July Recommendations for Kids

Catch the Reading Bug - Kids Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!


Fiction

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold - After accidentally swallowing her grandson's pet fly, Grandma tries to retrieve it by consuming progressively larger animals.

Buzz, Buzz, Buzz by Byron Barton - A disastrous chain of events in the farmyard begins when the bee stings the bull.

Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective by David Biedrzycki - Aided by his friends, Ace Lacewing, Bug Detective, sets out on the trail of kidnappers who took Queenie Bee.

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin - A young worm discovers, day by day, that there are some very good and some not so good things about being a worm in this great big world.

Some Smug Slug by Pamela Duncan Edwards - A smug slug that will not listen to the animals around it comes to an unexpected end.

Bugs for Lunch by Margery Facklam - Rhyming text introduces bug-eating animals such as geckos, trout, or even people. Includes additional facts about each creature.

Billy’s Beetle by Mick Inkpen - Billy searches for his lost beetle, assisted by both people and animals.

The Icky Bug Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta - Introduces the characteristics and activities of insects and other crawly creatures from zero bugs on the page to twenty-six army ants.


Nonfiction

Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost - The exacting prose and jewel-toned illustrations echo the harmony of monarch and milkweed in this carefully researched book, explaining one of nature's most spectacular displays in a refreshingly simple manner.

July Recommendations for Teens

Metamorphosis @ Your Library - Teen Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!


Fiction

Tamar by Mal Peet - In England in 1995, fifteen-year-old Tamar, grief-stricken by the puzzling death of her beloved grandfather, slowly begins to uncover the secrets of his life in the Dutch resistance during the last year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the climactic events that forever cast a shadow on his life and that of his family.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer - Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Red Glass by Laura Resau - Sixteen-year-old Sophie has been frail and delicate since her premature birth, but discovers her true strength during a journey through Mexico, where the six-year-old orphan her family hopes to adopt was born, and to Guatemala, where her would-be boyfriend hopes to find his mother and plans to remain.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman - In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs--and, perhaps, save their own lives.

Peak by Roland Smith - A fourteen-year-old boy attempts to be the youngest person to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Red Moon at Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells - As the Civil War breaks out, India, a young Southern girl, summons her sharp intelligence and the courage she didn't know she had to survive the war that threatens to destroy her family, her Virginia home, and the only life she has ever known.

Extras by Scott Westerfeld - Amazon.com description: "It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules."


Nonfiction

Girl in a Fix: Quick Beauty Solutions and Why They Work by Somer Flaherty - Describes how to handle such beauty problems as surprise pimples, rough skin, bad dye jobs, and renegade hair.

Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness by Mario Lopez - Amazon.com description: "Mario's cutting-edge workout program provides easy-to-use, enjoyable methods for sculpting muscle, melting fat, and looking great. Unique exercises will keep you focused in and out of the gym, and creative meal plans will satisfy. You'll also learn the value of endurance activities like dancing, swimming, and running; discover 10-minute tone-ups and tips for a healthier lifestyle; and begin the quest for a better you in three simple, proven phases."

The A-List Workout: Top Celebrity Trainers Reveal How You Can Get a Hot Hollywood Body by Alyssa Shaffer - From the back cover: "In The A-List Workout, ten of the most in-demand celebrity trainers have come together to give you their favorite exercise plans and tips--the same advice superstars pay top dollar to get."

Total Body Plan by Bill Hartman - Amazon.com description: "Few people - even top fitness experts - ever learn the concepts presented in this book. So, if you're a beginner, consider yourself lucky. You will be far ahead of the game from the start, and that will translate into quick increases in muscle size and strength. If you are an experienced lifter, be prepared to make the best gains of your life."

Weight Training for Beginners by Tony Gallagher - Amazon.com description: "Weight Training for Beginners is a full body workout for either home or gym featuring step-by-step full color instructional photos and a unique hands-free design. All exercises can be done using the minimum of special equipment, and the book presents two fully comprehensive programs of exercises, one for those with no prior weight training experience and one for those looking to improve their skills."

July Recommendations for Adults

Read Everything Under the Sun - Adult Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!


Fiction

The Devils of Bakersfield by John Shannon - Jack Liffey and his daughter Maeve had planned to spend a restful night at Rancho Motel in Oildale on the last leg of their trip home from vacation. When Maeve is picked up by the BPD for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she and her family become trapped in a modern day witch hunt. Jack and LAPD girlfriend Gloria find out what it means to be on the streets of Bakersfield when religious zealots take over the town. Followers of the Liffey series will enjoy the supporting cast of characters who are, as always, richly imagined.

The Fourth Man by Kjell Dahl - A psychological thriller set in the dark underworld of Oslo, DI Frolich of the Oslo Police falls for the sister of a gangster, then finds himself suspected of murder when she disappears. Streetwise, poetic, complex and with an edgy eroticism, fans of Fossum and Mankell will appreciate the modern twist on the classic noir femme fatale. Winner of Norway's Riverton Prize for Best Crime Novel.

A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson - For the past three years, the widower Mr. Malik has been secretly in love with Rose Mbikwa, a woman who leads the weekly bird walks sponsored by the East African Ornithological Society. Just as Malik is getting up the nerve to invite Rose to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball (the premier social occasion of the Kenyan calendar), who should pop up but Malik's nemesis from his school days. So begins the competition: whoever can identify the most species of birds in one week's time gets the privilege of asking the object of his affection to the ball.

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry - Towner Whitney returns to Salem, Massachusetts where her family has lived for generations, when her favorite great aunt Eva drowns under mysterious circumstances. The story unfolds as Towner delves into the history of the Whitney clan, renowned for revealing destinies through "lace reading," and policeman John Rafferty investigates Eva's death. Barry excels at capturing the feel of smalltown life, and balances action with close looks at the characters' inner worlds. Her pacing and use of different perspectives show tremendous skill and will keep readers captivated all the way through.

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen - In this irresistible follow-up to Garden Spells, Allen tells the tale of 27 year-old Josey Cirrini and her passion for paperback romances, pecan rolls, and one person in particular. Living in her mother's house is comforting and life is uneventful until local waitress Della Lee Baker dares Josey to step outside herself and discover the world. Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love, and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.


Nonfiction

The Breath of a Wok: Unlocking the Spirit of Chinese Wok Cooking Through Recipes and Lore by Grace Young - Publisher's Weekly: "Young offers a profound meditation on the wok's spiritual place, as well as its history and uses. She covers wok arcana, from an assessment of the best wok for a home kitchen to half a dozen "recipes" for seasoning a new wok, like Mr. Wen's Chinese Chive Rub. Favorite wok recipes of friends and family including Mary Chau, Martin Yan, and writer Amy Tan, are provided."

Hospital: Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity, Plus Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God, and Diversity on Steriods by Julie Salamon - In 2005, Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, unveiled a new state-of-the art, multimillion-dollar cancer center. Granted an astonishing "warts and all" level of access by the hospital higher-ups, Salamon spent a year following the doctors, patients, administrators, nurses, ambulance drivers, cooks, and cleaning staff. She explored not just the action on the ground—what happens between doctors and patients—but also the financial, ethical, technological, sociological, and cultural matters that the hospital community encounters every day.

The Slaves' War: The Civil War in the Words of Former Slaves by Andrew Ward - An acclaimed historian of nineteenth-century and African-American history, Andrew Ward gives us the first narrative of the Civil War told from the perspective of those whose destiny it decided. Woven together from hundreds of interviews, diaries, letters, and memoirs, here is the Civil War as seen from not only battlefields, capitals, and camps, but also slave quarters, kitchens, roadsides, farms, towns, and swamps. Speaking in a quintessentially American language of wit, candor, and biblical power, army cooks and launderers, runaways, teamsters, and gravediggers bring the war to vivid life.

Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You by Sam Gosling - Innovative researcher and psychologist Sam Gosling has been studying how people project and protect their inner selves. By exploring our desks, bedrooms, clothes and cars, he shows not only how we showcase our personalities in unexpected-and unplanned-ways, but also how we create personality in the first place, communicate it others, and interpret the world around us.

Why Do I Love These People: Honest and Amazing Stories of Real Families by Po Bronson - Of the 700 people interviewed, 19 stories were chosen as examples of how family life is created by hard work, compromise, and realistic expectations. The stories center on men and women who overcame destructive childhoods and their impulses to repeat what was inflicted upon them to create satisfying family relationships. The author examines such subjects as divorce, death, illness, money, prejudice, and abuse.

The Traveler's Shelf

Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu by J. Maartin Troost - The author of The Sex Lives of Cannibals, continues his search for paradise in the South Pacific Islands. Close encounters with kava, typhoons, volcanoes, and giant insects, provide fodder for his witty commentary.

God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre by Richard Grant - In the endearing tradition of "mad dog Englishmen," Grant journeys into the beautiful and dangerous mountain range and Mexico's largest drug producing region. Although some adventures are to be expected, such as being pursued by drug lords intent on his demise, he describes the mountains with an artist's eye for detail and his various encounters with dark humor.

Gullible's Travels: The Adventures of a Bad Taste Tourist by Cash Peters - Famous for his BBC radio series Bad Taste Tours, this collection features some of the more zany and infamous essays on kitschy places you never wanted to visit in the first place. The best kind of armchair travel for those on a frayed shoestring budget.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer - The debate between Krakauer and Anatoli Boukreev, the Everest guide, over the decisions that lead to the disaster was public and acrimonious. The postscript in this reissue chronicles that debate until Boukreev's 1997 death in an avalanche on Annapurna.

A Journey into Steinbeck's California by Susan Shillinglaw - This part art book, part biography, and part travel guide offers insight into how landscapes and townscapes influenced John Steinbeck's creative process and how, in turn, his legacy has influenced modern California. Literary pilgrims will learn more about the state featured so prominently in Steinbeck's work, tourists can visit the same buildings that he lived in and wrote about, and historians will appreciate the engrossing perspective on daily life in early 20th-century California.

Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain by
Lori L. Tharps - Raised in mostly white middle class Milwaukee, Tharps opts for a year abroad to study Spanish in Salamanca and finds the racial remarks and stereotypes puzzling and unsettling. When she marries a Spaniard, her true Spanish adventure begins. Part travel essay, love story and memoir, Tharps discovers the untold history of Spain's connection to West Africa.

A Nuclear Family Vacation: Travels in the World of Atomic Weaponry by Nathan Hodge - Defense journalists Hodge and his wife Sharon Weinberger have created a new travel writers niche: nuclear tourism. They visit atomic-themed locations from deserted test sites to active uranium processing factories. They ask the important questions any tourist would want to know traveling in a world rife with nuclear weapons: Is there really such a thing as a suitcase nuke? Are there any weapons still on hair-trigger alert?

That Summer in Sicily: A Love Story by Marlena de Blasi - At Villa Donnafugata, bestselling author Marlena de Blasi meets Tosca, widow of the last prince of Sicily. During that summer Tosca tells de Blasi the story of their life together and the prince's tragic attempt to break the control of the Mafia. The ruined castle is now home to many of the women-now widowed-who once worked the prince's land alongside their husbands. How the Sicilian widows go about their tasks, care for one another, and celebrate the rituals of a humble, well-lived life is the heart of this book.

A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World by Tony Horwitz - "With the same sly humor and neighborly curiosity he brought to Confederates in the Attic and Blue Latitudes, Horwitz roams the New World, surveying the destinations of history's foremost explorers: Leif Eiriksson (Newfoundland), Columbus (the Dominican Republic), Coronado (the Great Plains of America), and De Soto (Florida), to name just a few. What do North Americans think of those explorers now, anyway? Ride along with Horwitz and discover for yourself..." –review by Dave at Powells.com

Way Off the Road: Discovering the Charms of Small-Town America by Bill Geist - Emmy award winning correspondent and CBS News commentator Geist writes in his endearing deadpan style about eccentric individuals and shows firsthand how life in fly-over America can be odd, strangely fascinating, hysterical, and anything but boring.

June Recommendations for Kids

Catch the Reading Bug - Kids Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!

Fiction

Ma! There's Nothing to Do Here! by Barbara Park - A humorous look at a bored baby waiting to be born.

A Dog Needs a Bone! by Audrey Wood - The dog promises to sweep the floor and answer the phone if only his mistress would give him a bone!

Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost - A growing milkweed, and glorious monarch butterflies riding the wind begin the gentle story of a monarch's life cycle accompanied by eye-catching pastel and acrylic illustrations. The cycle is completed when the chrysalis splits open and the butterfly flies away on a light breeze.

Ladybug Girl by David Soman and Jacky Davis - Lulu's brother says she is too little to play with him, but then Lulu, Ladybug Girl rescues ants, leaps through shark-infested puddles, finds the perfect fort, skips over huge and snake-like tree trunks, with the companionship of her amiable dog Bingo.

Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King - Rowley Barker Hobbs was a shaggy sheepdog with a hairy head at one end and a busy tail at the other. Paul, a mouse, was allergic to cheese; if he stood too close to cheese, his bottom would turn blue, the fur would fall out, and his tail would curl up like a question mark. When Paul learns of the popular "Mouse Noses on Toast" served at a local posh restaurant, he launches a campaign to aid and prevent such a horrific practice. Are there noseless mouses somewhere? Can Paul and friends discover where the atrocities take place and prevent them?

The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander - "When the world starts falling about your ears and intensely disagreeable things are happening to you, it's always a comfort to blame somebody else." So begins the tale of naïve and bumbling Carlo, his shady camel-puller Baksheesh, and Shira, a spirited girl determined to return home despite the tragedy which may await her. In Alexander's last tale, their caravan follows a treasure map through the deserts and cities of the infamous Golden Road. Mysterious strangers try in vain to point them towards real treasure, as they wend their way past villainous, murderous bandits and nomads on a grand adventure which is as amusing as it is insightful.

100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson - When twelve-year-old Henry's parents are kidnapped, he moves to the quiet town of Henry, Kansas, to live with his uncle and aunt. One night the plaster on his bedroom wall begins to crack and he uncovers ninety-nine unique cupboard doors, and one more in his deceased grandfather's bedroom which he uncovers with assistance from his cousin Henrietta. Each cupboard opens into a different location, none being the Kansas sky. The cousins learn that the cupboards are portals to separate worlds, all of which can be accessed through the one door in their dead grandfather's bedroom, which also allows the entry of menacing intruders from the other worlds into their own. A quickly paced, well crafted fantasy peopled with fun characters; a sequel is sure to follow.


Nonfiction

Kids’ Crazy Art Concoctions: 50 Mysterious Mixtures for Art & Craft Fun by Jill Frankel Hauser - Looking for some summer fun? Loads of fun crafts using paper, paints, dough, clay, gift wrap paper, napkin parachutes, and bubble print paper.

Soccer: The Ultimate Guide by Martin Cloake, Glenn Dakin, Adam Powley, and Catherine Saunders - This book covers everything about soccer, from its history to highlights, strategy to celebration, big matches to big egos, clubs and players. Discover amazing facts and figures to increase your appreciation for this fast moving sport.

The Art Book for Children, Book Two by Amanda Renshaw - Wanting to foster art appreciation for the children in your life? This volume contains work by thirty artists from all people to encourage children to ask why artist do what they do. Each famous work of art asks questions, offers comments and insights about each fascinating work of art.

Heavy Equipment Up Close by Andra Serlin Abramson - Stunning actual size photos of dump trucks, tractors, dozers, and more.

June Recommendations for Teens

Metamorphosis @ Your Library - Teen Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!

Fiction

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker - Groomed by his father to be a star player, football is the only thing that has ever really mattered to Mick Johnson, who works hard for a spot on the varsity team his freshman year, then tries to hold onto his edge by using steroids, despite the consequences to his health and social life.

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt - When Lord Death comes to claim sixteen-year-old Keturah while she is lost in the King's Forest, she charms him with her story and is granted a twenty-four hour reprieve in which to seek her one true love.

Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle - Years afterwards, Ruben Hart tells the story of how, in 1929 Newport, Rhode Island, his family and his best friend's family were caught up in the violent competition among groups trying to control the local rum-smuggling trade.

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean - Taken to Antarctica by the man she thinks of as her uncle for what she believes to be a vacation, Symone--a troubled fourteen year old--discovers that he is dangerously obsessed with seeking Symme's Hole, an opening that supposedly leads into the center of a hollow Earth.

The Off Season by Catherine Murdock - High school junior D.J. staggers under the weight of caring for her badly injured brother, her responsibilities on the dairy farm, a changing relationship with her friend Brian, and her own athletic aspirations.


Nonfiction

Cool Hair: A Teenager's Guide to the Best Beauty Secrets on Hair, Makeup, and Style by Vincent Roppatte - Barnes & Noble: "A lavish, full-color book packed with tips and inspiration for teenage girls on how to make the most of their looks. The master stylist at Saks Fifth Avenue reveals the secrets teens can use to notch up their sense of style and self-esteem."

LL Cool J’s Platinum Workout by L.L. Cool J - Amazon.com: "LL didn't always have a diesel body—he chiseled it the old-fashioned way, with hard work and discipline. Here he shares the secrets of his transformation in a uniquely creative, yet no-nonsense regimen—enlivened with humor and sheer force of personality—that will inspire readers to enjoy working out as never before, while building a body they never thought possible."

Safe Dieting for Teens by Linda Ojeda - Amazon.com: "Safe Dieting for Teens contains straightforward, nonjudgmental advice that teens can easily understand and follow. The book emphasizes slow, safe weight loss and encourages readers to take control of their own health by explaining what's in the foods they eat and providing many alternatives to higher fat foods."

Weight Loss Confidential: How Teen Lose Weight and Keep It Off—and What They Wish Parents Knew by Anne M. Fletcher - Publishers Weekly: "With teen obesity a big issue in the U.S., the author of Thin for Life turns her expertise toward helping overweight teens and their parents adopt proven strategies for weight loss—together."

The 3-Hour Diet for Teens: Lose Weight and Feel Great in Two Weeks! by Jorge Cruise - From the Publisher: "The 3-Hour Diet has helped America lose weight and keep it off. Now it's your turn. Lose weight while still eating at the cafeteria or out with your friends! Jorge Cruise has customized his plan to fit your needs as a busy teen. Take the 3-Hour challenge and get ready for a slimmer you!"

June Recommendations for Adults

Read Everything Under the Sun - Adult Summer Reading Program 2008, June 2 to July 26!

Fiction

The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe - Terminally ill patients have been welcoming Simon into their homes; he brings relief for their pain and they are grateful. He also relieves them of their lives, grotesquely contorting their faces for a singular purpose. When Simon visits Port Dundas, Detective Inspector Hazel Micallef finds herself tracking a serial killer with a mission she must stop him from fulfilling. Inger Ash Wolfe, a pseudonym, brings a compelling new voice and an irresistible new heroine to the mystery world.

Calumet City by Charlie Newton - Meet Patti Black, the most decorated cop in Chicago. On her ghetto beat, Patti Black redefines the word badass. But her steel-plated exterior belies the wrenching legacy of her orphan childhood. When a series of unrelated cases all point in her direction, she finds herself facing the dark truth. For Patti Black, that history didn't die in the tenement wall; it's alive—and riding her down. Among the most self-assured and sharply crafted debuts in recent years, Calumet City detonates a Molotov cocktail of character-driven suspense and ghetto-Chicago intrigue.

The End of Baseball by Peter Schilling - Hungry for a pennant, Bill Veeck jettisons the team's white players and secretly recruits the legendary stars of the Negro Leagues, fielding a club that will go down in baseball annals as one of the greatest ever to play the game. The Philadelphia Athletics of the 1943 season included: the tragic Josh Gibson; the remarkable but self-centered Satchel Paige; the Cuban wonder Martin Dihigo; the veteran stalwarts Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells, and Buck Leonard; and the rising stars Roy Campanella, Artie Wilson, and Dave Barnhil. The End of Baseball is the most rollicking, free-spirited baseball yarn in years.

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland - The author of the internationally acclaimed Josephine Bonaparte trilogy returns with another irresistible historical novel, this one based on the life of Louise de la Vallière, who, against all odds, became one of the most mysterious consorts of France's Louis XIV, the charismatic Sun King. A riveting love story with a captivating mystery at its heart, Mistress of the Sun illuminates both the power of true and perfect love and the rash actions we take to capture and tame it.

The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard by Erin McGraw - Based on McGraw's grandmother, 17 year old Nell Plat flees husband, babes, and crushing boredom in early 1900s Kansas to become a costumer to the stars in newly flourishing Hollywood. But the past won't stay put, and Nell's new found happiness is jeopardized when her Kansas family finds their way to her door.


Nonfiction

Farewell My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living by Doug Fine - Living green and buying local has been the mantra of recent years and Doug Fine whole heartedly embraced the philosophy. Although lacking any practical experience in farming, he moves to a remote ranch in New Mexico and attempts to lead the eco-aware life such as using grease from a Chinese restaurant in place of fossil fuel. His successes are inspiring and his failures are immensely amusing. Doug Fine is a frequent contributor to NPR and author of Not Really An Alaskan Mountain Man.

Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler - Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Sheeler spent two years shadowing Maj. Steve Beck, a Marine in charge of casualty notification, as he delivered the news of battlefield death to families. Sheeler puts readers in Beck's shoes as he walks up to houses, delivers the knock on the door so dreaded by military families and tries to comfort distraught spouses and parents. An eloquent tribute to families facing the devastating loss of a loved one in war.

Passion on the Vine: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Family in the Heart of Italy by Sergio Esposito - Food and wine are so much a part of Italian life, Esposito shares poignant and often hilarious stories of his relationships with his family and Italian friends. Passion on the Vineis an utterly unique and enchanting work about Italy and its culture.

When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris - A new collection by the master of the sardonic, these 22 essays catalogue Sedaris' dark humor on subjects like death, insects, compulsions, life with perfectly normal Hugh, embarrassing moments in everyday life, and his wacky sister Amy. Fans will not be disappointed.

The Traveler's Shelf

Has the price of fuel made you rethink your summer vacation plans? Catch a ride with the latest adventures and road trips by renowned travel writers.

Around the World in 80 Dinners: The Ultimate Culinary Adventure by Cheryl and Bill Jamison - Combination travel guide and cookbook, James Beard Award winning authors of "The Big Book of Outdoor Cooking" set off on a 3 month trip to dine on the best local foods in 10 countries. The husband and wife team are adventurous travelers and eaters, the Jamison's bring diverse palates and place home.

Around the World in 80 Rounds: Chasing a Golf Ball from Tierra del Fuego to the Land of the Midnight Sun by David Wood - Ridding himself of all possessions except his golf clubs, Wood sets off for year-long tour of the golf courses of the world. Part zany travelogue, part golf memoir, his adventures on the green are the perfect read to accompany the 19th hole.

Hamburger America: One Man’s Cross-Country Odyssey to Find the Best Burgers in the Nation (with DVD) by George Motz - Whether you're an armchair traveler, a serious hamburger connoisseur, or a curious adventurer up for a road trip, Hamburger America will be your guide to reclaiming this precious slice of Americana. Documentary filmmaker Motz has made it his personal mission to save our nation's unique burger identity. He has traveled across the country in search of the best burger joints - those that have survived outside the fast-food mainstream - and has documented their rich histories and one-of-a-kind taste experiences.

Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to Understand the World’s Most Mysterious Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost - Hailed as the Bill Bryson of the new generation, Troost brings China to life as you've never seen it before. His insightful, rip-roaringly funny narrative proves once again that he is one of the most entertaining and insightful armchair travel companions around.

Narrow Dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington - The true and hilarious story of 2 senior citizens who hatch a plan in a pub to sail across the English Channel to Carcassonne in a "narrow dog," a boat designed for inland canals. Along the way they outwit teenage vandals, survive storms at sea, cope with their aquaphobic whippet, and muse over hilarious docking faux pas. "One of the most hilarious travel memoirs ever written!"—Booklist

On a Hoof and a Prayer: Exploring Argentina at a Gallop by Polly Evans - As a girl, Polly Evans dreamed about learning to ride—and in her mid-thirties the obsession returned. Determined to finally bite the bullet and saddle up, she set off for Argentina, a sprawling country where six-year-olds travel to school on horseback. From wine tasting in the Andes to exploring the legendary Perito Moreno Glacier, from investigating the myth of the gaucho to discovering her Welsh roots in Patagonia, Polly takes us along for an exhilarating, unforgettable ride as she finally lives out her dream—at a trot, a canter, and a gallop.

A Piano in the Pyrenees: The Ups and Downs of an Englishman in the French Mountains by Tony Hawks - Inspired by a childhood dream to learn to play the piano, Hawks buys a house in the French Pyrenees. Although the piano idea doesn't go as planned, Tony and his small group of friends haplessly attempt to integrate themselves into local village life, they learn more about themselves and each other than they ever thought possible.

Queen of the Road: True Tales of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own by Doreen Orion - Doreen and Tim are married psychiatrists with a twist: She's a self-proclaimed Long Island princess, grouchy couch potato, and shoe addict. He's an affable, though driven, outdoorsman. When Tim suggests "chucking it all" to travel cross-country in a converted bus, Doreen asks, "Why can't you be like a normal husband in a midlife crisis and have an affair or buy a Corvette?" But she soon shocks them both, agreeing to set forth with their sixty-pound dog, two querulous cats—and no agenda—in a 340-square-foot bus.

A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World by Tony Horwitz - With the same sly humor and neighborly curiosity Horwitz roams the New World, surveying the destinations of history's foremost explorers: Leif Eiriksson (Newfoundland), Columbus (the Dominican Republic), Coronado (the Great Plains of America), and De Soto (Florida), to name just a few. What do North Americans think of those explorers now, anyway? Ride along with Horwitz—but let him suffer the sweat lodge alone—and discover for yourself.

Why I Came West: A Memoir by Rick Bass - A poignant look at the thirty-year journey of one of our country's great naturalist writers, Why I Came West explores how Rick Bass fell in love with the mystique of the West: as a dramatic landscape, as an idea, and as a way of life. Bass grew up in the suburban sprawl of Houston, spent eight years working in Mississippi as a geologist, until one day he packed up and headed west in search of something visceral, true, and real. He found it in the remote Yaak Valley of northwestern Montana, a unique place, where despite extensive logging not a single species has gone extinct since the last Ice Age. He describes his role as a reluctant environmental activist—sometimes at odds with his own neighbors—unable and unwilling to stand idly by and watch this treasured place disappear.