Look What's New for Kids!
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort - Illustrations and rhyming text reveal the Mighty Underpants War as the true reason dinosaurs are extinct.
Monday, March 1, 2010
March Recommendations for Kids
Fiction
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett - It is time for the rabbits to decorate eggs for the Easter Rabbit, and the rabbit that makes the winning egg will be allowed to help the Easter Rabbit hide the eggs on Easter morning. Finally, Hoppi is old enough to participate, and after looking at all of the other rabbits fantastic egg creations, he feels inadequate. When he lays down under a tree to think, a robin egg tumbles out of its nest and Hoppi begins his faithful care of the little egg. Brett’s enchanting, detailed illustrations complete this charming tale.
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry - Four old-fashioned children Tim the eldest, twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B (who have only one ugly sweater between themselves and alternate wearing it), and little Jane have despicable parents. While the children plot to become orphans, their wicked parents abandon them and sell their house, in spite of the children’s attempts to foil prospective buyers by posing as lamp shades and coat hangers. The children and their nanny become homeless, but find a rich millionaire for themselves and their nanny while the parents end up as human popsicles while mountain climbing. Filled with sly humor and hilarious comedy, fans of Lemony Snickett will enjoy this offering.
Nonfiction
Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose - "When it comes to justice, there is not easy wasy to get it. You can’t sugarcoat it. You just have to take a stand and say, ‘this is not right.’" Claudette Colvin
On March 2, 1955, a slim, remarkable teenager refused to surrender her seat on the bus to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Shouting, "It’s my Constitutional right!" as police dragged her off to jail, Claudette Colvin had become weary of the Jim Crow segregation laws which had plagued her since she was a young child. Putting her life at risk, she challenged segregation by being one of the four plaintiffs in the landmark busing case of Browder v. Gayle. This book is based on interviews with the courageous and inspiring Claudette Colvin, and is an in-depth account of this major civil rights pioneer, and provides a fresh, fascinating perspective on the Montgomery bus protest of 1955-56.
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - Born into slavery in 1838, Bass became one of the most famous and feared deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi. Through tricks, ruses, disguises, and bravery, Bass made more than 3,000 arrests and killed only 14 men in the line of duty.
My People by Langston Hughes - Langston Hughes' eloquent tribute has been a cherished poem to generations. Charles Smith Jr. interprets this poem in vivid photos which highlight the splendor and magnificence of Langston’s enduring work.
Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Brian Dennis - Nubs, a mongrel so named because his ears look like little nubs, was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving, however, his life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. Dennis fed him scraps, taught him to shake, and often they stood guard duty together in Iraq. When the Marines traveled 70 miles across the freezing snowy desert, Nubs followed, arriving two days later, thin, wounded, and weary. Major Dennis raised enough money to have Nubs shipped to America, where Nubs lives in doggy bliss.
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett - It is time for the rabbits to decorate eggs for the Easter Rabbit, and the rabbit that makes the winning egg will be allowed to help the Easter Rabbit hide the eggs on Easter morning. Finally, Hoppi is old enough to participate, and after looking at all of the other rabbits fantastic egg creations, he feels inadequate. When he lays down under a tree to think, a robin egg tumbles out of its nest and Hoppi begins his faithful care of the little egg. Brett’s enchanting, detailed illustrations complete this charming tale.
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry - Four old-fashioned children Tim the eldest, twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B (who have only one ugly sweater between themselves and alternate wearing it), and little Jane have despicable parents. While the children plot to become orphans, their wicked parents abandon them and sell their house, in spite of the children’s attempts to foil prospective buyers by posing as lamp shades and coat hangers. The children and their nanny become homeless, but find a rich millionaire for themselves and their nanny while the parents end up as human popsicles while mountain climbing. Filled with sly humor and hilarious comedy, fans of Lemony Snickett will enjoy this offering.
Nonfiction
Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice by Phillip Hoose - "When it comes to justice, there is not easy wasy to get it. You can’t sugarcoat it. You just have to take a stand and say, ‘this is not right.’" Claudette Colvin
On March 2, 1955, a slim, remarkable teenager refused to surrender her seat on the bus to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Shouting, "It’s my Constitutional right!" as police dragged her off to jail, Claudette Colvin had become weary of the Jim Crow segregation laws which had plagued her since she was a young child. Putting her life at risk, she challenged segregation by being one of the four plaintiffs in the landmark busing case of Browder v. Gayle. This book is based on interviews with the courageous and inspiring Claudette Colvin, and is an in-depth account of this major civil rights pioneer, and provides a fresh, fascinating perspective on the Montgomery bus protest of 1955-56.
Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - Born into slavery in 1838, Bass became one of the most famous and feared deputy U.S. Marshals west of the Mississippi. Through tricks, ruses, disguises, and bravery, Bass made more than 3,000 arrests and killed only 14 men in the line of duty.
My People by Langston Hughes - Langston Hughes' eloquent tribute has been a cherished poem to generations. Charles Smith Jr. interprets this poem in vivid photos which highlight the splendor and magnificence of Langston’s enduring work.
Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Brian Dennis - Nubs, a mongrel so named because his ears look like little nubs, was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving, however, his life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. Dennis fed him scraps, taught him to shake, and often they stood guard duty together in Iraq. When the Marines traveled 70 miles across the freezing snowy desert, Nubs followed, arriving two days later, thin, wounded, and weary. Major Dennis raised enough money to have Nubs shipped to America, where Nubs lives in doggy bliss.
March Recommendations for Teens
Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires Book One) by Rachel Caine -
Claire Danvers is thrilled to be starting college life at the young age of sixteen; however, her parents are unwilling to let her go to the Ivy League schools she’s always dreamed of for fear that she find her way into trouble. They think that by sending her to a college closer to home they can keep her safe, but they couldn’t be more wrong. At Texas Prairie University Claire is the subject of hazing by older girls, one of whom seems to have a personal vendetta against Claire. After being pushed down a flight of stairs, Claire decides it isn’t safe to live in the dorms. However, it doesn’t take her long to learn that it’s not safe anywhere in Morganville.
Claire manages to find protection and friends, and in her new home she discovers the horrors that linger in the dark. Vampires walk to town, preying on those who are unprotected. It’s going to talk all her smarts to outwit and outmaneuver the vampires who have it in for Claire and her friends.
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves -
This wild and creative story is told by Hannah, who is a young girl struggling with some mental issues. She is unstable to say the least. She has been diagnosed with several disorders, she often hallucinates, and her aunt has threatened to throw her in a loony bin. However, Hannah decides to run away to avoid going back to an institution, but not before bashing said aunt over the head with a table lamp. Eventually, she makes her way to her mother (who left after she was born) in Portero, Texas. Of course the mom is almost as crazy in her own unique way, and wants nothing to do with Hannah, who insists on staying. Fortunately, the monsters in Portero make Hannah's hallucinations look absolutely normal. Because she has dealt with her own monsters all her life, Hannah is not freaked out by the strange happenings that take place.
As in any good book, Hannah finds a way to fit in and a boy who accepts her because his own life is almost as unbelievable. Bleeding Violet is definitely an interesting story, just be prepared for a heavy dose of paranormal when picking this one up.
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock -
When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
This is the lesson the D.J. becomes very familiar with over the summer. Her family seems to be on the brink of falling apart: her mother is never home, her little brother refuses to talk, and no one has heard from her two older brothers since they moved out to go to college. D.J. has essentially taken over her family’s dairy farm since her father’s accident, so who has time to talk anyway. She milks cows, mucks the stalls, oh, and helps with football training for Brian. She loves training Brian, and the more she does it the more she enjoys both football and Brian himself. Just a few problems with that, like: 1.) her dad would flip if she tried out for the team and 2.) Brian Nelson is sooo out of her league.
Through the course of the summer D.J. tries to figure out who she really is, and if what she wants is really worth going after. It might cost her everything if she speaks up, but boy does she have a lot to say. Her story is one every girl should read. It’s hilarious, romantic, and daring all tied into one neat package.
Heist Society by Ally Carter - A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop's father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector.
The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy - Fourteen-year-old Valkyrie and the skeleton mage, Skulduggery Pleasant, try to foil a plot set in motion fifty years before to find and open the gate that will allow the Faceless Ones to return to this reality.
The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de La Cruz - Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods--an ancient group of vampires--now find themselves in an epic battle for survival following the stunning revelation of a young socialite's true identity and the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods.
Suzi Clue: The
Prom Queen Curse by Michelle Kehm - Suzi Clue, a mystery-obsessed freshman with her own sense of style, investigates "the curse of the prom queen" at Seattle's Mountain High School.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks - Fifteen-year-old vampire Nina has been stuck for fifty-one years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting has ever happened to them--until one of them is murdered and the others must try to solve the crime.
Claire Danvers is thrilled to be starting college life at the young age of sixteen; however, her parents are unwilling to let her go to the Ivy League schools she’s always dreamed of for fear that she find her way into trouble. They think that by sending her to a college closer to home they can keep her safe, but they couldn’t be more wrong. At Texas Prairie University Claire is the subject of hazing by older girls, one of whom seems to have a personal vendetta against Claire. After being pushed down a flight of stairs, Claire decides it isn’t safe to live in the dorms. However, it doesn’t take her long to learn that it’s not safe anywhere in Morganville.
Claire manages to find protection and friends, and in her new home she discovers the horrors that linger in the dark. Vampires walk to town, preying on those who are unprotected. It’s going to talk all her smarts to outwit and outmaneuver the vampires who have it in for Claire and her friends.
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves -
This wild and creative story is told by Hannah, who is a young girl struggling with some mental issues. She is unstable to say the least. She has been diagnosed with several disorders, she often hallucinates, and her aunt has threatened to throw her in a loony bin. However, Hannah decides to run away to avoid going back to an institution, but not before bashing said aunt over the head with a table lamp. Eventually, she makes her way to her mother (who left after she was born) in Portero, Texas. Of course the mom is almost as crazy in her own unique way, and wants nothing to do with Hannah, who insists on staying. Fortunately, the monsters in Portero make Hannah's hallucinations look absolutely normal. Because she has dealt with her own monsters all her life, Hannah is not freaked out by the strange happenings that take place.
As in any good book, Hannah finds a way to fit in and a boy who accepts her because his own life is almost as unbelievable. Bleeding Violet is definitely an interesting story, just be prepared for a heavy dose of paranormal when picking this one up.
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock -
When you don’t talk, there’s a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
This is the lesson the D.J. becomes very familiar with over the summer. Her family seems to be on the brink of falling apart: her mother is never home, her little brother refuses to talk, and no one has heard from her two older brothers since they moved out to go to college. D.J. has essentially taken over her family’s dairy farm since her father’s accident, so who has time to talk anyway. She milks cows, mucks the stalls, oh, and helps with football training for Brian. She loves training Brian, and the more she does it the more she enjoys both football and Brian himself. Just a few problems with that, like: 1.) her dad would flip if she tried out for the team and 2.) Brian Nelson is sooo out of her league.
Through the course of the summer D.J. tries to figure out who she really is, and if what she wants is really worth going after. It might cost her everything if she speaks up, but boy does she have a lot to say. Her story is one every girl should read. It’s hilarious, romantic, and daring all tied into one neat package.
Heist Society by Ally Carter - A group of teenagers uses their combined talents to re-steal several priceless paintings and save fifteen-year-old Kat Bishop's father, himself an international art thief, from a vengeful collector.
The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy - Fourteen-year-old Valkyrie and the skeleton mage, Skulduggery Pleasant, try to foil a plot set in motion fifty years before to find and open the gate that will allow the Faceless Ones to return to this reality.
The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de La Cruz - Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods--an ancient group of vampires--now find themselves in an epic battle for survival following the stunning revelation of a young socialite's true identity and the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods.
Suzi Clue: The
Prom Queen Curse by Michelle Kehm - Suzi Clue, a mystery-obsessed freshman with her own sense of style, investigates "the curse of the prom queen" at Seattle's Mountain High School.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks - Fifteen-year-old vampire Nina has been stuck for fifty-one years in a boring support group for vampires, and nothing exciting has ever happened to them--until one of them is murdered and the others must try to solve the crime.
March Recommendations for Adults
Fiction
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley - Set in San Francisco in 1940, Stanley's stunning first in a new series introduces a gutsy, independent heroine who isn't always likable. As the city celebrates the Chinese New Year with the Rice Bowl Party, a three-day carnival to raise money for China's war relief, PI Miranda Corbie sees Eddie Takahashi, a young Japanese numbers runner, shot dead in front of her on a crowded, fireworks-filled Chinatown street. When the police tell her to forget about Takahashi (Chalk him up to Nanking), the outraged Miranda decides to seek justice on her own. In her quest for Takahashi's killer, she encounters racism and sexism at nearly every turn. A former escort who's reinvented herself as a detective, the 33-year-old Miranda isn't taken seriously by the cops, who enjoy rehashing her past. Stanley (Nox Dormienda) aptly describes San Francisco as a city redolent and glistening with sin and lamplight, forever a girl you didn't take home to Mother. ~Publisher’s Weekly (Feb. 2010)
Dial H for Hitchcock by Susan Kandel - Alfred Hitchcock fans should love Kandel's fifth Cece Caruso mystery, a terrific tribute that's also wickedly funny. L.A. vintage fashionista Cece, who's just returned from her solo honeymoon after dumping LAPD Det. Peter Gambino, is researching a Hitchcock biography when her life takes a Hitchcockian turn. After watching a screening of Vertigo, she returns home to find someone else's cellphone in her purse. A curious call on the cellphone leads Cece to Beechwood Canyon, where she hopes to return it to its owner, Anita Colby. Instead, Cece winds up witnessing the cool blonde's murder. As Cece gets drawn deeper into a plot with alarming similarities to the celebrated director's noir masterpieces, she fears she's become a victim of identity theft as well as a dead ringer for the Kim Novak character in Vertigo. Kandel keeps the action tight all the way to a delightful denouement that Hitch no doubt would've appreciated. --Publisher’s Weekly (Nov. 2009)
The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian - The Robinas have shared a wonderful life for more than sixty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from cancer and John has Alzheimer's. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed "down-on-their-luck geezers" kidnap themselves from the adult children and doctors who seem to run their lives and steal away from their home in suburban Detroit on a forbidden vacation of rediscovery. With Ella as his vigilant copilot, John steers their '78 Leisure Seeker RV along the forgotten roads of Route 66 toward Disneyland in search of a past they're having a damned hard time remembering. Yet Ella is determined to prove that, when it comes to life, you can go back for seconds—even when everyone says you can't.
The Queen’s Governess by Karen Harper - Katherine Ashley, the over-educated daughter of a country squire, enters the turbulent court of Tudor England as a spy for Thomas Cromwell. Gaining the confidence of the doomed Anne Boleyn, Kat pledges to become governess and surrogate-mother to the young Elizabeth Tudor. While Cromwell reigns they endure exile, imprisonment, assassination attempts, and manage a daring escape. When he falls, Elizabeth is crowned queen and Kat continues to serve her, faithfully guarding all her secrets. Solid historical research adds depth and realism to the characters and dialogue. For those who can’t get enough of historical fiction of 16th century England.
Snow Angels by James Thompson - Endless nights of Finland can drive anyone to murder. The long Arctic winters nurture dangerous habits of mind that can ripen into alcoholism, isolation, lust, and revenge. When a beautiful Somali film star vacationing at a resort is found brutally murdered, Inspector Kari Vaara finds that in a small town the suspects are very close to home."This book is wonderful. It took me right in, dropped me into a strange new world, and kept me captivated from first to last page. James Thompson has done a masterful job with Snow Angels!" -Michael Connelly
Nonfiction
Home Based Business for Dummies 3rd ed. by Paul Edwards, et al. - Whether you've been affected by downsizing in these uncertain times or are just looking to earn some extra cash, this book shows you how to avoid scams and truly start working from home for profit. You'll get trusted and creative advice on how to start being your own boss, bringing in a steady paycheck, and running a business you'll enjoy. This book will explain the legal and financial aspects of a home-based business; effective advertising and promotional strategies that won't break the bank; tips and information you need to make your business profitable; and advice on outfitting and running a home office. Also covered is how to manage your time with family in the next room, get through a project when you don’t feel like working, and how to handle your business money wisely. A good place to start if you want to explore the possibilities.
How to Use the Internet to Get Your Next Job by Janet Nagle - The strategies will help you conduct a timesaving, low-cost, and high-impact job search whether you are searching for your first job out of college or looking to change careers. You will learn how to conduct an effective job search by determining keywords and phrases, creating an online resume, and also how to research potential employers. But it does not stop there: This book compiles and analyzes the major job sites Monster.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and CareerBuilder.com as well as niche sites for every industry, from health care and administrative to accounting and public relations. Employers are hitting the virtual pavement to find top-tier talent, some employers estimate 75% of their staff came through online applications.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting and Running a Thrift Store by Ravel Buckley and Carol Costa - In economic times like these, thrift stores have seen a 35% increase in sales in 2008; so what better time to start one? While fairly cheap, it is complicated. Here, two experts cover the entire process, including such vital topics as how to set up the store on a nonprofit basis; choose a location; get funding; get the word about donations of saleable items; recruit and manage volunteer staff; sort, price and recycle donations. Practical advice, examples of best practices, and finding community partnering opportunities make this an indispensible business asset.
Over 40 and You’re Hired by Robin Ryan - Superb! Is what reviewers are saying about this book. The author of 60 Seconds & You’re Hired!, takes on one of the most daunting challenges someone in this age group can face, finding a job. In a job market that requires candidates to be computer literate, those recently laid off from a long-term position or who have been staying home with children may find themselves at a disadvantage. Ryan has created a guide of valuable advice and detailed explanations culled from over twenty years of experience as a career counselor that people over forty will find indispensible as they look for work. Ryan emphasizes the computer and Internet proficiencies universally demanded, shares tools for job searching online, advises job candidates to get a makeover to look more professional, and—in the book's most useful sections—shows how to fine-tune a résumé . Each résumé and cover letter should be tailored to the particular job and that the job title be explicitly listed in a career objective line, practical examples are included as well as indispensible online resources.
True Food: Eight Simple Steps to a Healthier You by Annie Berthold-Bond, et al., foreword by Alice Waters - This inviting, encouraging how-to turns the ideals of today’s food revolution into eight practical steps to a healthier, more natural diet. It’s a workable blueprint for enlightening your kitchen in ways that are good for you, your family, your pocketbook—and the environment. Friendly and fun, featuring lighthearted design and lively writing, the book shows how preparing good food with simple, natural ingredients can actually cost less than reaching for commercially produced and processed alternatives. Special sidebars called "Budget Benefits" highlight how following these eight simple steps can actually save you money—and at the same time help you nourish better and greener attitudes everywhere.
City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley - Set in San Francisco in 1940, Stanley's stunning first in a new series introduces a gutsy, independent heroine who isn't always likable. As the city celebrates the Chinese New Year with the Rice Bowl Party, a three-day carnival to raise money for China's war relief, PI Miranda Corbie sees Eddie Takahashi, a young Japanese numbers runner, shot dead in front of her on a crowded, fireworks-filled Chinatown street. When the police tell her to forget about Takahashi (Chalk him up to Nanking), the outraged Miranda decides to seek justice on her own. In her quest for Takahashi's killer, she encounters racism and sexism at nearly every turn. A former escort who's reinvented herself as a detective, the 33-year-old Miranda isn't taken seriously by the cops, who enjoy rehashing her past. Stanley (Nox Dormienda) aptly describes San Francisco as a city redolent and glistening with sin and lamplight, forever a girl you didn't take home to Mother. ~Publisher’s Weekly (Feb. 2010)
Dial H for Hitchcock by Susan Kandel - Alfred Hitchcock fans should love Kandel's fifth Cece Caruso mystery, a terrific tribute that's also wickedly funny. L.A. vintage fashionista Cece, who's just returned from her solo honeymoon after dumping LAPD Det. Peter Gambino, is researching a Hitchcock biography when her life takes a Hitchcockian turn. After watching a screening of Vertigo, she returns home to find someone else's cellphone in her purse. A curious call on the cellphone leads Cece to Beechwood Canyon, where she hopes to return it to its owner, Anita Colby. Instead, Cece winds up witnessing the cool blonde's murder. As Cece gets drawn deeper into a plot with alarming similarities to the celebrated director's noir masterpieces, she fears she's become a victim of identity theft as well as a dead ringer for the Kim Novak character in Vertigo. Kandel keeps the action tight all the way to a delightful denouement that Hitch no doubt would've appreciated. --Publisher’s Weekly (Nov. 2009)
The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian - The Robinas have shared a wonderful life for more than sixty years. Now in their eighties, Ella suffers from cancer and John has Alzheimer's. Yearning for one last adventure, the self-proclaimed "down-on-their-luck geezers" kidnap themselves from the adult children and doctors who seem to run their lives and steal away from their home in suburban Detroit on a forbidden vacation of rediscovery. With Ella as his vigilant copilot, John steers their '78 Leisure Seeker RV along the forgotten roads of Route 66 toward Disneyland in search of a past they're having a damned hard time remembering. Yet Ella is determined to prove that, when it comes to life, you can go back for seconds—even when everyone says you can't.
The Queen’s Governess by Karen Harper - Katherine Ashley, the over-educated daughter of a country squire, enters the turbulent court of Tudor England as a spy for Thomas Cromwell. Gaining the confidence of the doomed Anne Boleyn, Kat pledges to become governess and surrogate-mother to the young Elizabeth Tudor. While Cromwell reigns they endure exile, imprisonment, assassination attempts, and manage a daring escape. When he falls, Elizabeth is crowned queen and Kat continues to serve her, faithfully guarding all her secrets. Solid historical research adds depth and realism to the characters and dialogue. For those who can’t get enough of historical fiction of 16th century England.
Snow Angels by James Thompson - Endless nights of Finland can drive anyone to murder. The long Arctic winters nurture dangerous habits of mind that can ripen into alcoholism, isolation, lust, and revenge. When a beautiful Somali film star vacationing at a resort is found brutally murdered, Inspector Kari Vaara finds that in a small town the suspects are very close to home."This book is wonderful. It took me right in, dropped me into a strange new world, and kept me captivated from first to last page. James Thompson has done a masterful job with Snow Angels!" -Michael Connelly
Nonfiction
Home Based Business for Dummies 3rd ed. by Paul Edwards, et al. - Whether you've been affected by downsizing in these uncertain times or are just looking to earn some extra cash, this book shows you how to avoid scams and truly start working from home for profit. You'll get trusted and creative advice on how to start being your own boss, bringing in a steady paycheck, and running a business you'll enjoy. This book will explain the legal and financial aspects of a home-based business; effective advertising and promotional strategies that won't break the bank; tips and information you need to make your business profitable; and advice on outfitting and running a home office. Also covered is how to manage your time with family in the next room, get through a project when you don’t feel like working, and how to handle your business money wisely. A good place to start if you want to explore the possibilities.
How to Use the Internet to Get Your Next Job by Janet Nagle - The strategies will help you conduct a timesaving, low-cost, and high-impact job search whether you are searching for your first job out of college or looking to change careers. You will learn how to conduct an effective job search by determining keywords and phrases, creating an online resume, and also how to research potential employers. But it does not stop there: This book compiles and analyzes the major job sites Monster.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and CareerBuilder.com as well as niche sites for every industry, from health care and administrative to accounting and public relations. Employers are hitting the virtual pavement to find top-tier talent, some employers estimate 75% of their staff came through online applications.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Starting and Running a Thrift Store by Ravel Buckley and Carol Costa - In economic times like these, thrift stores have seen a 35% increase in sales in 2008; so what better time to start one? While fairly cheap, it is complicated. Here, two experts cover the entire process, including such vital topics as how to set up the store on a nonprofit basis; choose a location; get funding; get the word about donations of saleable items; recruit and manage volunteer staff; sort, price and recycle donations. Practical advice, examples of best practices, and finding community partnering opportunities make this an indispensible business asset.
Over 40 and You’re Hired by Robin Ryan - Superb! Is what reviewers are saying about this book. The author of 60 Seconds & You’re Hired!, takes on one of the most daunting challenges someone in this age group can face, finding a job. In a job market that requires candidates to be computer literate, those recently laid off from a long-term position or who have been staying home with children may find themselves at a disadvantage. Ryan has created a guide of valuable advice and detailed explanations culled from over twenty years of experience as a career counselor that people over forty will find indispensible as they look for work. Ryan emphasizes the computer and Internet proficiencies universally demanded, shares tools for job searching online, advises job candidates to get a makeover to look more professional, and—in the book's most useful sections—shows how to fine-tune a résumé . Each résumé and cover letter should be tailored to the particular job and that the job title be explicitly listed in a career objective line, practical examples are included as well as indispensible online resources.
True Food: Eight Simple Steps to a Healthier You by Annie Berthold-Bond, et al., foreword by Alice Waters - This inviting, encouraging how-to turns the ideals of today’s food revolution into eight practical steps to a healthier, more natural diet. It’s a workable blueprint for enlightening your kitchen in ways that are good for you, your family, your pocketbook—and the environment. Friendly and fun, featuring lighthearted design and lively writing, the book shows how preparing good food with simple, natural ingredients can actually cost less than reaching for commercially produced and processed alternatives. Special sidebars called "Budget Benefits" highlight how following these eight simple steps can actually save you money—and at the same time help you nourish better and greener attitudes everywhere.
