Staff Favorites

Passing Gas

Yes, there is a place called “Gas” in Kansas, and if you take a trip with author and photographer Gary Gladstone, you will find out how this town and other curious places along America’s backroads got their names.
SSPassing Gas and Other Towns along the American Highway contains humorous impressions of the towns that Gladstone visits, as well as photographs of their proud inhabitants. This book made me chuckle as I met characters like Ozzie from Toad Suck, AK, who claims his town got its name from the old ferry boat captains who would “suck down moonshine whiskey ‘till they swole up like toads.”
SSTurning the pages, you’ll meet other equally quirky folk from towns such as Sweetlips, Boogertown, Looneyville, Tightwad, Goofy Ridge, Intercourse, Ding Dong, Hell, Suckerville, Fleatown, Stinking Point, Defeated, Greasy Corner, Knockemstiff, and Monkey’s Eyebrow.
SSSome day I will take that road trip…
—Evelyn

American Pie

I coveted this book even before I began working for Ten Speed. I heard Peter Reinhardt talking about American Pie on NPR at about the time I began experimenting with my own home made pizza. I decided this was a ‘must have’ and was not disappointed.
SSChef Reinhardt takes the enviable book research strategy of traveling to the world’s pizza making capitols to find the ‘perfect’ pizza. From California, Philadelphia, Chicago and New York to the ancient pizzerias of Italy, Reinhardt discovers that the modern protean pizza can be as simple as the classic pizza Margherita or as exotic as a raw ‘sushi’ pizza.
SS But the story is just the appetizer. Reinhardt, with his bread baking expertise, gives detailed recipes for creating the perfect crust for a thin Neo-Neapolitan to a Chicago deep dish pizza. The variety of toppings goes far beyond the local pizza parlor: fried egg, candied figs, pecans, black truffle paste, eggplant, and blue cheese with walnuts. Remarkably they all work.
SS My own tattered, oil stained, and slightly singed copy of this book is good evidence not just for its overall kitchen utility (it will hold a 7” personal pizza) but its readability – something all cookbooks should aspire to. If there’s a better single subject book on pizza out there, I haven’t seen it.
—Michael

The Enchanted Broccoli Forest

My favorite Ten Speed Press book is The Enchanted Broccoli Forest, because I had the privilege of being witness to, and “mid-wife” for, its creation. I met Mollie Katzen in 1982, as she was beginning to work on her second vegetarian cookbook, and we had the good fortune to share a workspace. Each day, Mollie would show me a new whimsical ink drawing she had completed for one of the recipes, or the finely intricate full-page borders, and we’d discuss a new dish she was perfecting. Could I select my favorite drawing? Maybe the giant pineapple posing for its portrait on page 162, or the soufflé tipping the scales of Justice on page 164. My favorite recipe has to be “Hal’s Special Sauce” on page 236!
—Hal

First Book of Sushi

One of my favorites is Amy Wilson Sanger's First Book of Sushi—primarily for its versatility. I've gifted this book to toddlers, expecting parents, and single girlfriends (with a bottle of sake and a set of cool chopsticks, natch!). The rhyming text acts as a sushi primer ("I see take-out tekka maki, kappa maki packed to go..."), while Wilson Sanger's cut-paper creations depict the ultimate sushi experience. Guaranteed to satisfy!
—Laura

Stumbling Toward Enlightenment

Stumbling Toward Enlightenment is a book of humorous, meditative, and very honest essays that describe how a career-obsessed ball of stress named Geri Larkin found Buddhism and how it completely changed her life. I love that Geri acknowledges how hard it is to travel along the spiritual path—she snuck chocolate bars into her first meditation retreats, and admits to the queasy allure of tabloid magazines. Geri embraces her stumbling, making
those halting baby steps toward enlightenment feel natural and necessary, and offers her own life story and earthy wisdom as a guide. She is a wise, compassionate writer and Buddhist teacher, and this is a wonderfully comforting and inspiring book for people trying to live a contemplative, spiritual life.
—Sara G.

The Just-Right Perfect Present

Children’s books often present the storyline in a poetic form. It is rare, however, to include the full text of well-known poems as part of the narrative. Frances Kennedy’s The Just-Right, Perfect Present does just that! With the expansive illustrations by Sheila Aldridge, this tale sets up a competitive, extended family situation and records the disappointment when the initial plan to recite “The Owl and The Pussycat” fails. The book then exhibits the sibling’s team work as they find another poem and pitch in with the household chores to afford their sister the time to memorize William Cullen Bryant’s “The Planting of the Apple Tree.” The Just-Right, Perfect Present is my favorite Tricycle title because it demonstrates for young readers the value of poetry beyond the confines of a classroom.
—Randy

Hairy Maclary series

I am all about Tricycle's Hairy Maclary and Slinki Malinki series. If you want to get toddlers pumped about reading, this is the series to do it, and they're fun for adults too. Everyone I've ever talked to who's read them raves about them. Start with Slinky Malinki if you like cats and Hairy
Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy if dogs are more to your liking.
—Hayley

Adventures of Cow, Too

I have a special fondness for the Tricycle Press title "Adventures of Cow, Too" because of the many hours of joy and laughter I have seen it bring to children. Children love it because they know something that Cow doesn't, and they enjoy helping Cow get things right. In this installment of the series, Cow goes grocery shopping for his family. Right from the beginning of the book, Cow's adventure—or misadventure—begins with him getting on a school bus and thinking it's a train. Children are able to say "that's not a train, it's a bus!" and right from the start they feel very involved in the book.
—John D.

For the perfect gift for children, teens, and adults with a quirky sense of humor, check out Adventures of Cow and/or Adventures of Cow, Too. Two of my faves!!
-Hayley

Fashion

Trust me when I say that this book is fabulous! I think this book is ideal for the Vogue parents-to-be. It’s also a perfect fit for fashion lovers everywhere. Although at first, a fashionista-in-training might not understand Salmansohn’s visions of a “Choo shoe train” or of a “clothes horse,” they will surely delight in Stauffer’s illustrations of a train constructed from elegant high heels and a rocking horse draped in the finest accoutrements. This board book is for people of every age and gender to enjoy! I highly recommend Fashion for its wordy sense of style and truly top-notch drawings. This is a book even the most hardened Prada-wearing devil would love!
—Sara D.

You Say I'm a Bitch Like
It's a Bad Thing

The first in the series of “Bitch” books by Ed Polish and Darren Wotz. I love the humorous retro style and format of this book with its polite stinging wit that gives me a hearty laugh when I need one. This book is a joy to have on my desk—I just flip the page to display a mood for the day.
—Troy

Super Natural Cooking

Super Natural Cooking is a cookbook I keep going back to. Heidi Swanson’s fresh take on vegetarian cooking has introduced me to many new ingredients and shown me how to cook some healthy foods I never knew what to do with. The recipes are simple enough for someone (like me) who’s not a pro in the kitchen, and Heidi offers plenty of variations so you can tailor the food to what you find that day at the market. I recommend the Sprouted Garbanzo Burgers and the Quinoa and Crescenza with Sauteed Mushrooms.
—Katy

Busy Pandas

Busy Pandas, the 9th board book in our Tricycle Busy Book Series, is just too cute! It’s filled with beautiful photos of pandas, both big and small, and descriptions that introduce toddlers to action verbs. Each time I read through the pages, I catch myself smiling and laughing out loud...which are two signs of a good book! It is a perfect gift for both children and adults...I not only bought one for a baby shower present, but I also gave one to a friend who just loves pandas!
—Jenny B.

Arthur Schwartz’s Jewish Home Cooking

Don’t wait until Chanukah to check out this book. Arthur Schwartz’s Jewish Home Cooking is rich with history, tradition and delicious recipes that anyone can enjoy, Jewish or not. I made the Potato Kugel for a dinner party recently. Not only did it disappear instantly, but I was asked to bring it to the next one as well. Now that’s a good recipe!
—Chloe

Thinkertoys

Ten Speed Press first published Thinkertoys in 1991 and subsequently fully revised and expanded it in 2006. This groundbreaking work on creativity is still going strong after 17 years—a true testament to its longstanding usefulness in both the business world and personal development. Thinkertoys unveils universal ideas in an unconventional way, which has made it an international success that has been translated into 12 different languages. This is a great book for anyone who wants to creatively change the way that they look at the world.
—Erika

The Philosophers Club

The Philosophers’ Club by Christopher Phillips and Kim Doner answers all the questions that our children need to know. It illustrates how kids can learn about emotions, ethics, morals, violence, and philosophy based on their daily lives. It’s really exciting to see how smart children can be despite the fact that we may underestimate their intelligence. The Philosopher’s Club provides clues to questions such as “who am I, why am I on this planet, and what kind of planet do I live on?” Whenever children wonder, they ask questions and want answers that they can share with their friends. This is exactly what this book by Tricycle Press does. I recommend that all parents who want their children to think and read philosophically get this book because kids these days—like my kids and yours—are not that different from Socrates and Aristotle of ancient Greece…all they need is a boost.
—Ernest

La Bonne Cuisine de
Madame E. Saint-Ange

It is difficult to pick a favorite Ten Speed Press book, I have so many. If pressed, I would say that La Bonne Cuisine de Madame E. Saint-Ange is a treat of a book and not to be missed. Here you will find breadth—instructions for how to cook everything from the weeds in your garden to the songbird on the branch outside your window (in addition to whatever ordinary items you might bring home from the market). This comprehensive tome was the work of a French housewife in the 1920s and was a formative influence for a generation of American chefs. The voice of Mme. Saint-Ange speaks from the page with great clarity and conviction. In regard to poaching eggs, for example, she declares that, “the eggs that you are going to poach should be chosen fresh. . . . When the egg is not as fresh as it should be, the white becomes tough and shriveled, resembling an old towel.” Following each colorful opinion you will find a wealth of concise recipes and instruction for successful cooking. This is a great reference book and a fun kitchen companion.
—Nancy

My Secret Bully

I read My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig and I thought it was a great book to read to kids that might be dealing with a bully. This book gives kids the courage to face their issues with bullies or even so-called “friends” who make them feel low and not wanted by others. If you have school-aged children, read this book to them so that they can understand how to deal with this problem, which happens in schools all around the world. My Secret Bully also explains to parents how to react; when your child comes to you with this problem, open up your mind and just listen. Let your child know that it’s okay to stand up for yourself, without feeling like a bully yourself in the end.
—Tasha

Into The Vietnamese Kitchen

Living in New Orleans, with its strong Vietnamese presence/culture/ communities, has always provided easy access to pho, bahn mi, and the freshest spring rolls in the many Vietnamese restaurants around town. Andrea's book has allowed me to actually take advantage of the markets and the availability of the unique ingredients in the city to make Vietnamese Cuisine a part of our family repertoire. These days you can usually find our kitchen well equipped with Vietnamese fish sauce, homemade caramel sauce, homemade siracha (from Andrea's blog), lemongrass and freshly baked bahn mi bread.
—Kristin