The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Students in the Earth Science 102 class may be interested in some new library resources that may be helpful with their biomes assignment.

Grassland productivity and ecosystem services / edited by Gilles Lemaire, John Hodgson, Abad Chabbi

    QH 541.5 P7 G7128 2011

Sand dunes : conservation, types and desertification / Jessica A. Murphy, editor

    QH 88.5 S26 2011

Biodiversity Hotspots : distribution and protection of conservation priority areas / editors: Frank E. Zachos, Jan Christian Habel

     QH 75 B538 2011

Field guide to freshwater invertebrates of North America / James H. Thorp, D. Christopher Rogers

      QL 365.4 A1 T44 2011

Drought and aquatic ecosystems : effects and responses / P. Sam Lake

       QH 541 L35 2011

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Recently the library has acquired new versions of Short Guide to Writing about…Series. These handy guides contain discipline specific information about writing: finding sources, tips on different types of documents, citing sources, style and format. They could be very useful to you when it comes to writing that big English or History paper that’s due in a few weeks.

All of the newest copies of these books are in the Info Desk Collection. Here’s the list:
A Short Guide to Writing about Biology / Jan A. Pechenik, 7th ed.
QH 304 P43 2010
A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry / Holly B. Davis, Julian F. Tyson, Jan A. Pechenik.
QD 8.5 D38 2010
A Short Guide to Writing about History / Richard Marius, Melvin E. Page, 8th ed.
D 13 M294 2012
A Short Guide to Writing about Literature / Sylvan Barnet, William E. Cain, 12th ed.
PE 1479 C7 B3 2012
A Short Guide to Writing about Music / Jonathan D. Bellman, 2nd ed.
ML 3797 B4 2007
A Short Guide to Writing about Psychology / Dana S. Dunn, 3rd ed.
BF 76.8 D86 2011
A Short Guide to Writing about Social Science / Lee Cuba, 4TH ed.
H 91 C962 2002

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Harry Potter and History / edited by Nancy R. Reagin
PR 6068 O93 Z687 2011
This title from the Wiley Pop Culture and History Series provides historical context to Harry Potter’s world. It makes comparisons between real world events and experiences and happenings in J.K. Rowlings books; for example, real British boarding schools compared to Hogwarts. It talks about historical figures, like Nicolas Flamel, who are named in the Harry Potter books.


Picture Books Plus : 100 Extension Activities in Art, Drama, Music, Math, and Science / Sue McCleaf Nespeca & Joan B. Reeve
LB 1044.9 P49 N47 2003 Curriculum
This guide by a teacher and a children’s librarian provides activities to tie themes from picture books to concepts in math, science, music, drama and art as well as to promote a love of books in children. It lists specific children’s books and provides materials lists, tips for success, do’s and don’ts, alternative activities and additional resources. This looks like a valuable resource for bringing books alive in the classroom.

Dave the Potter : Artist, Poet, Slave / by Laban Carrick Hill ; illustrated by Bryan Collier
NK 4210 D247 H55 2010 Curriculum
This Caldecott winning picture book tells the story of Dave, a poet and potter who actually lived in South Carolina in the 1800s. He carved his poems in to his pots, some of which are in American museums today. His poems give us a way to glimpse into his life as a slave.

Phileas’s Fortune : A Story of Self-Expression / Agnès de Lestrade & Valeria Docampo
PZ 7 L573 P45 2010 Curriculum
Phileas lives in an world where words must be bought but he is poor and can’t afford to come out and say how he feels. He catches some stray words and uses them to express his love for Cybele on her birthday. This beautifully illustrated book shows us the value of caring, honesty, modesty and sincerity.

Kakapo Rescue : Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot / text by Sy Montgomery ; photographs by Nic Bishop
QL 696 P7 M79 2010 Curriculum
Kakapo parrots are critically endangered flightless birds that live on Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand. They were pushed to the brink by predators introduced by humans but now a dedicated team is working to restore their population and protect them from anything that might threaten these odd but trusting birds. This book has won the Robert F. Siebert Medal.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Dazzled and Deceived : Mimicry and Camouflage / Peter Forbes
QH 546 F667 2009
We know that animals disguise themselves in order to succeed in the environment but in this book, Peter Forbes examines the ways that people have used what they’ve learned about camouflage from the natural world to change art, literature, military tactics and medical cures.

The North American Porcupine / Uldis Roze, 2nd ed.
QL 737 R652 R69 2009
Uldis Roze examines the biology of the North American Porcupine in this scholarly but very readable book. He explains quill design, defensive reactions, foraging, reproduction and life cycle and tells stories about the orphaned porcupine that he taught to climb trees and forage.

The Social Media Bible : Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success / Lon Safko, 2nd ed.
HF 5416.1265 S24 2010
This book is a one-stop place for information about using social media to help promote and grow your business.

Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom / Jennifer S. Holland
QL 775 H65 2011
I’m a sucker for cute animals and this book is filled with photos of rather adorable animals and heartwarming anecdotes about their unusual relationships. I think this book might come in handy around midterms when you’re stressed and just want to take a few minutes to relax.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Dancing in the Streets : A History of Collective Joy / Barbara Ehrenreich
GT 3940 E47 2006
This book is a fascinating read. The author looks at the origins of communal celebration in human biology and culture. She examines the way human brains are wired to create ecstasy when we move together as a group and discusses mass ecstatic festivities such as Carnival in a historical context.

Shel Silverstein’s:
Runny Babbit : A Billy Sook PZ 8.3 S58 R86 2005
Light in the Attic : Special Edition PZ 8.3 S58 L53 2009
Don’t Bump the Glump and Other Fantasies PZ 8.3 S58 D66 2008
A Giraffe and a Half PZ 8.3 S58 G57 1992
Uncle Shelby’s Story of Lafcadio : The Lion Who Shot Back PZ 7 S588 U53 1991
The Missing Piece PZ 7 S588 M56 2004
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O PZ 7 S588 M57 2005
The Giving Tree PZ 7 S588 G5 2004

I grew up on Shel Silverstein’s poetry and music so I’ll always have a soft spot for these books. I’m delighted that the Library has completed its collection of his children’s stories and poems.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Watershed [sound recording] / hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti of CBC Radio One's The Current
HD 1691 W39 2009 MEDIA
I listen to a lot of audio media and was very happy to see this set of CDs has been added to our collection. It is "an in-depth look at how water flows through everything we do. A simple twist of the tap influences global politics, international economics and the ecology of the entire planet."-Cover.

Evelyn Wood Note Taking and Study Skills for Great Grades [electronic resource] / Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics
LB 2395 W66 2006 MEDIA
This interactive CD-ROM is a more interesting way to learn some very important study and note taking skills such as identifying what is likely to be on the test, focusing on the most important to remember information and note taking that fits your learning style.

Children's Games in Street and Playground / Iona and Peter Opie
GV 1204.43 O65 2008 v.1 & v.2
This reprint, originally published in 1969, is a survey of the games children 6-12 were playing all over Great Britain in the 1960s. It has descriptions of classics such as What time is it, Mr. Wolf and British Bulldog and more obscure games like Get the coward. It might be fun to check these books out, gather some friends, embrace your inner child and go play some silly games in the park. Don't forget the bugspray.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Just a few more books that caught my eye this week:

American Gods, 10th Anniversary Edition / Neil Gaiman
PR 6057 A319 A84 2011
This is my favourite novel. I'm so excited that we have a copy of it in the library and look forward to reading this expanded "author's preferred text." Shadow, a recently released convict, takes a job as a body guard with a man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday and is drawn into a strange underworld populated by eccentric characters. He discovers that below the surface of everyday life a war is brewing for the soul of America and he is to play a fundamental role in the outcome.

A Spring Without Bees: How Colony Collapse Disorder has Endangered Our Food Supply / Michael Schacker
SF 538.5 C65 S33 2008
This book examines the evidence for Colony Collapse Disorder which is wiping without beehives around the world and offers solutions to save the bees.

"Call a Spade a Spade": From Classical Phrase to Racial Slur: A Case Study / Wolfgang Mieder
PE 1599 S67 M54 2002
This book traces the origins, history, spread and meaning of the phrase, "to call a spade a spade." It looks at the various definitions of "spade" -- shovel, eunuch, playing card, "black" and traces the evolution of the phrase from innocuous to a racial slur.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Last week I was cataloguing books donated to the library. These books are often a bit older but there are some "goodies" among them.

Universe on a T-shirt: The Quest for the Theory of Everything / Dan Falk
QC 173.7 F34 2002
This book is as much about history as it is about science. Dan Falk tells the story of the search for a unified “Theory of Everything” from the Ancient Greeks to the current efforts to merge quantum theory with general relativity.

The Voyage of the "Fox" in the Arctic Seas: A Narrative of the Discovery of the Fate of Sir John Franklin and His Companions / Captian M'Clintock
G 665 1857 M165 1972
This is a reprint of Francis Leopold M’Clintock’s 1857-59 journals from his voyage into the Arctic to discover the fate of the Franklin Expedition. It also documents many other discoveries about traveling and living in the North made along the way.

Wanderlust: A History of Walking / Rebecca Solnit
GV 199.5 S65 2002
Walking seems like such a simple thing but this book examines it’s the historical, cultural, sexual political, literary, sociological and philosophical aspects.

The Cataloguer's New Book Picks

Here are a few new books that caught my eye this week:

Froth!: the Science of Beer / Mark Denny
TP 577 D476 2009
This book explains the history, physics and chemistry of how beer is made in a scientifically sound but accessible way.

Manning Up: How the Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys / Kay S. Hymowitz
HQ 1090.3 H96 2011
This book examines the way young men have been affected by the social trend of delayed adulthood and an increasingly female-friendly economy.

American Born Chinese / Gene Luen Yang, color by Lark Pien
PZ 7 Y16 A44 2006
This graphic novel brings together the seemingly unrelated stories of Jin Wang (a bullied Chinese-American child), the Monkey King (the fabled ruler of all the monkeys who wants to be hailed as a god) and Danny ( a popular basketball player whose cousin, Chin-Kee, is the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype and is ruining Danny's life).

Russian Fairy Tales / retold by Gillian Avery, with illustrations by Ivan Bilibin
PZ 8 A927 R87 1995
This is a lushly illustrated collection of Russian fairy tales such as Vassilissa the Beautiful and the Witch Baba Yaga and Tsarevich Ivan, the Firebird and the Grey Wolf.

It's a Book / Lane Smith
PZ 7 S399 I87 2010 (Curriculum Library)
In this picture book, a monkey and a mouse explain the features and benefits of a book to a tech savvy jackass.