By Carole Howard and the Library Staff

We have three new books that offer outstanding looks at the history, culture and contributions of Native Americans here in the Southwest and around the country:

• “Life in a Pueblo” by Amanda Bishop and Bobbie Kalman explores how pueblos were built and the daily lives of the people who lived in these communal adobe dwellings. Through text, photos and drawings, the authors chronicle the people, their lives and languages, occupations and crafts, beliefs and culture. This book is classified as easy non-fiction.
• “Nations of the Southwest,” also by Amanda Bishop and Bobbie Kalman, explores the different Indian cultures in the Southwest from ancient times to today. It is an excellent way to get a better understanding of long-ago cultures and current peoples in the Four Corners including the Anasazi, Mogollon, Hohokam, Hopi, Navajo and Apache. This book also is easy non-fiction.
• “100 Native Americans Who Changed American History” from the People Who Changed American History series looks at Native American historical figures from the 1500s to today who made major contributions to our country. Among the people profiled are writers like Charles Alexander Eastman and Gertrude Simmons Bonnin, artists like Tewa potter Nampeyo and illustrator Amos Bad Heart Bull, doctors like Susan La Flesche, athletes like Jim Thorpe, actors like Jay Silverheels and singers like Buffy Sainte-Marie. This book is aimed at youngsters in the third through seventh grades, but we suggest it would be suitable for anyone who enjoys reading inspiring biographies.

Books on CD

“Holidays on Ice” contains six short pieces by playwright David Sedaris, a regular commentator on National Public Radio. “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is performed by Jonathan Winters, who said it was a treat for him to play all the different characters and use the voices he imagined would fit each one. “Born Standing Up” is a memoir of his life as a stand-up comedian by Steve Martin, who reads the book on this CD.

Writing tips

“Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer” by Roy Peter Clark offers tips for anyone who is crafting a newspaper story or an admissions essay for college, writing a technical report or penning a first novel. It is aimed at students and teachers, poets and critics, columnists and bloggers.

Books for teens

“Can’t Get There from Here” by Todd Strasser tells of abused, abandoned and forgotten homeless teens struggling against cold, hunger and danger on the streets. “Tyrone’s Betrayal” and “Rina’s Family Secret” by Gloria Valasquez are books in the author’s Roosevelt High School series, which features a group of students who must individually face troubling personal and social worries such as violence, racial prejudice and emerging sexuality. These books are aimed at seventh graders and older.

Books for juveniles

New books aimed at youngsters in the third through seventh grades include “The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki” from the Days of Change series by Valerie Bodden, and “My Father, the Angel of Death,” a novel by Ray Villareal about the pros and cons of having a famous wrestler for a father.

Adult fiction

“The Venetian Betrayal” by Steve Berry is the story of the search for Alexander the Great’s final resting place, involving a former U.S. Justice Department agent and a consortium of former Soviet republics. “Then We Came to the End” by Joshua Ferris is a novel about working in an advertising agency as clients leave and layoffs take place. “The Lady from Buenos Aires,” a Willie Cuesta mystery by John Lantigua, is a missing person saga set in Miami and Argentina. “Stars” contains two suspense novels – “Hidden Star” and “Captive Star” – by Nora Roberts.

Personal growth

We now have the 20 th anniversary edition of “Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives” by Dan Millman, and its sequel “Sacred Journey of the Peaceful Warrior.” Millman is a former world champion gymnast, university coach and college professor. His speeches and seminars as well as bestselling books in 29 languages have inspired millions of followers worldwide.

Thanks to our donors

Many thanks to Jim and Barbara Corboy for their generous donation. For books and materials this week we thank Caroleen Arbuthnot, Ken Bajema, Barbara Carlos, Lauren Cohn, Julie Creech, Nancy Green, Lori Moseley, Celeste Nolen, Anna O’Reilly, and Jim and Margaret Wilson.

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