The Age of Autism by Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill

The authors provide a good discussion of autism and the difficulties in finding the cause of this disease. Also, the authors point out the dangers of polluting our environment with mercury.
Call Number: 616.85882 Olm

Learn to Do Yo-Yo Crochet by Wendy Harbaugh

The book Learn to Do Yo-Yo Crochet by Wendy Harbaugh teaches you a technique to make rows (and other shapes) of crocheted circles. You join the rows as you go, so there is no sewing to do at the end of the project.

If you don't mind crocheting along a chain, this is a fun way to create many interesting and useful items.

Kathi Linz

Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace by Shane Smith

I'm trying to learn how to use -well, not a proper greenhouse - more of a season extender. I picked up Greenhouse Gardener's Companion: Growing Food and Flowers in Your Greenhouse or Sunspace by Shane Smith. This book has EVERYTHING you could possibly need to know to be successful at starting, raising, and even overwintering plants for food and beauty.

Kathi Linz

Organic Crops in Pots: How to Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell

Organic Crops in Pots: How to Grow Your Own Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell has great ideas for using readily available containers to grow everything you love to eat.

Kathi Linz

Crops in Pots: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Easy-Care Containers by Bob Purnell

I'm starting to think ahead to spring. Crops in Pots: How to Plan, Plant, and Grow Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs in Easy-Care Containers by Bob Purnell gave me some excellent ideas for ways to expand my garden space, plants that I might grow differently, and different plants that I might grow. Blueberries in a pot. Who'd have thought it? I'm glad someone did and then shared it with the rest of us.

Kathi Linz

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne and translated by Jordan Stump

Looking for a classic to read, I picked up The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, translated by Jordan Stump. Although I'd never heard of this book, since it was written by Jules Verne & since the back of the book claims that some consider it to be his masterpiece, I decided to let it fill my desire for a classic & started reading.

The book follows the lives of a handful of men & a teenage boy after their hot air balloon drops them on a deserted island. The group is very knowledgeable & hardworking & so is able not only to survive in their new environment but to live an enjoyable life with many unexpected amenities. The author goes into some detail about the science & mechanics of how these amenities are achieved on the island.

I liked the characters & enjoyed their camaraderie. (I admit, though, that the group's complete & often-vocalized trust in the engineer of the group was a little irritating.) I also found it enjoyable to imagine the places on this imaginary island & the small world that the group had created for themselves.

A warning: This translation by Jordan Stump includes an introduction by Caleb Carr. This introduction includes the solution to the mystery that is mentioned in the book's title so if you don't like spoilers, don't read Carr's introduction until after you've finished the book. I wish someone had warned me!

Monica Boyer

From Needles to Hook: Complete Guide to Converting Knit Patterns to Crochet

From Needles to Hook: Complete Guide to Converting Knit Patterns to Crochet is put out by the Needlecraft Shop. It purports to show you the method of changing knit stitches to crochet.

What I like about the book is that it lays the knit pattern next to the crochet pattern and you can choose to work your piece either way.

What I don't like about the book is that, while it says you can use crochet stitches to make something that looks and feels like knitting, the actual texture of the work will NOT feel like knitting. A single crochet stitch is constructed in such a way that it will always be thicker and heavier than a knit or purl stitch.

If you want a similar look, you can come close with these ideas. If you want a similar feel to knit material, learn to knit.

Kathi Linz

P.S. Same for From Knit to Crochet: How to Get the Look and Feel of Knitting with Crochet! also put out by the Needlecraft Shop.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

For anyone who enjoys Richard Peck's work, especially A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago, A Season of Gifts is the next book you should pick up.

Mrs Dowdel is back. We saw her as the grandmother during the Depression, taking care of her granddaughter and, occasionally, her grandson. Here she is, older but just as feisty - always with a trick up her sleeve to right wrongs and keep bullies off balance.

I wouldn't say that I want to be exactly like Mrs. Dowdel, but I do like her style.

Kathi Linz

30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog

30 Days to a well-Mannered Dog: The Loved Dog Method by Tamar Geller tells dog owners the 7 basic needs of dogs. You learn to teach a dog good behavior by getting them to look to you for instruction, by reinforcing their good behavior, and deprogramming their wolf-like instincts without hurting them. Tamar Geller gives clear, simple instructions that will help any dog-owner train any dog.

I live with two dogs and have instituted several of her suggestions. It would be very useful for anyone contemplating getting a dog to read this book first. She tells you how to work with the dog from Day One.

Kathi Linz

Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Lary Levin

Oogy, the hero of Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin, is a most remarkable dog. Probably because he would not fight, Oogy was used as bait so some other dog could learn to kill. In Oogy's case, he wasn't killed in the battle, but having half of his face and one ear ripped off, and being abandoned with open wounds almost finished the job. When he was found, he was taken to an emergency hospital where they cleaned up his wounds and saved his life.

At first, Oogy was mistaken for a pit bull, but eventually the Levins found out that he was a dogo, an Argentinian breed known for its loyalty, love of children, avoidance of fighting, but a killing machine when necessary. These animals are used in hunting wild boars and jaguars. Imagine the size and power this type of dog has!

Oogy adopted a family who love to adopt. The twin boys were adopted and Oogy became "the third twin". His story is amazing.

I enjoyed this book as much as I did Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron.

Kathi Linz

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth by Mark Fisher had an odd feel to me. It reminded me of the story The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason which I enjoyed and appreciated.

This book contained good advice as "Set goals for yourself with a definite amount and a definite ending date" "Set your creative mind to work on what you want".

I was bugged by the twisting of Scripture to mean something other than the original intent. I believe the story could have stood on its own and carried off the strength of its message without the warped Bible passages.

Kathi Linz

Oprah, Miracles, and the New Earth: A Critique

The book Oprah, Miracles and the New Earth: A Critique by Erwin W. Lutzer (Moody Publishers) illustrates the differences between Christian Scripture and books by the New Age guests frequently seen on Oprah.

The term "Free-thinking Christian" as it applies to chosing the doctrines you like and the ones you don't is an oxymoron.

Kathi Linz

Knit to Be Square: Domino Designs to Knit & Felt

In Knit to Be Square: Domino Designs to Knit & Felt by Vivian Hoxbro, a knitter can learn how to knit mitered squares in such a way that they are attached as you work. One square builds on its neighbor giving a design that resembles diamonds with touching points. Many of the patterns use garter stitch making this a fun project for even a beginning knitter.

The book is heavily illustrated with photographs of each step in the process. The directions are clear and easy to understand. I am a nominal knitter at best, yet I understood their directions with no trouble.

If you are looking for something a little different - maybe something new to craft for Christmas - this might be the book for you.

Kathi Linz

Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook: All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner

The Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook: All You Need to Cook a Foolproof Dinner has some interesting variations on traditional themes and recipes for leftovers. A few examples are: Southwestern Turkey, Slow Cooker Turkey Breast Stuffed with Wild Rice and Cranberries, several gravy and stuffing recipes, rolls, muffins, biscuits, Cornish Hen with Bulgar-Bacon Stuffing, Salmon with Cranberry-Pistachio Sauce, Slow Cooker Pumpkin Apple Dessert, and much more. Tasty!!

I wouldn't necessarily save all of these recipes only for Thanksgiving. They would be yummy any time of the year.

Kathi Linz

The Rough Guide to the Energy Crisis by David Buchan (333.79 Buchan)

This is a very informative book if one is interested in the energy crisis. The author provides a wealth of information about the various energy sources and describes the advantages and problems of each source including oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and a variety of renewable sources.
Submitted by,
Jim Wichman