Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis
by Tom Daschle

Barack Obama says, “The American health-care system is in crisis, and workable solutions have been blocked for years by deeply entrenched ideological divisions. Sen. Daschle brings fresh thinking to this problem, and his Federal Reserve for Health concept holds great promise for bridging this intellectual chasm and, at long last, giving this nation the health care it deserves.”

Available now: NEW 362.10973 D26c

I Am Not My Breast Cancer: Women Talk Openly about Love & Sex, Hair Loss & Weight Gain, Mothers & Daughters, and Being a Woman with Breast Cancer
by Ruth Peltason

Ruth ties together the community of women dealing with this disease, offering companionship, hope, and practical ways of meeting the demands of this challenging illness.

Available now: NEW 362.19699449 P368i

Having a Baby...When the Old-Fashioned Way Isn't Working: Hope and Help for Everyone Facing Infertility
by Cindy Margolis (Celebrity spokesperson for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association)

Fertility issues are on the increase, with an estimated 9 million couples per year seeking medical help for conception, and Cindy helps readers navigate the world of infertility treatments and procedures with warmth and optimism. A good introductory book with many sources of information.

Available now: NEW 362.198178 M336h

The Purplebook Green: An Eco-friendly Online Shopping Guide
by Hillary Mendelsohn

The latest Purplebook online shopping book is a guide to the best eco-friendly stores on the web. Just browsing through this book opens up a lot of green possibilities in areas I hadn't even thought of. This is a fun and useful book for anyone who wants to change some online buying habits painlessly.

Available now: NEW 381.142 M522p

You Can Hear Me Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are Connecting the World's Poor to the Global Economy
By Nicholas P. Sullivan

When Muhammad Yunus created Grameen Bank to generate microloans for the poor in Bangladesh, he started a revolutionary new way to empower the economically powerless. Nicholas Sullivan continues the story with GrameenPhone, a partnership between Norway's Telenor, and Grameen Bank.

Available now: NEW 384.535

The African Baobab
By Rupert Watson

I had not thought of Baobabs much since The Little Prince was read to me as a child, which contained a story of another planet that held a lazy man who neglected his Baobab, and the moral lesson to be learned thereof. This amazing book lets us in on the many secrets of the Baobab, its uses and its relatives. They are even more grand than I had imagined as a youngster.

Available now: NEW 583.68 W337a

The Táin : a new translation of the Táin bó Cúailnge
Translated and with an introduction by Ciaran Carson

A new translation of the oldest Irish epic, dating from the 8th century. It tells the tale of the legendary warrior Cú Chulainn in exploits and plot twists filled with heroism, magic, mayhem, and betrayal. The story is similar to The Aeneid and Beowulf.

Available now:NEW 398.2209415

Posted by Martin at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wild Ride: A Graphic Guide Adventure
Written by Liam O'Donnell and illustrated by Mike Deas

On a flight to visit their environmentalist parents who are working to stop a logging company from clear-cutting a remote valley, A plane crash strands Devin, Nadia, and Marcus. Soon the trio discover that they are stranded with the enemy and must rely on their survival skills.

Available now: NEW jGraphic Novel O'Donnell

The Willoughbys
Written by Lois Lowry

Abandoned by their parents, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good old-fashioned children. Then an unquestionably ruthless act sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings. This hilarious parody pays homage to classic works of children's literature.

Available now NEW jFiction Lowry

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums
Written and illustrated by Edward Miller

Taking good care of your teeth and gums is an important part of maintaining overall health. After all, you need your pearly whites to eat, smile, and talk. But what should you expect when you go to the dentist? What should you do if you lose a tooth? Full of straightforward advice and animated, colorful art, as well as some bite-sized bits of history and lore, this guide provides accessible information about taking care of your teeth.

Available now: j617.601 M613t

Canned
Written by Alex Shearer

Fergal Bamfield is an oddball and his tin can collection is as strange as everything else about him. One day he finds a can without a label. What could be in it? Peaches, soup, perhaps spam? But instead it's something gruesome: a human finger. Then Fergal finds another can, this time containing a one-word message, HELP! Now Fergal and his friend Charlotte are knee-deep in an adventure, and they're about to learn something horrible: Everybody has an expiration date.

Available now: NEW jFiction Shearer

Arabella Miller's Tiny Caterpillar
Written and illustrated by Clare Jarrett

Arabella Miller finds a tiny caterpillar, brings him home and feeds till the caterpillar sheds his skin and disappears inside his chrysalis. Arabella misses her friend until he emerges and she is filled with wonder at the beautiful creature he has become. Clare Jarrett’s sweet story and vibrant illustrations weave details about a caterpillar’s transformation into this elaboration on the song Little Arabella Miller.

Available now: NEW Picture Book Jarrett

Continue reading "New Books for Children" »

Posted by Martin at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Kayla Chronicles
by Sherri Winston

“This just in... Kayla Dean, budding feminist and future journalist, is about to break the story of a lifetime. Egged on by her best friend, Kayla has decided to try out for her high school's notorious dance team, the Lady Lions, in order to expose their unfair selection process. But when she actually makes the team, the true investigation begins! Now a Lady Lion, Kayla is transformed into a dance diva. But does looking good and having fun mean turning her back on the cause? Soon Kayla is forced to challenge her views, coming to terms with who she is and what girl power really means."

Available now: NEW Teen Fiction Winston

Saving Juliet
by Suzanne Selfors

"Mimi Wallingford has a life most girls can only dream of - complete with the starring role in her family's production of Romeo and Juliet. But acting is not her dream, and she's fighting for the right to become a doctor. During the play's final performance, Mimi's wish to get away actually comes true when she and her costar are magically transported into Shakespeare's Verona. Now that she knows the real Juliet, Mimi doesn't want to stand by and allow the play to reach its tragic end. But if saving her new friend means changing the ending, will she and Troy ever make it back to Broadway?"

Available now: NEW Teen Fiction Selfors

Vampire Kisses 1: Blood Relatives
by Ellen Schreiber, Art by rem

"The absolute last thing goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, need is another hitch in their nighttime-only romance - but dark trouble hovers on the horizon. When a crew of sketchy vampires takes up residence in Dullsville's lonely graveyard, Alexander finds this motley bunch led by his very own blood-sucking cousin, Claude Sterling. Claude and his creepy crew can only spell out more problems for the pair, especially when Raven finds them in daylight in the very last place she could ever imagine. What could Claude and his invaders be doing - or searching for - in Dullsville?"

Available now: NEW Teen Graphic Novel Schreiber

The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook
by Dilara Hafiz, Imran Hafiz, and Yasmine Hafiz

“What does it mean to be a Muslim? Ask ten people, and you'll probably receive ten different answers. The American Muslim Teenager's Handbook is a positive, informative guide to Islam in America. Timely and engaging, it conveys the basics of the fastest-growing, most stereotyped and misunderstood religion in America from a progressive, teen perspective. Whether struggling to define themselves as Muslims in American society or simply curious about Islam, teens will find much to love about this entertaining book.”

Available now: NEW Teen 297.570835 H119a

Bunker 10
by J. A. Henderson

"At eight o'clock in the evening, 24 December 2007, Pinewood Military Installation exploded. The blast ripped apart acres of forest and devastated the remote highland valley where the base was located. No official cause was given for the incident. Inside Pinewood were 185 male and female miliatary personnel - a mixture of scientists and soldiers. There were also seven teenagers. This is the story of their last day..."

Available now: NEW Teen Fiction Henderson

Posted by Martin at 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In part one of my post on mystery fiction I told you about GRPL's newest selection of books with foreign settings. Each story is set on a different continent. I decided to save the longest list for last. These books all have Asian settings.

Eye of Jade
by Diane Wei Liang
Setting: China

Welcome to the world of Mei Wang, Beijing's first successful female detective (a career choice that is illegal in China). Wang has been hired to find a valuable Han dynasty jade seal that was looted from the Luoyang Museum during the Cultural Revolution, and is currently for sale on the black market. This is the first novel in what looks like a promising series.

Hidden Moon
by James Church
Setting: North Korea

This is the second Inspector O novel and it begins with a bank heist and snowballs into a conspiracy. I read the first book, A Corpse in the Koryo, and thought the author did an excellent job creating a sense of place. And while I've never been to North Korea, the characters and settings in the book were exactly how I imagined them to be from news reports I've read and photos I've seen.

Prayer of the Dragon
by Eliot Pattison
Setting: Tibet

Take two mutilated corpses, add one comatose Navajo stranger, stir in a Beijing investigator with two sidekick sleuthing monks, and you have a not-so-typical mystery. This is the fifth Investigator Shan novel, and the author has won the Edgar (the Oscar among mystery authors) for previous work.

Red Mandarin Dress
by Qiu Xiaolong
Setting: China

Shanghai is the setting for China's first serial killer in this fifth Inspector Chen novel in which the killer wraps his victims in a symbol of greed and decadence.

Tokyo Year Zero
by David Peace
Setting: Japan

As the bodies of young women turn up in post-WWII Tokyo, Inspector Minami must navigate among the bomb-ravaged city, its starving citizens, and not-so-kind occupiers to find the murderer. This is British author Peace's first mystery set in Japan.

The Wandering Ghost
by Martin Limon
Setting: South Korea

U.S. military investigative team George Sueno and Ernie Brascom have their work cut out for them in this mystery set in the Korean demilitarized zone. The inspectors must find a missing female MP who would have testified against two GIs involved in the accidental death of a Korean girl. This is the fifth book in a series.

Posted by Angela at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week as I browsed among the new fiction section for something to get me through these cold winter weekends, I noticed a number of new mystery books that are written mostly by foreign authors and set in their native countries. I read the dust jacket summaries and found a few of them intriguing enough to share with you here.

The Betrayal Game
by David L. Robbins
Setting: Cuba

Is it possible that the American Mafia and FBI would plot together to kill Fidel Castro? Maybe, maybe not. You'll have to read this book to find the answer.

The Midnight Choir
by Gene Kerrigan
Setting: Ireland

The police (Gardai, as they're known in Ireland) have arrested a blood-soaked mad man. They think perhaps he's killed someone -- but who? Inspector Henry Synott will have to unravel the mystery. It's a "who's dead?" rather than a "who done it?"

A Grave in Gaza
by Matt Beynon Rees
Setting: Israel

Palestinian history teacher and United Nations member Omar Yussef has a strong sense of justice, and that's why crimes that need solving always seem to happen around him. Mix that fact with a bit of political corruption and rocket smuggling and you've got yourself a mystery of dynamite proportion.

Zugzwang
by Ronan Bennett
Setting: Russia

The title of this book means "paralysis" in the game of chess, a theme which runs throughout the book. Strategic chess-like moves are used to solve several murders in an early 20th century setting.

Salamander Cotton
by Richard Kunzmann
Setting: South Africa

Johannesburg detective Jacob Tshabalala is on the hunt for a person who killed an elderly victim by pouring gasoline down his throat and igniting him with fire. What a horrible way to go! Detective Tshabalala soon discovers that the victim had an unsavory secret and that his only child, a daughter, was also murdered -- and the two murders may be linked.

Kennedy's Brain
by Henning Mankell
Setting: Sweden

While solving her son's murder, archaeologist Louise Cantor discovers rather odd things about her Henrik (i.e., his files on JFK's missing brain, a large sum of money in his bank account, and a string of lovers from Spain to Africa).

Posted by Angela at 09:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Great news! We now have access to nearly 500 children and young adult titles on NetLibrary's eAudiobooks. You'll find a list of titles by clicking here and browsing the subjects on the right side of the screen (Children's Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, etc.). Happy searching!

Posted by Martin at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Slogging through the slush? Wondering if the car ahead of you is going to spin out of control? Tired of the even longer commute as you navigate Michigan roads? Make those "stopped in traffic moments" a little more palatable by bringing along an audio book.

For a little light listening check out The New Yorkers, a somewhat canine tale (no pun intended) about some quirky New York West-Siders and their dog companions.

Or get lucky with the newest Janet Evanovich offering, Plum Lucky. Stephanie Plum is up to new antics in Atlantic City with a gambling granny, a racehorse, and a guy named Diesel.

Want more? Remember Fractured Fairy Tales - the twisted side of happily ever after? They're back, updated and on CD ready to entertain you as wait at the traffic light.

For a little inspiration try A Sense of World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler. After losing his sight at the age of 25, James Holman (1786-1857) went on to experience the world, "hunting slavers in Africa, surviving captivity in Siberia, and hunting elephants in Ceylon." He traveled on his own using a walking stick and learning the language of the countries he visited as he went along.

And finally, if you're still feeling some trepidation out on the highway, there's 30 Days to Taming Your Stress. This should get you through February.

Stay safe and happy driving!

Posted by Martin at 08:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Women and Their Fathers
by Rachel Vassel

A collection of portraits and essays of successful and fulfilled African-American women, highlighting their relationships with their fathers. The stories are very different, including many types of fathers and their unique ways of being supportive. Many readers commented that they were moved to compose their own personal essays after reading Vassel's inspirational book.

Available now: NEW 306.8742 V447d 2007

Quiet Strength: A Memoir
by Tony Dungy

Leading his Indianapolis Colts to victory against the Chicago Bears in 2007, Tony became the first African American coach to win a Super Bowl. Born in Jackson, Michigan in 1955, he always excelled at sports, but his most important goals involved his faith and his family, and challenging the current conception of success at any price. Amazon's readers gave it 5 stars, and enjoyed the fact that he really does cover “the principles, practices, and priorities of a winning life”.

Available now: NEW Biography, Dungy, Tony 2007

Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits
by T.D. Jakes

It's clear why T.D. Jakes is one of our most requested authors. His book exhorts us to take action: “If you don't like the way your life is going, redesign it. Redeem the years you lost. Restore your vision, revive your passion for living, and reclaim what was dormant inside of you.” Whether you are a long time fan of Bishop Jakes, or new to his works, if you enjoy scriptural study applied to life you won't want to miss this one.

Available now: NEW 248.4 J211rf 2007

Condoleezza Rice: An American Life
by Elisabeth Bumiller

Condoleeza Rice was growing up in a segregated Alabama during the turbulent times of the civil rights movement, when Bull Connor was unleashing his police dogs during the nonviolent marches. Her biography traces our recent U.S. history and the Bush administration's policies, as well as her own rise to power as the nation's first black woman secretary of state.

Available now: NEW Biography Rice, Condoleezza 2007

Unfinished Business: Racial Equality in American History
by Michael J. Klarman

The author is one of the top civil rights legal scholars in the U.S., and he reveals how our legal system has often been a reflection of our history, and sometimes a leader in setting new societal mores.

Available now: NEW 305.896 K665u 2007

Posted by Lisa at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BusinessDecision, a new web-based service that combines extensive consumer household, business, and demographic data with a powerful mapping technology known as geographic information systems (GIS), is now available to Grand Rapids Public Library patrons for free. With this new service, local businesses can access demographic data to help with such tasks as finding prospective customers, analyzing trade areas, evaluating competitors, identifying new store locations, and targeting media buys and direct mail campaigns. Data can instantly be created and emailed to users or stored on-line.

Patrons can access BusinessDecision at any Grand Rapids Public Library, and GRPL card holders can access from any internet computer. Just access the database page of the library website. BusinessDecision is provided to Grand Rapids Public Library patrons through a generous grant from the Titche Family Fund--Ryerson Library Foundation. For more information on getting started, visit our BusinessDecision help page.

Posted by Lori at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rubais of Rumi
Translations and commentary by Nevit O. Ergin and Will Johnson

I haven't read much Rumi, but it's always in the back of my mind that I might. I think I'll start with this volume, which is a full of "rubais," which are described in the introduction of the book as being, "...considered a Persian form of Japanese haiku: short and pithy aphorisms and observations about life."

Available now: NEW 891.5511 J216ru

The Voyage That Never Ends: Fictions, Poems, Fragments, Letters
by Malcolm Lowry

Published in 2007 - the 50 year anniversary of Malcolm Lowry's death. This book compiles a wide variety of writings, including some lesser known pieces.

Available now: NEW 818.54 L955v

Words in Your Face
by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

The title alone is enough to make me want to check this one out. According to the back cover the book is, “The first definitive history,” of slam poetry and includes input from the likes of Saul Williams, Maggie Estep, and Bob Holman among others. This book covers the beginnings in the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and works its way to the present day.

Available now: NEW 811.5409 Ap86w

The Making of a Story
by Alice LaPlante

Do you want to work on your creative writing skills, but don't feel like taking a class? This book is for you. The cover describes this book as being, “fresh and inspiring,” as well as “accessible.”

Available now: NEW 808.042 L316m

The Lost Saranac Interviews: Forgotten Conversations With Famous Writers
by Connie and Joe David Bellamy

These conversations with respected writers including Joyce Carol Oates, E.L. Doctorow and Margaret Atwood, available for the first time, will take you back to the 1970's writing haven in upstate New York.

Available now: NEW 810.9005 B414L

Posted by Marianne at 08:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are a few additions to our collection of art and architecture books:

Mediterranean Modern
by Dominic Bradbury

This beautiful book takes us on a journey around the Mediterranean to showcase masterpieces of modern architecture. From Casa CH in Spain to the B2 House in Turkey, this book is filled with stunning photos that take you to another world.

Available now: New 728.370918 B726m

Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style
by Carter Wiseman

Known for such works as the Kimbell Art Museum, Kahn's style and influence have defined late twentieth-century architecture. Here is an in-depth look at this stalwart architect.

Available now: New 720.92 K122 W7

Modernism Rediscovered
by Julius Shulman

Famous for capturing the image of California chic with his "Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960. Pierre Koenig, Architect," Julius Shulman is a master architectural photographer. This three volume set, directed and produced by Benedikt Taschen himself, is absolutely gorgeous.

Available now: New Oversize 778.94 Sh92m v. 1, 2, and 3

Posted by Ben at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are the latest additions to our business collection:

World, Inc.
by Bruce Piasecki

With many people becoming increasingly frustrated with the inability of politics to solve the local and global problems facing us, Piasecki finds a solution in corporations. Businesses, he argues, are able to adapt to desired social changes more quickly than political institutions based on the premise that businesses need enthusiastic customers more than governments need enthusiastic citizens to survive.

Available now: NEW 338.5 P573w

Start Your Own Business
by Rieva Lesonsky

Get a jump start on a New Year's resolution and start that business you've been dreaming of for some time. Lesonsky and the staff of Entrepreneur Magazine breaks down every step along the way from pipe dream to grand opening. So whether it's pet sitting, baking cupcakes, or contracting multi-use buildings in renaissance zones that employ the standards of green architecture, this resource will explain how do get it done.

Available now: NEW 658.041 L5652s 2007

The 100 Best Stocks You Can Buy 2008
by John Slatter

Instead of reading up on stock advise on a theoretical or historical level, Slatter gives pertinent up-to-date information regarding investments that can start making money today. Within each section, individual stocks are discussed including past performances, company profiles, business structure and even potential shortcomings.

Available now: NEW 332.6322 On21 2008

Posted by Matt at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daily Life in Immigrant America, 1870-1920
by June Granatir Alexander

The author strives to give us a look at new immigrants' regular lives in the 50-year period that includes: the first transcontinental railroad completed (1869), President Willeam McKinley assassinated (1901), San Francisco earthquake (1906), Henry Ford introduces the Model T (1908), World War I (1914), and nationality-based quotas introduced into law for immigration (1921). During this time period 26 million immigrants came to American shores.

Available now: New 305.906912 AL27d

The Story of Measurement
by Andrew Robinson

What an unusual book! If you think of rulers or scales when you think of measurement, well, there's a whole universe to discover here. Part fascinating history, part cutting-edge science, this book delves into all aspects of measurement including earthquakes, music, social attitudes, galaxies, intelligence, weapons, and much more.

Available now: New 530.8 R56s

Weather World: Photographing the Global Spectacle
by Gordon Higgins

A visual celebration of the diversity and unpredictability of weather in all its forms. A must-read for weather buffs.

Available now: New 551.5 W378p

Dawn of the Dinosaurs: Life in the Triassic
by Nicholas Fraser

Douglas Henderson's illustrations are a beautiful compliment to the text about this mysterious time in our earth's history.

Available now: New 560.1762 F863d

Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean
by Budd Titlow

There's an undeniable attraction to seashells on a beach. Their mystery, their beauty, their endless fascination of shapes and colors contribute to our desire to possess them. If you can't get to a deserted shell beach, the next best thing is to read the author's book filled with information and photographs on the lives of these unique creatures.

Available now: New 594.1477 T535s

Posted by Lisa at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The River Queen: A Memoir
by Mary Morris

After years of traveling the world and writing about it, author Mary Morris decided to return to the midwest and head down the Mississippi River in a houseboat with two river rats and a terrier. Here is the tale of her adventure, of the people she meets, and of the reconnecting path to her past.

Available now: NEW Biography Morris, Mary

Confessions: An Innocent Life In Communist China
by Kang Zhengguo

Here is the story of a man who was born to a wealthy family in China, grew up with a love for literature and freedom of expression, finds himself victim of Communist power, then is sent off to a prison camp, and later abandons his identity in order to live a quiet life under the Mao's regime.

Available now: NEW Biography Kang, Zhengguo

I told you I wasn't perfect
by Denny McLain with Eli Zaret

Scandal always seems to follow sports stardom. Denny McLain tells us how one becomes a Tigers' sensation and next a convicted felon.

Available now: NEW Biography McLain, Denny

Enter the Past Tense: My Life as a CIA Assassin
by Roland W. Haas

Haas's duties as a CIA covert agent took him to the Middle East, the former Soviet East Bloc, to the world of the Hell's Angels, and also to Guantanamo. Besides taking him around the world, his job also brought him to alcoholism and despair. This book tells what the real life of a CIA agent looks like.

Available now: NEW NEW Biography Haas, Roland W.

Posted by Ben at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Late Great USA : the coming merger with Mexico and Canada
Written by Jerome R. Corsir

Salute the Red, White y Azul, eh? The growing business and political partnerships between the United States, Canada and Mexico have some people worried that our sovereignty could erode if governmental consolidation continues to shape North America into a western version of the European Union. Corsi points out several examples of this impending notion, including our government's laissez-faire attitude toward illegal immigration, as foreshadowing to a day of our dissolved national identity.

Available now: NEW 333.17 C818L

The Bottom Billion : Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can be Done About It
Written by Paul Collier

If you ever want to feel better about paying too much for cable or gas, read up on Collier's explanation of why fifty states in the world (and their combined population of over one billion) are quickly falling behind modern standards of acceptable living conditions. Whereas traditional political and economic development theories have been put to use to foster growth in many nations, these concepts such as globalization and aid programs only worsen the already corrupt regimes ruling so many countries. To combat these political and military realities, Collier pleads for new thinking from the G8 and other international policy makers as the only option to reverse this devolution of societies.

Available now: NEW 338.9009172 C69b

One Red Paperclip : or how an ordinary man achieved his dreams with the help of a simple office supply
Kyle MacDonald

I remember reading about this kid in Canada who had the wish of obtaining a free house through a series of trades stemming from a giant red paperclip. At the time, he had secured himself a snowmobile. Well, as it turned out, the kid incredulously got his wish. This story of an average guy utilizing our obsessions of publicity and online trading to gain extraordinary results is definitely worth reading and learning about.

Available now: NEW 381.142 M145oL

Mobs, Messiahs, and Markets : surviving the public spectacle in finance and politics
William Bonner & Lila Rajiva

Here, Bonner and Rajiva highlight the ignorance and misdirection of the masses ranging from naivety to absurdity. After one realizes this byproduct of human society, the authors argue that one can become more successful in making financial and political decisions by not heeding to every passing fancy. Noting that this form of human behavior is nothing new, I am reminded of Charles Mackay's Extraordinary Popular Delusion & the Madness of Crowds written back in 1841. It can be disheartening to see that some things never do change. Hopefully with some insight, one does not have to be victimized by this phenomena.

Available now: NEW 658.473 B643m

Posted by Matt at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Your Rights in the Workplace
Written by Barbara Kate Repair

Another excellent book in the Nolo legal guides universe. Subjects include: sexual harassment, Family and Medical Leave Act, workers' compensation, age discrimination, surveillance, OSHA, employment at will, disabilities, and more.

Available now: NEW 796.3576408996 Ir8f

Presidential Power: Unchecked and Unbalanced
Written by Matthew Crenson and Benjamin Ginsberg

Has presidential power increased to the point of threatening democracy itself? The authors examine the average citizen's lack of participation in the political process, and how this abdication of personal responsibility has led to a power vacuum with profound constitutional consequences.

Available now: NEW 352.2380973

What Do You Do When Your Parents Live Forever? A Practical Guide to Caring for the Elderly
Written by Dan and Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok

The authors offer helpful ideas to support elder caregivers.

Available now: NEW 363.6 C661w

Only Connect: The Way to Save Our Schools
Written by Rudy Crew

Dr. Crew offers a simple, but seriously considered plan to revamp our public school system to compete globally, and to put the pride of accomplishment back into our communities.

Available now: NEW 371.0109 C867o

The Last Human: A Guide to 22 Species of Extinct Humans
Written by Esteban Sarmiento

A blending of science and art produced this intriguing “field guide” to our lost ancestors.
The illustrations and text are informative and haunting with their glimpse into our prehistoric times.
American Library Association reviewers call this one a “must read!”

Available now: New 569.2 Sa74L

Posted by Lisa at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites
Written by Heather Brewer

“Could you get me O positive this time? That’s my favorite." Vlad's got it pretty easy for a half-vampire. Since his parents died years ago in a mysterious fire, he's lived with his aunt, a nurse who can easily keep up a regular supply of blood for him. She and Vlad's best friend Henry are the only ones who understand what he is, and Vlad manages to live a mostly normal life. Events turn suspicious, however, when his English teacher goes missing, and the substitute starts asking him curious questions. Is Vlad in danger of being exposed?

Available now in the New Teen Fiction area.
Teen Fiction Brewer

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
Written by Gabrielle Zevin

Naomi Porter fell. It was an accident, but she's lost all of her memories of the last four years. Now Naomi's got a lot of catching up to do. Some things makes sense. Her best friend, for example, feels "comfortable and broken-in like favorite jeans." Other things are puzzling or downright distressing. She feels no connection to her jock boyfriend Ace, yet feels drawn to a new boy named James. Her parents have divorced, she has a half-sister she's never met, and she finds birth control pills in her drawer. Naomi's facing a rare chance to reassess her life and maybe make some important changes.

Available now in the New Teen Fiction area.
Teen Fiction Zevin

Ethan Suspended
Written by Pamela Ehrenberg

Suspended from his suburban Philadelphia junior high, Ethan is sent by his soon-to-be-divorced mother to live with his grandparents in Washington, D.C., where he quickly learns what it's like to be alone. His grandparents are obsessive and irritating, and Ethan is one of the only white kids in his black and Latino dominated new school. Far away is the world full of IM, cable, and malls that Ethan knows and loves. Slowly he makes some friends, falls for a girl named Kameka, joins the jazz band, and begins to learn respect for his grandparents and their decision to stay in their neighborhood.

Available now in the New Teen fiction area.
Teen Fiction Ehrenberg

Posted by Kolene at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here are some great additions to the Children's books area!

Leaves
Written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein

Bear's first year is full of new things, and he enjoys every part of his tiny island home. Then a leaf falls, and he wonders, “Are you okay?” More and more leaves fall, and Bear tries to put them back, but it's just not the same. Eventually, Bear uses the leaves to make a bed in a small cave, because he's suddenly so sleepy. Waking in the spring brings new joy, as he welcomes the tiny new leaves unfolding on the trees. A wonderfully simple and innocent tale to share.

Available now in the New Picture Book area.
Picture Book Stein

Darkwing
Written by Kenneth Oppel and illustrated by Keith Thompson

The author of the Silverwing series takes a 65 million year leap backward in time to tell the story of Dusk, the world's first bat. Dusk's colony are a group of 'chiropters,' tree-dwelling flightless creatures who regard him as a mutant. Only his father, the colony's leader, sees Dusk's talents of flight and echo vision as gifts and trusts him with relocating the colony when they suddenly find themselves in danger. The whole world is poised on the brink of change, and below them stalks a brand new carnivore.

Available now in the New Juvenile Fiction area.
jFiction Oppel

Nothing But Trouble: The Story of Althea Gibson
Written by Sue Stauffacher and illustrated by Greg Couch

“It took time, a good long time, but slowly Althea learned that wanting to slug her opponent as soon as she started losing her match made her a worse tennis player than if she kept her cool.” Local author Stauffacher takes the first African American tennis player to win at Wimbledon from her wild child street life in Harlem to a champion who can “dress up in white and act like a lady.” Also appearing are her many supporters, including Buddy Walker, who first put a tennis racket in Althea's hand.

Available now in the New Juvenile Nonfiction area.
jBiography Gibson, Althea

Numero Uno
Written by Alex and Arthur Dorros and illustrated by Susan Guevara

Hercules believes that his strength makes him the most needed person in the village. Socrates knows that his intelligence makes him the most needed. When a young boy suggests a sort of competition, and sends both men away to see who will be more missed, the stubborn men return to find that neither of them is 'Numero Uno.' This humorous and bilingual tale of brains versus brawn proves that neither quality is more important than the other, and that constant squabbling only makes one annoying.

Available now in the New Picture Book area.
Picture Book Dorros

Nightmare Academy
Written by Dean Lorey and illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Thirteen-year-old Charlie lives a sheltered lonely life, at least during the daytime. At night, however, Charlie's gift for connecting to the netherworld puts himself and the rest of the world in grave danger from the nasty beasties and monsters striving to escape into the real world. Charlie must learn to face his nightmares and control his powers, so he becomes a student at the wildly eccentric and strange Nightmare Academy, an organization dedicated to fighting the forces of Hell.

Available now in the New Juvenile Fiction area.
jFiction Lorey

Pssst!
Written and illustrated by Adam Rex

A quiet whisper grabs the attention of a little girl visiting the zoo. She's quite surprised to find it's the gorilla, who casually requests she bring him a new tire to swing on. As she continues, she soon discovers that all the animals are in need of something. The pig wants trash cans, the sloths demand bicycle helmets. What's going on here? Are the animals sprucing up their cages, or plotting something more intricate? Rex's unusual comic-like graphics and eccentric characters create a very funny story.

Available now in the New Picture Book area.
Picture Book Rex

Piper Reed, Navy Brat
Written by Kimberly Willis Holt and illustrated by Christine Davenier

Fourth-grader Piper Reed is used to moving around. But when her father, a Navy aircraft mechanic, announces their next move right after school starts, Piper is distressed. Starting over is hard, especially for Piper, who struggles with dyslexia and as the middle child. Florida, however, holds some pleasant surprises as Piper finds some new friends, gets a puppy, discovers the Blue Angels flight team (which she can watch practice during recess), and makes a connection with her very different sisters.

Available now in the New Juvenile Fiction area.
jFiction Holt

Keep Your Cool
Written by Kelly Doudna

Controlling your emotions can be difficult, especially for children, and it can be hard to understand the importance of self-control. This easy reader provides examples of situations kids can relate to, and gives realistic suggestions about behavior. For instance, "Paige doesn't yell when she finds a toy she likes; she asks for it calmly." The second part of the book tells a longer story illustrating the trait. Full color photographs and large print text are attractive, and the message will generate discussion.

Available now in the New Easy Readers area.
Easy Reader Doudna

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