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

Besse Coleman was born in rural Texas in 1892. She loved school, especially learning about numbers, and she was a good reader, too. Yet when it was time to pick cotton she had to work in the fields instead of going to school. Nevertheless, she was determined to be somebody when she grew up. The inspiring story of her difficult early years, her success as a stunt pilot putting on daring air shows in many states, and her dedication to telling young African-Americans wherever she went, "You can be somebody. You can fly high just like me," is as moving and important today as it was then. Simply told with evocative full-color illustrations, this is a special book for today's young people.

Grab your jumbo popcorn and 3-D glasses! Learning about dimensions has never been so entertaining. This book is aligned with the COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS for third-grade, fourth-grade, and fifth-grade mathematics in measurement and data: (3.MD.5-8), (4.MD.2-3), and (5.MD.3-5).

After outwitting some ducks, Iktomi, the Indian trickster, is outwitted by Coyote.

This is the startling tale of a woman's rise to power within the patriarchal society of ancient Egypt: Hatshepsut was shrewdly conveyed as a masculine ruler in all public statues and artwork, and donned male dress and a false beard in person. She ruled Egypt for decades, claiming her rightful place in the history of this great civilization.

Highlights the life and accomplishments of the wife of the second president of the United States, a dedicated wife and mother who spoke up against slavery and for women's rights.

No one thought that Elizabeth would live to become Queen of England. Her father, Henry VIII, beheaded her mother, Anne Bolyn, for treason in 1536. He then disowned his daughter, declaring her illegitimate. Endowed with immense personal courage and a keen awareness of her responsibility as a ruler, Elizabeth commanded throughout her reign the unwavering respect and allegiance of her subjects.

Vote for Me! is a timely satire of American politics, but it's a story readers of all nationalities and ages will recognize. Comical, retro illustrations (in shades of blue and red, of course) are completely winning, and the duelling duo's insult-laden exchanges promise to have readers laughing out loud.

Children love stories that rhyme, and rhymes make learning easier and more fun. With its clever and educational story rhymes, Rhyme Time Learning offers the ideal combination. Four colorful volumes teach the basic concepts of counting, the alphabet, comparisons, and rhyming words.

Aided by trusty pigeon messengers, young prospectors comb the hills in search of lost gold. Winner of the Carnegie Medal.

A perennial favorite. The original cast sails the South China Sea under Captain Flint, only to be sunk by pirates and saved by the formidable Missee Lee. Latin saves the day.

Swallowdale (originally published in 1931) is the second title in Arthur Ransome's classic series for children, for grownups, for anyone captivated by the world of adventure and imagination. It follows the Walker family and friends through a shipwreck, a camp on the mainland, a secret valley and cave, and a thrilling mountain hike.

The fourth book in Arthur Ransome's classic series for children, winter holiday takes intrepid explorers John, Susan, Titty, and Roger Walker, and fearsome Amazon pirates Nancy and Peggy Blackett to the North Pole. Joined by budding novelist Dorothea Callum and her scientist brother Dick, the children plan an "Arctic" expedition. But unforeseen events separate the travelers and disaster nearly strikes in the exciting climax of their race to the Pole. Book jacket.

A continuation of Coot Club, our trio prove their innocence using the latest criminal methodologies.

Dorothy and Dick have an adventure in the English countryside, involving frantic chases, calamitous boat collisions, and the attempts of their friends to protect nesting birds from rude holiday boaters.

Follows the adventures of the five Walker children after their parents leave them on a "desert island" with provisions for a long stay and a blank map to fill in.

The book that started it all in the 1930s. It introduces the main cast of characters, the camp on Wild Cat Island, and the able-bodied catboat Swallow.

The two Blackett sisters are allowed to stay at Beckfoot on their own with their trusty cook while their mother goes sailing on the North Atlantic. What has the makings of an adventure is soon ruined by the arrival of their great aunt.

Originally published: London: Jonathan Cape, Ltd., 2003.

Six intrepid brothers and sisters crew out on the high seas where they brave every imaginable danger.

In this beautifully produced, large-format volume, photographer Paul Nicklen unveils the soul of the magnificent Arctic. The superb images are complemented by the poetic text of Hugh Brody, who describes the six seasons identified by the Inuit, the true experts on the Arctic, and eloquently expresses the passion he feels for this unique landscape.

The Arctic is in Paul Nicklen’s blood. Today Nicklen is a naturalist and wildlife photographer uniquely qualified to portray the impact of climate change on the polar regions and their inhabitants, human and animal alike. In a wise and wonderful intertwining of art and science, his bold expeditions plunge him into freezing seas to capture unprecedented, up-close documentation of the lives of leopard seals, whales, walruses, polar bears, bearded seals, and narwhals.

After a comprehensive review of the literature exploring domestic environmental politics around the world, the book provides a sample of major currents within the field, showing how environmental politics intersects with such topics as the greening of the state, the rise of social movements and green parties, European Union expansion, corporate social responsibility, federalism, political instability, management of local commons, and policymaking under democratic and authoritarian regimes.

In the Light of Evolution is a collection of essays by leading scientists, and includes essays by science writer Carl Zimmer, historian Janet Browne, and a foreword by journalist David Quammen. It is a book "for readers who are fascinated by evolutionary biology and who desire to understand better the day-by-day, speciesby-species, ecosystem-by-ecosystem texture of its practice as a scientific profession." The book is intended for anyone with an interest in evolution, and it can be used in a wide variety of courses, including major's and non-major's introductory biology and evolution classes.

This book offers a guide to some of the rarest birds in existence, with maps that show where to find them. Focusing on fifty captivating stories of the very rare, it describes remarkable discoveries of species not seen for centuries and brought back from the brink of extinction, successes like the Seychelles Magpie-Robin and the California Condor.

The Tangled Bank is the first textbook about evolution intended for the general reader. Zimmer, an award-winning science writer, takes readers on a fascinating journey into the latest discoveries about evolution. He demonstrates how vital evolution is to all branches of modern biology-from the fight against deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the analysis of the human genome. Richly illustrated with 285 illustrations and photographs, The Tangled Bank is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the history of life on Earth.

In clear and engaging prose and through beautiful illustrations, Price shows us why the field is as exciting and vibrant as ever. He evaluates the roles of natural selection and sexual selection. He asks how speciation contributes to some of the great patterns in species diversity such as the large number of species in the tropics, and the many endemic species on isolated islands. Throughout the book, Price emphasizes the integration of behavior, ecology, and genetics.

The first of three theological volumes, this volume is devoted to four of John Wesley's foundational treatises on soteriology. These treatises include, first, Wesley’s extract from the Homilies of the Church of England; Aphorisms of Justification; followed by Wesley’s abridgement of the Shorter Catechism issued by the Westminster Assembly in his Christian Library; and Wesley’s extended response to the Dissenter John Taylor on the doctrine of original sin.

Out of this classic collision between the old world and the new, James weaves a fable of thwarted desire that shifts between comedy, tragedy, romance and melodrama a fable which in the later version printed heretakes on some of the subtleties associated with this greatest novels.

This volume contains the poems of Dryden extending from 1649 to 1680. Along with the poems of Dryden and associated extensive commentaries and textual notes from the editors, this volume contains the dramatic prologues and epilogues Dryden wrote for the plays of other writers from this period of time.

Based on Turner’s yearlong tour in Iraq as an infantry team leader, the poems offer gracefully rendered, unflinching description but, remarkably, leave the reader to draw conclusions or moral lessons.Here, Bullet is a must-read for anyone who cares about the war, regardless of political affiliation.

Portraits of and dramatic testimonials from Holocaust survivors.

Cheryl Harness’ lively narrative follows Carver’s rise to international fame: our hero dines at the White House, works with Henry Ford, and testifies to Congress. The book’s vivid illustrations are an invitation to step back in time and become an active participant in this compelling story.

Before Jackie Robinson was the first African American in the major leagues, he was a star of the Negro Leagues. This book is great for browsing & for information. The numerous photographs add to the presentation. Index. This is part of the Baseball, The American Epic series of books, which is excerpted from the longer book Baseball: An Illustrated History.

Our children's understanding of the Muslim world has never been as important as it is today. As events in the Middle East affect world politics, and the Muslim community grows in the United States, knowledge of Islamic tradition and history are now crucial. Flora Geyer's informative, accessible book tells the story of the Crusades from a Muslim point of view. The narrative follows Saladin from his birth into a prominent Kurdish family in Tikrit, Mesopotamia, in 1138. His formative military career leads to Saladin's appointment as vizier of Egypt at 31. After revitalizing the Egyptian economy, Saladin initiates campaigns against smaller Muslim states, eventually uniting Islamic forces and dispelling rivalries that had long hampered the Muslim resistance to the Crusades. Inspired by intense devotion to jihad, or "holy war," Saladin's army recaptures the holy city of Jerusalem after 88 years of Christian occupation.

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.

Philip Wilkinson's lively narrative takes us through his remarkable life, up to India's independence in 1947, and the tragic conclusion; in 1948 Gandhi was assassinated by a fanatic opposed to his program of tolerance for all creeds and religions.

This vibrant biography profiles the famed physicist as an acclaimed mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, philosopher, and inventor as well. Readers will discover the genius who inspired Alexander Pope to write, "Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night; God said 'Let Newton be' and all was light."

Author and musician Marcus Weeks takes us around Mozart's world—from the Royal courts of 18th century Europe to the opera houses and balls where Mozart enjoyed triumph and fame. We meet the kings and queens of the age, learn of the young Mozart's favorite games, see the clothes he wore, and the new musical instruments of the time. The lively text also gives readers an appreciation of Mozart's vast legacy of immortal music.

Born in Rome around 100 B.C., Gaius Julius Caesar grew up to lead of one of the world's greatest empires. A boy of fierce drive and ambition, he was tutored from the age of six. The teenage Gaius became head of his household at 16 and master of his own destiny. Caesar joined the military and at 22 he returned to Rome to begin his unstoppable rise to power.

Michael Cooper tells the story of this hero of the high seas with an invigorating realism and eye for detail. This historical biography is generously illustrated with period artwork, and photographs of historical artifacts. Fine National Geographic cartography traces the voyages and ports of call of this American hero.

When she was a young girl, Narcissa loved nothing better than to read heroic tales about brave men and women risking their lives to bring Christian ideas to "barbarians" in far-off places. In 1831, her dream of doing the same was about to come true. She would bring salvation to "those wandering sons of our native forests. " Readers will find out what really happened when East met West at the end of the real-life, legendary Oregon Trail.

This superbly illustrated book follows the life trajectory of a very focused, highly competitive man, driven by a sense of duty to his country and an innate sense of obligation towards others. Readers will find themselves inspired to "liftoff" to new heights of achievement.

On the 100th anniversary of the publishing of the special theory of relativity, this National Geographic photobiography chronicles the life of one of the most brilliant scientists who ever lived. Young readers learn about Einstein's remarkable theories that still influence technologies of today and discover the causes he passionately supported such as disarmament and civil liberties.

The conquest of the North Pole was an elusive, almost impossible goal at the beginning of the last century. But a son of patrician parents, Robert E. Peary, and a son of sharecroppers, Matthew Henson, shared a dream of conquering the unconquered North Pole and were brave enough to risk their lives numerous times before they finally succeeded.

What do record players, batteries, and movie cameras have in common? All these devices were created by the man known as The Wizard of Menlo Park: Thomas Edison. In this enlightening book, Gene Barretta enters the laboratories of one of America's most important inventors.

She Sang Promise is the compelling and inspiring story of Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, one of modern America’s first female elected tribal leader. With its lyrical, poetic text, and rich, vibrant illustration, this is a book to charm and amaze young readers.

Relates Iktomi's fruitless efforts to pick some buffalo berries.

Born into the Northern Paiute tribe of Nevada in 1844, Sarah Winnemucca straddled two cultures: the traditional life of her people, and the modern ways of her grandfather's white friends. Sarah was smart and good at languages, so she was able to link the worlds. As she became older, this made her a great leader. Sarah used condemning letters, fiery speeches, and her autobiography,Life Among the Piutes,to provide detailed accounts of her people’s turmoil through years of starvation, unjust relocations, and violent attacks.

Sylvia Earle first lost her heart to the ocean as a young girl when she discovered the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico in her backyard. As an adult, she dives even deeper. With stunningly detailed pictures of the wonders of the sea, Life in the Oceantells the story of Sylvia's growing passion and how her ocean exploration and advocacy have made her known around the world. This picture book biography also includes an informative author's note that will motivate young environmentalists.

Dian Fossey began observing gorillas in Africa's Virunga mountains, forming a bond with them. Her strong feelings for them made her an anti-poaching activist. The gorillas have survived, largely due to her efforts.

Ladies and Gentlemen: the next President of the United States will soon be included within the pages of one of our perennial favorites. National Geographic Children’s Books will publish this fully revised and updated edition ofOur Country’s Presidentsin time for the Inauguration of our 44th head of state—the first Presidents reference book on the market after the election.

Traces the careers and conquests of Cortez and Pizarro in elaborate, colorful, well-documented detail. The interest and historical value of the book are enhanced by many illustrations, in both color and black and white, including old paintings, drawings and engravings, photographs and maps.

In the aftermath of best-sellingHere, Bullet, Brian Turner deftly illuminates existence as both easily extinguishable and ultimately enduring. These prophetic, osmotic poems wage a daily battle for normalcy, seeking structure in the quotidian while grappling with the absence of forgetting.

Dust to Dust is an extraordinary memoir about ordinary things: life and death, peace and war, the adventures of childhood and the revelations of adulthood. Benjamin Busch's a decorated U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer who served two combat tours in Iraq. In elemental-themed chapters'water, metal, bone, blood?Busch weaves together a vivid record of a pastoral childhood in rural New York; Marine training in North Carolina, Ukraine, and California; and deployment during the worst of the war in Iraq, as seen firsthand. But this is much more than a war memoir. Dust to Dustis an unforgettable meditation on life and loss, and how the curious children we were remain alive in us all.

Set in depleted, post-recession suburbia, with its endlessly interlocking cul-de-sacs, mega-parking lots and big box stores, this is the story of a star astronaut's return to earth. He finds his wife and daughter gone, but he forges an unlikely friendship with a neighboring Ukrainian immigrant.

A true masterwork of haunting and spectacular vision from one of our greatest writers, Canada is a profound novel of boundaries traversed, innocence lost and reconciled, and the mysterious and consoling bonds of family. Told in spare, elegant prose, both resonant and luminous, it is destined to become a classic.

The Pulitzer Prize–winning author ofAll Over but the Shoutin’continues his personal history of the Deep South with an evocation of his mother’s childhood in the Appalachian foothills during the Great Depression, and the magnificent story of the man who raised her. A powerfully intimate piece of American history as it was experienced by the working people of the Deep South, a glorious record of a life of character, tenacity and indomitable joy and an unforgettable tribute to a vanishing culture, Ava’s Man is Rick Bragg at his stunning best.

A renowned cultural critic untangles the twisted history and future of racism through its most volatile word.

A History of the World in 100 Objects stretches back two million years and covers the globe. From the very first hand axe to the ubiquitous credit card, each item has a story to tell; together they relate the larger history of mankind-revealing who we are by looking at what we have made. Handsomely designed, with more than 150 color photographs throughout the text, A History of the World in 100 Objects is a gorgeous reading book and makes a great gift for anyone interested in history.

With his team of undercover operatives -- Tubelight, Flush, and Facecream -- Puri ingeniously combines modern techniques with principles of detection established in India more than two thousand years ago -- long before "that Johnny-come-lately" Sherlock Holmes donned his deerstalker.The search for Mary takes him to the desert oasis of Jaipur and the remote mines of Jharkhand. From Puri's well-heeled Gymkhana Club to the slums where the servant classes live, his adventures reveal modern India in all its seething complexity.