Over the Barrel: The Brewing History and Beer Culture of Cincinnati, Volume 2

        By Timothy J. Holian (Sudhaus Press; $29.95). In his final volume, Mr. Holian traces Cincinnati's production and consumption of malt beverages from Prohibition to the present. The period saw the brewing industry return to its glory days before 1920, as well as its demise in the face of national competition at century's end. As with Volume I, sound scholarship mixes with fond recollections for those who remember when brands like Burger and Hudepohl ruled.

        Necessary Kindling: Poems         By Anjail Rashida Ahmad (Louisiana State University Press; $22.95). A variety of verse forms drives this collection of 36 poems by Cincinnati-born Ms. Ahmad. Whether looking at family traditions, jazz or the plight of African-American women, she handles with equal assurance public statement and private reflection while holding true to the conviction that hope ignites “the necessary kindling/that will light our way home.”

        Blue Skies, Green Fields

        By Ira Rosen (Clarkson Potter; $40). Baseball, more so than any other sport, is about experiencing the ballpark as much as the game. This becomes painfully apparent as Mr. Rosen profiles Cinergy Field and the late Crosley Field in his “Celebration of 50 Major League Baseball Stadiums.” Of the current multi-purpose bowl he writes, “While there is nothing especially interesting about Cinergy Field, it was once notable as home to the only major league dog.”

        Songbird: Fabulous Female Vocalists from Billie Holiday to Britney Spears

        By Donald F. Reuter (Universe; $29.95). The author, a Cincinnati native, charts the history of the 20th century's well-known female singers through rare and never-before-seen photographs. Highlighting artistic connections, he pairs like performers (Tammy Wynette and Shania Twain, The Supremes and Destiny's Child, Joan Baez and Jewel) to show the influences that tie them together.

        Building Ohio: A Traveler's Guide to Ohio's Urban Architecture

        By Jane Ware (Orange Frazer Press; $22). Courthouses, skyscrapers, museums, barns, churches and factories all get their due in this comprehensive look at notable architecture in Ohio's eight largest cities. Designed to fit perfectly into any glove compartment, this on-the-go guide makes architecture accessible through its insights into not only the buildings, but also the cities and people who oversaw their construction.

        Pin-Up Dreams: The Glamour Art of Rolf Armstrong

        By Janet Dobson and Michael Wooldridge (Watson-Guptill; $39.95). Ms. Dobson, of Springfield, and co-author pay tribute to glamour painter and calendar icon Rolf Armstrong. This coffeetable book is the first history of his life and art. Mr. Armstrong, who began creating patriot art during World War I, is best known for his later paintings of starry-eyed pinup girls. For anyone who is interested in early popular art or just in need of an excuse to look at lovely young women.

        Contact Rob Stout by mail: c/o Tempo-Books, Cincinnati Enquirer, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati OH 45202.

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