Latest DVDs, CDs, books: Aug. 7

A look at some of the DVDs, CDs and books hitting stores this week:

DVDs

"The Lorax" (PG): The search for a long-extinct Truffula Tree, needed to impress his dream girl (voiced by Taylor Swift), leads a 12-year-old (Zac Efron) to journey from his overindustrialized hometown and into a magical forest in this animated version of the Dr. Seuss classic that also features the voices of Ed Helms, Danny DeVito and Betty White.

Elsewhere, the acclaimed documentary "Marley" (PG-13) chronicles the life of the late reggae icon.

Topping today's TV transfers: "Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt," "Parenthood: Season Three," "Grimm: Season One," "Strike Back: The Complete First Season," "Dance Moms: Season One," "The Rookies: Season Two" and "Gunsmoke: The Sixth Season Vol. One."

CDs

Red Kross, "Researching the Blues": Beginning as a quirky, cartoon-mad punk band in the late '70s, Red Kross eventually evolved into a key grunge precursor with their equally scruffy and tuneful jams.

They never really got their due other than a short-lived major label deal but are back with their first new record in a decade and a half.

Check it out, and see what you've been missing all these years.

Also in stores: Antibalas, "Antibalas"; Antony and the Johnsons, "Cut the World"; David Archuleta, "Begin."; Buffalo Killers, "Dig. Sow. Love. Grow."; Colt Ford, "Declaration of Independence"; Bruce Hornsby, "Red Hook Summer: Music from the Original Motion Picture"; MuteMath, "Odd Soul Live in DC"; 10 Years, "Minus the Machine"; and Various Artists, "NOW That's What I Call Music! 43."

BOOKS

"Time Untime" by Sherrilyn Kenyon: In the latest in the Dark-Hunter series, Kateri Avani, plagued by dreams she doesn't understand, heads to Las Vegas for answers, only to encounter a warrior who has returned from the dead to fulfill an ancient prophecy.

Also this week, it all comes to an end for Max, Fang and Dylan as James Patterson wraps up his Maximum Ride series with "Nevermore."

Also hitting shelves: "Bad Little Falls" by Paul Doiron; "Charon's Claw: Neverwinter Saga, Book III" by R.A. Salvatore; "Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child" by Bob Spitz; "The Dog Stars" by Peter Heller; "In the Shadow of the Banyan" by Vaddey Ratner; "Kill You Twice" by Chelsea Cain; "The Last Victim: A Novel" by Karen Robards; "Line of Fire" by Stephen White; "The Spymasters" by W.E.B. Griffin; "Sweet Talk" by Julie Garwood; "12.21" by Dustin Thomason; and "You Don't Want to Know" by Lisa Jackson.