifelong study of animal behavior. Greenstein's paintings show Lorenz walking, swimming and sleeping with geese, including the Lorenzs' first pair, Martina and Martin, that slept in their bedroom. Lorenz's work on imprinting helped earn him a Nobel Prize in 1973. This book is a simple introduction to the important scientist and his work.

The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and environmentalist to win this prize. "Seeds of Change" by Jen Cullerton Johnson shows how Wangari developed a love of nature and learning from her youth. As Wangari grew, so did her awareness of how the African landscape, and animal and human life depended upon trees. Wangari studied in the United States and returned to Kenya where she continues to promote women's rights and works to renew the land by planting trees. The Green Belt Movement she inspired has spread throughout the world.

Margarita Engle's novel in free verse, "The Firefly Letters," introduces older youth to Fredrika Bremer, an early champion of women's rights. Bremer wished to learn about Cuba, a land of tropical sunshine and magic that enchanted Sweden's first female novelist. A young African slave, Cecilia, was assigned to translate for Bremer as they toured the Cuban countryside in 1851, interviewing and studying the life of the poor. Engle based her novel on Bremer's letters and diaries which were written in the light of fireflies resting on Bremer's fingers. Thousands of Swedes immigrated to Cuba, inspired by Bremer's writings.

Almost one hundred years after Bremer visited Cuba, Sweden became a place of refuge for Jewish children fleeing the Nazis. Stephie and Nellie, sisters from Vienna, assume they will stay with foster families only until their parents can also escape. They plan to meet in Amsterdam and immigrate to America. Nellie, the younger sister, is soon comfortable with her new family, language and school. Stephie finds her foster mother as quiet and cold as their wild island off Sweden's western coast. She is teased at school and suffers from the comments of several villagers. Mostly, however, she worries about her parents. "A Faraway Island" by Annika Thor, the first of a quartet of novels about Stephie and Nellie, is based on interviews with and research about the five hundred Jewish refugee children sent to Sweden during World War II and the author's family history. Thor hopes to draw attention to the lives of displaced children today. 

"Home is Beyond the Mountains" by Celia Barker Lottridge is a surprisingly gentle story about children caught up in horrific events. As World War I drew to a close, the Turkish army moved into what is now northern Iran, killing many of the Assyrian and Armenian people who lived there and burning their villages. Eighty thousand Assyrians ran into the mountains to the south but soldiers, the lack of food, illness and exhaustion took a heavy toll. The fictional narrator, Samira, and her older brother Benyamin survive, move from one refugee camp and orphanage to another, and create new families. Susan Shedd, the author's aunt, became director of one of these orphanages in 1922. This story of how she organized over 300 children (including Samira and Benyamin) into families and their long walk home is an example of brilliant leadership and compassion. 

Haya Leah Molnar's memoir, "Under a Red Sky," depicts her childhood in Communist Bucharest, Romania in the 1950s. Molnar is the adored only child in a family of seven adults living together in a crowded apartment. Given the birth name Eva Zimmermann, Molnar's family did not reveal her Jewish identity until they prepared to immigrate to Israel and later to the United States where Molnar now lives and writes. Eva's father was a filmmaker who survived both Nazi labor camps and the Russian gulag. Her grandfather had owned the best movie house in Bucharest, closed now that the communists did not allow American film propaganda. In spite of government oppression, secrets and spies, there is much warmth, humor and love in the extended household.

Looking over the shelves of new items, I came to realize that this summer has been too nice for me to do much reading as I’ve wanted to be outside doing various activities. Because I’ve been away from the shelves, there were several titles that caught my interest to put into this article. I  hope the selections I’ve highlighted below spark interest in others who have also enjoyed our excellent U.P. summer out-of-doors and are now finding inside time to read again.

The word “fireworks” jumped out at me in the title of first-time author Jeffrey Stepakoff’s book entitled FIREWORKS OVER TOCCOA. As a lover of firework displays, I thought this might be about July 4^th celebrations over a small town; but, far from it. Lily Davis is a young woman who married shortly before her husband left for World War II. After days together, he left. Three years later, she awaits his return with mixed feelings. Does she really love him? What will their life be like? Then she meets Jake Russo, a pyrotechnic expert, who is in Toccoa to set up the July 4th fireworks. Their brief encounter brings fireworks into Lily’s life that last throughout her long life.

Author Clive Cussler is at it again with a new novel, LOST EMPIRE, that follows the adventures of husband-and-wife treasure hunters Sam and Remi Fargo.  While vacationing in Tanzania, the Fargos discover a lost artifact from a Civil War ship. The relic is wanted by others from the Mexican government who are willing to kill to get it. Cussler weaves a great mystery as his characters fly from Tanzania to Madagascar, Indonesia and beyond to keep their lives and keep possession of the artifact.

SIMPLY FROM SCRATCH could be a book selection for a new book group at Peter White Public Library. The new book discussion group, Tasty Reads, will begin in September and will be led by PWPL Interlibrary Loan Specialist Shelley Janofski who loves to read and cook. Written by Alicia Bessette, another debut author, the book has Zell (short for Rose-Allen) learning to deal with the loss of her husband in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Although she is not coping too well, Zell reaches out to help her young neighbor, 9 year-old Ingrid, enter a cooking contest. The prize if they win: $20,000 plus the opportunity to meet TV chef Polly Pinch, who Ingrid believes is her real mother. Read this fun novel to find out how they do making their grilled pineapple dessert in the contest. Its recipe is included in the book, too. Try it!

Daniel Silva has a new spy book out entitled THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR. Its storyline follows Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and assassin, in another adventure as he tries to leave his work at the Office. But he cannot; he’s drawn back to search for yet another painting that has been stolen. Worldwide travel, strange secrets and evil men prove to Gabriel that “there are men in the world who will do anything for money.”

Laura Lippman writes another crime-based novel, I’D KNOW YOU ANYWHERE, which grabs the reader instantly. Background material has Eliza Benedict kidnapped and held captive as a fifteen-year-old girl. Somehow she escapes from Walter, a man who was later convicted of rape and murder. Now, twenty-five years later, he contacts her from his death row cell. What does he want? Read this exciting book to find out.

A personal favorite series written by Kathy Reichs adds a new book, SPIDER BONES, that unravels the adventures of Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist.  In this thirteenth story of her escapades, Tempe is trying to solve the mystery surrounding a newly drown victim who is identified as a former MIA who supposedly died forty years earlier in a Huey crash while serving in Vietnam. Things get trickier still when another body is found and is also identified as lost soldier Lowery. This read is a little slow when the official military jargon is involved, but Tempe and Detective Ryan work together to figure out which body really is John Lowery.

The Art Lover’s mystery series adds another title in Hailey Lind’s new book, Arsenic and Old Paint. This volume sees art-forger-turned-art-expert Annie Kincaid busy restoring an old men’s club in the historic Nob Hill area of San Francisco when screams interrupt her and her co-workers. A maid has found a body with a sword in his chest in the old bathtub downstairs. In comes Inspector Annette Crawford from the SFPD to lead the murder investigation. Meanwhile Annie’s mentor, “Uncle” Anton Woznikowicz, shows symptoms of being poisoned with arsenic. More characters are brought in to add story tangents that keep Annie and Annette from hurting one another as they each try to solve the murder.

Most people that have visited the Peter White Public Library have noticed the large collection of DVDs that we have to offer. You can find many new releases on our shelves alongside classic titles. Often overlooked however are themany foreign films here at the library. A lot of people are unsure about watching a foreign movie, and there are several possible reasons. Foreign films are not usually released in theaters here in the United States, so they are unknown.  Sub-titles can be an additional reason; viewers often do not want to read while watching a movie. If these things can be looked past, many classic foreign films can be just as enjoyable as classic English language films.

There are many famous foreign filmmakers represented at the library. Works of legends such as Fellini, Truffaut and Kurosawa can be found. One such director is Ingmar Bergman. Bergman was a Swedish filmmaker whose talent of juxtaposing darkness and despair with hope and optimism earned him nine Academy Award nominations. Three of his movies won Best Foreign Language Film, and in 1971 was given the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. These are a few of Bergman’s finest films that can be found at the library.

Smiles of a Summer Night was the film that first brought Bergman international fame. This comedy about couples on a summer night was popular at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in 1956. Its story should be familiar to some, as it was adapted into a Broadway musical, A Little Night Music, in 1973.

The Seventh Seal was released in 1957 and cemented Bergman’s reputation as a director. It tells the story of a knight returning home from the Crusades and encountering Death, whom he challenges to a game of chess. The knight is brilliantly portrayed by Max von Sydow, who is known to American audiences for performances such as Father Merrin in The Exorcist.

Wild Strawberries earned Bergman his first Oscar nomination for screenwriting, and is considered perhaps his most emotional work. It is the tale of an old man on one last journey across the country to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. Along the way he experiences dreams that fill him with regret and doubt that cause him to question his entire life. This journey of self-discovery stars Victor Sjostrom in his final onscreen role.

The Virgin Spring was the first Bergman film to win Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. This drama of revenge again stars Max von Sydow as the parent of a young girl who is brutally raped and murdered while delivering candles to her church. The criminals, fleeing the scene of the crime seek shelter at the family’s home, and are eventually discovered.

These four films are a great representation of a master filmmaker. Next time you find yourself searching for just the right movie, give one of these a chance. Forget that it’s in the different language, and you won’t regret it.

            This summer has given rise to plenty of popular summer reads; great books for the beach or curling up in an air-conditioned house during the many hot and humid days this year’s summer has had to offer. Definitely popular this year have been action and adventure novels, including Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (now would be a good time to place a hold on it), and the other two books in that trilogy. Listed below are some of the more popular books patrons have been checking out with relish:

            The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown. This is the third book by Brown revolving around the character Robert Langdon. Having already covered the Illuminati and causing a craze with The Da Vinci Code, this book covers the mysterious workings of the Masonic Temple. As usual, Professor Langdon’s expertise in symbology and arcane history is put to the test as he has another puzzle put before him. The newest aspect of this book is that it takes place here in the United States, rather than the older, mysterious realms of Europe. This book is finally off the months long waiting list at the library and is available for those who would like to try it out.

            Pirate Latitudes, by Michael Crichton.  This was a novel found completed after the author’s death two years ago. It is set in the mid 1600s in the Caribbean, and delivers a dashing, and raunchy, tale of privateering by the English towards the Spanish colonial outposts. The characters are all quite colourful and the descriptions given to the settings are very detailed. The start of the book can read a little slow, as the medley of characters are introduced, but it is certainly worth it.  Anyone who has an interest in the golden days of pirates would definitely enjoy this book.

            The Wild Zone, by Joy Fielding.  Nothing is as it seems in Miami. Three men in the Wild Zone bar partake of a bet: who can get the woman drinking pomegranate martinis to go out with them. One man wins, and he and she spend a nice evening at the movies, while one of the losers, temperamental and drunk, follows them. He follows her home, where we are introduced to her husband, Dave, and the man from the bar returns reluctantly to his house. One wonders what “Suzy Pomegranate” is up to, and what is in store for the three men she met at the Wild Zone.

            The 5 Greatest Warriors, by Matthew Reilly. This is the third book in a series by Reilly, narrating the adventures of one Jack West, Jr. Picking up where the last book had ended, we meet Jack as he plummets down after replacing the second of six stones in their vortexes, in an effort to save the world.  For a short while, it looks as though his crew, thinking him dead, have left but he and his small companion are found.  Now it is up to him and his crew to put in place the remaining four stones while trying to beat the bad guys.

            Bed of Roses, by Nora Roberts. This book is definitely a beach read for the romantically inclined.  Second in the “Bride Quartet”, is centred on Emma, a woman who seems to have everything she wants but who longs for romance, and unable to find it.  She finally finds a man who loves her, the brother of one of her oldest and closest friends, and while they find themselves happy the prospect of further commitment causes a rift. A question remains on how they will resolve the issue.

            These books are only a sampling of the more popular books of this past summer, and all are ready for someone to check them out, and others are waiting as well.

            Acclaimed fiction author, Lisa Scottoline, has a collection of humorous essays on our new non-fiction shelf titled, “Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog”, The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman.  Each light-hearted chapter has a way of making you think and laugh and commiserate with the nuances of day-to-day living.  Ms. Scottoline uses family events, pets, holidays, etc., to weave an effortless way into your memories and experiences.  A glass of lemonade, a chair on the porch, and this book, will make your summer day end enjoyably.  Even the jacket cover was so appealing, I wanted to check it out!

            Next, let me tell you about two books on our fine feathered friends, currently in our new-nonfiction selections.  “Bald Coot and Screaming Loon” Adventures in the Curious, Mysterious and Remarkable World of Birds” by Niall Edworthy is a great read for birders.  It’s a beautifully done collection of facts and trivia and helpful information on birds of all kinds.  If you had to study for a Jeopardy show on birds, this would be the book to check out.  There is poetry from Percy Bysshe Shelley and quotes from well-known artists who love birds.  Beautiful sketches abound throughout this lovely read.

            As gardening and raising one’s own livestock becomes more and more popular, our book by Jennifer Megyesi, “The Joy of Keeping Chickens” the ultimate guide to raising poultry for fun or profit, may be one you’d like to check out.  This book can be found in Peter White’s new non-fiction collection.  Lovely color photos abound, with photography by Geoff Hansen.  Getting a brood started, housing, feeding, and protecting your investment, all have a chapter.  Usage of the eggs and meat and a special recipe section should prove very helpful to any first-time keeper of chickens.  Anyone for a dish of  “chicken livers with ramps, raisins, and rhubarb”?

            From raising chickens to raising a daughter…also, in new non-fiction, there is Chuck Barris’ latest book, “Della”, A memoir of my daughter.  For all those who have heard or watched daytime television shows, “The Newly-wed Game”, “The Dating Game”, “The Gong Show”, Chuck Barris was the creator and producer of this popular entertainment.  His memories of his daughter, engaging at times, are also deeply disturbing.  A combination of too little parental involvement, too much money and an abundance of poor choices resulted in Della’s premature death at the age of  36.  This is a cautionary saga of  the effect of drugs, alcohol, fame and absentee parenting.  It’s probably one of the saddest tales I’ve read. 

            Child rearing is still the topic in “The Best Kind of Different”, Our Family’s Journey with Asperger’s Syndrome” by Shonda Schilling, wife of Boston Red Sox pitcher, Curt Schilling. 

Faced with the diagnosis of Asperger’s in Grant, their third child, the author is motivated to seek answers and strategies to help him grow and mature as successfully as possible.  Married to a major league baseball player whose work takes him out of the home frequently, Shonda Schilling has the load primarily on her shoulders.  This book, as well as being a beautiful book about relationships, has tips and resources for those dealing with a diagnosis of Asperger’s in a loved one.  It can be found in Peter White’s new non-fiction section.

            For all those who have read the book, "The Blind Side," or seen the movie with Sandra Bullock, and want to know more about the Tuohy family, check out "In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Poser of Cheerful Giving," by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy.  This book has recently been added to ouyr new nonfiction selections here at Peter White.  If you want inspiration to be more compassionate, here is the book for you!  It's written beautifully with more of the Michael Oher story than could be fit into the movie version on the big screen.

Here at Peter White, magazines are one of the most popular aspects of our collection. Every day, dozens of regulars and visitors alike laugh, learn, and relax while exploring the world through their favorite titles. Some are well known, while others are enjoyed only by a small loyal audience. Here are some selections from the Peter White magazine collection that I have enjoyed and hope you do too.

Produced by the self proclaimed “world wide leader in sports”, ESPN the magazine delivers high quality athletic journalism with witty delivery making it one of the most frequently read magazines at PWPL. ESPN the Magazine is notable for its commitment to excellent graphic design, in and around its articles, as well as for its informative and interesting columnists. Among my favorites are Stuart Scott’s “Two Way” as well as Rick Reilly regular opinion column, “The Life of Reilly”. ESPN the Magazine is published on a biweekly basis.

Written on a more eclectic bent, The New Yorker examines interesting elements of off-beat Americana, news, humor, and social commentary that with its perspective of coming from America’s largest city, acts to give it a unique and dynamic view of our national life as a whole. First published in 1925 as a sophisticated humor magazine, these founding ethos are carried on in the form of the weekly “Shouts and Murmurs” column, in which guest authors get to pick apart aspects of American social and political culture, often to hysterical results. The New Yorker also carries an array of intellectually stimulating book, theatre, and film reviews, as well playing host to sharp sociological insights of Malcolm Gladwell that often surprise, entertain, and inform at the same time. The magazine is also known for its excellent single panel cartoons which dot its pages and are a favorite of mine every time I pick it up.

Ranking among these magazine room standouts, Mental Floss the magazine has irreverent, slightly snarky prose shining like a McDonald’s sign to those starving for information. The magazine that brought the world “12 Essential Talking Points for the Deodorant Enthusiast”, Mental Floss is known for its devotion for random facts, pop-culture phenomena, and for digging up the interesting stories and obscure historical characters you never got to hear in school. Among its columns, “Six Degrees of Ken Jennings” written by the Jeopardy champion of the same name is perhaps among its best. In each column, Jennings makes connections between two completely unrelated historical, cultural, or sociopolitical objects all fewer than 6 steps. If you happen to be looking for a place “where knowledge junkies get their fix”, be sure to check out this magazine, you won’t be disappointed.

If sitting inside makes you restless it might be a good idea to lace up the shoes and pick up an issue of Runner’s World. Pre-dating the running boom of the 70’s, Runner’s World is the preeminent source of running journalism and commentary. Motivation, tips, and tricks gleaned from its pages can be essential and liberating late in a race. Featuring everything from shoe reviews, comprehensive training plans, Q & A with running coaches, and race profiles, Runner’s World is a literal “must-read” for the distance runner. Runner’s World is also notable for not only the depth of its journalism, but also the width, working to appeal and incorporate the interests of the veteran marathoner with that of the first time 5k-er. This magazine’s devoted readers are legion and help make it the leading voice in the running community. Personal favorites from the magazine include the “I’m a Runner” profiles interviewing famous people not normally known for running, as well as Peter Sagal’s (of “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” fame) exquisite running column, “Road Scholar”. Whether you’re running Boston or running to the mailbox, please take time to check this magazine out.

First recommended to me by a co-worker, Humanist magazine delves deep into human understanding and motivations to examine how and why the world works like it does today. Published by the American Humanist Association, the magazine works to apply the principles and philosophy of humanism to the issues of today’s world. Although lesser known than some of these other publications, Humanist delivers cutting edge social and political commentary infinitely relevant to our every day lives. It’s also worth checking into the “Rants and Reason” blog on their website.  The blog has timely and thoughtful analysis of issues in the news, written from a humanist perspective.

Summer art fairs are a great place to purchase handcrafted jewelry, but if you are inspired to create your own designs, the Peter White Public Library is a great place to start.  Some new jewelry related titles have arrived and are available for check out. 

            7000 Years of Jewelry gives a historic perspective of jewelry from the Middle East 5000 BC to Europe 1950 AD.  Stunning photographs, historical information and explanations of techniques are combined by editor Hugh Tait to give an overview of how jewelry has changed through the ages. 

            Vannetta Seecharran teaches contemporary jewelry techniques at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London.  The goal of her book, Contemporary Jewelry Making Techniques, is to get jewelry makers interested in using contemporary materials such as plastic, rubber, fabric, fibers, leather, paper, paper pulp, wood, glass, concrete, metal and wire to create modern designs.  Each chapter discusses a type of  material and the techniques used to create jewelry.  Easy to follow photographs demonstrate how to use the different materials.

            Many UP artists are drawn to copper for creating art.  Sharilyn Miller’s book Contemporary Copper Jewelry provides a wealth of designs for making jewelry from copper wire.  Miller also mixes copper with other metals with a variety of beads to create affordable and striking jewelry.  Her photographs clearly illustrate the techniques used with copper wire.  Photos of the finished product will inspire the craftsperson, and Miller provides projects for every skill level. 

            Knitters who are bored with working with yarn might want to explore Knitted Wire Jewelry by Samantha A. Lopez.  A professional sculptor, Lopez experimented with knitting as a way to create large sculptures with a limited budget for materials.  The outcome is a creative book demonstrating 25 unusual items that can be created by knitting fine 28 or 30 gauge wire. 

            Beadmaille by Cindy Thomas Penkopf brings a new twist to the ancient art of chain maille.  The book is written on the beginner to intermediate level.  It shows the crafter how to combine chain maille and beads for creative and wearable projects.  Easy to follow photos and instructions are included.

            Dale Armstrong is a well-known name in wire working.  Wire Work is best used by an artist with some wire wrapping experience.  She also features other jewelry artists who create the same project with different wires and beads, giving an entirely new look to the same piece.  Beautiful photographs accompany the text for an inspirational book.

            Pearls can be used in a variety of ways and Jean Campbell’s Beading With Pearls provides the beader with unexpected ideas and techniques for using the gems of sea to create a wide variety of jewelry pieces. 

            Making Metal Beads by Pauline Warg presents new options for creating metal beads to customize handcrafted jewelry.  The wide variety of metal beads available to crafters meet the needs of most artists, but for those who want to have creative control over all facets of their jewelry or need a special bead to complete a piece, Wang’s book provides the information needed to create something beyond the ordinary.

            Bead Style magazine is also available at the PWPL.  This monthly publication features a wide variety of jewelry styles and materials.  It provides a wonderful place to gather ideas, techniques and trends in the jewelry world.  The ads are also a great source for finding supplies, tools and materials not readily available in local bead or craft stores.

            The collection of materials on jewelry and jewelry making at the PWPL is continually growing, so artists should find just what they need from the collection.

"Make a Splash! Read!” is the 2010 theme for our Summer Reading & Listening Program which runs June 14 through August 13. Registration begins Monday June 14 at the “Catch the Wave Carnival,” an evening of fun activities, games and refreshments. We also are hosting an adult component to the youth-oriented program called “Water Your Mind…Read!” So register, read, and enter the prize drawings no matter your age. All are welcome.

Toddlers will enjoy Seashore Baby by Elise Broach. This lift-the-flaps board book follows a sunny baby as she enjoys the beach. Older children (and their adults) can use Beachcombing: Exploring the Seashore by Jim Arnosky as a guide to the wonders of beach life. Readers will learn about seashells, crabs, jellyfish, coral, beach birds, and shark teeth. Can you guess which came first—the coconut or the palm tree? Beginning readers will find out what happens to some of that beach sand in Sand to Glass by Inez Snyder.

We mustn’t forget the fairy folk who live in the sea. Daniela Drescher’s In the Land of Merfolk is a gentle and colorful look at the elves, fairies, mermaids, and nymphs who make their homes in the water or on its shores. 

In her picture book Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! April Pulley Sayre points out many of the dangers sea turtles face on land and sea and describes a variety of ways humans can help these turtles survive. Sayre describes the seven species of sea turtles and provides contact information for learning more about helping these rare and endangered turtles.

 Life and death struggles on the sea sometime result in disaster. Centuries later, these disasters yield clues that help us understand history, culture, and biology. In Shipwrecks: Exploring Sunken Cities Beneath the Sea, author Mary M. Cerullo looks at the stories revealed in objects found in shipwrecks. Cerullo also discusses the habitats sunken ships provide for plants and marine animals.

As a child, Hudson Talbott dreamt of New York City and the river flowing around it.  Now living in the Hudson Valley, Talbott introduces young readers to his favorite waterway in River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River. His tribute begins with the glaciers and all the people who settled, traded and traveled along the river. Hudson writes of how the Industrial Revolution and modern industry almost destroyed the life of the river and how that life is being restored through legislation and the efforts of environmentalists and other citizen groups.

River Beds: Sleeping in the World's Rivers by Gail Langer Karwoski teaches young readers how mammals sleep alongside or in some of the world's major rivers from the Mississippi to Australia's Brisbane River. Included is information on beavers, dolphins, capybaras, voles, mink, otters, hippos, and platypuses.

Inspired by tea-picking tales from the high Himalayas, Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham treat us to Cloud Tea Monkeys. While her mother works on the tea plantation, young Tashi plays with a family of monkeys. When mom falls ill and Tashi tries to earn the money to pay the doctor, she realizes she is too small to reach the tea leaves. The monkeys disappear with her basket into the clouds far above the plantation and return with leaves fine enough to please the Royal Tea Taster.

The family cottage in northern Michigan has always spelt summer for a twelve-year-old boy in Sally Derby's first novel, Kyle's Island. This summer, his parents are divorcing and Kyle strives to save the cabin from being sold. Kyle comes-of-age as he grows in understanding of people, change and responsibility.

Rain makes a garden grow. Gardens and the natural world help our children grow. Molly Dannenmaier offers dozens of ideas that encourage children to enjoy the out-of-doors. Learn how to incorporate ponds, sandboxes, paths, furniture and other play areas into adult gardens in A Child's Garden.

When summer rains send you indoors, you might find comfort in a book of poetry and a cup of tea. Classic Poetry selected by Michael Rosen gathers favorite poems from Britain, the United States and Australia. While illustrating the collection, Paul Howard, a self-declared "poetus ignoramus," discovered that "poetry is about life, and that life is, in itself, poetry."

For more information about Peter White Public Library’s Summer Reading & Listening Program call 226-4323 (youth) or 226-4318 (adult) or visit www.pwpl.info. Most libraries sponsor summer reading programs so check out your nearest public library for their program information if you live outside our service area. 

One of these books will win the hearts of second and third graders in Michigan and earn the 2011 Great Lakes Great Books Award from the Michigan Reading Association.  When school starts in the fall, classrooms will read selected books at their grade level and vote on their favorites.  The GLGB books were nominated by students, teachers, and librarians who are interested in quality books for children and teens.  Find out more at www.michiganreading.org under the Student Involvement tab.  Which title would you vote for?

In The Lion’s Share by Matthew McElligott, a dinner party hosted by Lion turns out to be a demonstration of bad table manners by the jungle guests.  When dessert comes, the largest animal cuts the cake in half, eats it and passes the other half down the table to the next dinner guest.  As each animal takes half, there’s merely a crumb left for the ant, and none for the lion.  Ant offers to bring Lion a new cake the very next day.  The other animals realize how greedy they were and try to out-do the ant by doubling the number of cakes each will bring.  This story reads like a folktale that seamlessly works math into the plot.  The warm, earthy watercolor illustrations accurately show sizes and numbers, emphasizing the math without taking over the storyline.

The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane and Herm Auch   There’s a lot of silliness going on with word play such as “eggstacy” and “eggshilarating” which are suitable for Henrietta, a chicken who loves to read and is trying to write a book.  Join her as she goes through the writing process and learns how books are printed.  The digital artwork is enhanced by painted figures and objects, making the illustrations bright and comical.

The Moon Over Star by Dianna Hutts Aston is illustrated by award winning artist, Jerry Pinkney, in soft, understated watercolors.  A young girl’s interest in America’s first manned spaceship to the moon in 1969 recounts the anticipation of many families around the country, just waiting for history to happen.  The story follows her as she makes a spaceship with her siblings and talks to her grandfather who is reluctant to get his hopes up about a successful moon landing.  This bit of historical fiction includes facts about the moon, the names of the astronauts who walked on the moon, and famous newscaster, Walter Cronkite.  Aston’s text is even more fun to read because of the double spacing and free verse style, which may encourage reluctant readers to try small amounts of text at a time.

Carmen Agra Deedy collaborated with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah of Kenya’s Massai tribe  to write 14 Cows for America.  In an act of compassion that crossed cultural lines, Naiyomah interrupted his studies in New York City to travel back to Africa to ask the elders’ blessing on a gift for the people of the U.S. after the September 11^th plane crashes in New York City.  The gift turns out to be a cow, one of the most valuable commodities among the Massai.  The story is touching, but the illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez are even better!  The African landscape, animals, and people are drawn to make the faces look as lifelike as photographs.  The colors are extra rich, inviting the eye to explore every hue and tone across the page.  The combination of story and art is outstanding!

 Pemba Sherpa by Olga Cossi is a universal story about brother and sister relationships and the cultural expectations placed upon them because of gender.  High in the Himalayas, seven year-old Yang Ki follows her brother around, training to become a Sherpa, even though guides and porters are traditionally boys.  One morning Yang Ki disobeys Pemba’s command to stay home and ends up a heroine because of her quick action and determination to save her brother when he loses his footing on a mountain path.  Readers are introduced to Tibetan life through the main characters and the artwork by Gary Bernard.  The srtiking watercolor and ink drawings carry readers to the windy mountain tops of Tibet, where they join the adventures of Pemba and Yang Ki.

Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock is a nonfiction treasure about the ingenious ways bubbles are used in nature.  The water shrew traps bubbles under its feet to run across the water.  Herring communicate with other herring by blowing audible bubbles out of their backsides, information that contributes to the unusual title of the book.  In addition to the bubble information, there are facts about the animals who use bubbles.  Did you know that the sea otter grooms bubbles into its fur to keep warm?  A glossary in the back of the book educates readers further with definitions for science terms like “baleen plates” and “blowholes” (both found on whales).

Two more GLGB selections are Red Sings From Treetops: A Year in Colors, a book of poetry by Joyce Sidman and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, A Marine & A Miracle by Major Brian Dennis.  All can be found in the Youth Services area on the lower level of the library.

New music CD’s arrived at PWPL recently that are by some old, familiar artists as well as new and younger artists. There are several “re-issues” with original artists’ music that has been re-mastered digitally to enhance the music quality. While the older songs bring back memories to those 50-ish in age, the new sounds of well-known artists is nice to the ears, too. Below are some of those special, old favorites, some new music by known artists plus some new music by newer songsters.

my Grant has been around singing for years with her lovely, uplifting voice raised in Contemporary Christian songs and music. PWPL just added a re-mastered release of her 1997 CD entitled “Behind the Eyes.” After listening to the older familiar songs, it has me anxiously waiting for her new CD album to arrive. (Yes, I’ve put it on order.)

If you are a movie buff and go to the movies, you may want to check out a new soundtrack, “Crazy Heart,” from the movie of the same name. This CD has songs by various artists ranging from Waylon Jennings, The Delmore Brothers, Jeff Bridges and Ryan Bingham singing the theme from the movie.

Country singer Alan Jackson has a new CD entitled “Freight Train.” Although he’s been around for nearly twenty years with hit after hit, Jackson still loves to sing. This is his 18^th CD which features 12 new songs, one of which, “Hard Hat and a Hammer,” has become a hit single already.

“Live at the Troubadour” is the name of a new CD by Carole King and James Taylor. The two artists have worked together twice before, but it took the 50^th anniversary of a West Hollywood, CA club called the Troubadour to bring them together again. This CD is a compilation of the three-night, six-show gig. You’ll love Taylor’s slightly-changed voice as it sings “Carolina on My Mind” and brings back memories. Ms. King’s song of “So Far Away” holds special meaning in the hearts of many military spouses. You can catch this duo performing songs from this CD “live on TV” next Friday (June 18, 2010) as they are next on Today’s Toyota’s Concert Series.

Jon Secada, a protégé of Gloria Estefan, remains true to his Latin roots with his remixing of classic songs to become his own in his latest CD,  “Classics.” Formally educated (B.A. and M.A.) in vocal jazz performance, Secada made use of an orchestra, lots of Latino percussion and unique undertones to create a unique collection of twelve songs.

Celebrated solo artist and one-time voice of the group 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant has finished “a daunting task: she's adapted 19th and 20th century British and American poetry - well-known and obscure works, anonymous rhymes, children's lullabies… and fashioned 40 new poem-songs from these words.” The resulting CD “Leave Your Sleep” was recorded with nearly 125 musicians from varied music backgrounds ranging from Cajun jazz, chamber music, R&B, Celtic, reggae and country. This eclectic collection of 26 songs on two discs is Merchant’s first studio album in six years.

Willie Nelson’s latest CD contains 15 tracks of classic Americana music. On “Country Music,” Nelson worked with such musicians as T Bone Burnett, banjo master Riley Baugus, and double bassist Dennis Crouch to create new arrangements of old Country classics.

Irish music is made new with the female ensemble known as Celtic Woman on their new CD entitled “Songs for the Heart.” Under the direction of  David Downes, these women’s voices.

Summer travel time is here.  If you’ll be making a road trip this summer or just need something to entertain or enlighten you while traveling to work, the Peter White Public Library has a wide selection of books on CD, audiocassette, or in downloadable audio format to check out and take along with you.  Some of the new titles staff has enjoyed include:

The Swimsuit by James Patterson. Ben Hawkins, a former L.A. cop turned reporter and author, travels to Hawaii to look into the disappearance of model Kim McDaniels, who has fallen victim to a sadistic fiend who calls himself Henri Benoit. Ben meets with Kim's distraught parents, but the investigation soon runs into dead ends, even as the body count rises.  Reader Christian Rummel transports listeners to a chilling new territory where the collision of beauty and murder transforms paradise into a place of unspeakable horrors.  Available from PWPL as a CD book (6 discs) and a downloadable audiobook.

The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi. In the wake of his death after a long battle with stage four pancreatic cancer, Swayze's memoir offers new information on his heroic fight as well as his legendary career in Hollywood. Along with his wife, Lisa, Swayze recounts his childhood and his first acting experiences as well as his romantic life and personal battles. The writing is as raw, intense, and honest as it gets, and hearing Swayze's voice once more is deeply moving. Available from PWPL as a CD book. 5 discs.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. Enzo, a lab terrier mix, rescued by Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver, knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul. Through Denny and his family, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope as only a dog could tell it.  Read by Christopher Evan Welch.  Available from PWPL as a CD book.  6 discs.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.  Read by Edwina Wren. In 1996, Hanna Heath, a young Australian book conservator is called to analyze the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a priceless six-hundred-year-old Jewish prayer book that has been salvaged from a destroyed Bosnian library. When Hanna discovers a series of artifacts in the centuries old volume, she unwittingly exposes an international cover up. Brooks, has turned the intriguing but spare history of this precious volume into an emotionally rich, thrilling fictionalization that retraces its turbulent journey. Available from PWPL as a CD book. (12 discs) and as a downloadable audiobook.

The Lightning Thief, Volume 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.  Read by Jesse Bernstein.  Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: he is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: his father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus. This first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of epic proportions.  The whole family will enjoy listening to this story available at PWPL as a CD book.  8 discs.

Jacqueline Winspear’s new title in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series The Mapping of Love and Death has been eagerly awaited.  Again read by Orlagh Cassidy, the story, set in 1932, centers on Michael Clifton, a young American cartographer during the Great War, whose remains turn up in a French field. Evidence suggests to Maisie that Michael, rather than dying in a shell blast, was murdered. Michael's parents arrive in London with letters from an unnamed English nurse that raise disturbing questions about the nurse's relationship with their son. Maisie embarks on a search for this woman, following a trail that leads to Chatham, home of the School of Military Engineering, which Michael attended. Her inquiries, and the stunning discovery that Michael Clifton was murdered in his trench, unleash a web of intrigue and violence that threatens to engulf the soldier's family and even Maisie herself.  Available at PWPL as a CD book. 8 discs.

           A light, frothy new novel by Christian fiction author, Tracey Bateman, will help you pass some enjoyable hours this month.  “You Had Me at Goodbye” is set in New York City, and chronicles the exploits of aspiring book editor, Dancy Ames.  Dancy’s quest to publish her own work, along with her concerns for her roommates, their careers and love life, fill the pages with humor, compassion and everyday conflicts.  The addition of a little romance in the form of Dancy’s brother’s best friend, British editor, Jack Quinn, keeps the plot fun and lively.  Can Dancy end up forgiving Jack when he snatches her dream job away?  There’s plenty of enjoyable banter as the group of characters cluster for lattes in Nick’s Coffee Shop, where the proprietor takes a fatherly interest in Dancy’s dilemmas.  You’ll find this book in our new fiction section. 

            “Susan Boyle:  Dreams can come true” by Alice Montgomery is a new non-fiction selection about the English singing sensation seen on television and the internet.  By now, most of us have seen and heard Susan sing the song “I Dreamed a Dream”, which sent a panel of English judges into astonished cheers.  The 48 year old spinster, who struggled with learning disabilities and lived in public housing with her aged mother, became an overnight sensation.

This book is the first attempt to profile Susan’s humble beginnings, her rise to meteoric fame, and her attempts to cope with the changes to her life.  If you think you would like to read about Susan’s rags to riches tale, check this biography out!

            Romanian immigrant, Mariana Pasternak, tells a tale of friendship and loss, in “The Best of Friends”, also in new non-fiction at our library this month.  Mariana tells of her escape from the then, Communist-run Romania, as a young adult.  Her desire to lead the life of an intellectual and have choice and freedom, cause her to leave her family behind and escape to Vienna and finally, to America.  She meets and marries another political refugee who works as a doctor in Connecticut.  Together, they are enjoying a life of privilege and success, when they meet neighbors, Martha Stewart and her husband Andy.  The couples grow close and do many activities together from antiquing to elegant dinner parties.  However, with the break-up of both marriages, Martha and Mariana forge a tighter bond than ever with each other.  This book takes a look at friendships between women and the life of the wealthy.  Ultimately, however, Martha and Mariana’s friendship comes apart, and the writer reflects on the loss this entails.  Mariana’s memories of the good and bad moments in her friendship with Martha are fascinating and keep you turning pages late at night!

            Jamie Oliver is a chef who can be seen regularly on television and he has produced a beautiful new cookbook called, “Jamie’s Food Revolution”, Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals”.  Head to our new non-fiction section for this wonderfully photographed guide for the kitchen.  The pictures will send you packing to the grocery store to pick up what you need for his recipes.  They look absolutely delicious.  Directions are simple and ingredients do not appear costly.  There are lots of comfort food recipes like “Baked French Potatoes”, “Bolognese Sauce”, and “Ground Beef Wellington”.  There are sections for veggies, salads, soups, main dishes and desserts.  You’ll enjoy cooking Jamie’s way!

Get wrapped up in a new mystery from Peter White Public Library on your long Memorial Day weekend.

In The Shadow of Gotham by Stepanie Pintoff is the award-winning tale of Detective Simon Ziele.  After reeling from the tradegy of losing his wife in the General Slocum ferry disaster in 1904, Ziele transfers to a police department north of New York to escape the city and his memories.  But after arriving at the quiet country town, he’s faced with the most shocking homicide of his career.  The Detective soon finds himself hunting for the killer while running from his own demons.

Check out a Jack Doyle mystery, the Significant Seven by John McEvoy to read the tale of seven middle-aged friends who parlayed a huge horse bet win into a racing syndicate thanks to the racing and stud career of a horse named the Badger Express. Seven years after their initial win, the syndicate members are being systematically dying. When Jack becomes suspicious about their deaths, he also becomes a target.  

Michael Harvey provides suspense for your reading diet in The Third Rail.  The city of Chicago is under siege with seemingly random killings, a chemical weapons attack and the potential for mass destruction ticking away.  Cynical cop turned private investigator Michael Kelly is on the scene and takes the case to find the killers while being drawn back to his own past. 

Mercy Killing by Stephen Solomita is a contemporary noir mystery.  When a woman who has been in a vegetative state for five years dies, New York detective Lenny Shaw determining if victim’s husband is a grieving widower or a cold killer.  When Lenny learns that Joyce's father stands to benefit if Charles is convicted of murder, the detective realizes the case isn't so clear-cut.

Vienna Secrets, the fifth Max Liebermann mystery by Frank Tallis, finds the psychiatrist once again wrapped up in a police investigation. This time headless bodies start appearing in front of statues all across Vienna and Dr. Liebermann learns both victims were members of a shawdowy anti-Semitic group.  His investigation draws him to an underworld of virulent racists and of kabbalah followers while he reconsiders the path of his own life. 

Anna Dean's Bellfield Hall or The Observations of Miss Dido Kent takes readers on a journey back to September 1805 when Dido arrives at Bellfield Hall at the request of her niece whose fience has suddenly broken their engagement and disappeared.  Soon,  Dido learns of an even more distressing event - the discovery of the body of an unknown woman on the property.

Music lovers who enjoy PWPL's excellent CD collection might want to walk a few yards over to the DVD shelves, where exciting live-performance films can be found. Here are a few that should inspire some dancing:

A truly international singer, Manu Chao delivers his musical messages of peace and breaking down borders in at least seven different languages, sometimes within the same song. Combining world music, rock and electronica, Chao's wildly exuberant live performance with Radio Bemba Sound System is energizing to experience. Check out the concert DVD Babylonia en Guagua not just for the performance, but also to enjoy the almost magical audience participation. The fascinating second part of this 2-disc set follows the singer as he visits indigenous areas and guerilla camps in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.

Film critic Leonard Maltin called Stop Making Sense "one of the greatest rock movies ever made," but there are plenty of music fans who consider it, hands-down, the best ever. Director Jonathan Demme's unobtrusive camera perfectly captured the Talking Heads' kinetically energetic, eccentrically brilliant live performance over the course of four L.A. concerts. The concert begins as singer David Byrne enters the stage with only a boom box to accompany him on "Psycho Killer", and it takes five more numbers to assemble the entire band for an exhilarating "Burning Down the House." With Byrne stumbling around in his now-legendary big suit and slapping himself in the face as he sings, you don't have to be a Talking Heads fan to enjoy this party.

Prince received an Oscar for the song score of his film Purple Rain. Check out the CD and give it a listen, but don't miss out on the sizzling live-concert numbers featured on the DVD. The film's thin plot is really just a vehicle for Prince's red-hot performances, with some great musical competition from Morris Day and the Time.

Interested in learning more about a topic but are too busy to read a 300-page book? Why not choose a non-fiction picture book filled with fascinating bits of information interspersed with beautiful illustrations or photographs but is one tenth the length? Here are some brand-new non-fiction picture books available in the youth services department.

The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During The Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix tells a courageous but little known story from WWII. Grim watercolors paint the picture facing Jewish families living in Paris in the 1940’s when Vichy Police began rounding up Jews for deportation. In Paris, help came from an extraordinary place: the Grand Mosque, the center of the Islamic Community in France.  Beneath the Grand Mosque was a maze of subterranean tunnels, rooms, burial chambers and passageways that led from the mosque to the River Seine, if you knew the way.  The Kabyle Resistance guided allied pilots, parachutists, escaped prisoners of war, Resistance fighters and Jews out of Paris along this route to freedom.

My Chinatown: One Year in Poems by author and illustrator Kam Mak alternates colorful, realistic paintings with seasonal poems that capture the sights, sounds, and feelings of a young boy newly emigrated from Hong Kong to Chinatown. Kam Mak grew up in New York’s Chinatown and received a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of Visual Arts.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis. Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery tells the story of a dog of war whose life was changed forever when Major Brian Dennis and his ten marines stopped by to inspect a border fort in western Iraq.  Each time Brian’s team revisited the fort, the bond between Nubs and Brian deepened as they shared meals, stood watch together, and rested in between shifts. The day Brian climbed into a Humvee to return to his command outpost, Nubs refused to be left behind ever again. Over the next two days, Nubs walked 70 miles across a frozen desert to rejoin Brian at his new military outpost. With money raised by family and friends, Nubs’ travels eventually brought him to San Diego, California where he lives with Brian Dennis today.  

Eat Right! by Matt Doeden is a book that teaches youngsters how to make good food choices based on sound nutritional facts.  Brief discussions of key food topics, such as vitamins and minerals, digestion, and exercise put the spotlight on developing healthy habits for life.

A Boy Named Beckoning: The True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma, Native American Hero is a story adapted and illustrated by Gina Capaldi.  A young Yawapati boy named Wassaja was five years old when he was kidnapped by Pima Indians and sold to Carlo Gentile, a photographer documenting western life in 1871.  The boy, rechristened Carlos Montezuma, was an avid student, graduating from high school by age 14, from college by age 17, and from medical school by age 22. His first job was working as a reservation doctor, but Dr. Montezuma soon realized he needed to be a role model for his people and so he returned to Chicago where he set up a medical practice, conducted medical research and taught at three Chicago medical schools. Throughout his life, Dr. Montezuma lobbied the government to better the lives of Native Americans. In 1916 his speech, “Let my people go…” was read on the U.S. Senate floor.

If I Had a Hammer: Building Homes and Hope with Habitat for Humanity by David Rubel tells the stories of people world-wide whose lives have been touched for the better by Habitat for Humanity. Did you know that Habitat for Humanity’s record for building a house was three hours, twenty-six minutes and forty-six seconds? That record was set on December 17, 2002 in Shelby County, Alabama and is one of many facts you’ll learn from David Rubel’s book.

In Young Gardener, Stefan and Beverley Buczacki, a British husband and wife team, seek to answer four questions across the gardening year: What’s going on in the garden? What’s happening to the plants? What can I do in the garden? What projects are there for kids to do? Bright photographs, simple explanations, and black and white drawings throughout the book make gardening tasks easy to understand for young gardeners everywhere.

Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus by Zoticus de Lesseps, 1863 by Emily Hawkins provides a porthole view of ocean life as seen by one early oceanographic explorer.  Botanical and zoological sketches, miniature books, maps and letters, and geology samples bring this underwater adventure vividly to life. From Moby Dick to the Great Barrier Reef, readers will enjoy coming along for the journey.

The Peter White Public Library offers these new non-fiction books.

Not Without Hope by Nick Schuyler.
Nick Schuyler is a veteran personal trainer. In February 2009, Schuyler and a number of football players took a fishing trip off the coast of Florida. The outing went wrong when the inexperienced sailors made a critical mistake. This is a harrowing tale of friendship, resolve, and courage.
New Non-Fiction 796.332 SC

American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood by Marc Eliot.
Clint Eastwood went from gas station attendant, to TV actor, film star, and director. From his roles in 1960s spaghetti westerns, to portraying Dirty Harry, numerous other roles, and his behind the camera work, he has had continual success in the film industry. From the same author who wrote biographies on Walt Disney and Bruce Springsteen.
New Non-Fiction 921 EA

The Awakener: A Memoir of Kerouac and the Fifties by Helen Weaver.
The beat scene of the 1950s was made famous by Kerouac’s semi-autobiographical fiction, including such tomes as On the Road and The Subterraneans. Helen Weaver met the cast of these books, and fell in love with Kerouac himself. This is the story of Kerouac and his friends, who forged the written record of the beat generation, and of Weaver’s experiences in that culture.
New Non-Fiction 921 KE

When giants walked the earth: a biography of Led Zeppelin by Mick Wall.
If the 1970s was a decade of excess, Led Zeppelin was the most excessive rock and roll outfit going. Author Mick Wall gives the chronological history of the band.
New Non-Fiction 780.92 LE

Man of constant sorrow: my life and times by Ralph Stanley, with Eddie Dean.
Ralph Stanley’s life spans the recorded history of bluegrass music. Stanley had a humble start in southwestern Virginia, and much of his success came to him at an older age. Also touches on the mountain culture Stanley is rooted in.
New Non-Fiction 780.92 ST 

Dogtown: Death and Enchantment in a New England Ghost Town by Elyssa East.
A narrative history of Dogtown, a colonial settlement near Gloucester, Massachusetts. Abandoned in the 1830s, the town was not empty for long. It became a place of ill repute, including rumors of witchcraft. Even after the buildings crumbled, the area retained a reputation as a location one did not want to visit, culminating in a notorious 1984 murder.

Recent mild weather and longer days have stirred yearnings for flourishing flowers and vegetables ripe for the picking. Hold off on that urge to dig up the garden and set out the tender transplants a little while longer by browsing some of Peter White Public Library’s newest gardening books. Find these items on the new nonfiction book shelves in the circulation lobby on the library’s main floor.Enriched Content

In Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-fail Plans for Small Organic Garden, author Barbara Pleasant, a master gardener and award-winning garden writer, takes the guesswork out of growing food. In this book for beginning gardeners, she explains in simple, straightforward language how to start, maintain, and expand a bountiful vegetable garden in small, manageable spaces.

Incorporating fruit trees, shrubs and vines into your garden space pays off double dividends of fresh produce outside your door as well as spring flowers and multi-season appeal. Landscaping With Fruit : A Homeowner's Guide by Lee Reich describes how to achieve "luscious landscaping" by including all the basics of landscaping with fruit - site analysis, climate assessment, understanding soil and sun, plant selection, and optimizing growing conditions. Also included is an encyclopedia of 38 plants with information on hardiness, size, potential pests, special care and pruning, harvesting, and visual appeal.  

Author Toby Hemenway, an associate editor of “The Permaculture Activist,” gardens in Southern Oregon and treats gardens as backyard ecosystems. In Gaia's Garden: a Guide to Home-scale Permaculture, he includes organic garden design illustrations, useful information on the differences between immature and mature ecosystems, a handy garden designer's checklist, and suggests plants for attracting wildlife to your backyard.

In The Gossler Guide to the Best Hardy Shrubs, author Roger Gossler describes more than 350 plant choices for your garden based on his expertise in the nursery business. For years the Gossler family of Oregon has been supplying some of the most exciting woody plants to gardeners at every level of experience, from novice to expert. Subjects covered in this book range from climate conditions to care and maintenance. Included is an A to Z plant directory providing plenty of new varieties to make your landscape unique.

For the cooks with green thumbs, Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your own Backyard by Geri Harrington helps fight the rising cost of groceries with information on growing and preparing your own fresh produce. The author gives plant-by-plant advice on planting, growing, and harvesting more than 40 Chinese vegetables and herbs, from the familiar snow pea to the still exotic Chinese pumpkin. For every plant, the reader will also find simple recipes and tips for culinary uses. An extensive seed source list provides information on reliable retailers for the primary plants and many delicious varieties.

Readers concerned about the environment will enjoy Nature's Second Chance : Restoring the Ecology of Stone Prairie Farm, ecologist Steven Apfelbaum, details the thirty years spent transforming his eighty-acre Stone Prairie Farm in Wisconsin into a biologically diverse ecosystem of prairie, wetland, spring brook, and forest. The author captures his intimate relationship with the land and shows how the restored farm is serving as a model for the human community around him. Following in the footsteps of the best selling classic, A Sand County Almanac by renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, Apfelbaum’s work is becoming a centerpiece for the modern conservation and ecological restoration movements in America and around the world. 

Have fun in the garden and help to instill the love of nature in young people with Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars : Grandma's Bag of Tricks by Sharon Lovejoy. Chock full of outdoor activities that celebrate the love of the outdoors, caregivers, parents and grandparents will find inspiration on spending quality time with their youngsters, rediscovering their own sense of wonder of the natural world through the eyes of a child. This book is an ecologically inspired guide that combines more than 130 green activities with timeless grandparenting advice.

To spruce up your indoor living space, check out P. Allen Smith's Bringing the Garden Indoors:Containers, Crafts, and Bouquets for Every Room for fresh ideas. From his monthly segment on the "Today" show to his own syndicated garden programs, people look to Smith for ways to design, update, or reinvent their outdoor garden spaces. In this book, Smith turns his attention to the indoors using the bounty of the garden to decorate the home.

Every January the American Library Association recognizes the most outstanding books for children and teens published in the United States the previous year. 

The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the book deemed the most distinguished picture book for children. The 2010 Caldecott Medal went to Jerry Pinkney for The Lion and the Mouse, a retelling of Aesop’s fable about a kindness repaid. Pinkney sets his version of the fable in the Serengeti. A portrait of the lion’s massive golden face fills the book’s cover from edge to edge. The small mouse appears on the title page, sitting in the dried mud of the lion’s paw print. Told through luminous illustrations with a few animal sounds lettered on the pages, this book is a treat for the whole family.

Two titles were named as honor books. In All the World written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee, readers follow two children and their parents throughout a day. Charming, cozy illustrations drawing on everyday objects and events and a poetic text celebrate our connections with the whole world. 

In Joyce Sidman’s Red Sings From Treetops, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, a triangle-shaped female dressed in changing colors and her white dog tour readers through the seasons from spring when "red sings from treetops" through winter where "grays and brown hold hands." Readers of all ages will be intrigued by the free verse text and the detailed, fanciful mixed-media illustrations.

The Newbery Medal honors the most distinguished writing for young people. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead won the 2010 Newbery. The book is an intriguing mix of mystery, time travel, realism and fantasy. Best friends Miranda and Sal are sixth graders living in Manhattan in the late 1970s. Chapter headings reflect Miranda's mother's upcoming appearance on the TV show The $20,000 Pyramid. Why does Sal stop speaking to Miranda after he is punched in the stomach? Who is the homeless man hanging out on their corner? Where are the tiny notes Miranda receives coming from and how does the writer know her future? Don’t worry, these themes and more merge into an ending that will make your heart pound. 

Four titles received Newbery Honor status for 2010. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose is the story of the teenage girl who refused to give up her seat in a bus to a white woman in Montgomery, Alabama just nine months before Rosa Parks took her famous stance. A year later, Colvin acted as a plaintiff in the court case that eventually integrated the bus system in Montgomery. Hoose’s book tells the story of a courageous young woman who fought for racial justice and an end to Jim Crow. 

Another brave heroine who fights injustice can be found in Jacqueline Kelly's novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate. Eleven year-old Calpurnia Virginia Tate prefers books, science, and exploring the woods and river with her naturalist grandfather to the domestic duties her mother favors. Callie struggles against the limitations placed on girls and women by their families and society near the turn of the 20^th century in her rural Texas community. 

Another work of historical fiction, Rodman Philbrick’s The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, is set during the American Civil War. Homer Figg sets off to find his older brother who has been illegally sold to the Union Army in place of a rich man’s son. Homer’s search concludes at the Battle of Gettysburg. Both funny and tragic, Philbrick deals with the horrors of war and the injustice of slavery yet allows Homer to relate his adventures in a way that “never lets truth stand in the way of a good yarn.” 

Grace Lin incorporates elements of traditional Chinese folk and fairy tales and her own full page colorful illustrations in her novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Minli and her family live in a village near Fruitless Mountain.  Full of her father’s fantastic tales of the Old Man of the Moon, Minli sets off on a journey to find him. She hopes to ask how her family’s fortunes can improve. Joined by a dragon that cannot fly, Minli meets many strange creatures whose stories change the question she asks of the Old Man of the Moon. More than her family’s fortunes are thus changed. 

The Sibert Award goes to the most outstanding book of information. This year's winner is Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone. An inspiring story of the "Mercury 13", a group of pioneering women who passed the physical and psychological tests required by NASA to become astronauts but were kept out of the space program because of their gender. They became role models for the next generation of women who not only dreamed of becoming astronauts but did so.

Three titles were named Sibert Honor books. Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice mentioned above and The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer's Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani. This book describes the process by which the Switzer brothers developed the first fluorescent paint able to be seen in daylight. Originally meant to enhance Joe's magic act, Day-Glo paint was used by the military during World War II. Day-Glo colors gradually brighten the cartoon illustrations. Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca recounts the first moon landing in  brief, poetic text and accurate illustrations. Floca encompasses the astronauts' preparation, technology, ground support, and the emotions of those watching from Earth.

Youngsters and their families can celebrate the arrival of a new author, Boni Ashburn, who features dragons, knights, and a royal family in her first book, Hush Little Dragon, published in 2008.  Mama Dragon's quest to find nutritious snacks that her baby likes is a common problem for most parents - even those who aren't dragons.  Therfhyming text is easily sung to the well-known tine of "Hush, Little Baby."  Medieval architecture and lifestyle are revealed through Kelly Murphy's whimsical illustrations in deep hues of acrylic color.

Ashburn and Murphy’s second book is a March 2010 release of Over at the Castle, a medieval counting book that follows the lines of the traditional poem and song "Over in the Meadow."  Once again, the vivid illustrations capture a medieval time period complete with villagers going about their daily occupations.  Did I forget to mention they have dragons for neighbors?  Both books are suitable for children ages 3-8.

Boni Ashburn will be at the Peter White Public Library, in person, on Saturday, March 13th, 2:00 PM, for a book release party and book signing.  Snowbound Books will have both books available for purchase at the event.

Another childrens book author, Lisa Wheeler, will be in Marquette the week of May 3-7 for the Young Authors program in Marquette and Alger counties.  She also has a new release in March titled, Dino-Baseball.  It’s the third in a series of sports books that began with Dino-Hockey.  A community of dinosaurs, very much like any neighborhood filled with children, divide into teams to play a game of hockey.  The Meat-eaters and Veggiesaurs battle it out on the ice in rhyming verse.  The dinosaurs are correctly identified with names on their jerseys, thanks to illustrator, Barry Gott, who moves readers through the game with animated (sometimes fierce) expressions and body language.  At the end of the book, the dinosaurs decide to try soccer, resulting in Dino-Soccer, and then baseball, and we can only guess what the next sport will be. 

Wheeler’s been writing books since the 2001 release of Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion, a collection of poems and re-written nursery rhymes that pick up the story of a picnic in the countryside with sheep family members ranging from Felice, Wooverton, and Aunt Ewegenia to Harry, who’s really a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  The ink and watercolor illustrations by Frank Ansley are full of humor for readers of all ages.

One of my favorites is Mammoths on the Move, a nonfiction title by Wheeler, that follows a herd of wooly mammoths on their annual migration from north to south.  Their difficult journey is brought to life by the spectacular scratchboard and watercolor illustrations of Kurt Cyrus.  The basic snowy backgrounds throughout the book are varied by color tinting, and always feature the very detailed and eye-catching drawings of the wooly mammoth.

Lisa Wheeler’s other picture books include Jazz Baby, Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum,  Porcupining, One Dark Night, Sailor Moo, Castaway Cats, Hokey Pokey and Boogie Knights.  Holiday favorites are Uncles and Antlers and Where, Oh Where, is Santa Claus? Find them all in the Youth Services area on the lower level of the library.

Need a good book to curl up with, but want to learn, too? The Peter White Public Library recently got a shipment of new non-fiction books that can fill both requirements. Come in and pick out something from the wide variety that covers topics from Miss Manners’ views on weddings, to a book about Arlington National Cemetery through self-help books about Blackberry use, crafts and beyond. 

OVER HERE! New York City during World War II by Lorraine B. Diehl is a terrific book filled with lots of black & white pictures. It includes an index of the people, places and “things” found or going on in New York City during the war. NYC served as a center of action on the U.S. home front during WWII  as people came into or left the States for Europe. Ms. Diehl, a current New Yorker, writes reminiscences of famous locals Walter Cronkite, Barbara Walters, Angela Lansbury and others as she tells stories of a blackout in NYC and gas masks made for children that looked like Mickey Mouse masks for Halloween.  

Brian Brett wrote the next highlighted book entitled  TRAUMA FARM : a rebel history of rural life which was winner of the Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Non-Fiction Prize for 2009. Brett writes about his own experiences at the real Trauma Farm on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada. He tends vegetables in a garden, fruit in orchards as well as maintaining a small animal collection of cows, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs. While enjoying the life on his own small, family farm, he speaks of the many challenges faced by the small farmer.

BEYOND THE HOMESTRETCH : what I’ve learned from saving racehorses by Lynn Reardon covers a new subject for me – that of racehorses after they retire. Reardon quit her office job in 2002 to move to Texas and begin a  non-profit placement agency to find Texas racehorses new jobs after their racing careers were over. She formed LOPE (LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-racers) and has placed 725 racehorses since beginning. Reardon deals with unruly horses, ones with special needs and those with distinct personalities as she retrains them to fit into a normal horse’s life. I believe you’ll enjoy this book. 

Robert M. Poole’s ON HALLOWED GROUND : the story of Arlington National Cemetery  presents an “intimate, behind-the-scenes chronicle of America’s most sacred ground.” He writes about the rows and rows of white headstones standing on over 600 acres that honor the hundreds of American military dead. Poole then gives a dignified accounting of yet another flag-draped coffin’s arrival as it joins others as another chapter in our history. 

MARRIAGE AND OTHER ACTS OF CHARITY : a memoir by Kate Braestrup is another book from this minister who is chaplain to the Maine Warden Service. An easy read, Ms. Braestrup writes again in first person telling the story of her job which allows her to perform weddings and council couples in need of help with their marriage. Widowed young and recently remarried, she brings personal insights into telling what it means to love and wanting to share your life with someone. 

Three new books on technology were also among the new cart finds. Each is a guidebook to its subject matter. MY BLACKBERRY CURVE by Craig James Johnston gives step-by-step instructions with callouts that show the user exactly what to do. Edward C. Baig wrote PALM PRE : the missing manual. Baig follows the usual “Missing Manual” format to guide users through the many talents of this hot, new smartphone. One learns how to use the cellphone, web browser, email and camera features of this device. The final “new” guidebook is entitled THE ipod TOUCH PocketGuide by Christopher Breen. With screen shots and text, Breen has created the necessary aid for new iPod users.

On the lighter side, Marni Jameson’s HOUSE OF HAVOC shares how to get your home under control. Using a style reminiscent of Erma Bombeck, Ms. Jameson helps you to realize what problems you have and how to solve them in the easiest, simple way to create a home that comes right out of television’s HGTV channel. Her home improvement ideas range from de-cluttering the correct way and basic fabric knowledge for durable family use. She presents reasons why your teen wants to re-decorate and offers suggestions to serve as teen decorating rules.

           Historical fiction can focus on many different things.  It may focus on a snapshot of a time period to give a modern person the feel of life in the old days. A story can be more of a political statement that gives a different perspective on a certain event or person. A third focus may place a modern story in different time periods, and play with ideas that could have been. Below are a few examples of these.

            Seen the Glory, by John Hough, Jr., features two brothers in the Civil War, both from the North. Their parents are abolitionists working with the Underground Railroad. The book starts off with the brothers as they were when they were younger, witnessing and helping an escaped slave. Their innocence and complete acceptance of being in an abolitionist family with a free woman as the help never seems to faze them. A few years later, they’ve joined the Union, and are ready to fight for it’s cause. The over all story follows not only them, but their hired help, Rose, and it has scattered flashbacks from many different characters. There should be a word of caution in reading this book. Usage of period language is prevalent and may offend some readers.

            The Autobiography of Fidel Castro, by Norberto Fuentes.  The back story to this book is just as interesting as the title and subject matter. The book was written by a man who, as the summary states in the beginning was a “Man Who Knew Too Much”, and who had to flee Cuba to escape a death sentence. The actual story reads as a true-to-life autobiography. The Prologue and the editor’s note smack of a resigned man, who knows what history and posterity may say of his revolution though he stubbornly holds to the belief that history might look at him more favourably “when all its protagonists are dead”. From there, he moves to a story of childhood. It’s often hard to remember that this is a work of fiction when it is so superbly written from the point of view of a very enigmatic man.

            The White Queen, by Philippa Gregory. Based in her history novels of the royalty of England, The White Queen focuses on the movers and shakers before the famous Tudors, the Plantagenets. More specifically, the book focuses on Elizabeth Woodville and her role in the political battles of her time. It starts off with a meeting of Elizabeth and her political rival, the king of England and member of the York family, to plead her case. She keeps her two sons close, and is well aware of the seductive ways of the young king. The book has an enticing flow that keeps the reader interested and eager to learn more.

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.” If this is true, here are a few selections of books both fiction and non-fiction that you can add to your ever growing garden.

 First Rule, by Robert Crais

Popular crime novelist and author of the Joe Pike Series: The Watchman, Robert Crais is back with the newest release in the Joe Pike series. Pike and Elvis Cole return and are trying to clear the name of Frank Meyer who police believe was killed due to his affiliation with professional crime. Pike shared a past with Meyer though, and he and Cole are determined to set things right.

The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver

With her first novel in nine years, acclaimed author of “The Poisonwood Bible”, Barbara Kingsolver is back with “The Lacuna” a historically based fiction novel. While defending his past to the House of Un-American Activities Committee, Harrison William Shepard recounts, through various mediums, how he came to know Soviet Leon Trotsky and became the house guest of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Too Much Happiness, by Alice Munro

Multi award winner,  Canadian short story writer, and author of “Love of a Good Woman” author Alice Munro returns with another gripping short story collection called “Too Much Happiness”. While Munro has long been known for he breadth of work manages to surprise and satisfy her readers with her newest installment. With stories as varied as wrestling with the cruelty of children to the struggles of a nineteenth century Mathematician who grapples with failure and success Munro is sure to please her loyal fans and gain new readers. 

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Ms. Gilbert's followup to her widely popular non fiction book “Eat, Pray, Love” promises to not disappoint. At the end of her non fiction novel “Eat, Pray, Love”, Gilbert falls in love with Felipe, a Brazilian born and Australian bred man living in Indonesia. In “Committed:, Gilbert reflects on what happens after they fall in love. Both products of divorces, Felipe and Elizabeth agree never to get married, but as circumstances would have it, in order for Felipe to be allowed out of the country they are forced to marry. Gilbert examines the historical roots of the “old” institution and tries to come to peace with marriage, once and for all.

Have a Little Faith, by Mitch Albom

Author of “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and “Tuesday's with Morrie” Mitch Albom is back with his second memoir about finding and sustaining faith in a dark world. Albom, after being asked by a Rabbi from his hometown to write his eulogy, travels back home and spends time with both the Rabbi and a Detroit Pastor who uses his faith to help keep his community afloat. Albom soon observes how these different men similarly use their faith in order to survive and talks with both men on issues of heaven, forgiveness and doubting God's existence. If you enjoyed the tone of Albom's earlier works, you are sure to appreciate his newest story.

The holidays have brought donations from three groups for the library’s collection.  The Social Action Committee of the Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation and the Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice have donated new books and DVDs about Palestine to expand the library’s collection.  Some of the new items include:

Understanding the Contemporary Middle East. 3d ed. Edited by Jillian Schwedler & Deborah J. Gerner contains current essays on the history, politics, economics and culture of the Middle East.

Composed of articles from The Link, a periodical published by Americans for Middle East Understanding, Burning Issues:  Understanding and Misunderstanding the Middle East:  A 40-Year Chronicle examines the ideological genesis of the Israeli state and details the moral, economic and political costs—both foreign and domestic—that Americans pay every day for their uncritical support of a problematic ally.

Classic Palestinian Cuisine by Christiane Dabdoub Nasser contains recipes for over 100 mouth-watering dishes mindful of the need for healthier eating.  Nasser’s helpful tips and delightful anecdotes bring the various areas of Palestine to life.

In addition to books, the donation included three DVDs:Occupation 101; Belonging; Gaza Strip and VHS Jerusalem 1948.

The Lake Superior Art Association donates money each year to add materials.  In addition to the DVD series Bob Ross’ Nine One-Hour Instructional Painting Guides, the library has purchased books including:

Edgar Miller and the Handmade Home:  Chicago’s Forgotten Renaissance Man by Richard Cahan and Michael Williams celebrates Miller who embraced old-world skills in a technological age. A fine painter, a master wood carver, and one of the nation’s foremost stained glass designers, he could sculpt, draw hunting portraits, and was considered a pioneer in the use of graphic art in modern advertising. His artistic genius came together in four artistic studios he built on Chicago’s north side in the 1920s and 1930s. He took rustic brick, crude stone, salvaged tile, found glass, steel, and wood, then “Edgarized” homes with stained glass windows, frescos, murals, tile work, and wood carving. This collection contains over 400 images of the homes, which remarkably remain intact today.

Michael Freeman’s Perfect Exposure: the Professional Guide to Capturing Perfect Digital Photographs takes the photographer through the new ways exposure can be manipulated to allow you to shoot with confidence.

Dorothea Lange:  A Life beyond Limits by Linda Gordon is a deeply moving biography of the greatest documentary photographer of her era.  Those who have been moved by her photographs from the Great Depression will find new insights in this story of her life.

Upper Peninsula Veg Resource has made a second donation of materials on eating raw foods.  Raw Energy:  124 Raw Food Recipes for Energy Bars, Smoothies, and Other Snacks to Supercharge Your Body by Stephanie Tourles and Living Raw Food by Sarma Melngailis provide plenty of recipes for eating raw.  Sarma Melngailis, owner of the glamorous New York City restaurant, Pure Food and Wine, shares her experiences with the eating raw lifestyle.

         Christmas is long over, but the season for baking continues with the latest selection from culinary mystery writer, Joanne Fluke, entitled “Plum Pudding Murder”.  You will find this book in the new mystery section here at Peter White.  The heroine, as always, is Hannah Swenson, owner of Lake Eden, Minnesota’s “The Cookie Jar”, bakery.  The cast of characters includes, Hannah’s two beaus, faithful dentist, Norman and hunky police detective, Mike.  They both lend a hand in helping to solve the latest murder in peaceful, wintry Lake Eden.  If you didn’t have time to relax with a Christmas themed book over the holidays, pick this one up now!  The recipes include everything from a delicious pork loin dish to squash soup and triple threat chocolate cheesecake pie.  Fluke weaves her hilarious cast of characters with such ease through a plot that will keep you guessing right to the end.  This is a fun read for a wintry time of year!
            If you like to cook, but want to start the new year cooking healthy, Annette Sym, will instruct you in “Simply Too Good to be True”, a new non-fiction entry on our shelves.  The pictures which illustrate each recipe are beautiful to behold!  The author, who used to weigh in at 220 pounds, and was nicknamed “Porky”, is photographed in her present slender, svelte shape and instructs in a 28 day weight loss plan.  The recipes look easy, fun and delicious.
            The next three books are also in our new non-fiction aisle.  Courage, strength of character and passion for their work is a common theme in all these true life narratives.
            Journalist and author, Greg Dawson, shares his mother, Zhanna Arshanskaya’s Holocaust memories in “Hiding in the Spotlight”, a musical prodigy’s story of survival, 1941-1946.  Living in the Soviet Union, little Zhanna and her family are slated for extinction by the German occupying forces.  She and her younger sister, escape execution-style killing by posing as orphans and obtaining false identity papers.  Talented pianists before the occupation began, their musical prowess soon comes to light, and they are incorporated into a traveling group of dancers, and singers who entertain the German troops.  This is an amazing tale of  resourcefulness, endurance and sisterly love.  If you love music, you will relate to Zhanna’s passion for the compositions that she performs so exquisitely.
            We all saw the news coverage a year ago in January, of a remarkable emergency landing when Captain Sully Sullenberger managed to land a US Airways flight onto the Hudson River, with no loss of life.  Captain Sullenberger has penned his life story and tells how events that structured his life before the crash enabled him to rise to the occasion so remarkably.  The book is titled, “Highest Duty”, My Search for What Really Matters, and is written with assistance from Jeffrey Zaslow. 
            “Still Growing”, an autobiography by Kirk Cameron completes this trio of inspirational life stories.  Kirk, an actor who became a star as a teen on the TV series, “Growing Pains” fills in the details of his home life, his struggles in being a star of  Hollywood, and how his faith and commitment to Jesus Christ set him apart in the acting community.  It’s an inspiring story of a man given much, and giving back!  He and his wife, actress Chelsea Noble, operate a special summer camp for families of seriously ill children.  It’s a lovely read about a very atypical Hollywood star!

The Peter White Public Library offers these new non-fiction books.

The Arctic gold rush: the new race for tomorrow's natural resources by Roger Howard.
          It is estimated that the Arctic region holds 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil, and 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas. It also contains deposits of gold and other valuable metals and minerals. A number of nations are vying for control of these resources.  New Non-Fiction 320.998 HO

Googled: the end of the world as we know it by Ken Auletta.
          What began as a search engine for probing the internet has expanded by attempting to digitize the whole of human knowledge. What does this mean for content creators, such as authors, publishers, and media when the rules are changed? How is Google changing the way information is created and consumed?  New Non-Fiction 338.761 AU

Waiting on a train: the embattled future of passenger rail service by James McCommons.
          Passenger rail service has become a subject full of nostalgia. Some stations, like the South Shore Depot in Marquette have been preserved and repurposed. Much of this nation’s rail infrastructure has disappeared, or sits abandoned. In other countries, railroads adapted and continue to thrive. In a changing world, could rail service experience a renaissance in the US?  New Non-Fiction 385.22 MC 

Losing the news: the future of the news that feeds democracy by Alex S. Jones.
          Author Jones examines the changing landscape of the news in the age of television, blogs, punditry, and media conglomerates. What do the words “ethics” and “accountability” now mean? An account of why journalism is vital.  
New Non-Fiction 071.3 JO 

Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner.
          Sequel to the 2005 best-seller, Freakonomics. Offers a by-the-numbers perspective into unlikely topics that affect our day-to-day lives. 
New Non-Fiction 330 LE

When China rules the world: the end of the western world and the birth of a new global order by Martin Jacques.
          China is experiencing staggering growth as the country modernizes, and is already the largest market in the world. What would the world look like if China becomes the predominant economic super-power as predicted? Explores political, economic, and cultural aspects of this question.  New Non-Fiction 327.51 JA

          We know not to judge a book by its cover, but what about by its premise? Some books sound like such wildly bad ideas or offer a plot we just can't picture being executed correctly. I have here a book written entirely in gibberish, a lighthearted comedy from a serious prolific writer, and a book in verse about teenagers. They are all fantastic reads, albeit odd sounding.
          If you liked the movie Trainspotting you'll be happy to know it was a book by Irvine Welsh first. You might be less than thrilled to find the book written almost entirely in a Scottish accent. If you can get past the misspellings, a whole host of endearing characters and adventures await you as children of the '80s try to fight boredom with drugs and alcohol.
          Thomas Pynchon has a new book out, a comedy, Inherent Vice. That's right, the elusive and prolific writer has written a lighthearted comedy about a hippie detective known as Doc. Before you assume he's gone off the deep end, this book has everything: comedy, adventure, ex-girlfriends, a plot to kidnap a billionaire, and a very well thought out cast of characters.
          Next we have Tricks by Ellen Hopkins, a book in verse about teenagers who have had all of their choices taken from them and are forced out onto the streets. This is allegedly teen lit, but adults will enjoy it as well. The verse is so free flowing it reads more like a novel and less like a series of poems. The characters are so likeable and realistic, some rich, some poor, some black, some white, some gay and some straight, that this book is quickly devoured in one sitting.