PSLA
YA TOP FORTY
REFERENCE / PROFESSIONAL 2004(05) TITLES
African American Lives.
Ed. by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham.
Edited by two respected
Harvard scholars, this relatively
inexpensive reference tool offers lively profiles of more than 600 black
Americans. This volume precedes the publication of an eight-volume encyclopedia
entitled African American National Biography, scheduled for 2006. The
one to three-page signed entries are alphabetically arranged and focus on the
notable’s contributions and impact. Some
are accompanied by small black-and-white photos or art. Includes an index of subjects by category or
“area of renown.” Appropriate for most
high school collection for reference, but wealthier budgets might want to hold
out for the full 2006 publishing event. Joyce Valenza
American Decades Primary Sources. Ed. by
Cynthia Rose.
Finally, there’s a
comprehensive compendium of more than 2,000 primary source documents on
Americans at War: Culture, Society, and
the Homefront. Ed. by John P. Resch.
Each A-Z volume covers a
broad period in the social and military history of the
Arts & Humanities Through The Eras. Ed. by Edward Bleiberg.
In style similar to American Decades and American Eras, each volume in this
impressive reference set represents an era and each era is divided into the categories:
architecture, dance, fashion, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater,
and visual arts. Within these categories
are lists of important events, overviews, topics, significant people and
documentary sources. Each volume begins
with an era overview. Primary source
documents are separated in gray boxes throughout the text. A wonderful resource useful for research in
the arts and history! Joyce Valenza
Crime and Punishment in
This almanac on Crime and
Punishment in
Crime and Punishment in
This biographical reference
on crime and punishment in
Crime and Punishment in
This reference of primary
documents relating to crime and punishment begins with the earliest piece, The Magna Carta, 1215 (an excerpt) and
brings the students into the present with the chapter on terrorism and The Al Qaeda Training Manual. Included
are speeches, letters, laws, trials, and government documents. The chapter on
the often-researched topic, “Capital Punishment” will also be helpful to
students. This easy-to-read and
understand reference will provide a wealth of information for middle and high
school research. Also included is a
“Timeline of Events,” black and white photographs, an extensive bibliography
entitled, “Where to learn more,” and a detailed index. American
History, Government, Law.
Susan Mowery
The Crusades: Almanac.
Ed. by Michael J. O’Neal.
The Crusades: Biographies.
Ed. by J. Sydney Jones.
The Crusades: Primary Sources. Ed. by J. Sydney Jones.
“The Crusades with a capital
“C” were a series of military campaigns launched by the Christian countries of
western Europe in the late eleventh century.
From the first crusade launched in 1095 until the capture of
King Richard the Lionheart of
DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive
Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe.
Young and older browsers
alike will love this coffee table volume!
The book gathers approximately 1000
superheroes, supervillains, sidekicks, demons,
techno-sorcerers, malevolent entities, professional criminals, primordial
beings, despotic conquerors, and others from the pages from DC Comics’ history
back to the 1930s. Fact boxes offer a
kind of baseball card overview for each character. More important characters, like Wonder Woman
and Superman are listed with key storylines and longer profiles. Entries are alphabetically arranged with some
characters appearing in their appropriate teams. If you have comic fans, you’ll
want this one in your collection. Joyce Valenza
Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Ed. By Gerard Wertkin.
The comprehensive A-Z
collection of 607 topical essays, covers three centuries of “American folk creativity in the visual
arts.” It is intended for researchers,
students and the general public. It examines painting, sculpture, basketry, ceramics, quilts,
furniture, toys, beadwork, and more, and “considers individual artists,
schools, artistic, ethnic, and religious traditions, and heroes who have inspired
folk art.” Much of the material here is
not available elsewhere. Joyce Valenza
Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion. Ed. by
Valerie Steele.
Students interested in
fashion studies will feel validated by this academic source relating the
clothes we wear to our place in culture and society. The 640 topical essays are arranged
alphabetically, from academic dress to
zoran. Entries range in length from half a page to
multiple pages. Black and white photographs are numerous and each volume
includes a center insert of color images. Some articles include intriguing
sidebars. The work includes biographies of individuals who influenced fashion,
for instance, Manolo Blahnik
and Princess Diana. This is the second
title in the Scribner Library of Daily Life reference series. The well-reviewed Encyclopedia of Food and
Culture (2003) was first.
This significant, well-researched, wide-ranging resource belongs in most
high school reference collections. It is
fun to browse as well! Joyce Valenza
Encyclopedia of Exploration: Places,
Technologies, and Cultural Trends.
By Carl Waldman and Jon Cunningham.
$225. Gr. 12+.
This two-volume encyclopedia
is an in-depth study of exploration.
Volume I presents the biographical entries
about explorers arranged in alphabetical order.
There are several hundred entries about the explorers that range from a
paragraph to a few pages. Explorers have
searched for food, land, precious metals, and scientific knowledge, people to
exploit, enslave or convert and a chance to explore beyond their own borders.
Vol. II reviews topics of exploration. There are articles on exploration of the
Congo River, the Dutch East India Company, the Gemini Program, the Marianas
Trench and Mt. McKinley, just to name a few of the more intriguing essays. The appendices help a student use the
encyclopedia. The explorers are divided by occupation in Appendix A. They are artists, astronauts, colonists,
pioneers, guides, interpreters, mariners, merchants, mountain men, military
men, missionaries, geographer, historians, linguists and naturalists just to
name a few. One can check the index and then return to the articles to learn
more about the explorers. Appendix B lists the explorers by geographic area. In
another one, they are arranged by birth date. The appendices are the key to
these volumes and make the set useable for students. There are many interesting explorers to read
about in the set. Students with an
interest in exploration will find this set invaluable. Exploration. Peg Kleppinger
Encyclopedia
of Family Health.
Third edition. 18 volumes.
This third edition follows
the familiar format of the earlier highly illustrated and inviting slim
volumes, with content arranged alphabetically.
Volume 18 contains further reading and Websites, as well as organizations
that might provide additional knowledge.
A solid purchase, containing articles useful across
the curriculum. Joyce Valenza
Encyclopedia of the
This major reference work on
the Harlem Renaissance covers both culture--literature,
art, and music—and the history, politics, and economics of the period. Excellent for high school projects. Joyce Valenza
Explorers and Exploration.
This
eleven volume set, including index, gives a comprehensive overview of
exploration from the wheel to space exploration. Time lines, a glossary, resources for further
study, tremendous illustrations, and clear layout enhance this very useful
reference. Leslie Mastronardo
Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing,
Headwear, Body Decorations and Footwear through the Ages. By Sara Pendergast
and Tom Pendergast.
0-7876-5417-5. 5 vols. $275.
Gr. 6-12.
Each
volume thoroughly covers a specified time period, organized by culture. They
include: The Ancient World, Early
Cultures Across the Globe, European Culture from the Renaissance to the Modern
Era, Modern World Parts 1: 1900 to 1945, and Part II: 1946 to 2003. The set is very easy to navigate. Each volume includes a table of contents, all
entries in alphabetical order, all entries by category, a timeline, a glossary,
and index. Michelle Stone
Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology.
This
eleven-volume cross-cultural encyclopedia is exactly what you’ve been looking
for to meet the needs of literature, history, and mythology projects. It does what Edith Hamilton does
not—separating each god, hero, or character., making
it easy to complete a project on the assigned super-being! Joyce
Valenza
Grants for School Libraries. By Sylvia D.
Hall-Ellis and Ann Jeraback.
This reference-ready handbook
is a guide to all aspects of grant writing from identifying potential funding
sources and team building to organizing and managing the process, compiling
relevant research, and planning for evaluation.
Each section is supported by reproducible forms and examples. FAQ’s about grantsmanship,
50 tips for grant writers, and a glossary of key terms are among the helpful
appendices. Not just for librarians,
this is a book that all grant writers will appreciate. Highly
recommended. Candy Blessing
Graphic Novels in Your
A comprehensive introduction
to graphic novels, the inclusion of sample pages makes this guide unique. The
author, an elementary librarian, recommends titles for elementary, middle and
high school, explains the genre and discusses ways the books can be used to
deal with multiple intelligences, reluctant readers and visual literacy. Lists of publishers, policy issues, how to
partner with books stores and involve art teachers are just a few of the areas Lyga discusses.
Advice from other librarians and teachers makes this a valuable addition
to your professional collection. Highly recommended. Candy Blessing
Grzimek’s Student Animal Life Resource. Mammals.
(Also Fishes; Insects and Spiders;
Birds; Reptiles) Ed. by Melissa McDade.
A young adult version of Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, this set gives broad coverage
to 265 species of mammals. The entries
cover the physical characteristics, diet, behavior, habitat, conservation
status, etc of each of the animals. Includes maps, photographs, and
illustrations. This set makes Grizmek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia a great and
accessible resource for student research.
Susan Krenicky
Handbook of Classical Mythology. By William Hansen.
Excellent compilation of
Greek and Roman mythology. Explores the
origins, geography and thematic context of classical mythology. Entries are easy to understand, and well
laid-out, with complimentary black and white illustrations. An annotated bibliography, glossary, and
comprehensive index complete the volume and enhance its usefulness. While not as complete as the Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and
Religion, this is an inviting and useful addition to mythology collections
for high school and public libraries. Pat Naismith
Handbook of Native American Mythology. By Dawn E. Bastian and Judy K. Mitchell.
Excellent
compilation of Native American themes and tales. Explores the origins, geography and thematic
context of legend and myth. Entries are
easy to understand, and well laid-out, with complimentary black and white
illustrations. Multiple tales are listed
under each thematic heading. I was able
to find a number of tales from my childhood that are
relatively obscure. An annotated
bibliography, glossary, and comprehensive index complete the volume and enhance
its usefulness. Pat Naismith
Handbook of Polynesian Mythology. By Robert D. Craig.
Excellent compilation of
mythology from the Polynesian triangle.
Explores the origins, geography and thematic context of mythology from
Hip-Hop Poetry and the Classroom. By Alan Sitomer
and Michael Cirelli.
Your English teachers will
love this one! The authors analyze “the poetry of hip-hop and compare its
motifs, themes and general poetic devices (such as alliteration, rhyme scheme,
figurative language, etc.) to the ‘classic’ poems traditionally studied.” The lessons will absolutely engage
students. Librarians will appreciate
such additional resources as “How to Host a Poetry Slam,” glossaries, and
interpretation guides. Joyce Valenza
A History of Science (five
volumes). By Ray Spangenburg
and Diane Moser.
Each volume in this series
contains its own introduction, table of contents, as well as a chronology, glossary,
and index. These tools provide easy
access to the information in the series, which is organized by time
period. The authors provide an engaging
background on the highlights of major scientific developments, biographical
information about scientists as well as pseudo-scientists. The wide-ranging discussion and good writing
holds the reader’s interest. Erika Thickman
Miller
History of World War II.
Volume 1: Origins and Outbreak
Volume 2: Global War
Volume 3: Victory and Aftermath
This reader-friendly set is beautifully illustrated and enhanced with interesting sidebars offering “eyewitness views,” maps, graphs, and background on key figures and events. The useful appendix offers a timeline and charts. In addition to a general index, the set is indexed by personalities, places, and battles. Of permanent value to any high school collection.
Joyce Valenza
The Horror Readers’
Advisory: The Librarian’s Guide to Vampires, Killer Tomatoes, and Haunted
Houses (
Hennigh Clausen.
The authors begin with an
informative chapter on the evolution of horror literature and film. They then
provide a helpful review of reader’s advisory interview techniques, with
special emphasis on the appeal factors of horror. Their annotated list of 22 horror “classics” are drawn from pre-1974 titles that can
also be included in the canon of good literature: these titles are obviously
recommendations for a basic horror collection as well as for novice horror
readers. Further chapters discuss and
provide annotations of recommended titles for the various sub-genre of horror:
ghosts and haunted houses, mummies and zombies, vampires, werewolves, maniacs
and monsters, black magic and witches/warlocks, demonic possession, scientific
and biomedical horror, and psychological horror. They conclude with recommended
horror resources (i.e., awards, magazines) and suggestions for collection
development and marketing. Other titles
in the ALA Readers’ Advisory series address science fiction and fantasy,
mystery fiction, romance, short stories, and genre fiction. Title and series
highly recommended for those librarians wishing to develop fiction collections
and promote reading. Readers’
Advisory, Horror Fiction. Eleanor Howe
Internet Information
Skills: A Guide for Teachers and School Librarians. By James E. Herring.
Included are chapters about the
learning and teaching context, the Internet, evaluating websites, subject
gateways, research skills and the PLUS model of research, developing a school
website, developing an instructional website, and future developments. Each
chapter includes a list of skills to be mastered, discussion, conclusions, and
references. The text is supplemented by illustrations, charts, website pages,
and a thorough index. It is clearly and professionally written with a focus on
student learning. Recommended. Information Technology Skills, Internet, Research skills. Eleanor
Howe
Islamic World
Past and Present.
The three-volume A-Z encyclopedia
is friendly for both middle and high school students and answers many timely
and frequently asked questions about both modern and historic Islam. The attractively illustrated set presents
profiles of countries, issues, laws, and philosophies. Particularly helpful to
our students are the articles on Women, Women and Reform, Women in the Qur’an. Joyce Valenza
Junior Worldmark
Encyclopedia of the Nations. 4th
edition.
This set includes 192 country
entries arranged alphabetically. Each entry is broken down into 35 important
headings, and includes a map, the flag and seal, profiles and data insets, and
b & w photos. Each volume includes a
glossary. Volume 10 includes a set
index. The arrangement and thorough
coverage will appeal to students and teachers.
Michelle Stone
Junior Worldmark
Encyclopedia of the States. 4th ed. Ed. by Timothy L. Gail and Susan Bevan.
This four volume encyclopedia
includes information about each of the fifty states, the
Sandy Krieg
Junior Worldmark
Encyclopedia of the Nations. 4th
ed.
Basic information on 193
countries, attractively and usefully laid-out, supplemented with biographical
information on famous people for each country.
Web-based references would have been helpful, and the “plunge” into the
21st century is promised for the next edition. This edition is based on the eleventh edition
of the Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, and
will be a readable and excellent resource for middle school and public library
collections. Pat Naismith
National Geographic
Everything you could want in
a
Neal-Schuman
Guide to Celebrations and Holidays around the World: The Best Books, Media, and
Multicultural Learning Activities. By Kathryn Matthew and Joy L. Lowe.
This is a well thought out
and useful guide to the hundreds of different holidays. Starting out with an overview of the
celebrations and holidays through the year, the book expands to include some
holidays in social studies curriculum.
Parts II to V present the holidays seasonally, starting with autumn.
Part VI covers special holidays and celebrations. Each holiday is explained with an annotated
list of media and books and activities that tie into the media mentioned. Back matter includes author, illustrator,
title and subject indices. Be sure to promote this valuable guide to all
faculty members. Jeannie Bellavance
Newsmakers. By Judy Galens and Kelle S. Sisung.
The focus of this reference
series are biographies of people who are currently in the news. There are 100
biographies in the first four volumes and two additional volumes will be
published this summer. What makes this
series so valuable is the breadth of the fields of endeavor, from business to
music to social issues. My students
appreciated the Writing category, as the eleven authors represented were
authors they were researching. The
personalities selected are well known to students and are people they would be
interested in knowing more about. The
biographies average 10 pages, some a little less, with a black and white photo
introducing the biography. Additional
photos and sidebars are included. The biographies explain the importance or
contribution of the individual, but do not include any primary interview information
other than a quote. Web sites point students to additional information. Table of Contents is organized by volume and
by field of endeavor. Index is a general
index. This is a valuable reference
source and by its currency complements the traditional biography references. Also available as an e-book.
Rosanne Zajko
Newsmakers. By Judy Galens and Kelle S. Sisung.
This set contains 100 concise
biographies of people currently in the news, from nine different fields. The subjects were selected with students in
mind, and include many popular children’s authors, entertainers, athletes,
government officials, and more. Each
entry includes one or more b & w photo.
Each volume is easy to navigate with set table of contents, listings by
“field of endeavor” and Index. Michelle Stone
Opera: A Critic’s Guide
to the 100 Most Important Works and the Best Recordings (The New York Times
Essential Library series). By Anthony Tommasini.
Times Books, 2004. 0-8050-7459-7. 316p. $17.00. Gr. 10+ and Professional.
Included in the recommended
operas, alphabetically organized by composer, are 100 major and lesser works
from the 16th to 20th centuries by Adams, Britten, Handel, Monteverdi, Mozart, Rossini, Strauss,
Verdi, Wagner, and Wiesgall among others. The short, well-written but accessible essays
on each title address the origins, major themes, and challenges of each opera
and provide a rationale for the recommended performances. While they are not plot summaries, the essays
do entice both the novice and the experienced opera lover either to see an
opera (just go and enjoy the music and story) or to listen to recordings. Two advantages of listening are that there
may not be local productions, some operas are not performed, and the focus is
on the music rather than the staging.
The recommended discography lists conductor, orchestra, and major
singers. The “Essential Twenty” are
absolute staples that demonstrate the diversity and excellence of opera. The
text is supplemented by a few portraits, very thorough indexing, and an
annotated bibliography. Highly
recommended. Opera—History
and criticism, Opera—Discographies. Eleanor
Howe
Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus.
Offering more than 300,000
synonyms and 10,000 antonyms, and 200 mini-essays, this works so much better
than your word processor’s meager tool. A fine update for your reference collection or your desk. Joyce
Valenza
The authors, both noted Civil
War historians, divide the war chronologically into five sections and offer
detail on every significant battle and campaign with impressive scope. Beyond the battles the work addresses the
non-military--politics, economics, geography, legislation, and social context. Increasing the value are contemporary posters,
editorial cartoons, and period photographs. Pulitzer-prize winning author James
McPherson, contributes the foreword and the essays that open each section. A wonderful purchase of permanent value for
the high school reference collection--fun for browsers as well. Joyce
Valenza
The history of
art from 40,000 B.C. to the present, using maps as a medium, is organized in
seven chronological periods, with smaller sections focused on large land
masses, further divided by regions or countries. Images representing major
works are scattered in appropriate time periods. The maps point to concepts not
usually treated in art reference--locations of raw materials, trade routes
suggesting outside influences, and regional geographic, political, social, and
religious influences. The depth of work is staggering, and though this is not
for every collection, art teachers with strong history interests will likely
appreciate. Joyce Valenza
From additives to zombies (the
drink!) this comprehensive A-Z encyclopedia offers several types of entries:
chronological surveys of American history; product entries; contributions of
racial, ethnic, religious and cultural groups; biographies; and political and
social movements. This one will satisfy
needs relating to American History and Consumer Science courses. It is great for research projects, project
ideas, and its fun to browse through such articles as: drinking songs,
Chinese-American food, the politics of food, and Mr. Peanut. Joyce
Valenza
Peoples of
Colorful pictures
illustrate the articles in this comprehensive reference of
Poverty in the
This well-written
encyclopedia of poverty in the
Shamanism: An Encyclopedia of World
Beliefs, Practices and Culture.
Ed. by Mariko Namba Walter
and Eva Jane Neumann Fridman.
1-57607-645-8. 1054p.
$185. Gr. 12+.
Shamanism is a “religious
belief system in which the shaman is the specialist in knowledge.” The shaman
knows the spirit world and human soul through the power of an altered state of
consciousness, or trance, which is used to make a connection to the world of
spirits in order to bring about benefits to the community. The first volume has short essays on topics
such as animal symbolism, divination, healing, music and trance. The second volume then discusses shamanism in
various geographical areas. The reading
level of this set would make it very difficult for most students. There are articles in the second volume that
would seem to be more approachable for students. I think academic libraries would be the
target audience for this set, not high schools.
Peg Kleppinger
The Sixties in
An excellent source of
material about the 1960s. Sold as a set,
or can be purchased by individual volumes.
Vol. 1. Almanac ($60.00); Vol. 2. Biographies ($60.00); Vol. 3. Primary
sources ($60.00); Vol. 4. Cumulative index ($5.00). Coverage includes politics,
culture, and daily life during the 1960s, including articles on such aspects as
the Vietnam War, the policies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and arts
and entertainment; twenty-six biographical profiles; twenty primary sources; a
time line; and a glossary. Great addition to US History collections. Pat Naismith
Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia from Angkor Wat to
This reference provides the researcher
with over 800 alphabetically arranged articles contributed by more than 130
specialists on the region. Archaeology, prehistory, political history,
cultural heritage, economic and social transformation, ethnohistory
of ethnic minorities are each of the subjects covered
by this reference. A comprehensive 109 page introduction provides in
depth background of the region and its history.
Karen Hornberger
Sport in American Culture: From Ali to
X-games. Ed. By Joyce
Duncan.
A sports fan’s delight, this encyclopedia includes
over 400 entries on sports figures and topics, with a focus on their impact on
American culture. Each article is signed, includes a “see also” of related
entries, and further reading for the topic.
Michelle Stone
The biography and almanac
sections are comprised in two chapters each.
The primary documents are contained in a single volume. These excellent reference texts provide
information on the American Immigrant experience from the earliest times to the
significant periods from 1820 to 1930 to today when immigrants to this country
find more obstacles to attaining citizenship.
The information is historic and timely including references to 9/11 and
beyond. Also included are discussions as to why the immigrants came to
UXL.
Space Exploration Reference Library.
Set includes a two volume
almanac, and one volume each of primary sources and biographies, and a cumulative
index. Each volume includes a readers guide, timeline, and glossary. Articles are informative and understandable
with sidebar boxes highlighting interesting facts, and include b & w photos
and illustrations. Michelle Stone
Western Philosophy: An Illustrated
Guide. Ed. by David
Papineau.
Put away those dry philosophy
texts. This single volume combines
philosophical history, biography, and historical background. Organized thematically—World, Mind and Body,
Knowledge, Faith, Ethics, Aesthetics, and Society--this accessible introduction
to the enduring questions will work for research projects and will help
teachers generate thoughtful discussion across the curriculum. Joyce
Valenza
Women in Early
This useful
one-volume reference book contains in-depth articles about early American women
from 1607 to 1812. Topics cover:
historical figures, ethnic heritage, status, culture, health, pastimes,
occupations, religion, social reform, and other issues of importance.
Alphabetically arranged, entries average a page
and a half to two pages and include further reading suggestions. This is
a welcome resource for school libraries since books on early American women’s
history are not exactly overflowing on our library shelves. Pat Bender
Committee Members:
Jeannie Bellavance,
Pat Bender,
Candace Blessing,
Nancy Chrismer,
Donna Darmofal,
Ilene Goldis,
Karen Hornberger,
Eleanor Howe,
Pamela Kavanaugh,
Margaret Kleppinger,
Susan Krenicky,
Sandra Krieg,
The
Leslie Mastronardo,
On Leave
Elizabeth McChesney,
Erika Miller,
Susan Mowery,
Pat Naismith,
Constance Roupp,
Mary Schwander,
New Hope-Solebury High School
Michelle Stone,
Joyce Valenza,
Barbara Wray,
Rosanne Zajko,