Julie A. Brodie and Elin E. Lobel, Dance and Somatics: Mind-Body Principles of Teaching and Performance (McFarland & Co.). Intended primarily for dance educators, this book shows how somatics—holistic body-centered movement that promotes awareness and well-being—can be integrated into dance instruction. Brodie is on Kenyon’s dance faculty.

Andrew W. Kahrl ’01, The Land Was Ours: African American Beaches from Jim Crow to the Sunbelt South (Harvard University Press). Combining social and environmental history, Kahrl reconstructs the little-known world of black-owned coastal communities, including resorts, in the Chesapeake, along the Carolina shore, and around the Gulf of Mexico. Kahrl teaches history at Marquette University.

Adam Kline ’94 and Brian Taylor (illustrator), Escape from Hat (ZOVA Books). Everyone has a personal lucky rabbit, and Cecil Bean’s rabbit is named Leek, who lives “in a cozy hole just left of the bok choy” and regularly undoes the bad luck caused by Cecil’s personal black cat, Millikin. Unfortunately, a mysterious magic trick sends Leek falling into the perilous world of Hat. And so begins a verbally delightful—and masterfully illustrated—adventure for children of all ages.

Eric D. Lehman ’94 and Amy Nawrocki,  A History of Connecticut Food: A Proud Tradition of Puddings, Clambakes & Steamed Cheeseburgers (History Press). Tireless chronicler of all things Connecticut, Lehman along with his wife and co-author serve up a feast full of surprises. Recipes are generously sprinkled through the chapters, and a central section of color photos (roast duck, shad roe wrapped in bacon, “election cake”) will bring on drooling.

Bob Macdonald ’63, Knives on the Cutting Edge: The Great Chefs’ Dining Revolution (Scarletta Press). From Michelin stars, to memorable wines, to mega-trends (organic foods, resurgent comfort foods, bolder flavors), Macdonald takes readers on a culinary pilgrimage. Anecdotes, insights, and memories demystify what can sometimes be an intimidating realm.

Gregory and Martine Millman ’77, Homeschooling: A Family’s Journey (Penguin). The Millmans, who homeschooled their six children from infancy to college, offer an up-close view of the experience. In their approach, “the person is the priority—not the schedule, not the agenda.” Their goal: “getting the child to become a fully free and actualized human being.”

Judy R. Smith, Dragonfly, Walking Stick (Stephen F. Austin State University Press). Spiritual, erotic, and violent, Smith’s novel is based on a colonial account of an English woman punished for having sexual relations with an Indian man. The book hauntingly probes forces that divided and sometimes drew together two cultures. Smith recently retired after a career of more than thirty years as an English professor at Kenyon.

Jennifer Van Allen ’96, co-author with Bart Yasso and Amby Burfoot (with Pamela Nisevich Bede), The Runner’s World Big Book of Marathon and Half-Marathon Training (Rodale). This is THE book to get if you’re undertaking the big 26.2 or 13.1, whether you’re a seasoned runner or a first-timer. Training? Nutrition? Injuries? Apparel? Race-day advice? It’s all here, along with compelling personal stories about people who have participated in the online Challenge program organized by Runner’s World magazine, where veteran runner and coach Van Allen is a special projects editor.