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The Library DVD Shelf

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs
DVD
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff St., Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
014381346527, $19.98 www.image-entertainment.com

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is a top pick for any DVD collection
featuring history and exploration. It's narrated by actor Christopher
Lee and packs in dramatic picture and sound following the explorations
of the Egyptian tombs with all the drama and adventure of an Indiana
Jones adventure. All ages will find this a vivid account.

Karen Joy Allen DVDs
Bridgestone Multimedia Group
$14.95 Each www.gobmg.com

Three powerful workout videos are fine picks for any DVD workout
library or home collection, each offering something different. CARDIO
PRAISE (9780740319150) uses exercises that are current and fun,
blending strength training and cardio with dance. Work out with the
kids with A FUN WORKOUT FOR KIDS (9780740319174), packed with kid-
friendly music and easy routines leading kids through dance. CARDIO
AND CORE DANCE BLAST (9780740319167) introduces toning and shaping
through using JoyFitstix, which weigh under a pound and allow for
quick, safe movements to keep rhythms and create muscles without
weight use. Exercise and home collections will find these fine picks.

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training
Anchor Bay
235 East 22nd St., Suite 15, New York NY 10010
91313166649, $14.98 www.anchorbayent.com/fitness

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training features
celebrity trainer and 'Work Out' TV hit show star Jackie Warner's
personal program, and is perfect for those who would train at home
using her signature circuit workouts. Here the Power Burn has been
revved up in a series of maximum efficiency workouts and steps reduced
to 15-minute segments for easy and quick use. Busy home exercises will
love this approach.

Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout
Susan Hyatt
Passport to Fitness
$15.98 www.amazon.com

Susan Hyatt's Rockstar Workout provides a powerful program based on
the breathing secrets that top performers use on stage. Susan Hyatt
trained with 'American Idol' vocal coach Ron Anderson and provides a
fine pairing of these breathing techniques with tips on burning up to
800 calories per hour. Home workout libraries will find this a
different, winning approach.

Stories from the Vaults, Season 2
Tom Cavanagh
Smithsonian Networks
17742216592, $19.98 www.smithsonianchannel.com

Stories from the Vaults, Season 2 tours the Smithsonian Institution
and offers stories of some of its rarely-seen treasures, introducing
people who are studying these secrets behind the scenes and
considering mysteries of science, pop culture, and more.

A Sea Change
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Winner of the Grand Prize of the FICA International Environmental Film
Festival, A Sea Change is a harrowing documentary on DVD that reveals
just how drastically human impact has changed the world's oceans.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a 30%
increase in oceanic acidification; scientists nearly unanimously
believe that burning fossil fuels is transforming the chemistry of the
world's waters. If carbon dioxide emissions steadily increase and
oceanic acidity continues to rise, most of the world's fisheries could
collapse completely, and be unrecoverable for millions of years.
Framed by the protagonist Sven Huseby seeking to explain the changes
in the ocean's ecosystem to his oldest grandchild Elias, A Sea Change
is both emotionally powerful and scientifically supported in its dire
warnings. Highly recommended. 85 minutes, SDH Captions.

Ride Around the World
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
www.image-entertainment.com www.ridearoundtheworld.com
$19.98 DVD $24.98 Blu-ray

Originally produced for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Ride Around the
World is an award-winning DVD documentary about the 1,200-year history
of the cowboy. From the cowboy's origins in Spanish and Moroccan
history, to their transition to the New World, and the rodeos and
shows that help preserve and celebrate their cowboy way of life today,
Ride Around the World is a breathtaking appreciation of the people and
their partner horses who have labored throughout history to look after
cattle. Bonus features include a trivia quiz and a making-of
featurette. Also available in a Blu-ray version, Ride Around the World
is the perfect gift for cowboy fans everywhere and an excellent
addition to public library DVD collections. 40 min. plus 23 min.
featurette.

Step-by-Step BellyDance with Leilainia
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$16.99 acacialifestyle.com

Expert bellydancer Leilainia walks the viewer through the graceful,
sexy, and fat-burning moves of bellydance in Step-by-Step BellyDance
with Leilainia, an introductory DVD to this sensual and adventurous
dance style. A tutorial guides one to the basics of bellydance; then
the viewer is free to try one, two, or all three of the 15-minute
dance combinations. Bellydance moves work the quads, glutes, arms, and
back muscles in this enjoyable addition to dance instruction or
fitness DVD libraries. 57 minutes, widescreen. Also highly recommended
for fitness DVD libraries is "Fit in 5: Ultimate Body Blitz" ($16.99).

Give Me 10!
Amy Dixon
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.amydixonfitness.com

Celebrity fitness trainer Amy Dixon presents Give Me 10!, a DVD packed
with five, efficient 10-minute workouts that can be taken as a whole
or individually squeezed into slices of one's busy day. The workouts
are Fat Blasting Cardio, Upper Body Sculpt, Lower Body Firmer, Core
Makeover, Yoga Stretch & Flex, and a bonus segment, KettleBell ToneUp.
Though 3-5 pound dumbbells (for beginners) or 5-8 pound dumbbells (for
those with a little more experience) are recommended, no other
equipment is required, for these energetic and lively exercise
sessions. Give Me 10! is an excellent choice and a great way to work
fitness into one's busy routine. 61 minutes, stereo.

Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up!
Bethany Lyons
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up! is an invigorating
exercise DVD featuring a dance workout by expert fitness instructor
Bethany Lyons. Featuring three twelve-minute, fat-blasting dances (two
promote a cardio workout, the third includes toning work), Dance Off
the Inches is a user-friendly workout program intended for use by
fitness enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels - even those who
are just starting to get into shape. A great addition to high-energy
workout collections. 44 minutes plus 13-minute step guide.

Michael Jackson
Rock City
c/o MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

Michael Jackson: The Life and Times of the King of Pop 1958-2009 is a
DVD documentary of the last days and memorial service of famous
singer, performer, and entertainer Michael Jackson. Born to a working-
class family in the Midwest, Jackson earned legendary fame at his
peak; he leaved behind a widely beloved musical legacy. Appearances at
his memorial service included Usher, Janet Jackson, the Jacksons,
Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Stevie Wonder, Lionel
Richie, and more. A fitting tribute to the so-called "King of Pop",
and a must-have for Michael Jackson fans.

Prima Ballerina
Featuring Ulyana Lopatkina & Svetlana Zakharova
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Prima Ballerina is a documentary portrait of two modern-day icons of
Russian ballet: Svetlana Zakharova of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow,
and Ulyana Lopatkina of the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg.
Each has her own distinctive style; both are possessed of stellar
grace and beauty. Prima Ballerina includes interviews with Zakharova
and Lopatkina, interviews with their fellow dancers, coaches, and
dance critics, as well as unforgettable sequences from classics such
as Swan Lake, Scheherazade, Sleeping Beauty, The Legend of Love, and
more. Prima Ballerina a beautiful and inspirational portrait of the
best of the best of a high art form, and an absolute "must-have" for
anyone who loves ballet. 52 minutes, color, Russian with English
subtitles.

Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
0793695015 $29.98 www.shopPBS.org

Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu is the true-life documentary of the
1918-1920 influenza pandemic that ripped through the world's
population, claiming an estimated 40 million victims - roughly four
times the number of fatalities from the First World War. This pandemic
was unusual in that it primarily killed young people with healthy
immune systems, rather than the very young, very old, and those with
compromised immune systems. Where did this strain of the flu come
from, and why was it so lethal? Modern scientific researchers strive
to answer these questions, not only for posterity, but also to better
prepare against the threat of modern-day flu pandemics. An absorbing
and educational documentary, highly recommended especially for public
library collections. 60 minutes, widescreen.

Herbs & Spices
Paulette Mitchell, host
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571758364 $49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

Cookbook author Paulette Mitchell hosts Herbs & Spices, an educational
DVD for grade 6 to adult viewers about how to use various herbs and
spices to add flavor and zest to one's cooking. From the difference
between robust and tender herbs, to creating dishes such as Herb-
Roasted Vegetables, Caprese Salad, Basil Pesto and Pesto Butter, Herbs
& Spices is an excellent introduction to refining basic cooking
skills. Highly recommended especially for viewing in Home Economics
classrooms and during study halls. 18 minutes, closed-captioned.

A Sense of Wonder
Directed by Christopher Monger
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Shot in HD by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, A Sense of
Wonder is a documentary about the trailblazing environmentalist Rachel
Carson (publisher of Silent Spring in 1962), who called to task the
chemical industry, the government, and the press as she strived to
bring her message to Congress and the American people. Even in her
final years as she fought a personal battle with cancer, she never
gave up the struggle to protect the natural world. Special features
include comments from contemporary environmental leaders about the
challenges to come, a visit with former Secretary of the Interior
Stewart Udall, a visit with Carson's adopted son Roger, and much more.
A Sense of Wonder is more than an environmental documentary; it is the
portrait of a strong and successful woman who made it her life's work
to be an advocate for the natural world. Highly recommended. 55
minutes, SDH captions.

Homo Toxicus
Written and Directed by Carole Poliquin
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

An educational film ideal for viewers in grades 10 and up (including
college students and adults), Homo Toxicus is a thought-provoking
documentary about the side effects upon humankind of daily exposure to
industrial compounds. Consistent, low-level exposure to chemicals
through the food we eat, the air we breathe, or contact with our skin
has the potential to cause health problems ranging from cancer to
allergies, hyperactivity, and infertility. Homo Toxicus is ultimately
a wake-up call about the immediate need for more stringent regulations
to protect humankind as well as the environment from the deleterious
effects of man-made chemical pollutants. Highly recommended. 88 and 52
minute versions, plus eight interviews, SDH captioned.

All In This Tea
Directed by Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$275.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Co-directors Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht present All In This Tea, the
true-life documentary of one man's struggle to make the increasingly
modernized nation of China aware of the value of its ancient tea-
making crafts. American tea importer David Lee Hoffman has traveled to
meet Tibetan monks in Nepal (and befriended the Dalai Lama), and coped
with complicated Chinese business codes as well as language barriers
in his efforts. His mission to convince the Chinese themselves that
their traditional tea making crafts produce better tea than any
factory, and that the ways of ancient tea makers should be remembered
and preserved, makes for a fascinating saga of the importance of
remembering one's roots no matter how drastically the world changes.
Highly recommended. 70 minutes, closed captioned.

Jake's Corner
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943496 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Inspired by a true story, Jake's Corner is a movie set in a small rest
stop for travelers crossing the harsh Arizona desert. Ex-football star
Johnny Dunn left the game early in his career to live a quiet life,
but his world is turned upside down when he is suddenly responsible
for his young nephew Spence. The boy's innocence transforms this small
town of adults, who get to teach him more about the world even as they
learn from him. A heartwarming narrative, enhanced with a "behind the
scenes" bonus feature, Jake's Corner is highly recommended for
personal movie collections and as an enjoyable gift. 97 min., rated
PG.

Infinity: The Ultimate Trip
A film by Jay Weidner
Sacred Mysteries Distribution
PO Box 1146, Ashland, OR 97520
$24.95 www.sacredmysteries.com

Infinity: The Ultimate Trip is a DVD exploring the question: what
happens to us after we die? Does oblivion await, or is there something
else beyond? Testimony fromexperts such as Gregg Braden, Dannion
Brinkley, Dzogchen Ponlop and many more for the core of this
intriguing presentation, which offers surprising hope and insight into
what mysteries might lie beyond the veil. Gorgeous imagery, personal
accounts of near-death experiences and reincarnation, and more round
out this incredible presentation that offers a remarkable level of
optimism and hope to viewers of all backgrounds. 90 min. Also highly
recommended for metaphysical studies shelves is "Sophia Returning: The
Path to Planetary Tantra" (60 min.), a study of the wisdom nestled
within the ancient Gnostic sects of Europe.

Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.TheNoOMZone.com

Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts is a fitness DVD
designed to make yoga workouts accessible to all viewers - neither
superhuman flexibility nor endless chanting are required! The No OM
Zone consists of three fifteen-minute workouts, each focusing on a
different portion of the body - the upper body, the core, and the
lower body. Former pro triathlete, cancer survivor, and motivational
speaker Kimberly Fowler is the viewer's guide to this fun and easy-to-
follow introduction to the benefits of a solid yoga workout. 53
minutes 25 seconds.

The Path of the Wind
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226

The Path of the Wind is a dramatic movie about the difficulties of
starting a new life in the wake of past mistakes. After serving a ten-
year prison sentence, Lee Ferguson (played by Joe Rowley) returns to
the small town he once called home, in hope of living a simple life.
When he rescues Katie (Liz DuChez) from attack, he begins to have and
share feelings with her - but the malicious plots of a coworker and
the violence in his past threaten to destroy any hope of stability.
Lee must make a difficult choice, and decide to what lengths he is
willing to take his quest for personal redemption. A moving saga, The
Path of the Wind is wholly recommended to both teen and adult viewers.
103 minutes, English subtitles.

America's Living Constitution
MicroWerks
2042-A Armacost Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Infinity Entertainment Group (publicity)
$9.98

Featuring a meticulous index for ease of use, America's Living
Constitution: An Oral Presentation of the Constitution and the Bill of
Rights is a DVD featuring professional narrators reading aloud the
text of two of America's most important historical documents - the
Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This oral presentation of the
cornerstones of America's foundation and core principles is further
enhanced with a bonus slideshow section of America's most beloved
monuments. An inexpensive yet invaluable contribution to American
history DVD shelves, and an excellent choice for public school,
library, or even home schooling collections. 53 min.

For the Love of Movies
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism is an
extraordinary documentary about the art of reviewing movies as
practiced in America. Featuring commentary from some of America's most
notable and popular critics including Roger Ebert (The Chicago Sun-
Times), A.O. Scott (The new York Times), Lisa Schwarzbaum
(Entertainment Weekly), and Kenneth Turan (The Los Angeles Times), For
the Love of Movies traces criticism from its origins alongside film to
the modern day competition between online blogs and established print
journalism. A particularly fascinating documentary for seasoned film
buffs, For the Love of Movies is highly recommended. 80 min. (plus -40
min. bonus interviews & scenes), English and Spanish subtitles,
widescreen.

American Experience: The 1930s
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831210 $39.99 www.shopPBS.org

American Experience: The 1930's is an anthology of documentaries on
DVD reflecting upon America's history during the turbulent 1930's, an
era best known for the crushing impact of the Great Depression.
Individual programs examine the stock market crash of 1929 and the
dire consequences of unrestrained economic optimism; the creation of
the Civilian Conservation Corps (including personal testimonies from
CCC veterans), the story of the Hoover Dam that brought electricity
and water to millions in the western U.S., the struggles of American
farmers during the severe dust bowl "blizzards" of 1931, and even the
remarkable accomplishments of the gifted thoroughbred Seabiscuit.
Printable materials for educators round out this excellent and
informative collection, ideal for public library DVD shelves. 5 DVDs,
4.5 hours. "The Civilian Conservation Corps" is also available as a
stand-alone DVD (9781608831234, $24.99).

Hitler's Bodyguard
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornmedia.com
AMP-8354, $79.99, www.amazon.com

The memory Adolf Hitler leaves exists in infamy for most, and hero
worship for a few. He was the principle architect for the horror
resulting in the deaths of more than 16 millions people throughout
Europe and which was only concluded by his suicide in 1945 as the
nation he led fell into the ruin and devastation of World War II. What
is not so well known is that Hitler was also the target of numerous
assassination attempts, more than 40 of them, over the 25 years that
he led the Nazi party. To protect his personal safety an ever
expanding network of bodyguards developed. This is the story
documented and illustrated by the thirteen episode DVD boxed set
"Hitler's Bodyguards" now available from the Acorn Media Group.
Combining archival footage, period photography, captured SS documents,
and eyewitness interviews, and computer generated illustrations, this
661 minute documentary provides a wealth of insider information into
the rise of Hitler's security services, how his unpredictable patterns
of movement, his diverse strongholds, and his transport security
measures aided in his physical survival. Of special note is the
detailed background into the suitcase bomb smuggled into a high
command meeting in the Wolf's Lair that came closet to ending his life
and which did result in serious and enduring physical wounding.
Enhanced with the inclusion of a 20-page viewer's guide, a 'Killing
Hitler in the Movies' filmography, photo galleries, and SDH subtitles,
"Hitler's Bodyguard" is a very highly recommended addition to
personal, academic, and community library World War II reference
collections and supplemental viewing lists.

Dinosaurs Alive!
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff St., Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
014381343427, $24.98 www.image-entertainment.com

Dinosaurs Alive offers eye-opening animation and is loaded with
special features, from a 'making of' documentary in HD to an
educational section, dinosaur quiz, and more. CGI animation brings all
to life with scientifically accurate images perfect for family
viewing.

Anchor Bay
235 East 22nd St., Suite 15, New York NY 10010
www.anchorbayent.com/fitness

SLIM & TONE PILATES (01313165429, $14.9 packs in Pilates workouts
set in a lovely location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Standard mat
exercises and apparatus mat exercises, usually done in a Pilates
studio on a reformer, enhance the routine and provide a Pilates
approach without expensive equipment. 10 MINUTES SOLUTION: 5 DAY GET
FIT MIX (01313163199, $14.9 packs in short 10-minute exercises for
the entire body, from cardio kickboxing and power yoga to sculpting
and belly fat burning routines. Each workout segment can be done once
a day and offers five days of high-gear workouts - perfect for busy
home users.

Real Body Work
www.realbodywork.com/yoga

YOGA: GENTLE VINYASA FLOW with Zyrka Landwijt (182064000353, $19.95)
features a fine Pose Guide that gives detailed directions on 23 poses
for positioning, covering common mistakes and featuring yoga sequences
with different difficulty levels and lengths in two-hour sequences.
Beginners will find this very accessible. YOGA: SPIRIT OF VINYASA FLOW
with Deb Dobbin (182064000377, $19.95) is for intermediate to advanced
yoga users and provides three sequences in 3.5 hours of practice. Some
20 pose lessons pack powerful routines perfect for yoga students.

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Midwest Book Review
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