The Saskatchewan Book Awards were awarded this past Saturday night. Here are some of the award winners:

Best Non‐Fiction and the Regina Book Award

Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds by Trevor Herriot

Summary: Facing the demise of the very creatures that he has always depended on for his sense of home, Herriot sets out to discover why birds are disappearing and what, if anything, we can do to save them. He takes us out to local pastures where a few prairie songbirds sing and nest, as well as to the open rangeland where doomed populations of burrowing owls and greater sage-grouse cling to survival. In a narrative that is at once profound, intimate and informative, we meet passionate bird researchers and travel in the footsteps of 19th-century botanist John Macoun, the last naturalist to see the Great Plains in its pre-settlement grandeur.

Book of the Year:

Legacy of Stone: Saskatchewan's Stone Buildings by Margaret Hryniuk and Frank Korvemaker

Summary: In words and stunning colour pictures, this book tells the history and the current reality of over 50 fieldstone buildings in Saskatchewan. The book includes an introduction by Bernie Flaman, the provincial heritage architect, an historical overview, and profiles of several of Saskatchewan's most prominent stone masons. The balance of the book is made up of profiles of the buildings - farmhouses, homes in urban communities, places of worship, public buildings and ruins. Margaret Hryniuk, uses her years of journalism experience to present factual yet fascinating profiles of the buildings, and what is known of the people who put them there. Larry Easton's spectacular photgraphs bring these beautiful stone buildings to life, and Frank Kovermaker examines the dimensions and differences of the fieldstone that inhabits the Saskatchewan landscape.

Stylish sheds and elegant hideaways by Debra Prinzing

Product Description
Virginia Woolf was right. Women–and men, it turns out–yearn for a room of their own.

But instead of a little nook beneath the eaves, that room is now a shed. Today’s sheds, however, are not dusty shelters for plants and tools. Lace curtains have replaced cobwebs, charming antiques stand where shovels and rakes once rusted, and instead of corrugated walls, you will find cedar shingles and window boxes. Sheds are stylish and elegant and offer a hassle-free and affordable way to create more space without undergoing a major renovation. They function as artists’ studios, writers’ retreats, yoga dens, entertaining pavilions, children’s playhouses, garden rooms, or serene hideaways for any personal pursuit.

In Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, Debra Prinzing and William Wright showcase twenty-eight innovative and beautifully imagined spaces from New York City to East Hampton, from Seattle to San Diego, and from Atlanta to Austin to Santa Cruz. Some are elaborate and luxurious; others are delightfully modest. They are built in urban gardens and suburban backyards and tucked away on rural properties.

Stunning, lush color photography graces Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, bringing the reader into each space and face-to-face with all its nooks, crannies, and details; the text describes how the owners’ needs and interests inspired the shed practically and aesthetically. With sample plans for building a shed, advice on the practicalities of designing and decorating it, and thoughts from backyard philosophers who celebrate the appeal and possibilities of simple structures, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways is both an inspiration for creating your own backyard destination and an armchair journey to some of the country’s most private and serene places.

My Thoughts
Coming from a home where space is at a premium I think the ideas in this book are brilliant! Why not turn that little used potting shed into a backyard get away? Why not take a beaten up old garage and make it into a guest house? There are so many great designs in this book it's hard to pick a favorite! They range from the simple out door dining space to the elaborate greenhouse! So go ahead and have a gander, maybe you'll pick up a new idea for a summer project!

--The Library Technician

The popularity of Ken Follett's Pillars Of The Earth has led me to reflect on the building of the great Medieval cathedrals throughout Europe. They are marvels of craftsmanship, determination and faith, and are among the most significant achievements in the history of architectural engineering and human creativity.
Follett acknowledges, in the preface to this book, his fascination with cathedral architecture. If you have read Pillars Of The Earth and want to know more about these remarkable buildings, I have some suggestions for further inquiry.

The Gothic Cathedral by Otto von Simson.
A scholarly, thorough examination of the building of the gothic cathedrals within the context of theological and artistic thought of the time.

Chartres Cathedral.
This collection of documents, photographs and drawings provides an introduction to Chartres, and includes an analysis of its stained glass and scuptures.

The Gothic Cathedral by Christopher Wilson
This book covers stylistic developments throughout Europe from the early Gothic period to the middle of the 16th century.

Medieval Structure: The Gothic Vault by James H. Acland.
Canadian Ackland (University of Toronto) provides a critique of the technical aspects of connecting roof to walls in Gothic cathedrals, perhaps the greatest engineering triumph represented in these buildings.

Building The Great Cathedrals by Francois Icher.
This book tells how an architect was commissioned, how the building was financed and the stone quarried, the roles played by masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, glass artists - in short, the nitty-gritty of the building. Also included are statutes and regulations concerning the workforce. Beautifully illustrated!

Stained Glass: From Its Origins To The Present by Virginia Raguin.
Another gorgeously illustrated book which provides detailed information on the evolution of the art of stained glass. The greater prominence of windows is another of the great innovations of cathedral architects, and this title gives much space to the medieval glazier's art.

The Rose Window: Splendor & Symbol by Painton Cowen.
This title is the first systematic study of the rose window and its place in early church architecture. Its role as both an architectural feature and an art form in its own right is discussed. Stunning photographs of rose windows from throughout Europe and the UK.

Notre-Dame De Paris by Alain Erlande-Brandenburg.
A detailed look at one of the most recognizable buildings in the world! Due to the various ruban upheavals which surrounded it through the years, much of its history has been obscured. This volume sheds some light.

Great Cathedrals by Bernhard Schutz.
Of the titles mentioned above, this one is perhaps the most beautiful in its sumptuous illustrations. It looks primarily at the great churches of France, Germany, England, Italy and Spain. If you only have time for one book from this list, this would be it!

According to Sarah Susaka's Inside the Not So Big House, it's the details, not the size that matter. Susaka, the best-selling author of The Not So Big House, is joined by Marc Vassallo for this next offering. The premise of the first book, Not So Big House , is simple: rather than spend money on more square footage, Suskana recommends that we focus our resources on smaller homes that are unique and well-crafted instead.

With Inside the Not So Big House, Susaka and Vassallo take this idea a step further, focussing on the significance of special details to give our homes that unique quality. Details can range from the tiny (like a doorknob) to the large (like a breakfast nook). But Susaka reminds us that details are more than just objects in the house--they can encompass colors, textures, and the use of light. Ultimately, we need to "zoom in" and focus on the details in our home, and use them as a creative expression of ourselves. It is then that our house truly becomes a home. Enjoy the lovely photographs and excellent design ideas.

-- Patti-Lynne

Well, maybe not the biggest, but close, at 18 pounds (that's 8 kilos)- the size of a good-sized Christmas turkey!
What is this book, you ask?
It's Michelangelo 1475-1564: complete works, and it is a stunningly beautiful book that captures the entire body of Michelangelo's work - sculptures, paintings, architecture, drawings. Presented in time periods, his work - from the Sistine Chapel ceiling to David to St. Peter's Basilica - is discussed in the context of its time, and in relation to the artist's personal traits and circumstances. The book also tackles some controversial issues, such as the attribution of some drawings.
Never have Michelangelo's works been so exquisitely photographed or thoroughly examined. This book is
pure joy and inspiration to look at!
Ken

Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! by Janet and Greta Podleski

From the Jacket
Sisters Janet and Greta Podleski, authors of the blockbuster bestsellers Looneyspoons and Crazy Plates (1.3 million copies sold!), are back with their tastiest, meatiest, juiciest book ever: Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! Loaded with scrumptious, easy-to-prepare recipes, tons of useful healthy-eating tips, stunning food photography, and an endless supply of silly jokes and cartoons, Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! will tempt your taste buds while tickling your funny bone. Wanna make your mouth water and your hips happy? Try family-pleasing recipes like Lord of the Wings, Darth Tater, and Salmon Cowell!

This is one of the best cookbooks I've come across in a long time. It puts the emphasis on healthy eating without dieting as a way to lose weight!! The recipies are SUPER tasty and SUPER good for you.
Each recipe gives you a break down of how many calories, how much fat, how much sodium etc. There's also funny little comments and interesting facts on each page that add to the cooking experience!

My favourite? Red, White, and Yahoo! salad on page 38!

Check out the website as well!

--The Library Technician

50 Buildings You Should Know by Isabel Kuhl

In this book, Kuhl features the 50 most awe-inspiring buildings in the world. Listed chronologically, each building’s history is explained, details of its size, shape and style are summarized, and a timeline shows each building’s place in history. Lavish photographs of each building complete Kuhl’s work. I have to confess that, of the 50 buildings, I only knew nine :-(

Check out this title and see how architecturally savvy you are!

From the Publisher:
Attractive, useful and entertaining, this collection of great buildings is a course in architectural history for readers of all ages.

-- Patti-Lynne

We have received a couple of new titles which look at architecture from slightly different vantage points. Little house on a small planet by Shay Salomon invites us to think small and simple when it comes to the "footprint" we inhabit on the planet. Included are dozens of exmples of scaled-down homes, and the stories of the people who created them and live in them. Plans are included, along with hundreds of tips for using natural products, maximizing space and creating "home" and community.
Design like you give a damn: architectural responses to humanitarian crises focuses on sustainability and diversity. It showcases projects from around the world which have assisted populations suffering urgent need for bassic shelter, clean water, health care and education. This is a shocking and inspiring account of a major humanitarian issue and some initiatives being undertaken to address it.