Betty M. Adelson is the author of The Lives of Dwarfs: Their Journey from Public Curiosity toward Social Liberation

In the preface to the book she writes:

“Ever since my daughter Anna was born thirty years ago with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism, I have recognized the need for a book about the lives of dwarfs. At that time I eagerly searched the literature and found only some specialized medical articles that were not very helpful, and sometimes alarming. Subsequently, I came upon books with titles like Freaks, Human Oddities, or Victorian Grotesque: their inadequacies and biases strengthened my resolve to offer a truer narrative to dwarfs and their families and to a society that had all too often been unwelcoming and uncomprehending. The work would be a social history that described the presence of dwarfs in other eras, in mythology and the arts, but one that would also cast light on the lives of dwarfs today and be informed by my own and others’ personal experiences.

Tasha Tudor, one of the most famous and acclaimed children’s author/illustrators in the world will be 90 years old on August 28, 2005. Some favorite books of hers are Corgiville Fair, Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book, A is for Annabelle and Becky’s Christmas. Stay well Tasha Tudor and Happy Birthday!!

Books for girls ages 8 - 12 are always in demand. Consider the popularity of such titles as Because of Winn Dixie, Ida B, Spitting Image, and Walk Two Moons. All of these books have strong girl protaganists who learn about life and how to make their place in it.

The first youth title by author Karry Madden, Gentle's Holler, can be added to this list. 12-year-old Livy longs to see the world outside the small mountain house she shares with her parents and eight siblings. Being a part of such a large family is an issue. Her father's pipe dream of writing a hit song is another. He spends his time trying to sell his music rather than working at a paying job. Gentle, Livy's younger sister, is blind. The family has many issues but few resources to deal with them. How Livy makes her way in these circumstances is the heart of this story. It's highly recommended for fans of "girl books".

American Gothic by Grant Wood is one of the most recognizable emblems in our cultural landscape, much like the flag, the American eagle and the Statue of Liberty.
In Steven Biel’s American Gothic: a life of America's most famous painting the author followed Route 16 out of Eldon, Iowa to trace the making of this American icon.

Full of details, delightful trivia (Wood recruited his reluctant sister and a local dentist to pose; the pitchfork was originally a rake; and the cameo belonged to Wood's mother) and thoughtful discussions on the impact of the painting on our national and regional consciousness, this book is highly recommended.

Curious about other works by Wood? Check out the Cedar Rapids Musuem's Grant Wood Studio.

American Gothic is part of the permanent collection at The Art Institute of Chicago.

It’s mid-August and baseball fans are gearing up for this year’s major league pennant drives. A recent book by H.G. (Buzz) Bissinger, 3 Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager, is an enthralling read for armchair managers. Given unrestricted access to the St.Louis Cardinals’ manager Tony La Russa, Bissinger follows the intricacies of managerial preparation, strategy and decision-making during a crucial series with the Chicago Cubs during last season’s National League pennant race. Bissinger is a Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the high school football classic Friday Night Lights which has also been made into a movie.

Filming for the epic fantasy adventure, Eragon, based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Christopher Paolini, is scheduled to begin in August in Budapest, Hungary.

The movie is set for release on June 16, 2006. A world-wide casting search for the title role ended with the selection of newcomer Ed Speleers. Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Djimon Hounsou are said to be in negotiations for key roles. Sienna Guillory will star as Arya.

Traveling this summer? Have a look at the Kidding Around series which includes Boston Kidding Around Boston: what to do, where to go, and how to have fun in Boston, Chicago Kidding Around Chicago, and San Francisco Kidding Around San Francisco. This series for ages six through twelve includes historic sites and landmarks, parks, museums, entertainment, sports, a calendar of events, and lots of games and activities. Another fun book about San Francisco is City by the Bay; A Magical Journey Around San Francisco, The City by the Bay: A Magical Journey Around San Francisco by Tricia Brown. San Francisco landmarks are featured in wonderful collage illustrations. This tour guide introduces readers to the history and special features of each landmark. For ages 5 and up.

Road to Detroit, a national group that aims to revitalize the US auto industry with a more socially and environmentally responsible vision, is hosting a Drive the Future Weekend on August 20-22. In addition to attending one of the events in Detroit, AADL has a few books to jump start your education in how to make your own motor fuel, including how to use vegetable oils as fuel and alcohol as fuel. Or check out Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy (left), by Greg Pahl (2005).

On the Diane Rehm show, Friday July 29, 2005, Guest host: Susan Page of USA Today interviews Timothy Naftali: "Blind Spot" a national security historian relates the story of America's decades-long attempt to fight terrorism.
Mr. Timothy Naftali, is an associate professor of history at the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs and contractor during 2003-3004 for the 9/11 commission.

You heard it here first. Beat the early buzz on Brian Strause’s charming, poignant Maybe a Miracle, due for release in October. Strause writes with the sure hand and smooth self-assurance of a seasoned novelist in this, his first fiction title.

Monroe Anderson just wants to get high before he heads to the prom but his visit to the family’s pool house to smoke some dope is aborted when he spots his beloved 11 year old sister, Annika, face down in the pool.

He revives her but she remains in a coma and despite her brother’s desire to protect her privacy, she becomes a media phenomenon with her healing powers and inexplicable stigmata.