Lacy knits : 20 delicate projects in soft, luxurious mohair-silk yarns by Alison Crowther-Smith ; photographs by John Heseltine — Knitting lace can seem intimidating, but it really doesn't have to be difficult. There are many lace stitches that are almost as simple as knitting a basic rib pattern. Lace knits feel so indulgent and can be a great way to spoil yourself or someone you care for. This book includes patterns for scarves, wraps, shrugs, and even pillows and corsages.

Backyard birding : using natural gardening to attract birds by Julie Zickefoose ; and the editors of Bird watcher's digest — Watching birds in your yard can be a great way to relax and learn more about native creatures. Having birds in your garden can also benefit you in other ways: many feed on insects, which can help your garden flourish and make your yard a more pleasant place for people, too. Many of the plants that attract birds also attract butterflies - a double bonus!

Selected and reviewed by Library Journal contributors, here is their list of the best health books of the year:

The mommy docs' ultimate guide to pregnancy and birth by Yvonne Bohn [et al.]

The diabetes manifesto: take charge of your life by Lynn Crowe, Julie Stachowiak

The buena salud guide for a healthy heart by Jane L. Delgado; foreword by John C. Lewin

Then Again by Diane Keaton

1861: the Civil War Awakening by Adam Goodheart

Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President by Ron Suskind

Fortunate Sons: the 120 Chinese Boys who came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization by Liel Lei

Mexican artist Diego Rivera was born 125 years ago on December 8, 1886. Married to fellow artist Frida Kahlo, he was renowned for his murals which can be found in Mexico City, San Francisco, New York City, and Detroit. Between the years 1932 and 1933, Rivera painted a famous series of fresco panels entitled Detroit Industry on the walls of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Depicting industry at the Ford Motor Company, Rivera himself considered it his most successful work.

Contemporary color in the landscape : top designers, inspiring ideas, new combinations by Andrew Wilson — In addition to the directions and tips on using color, selecting a palette, creating intensity, harnessing contrast to create drama, color combinations, and information on other technical ways of using color in your garden, the photographs in this book would stand on their own. They're gorgeous, and terrific inspiration for gardeners or anyone who appreciates natural beauty.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the surprise attack on Hawaii's Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The early morning attack on December 7, 1941 on the U.S. fleet stationed in the harbor, and at Hickam Field where 51 airplanes were on the ground, was the catalyst for the United States' entry into World War II. Nine ships were sunk and twenty-one were severely damaged and nearly half of the airplanes were destroyed or severely damaged. The death toll numbered 2,403: 1,177 from the battleship Arizona alone. It is estimated that there are about 8.000 survivors from the attack who are still alive.

If you have read Kevin Boyle's Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age, the 2011-2012 Great Michigan Read try David Halberstram or Branch Taylor or one of the many documentaries about Civil Rights in America produced over the years.

Faith in the city: preaching radical social change in Detroit by Angela D. Dillard; with a foreword by Charles G. Adams

Race and remembrance: a memoir by Arthur L. Johnson

Closely knit : handmade gifts for the ones you love by Hannah Fettig — Are you looking for ideas for quick-to-make holiday gifts? There are a number of them in this book, as well as projects for speedier knitters or those whose gift-giving occasion is further in the future. Hats, scarves, bags, sweaters, and a few special unique items are included here.

Korean books for 2011 are on the shelves. Check out these new titles, including:

Kim Che-dong i mannarŏ kamnida: sal mat nanŭn sesang ŭl kkum kkumyŏ by [chiŭni Kim Che-dong]

Kkot kat'ŭn sijŏl: Kong Sŏn-ok changp'yŏn sosŏl by Kong, Sŏn-ok, 1963-

Nat igŭn sesang: Hwang Sŏg-yŏng changp'yŏn sosŏl by Hwang, Sŏg-yŏng, 1943-

Natsŏn ttang e hollida: munindŭl i saranghan ch'oego ŭi munhak kihaeng by Kim Yŏn-su ... [et al.]

The complete guide to saving seeds : 322 vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, trees, and shrubs by Robert Gough and Cheryl Moore-Gough — Purchasing plants every year can be expensive! Even buying seeds can add up after awhile, so why not save your own seeds? This book includes all the information you'll need to save seeds from herbs, vegetables, fruits, trees, and even shrubs. It also shows how to go a step further and customize your plants through cross-pollination.

Check out some of the library's new author biographies which have been published recently. Place your holds now!

And so it goes: Kurt Vonnegut, a life by Charles Shields

Charles Dickens: a life by Claire Tomalin

Fiction ruined my family by Jeanne Darst

Mark Twain, one of America's best-known and well-loved authors, was born on November 30, 1835. His works have been translated into hundreds of languages, and Hollywood continues to produce film adaptations of his books. The first volume of his autobiography was published in 2010 on the centenary of the author's death as he did not want some of his more scalding opinions and observations in print until he had been dead at least a century. The book was published by the staff of the Mark Twain Project — an archive that contains Twain's private papers.

The upcoming weeks will see several new films released that are based on, or inspired by popular books. Here are some of the most anticipated:

The adventures of Tintin: the chapter book by adapted by Stephanie Peters — Directed by Stephen Spielberg

Extremely loud & incredibly close by Jonathan Safran Foer — Starring Tom Hanks & Sandra Bullock

Do you love to draw? Are you learning how to play an instrument? Looking for your favorite sports team or sporting activity? How about that special craft for that special someone? Well, look no further, this is all in the J700 to 799 collection! We have a wonderful selection of art, music, sports, crafts, games, and so much more. Be sure to check out our books and DVDs. Have fun!

Are you keeping up with the Detroit Lions? They are having a really great year (finally). Their next game is Sunday, December 4th, against the New Orleans Saints. Since it's an away game, and unless you are among the very lucky folks attending, be sure to read up on your favorite team on their website or in our nonfiction collection. Go Lions!

Below are some new arrivals to the Parenting collection in the Children's Department. Stop by the Children's New Book Shelf to see what's available!

Smart parenting, smarter kids: the one brain book you need to help your child grow brighter, healthier, and happier by David Walsh

Building resilience in children and teens: giving kids roots and wings by Kenneth R. Ginsburg with Martha M. Jablow

Envisioning the garden : line, scale, distance, form, color, and meaning by Robert Mallet ; translated by Bryan Woy ; drawings by Yves Poinsot — Now that it's getting toward winter, it's a perfect time to work on garden plans for next year. It's hard to overstate the impact that careful planning can have on a garden space, but how many of us actually take time to do take all of these concepts into consideration before we start choosing varieties and planting? (Maybe it's just me who gets inspired and forgets to plan?) Either way, this book has a wealth of information that can help you create exactly the kind of garden space you desire.

The fleece & fiber sourcebook : more than 200 fibers from animal to spun yarn by Deborah Robson & Carol Ekarius — Have you ever wondered about the differences between various kinds of yarn? How is Merino defined, and what are the different types? What are all the animals from which fiber can be collected? What exactly is Cheviot? This book explains all that and much more. Large photographs make the illustrations quite clear and the background information for each type of animal and fiber is detailed and of interest to all fiber enthusiasts.

Videos and images from the November 15 award ceremony are now available on the National Book Foundation website. John Lithgow, actor, writer, and musician was NBA Dinner and Ceremony host.

Salvage the bones: a novel by Jesmyn Ward

The swerve: how the world became modern by Stephen Greenblatt

Inside out & back again by Thanhha Lai