November 1999 RETURN TO HOME PAGE FEEDBACK

This month's new books list, provided by librarians Roberta Greifer and Carol Small, features a guide for parents on how to raise boys, a collection of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut, and a cookbook that helps ward off osteoporosis. To check out a book's availability, call 695-5095, or drop by the Noe Valley ­ Sally Brunn Library at 451 Jersey St. Besides books, the branch offers magazines, CDs, access to the Internet, and an index to the Noe Valley Voice. Hours are Tuesdays, 10 to 9; Wednesdays, 1 to 9; Thursdays, 10 to 6; Fridays, 1 to 6; and Saturdays, noon to 6.

Adult Fiction

- Bagombo Snuff Box presents choice early short stories by Kurt Vonnegut published previously only in the leading magazines of the '50s and '60s.

- Family Honor, by Robert B. Parker, features a new female private investigator named Sunny Randall, who fights to protect a vulnerable teenage girl from underworld and Mob influences.

- Based on a true story, The Innocents Within, by Robert Daley, describes the underground movements to save the Jews in a town called Le Lignon, in Nazi-occupied France.

- In A Star Called Henry, Irish author Roddy Doyle portrays, in historical context, the life of a young Dubliner who becomes an IRA terrorist.

- Edgar Award ­ winning author Stuart Kaminsky begins a brand new mystery series with his novel Vengeance, portraying private eye Lew Fonesca in Sarasota, Florida.

Adult Nonfiction

- Food and Our Bones, by Annamarie Colbin, offers more than 60 recipes for mineral-rich meals that prevent osteoporosis naturally.

- Best-selling author, therapist, and educator Michael Gurain provides a comprehensive parenting plan for raising ethical sons in his book The Good Son.

- In It's a Jungle Out There, Jane, radio and television psychologist Dr. Joy Browne explains why men (and women) behave the way they do, and offers self-help advice on how we can all get along.

- In The Old Neighborhood, former NPR talk show host Ray Suarez explores the changing realities of urban and suburban life.

Annotations by Roberta Greifer

Children's Fiction

- In Three Cheers for Catherine the Great, by Carl Best (illustrated by Giselle Potter), Sara sees that her "no present" is a wonderful way to express her love for her Russian grandmother. Ages 5 to 8.

- Mary Lou, Tommy, Leo, and Lynn find out that their neighbor is not the person they expect him to be in The Worst Kid Who Ever Lived on Eighth Avenue, by Laurie Lawlor. Ages 6 to 8.

- Readers will see many familiar and a few unfamiliar elements in Golden Sandal: A Middle Eastern Cinderella Story, retold by Rebecca Hickox. Ages 6 to 8.

- A clever group of students figure out why their report cards say things like "Days Absent: 5,000" and "Days Tardy: 8,000" in Angela's Top-Secret Computer Club, by Holly Keller. Ages 6 to 9.

- When Tom's grandfather unexpectedly escapes to the "Outside," Tom follows him and discovers a world very different from the one he knows in Off the Road, by Nina Bawden. Ages 10 and up.

Children's Nonfiction

- The students in Ms. Frizzle's class have gone on another unusual field trip! Come along for the ride in Magic School Bus Explores the Senses, by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen. Ages 5 and up.

- "How can I make this giant look really big?" and "Should I draw with a pencil? Pen? Brush?" are some of the many questions considered in What Do Illustrators Do? by Eileen Christelow. Ages 8 and up.

- Steve Jenkins discusses the challenges, attraction, excitement, and dangers of mountain climbing in The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest. Ages 8 to 11.

Annotations by Carol Small

Infant and Toddler Lapsits

- You and your little ones can sing nursery rhymes and lullabies at the lapsits on Wednesdays, Nov. 3, 10, and 17, at 7 p.m.

Films for Kids

- The library shows films for children ages 3 to 5 on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 10 and 11 a.m.

Preschool Story Time

- Kids 3 to 5 are invited to the library's preschool story time, starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Nov. 2, 9, and 30.

For other library events, call 557-4400 or visit the San Francisco Public Library's web site at http://sfpl.lib.ca.us.