New Acquisitions in the Library

The following represents a small sampling of the books and DVDs that have recently been added to the Lyman Library's collections. Visit us in the library to check out all of our new acquisitions.

If there's a book you would like to see on our new acquisitions listing, feel free to contact us: 617-589-0170, lymanlibrary@mos.org.
Last updated: Spring 2008

Choose a category:
Adult
Teen
Juvenile
DVDs

Adult Books

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
By Les Beletsky and Jon L. Dunn (368 pages; Chronicle Books, 2006)
Drawing from the collection of the world-renowned Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Songs presents the most notable North American birds, including the rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker, in a stunning new format. Renowned bird biologist Les Beletsky provides a succinct description of each of the 250 birds featured, with an emphasis on their distinctive songs. Lavish, full-color illustrations accompany each account, while a built-in digital audio player holds 250 corresponding songs and calls. In his foreword, North American bird expert and distinguished natural historian Jon L. Dunn shares insights gained from a lifetime of passionate study. Complete with the most up-to-date and scientifically accurate information, Bird Songs is the first book to capture the enchantment of these beautiful birds in words, pictures, and song.

Everything is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder
By David Weinberger (277 pages; Times books, 2007)
Philosopher Weinberger shows how the digital revolution is radically changing the way we make sense of our lives. Human beings constantly collect, label, and organize data -- but today, the shift from the physical to the digital is mixing, burning, and ripping our lives apart. In the past, everything had its one place - -the physical world demanded it -- but now everything has its places: multiple categories, multiple shelves. Everything is suddenly miscellaneous. Weinberger charts the new principles of digital order that are remaking business, education, politics, science, and culture. He examines how Rand McNally decides what information not to include in a physical map (and why Google Earth is winning that battle), how Staples stores emulate online shopping to increase sales, why your children's teachers will stop having them memorize facts, and how the shift to digital music stands as the model for the future.

Sky in a Bottle
By Peter Pesic (262 pages; MIT Press, 2005)
Children ask, "why is the sky blue?" but the question also puzzled Plato, Leonardo, and even Newton, who unlocked so many other secrets. The search for an answer continued for centuries; in 1862 Sir John Herschel listed the color and polarization of sky light as "the two great standing enigmas of meteorology." In Sky in a Bottle, Peter Pesic takes us on a quest to the heart of this mystery, tracing the various attempts of science, history, and art to solve it. He begins with the scholars of the ancient world and continues through the natural philosophers of the Enlightenment, the empiricists of the scientific revolution, and beyond. The cast of characters includes Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Kepler, Descartes, Euler, Saussure, Goethe, Rayleigh, and Einstein; but the protagonist is the question itself, and the story tells how we have tried to answer it.

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
By Charles Seife (248 pages; Penguin, 2000)
The Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshiped it, and the Church used it to fend off heretics. For centuries, the power of zero savored of the demonic; once harnessed, it became the most important tool in mathematics. Zero follows this number from its birth as an Eastern philosophical concept to its struggle for acceptance in Europe and its apotheosis as the mystery of the black hole. Today, zero lies at the heart of one of the biggest scientific controversies of all time, the quest for the theory of everything. Elegant, witty, and enlightening, Zero is a compelling look at the strangest number in the universe — and one of the greatest paradoxes of human thought.

Teen Books

D is for Dinosaur: A Prehistoric Alphabet
By Todd Chapman (48 pages; Sleeping Bear Press, 2008)
This book combines poetry, prose, and detailed illustrations to create an interesting and informative dinosaur alphabet. Each letter of the alphabet is accompanied by a simple four-line poem musing about some aspect of dinosaurs. The poem is further elaborated by sidebars of prose detailing interesting facts about aspects of dinosaur life such as adaptation, nest-building, and 12-year-old fossil hunters.

Experience: Flight
By Richard Platt (68 pages; Dorling Kindersley, 2006)
A completely unique approach to illustrated reference, DK Publishing's new "Experience" series uses panoramic storyboard sequences to help readers dive into the printed page and learn in a whole new way as the action unfolds.

A Kid's Guide to Creating Web Pages for Home and School
By Benjamin Selfridge (110 pages; Zephyr Press, 2004)
Most students are familiar with the World Wide Web, but few are familiar with the primary underlying technology that makes it possible: HTML. A Kid’s Guide to Creating Web Pages for Home and School is designed for those who have grown up with computers but who have never had the chance to create their own websites. Written by a kid for kids, this book leads students step-by-step through the basic functionalities of HTML, all with an inquisitive, friendly tone that encourages experimentation. Each section focuses on a specific project and includes sample computer screens to demonstrate the basic site being developed. Once practiced and learned, the individual projects and lessons are integrated into a single website that can be "published" on the Web. Also included are more advanced techniques for webpage design, including sound, animation, and the uses of Javascript, Java, and Flash, as well as off- and online resources for readers to investigate.

Lobsters, Crabs & Other Crustaceans
By Daniel Gilpin (48 pages; David West Children’s Books, 2006)
 This book introduces the reader to one of the most fascinating group of animals, from the lobsters and crabs of the ocean to the household woodlouse.  It examines the strangest of creatures, like the huge Japanese spider crab, the ancient horseshoe crab, and the tiny water flea.  The "Animal Kingdom Classification" series looks in detail at the diverse and fascinating creatures that make up our planet’s awe-inspiring animal kingdom.  A few of the other titles available at the Lyman Library are: Dwarf Geckos, Rattlesnakes & Other Reptiles, Peacocks, Penguins & Other Birds, and Bats, Blue Whales & Other Mammals.

Juvenile Books

Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC
By Debora Pearson (32 pages; Holiday House, 2003)
This book describes a vehicle or street sign, from ambulance to zamboni, for every letter of the alphabet.

From Sea to Salt
By Robin Nelson (24 pages; Lerner Publications, 2004)
Part of the "Start to Finish" series, From Sea to Salt briefly introduces the process by which table salt is made from sea salt.

Little Beaver and the Echo
By Amy MacDonald (26 pages; Putnam, 1990)
Unaware that the voice from across the pond telling him he's lonely is his echo, a little beaver sets out to make friends with that voice, encountering real animal friends on the way.

Shape Me a Rhyme: Nature's Forms in Poetry
By Jane Yolen (32 pages; Wordsong, 2007)
Shapes are everywhere in nature, and acclaimed writer Jane Yolen and photographer Jason Stemple uncover the beauty and variety of natural forms in 12 wonderful poems and photographs.

DVDs

Engineering an Empire, Vol. 1 - 4
(141 min. each; The History Channel)
Volume 1: Engineering an Empire initiates its architectural investigations with mighty Greece, the empire that gave rise to Western civilization and produced some of antiquity's greatest treasures.  Next, discover how Alexander saved the Greek empire from its period of civil unrest, then voyage to Central America to unlock the mysterious and magical world of the ancient Aztecs. 
Volume 2: Engineering an Empire continues its quest to unearth the framework of the ancient world.  Witness the sophistication and defense techniques of the Carthaginian engineers, learn about the unparalleled feats of ancient China, and trace the brutal rise and fall of the Russian empire.
Volume 3: The incredible displays of technological prowess continue.  Watch the rise of the mighty British empire as it paves the way for the modern world, and explore the incredible engineering feats of the Persian empire.  Learn about Mayan ingenuity from 250 to 900 AD, and search for clues regarding the civilization's strange disappearance.
Volume 4: The series culminates as it follows the rise of one of the greatest military strategists in history, examines one who spurred on some of the world's most iconic masterpieces, and uncovers the brilliant gem of the Dark Ages: the Byzantine Empire.  Finally, watch Italy magnificently reawaken and build on a scale not witnessed since the ascent of Rome.  

Eyewitness DVD series
(35 min. each; Dorling Kindersley)
This Emmy-award-winning series provides a high-tech, up-close world view that you won’t find anywhere else.  Narrated by Martin Sheen and others, the stunning photography and video footage gives the viewer the sensation of being part of the action.  Fast-moving and stimulating, each DVD is packed with information, anecdotes, and humor to create an entertaining and educational experience. The 15 titles in this series are: Bird, Butterfly & Moth, Fish, Insect, Mammal, Ocean, Planets, Plant, Pond & River, Reptile, Rocks & Minerals, Shark, Skeleton, Volcano, and Weather.