Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!

Title: Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds--or More!

Written by: David Zinczenko and  Matt Goulding

Publisher: Rodale Books

Summary:

Eat what you want, when you want--and watch the pounds disappear! 

Americans spend more than $400 billion a year eating out, and behind each burger, turkey sandwich, and ice cream sundae is a simple decision that could help you control your weight--and your life. The problem is, restaurant chains and food producers aren't interested in helping you make healthy choices. In fact, they invest $30 billion a year on advertising, much of it aimed at confusing eaters and disguising the fat and calorie counts of their products. 

All of that has changed with EAT THIS, NOT THAT!. This book puts the entire food industry under the spotlight, and arms you with the savvy tricks and insider information it takes to eat well no matter where you are. With EAT THIS, NOT THAT! you're the expert in every eating situation, from the frozen food aisle to your favorite fast food joint to your local sports bar. You control your food universe--and lose the pounds you want--because, unlike every other customer, you'll know the smart choices to make--instantly!

How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies

Title: How to Build a Robot Army: Tips on Defending Planet Earth Against Alien Invaders, Ninjas, and Zombies

Written by: Daniel H. Wilson

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary:

It goes without saying that robots kill. They hunt, swarm, and fire lasers from their eyes. They even beat humans at chess. So who better to stand with us when the real villains arrive? Movies instruct us that, whether we like it or not, we will one day be under siege by pirates, ninjas, zombies, aliens, and Godzilla. Also great white sharks. And—let’s face it—we’re not prepared. But with the advice contained in this brilliantly illustrated, ingenious book, you can build your own robot army to fend off hordes of bloodthirsty foes. From common-sense injunctions (“never approach an unfamiliar robot in a militarized zone”) to tactical pointers (“low-power radar beats cameras for detecting mummies in a fog-shrouded crypt”) to engineering advice (“passive-dynamic exoskeleton suits will increase sprint speeds but not leg strength”), this book contains all the wisdom you’ll need to fend off the coming apocalypse. Witty, informative, and utterly original, How to Build a Robot Army is the ideal book for readers of any age.

Ghosts Caught On Film

Title: Ghosts Caught On Film

Written by: Melvyn Willin

Publisher: David & Charles

Summary:

Rise in public interest fuelled by TV shows such as Most Haunted, about to broadcast its 9th series and Afterlife, averaging 6 million viewers.

This is the only book of its kind showing the paranormal caught on camera.

Contains intriguing images investigated by the Society for Psychical Research.

Ghost Caught on Film presents an extraordinary collection of strange and unexplained photographs that offer the exciting possibility of ghosts and paranormal activity captured on film. The book features early photographs from the Society for Psychical Research of psychics and mediums producing ectoplasm, ghost pictures and other paranormal phenomena as well as celebrated modern images such as the Hampton Court ghost. Each picture is accompanied by a description of its circumstances and the steps taken by Willin, the Society for Psychical Research and the Royal Photographic Society to establish that there is no `normal' explanation for the phenomena. The incredible photographs will stimulate the interest of everyone who sees them. Whether you are a complete sceptic or a semi-believer, you can't help but be drawn into the mystery.

Appetite for Detention

Title: Appetite for Detention

Written by: Sloane Tanen and Stefan Hagen

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Summary:

Following the success of Sloane Tanen’s adult books comes a title aimed directly at teens. From back-to-school anxiety and chick cliques to gym class, teachers, and other eye-rolling icons of school life, these photographic scenes of the teen experience are as ingenious as they are hilarious. Specifically concerned with the trials and tribulations of high school and teendom, this book will have teens everywhere (and more than a few adults) laughing with recognition.

Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures In Japan

Title: Japan Ai: A Tall Girl's Adventures In Japan

Written by: Aimee Major Steinberger

Publisher: Go!Comi 

Summary:

Accompanied by two friends, Steinberger, a professional animator and devotee of that special brand of cuteness that hails from contemporary Japan (think Sanrio’s Hello Kitty and similar artistic and commercial ventures), provides a charming recapitulation of their visit there. Steinberger’s height (she’s six feet tall), along with such things as the language barrier, immediately marked the trio as tourists, but their devotion to such Japanese-inspired pastimes as cosplay (dressing up as manga, anime, and fantasy characters) and Steinberger’s interest in Japanese Volks dolls gave them several avenues into popular culture, where they found considerable enjoyment. Steinberger tells their story largely in black-and-white, manga-style line drawings, with the occasional application of bright colors. Manga and anime fans will appreciate the gentle travelogue, and even readers unfamiliar with Japanese culture today will like Steinberger and her pals and be intrigued by their observations on what it can be like to be a tourist.

Black Metal Volume 1

Title: Black Metal Volume 1

Written by: Rick Spears and Chuck BB 

Publisher: Oni Press

Summary:

Twin brothers, Shawn and Sam, aren't typical kids -- their grim dedication to metal isn't that unusual but their mysterious parentage sure is! Empowered by the legendary sword of Atoll, these kids are determined to battle however many demons it takes in order to fulfill the ancient prophecy of the Hell Baron! Infused with the ancient myth and high adventure of the music that inspired it, BLACK METAL is a truly epic tale.

Custom Kicks

Title: Custom Kicks

Written by:  Kim Smits and Matthijs Maat

Publisher: Laurence King Publishers

Summary:

Customizing is hot. Everything can be customized: from pimped cars to retro furniture. This major trend is especially popular in footwear. Customizing your own shoes is a way of stepping out of the crowd, of showing your personality. Just about every sneaker brand has found a way to put street art into their products; rain boots have never been more hip; and there are even customize festivals and exhibitions. 

By inviting 150 artists and illustrators to show/create customized shoes the book will appeal not only to sneaker freaks, fashion fetishists, and trend watchers, but also to the graphic design and art audience. The main focus is on the artwork but the text examines the trend and asks: How did it start? What materials do the artists use? There are also tips and tricks on how to create your very own unique shoes.

Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure

Title: Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure

Written by: Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith

Publisher: Harper Perennial 

Summary:

Can you describe your life in six words? That's what the editors of storytelling magazine SMITH asked readers in 2006; the results, though decidedly uneven, make for compulsive reading and prove arguably as insightful as any 300+ page biography. Taken as a whole, this cascade of quotes from contributors famous and unknown creates a dizzying snowball effect of perspectives and feelings. Highlights from professional writers and artists include journalist Chuck Klosterman wondering, "Nobody cared, then they did. Why?"; pop singer-songwriter Adam Schlesinger lamenting, "We still don't hear a single"; and comic strip artist Keith Knight illustrating "I was a Michael Jackson impersonator." At their best, these nano-memoirs evoke the same kind of rich emotional responses as a good story: 9 year old Hannah Davies considers herself "Cursed with cancer. Blessed by friends"; Zak Nelson says "I still make coffee for two"; Scott Birch claims "Most successful accomplishments based on spite." Some entries read like bumper stickers (Rip Riley: "No wife. No kids. No problems"), and others are just plain weird (Amy Sedaris: "Mushrooms. Clowns. Wands. Five. Wig. Thatched"), but this compelling little book will have readers and their friends hunting for favorites and inventing six-word self-definitions of their own. 

Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See

Title: Other People's Love Letters: 150 Letters You Were Never Meant to See

Written by: Bill Shapiro

Publisher: Clarkson Potter

Summary:

Fevered notes scribbled on napkins after first dates. Titillating text messages. It's-not-you-it's-me relationship-enders. In Other People’s Love Letters, Bill Shapiro has searched America’s attics, closets, and cigar boxes and found actual letters–unflinchingly honest missives full of lust, provocation, guilt, and vulnerability–written only for a lover’s eyes. Modern love, of course, is not all bliss, and in these pages you’ll find the full range of a relationship, with its whispered promises as well as its heartache. But what at first appears to be a deliciously voyeuristic peek into other people’s most passionate moments, will ultimately reawaken your own desires and tenderness…because when you read these letters, you’ll find the heart you’re looking into is actually your own.

• "i think UR great. wanna have wine & Tequila again sometime?"

• "I can't believe you're real, and I think about you constantly in some way or the other all day. I haven't given the finger to anyone driving since I met you."

• "With you I learned how to fight cleaner, how to talk things out better, and how to make a strong loving family out of nothing. These are priceless gifts that I will carry with me the rest of my life. One more thing you did for me: you left, and I had to get through it."

• "P.S. I look forward to your letters too much to call. Also, where do you stand on chains?"

SKULLS

Title: SKULLS

Written by: Noah Scalin

Publisher: Lark Books 

Summary:

On June 4th, 2007, artist Noah Scalin came up with an ingenious idea: he cut a skull out of orange paper and posted it online with the note, “I’m making a skull image every day for a year.” His uniquely witty works became a wild success: five months later, nearly 250,000 people have visited the site, many sending in skull photos of their own and turning Scalin’s blog into one of the world’s top sites. 
Why skulls? Noah answers, “why not?” He’s always found them fascinating—and these days, they’re found on everything from t-shirts to bumper stickers. But nothing equals Noah’s incredibly beautiful, odd, and often humorous pieces: they’re made from an astounding variety of materials, from toothpaste to melted candle wax, from tea leaves to plastic straws. One is even carved into a watermelon! (Yes, it was eaten.) 
Each of the 150 skulls shown is accompanied by a brief description and fun anecdotal stories. As a bonus, there are four skull projects to make. Irresistibly merging pop, Internet, and craft culture, this fantastic collection provides an inspiring example of how to find creative potential in every aspect of daily life.

Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen

Title: Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen

Written by: Reymundo Sanchez and Sonia Rodriguez

Publisher: Chicago Review Press

Summary:

This is a raw and powerful memoir not only of one woman’s struggle to survive the streets but also of her ascent to the top ranks of the new mafia, where the only people more dangerous than rival gangs were members of her own. At age five Sonia Rodriguez’s stepfather began to abuse her; at 10 she was molested by her uncle and beaten by her mother when she told on him; and by 13 her home had become a hangout for the Latin Kings and Queens who were friends with her older sister. Threatened by rival gang members at school, Sonia turned away from her education and extracurricular activities in favor of a world of drugs and violence. The Latin Kings, one of the largest and most notorious street gangs in America, became her refuge, but its violence cost her friends, freedom, self-respect, and nearly her life. As a Latin Queen, she experienced the exhilarating highs and unbelievable lows of gang life. From being shot at by her own gang and kicked out at age 18 with an infant daughter to rejoining the gang and distinguishing herself as a leader, her legacy as Lady Q was cemented both for her willingness to commit violence and for her role as a drug mule. For the first time, a woman’s perspective on gang life is presented.

Spider-Man The Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon

Title: Spider-Man The Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon  

Written by: Steve Saffel

Publisher: Titan Books

Summary:

THE LIFE AND TIMES 
OF A POP CULTURE PHENOMENON

From his modest 1962 debut in Amazing Fantasy #15, Peter Parker — better known to readers as the web-spinning Spider-Man — has evolved from underdog to international icon. Along the way he’s thrilled entire generations through the comics, cartoons, movies, and tons of spectacular toys.

Spider-Man: The Icon traces that unlikely evolution. A lavishly illustrated chronicle, it charts the wall-crawler’s career from counter-culture figure to motion picture superstar, visually portraying every aspect of the web-spinning phenomenon. This deluxe celebration of the ultimate super hero includes insights from key comic book writers and artists, photos of rare, vintage collectibles, and a vast array of scintillating imagery from the comics, cartoons, television series, and movies.

In doing so, it also traces the history of popular culture over the last five decades. Renowned Spider-Man expert Steve Saffel combines a wealth of arcane knowledge and incredibly rare archival material to create the essential book for every Spider-fan!

Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

Title: Body Drama: Real Girls, Real Bodies, Real Issues, Real Answers

Written by: Nancy Amanda Redd

Publisher: Gotham

Summary:

From fashion magazines to taboo Web sites, curious young women have access to tons of old wives’ tales about and thousands of airbrushed and inaccurate images of the female body—misinformation and harmful portrayals that can lead to low self-esteem, self-destructive acts, or even disturbing plastic surgery procedures. Teaming up with a leading physician specializing in adolescent health issues, Harvard graduate and former Miss Virginia Nancy Redd now offers a down-to-earth, healing, and reassuring response to those damaging myths. In Body Drama, Redd gives girls insight into the issues they’re often too ashamed to raise with a doctor or parent. She also reveals her own experiences with the culture of “American beauty,” and shows readers all the many versions of “normal.” From body hair and bras, to acne and weight issues, along with crucial issues such as the importance of a healthy self image, Body Drama is a groundbreaking book packed with informative fast facts, FYIs, how-tos, and moving personal anecdotes as well as hundreds of un-retouched photographs. A highly visual book, it’s the first of its kind for women: filled with real information and real photographs of real bodies, to celebrate all our different shapes and sizes. 

Named by Glamour magazine as one of America’s top-ten college women “most likely to succeed—at anything,” Redd has spent the most recent years of her life on a mission to tackle the issues least discussed but most significant in young women’s lives. Celebrating the many versions of “normal,” and replacing seriously erroneous information with the honest, medically proven truth in a language all girls can understand, Body Drama dares to empower a new generation—with facts instead of fantasies, and the priceless gift of self-knowledge.

Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You

Title: Chill: Stress-Reducing Techniques for a More Balanced, Peaceful You

Written by: Deborah Reber

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Summary:

Your day starts at 6am and ends at midnight--if you're lucky.
You keep up with all two hundred of your friends on Facebook.
You practically invented the word "multitasking."
Sound familiar? You're not alone. You are part of the most overscheduled, overprogrammed, and overwhelmed generation on the planet. And CHILL can help you manage it all! It's just a matter of having the right frame of mind. So relax, take a deep breath...and chill.

Skateboarding Skills: The Rider's Guide

Title: Skateboarding Skills: The Rider's Guide

Written by: Ben Powell

Publisher: Firefly Books

Summary:

Skateboarding's popularity continues to soar -- it has now surpassed basketball in popularity among North American youth. Skateboarding Skills is an ideal guide both for first-time riders learning the necessary skills, and for more experienced ones wanting to perfect a maneuver or master a move. 

Written in an easy-to-follow style and packed with color photographs, Skateboarding Skills features:
• A review of safety issues-from avoiding an injury to landing safely on a fall
• A guide to purchasing and maintaining equipment
• Clothing guidelines -- skate shoes, helmet, and pads for knees, elbows and wrists
• Tricks, techniques and maneuvers for all levels from powerslides to kickflips
• 37 action photo sequences graded according to level from basic to advanced
• Tips from the pros, plus a glossary of skateboarding jargon and slang.

Since the sequences progress in difficulty, skateboarders can move on to the next level when ready or return to an earlier one and practice it, making Skateboarding Skills an ideal handbook for a skyrocketing sport.

Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined

Title: Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined

Written by: Aaron Peckham

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

Summary:

Founded in 1999 by Aaron Peckham as a parody of the dictionary, urbandictionary.com features definitions written by people from all over the world. Since then, Urban Dictionary has been cited in court, in graduation speeches, and by countless news media outlets, including CNN and Time magazine. Today Aaron is a software engineer in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World

Title: I Could Tell You But Then You Would Have to be Destroyed by Me: Emblems from the Pentagon's Black World

Written by: Trevor Paglen

Publisher: Melville House

Summary:

They’re on the shoulder of all military personnel: patches that symbolize what a soldier’s unit does. But what happens if it’s top secret?

Shown here for the first time, these sixty patches reveal a secret world of military imagery and jargon, where classified projects are known by peculiar names (“Goat Suckers,” “None of Your Fucking Business,” “Tastes Like Chicken”) and illustrated with occult symbols and ridiculous cartoons. Although the actual projects represented here (such as the notorious Area 51) are classified, these patches—which are worn by military units working on classified missions—are precisely photographed, strangely hinting at a world about which little is known.

By submitting hundreds of Freedom of Information requests, the author has also assembled an extensive and readable guide to the patches included here, making this volume one of the best available surveys of the military’s black world—a $27 billion industry that has quietly grown by almost 50 percent since 9/11.

Volcano: A Visual Guide

Title: Volcano: A Visual Guide

Written by: Donna O'Meara

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

Summary:

Through 250 spectacular full-color images, Volcano: A Visual Guide takes readers on an armchair journey to 40 of the world's most active and important volcanoes. 

Informative text describes the features and structure of volcanoes, eruption dynamics, and what makes a volcano active, dormant or extinct. Fascinating details reveal how experts use technology to predict volcanic activity, and what volcanoes tell us about the geological history of Earth. 

Stunning color photographs of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions showcase volcanoes worldwide and beyond, including:

The United States
Japan
Indonesia
Montserrat
Italy
The Galapagos Islands
Papua New Guinea
The Cook Islands
The Philippines
The Pacific Ocean
New Zealand
The Moon, Venus, Mars and Triton.

Volcanoes and the forces that create them produce many of our planet's most stunning natural spectacles and dramatic landscapes. Volcano: A Visual Guide provides a magical view inside the Earth's interior.

InDognito: A Book of Canines in Costume

Title: InDognito: A Book of Canines in Costume 

Written by: Karen Ngo

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Summary:

Hilarious, charming, and inventive, INDOGNITO is Karen Ngo's visual treat for today's breed of dog lovers. A whimsical collection of stylishly photographed dog portraits, it affectionately embraces the quirky spirit of the primped pooch. Including humorous quotations, this book is sure to delight and inspire dog-lovers of every age! 

The Manga Cookbook

Title: The Manga Cookbook

Written by: The Manga University Culinary Institute (and Chihiro Hattori 

Publisher: Japanime Co. Ltd

Summary:

Reading manga sure can make a person hungry! Food appears frequently in Japanese comics, but what exactly is it that the characters are eating? Introducing The Manga Cookbook, an illustrated step-by-step guide to preparing simple Japanese dishes using ingredients found in every Western kitchen. Learn to identify and make the same things you see in all your favorite manga: authentic onigiri (rice balls), yakitori (skewered chicken), oshinko (pickled vegetables), udon (Japanese noodles), okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pizza) and many others! Includes sections on how to assemble bento boxed lunches and properly use chopsticks. Features original manga illustrations by Chihiro Hattori. Soon, you too can enjoy a meal fit for a manga character!

500 Manga Creatures

Title: 500 Manga Creatures

Written by: Yishan Li

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

500 Manga Creatures is the biggest collection of manga clip art ever collected on one disc. Now stunning artwork can be created quickly and easily using this vast collection of hi-res (300dpi) JPEG images that are ready to use in any project. The book accompanying the disc teaches how to use professional coloring techniques, add figures to backgrounds, combine them into text documents, and create original manga stories! 

An enormous range of creatures are included, from soft and cuddly Chibi and Kawaii characters to Digimor and Pokemon style monsters, aliens, villains, and giant mechanical robots. 500 Manga Creatures is perfect for any designer or manga fan looking to create amazing artwork without learning to draw. All illustrations are royalty-free and are also supplied as black outlines, offering endless coloring possibilities. 

The book includes a complete illustrated listing of all the images on an accompanying CD. Criteria includes pose, setting, mood, appearance, expression, characteristics, and physical appearance.

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Title: No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Written by: Susan Kuklin

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Summary:

No Choirboy takes readers inside America’s prisons, and allows inmates sentenced to death as teenagers to speak for themselves. In their own voices—raw and uncensored—they talk about their lives in prison, and share their thoughts and feelings about how they ended up there. Susan Kuklin also gets inside the system, exploring capital punishment itself and the intricacies and inequities of criminal justice in the United States. 

This is a searing, unforgettable read, and one that could change the way we think about crime and punishment.

Art of Modern Rock: Mini # 1 A-Z

Title: Art of Modern Rock: Mini # 1 A-Z

Written by: Dennis King

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

From the coauthor of the smash success Art of Modern Rock comes its impish sibling, a compact volume of dynamic rock posters. Filled with classic hits from the original volume plus loads of new material, Art of Modern Rock Mini #1: A Z is reformatted into a witty, giftable alphabet-book package. From "Anarchy" to "Zombie," all the key poster tropes and genres are covered. Designed for rock fans, art and design aficionados, and poster collectors alike, this mini spin-off is perfectly poised to reach legions of young (and young at heart) fans and new enthusiasts for the most enduring visual artifact and collectible of current music the rock poster.

Flight, Volume Four

Title: Flight, Volume Four

Written by: Kazu Kibuishi

Publisher: Villard 

Summary:

The fourth opulent Flight anthology showcases 30 stories by mostly young, animation-influenced artists. If it doesn't soar quite as high as its predecessors, many of whose standout contributors have moved on, it still features plenty of top-notch talent. Highlights include another installment of animator Michael Gagné's saga of the plucky young fox Rex, Amy Kim Ganter's manga-derived tale of an epic clash between a fish seller and a clam seller, Sarah Mensinga's story about a girl who escapes grief via a magic box that can stop time, Johane Matte's delightful depiction of a comically jealous Egyptian cat, Clio Chang's media-age updating of Red Riding Hood, and Andrea Offermann's surreal account of what appears to be the end of the world by means of elephant attack and aerial invasion. In most of these stories, plots are minimal, and many are wordless. The collection's substantial appeal lies primarily in the impressive variety of often stunning artwork, presented in full color that ranges from the thoughtfully subtle to the vividly lush. 

The Quiz Life

Title: The Quiz Life

Written by: Marina Khidekel

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

Summary:

What’s your life like right now? Are you wondering if the guy you like likes you back? Trying to be a great friend? Obsessing over who you really are and what kind of person you’re meant to become? Just hoping to have some fun? If you answered yes to any of these, you’re living The Quiz Life! Marina knows what it’s like to want to know where you fit in with guys, with your friends, within the bigger world out there. And quizzes can let you do all that–and have fun too! Each quiz–and there are forty!–has five questions with three choices.

The Band Name Book

Title: The Band Name Book

Written by: Noel Hudson 

Publisher: Boston Mills Press

Summary:

best-named bands in history got their names. Those names are profound, clever, silly, provocative or downright obscure. This entertaining book is full of information and trivia about bands from the dawn of rock 'n' roll right up to today's Internet-based independents. 

The Beatles are here, as well as Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails and the Goo Goo Dolls. But the best fun is found with rock history's lesser-known groups, in Web-savvy contemporary bands, and with true originals. Among their names:
Atomic Rooster
Arctic Monkeys
The Lemonheads
The Formaldebrides
The Soup Dragons
Pavlov's Woody
Arcade Fire
Big Al and the Kaholics
Hectic Watermelon
Smorgasborgnine.

The Band Name Book includes entries on thousands of bands from more than 30 countries, divided into dozens of entertaining and irreverent categories with special notes on name origins, genres and best album titles. There are profiles of notable bands. And there's even a list of "Names Still Available" for each category.

Point Blank: The Graphic Novel

Title: Point Blank: The Graphic Novel

Written by: Anthony Horowitz and Antony Johnston

Publisher: Philomel

Summary:

The Alex Rider Adventures are #1 bestsellers the world over, and following in the footsteps of the graphic novel adaptation of Stormbreaker comes the second book in this phenomenal series. Like Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel, this edition features bold, edgy, manga-like illustrations that make the graphic novel form so immensely popular, and brings the young spy to life in a whole new way. For existing fans of Alex Rider, this will be a must-have; for those yet to discover the series, this will be the perfect introduction.

Take Me to Your Leader

Title: Take Me to Your Leader

Written by: Ian Harrison

Publisher: DK ADULT

Summary:

From recipes for the world's biggest sushi roll to a survey of man-made islands to the surprising mating habits of animals around the world, author and "part-time inventor" Harrison (The Book of Firsts) doesn't leave anything out of this illustrated roundup of the strange and unlikely. Filled with all kinds of photos, charts, diagrams and illustrations, the volume contains entries on a number of broad subjects: food and drink, customs and etiquette, sports and leisure, myths and legends, technology and communication. The book's structure is itself amusingly bizarre: none of its seven chapters are named, or even themed, but rather used as a placeholder for a list of trivia on that chapter's number (which jump from three to seven to nine to 12). Though it's not entirely appropriate for the whole family-parents may want to keep young children away from sections on "90's Booty" and "Backhanders" (an index of volleyball behind-the-butt hand signals)-this colorful book makes up in presentation and scope what it lacks in restraint, and makes for great coffee table browsing. Color illus. throughout.

In the Small

Title: In the Small

Written by: Michael Hague

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

Summary:

When a mysterious cataclysmic event, "the blue flash," causes the population of the earth to shrink in size to six inches tall, suddenly humanity has the tables turned on itself: The very civilization it has created becomes its greatest obstacle to survival. Animals and the environment, which have long suffered under the rule and/or destruction of humans, are now some of their most feared enemies. 

Amid the confusion and turmoil, two strong teenagers, 18-year-old Mouse and his younger sister Beat, emerge as the most promising leaders, eventually setting out on a quest to discover the secret that could redeem this strange new world.

Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More!

Title: Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots, and More!

Written by: Christen Haden

Publisher: Quirk Books

Summary:

If you're a fan of amigurumi, you already know that super-sweet crocheted bunnies and kitties and pandas have taken the indie craft world by storm. Well, the dolls in Creepy Cute Crochet eat your typical amigurumi for breakfast. 

This unique craft book contains more than 25 patterns for zombies, ninjas, Vikings, vampires, aliens, robots, and even Death himself. Each easy-to-follow pattern is presented with step-by-step diagrams, hilarious commentary, and full-color photographs of the creatures in their natural environments. Plus each pattern is ranked according to difficulty so that even beginners can share in the fun. 

The scary-cute photographs, accessible text, and illustrated patterns are sure to be a hit with indie crafters, angsty teens, and hip moms everywhere.

Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

Title: Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention

Written by: Steve Greenberg

Publisher: Sterling

Summary:

Featuring more than 100 quirky innovations and inventions, this visual showcase captures a great can-do spirit and creative energy. All the clever amateur creators profiled here brought their ideas to life right in their own homes; the fruits of their imagination range from the useful (a "Finger Shield" for when you're chopping food) to the offbeat (a nappy for your pet bird). There are items for people on the go, to help you look your best and to make life easier at home - and electronics too. Get the background story on every invention, along with a statistics-filled sidebar, photographs, illustrations and diagrams to add to the fun!

More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff + 2x the Cats = 4x the Awesome

Title: More Stuff on My Cat: 2x the Stuff + 2x the Cats = 4x the Awesome

Written by: Mario Garza

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Chasing the tail of the best-selling Stuff on My Cat: The Book (more than 100,000 copies sold!) comes this super-sized sequel from Stuffonmycat.com, the phenomenally successful Web site where millions of people from around the world post photographs of cats with unbelievably varied things on them. Bigger and better than the original, this witty follow-up has twice as many all-new photographs, commentary from contributors explaining how in the world they were able to stack 40 pillows on their feline, plus hilarious captions by the site's creator. Any cat lover (or hater) won't be able to resist.

Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

Title: Permanence: Tattoo Portraits by Kip Fulbeck

Written by: Kip Fulbeck

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Once a fringe phenomenon, tattooing is now a full-blown cultural fact. More than 40 million people in the U.S. alone have tattoos, all with unique stories about why they chose to indelibly mark their bodies. Permanence combines photographic tattoo portraits with these stories, told in the subjects' own words and handwriting. Kip Fulbeck brings together young and old of all races, religions, and political persuasions—from celebrities to suburban moms to Hells Angels. Including interviews with celebrity tattooers Kat Von D and Oliver Peck (Miami Ink), hardcore legend Evan Seinfeld, and some regular folks, Permanence is an entertaining and enlightening portrait of the tattooed population today.

One Hundred Young Americans

Title: One Hundred Young Americans

Written by: Michael Franzini

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

Photographer and Emmy-winning director Franzini explores the lives of the "instant access generation" by profiling 100 teenage Americans in this dynamic, brilliantly colored volume. Consulting census data and conducting research to find the "top 50 niches in youth culture," Franzini selects a group of teenagers that effectively represents the diversity of American youth, encompassing "cheerleaders, jocks, student body presidents, prom queens, nerds, band geeks, gamers, skaters, stoners, goths, punks, druggies and kids who defy all labels." Each teen is photographed in the setting and pose of his or her choice, often to revealing effect, while the text provides information on subjects' lives, struggles and dreams: 18-year-old Kammie is an anime-loving college freshman who lost a cat to Hurricane Katrina; 15-year-old Josh from South Dakota describes the difficulties of being openly gay in high school; April Luv, the youngest prostitute at the World Famous Bunny Ranch, wants to start her own business someday; 16-year-old Joel "says his mother wants him to spend more time with girls and less time with robots." Other profiles reveal tales of foster home hopscotch and meth addiction as well as unimpeachable high school popularity and Beverly Hills designer living. Funny, heartbreaking, inspirational and illuminating, this countrywide cross-section provides one of most complete, accesible and stereotype-defying looks at American youth yet produced.

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

Title: Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

Written by: Betsy Franco

Publisher: Candlewick

Summary:

The poets are straight, gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender. They live next door or across an ocean; they are innocent or experienced; their lyric explorations range from new love to stale love, obsession to ennui, ecstasy to heartbreak, and every nuance in between. Whether the romantic escapades described are touching, comical, or tragic, whether the feelings expressed are tender and sweet or brutal and biting, readers will find the love these young poets openly share to be exquisitely, excruciatingly, endlessly fascinating. Here is a collection to turn to again and again, because life and love keep on changing.

Do Not Open

Title: Do Not Open

Written by: John Farndon

Publisher: DK CHILDREN

Summary:

In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller Pick Me Up, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes, and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth! 

The Way I Am

Title: The Way I Am

Written by: Eminem

Publisher: Dutton Adult

Summary:

For the first time, one of music’s most popular—and headline-making—rap artists shares his private reflections, drawings, handwritten lyrics, and never-before-seen photographs.

Fiercely intelligent, relentlessly provocative, and prodigiously gifted, Eminem is known as much for his enigmatic persona as for being the fastest-selling rap artist and the first rapper to ever win an Oscar. Now, in The Way I Am, he shares his private thoughts on everything from his inner struggles, to the trials of being famous, to his love for his daughter, Hailie, creating a book that is every bit as raw and uncensored as the man himself.

Illustrated with never-before-seen photographs of Eminem’s home and life along with original drawings, The Way I Am is filled with reflections on his greatest hits, previously unpublished lyric sheets, and other rare memorabilia. Providing his millions of fans with a personal tour of Eminem’s creative process, it is poised to be hailed in much the same way as Tupac’s The Rose that Grew from Concrete, Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, and Journals by Kurt Cobain.

Ask CosmoGIRL! About Beauty: All the Answers to Your Questions About Hair, Makeup, Skin & More

Title: Ask CosmoGIRL! About Beauty: All the Answers to Your Questions About Hair, Makeup, Skin & More

Written by: The Editors of CosmoGIRL

Publisher: Hearst

Summary:

Skin, hair, teeth, nails: every CosmoGIRL! has a question about how to keep them healthy and great-looking. Is it true that toothpaste makes your zits go away? Lately my eyes look bloodshot. What can I do? I color my hair on my own. How can I make it look like I went to the salon? Fortunately, their favorite magazine has all the answers, from how to avoid a mascara mess to how to give yourself a professional-quality manicure. And it’s all here, in the latest Ask CosmoGIRL! guide. Every page is filled with invaluable advice for taming tresses, creating lush lashes and fuller-looking lips, shaping brows that wow, and getting a smoother, more even complexion. Top makeup artists and hairstylists offer their smartest tips, and the book’s multicultural approach addresses the concerns of all girls.
Plus, this is one book that understands beauty isn’t just about keeping up appearances: it’s about taking care of yourself and staying safe, too. There is crucial information on the dangers of tanning, the negative effects of certain cosmetic regimens, and when it’s best to get professional help.

Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles

Title: Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles

Written by: Patrick Ecclesine

Publisher: Santa Monica Press

Summary:

Faces of Sunset Boulevard: A Portrait of Los Angeles is a collection of photographs of the people who live, work, play, and shape Los Angeles. Some are making fortunes along the route; others are just trying to survive to see another day. Patrick Ecclesine captures the city’s dreams, dreamers, and, at times, nightmares using the most famous boulevard in the world as the setting for his photographs.

The individuals featured range from the famous (Governor Schwarzenegger, Larry King, Fernando Valenzuela) to the unknown (a street vendor, an undocumented worker, a bus driver) to the unwanted (a homeless man, a single mother on welfare, a drug addict).

Other archetypal Angeleno figures—from a television weathergirl sensation to a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon to surfers in Pacific Palisades to the eccentric and outlandish denizens of the Sunset Strip—stand side by side in these pages, capturing the eclectic nature of the City of Angels and its most colorful thoroughfare, Sunset Boulevard.

Freestyle Soccer Tricks: Tricks, Flick-ups, Catches

Title: Freestyle Soccer Tricks: Tricks, Flick-ups, Catches

Written by: Sean D'Arcy

Publisher: Firefly Books

Summary:

How to master amazing freestyle soccer tricks. 

Freestyle soccer is the art of juggling a soccer ball by using feet, knees, chest, shoulders and head while simultaneously performing creatively skillful moves to keep the ball airborne. Young soccer players everywhere copy the freestyle skills of heroes like Ronaldo and Beckham. 

Freestyle hit big after Nike's Joga Bonito ("play beautiful") ad campaign, which featured soccer icons executing amazing freestyle tricks. In rapid succession YouTube uploaded videos of youth doing tricks, and XBox and Playstation 2® released freestyle soccer games. Now the sport is recognized with a governing body, there are freestyle shoes, and organized competitions take place worldwide. 

In Freestyle Soccer Tricks, world-renowned soccer juggler Sean D'Arcy starts with the basics and moves on to impressive kicks, flick-ups, rolls and catches. Fortunately for the inexperienced, many of these tricks can be done without knowing how to juggle the ball. Hundreds of color photos show how each trick is done, with "Common Problem" and "Tip" sidebars providing further instructions. 

Colorful, portable and designed for its youth market, Freestyle Soccer Tricks meets the increasing demand by participants of this rapidly growing sport.

Uncool: A Girl's Guide to Misfitting In

Title: Uncool: A Girl's Guide to Misfitting In

Written by: Erin Elisabeth Conley 

Publisher: Orange Avenue Publishing

Summary:

For teenagers who didn't make the cheerleading squad or simply wouldn't be caught dead in one of those too-short pleated skirts anyway, this insightful assortment of stories and quotes from real teens is a must-have for getting through the horrors of clone-happy high school. Featuring analyses of what "cool" really means, creative activities for alternative thinkers, trendy fashion pointers, and good old-fashioned cool-kid advice, this often comedic commentary on the conundrum of not being one of the gang—whether a little darker, a little brighter, a bigger laugher, or a bigger loner—shows just how cool being uncool can be. 

Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters

Title: Comickers Art 2: Create Amazing Manga Characters

Written by: Comickers Magazine

Publisher: Collins Design

Summary:

Comickers Art: Create Amazing Manga Characters delves deep into the creative process of manga and shows how to transform two-dimensional sketches into detailed, life-like characters. With beautiful full-color art from cover to cover, this second volume in the Comickers Art series showcases authentic instructions and original advice from the best manga creators—along with finished illustrations from each featured artist. Both visually-stunning and extremely informative, this book is an essential guide for all aspiring manga artists.

Sentences: The Life Of M.F. Grimm

Title: Sentences: The Life Of M.F. Grimm

Written by: Percy Carey

Publisher: Vertigo

Summary:

Underground hip-hop icon Percy Carey, a.k.a. M.F. Grimm, tells the true story of his life in the game, from dizzying heights to heartbreaking losses, in this raw, brutally honest graphic novel memoir. 

In SENTENCES, Carey chronicles his life in the sometimes glamorous, often violent, world of hip-hop, from the first time he picked up a microphone at a block party to the day he lost the use of his legs to gang violence, from his incarceration to his rise to the top of his game as a hip-hop grandmaster. No questions are left unanswered and no apologies are made, resulting in a truly groundbreaking graphic novel.

It's Complicated: The American Teenager

Title: It's Complicated: The American Teenager

Written by: Robin Bowman

Publisher: Umbrage Editions

Summary:

Robin Bowman’s five-year journey into the heart of teenage America created a series of 414 “collaborative portraits,” wherein she shares her discoveries of a generation now coming of age. In searing and intimate photographs, presented alongside the young people’s voices of passion, pride, embarrassment, lust, pain, bewilderment, anxiety, joy, uncertainty, and rage, the book charts the coming of age of the largest generation in America—77 million strong—in every region of the country and every socioeconomic group: from a Texas debutante to teenage gang members in New York City, from a drag queen in Georgia to a coal miner in West Virginia.

Bowman’s intimate photographs ask us to reconcile preconceived ideas and stereotypes of teenagers with the diversity of individuals in the portraits. This book and the traveling exhibition it accompanies are about the inside lives of these kids and how they see their reality in their own voices.

Farts: A Spotter's Guide

Title: Farts: A Spotter's Guide

Written by: Crai S. Bower 

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Summary:

Sure, everyone does it; but everyone tries to hide it a little differently. "Farts: A Spotter's Guide" will help you pinpoint he (or she) who dealt it every time. In the spirit of the famous and bestselling "Fart Machine" (No 2), this hilarious book features an attached battery powered fart machine that accurately reproduces ten common wind breakers, from the gentle hiss of the Silent-but-Deadly to the rip-roaring flatulation of the Seismic Blast. The text describes the habitat, range, voice, and 'field marks' of each emanation, and grossly hip 2-colour illustrations by The Fudge Factory's Travis Millard depict the offenders and offenders in brilliant detail. Printed on durable card stock, this is pure, unbridled entertainment for the giggling child in all of us. Let 'er rip!

Swords: An Artist's Devotion

Title: Swords: An Artist's Devotion

Written by: Ben Boos

Publisher: Candlewick 

Summary:

Be smitten by the sword! An extraordinary young artist brings the history of this noble weapon — and its skillful masters — into stunningly sharp relief.

Brave men and women have taken up the sword since ages of old, and a fascination with this formidable weapon grips dedicated followers to this day. Here is a celebration of swords and swordsmen that spans time and place — from ancient warriors such as Beowulf to medieval knights; from stealthy ninja and samurai to legendary maidens of war. Illustrated with breathtaking intricacy, SWORDS reflects the passion of a true devotee, offering lavish background details on design and use as well as exquisite spreads showcasing specimens in all their shining glory.

Kin (The Good Neighbors, Book 1)

Title: Kin (The Good Neighbors, Book 1)

Written by: Holly Black and Ted Naifeh

Publisher: GRAPHIX

Summary:

Rue Silver's mother has disappeared . . . and her father has been arrested, suspected of killing her. But it's not as straightforward as that. Because Rue is a faerie, like her mother was. And her father didn't kill her mother -- instead, he broke a promise to Rue's faerie king grandfather, which caused Rue's mother to be flung back to the faerie world. Now Rue must go to save her -- and must also defeat a dark faerie that threatens our very mortal world.