A Lawrence business is among select company in a new book detailing the finest bakeries in the United States. WheatFields Bakery, 904 Vt., was one of only a handful of bakeries to get a positive notice in Artisan Baking Across America, by Maggie Glezer. The book is published by Artisan, and focuses on the "real" bakers -- those using authentic techniques and wood-fired ovens to make gooey, chewey, delicious bread. And lots of it.

"It's a fantastic book," manager Don Fortel says. "The writer did a great job, and WheatFields is in real select company."

The oversized book comes hard-bound and is chock full of color pictures of the establishments and their bakers, who have turned making bread into an art form.

"It's not just about any bakeries. This is all about bread," Pat Kehde says. "This is a real coffee table book, and it would make a great gift for anyone who likes to bake.

Kehde is the co-owner of The Raven bookstore, 6 East Seventh St. She became involved when an Artisan publishing representative was showing her the book and mentioned that a local business was featured. Ironically, they were holding their meeting at WheatFields when she was offered the tome.

"We were like, "We're in that place." It was far out," Kehde said with a laugh.

They decided to work up a promotional effort with WheatFields to hawk the book. The writer, Maggie Glezer, was on hand Monday night for a book signing and lecture while baker Thom Leonard held a discussion and baking demonstration.

Artisan Baking Across America also includes recipies for various bread types, including one from WheatFields, although readers should be aware that their results in conventional ovens may not be quite the same.

The store is in good company alongside California and New York bakeries, but some East Coast denizens have come forward to praise the Lawrence business over ones in their own locations.

According to Kehde, one New Yorker said that he knew of only one bakery, the world-renowned Amy's, that could compare with WheatFields. "It's a pretty big deal to be included in this book," Kehde says. "There's only a small number who made it.