New Books, Films, Databases, and other Resources: September 2012

Painting, bark art, photography, rock art, sculpture, and the decorative arts are all fully explored to present the rich texture of Australian art traditions.Well-known artists such as Margaret Preston, Rover Thomas to Sidney Nolan, are all discussed, as are the natural history illustrators, Aboriginal draughtsmen, and pastellists, whose work is only now being brought to light by new research. Taking the European colonization of the continent in 1788 as his starting point, Sayers highlights important issues concerning colonial art and women artists in this fascinating new story of Australian art.

Answering the siren call of Egypt once more, Amelia Peabody and her family arrive at their home in Luxor to learn of a new royal tomb ransacked by thieves. Soon an even more disturbing outrage concerns the intrepid clan of archaeologists: the freshly and savagely slain corpse of a thief defiling the ancient burial site.

Return once again with New York Times bestselling Grand Master Elizabeth Peters to a remarkable land of mystery, deception, and danger, where murderous intrigues swirl in the desert wind. . . .

A hitherto lost journal of the indomitable Amelia Peabody has been miraculously recovered: a chronicle from one of the "missing years" -- 1907-1908 -- shedding new light on an already exceptional career, a remarkable family . . . and an unexpected terror. The remarkable Elizabeth Peters proves once again that, in the world of historical adventure fiction, she is truly without peer.

"There are dark storm clouds gathering above a land of mystery and antiquity. And no one will escape the fury of the tempest to come.He Shall Thunder In The SkyEgypt and her hoary secrets are no match for "New York Times-bestselling Grandmaster Elizabeth Peters and her indomitable archaeologist sleuth Amelia Peabody.

"Undeterred by world war and enemy submarines, Amelia Peabody once again sets sail for Egypt, where ghosts of an ancient past and specters of a present-day evil hover silently over an inscrutable land."

"Everyone knows that the world is flat and supported on the backs of four elephants. But weren't there supposed to be five? Indeed there were, and what happened to the fifth elephant is only one of the many perplexing mysteries solved in this new novel.

The murder of a notorious public figure places Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone in the harsh glare of the media spotlight. When the body of controversial talk-show host Walton Weeks is discovered hanging from a tree on the outskirts of Paradise, police chief Jesse Stone finds himself at the center of a highly public case, forcing him to deal with small-minded local officials and national media scrutiny.

When a woman's partially decomposed body washes ashore in Paradise, Massachusetts, police chief Jesse Stone is forced into a case far more difficult than it initially appears.

The last time Jesse Stone, chief of police of Paradise, Massachusetts, saw Wilson "Crow" Cromartie, the Apache Indian hit man was racing away in a speedboat after executing one of the most lucrative and deadly heists in the town's history. So when Crow shows up in Jesse's office some ten years after the crime, it's not to turn himself in. Crow is on another job, and this time he's asking for Jesse's help-by asking him to stay out of his way.

"A beautiful young woman is dead in the bathroom of her home. Her husband - a promising young cop named Archie Wildcraft - is shot in the head, but still alive. It looks like an attempted murder/suicide, but something tells Detective Merci Rayborn that there's more to the story."

It's two years after the death of Tim Hess, her partner and the father of her child, and Merci is working hard to do her job, take care of her son, and hold it all together. She and her son are living with her father, and she is dating a respected fellow officer. That explodes when a young prostitute, the mysterious Aubrey Whittaker, is found brutally murdered and Mike emerges as the primary suspect. Merci, the lead investigator on the case, must do the unthinkable: expose and arrest her lover.

Edited this year by acclaimed poet and writer Doty, the foremost annual anthology of contemporary American poetry returns. It is an essential guide to contemporary American verse and the poets who define it.

The Pushcart Prize has been named a notable book of the year by the New York Times, picked for several Book of the Month club selections, hailed by Publishers Weekly "as among the most influential books" in American publishing history, and recently awarded The Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement award by the National Book Critics Circle. This year distinguished poets Bob Hicok and Maxine Kumin serve as poetry co-editors.

The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2012gathers twenty of the best short stories of the year, selected from thousands published in literary magazines. These remarkable stories explore the boundaries of the imagination in settings as various as an army training camp in China, the salt mines of Detroit, a divided Balkan town, and the eye of a hurricane. Also included are essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from the winners on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines.

InMockingbird Passing, Holly Blackford invites the reader to view Lee’s beloved novel in parallel with works by other iconic American writers-from Emerson, Whitman, Stowe, and Twain to James, Wharton, McCullers, Capote, and others. In the process, she locates the book amid contesting literary traditions while simultaneously exploring the rich ambiguities that define its characters.

Skinner writes the captivating true chronicle of the creation of Merriam Webster's "Third New International Dictionary" in 1961, the most controversial dictionary ever published. His engaging and witty account shows how egos, infighting, and controversy shaped one of America's most authoritative language texts.

Baum and Smith, both professors evolutionary biology and researchers in the field of systematics, present this highly accessible introduction to phylogenetics and its importance in modern biology. Taking a conceptual approach, Tree Thinking introduces readers to the interpretation of phylogenetic trees, how these trees can be reconstructed, and how they can be used to answer biological questions. Examples and vivid metaphors are incorporated throughout, and each chapter concludes with a set of problems, valuable for both students and teachers.

When Constable Evan Evans discovers a beautiful shepard's cottage in the mountains of Llanfair, Wales, he and his fiancée are thrilled. But it turns out that Evan's discovery extends far beyond the beauties of a mountain-top view and a cozy dream-house when Evan finds the skeleton of a child buried in the front yard. Evan's Gate is a 2005 Edgar Award Nominee for Best Novel.

The charming village of Llanfair sits amid lush, rolling Welsh meadows populated with quaint cottages and is considered by many of its colorful locals to be a kind of paradise. Unfortunately, there aren't many opportunities for young people in Llanfair, so when an exciting and glamorous American woman breezes into town talking of dormant psychic powers, barmaid Betsy Edwards is quick to take her up on an offer of employment.

The Cold Case Squad unearths the details of the strip club deaths and the dead or missing father - as well as the unsolved killings of a series of little old ladies - readers get to know the three cops and their boss: veteran homicide detective Sergeant Craig Burch, whose marriage has turned into a case he can't solve; Detective Sam Stone, for whom the past will always be a mystery; Detective Pete Nazario, airlifted out of Cuba during "Operation Pedro Pan" in the 1960s; and Lieutenant K.C. Riley, for whom one case will never grow cold."

In Miami, rivalry between two women reporters leads to death. While working on a car hijacking story, Britt Montero befriends Trish Tierney, only to learn Trish is stealing her sources. The two become enemies and when Britt is caught in a police crossfire, while travelling in a car with a suspect, she blames Trish for arranging it. When Trish is found dead, suspicion falls on Britt. By the author of Contents Under Pressure.

A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of reporter Britt Montero forever. The encounter is at Miami's morgue, where the unidentified stranger lies dead. Britt meets the Ice Maiden, nearly freezes to death, and then the trail heats up. A stone-cold killer out of her past is stalking the Ice Maiden again. Nothing is what it seems. And the inferno is yet to come.

Annie Darling has conceived of an ingenious promotional scheme to draw customers into her Death on Demand bookshop. Offering a free book to anyone who can solve a series of clues about popular whodunits, Annie and hubby Max pass out their flyers all over town. But an April Fool prankster is distributing a counterfeit flyer - complete with not-so-vague accusations of murder." "Suddenly the Darling name is mud, thanks to the vicious slanders of an unknown counterfeiter. And Annie knows that she is going to have to do the bulk of the sleuthing if she doesn't want this particular April Fool's to last well past Memorial Day."

"In the year 2204, tragedy and terror forced a scientific team to prematurely evacuate Maleiva III. Twenty-one years later, the opportunity for scientists to study this galactic rarity - a life-supporting planet - is about to vanish forever, as a rogue gas giant has invaded the planetary system on a deadly collision course with the world they are now calling Deepsix."

What could be more perfect than a backyard summer wedding in the Stones' newly-built gazebo? Live doves and a hot air balloon, according to overbearing climber Thelma Davitz. But the groom's mother's elaborate ideas and constant complaints are the least of Lucy's troubles. With the nuptials looming along with her latest deadline, the arrangements are in utter chao. When the groom's body is found floating beside his yacht, Lucy isn't convinced it was an accidental drowning.

In Boston, nine lawyers on a video conference call suddenly convulse with pain, turn chalk white, and die. In Vermont, a young woman watching her favorite sitcom meets the same grisly fate, as do a group of sewer workers in Washington DC. Whatever's killed these people is spreading fast, and the task of eradicating it falls to youthful virologist Samantha Craig and paramedic Nick Barnes, a former surgeon whose brilliant career was ruined by a crippling hand injury.

Ben Carson used to be the class dummy. Today he is one of the world's most brilliant surgeons. Gifted Hands Kids Edition tells the extraordinary true story of an angry, young boy from the inner city who, through faith and determination, grew up to become one of the world's leading pediatric neurosurgeons.

Nelson Mandela comes to life in this portrait of a diplomatic man whose commitment to freedom gained him both the Nobel Peace Prize and Time's Man of the Year honor.

Are you interested in ocean plants and animals? Have you ever wondered how pollution affects the underwater world? Do you enjoy being in the water? Do you like hands-on research and technology? Then you might have a future as a marine biologist! Swim along with real-life marine biologists and learn what its like to study life in the sea.

Explore the functions of levers, wheels, and pulleys, and learn how to lift a lion, pull a panda, and deliver a basket of bananas to a baboon birthday party!

A basic introduction to the concept of fractions.

What would life be like with no clocks and no calendars? How would you know when to get up in the morning? Long, long ago, all people could do was watch the sun and moon and try to figure things out. Eventually, they made simple clocks like sundials.

Journey is eleven the summer his mother leaves him and his sister, Cat, with their grandparents. He is sad and angry, and spends the summer looking for the clues that will explain why she left. Journey searches photographs for answers. In this spare and remarkable novel, Patricia MacLachlan explores abandonment and the extraordinary means by which a family reassembles itself.

Follow the dramatic story of Muhammad Ali -- both in and out of the ring!

This biography outlines the revolutionary life of the first leader of the People's Republic of China and sets his march to power in the context of world history.

Based on the diary of the author's great-grandmother, this is a poignant and compelling look at slavery through the eyes of a young girl. Once read, it is not soon forgotten.

For use in schools and libraries only. A young slave stitches a quilt with a map pattern which guides her to freedom in the North.

Charlie, a fuzzy gray cat, walked out of the woods one evening and into Elizabeth's and Sarah's hearts. Now he sleeps on their beds, lets them dress him up in doll clothes, and laps up warm milk on chilly nights. But where does Charlie go during the day? It's not until a storm keeps Charlie away one night that the two sisters discover his other, daytime, home. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. Because, just like Elizabeth and Sarah, Charlie has two houses, two beds, and two families who love him very, very much!

Did you know that there were sharks on earth even before dinosaurs? For more than twenty years, Hungry, Hungry Sharks! has been a staple nonfiction title in the Step into Reading line. Nothing is more exciting than sharks, and this title is packed with amazing facts about these fearsome underseas predators!

While working for plantation owners, Peg Leg Joe teaches the slaves a song about the drinking gourd (the Big Dipper). A couple, their son, and two others make their escape by following the song's directions. Rich paintings interpret the strong story in a clean, primitive style enhanced by bold colors.

Follow the Rey's amazing story in this unique large format book that resembles a travel journal and includes full-color illustrations, original photos, actual ticket stubs and more. A perfect book for Curious George fans of all ages.

These books focus on Native American culture by examining geographic and cultural groupings as well as the major nations and tribes within each area.

This is a tale of timeless appeal--the original "Carl" book. Its pictures are so vivid and alive that hardly a word is needed to tell the story. An infant is left in the care of a dog while Mother is out. The two get into all sorts of mischief, but trusty Carl puts everything in order in time for Mother's return. Full color.

Solomon Singer is a middle-aged man who lives in a hotel for men in New York City. One night his solitary wanderings take him into a restaurant where he reads these words on the menu: ``The Westway Cafe -- where all your dreams come true. '' A soft-voiced waiter (metaphorically named Angel) welcomes him and invites him back. Each night Singer returns, ordering food and, silently, ordering his wishes for the things he remembers from an Indiana boyhood.

In this offbeat, challenging, oversized book, the Atlantic Monthly's Guy Billout offers up 33 full-color paintings, each of which features something... well, something that's not quite right. Not obviously not quite right, just enough so that you have to look closely to see what's wrong, and then chuckle when you find it.

In this introduction, Professor Sinkov explains some of the fundamental techniques at the heart of cryptanalytic endeavor from which much more sophisticated techniques have evolved, including modular arithmetic, a little number theory, some linear algebra of two dimensions with matrices, some combinatorics, and a little statistics.

Seven-year-old twins Estha and Rahel see their world shaken irrevokably by the arrival of their beautiful young cousin, Sophie. It is an event that will lead to an illicit liaison and tragedies accidental and intentional, exposing big things that lurk unsaid in a country drifting dangerously toward unrest.

A child is allowed to keep a stray kitten even though there are hard times in the household.

Biography of the Nobel Prize-winning nun who founded the Missionary Sisters and Brothers of Charity and was known for her work with the destitute and dying.

The Sally Lockhart Mysteries are given an all-new look. Created by the author of the bestselling His Dark Materials series, this series follows 16-year-old Sally Lockhart as she solves mysteries in Victorian London.

Here is the twelfth, and final, book in Arthur Ransome's acclaimed Swallows and Amazons series. Here, the story centers on a desperate race to thwart the efforts of pernicious egg collectors threatening the survival of a pair of rare birds not previously known to nest in British waters (actually, the bird is the handsome North American "Great Northern Diver," more commonly called a loon).

This is a hilarious and touching novel featuring a neurotic, scared boy and a tougher-than-nails girl who each help the other in more ways than they can imagine. Sue Stauffacher has crafted characters full of wit and sensitivity, with a little anti-bacterial soap thrown in for good measure.

Explains the basic rights of children and that all children do not live a life in which their needs are met.

Anyone can get involved in gathering data for ongoing, actual scientific studies such as the Audubon Bird Count and FrogWatch USA. Just get out into a field, urban park, or your own backyard. You can put your nose to a monarch pupa or listen for raucous frog calls. You can tally woodpeckers or sweep the grass for ladybugs. This book, full of engaging photos and useful tips, will show you how.

Weaving together the legends of the Plains Indian tribes, this beautifully illustrated story celebrates a new Earth after the flood and narrates the making of the buffaloes, mountains, Thunderbirds, and other creations. of additional illustrations and stories and a new Foreword.

The exciting and unusual story of how Barnum Brown uncovered the bones of the Tyrannosaurus rex.   Barnum Brown's (1873-1963) parents named him after the circus icon P.T. Barnum, hoping that he would do something extraordinary--and he did!

Our Solar System was born almost 5 billion years ago at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy. In over fifty dramatic, full-color photographs and an easy-to-read text, award-winning author Seymour Simon takes you on a fascinating tour of the nine planets, dozens of moons, and thousands of asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that travel around our sun.

This is the moving story of how Jackie Robinson became the first black player on a major league baseball team and how on a fateful day in Cincinnati, PeeWee Reese took a stand and declared Jackie his teammate.

The image of a Native American on horseback has become ingrained in the American consciousness. But the Plains Indians and the horse were not always inseparable. Follow the story of this transformative partnership, starting in the early sixteenth century and continuing today.

Driven by an all-consuming passion, the plant hunters traveled around the world, facing challenges at every turn: tropical illnesses, extreme terrain, and dangerous animals. They battled piranhas, tigers, and vampire bats. InThe Plant Hunters,science, history, and adventure have been interwoven to tell a largely forgotten—yet fascinating—story.

A stunning new version of a much-loved children's classic.

Hermes clicked his fingers and Paris was blinded by the light. He covered his face with his hands. Slowly he opened his fingers and saw standing before him the three most powerful goddesses of all.