Algonquin Area Public Library notes

Algonquin Area Public Library To register or for information, call the library at (847) 658-6060 or visit www.aapld.org.

For adults

New books for animal lovers: Animal lovers will find some treats in the New Book Section of the Algonquin Area Public Library.

• Do you speak cat with a definite human accent? Trevor Werner's "Cat Body Language Phrasebook" is your key to interpreting the messages shared by cats and a source of delightful photos of cats in action.

• While the subject is not usually classified as entertaining, Jerry Langton's "Rat: How The World's Most Notorious Rodent Clawed Its Way to the Top" is just that. Learn how pet rats came into vogue during Victorian times, myths associated with rats, and the habits and natural history of rats through this informative book.

Animal actors are audience favorites, but how are they trained to perform? Ralph Helfer, who helped wild animals work safely around human actors, explains to readers the difference between his methods and older training methods in "Beauty of the Beasts."

Any living being on this planet could face extinction; Alan Weisman offers us a chance to consider what would happen if we were the next species to depart in his "World Without Us." Well-written and exceedingly imaginative, it might offer readers an opportunity to change our actions and our possible future.

New books for the holidays: Stir up a grand holiday feast or everyday meal with delightful cookbooks in the New Book Section of the Algonquin Area Public Library.

• If you think you know all about fixing a turkey dinner or if you think you don't know the first thing about "How To Cook A Turkey And All The Other Trimmings," by the editors of Fine Cooking Magazine, you will find a sumptuous mix of dishes to tempt the taste buds during any celebration.

• If only pictures could be tasted. Anissa Helou has collected recipes for "Savory Baking from the Mediterranean" from bakers in Morocco, Tunisia, Crete and more. Seasoned with the delights of travel and spice, these clearly-written recipes will introduce readers to the breads, pastries, people and cultures of many countries.

• Travel farther east and enjoy the wonders of "Bombay Kitchen," by Niloufer Ichaporia King. She shares her blend of Parsi, Indian and European cuisines in delightful recipes with enormous enthusiasm. Naming the spices and ingredients will make your head swim with memories of delightful scents.

• Alice Sherwood's "Allergy-Free Cookbook" proves you can enjoy your favorite foods while making some thoughtful alterations to avoid eggs, dairy, gluten or nuts.