The Library DVD Shelf Sheryl Crow Live Koch Vision 1417230770, .99 www (dot) kochvision (dot) com Fans of the rocker Sheryl Crow now have a fine opportunity to listen to and view her without paying high ticket prices with the lively capture of her performance at the one-night-only Soundstage. Cuts of her biggest and best songs accompany a high-definition 92-minute performance in surround sound for maximum home entertainment effects. Very highly recommended, indeed! Teen Safety: When You Are Alone Learning ZoneXPress PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060 1571755586, .95 www (dot) learningzoneexpress (dot) com 1-888-455-7003 The world can be a dangerous place for the unwary and complacent. Intended for viewers ranging from sixth grade students to high school seniors, college students, and adults, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone is an instructional DVD ideal for classroom use. Presenting the basic facts every teen should know to reduce the risk of abuse, sexual violence, or abduction, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone demonstrates realistic scenarios and features interviews with experts. From safety strategies teens should use when home alone or walking alone, to tips for responsible use of the Internet, to advice for teens in charge of babysitting younger children (who are potentially at even greater risk for violence or abduction) and more, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone deserves the absolute highest recommendation for its practical treatment of basic facts every teen (and adult) must know. 17 minutes. The Dead Sea Scrolls Lawrence H. Schiffman The Modern Scholar c/o Recorded Books 270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 UC102, .75, www (dot) recordedbooks (dot) com 1-800-638-1304 When a collection of ancient scrolls were first discovered in cliff side caves above the long abandoned settlement of Qumran in Israel in 1947, they were dubbed the 'Dead Sea Scrolls' and were justifiably acclaimed as on of the most important archaeological findings of the 20th Century. A fabulous collection they provide some of the oldest Jewish sacred texts we have. They also provided a wealth of new documents and information about a Jewish religious movement that was contemporary with the emergence of Christianity. Now in fourteen informed and informative lectures compiled in "The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth Behind The Mystique", Lawrence H. Schiffman (Chairman, New York University Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and the Ethel and Irvin A. Edelman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies) shares his years of studies and internationally acclaimed expertise about what these scrolls have provided scholarship with respect to our understanding of Judaism and the natal development of religious thought that would be the genesis of Christianity. The lectures begin with a description of 'The Library of Qumran'; and continue with sessions devoted to 'Scandal and Publication'; 'Sects of the Second Temple Period'; 'The Halakhic Letter and the Founding of the Sect'; 'The Qumran Sect'; Women and th eDead Sea Scrolls Sect'; 'Theology and Beliefs of the Dead Sea Sect'; 'Biblical Interpretation'; 'The Hebrew Bible in Second Temple Times'; 'The Messiah and the End of Days'; 'The Temple Scroll'; 'The Scrolls, Judaism, and Christianity'; 'Controversial Messianic Texts'; and then concludes with 'The Scrolls in Public Culture'. A college-level course of instruction, 'The Dead Sea Scrolls' is a superbly presented and enthusiastically recommended boxed set of seven flawless recorded compact discs. The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game Acorn Media Group 8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403 AMP-8096, .99, www (dot) acornmedia (dot) com A superbly produced production, "The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game" is a six episode, two volume boxed set that originally aired in the U.S. on the PBS award winning series 'Mystery!' in its 1980 inaugural season. Sid Halley is a star steeple chase rider who suffers a career-ending injury that ends his riding career and launches him into life as a private detective who specializes in all manner of race track mischief from bookies, to blackmailers, to murder. From top- notch acting, to spot on set designs, to a meticulous attention to Dick Francis' original story, "The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game" provides a bit more than five hours of riveting entertainment and is especially recommended to Dick Francis fans, mystery buffs, and community library DVD collections! America's Test Kitchen Season Eight Christopher Kimball, host WGBH Boston Video c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity) 16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436 9781593758400, .95, www (dot) ssapr (dot) com America's Test Kitchen Season Eight is a DVD collection of all twenty- six episodes of the popular, public television cooking extravaganza show. Host Christopher Kimball and his fellow cast members walk the viewer through the basics of quality home cooking and great recipes. Episodes include Rainy Day BBQ Pork Chops to French Classics, Asian Take-Out at Home, Pasta and Tomatoes Reimagined, Fish on the Grill, Easy Skillit Suppers, Favorite Slow-Cooker Classics, and much more. Rounding out the step-by-step recipe instructions include no-nonsense taste tests of supermarket ingredients, ratings of the most important pieces of kitchen equipment, and useful kitchen science tips. In today's era of rising prices, inexpensive and healthful cooking at home has become a more attractive option than ever before; to that end, the America's Test Kitchen series is highly recommended both for private use and public library collections. 4 DVDs, 26 episodes. Ape Genius WGBH Boston Video c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity) 16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436 9781593758219, .95 shop (dot) wgbh (dot) org www (dot) ssapr (dot) com Ape Genius is an episode of the scientific public television series NOVA on DVD that seeks to answer the questions: just how smart are the great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas), and what exactly is it that differentiates their thought processes from those of humans? Apes have been seen to use tools, and controlled experiments have shown them to possess shared culture, even the ability to perform simple math. Yet the latest research has revealed subtle, crucial limitations ape brains have that prevent them from dominating the world like humans have. An utterly absorbing and educational presentation, enthusiastically recommended for public library collections and anyone curious about what makes humans unique among the animal kingdom. 54 minutes, color, with the options of closed-captioned and described video for the hearing impaired. Up Close & Toxic Bullfrog Films, Inc. PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547 1594581150, 0.00 www (dot) bullfrogfilms (dot) com 1-800-543-3764 With today's headlines steadily proclaiming contaminated foods, toys, household products and more, the current health crisis is one of the most important issues facing every American. Up Close & Toxic is a wake-up call to indoor air pollutants, the concentration of which can often exceed what is found in the most polluted cities outdoors! From cleaning products to pesticides, paint dust, lead particles in the carpet, or even plastic toys, Up Close & Toxic reveals numerous sources of potential biohazards and recommends alternatives to promote healthier breathing indoors. A singularly invaluable addition to public library shelves and classroom viewing schedules, particularly in today's modern era of rising health care costs. 45 minutes. World Class Restaurant Service World Class Productions, LLC 423 Kanekapolei Ste. 9, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 DVD, .95, www (dot) worldclassproductionz (dot) com World Class Restaurant Service is a training film on DVD created especially to guide entry-level employees entering the time-honored profession of restaurant service. Filmed in beautiful Hawaii, World Class Restaurant Service covers on-the-job basics of proper teamwork, how to greet customers, winning confidence, wine service nuances, how to make a good impression, and much more. In addition to demonstrating what to do, World Class Restaurant Service also features a comic relief waiter who gives a contrasting demonstrations of what not to do! A thoroughly accessible, easy-to-follow resource, World Class Restaurant Service is an absolute must-have for any sit-down restaurant, whether owned by a small family or a large corporation - and also a useful study-at-home tool for anyone considering a career in restaurant service. 27 minutes, color. Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music MVD Entertainment Group PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456 DVD, .99, www (dot) MVDb2b (dot) com 1-800-888-0486 Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music is the DVD documentary of legendary musician Bill Monroe, credited with creating bluegrass from a fusion of fiddle tunes, Scotch-Irish ballads he learned from his mother and uncle, and "old Southern blues" taught to him by black blues guitarist Arnold Schultz. Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music pays tribute to this one-of-a-kind composer with interviews, archival footage including rare 1990s performances that Monroe gave in his final years, backstage glimpses of Monroe at the Grand Ole Opry, and much more. An absolute "must-see" for bluegrass fans and players everywhere. 90 minutes. Rune Soldier Complete Collection ADV Films 5750 Bintliff Drive, Suite 210, Houston, TX 77036 DVD, .99, www (dot) advfilms (dot) com Rune Soldier Complete Collection brings together the complete 24- episode "Rune Soldier" fantasy-comedy anime television series in one affordable thinpack box set! Created by Ryo Mizuno (known for his work in the more serious fantasy anime "Record of Lodoss War"), Rune Soldier is about a trio of female adventurers - Genie the deadly fighter, Merrill the sly thief, and Melissa the effeminate yet potent cleric - in search of a powerful magician to shore up their ranks. But instead of a mighty veteran adventurer magician, the best they can find is the lecherous, klutzy, and incompetent novice Louie! A fun and fantastic adventure that never dares to take itself too seriously, Rune Soldier Complete Collection is enthusiastically recommended to fans of the genre. Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Viz Communications Inc. 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 1421522705 .98 www (dot) viz (dot) com 1-800-394-3042 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel is the second feature- length animated film starring the popular manga character Naruto, a brash, headstrong, passionate youth determined to prove himself the best ninja in the world. Sent on a seemingly run-of-the-mill mission to return a lost ferret to its owner along with his teacher Shikamaru and female classmate Sakura, Naruto becomes entangled in the machinations of a ruthless invading force and its loyal front-lines warrior Temujin. Though the attackers claim to be founding a utopia that will spread peace to the world, their merciless quest for the stone of Gelel has already brought them into fierce conflict with Sand Ninja Kankuro and Gaara! It's an all-out battle not only to survive, but to separate truth from lies in this action-packed epic adventure. A two-disc set, Legend of the Stone of Gelel is in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen and includes director's audio commentary, as well as over sixty minutes of extra content and a colorful collector's booklet. A must-see for fans of shonen anime! 95 minutes plus special features, color. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so. The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to: James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review 278 Orchard Drive Oregon, WI 53575-1129 To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to [email][/email] (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price). James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief Midwest Book Review
