Preview Shelf -- Lower-Level Treasures

The lower level of the Crawfordsville District Public Library offers a new potpourri of good art to enjoy as you stroll along headed to the Second Saturday Book Sale or to your meeting of the day. Diane Hammill has mounted a variety of colorful posters, original prints, library purchases, donations from Patty Sommer, donations to the Friends of the Library, and her own original work. Inspect it; it finishes off the attractive hallway. Cokie Roberts' book "Ladies of Liberty" pays homage to the heroic women whose patriotism and sacrifice helped create a new nation, among them Abigail Adams, Martha Jefferson, Dolley Madison, and Elizabeth Monroe. '"A Letter to America" by David Boren alerts us that we are in trouble because our people are losing faith in the country's future. We need, Boren asserts, major reforms so our political system can act responsibly; bipartisan cooperation, a post-Cold War policy that fits today's realities, and campaign finance reform will help. Kevin Leman's "Have a New Kid by Friday" tell how to change your child's attitude, behavior, and character in just five days. "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch should be called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" about the "importance of overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others, seizing every moment", a powerful message because of the author's own immediate challenges. A Rare Breed of Love" by Jana Kohl is about a certain canine and the mission she inspired to help dogs everywhere. Jenna Bush reflects on her work with UNICEF in "Ana's Story" about an abused 17-year-old mother dealing with HIV. Three references about health are "Louder Than Words" in which Jenny McCarthy works to save her child from autism and creates a road map for parents who are concerned about their own child, "Unstrange Minds" where Roy Grinkere remaps the world of autism, and Anne Ford's "On Their Own" a family guide offering an independent future for adult children with learning disabilities and ADHAD. "Prude" analyzes how depraved influences in our culture are damaging teen age girls; Carol Liebau argues for the restoration of commonsense values. Here are some unique how-to books newly available. "How to Photograph Absolutely Everything…with Your Digital Camera" by Tom Ang is colorful and clever. "Art of Sketching" translated from the Spanish and issued by Sterling Publishing is full of beautiful work to stimulate the reader. Dragonart's "Fantasy Characters" shows how to draw fantastic beings and incredible creatures. "Knitting without Tears" holds Elizabeth Zimmermann's unique generic concepts that can be adopted endlessly. She was the master of proportional instructions. "No Sheep for You" is Amy Singer's approach to knitting with cotton, silk, linen, hemp, and bamboo. Sue Astroth's "Super-Simple Creative Costumes" has the theme of mixing and matching your way to make believe. Next, for the favorite room in the house, comes "1001 Ideas for Kitchen Organization" by Joseph Provey. "Instead of Chicken, Instead of Turkey" by Karen Davis holds 100 recipes like eggless omelets, muffins, mayonnaise, eggless salads, cakes and cookies, and poultry-free "chicken" stew, pot pie, stuffed "turkey", cacciatore, and stuffing. "Florida Bounty" is Eric and Sandra Jacobs' celebration of Florida cuisine and culture.