Cecilia @ the Service Center Archive.

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother And Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart

I wouldn't have thought there would be enough material to fill a small pamphlet about deadly plants, let alone an entire book, but this fascinating and readable book proved me wrong.  Plants are labeled with headings to help the uninitiated discover plants covering these categories:  Intoxicating, Destructive, Deadly, Painful and Dangerous.  Briony Morrow-Cribbs etchings of the plants are accurate and Jonathon Rosen's illustrations are fanciful and sometimes surprisingly humorous, in a macabre way.  There are small sections set aside for special subjects like what you could plant in a Forbidden Garden - tagged with the Dangerous heading.  History, lore and interesting facts are shared for many of the plants.  For example, did you know that a medicinal dose of hellebore (a Dangerous plant)  is believed to have caused the death of Alexander the Great?  Can you guess what plant is so toxic it has taken the lives of 90 million people worldwide and is the focus of a worldwide industry worth over $300 billion?  Give up?  It's tobacco.  Once you start reading this book you will be addicted to reading it all!  (And no plant is necessary to enjoy it!)

Essentials of Asian Cooking edited by Chuck Williams, recipes by Farina Wong Kingsley

I'm not generally one who enjoys cooking from glossy cookbooks such as this title from Williams Sonoma but in this case I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of information and recipes.  When I first picked up the book I thought the focus was Chinese cooking, but I quickly found that the cuisine of no less than fifteen countries was represented including India, Burma, Japan and Vietnam.  Recipes for common meals such as noodles, breads and dumplings lead the home cook through simple everyday cooking up to more complicated dishes such as 5 Spice Duck.  Also included are suggestions of items for the pantry, techniques and menus.  I have made the Hot and Sour Soup two times now and just thinking of it now makes my mouth water!  You could display this title as a glossy coffee table book but pick it up and take it into your kitchen; your family and friends will thank you for it (and ask for second helpings!)

Pet Projects: The Animal Knits Bible by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne

I'm a beginning knitter and haven't strayed too far from basic scarves, but when I become more skilled I'm going to knit my dog the Anti-Firework Dog Balaclava.  I'm serious - it's a balaclava for dogs with funny little alien rosettes over the ears to insulate and protect a dog's ears from the sound of fireworks.  I generally spend the three or four days before the 4th of July and three or four days after hanging out in my house taking care of my tranquilized dog.  I could put this nifty hat on my dog and actually go out and watch some fireworks for a change.  Other fun knitted projects include heraldic cat cushions, party dog collars, a tortoise hibernation tent, a hamster house, a wire bird feeder and various knitted animals if you don't happen to own a pet yourself.  (Then you could knit a sweater for it!)  The book features a section on knitting basics, easy-to-read instructions, and difficulty levels for each project.  Need a gift for a pampered pet?  Look no further than these fine knitted creations. 

Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival written by Velma
Wallis and illustrated by Jim Grant. 

Seeing this book on the The Big Read booklist, I was intrigued by the subtitle and couldn't wait to read it.  Velma Wallis, an Athapascan Indian, has written down a story told by her mother one evening after collecting firewood for the winter.   While she knows the work is hard for her older mother, she is amazed at how she keeps going and completes the task before resting.   This hard work reminds her mother of the story she tells, of two old women long, long ago before the coming of Europeans to their part of the world in northern Alaska above the Arctic Circle at the confluence of the Yukon and  Porcupine Rivers.  One very hard winter The People are starving to death and the council decides to abandon the two oldest members of the tribe.  After all, they don't work, they don't hunt and they complain all the time.  Though one of the old women  has a daughter and grandson in the tribe they dare not speak up for her in the event they will be left behind too.  Ch'idzigyaak and Sa' are in complete shock until The People disappear and they realize they must take care of themselves or die.  What follows is a story of the magnificence of the human spirit and the will to live.  Although this is an adult book, it would make a wonderful read-aloud for the entire family.

Stanza written by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Jack E. Davis

Are you looking for a creative title to share with your child this summer?  I have just the book for you: Stanza!  Stanza is a mean dog living on the mean streets with his two brothers Dirge and Fresco.  During the day they chase, bite and bother everyone on the street. But at night when his bothersome brothers are asleep, Stanza composes beautiful poetry and worries that his brothers will find out and tease him about it.  One day Stanza sees a contest to compose a jingle for Snappers dog treats with a big cash prize!  Should he try to win? What if his brothers find out?  Stanza thinks it's worth the risk.  With rhyming text, colorful illustrations and a joyful invitation to poetry, Stanza is a winner!  While fun to read it also encourages parents to use the 6 Skills with their children: print motivation, print awareness, vocabulary, narrative skills, letter knowledge and phonological awareness.  For more about the 6 Skills click here. 

Careless in Red by Elizabeth George

After the shocking murder of his pregnant wife Helen in With No One as Witness, Lynley sets off to walk his native Cornish coast.  Sleeping rough and barely keeping himself alive he finds the body of a young man at the base of a cliff in the incoming surf.  Although he has resigned from Scotland Yard, he is swept up in the investigation of the death of Santo Kerne, which is quickly shown to be murder.  With a wide cast of characters (including Barbara Havers, Lynley's old associate) and suspects (including Santo's parents and sister) Elizabeth George explores Lynley's tortured soul and his decision each day whether to continue living.  Through the investigation surprising and disturbing facts about almost every character's life is revealed.  Ultimately the book is an exploration of the power of revenge, retribution and redemption. 

Puppies, Dogs and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised By A Pack of Sled Dogs by Gary Paulsen.  Paintings by Ruth Wright Paulsen. 

Many of you who have read Gary Paulsen's autobiographically based books will be familiar with Cookie, his lead dog for a complete Iditarod and mother to legions of legendary pups.  In a fast-paced read we discover how close Cookie and Gary were and follow the birth, growth and development of Cookie's last litter and her (and Gary's) reluctant retirement from dog sledding.  Gary didn't have much faith in the potential of this last litter, but it turned out to be Cookie's best.  Great leaders were borne from it but first they had to go through difficult puppy phase.  Graphic descriptions of what it's like to raise a little of puppies entertain (and sometimes startle) the reader.  In one of the most memorable scenes from the book Gary introduces the pups to the house, and they invade it like Huns.  Before reading this book I had no idea how different raising sled dogs was from raising a regular house puppy.  After just a glimpse of what is involved, I know I could never do it!  Poignant, touching and funny barely begin to describe the range of emotions offered in this Big Read featured book. 

The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives and The Apron Book: Making, Wearing and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort, both by EllynAnne Geisel.

I didn't begin collecting vintage linens and aprons by haunting thrift shops and antique stores.  It all began so innocently, without my even noticing it.  I was given these items by family members and friends who thought I might like to use and wear them.  And they were right; I love the look of them on my table and the feel of the aprons when I wear them.  What makes both these titles so wonderful are the personal stories and the photographs.   The front cover photograph of The Kitchen Linen Books is of one of the dish towels the author found in her mother-in-law's apartment when she was cleaning it out after her death.  It was part of an extensive collection of linens, some old, some brand new, all treasured.  In this title are also recipes and family and friends memories.  Of particular use is the section Notes on Fabric Care. So why should we care about items made merely of fabric?  To me and to others who love these vintage linens these items are a chronicle of the daily lives of the women who went before us.  For me, they do not represent the drudgery of everyday work but the large and small pleasures women took in their homes.  To learn more about EllynAnne Geisel visit her web page. 

Barking Buddha: Simple Soul Stretches for Yogi and Dogi by Brenda Bryan. 

Not sure you're ready to make a commitment to an actual yoga class?  If not, this book might be just the ticket!  And you can do it with your dog!  Brenda is a Hatha yoga instructor in Seattle and after studying animal massage thought to combine yoga with massage and dogs.   What she has found is that this combination provides a peaceful, healthful and relaxing way to connect with our dogs.  Instructions are easy to follow and the photographs by Bev Sparks extend the text.  What better way to connect with our best friends, become more healthful and more relaxed?    A featured title of The Big Read.

A Rather Lovely Inheritance by C. A. Belmond

When Penny Nichols is summoned from her interesting but exhausting research work on made-for-TV movies about heroines from history she has no idea the what amazing adventures await her.  It is actually her parents who are summoned for the reading of her great-aunt Penelope's (her namesake) will, but her parents are too ill to travel.  So off Penny jets to London to meet with her lawyer cousin Jeremy and the other relatives. Several surprises await her there: her cousin is dishy; her great-aunt Penelope leaves her a legacy; some of her relatives are not happy about their share of the estate and there is another will - this one for the French portion of the estate and she receives a gift from that also - the contents of the garage which includes an antique Dragonetta automobile.  Sounds like a great story, you say?  Well it is and what I have told you barely scratches the surface! There's theft, nasty relatives, red herrings, travel through France, Italy and England, mysterious connections to people who everyone thinks are blood relatives, but aren't.  In other words, a grand read!