New Books - May 2008

F1234 .R32 2006

Insurgent Mexico

Reed, John, 1887-1920.

The Mississippi Valley Historical Review:

"Mr. Reed's book describes insurgent Mexico from the newspaper correspondent's or magazine writer's point of view. Therein Mr. Reed presents to us a remarkable true and vivid picture of Mexico as it is today. Almost without comment on his part he describes the Mexican people, their country, their life, their customs, and so forth, choosing his details with unerring skill, and presenting the picture with charming directness and simplicity. In so doing Mr. Reed has succeeded in bringing before an Anglo-American public a sympathetic picture of a Spanish-American people, making clear therewith some of the striking differences that render understanding and intercourse between the two so difficult."

"Reed's Insurgent Mexico shows the writer as he is and at his best, as a realist in the artistic sense, who describes life as he sees it, on the human side. Always sympathetic, thoroughly steeped in his subject, Mr. Reed still succeeds in keeping his personality from the pages. Vividly dramatic, full of realism, in itself romance, accurate and sane, are these sketches that Mr. Reed affords us in his Insurgent Mexico - a contribution, be is said, to the human and artistic aspects of this trouble-torn country." Review: [untitled], by Lindley M. Keasbey The Mississippi Valley Historical Review (copyright 1915), Organization of American Historians.

New Books - May 2008

E175.85 .L64 2007

Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American history Textbook Got Wrong
Loewen, James W.

Library Journal Review:

Starred Review. Loewen (sociology, Univ. of Vermont; Mississippi: Conflict and Change), whose interest lies in looking for "weapons of mass instruction" in American history textbooks, first shared his findings over ten years ago in the best-selling first edition of this book. Here he presents his updated assessments, starting with an introduction that "re-caps" and "pre-caps" what the book covers, and explains his concept of the failings of 12 American history textbooks. He finds, for example, that Woodrow Wilson is still given hero status although he was almost single-handedly responsible for forcing the removal of any one who was not a WASP from all levels of government. He also notes that we are spending more time on the War of 1812 than on our longest war: Vietnam. In an age of "truthiness" and "spin," a work that asks us to challenge students with actual and chronological history, and with images and comments from diverse viewpoints, leaving each student to come to his or her own conclusions, would seem to be of particular importance. Even if your library has the first edition, you must get this update. A fascinating work; highly recommended. Suzanne Lay, Perry H.S. Lib., GA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - May 2008

HQ772 .I69 2007

Is It a Big problem or a Little Problem? : When to Worry, When Not to Worry, and What to Do
Egan, Amy.

Library Journal Review:

Starred Review. Many exasperated parents have wondered whether their three year old needs to have his or her hearing checked. Developmental concerns are common, but it can be difficult to tell what behavior is a "stage" and what is cause for genuine concern. The authors, Anderson, Amy Egan, Amy Freedman, and Judi Greenberg all speech, language, behavior, and occupational therapists at the Ivymount School's Center for Outreach and Education in Rockville, MD divide the book into three sections, "The Basics," "Understanding Development," and "Where Children Struggle." Within these, they illustrate specific concerns (e.g., "She can hear, why doesn't she understand?"), explore the range of normal, and examine signals that indicate a need for professional intervention. For "little problems," the authors teach how to rework an environment, routine, or communication strategy to alleviate triggers and encourage mastery. Their strategies for reteaching crucial developmental milestones range from the simple (e.g., no more sippy cups; straws not only improve speech skills but have a calming effect) to the progressive. Disclaimers aside, this book is the equivalent of a valuable appointment with a specialist. Never using an alarmist tone, the authors strike a perfect balance between advocating for early intervention and appreciating the ups and downs of typical childhood behavior. Highly recommended for all libraries. Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.