August 28, 2003

Do you sometimes wish for inventions to deal with life’s little problems? “Here’s What You Do When You Can’t Find Your Shoe,” Andrea Perry’s adorable and humorous look at solutions to everyday annoyances. This is a book for children, but it will give adults a chuckle as well.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurological condition that is considered a high-functioning form of autism. “Finding Ben” is Barbara LaSalle’s story of her struggle to raise a special-needs child and her journey from frustration to acceptance. Anyone who is a parent will identify with LaSalle’s inner turmoil.

Atlantic City has an amazing history. Jonathan Van Meter captures the glamour and the demise of “the world’s playground” in “The Last Good Time.” The author profiles Skinny D’Amato and the 500 Club and all the showbiz glitz of the 50’s and 60’s. This is a fascinating account of an era when big people of all walks of life could congregate in one place and get along.

You’ve worked hard to make your garden a spectacular showplace. Why not capture its beauty on film? “Photographing Your Garden” by David Bjurstom explores the techniques you’ll need to get professional results. You’ll even learn about interesting projects to create from your wonderful photos.

Once upon a time, before computers, before television, and even before radio, there were board games. Families spent their leisure time in the parlor at a table in the middle of the room. “The Games We Played” by Margaret K. Hofer is a fascinating journey backwards in time to a period when social values and morality were enforced through friendly family competition.

Librarian’s Picks of the Week: “A Blind Eye” by G.M. Ford.

Frank Corso, Ford’s rogue reporter, and Corso’s photojournalist friend and ex-lover Meg Dougherty are trapped in a snowed-in airport in Minnesota on page one of this story, but they don’t stay there very long. Corso is on the run from a grand jury, but if he stays on the run long enough, the brand jury’s term will expire, leaving him a free man. So off he and Dougherty go, renting an SUV and heading toward a bad accident (theirs) and a dead body. As they struggle to stay alive in the freezing cold, they find a deserted farmhouse only to find… There is one surprise after another as Corso and Dougherty are hospitalized, arrested, and charged with murder, all while still on the run from the Texas Rangers and the grand jury. Great fun to read!

As a new puppy owner, I want to recommend two books listed above: “The Perfect Puppy for Me!” for kids, and Bruce Fogle’s “Dog Owner’s Manual.” When I was a kid, we never had any pets (Mom didn’t like cats, and for some reason, we kids all grew up congenitally afraid of dogs!), so when I got my first cat, I was a basket case – would I remember to feed her, what did you do about going to a veterinarian, should you spay?, etc. Luckily for me, the cat never let me forget that she was there, I sorted out the vet business, and yes, you should spay unless you want a whole collection of cats! So now I have a puppy, a very small puppy, who will not grow into a dog who when he stands up, will be as tall as I am. Little did I know how much work a puppy can be! The vet visits, the shots that are vital, given the diseases a dog is exposed to, the proper food, the training (very important if you want a well-behaved dog; it’s important both for you and the animal) play time, and the walks. Fogle’s book is great, and is recommended for its attention to breeds of dogs and their care, as well as lots of training tips. “The Perfect Puppy for Me” is a book for younger children and will help parents to get into a discussion with their child as to whether a puppy is the right choice as a family pet, and what the child will be responsible for doing if the family decides on a dog. The Library has a large pet book section, with emphasis on cats and dogs, as the most common pets, and if you need to find a breed of dog or cat suited to your lifestyle, you can come here and look it up. It’s important for your family to find a good match, or you may be disappointed and your pet may end up in an animal shelter. So do your research first (that’s what I did, at the Library!) and you will never regret the wonderful choice you made. Or, if you want to vicariously experience pet ownership, we also have books, housed in the same area, written by or about people who have enjoyed having pets. Ask a reference librarian for help when you visit the Library. Have a happy and safe Labor Day!

Also new and recommended: “A Summer in the Country” by Marcia Willett; “Getting Mother’s Body” by Suzan-Lori Parks; “Cry Havoc” by Clive Egleton; “Fresh Air” by Charlotte Vale Allen; “The Virgin Blue” by Tracy Chevalier; “Aunt Dimity Takes a Holiday” by Nancy Atherton; “Beachcomber” by Karen Robards; “A Vineyard Killing” by Philip R. Craig; “Where the Truth Lies” by Rupert Holmes; “Murder in Coney Island” by Michael Jahn; “Street Dreams” by Faye Kellerman; “Changing Habits” by Debbie Macomber; “Conspiracy Theory” by Jane Haddam; and “The Footprints of God” by Greg Iles. New nonfiction: “Firefly Guide to Fossils; “Camembert” by Pierre Boisard; “The Pilates Back Book” by Tia Stanmore; “Spots, Birthmarks and Rashes” by June Thompson; “The Polish Country Cookbook” by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab; “Elspeth Huxley: a Biography” by C.S. Nicholls; “What Should I Do With My Life?” by Po Bronson; “Getting Ready for College” by Polly Berent; “An Execution in the Family” by Robert Meeropol; “The Info Mesa” by Ed Regis; and “Dog Owner’s Manual” by Bruce Fogle.

For kids: “the Case of the Burrowing Robot” by John Erickson; “Screaming Mummies of the Pharaoh’s Tomb II” by James Howe; “Wild Bird” by Joanne Ryder; “Trudy & Pia” by Ursula Hegi; “I’m Not Invited?” by Diana Bluthenthal; “The Boy Who Saved Baseball” by John Ritter; “The Ghost Behind the Wall” by Melvin Burgess; “Mim, Gym, and June” by Denis Roche; “The Dragon Machine” by Helen Ward; “Zara’s Hats” by Paul Meisel; “Me. Tanen’s Tie Trouble” by Maryann Cocca-Leffler; “The Perfect Puppy for Me!” by Jane O’Connor; and “Yoga for Kids” by Liz Lark.

Eleanor’s Good Stuff: Arab Culture and Civilization @www.nitle.org/arabworld/; Global Climate Change @www.exploratorium.edu/climate/; History of Cider @www.history-of-cider.com/; Japan National Tourist Organization @www.jnto.go.jp/; Olive Oil Source @www.oliveoilsource.com/; Pennsylvania Railways – Tour @http://parailways.com/.