Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of your pets? Here are a few of the books the library has to offer that are told from the point of view of cats or dogs.
 Dog on it
by Spencer Quinn
Dog on it is the first of the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Chet, the canine narrator, lives and works with Bernie Little, a struggling private investigator. Together they make up the Little Detective Agency.
From the Book Description
Bernie is relieved when the missing teenage girl he’s searching for turns up unharmed. But after she quickly disappears again, Bernie and Chet resume their investigation. Since there’s no ransom demand, kidnapping seems like a questionable motive. Yet the girl had recently gotten involved with some nefarious types and as Bernie and Chet make their way through biker bars and other colorful destinations, they smell something foul.
Told from Chet’s unique perspective, Dog on It is a humorous whodunit perfectly seasoned with a loveable dog’s view of everything.
There are currently eight books in this mystery series, the newest being Scents and sensibility which was released last month.
 Cat bearing gifts
by Shirley Rousseau Murphy.
This series is a little different than the previous one. Joe Grey, a tomcat, and a few of his feline friends actually have the ability to speak. Only a select few humans know their secret.
From the Book Description
On the way home from visiting their friend Kate Osborne, tortoiseshell Kit and her elderly housemates, Lucinda and Pedric Greenlaw, are hurt in a terrible car crash. The accident is terrifying enough, but then two dangerous men steal the Greenlaws’ Town Car, making off with a secret hoard of jewels and gold—a gift bestowed from Kate’s newfound treasure. A badly shaken Kit hides from hungry coyotes in the forested hills above the highway, waiting for Joe, Pan, and their human companions, Ryan and Clyde Damen, to rescue her.
Cat bearing gifts is the newest in the Joe Grey Mystery Series. This fantasy mystery series began twenty years ago and is now eighteen books strong.
 Promise of the wolves
by Dorothy Hearst.
Prehistoric wolves were the ancestors of our canine companions. This story, set 14,000 years ago, is told from the wolves’ viewpoint.
From the Book Description
What is the promise of the wolf? Never consort with humans. Never kill a human unprovoked. Never allow a mixed-blood wolf to live.
At least that’s what the wolves of the Wide Valley believe. Until a young wolf dares to break the rules—and forever alters the relationship between wolves and the humans who share their world.
This is the story of such a wolf. Born of a forbidden mixed-blood litter and an outcast after her mother is banished, Kaala is determined to earn a place in the Swift River pack. But her world is turned upside down when she saves a human girl from drowning.
 Mort(e)
by Robert Repino.
Rebert Repino puts a modern postapocalyptic slant on our theme of stories told by cats and dogs.
From the Book Description
The “war with no name” has begun; its goal, human extinction. The instigator of this war is the Colony, a race of intelligent ants who, for thousands of years, have been silently building an army that will forever eradicate the destructive, oppressive humans….The final step in the Colony’s war effort is the transformation of surface animals into high-functioning two-legged beings who will rise up and kill their masters.
Former house cat turned war hero Mort(e) is famous for taking on the most dangerous missions and fighting the dreaded human bioweapon EMSAH. But the true motivation behind Mort(e)’s recklessness is his ongoing search for a pre-transformation friend–a dog named Sheba. When he receives a mysterious message from the dwindling human resistance claiming Sheba is alive, he begins a journey that will take him from the remaining human strongholds to the heart of the Colony, where he will discover the source of EMSAH and learn the ultimate fate of all earth’s creatures.
 Love saves the day
by Gwen Cooper.
Poignant and heartwarming, this last book is a definite change of pace from the previous book.
From the Book Description
When five-week-old Prudence meets a woman named Sarah in a deserted construction site on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, she knows she’s found the human she was meant to adopt. For three years their lives are filled with laughter, tuna, catnaps, music, and the unchanging routines Prudence craves. Then one day Sarah doesn’t come home. From Prudence’s perch on the windowsill she sees Laura, the daughter who hardly ever comes to visit Sarah, arrive with her new husband. They’re carrying boxes. Before they even get to the front door, Prudence realizes that her life has changed forever.
Visit us at the library and see the full display of books from the Feline and Canine perspective that the library has to offer.
Happy National Parents Day everyone! National Parents Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July and is similar to a combination of Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. It was officially established as a national holiday in 1994 and is a day to honor one’s parents, show appreciation to them, and to celebrate family.
So in honor of National Parents Day, here are a few books to check out celebrating parents and family:
 Tales from the dad side : misadventures in fatherhood
By Steve Doocy
From the book description
“What you’re holding in your hands is a very funny and sometimes remarkably poignant look at fathers, not from the mother’s point of view or the child’s, but from the dad’s side. Which is why it’s called Tales from the Dad Side…Over the course of raising three children, I have learned with my wife that fathers are different from mothers. That could be the greatest understatement since Noah turned on the Weather Channel and found out that the next forty days called for a 20 percent chance of light rain.”
 Sippy cups are not for chardonnay, and other things I had to learn as a new mom
By Stefanie Wilder-Taylor Stefanie
From the book description
“In busy Mom-friendly short essays, Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay delivers the empathetic straight dirt on parenting, tackling everything from Mommy & Me classes (“Your baby doesn’t need to be making friends at three months old-you do! But not with people you’ll meet at Mommy & Me”) to attachment parenting (“If you’re holding your baby 24/7, that’s not a baby, that’s a tumor”).
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor combines practical tips with sidesplitting humor and refreshing honesty, assuring women that they can be good mothers and responsibly make their own choices. “
 The Sweet Potato Queens’ guide to raising children for fun and profit
by Jill Conner Browne
From the book description
“When does 1 + 1 = 3 (or more)? When you’ve got a baby on the way.
The Sweet Potato Queens’ Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit is a hilarious (though not scientifically tested) wink at the time-honored mysteries of parenting, because anybody who has ever had a kid or has ever known one knows that the experience is neither fun nor profitable—so you might as well laugh!”
 No wonder my parents drank : tales from a stand-up dad
by Jay Mohr
From the book description
“You’ll never sleep in this town again
From Saturday Night Live to stand-up, from a blockbuster film career to the star of CBS’s hit television show Gary Unmarried, Jay Mohr is one of the funniest people in comedy today. Now, in this down and dirty tale of modern fatherhood, Mohr shares his stories as a first-time parent.”
Motherhood comes naturally (and other vicious lies)
By Jill Smokler Jill
From the book description
“Newly pregnant and scared out of her mind, Jill Smokler lay on her gynecologist’s examination table and was told the biggest lie she’d ever heard in her life: “Motherhood is the most natural thing in the world.”
Instead of quelling her nerves like that well intentioned nurse hoped to, Jill was instead set up for future of questioning exactly what DNA strand she was missing that made the whole motherhood experience feel less than natural to her. Wonderful? Yes. Miraculous? Of course. Worthwhile? Without a doubt. But natural? Not so much.”
 The library has recently added a few links to the eResources menu on our webpage.
Basic ESL
Practice your basic English as a second language skills for free by following the Basic ESL link on our website. It includes help with learning English from twenty different languages, including Spanish, Somali, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Mango Languages
For those of us who are trying to learn a second language, if you follow the Foreign Language Learning link on the library’s website, you will find Mango Languages. Mango is an excellent resource for learning over sixty different languages and is made available to Kansans by the State Library of Kansas.
For both websites, you can use the site as a guest or you can create a login and password to keep track of your progress.
Driving Test Help
If you’re studying to take your driving test and want to practice taking the written test, you can follow the link on our webpage for Driving Test Help. The link, http://lmlibrary.driving-tests.org/kansas/ will take you to free 2015 Kansas DMV permit practice tests, including car practice tests, motorcycle practice tests, CDL practice tests, online handbooks, and a frequently asked question section.
Coming Events this week
Summer Reading will come to an end in the first week of July, so come in and enjoy it while it lasts.
Recipe swap – Monday, June 29th at 6:30 p.m.
This month’s recipe swap will be all about picnic foods. So join us and share your favorite recipe with others who share your passion for cooking.
Healthy fun night – Tuesday, June 30th at 6:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, Leslie Bissell from the Southwest Guidance Center will come talk to us about Stress Management. This will be second half of our Healthy fun program for adults, a chance to come learn about health and healthy living.
Self-defense for kids – Wednesday, July 1st at 2:00 p.m.
Learn how to get out of a scary situation. Join the Liberal Police Department with this program on self-defense. This program is open to all and is for kids ages 8 and over.
Adult summer reading wrap up party – Thursday, July 2nd at 6:00 p.m.
Adults bring in your Summer Reading passport and get a chance to win the $100 Amazon Gift Card.
Summer Reading Movies – Friday, July 3rd at 2:00 p.m.
We will have the last of our Summer Reading movies on Friday at 2:00. It’s fun and free. Popcorn and lemonade will be served, so bring your friends because the more the merrier. All movies are rated G or PG.
Saturday, July 4th
The Library will be closed Saturday, July 4th for Independence Day.
 Zinio for Libraries
If you’re gearing up for a Summer vacation this year, why not take along a few eMagazines for a little light reading. It’s easy to do if you have a mobile device that you like to use. Zinio for Libraries has new apps for iPad®, iPhone®, AndroidTM, and Kindle FireTM HD/HDX.
Did you know that Zinio also has instant streaming on PC and Mac computers? You can check out a magazine and start reading immediately on your computer.
Liberal Memorial Library, as part of a consortium of Southwest Kansas Libraries, is offering free online magazine checkout to our patrons through Zinio. You can use your Liberal Memorial Library card number to sign up for the service. Come by, call, or visit us online at http://lmlibrary.org/how-do-i/zinio/ to learn more about setting up an account.
Some of our most popular titles available for checkout include:
- Country Living
- Do It Yourself
- Us Weekly
- Better Homes and Gardens
- Food Network Magazine
- OK! Magazine
- Family Circle
- Family Handyman
- HGTV Magazine.
“mental_floss” is the newest addition to our online magazine offerings.
Memorial Day
The Library will be closed tomorrow, Monday 25th for Memorial Day. Memorial Day originated after the Civil war as a way of remembering soldiers who died in the war. Here are a few of our newest books involving soldiers who also deserve to be remembered.
It’s what I do : a photographer’s life of love and war
by Addario, Lynsey
Book Description – War photographer Lynsey Addario’s memoir It’s What I Do is the story of how the relentless pursuit of truth, in virtually every major theater of war in the twenty-first century, has shaped her life.
 Legend
by Eric Blehm
Book Description – The unforgettable account and courageous actions of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines.
Soldier girls : the battles of three women at home and at war
by Helen Thorpe
Book Description – In Soldier Girls, Helen Thorpe follows the lives of three women over twelve years on their paths to the military, overseas to combat, and back home…These women, who are quite different in every way, become friends, and we watch their interaction and also what happens when they are separated.
Summer Reading Kick Off Party
 Summer Reading is kicking off a little early this Tuesday with Poppa D Clown! The Kick Off party will be at 6:00 p.m., on the lawn at the Library and it is free for everyone. There will be games, snacks, and crafts to get you ready for Summer Reading. And of course Poppa D Clown will be there to entertain us all.
It’s still not too late to sign up for Summer Reading. You can come into the library or just visit our website. Visit the Kids, Teens, or Adults area on our website, http://lmlibrary.org, to find out more about Summer Reading.
International Mirth Month
According to “Mr. Jollytologist”, Allen Klein, March is International Mirth Month. It is followed closely by April Fool’s Day and National Humor Month in April. This seems like the perfect time to feature some of the humorous books available at the library.
Thud
by Terry Pratchett
From the book description
Commander Sam Vimes of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch admits he may not be the sharpest knife in the cutlery drawer–he might not even be a spoon. But he’s dogged and honest and he’ll be damned if he lets anyone disturb his city’s peace. Lately, an influential dwarf, Grag Hamcrusher, has been fomenting unrest among Ankh-Morpork’s more diminutive citizens with incendiary speeches. And it doesn’t help matters when the pint-size provocateur is discovered bashed to death . . . with a troll club lying conveniently nearby.
Vimes knows the importance of solving the Hamcrusher homicide without delay. It is Vimes’s second most-pressing responsibility, in fact, next to always being home at six p.m. sharp to read Where’s My Cow? to Sam, Jr. Whatever it takes to unstick this very sticky situation, Vimes will do it,
The Discworld series was written by one of my favorite authors, Terry Pratchett, who unfortunately passed away earlier this month. The series is 40 books strong and can be divided into several mini-series, based on the main characters. “Thud” is one of the “City Watch” books.
Bertie plays the blues
Alexander McCall Smith
From the book description
If you haven’t met the residents of 44 Scotland Street yet, there is no better time, since everyone seems to be in the midst of new beginnings.
New parents Matthew and Elspeth must muddle through the difficulties of raising their triplets Rognvald, Tobermory and Fegus—there’s normal sleep deprivation, and then there’s trying to tell the children apart from one another.
And in Bertie’s family, there’s a shift in power as his father Stuart starts to stand up to overbearing mother, Irene—and then there’s Bertie, who has been thinking that he might want to start over with a new family and so puts himself up for adoption on eBay.
With his signature charm and gentle wit Alexander McCall Smith vividly portrays the lives of Edinburgh’s most unique and beloved characters. This is the seventh book in the 44 Scotland Street series.
Tiger shrimp tango
Tim Dorsey
From the book description
Thanks to the growth of the Internet, America finds itself plagued by a noxious epidemic of ruthless scam artists. Where do they all come from? If you guessed 110 percent of them are spawned in Florida, you win the cigar. . . .
When a new digital scheme goes horribly awry—causing innocents to die and a young woman to go missing—only one person can set things right: obsessive Florida trivia buff and reluctant serial killer Serge Storms. Aided by his perpetually addled sidekick, Coleman, and latter-day noir private eye Mahoney, Serge launches a crusade to rid his beloved state of predators and save the girl.
This is the eighteenth book in the hilarious and twisted Serge Storm series.
These are just a few of the books on display for International Mirth Month. So whether you prefer nonfiction or fiction, cutting satire or gentle heart-warming wit, come in and checkout our book display.
It’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the leftovers are just about gone and all of the Black Friday madness is over. Time to start giving serious thought to putting up the Christmas decorations and planning the holiday dinner. If you’re looking for some inspiration, you might try a few of these books.
Leisure Arts presents
The spirit of Christmas: creative holiday ideas book four
Full of Christmas recipes and craft ideas, The spirit of Christmas is a great help when it comes to creating your own gifts and decorations. The cranberry muffins and fudge pound cake recipes look like they would be particularly yummy.
 Trash to treasure Christmas
From the Book Description
This edition of Trash to Treasure is packed with resourceful ideas for holiday home decor, tree trimmings, gifts and gift-wrappings. From fun and simple, to fancy and elegant, the more than 100 economical, easy-to-make projects pave the road to thrifty, yet exciting, holiday crafts.
Stories behind the great traditions of Christmas
by Ace Collins
If you’ve ever wondered where all of those Christmas traditions, such as hanging stockings, came from then this little book can explain them.
From the Book Description
Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas reveals the people, places, and events that shaped the best-loved customs of this merriest of holidays. Here are spiritual insights, true-life tales, and captivating legends to intrigue you and your family and bring new luster and depth to your celebration of Jesus’ birth. Discover how
- after eighteen centuries of all but ignoring the event, churches began to open the door for believers to commemorate Jesus’ incarnation.
- the evergreen tree, once a central theme in the worship practices of pagan cultures, came to represent the everlasting love of God.
- the magi’s three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—are filled with spiritual symbolism.
The Santa Claus Book
by E. Willis Jones
From the Book Description
The Santa Claus Book presents a worldwide view of the jolly gift-giver from his start as an early Christian miracle worker—his 1,200 years as St. Nicholas, patron of sailors, virgins, pawnbrokers, and all kinds of children—to the hearty and ubiquitous benefactor of nineteenth and twentieth-century America.
Another option is to checkout and download magazines for free using your Liberal Memorial library card and Zinio. December’s issues of food and cooking magazines and craft magazines have a lot of helpful holiday tips.
- EatingWell offers must-make cookies and holiday salads
- Every Day with Rachael Ray has a special holiday cookie blowout
- Taste of Home shows us how to make extra cheesy casseroles and super quick holiday sides
- Even Weight Watchers magazine weighs in with “Desserts with a Sweet Secret”.
These are a few of the magazines offering recipes and decorating tips that are available for download through Zinio. If you haven’t created your free account yet, just follow these instructions, http://www.lmlibrary.org/about/zinioinstructions.pdf, or call or come by the library for help.
Yesterday, the first Saturday of November, was National Book Lovers Day, at least according to some calendars anyway. So let’s look at a few of our good-book-to-curl-up-with options.
The classics have be revisited by many authors and in about as many different ways. Here are a couple of classics retold with a horror twist, just in time for the Halloween season.
Pride and prejudice and zombies : the classic Regency romance — now with ultraviolent zombie mayhem!
by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.
I think the first sentence of the book describes this adaptation of the classic very well – “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”
According to the book description ”A mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton–and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.”
Little women and werewolves
by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand.
This is the original text of Louisa May Alcott’s classic, the first draft, before the editor altered it . . . according to the back cover anyway. At the beginning this uncensored version, it includes a letter from the editor to the author telling her to try again. This time without the werewolves.
Here is another way to honor the classics, by picking up where the author left off. The following two books are both mysteries set after the events of Pride and prejudice.
Death comes to Pemberley
by P.D. James.
It is 1803, six years since Elizabeth and Darcy embarked on their life together at Pemberley, Darcy’s magnificent estate when Pemberley is thrown into chaos after Elizabeth’s disgraced sister Lydia arrives and announces that her husband Wickham has been murdered.
North by Northanger, or, The shades of Pemberley : a Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery
by Carrie Bebris.
This book is actually the third in the Mr. & Mrs. Darcy Mysteries series, the first two beingPride and Prescience and Suspense and Sensibility. North by Northanger brings the Darcys into contact with the characters from another of Jane Austen’s books Northanger Abbey.
From the book description — “Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy retire to the peace and quiet of Pemberley as they await the birth of their first child. Such tranquility, however, cannot last.”
Splintered : a novel
by A.G. Howard.
Splintered and its sequel Unhinged are both recent additions to the library’s collection of young adult classics with a twist. Alyssa is the great-great-great-granddaughter of the famous Alice who told her strange dreams to Lewis Carrol, inspiring his classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Now Alyssa must travel to a very real Wonderland to right the wrongs done by her ancestor.
Cinder : a Lunar chronicles novel
by Marissa Meyer.
Another young adult book, Cinder is a very different sort of Cinderella story. “As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.”
Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West : a novel
Gregory Maguire
Gregory Maguire’s Wicked is a very well-known book with several sequels and even a Broadway musical based on it. It tells the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in a way that L. Frank Baum never imagined. But it isn’t the only twisted tale that Maguire has given us. He also retold Snow White and Cinderella in Mirror Mirror and Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister.
Just remember while you’re curled up in your favorite chair reading whatever book you’ve chosen, that Daylight Saving Time ends today and to set your clocks back an hour.
Our library’s catalog has a bold, vibrant new look.
The first page you see immediately shows you all of the new items we’ve brought in over the last week including large cover images.
You can still login to the catalog the same way, from http://catalog.lmlibrary.org using your library card number and password.
Tabs
If you click on the What’s New tab you’ll find showcases for this month’s new DVDs, audio books, fiction and non-fiction books, etc. The Featured tab shows featured items and items from our displays.
Select Language
One interesting new addition is the Select Language feature at the top left of the screen. Powered by Google translate, it translates the contents of the catalog into the chosen language.
Patron checkout receipts
I think one of coolest new features on our catalog is the ability to send patrons an emailed copy of their checkout and fine receipts. If you would prefer to have emailed receipts rather than printed receipts, please let the staff know when you checkout your books and other items.
Patron Catalog Instructions
There are instructions for the new catalog posted on our website at http://www.lmlibrary.org/about/catalog_help.aspx. Some of the things listed there are:
- Basic Searching on the Library Catalog – for help with logging in and getting started searching
- Checking your Library Card Account – a basic overview of all the things you can view or change for your library card account, including: Items Out, Items on Hold, Lost Items, Checkout History, Active Alerts, Fine and Lost Item Payment, and My Profile
- Reader Reviews – Would you like to write a review telling other patrons about some of your favorite books?
- Creating and Managing Lists
Checkout History
Have you ever wondered if you’ve already read a book in a series you’re following? You can look through your checkout history to find out.
Active Alerts
Did you know you can set your account so that you are automatically sent an email every time the library gets in a new book by your favorite author? You can also set it to alert you when a particular title comes in, or say whenever the library get new DVDs about a certain subject or with a certain actor.
By logging in to the catalog, going to My Account and clicking on Active Alerts, you can set up whatever alerts you like. If you need any help setting this up, you can call us at 620-626-0180 or come into the library.
My Profile
The My Profile part of My Account allows you to update your mobile phone number and email address. It also allows you to pick a day of the week you would like to be emailed a status report on your account, including what books you have out, if any of them are overdue, and if you have any fines.
My Lists
Similar to a shopping cart on an online store, you can use My Lists to store lists of things you’d like to checkout eventually. The new, updated version of My Lists actually allows you to put all or some of the items in your list on hold, and lets you print, save, or email the list in a format you can use to find the items you want on the shelves at the library.
So visit our new catalog, take advantage of all its new features, and tell us what you think.
Labor Day
The Library will be closed tomorrow, September 1st, for Labor Day. The first Monday of September has been dedicated to the workers of our nation since Congress passed the act in 1894. Before that, the idea of a workingman’s holiday was driven by the labor movement of the late 19th century.
Early learning eBooks and games through the library
We all know how important it is to offer early learning opportunities to our kids, whether it’s through reading to or with them or through fun and educational games. Here are a few free and fun online activities that the library has to offer.
ABCmouse
ABCmouse is the newest addition to our lineup. It is offered free to libraries. If you are inside the library you can go tohttp://abcmouse.com from one of the library’s computers or your own device to get free access to the full online curriculum. It is geared toward preschooler through kindergarteners and consists of consist of books, puzzles, games, songs, art activities, and/or printables and covers the subjects of Reading, Math, Science, Art, Colors and Music.
TumbleBooks Library
TumbleBooks library has animated talking picture books. TumbleBooks also has puzzles and games, chapter books, a language learning section, and non-fiction books. There is no login or no software required; it is accessed directly online using a browser on your computer or mobile device. You can follow the link to it either on our library’s website,http://lmlibrary.org, or the state’s website, http://www.kslib.info/digitalbooks.
BookFlix
BookFlix also has animated talking picture books, but they are each paired with a non-fiction book. The books are grouped by subjects that you can browse through to find a pairing you’d like to read. Each pairing includes links to puzzles, games, and other things about the subject. No software required, and it is also accessed directly online. To access it, sign in to your Kansas Library Card, http://kslib.info/ecard, then click the BookFlix access link.
Kansas Library Cards are free to any Kansas resident and can be obtained at any Kansas Library. They are different from your regular local library card.
Britannica E-STAX
Another new addition is Britannica E-STAX. It’s offered through the State Library and is a nonfiction ebook service for Pre-K to Grade 12. You can browse through the ebook collection by title or subject, or you can use the search bar to find what you want. The books can be read online using a browser or offline on a PC/Mac, iPad, or Android tablet using the optional iPublishCentral Reader. To access Britannica E-STAX, sign in to your Kansas Library Card, http://kslib.info/ecard, then click the Britannica E-STAX access link.
When I looked to see what sort of things were going on today, July 27th, I found all kinds of interesting and unusual holidays. Today is officially regarded to be Bugs bunny’s birthday. In 1940 the wascally wabbit debuted in Tex Avery’s A Wild Hare.
Today is also Parents’ Day, a day set aside to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July each year.
It is Aunties Day, a day honoring Aunts and Godmothers; Take Your Houseplant for a Walk Day; and Walk on Stilts Day (hopefully not while carrying your houseplant).
It also happens to be National Crème Brûlée Day. Although there does seem to be some confusion as to whether it falls on the 21st or 27th. Well, for our purposes we’ll say it’s the 27th.
In honor of National Crème Brûlée Day, I thought we might focus this column on some of the newest and more unusual cookbooks available for checkout.
Guy on Fire: 130 recipes for adventures in outdoor cooking
by Guy Fieri, with Ann Volkwein
This is the perfect time of year to explore outdoor cooking. Guy Fieri, of Food Network fame, introduces us to the equipment and rules of barbecue as well as some very interesting recipes (charred octopus and white bean salad anyone?) Some of the recipes included in this book might be a bit ambitious for the average camper, but I thought the baked ziti and the pineapple upside-down cake with rum blueberries might be worth a trying out.
Salad samurai : 100 cutting-edge, ultra-hearty, easy-to-make salads you don’t have to be vegan to love
by Terry Hope Romero
Salad Samurai ( I just really like the name), according to the book cover will “teach you the way of the veggie warrior, rescuing salads from their bland, boring reputation and ‘side’ status“. The author, Terry Hope Romero, is an award-winning chef and bestselling author. There are salad dressing recipes, hearty salads, seasonal salads, and even sweet and savory desert salads. So if you’re thinking vegan or just looking to find a really good new salad recipe, give this book a chance.
The can’t cook book : 100+ recipes for the absolutely terrified!
by Jessica Seinfeld
I’d like to mention The can’t cook book even though it’s checked out right now and I haven’t had a chance to get a good look at it. According to the description it will “show you how to prepare the deliciously simple food you love to order in restaurants…in easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions”. I think this cook book sounds like it’s more my speed.
This is the author’s second book. Her first book, Deceptively Delicious, was a #1 New York Times bestseller. If the author’s name sounds a bit familiar, it’s because her husband is Jerry Seinfeld. Yes, that Jerry Seinfeld.
Keep cookin’ cowgirl : more recipes for your home on the range
by Jill Charlotte Stanford
“Cowgirls have always known that what makes people happy is good food, prepared simply.” This book is filled with simple dishes that will stick to your ribs plus black and white photos and anecdotes of cowgirls past. These recipes are suitable for Sunday dinners with the family or for out on the range.
The author has written several other books including The Cowgirl’s Cookbook andYou Might Be a Cowgirl If…A Guide To Life on the Range.
 The dairy-free kitchen : 100 recipes for all the creamy foods you love–without lactose, casein, or dairy
by Ashley Adams
This book actually does have a recipe for crème brûlée in it!
Ashley Adams has a blog on About.com called Dairy Free Cooking. She discovered, like many people, that she has a food allergy to dairy. She has since mastered the techniques of dairy-free substitutions in cooking and baking recipes.
The Dairy-Free Kitchen includes tips on how to avoid buying hidden dairy and finding nondairy calcium sources – including spinach, almonds, and sesame seeds among others. There is even a chapter on making dairy-free milks, butter, cheeses and yogurts. Now, I don’t think I would ever go so far as to make my own milk or cheese, but some of the recipes are interesting and don’t look too complicated. The last chapter is devoted to recipes just for kids, traditional family staples with a dairy-free twist.
These are just a few of the cookbooks currently available. Visit us at the library and see a display of all our newest cookbooks. As always, all of the books on display are available for checkout.
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Promise of the wolves
Mort(e)
Love saves the day
