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Vermont Books • Book Reviews • Author Interview • Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award

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Arnosky, Jim.
Sketching Outdoors In Autumn. Lothrop, 1988.
Sketching Outdoors In Spring. Lothrop, 1987.
Sketching Outdoors In Summer. Lothrop, 1988.
Sketching Outdoors In Winter. Lothrop, 1988.
Nearer Nature. Lothrop, 1996.
All of these books describe nature and how to draw it in the Vermont countryside.

Bassett, Vicki. Finding One's Way.
Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union, 1988.
The story of an Abenaki child's confusion over his identity. Includes questions after every chapter. Also available: Finding One's Way: A Teacher's Manual.

Bober, Natalie S. A Restless Spirit: The Story of Robert Frost. Rev. ed.
Holt, 1991.
A biography of Robert Frost, detailing the events of his frequently unhappy life, his love for his wife and children, and the way all this was woven into his poetry.

Bryan, Frank and Melissa Lee.  The (Very Latest)Vermont Quiz Book. 
New England Press,
Questions and answers about every aspect of Vermont including demographics, trivia, politics, etc.

Burns, Diane L. Sugaring Season: Making Maple Syrup.
Carolrhoda, 1990.
Describes, in text and photographs, the making of maple syrup from tapping the tree and collecting the sap to cooking and packaging.

Calloway, Colin G. The Abenaki.
Chelsea House, 1989.
A history and description of Vermont's Native Americans.

Cheney, Cora. Vermont, The State With the Storybook Past. Rev. ed. New England Press, 1986.
New chapter updates the 1976 edition.

Edwards, Cecile. Champlain: Father of New France.
Abingdon, 1955.

Felton, Harold W. A Horse Named Justin Morgan.
Dodd, 1962.
Exciting story of this famous horse and the important part the breed has played in the history of this country.

Fleischman, John. Phineas Gage: A Grusome but True Story About Brain Science.
Houghton, 2002.
In 1848 in Cavendish, Vermont, Phineas Gage had a 13-pound iron rod shot through his brain. He lived 11 _ years more, but with a totally changed personality.

Frost, Robert. In the Clearing.
Holt, 1962.
A slim, delightful volume of the poet's poems since 1958.

Frost, Robert. The Road Not Taken: An Introduction to Robert Frost.
Holt, 1951.
A selection of Robert Frost's poems with a biographical preface and running commentary by Louis Untermeyer.

Frost, Robert. You Come Too: Favorite Poems for Young Readers. Holt, 1959.

Fuller, Edmund. Vermont: A History of the Green Mountain State. Vermont Board of Education, 1952.
Much valuable historical information and many pictures otherwise hard to locate.

Gauch, Patricia Lee. The Impossible Major Rogers.
Putnam, 1977.
Simply written biography of Robert Rogers whose colorful life spanned the French and Indian Wars, and the American Revolution. Much of the action occurs in the Champlain Valley.

Geary, Clifford N. Ticonderoga: A Picture Story.
McKay, 1953.
Although this old fort is in New York, it is closely associated with Vermont history.

Gemming, Elizabeth. Getting to Know the Connecticut River.
Coward, 1974.
Traces the history of the Connecticut River and its valley from its discovery in 1614 to the present day.

Gemming, Elizabeth. Maple Harvest.
Coward, 1976.
Traces the history of maple sugaring and describes the traditional and modern methods of making maple syrup and sugar.

Graff, Nancy Price. The Strength of the Hills: A Portrait of a Family Farm.
Little, Brown, 1989.
Portrays life on a small family farm in Ryegate Corner.

Greenberg, Keith Elliot. Ben & Jerry: Ice Cream for Everyone!
Blackbird Press, 1994.
A history of Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Guyette, Elise A. Vermont: A Cultural Patchwork.
Rev. ed. Images of the Past, 2002.
A collection of stories, games, activities and recipes accompany historical narrative.

Haas, Jessie. Fire! My Parents' Story.
Greenwillow, 1998.
Describes a nighttime fire in a country house in Vermont in 1948 and the struggle of the residents to save their belongings.

Hahn, Michael T. Alexander Twilight: Vermont's African-American Pioneer.
New England Press, 1998.
A biography of the noted educator who was the first African American to graduate from an American college and the first to serve on a state legislature.

Hahn, Michael T. Ann Story: Vermont's Heroine of Independence.
New England Press, 1996.
Biography of the Vermonter who was known as the "Mother of the Green Mountain Boys" and who was one of the few women whose contributions to the Patriot cause were documented.

Hahn, Michael T. Ethan Allen: A Life of Adventure.
New England Press, 1994.

Hausherr, Rosmarie. My First Kitten.
Macmillan, 1985.
A 7-year-old boy on a farm in Vermont learns to care for his new kitten.

Hausherr, Rosmarie. The One-Room School at Squabble Hollow.
Four Winds Press, 1988.
Text and pictures bring to life days at a one-room school in northern Vermont which has been functioning for more than 100 years.

Heaton, John L. The Story of Vermont.
Lothrop, 1889.

Hill, Ralph Nading. The Voyages of Brian Seaworth.
Vermont Life Magazine, 1971.
With his father's death, fifteen-year-old Brian becomes owner of a steamboat company suddenly beset with problems.

Holbrook, Stewart H. America's Ethan Allen. Houghton, 1949.
A Caldecott Medal Honor Book for Lynd Ward's illustrations, this is an exciting and beautifully illustrated account of Allen's life.

Jacobs, W. J. Samuel De Champlain.
Watts, 1974.
Concentrates more on Champlain's personal qualities than his exploits.

Jaspersohn, William. A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian.
Little, Brown, 1978.
Follows a Morrisville, Vermont veterinarian as he treats patients in his clinic and operating room, makes farm visits and takes emergency calls.

Jaspersohn, William. Ice Cream.
Macmillan, 1988.
Takes the reader on a tour of Ben and Jerry's ice cream plant to explain where ice cream comes from and how it is made.

Jones, Robert F. Jake.
Farrar, 1992.
The author describes his new Labrador puppy's first year and how he trained the dog to sit, heel, fetch, and more.

Kimball, Miriam I. Vermont for Young Vermonters.
Heath, 1926.

Kjellerup, Hope R., ed. Key to Vermont, Our Own State.
Mrs. Robert Carter, 1964.

Kjellerup, Hope R., ed. Vermont, Our Own State.
Teachers of East Orange School District, 1951, 1967.

Lancaster, Bruce. Ticonderoga: The Story of a Fort.
Houghton, 1959.
History of the fort, from construction through restoration.

Landau, Elaine. Abenaki.
Watts, 1996.
Describes the history, culture, and traditions of the Abenaki Indians.

Lasky, Kathryn. Sugaring Time.
Macmillan, 1983.
This Newbery Honor book shows in excellent text and photos a Vermont family making maple syrup.

Lasky, Kathryn. The Weaver's Gift.
Warne, 1981.
Describes the many activities that take place on a small sheep farm in Norwich, Vermont from the time a sheep is sheared until the fleece is woven into a soft blanket.

Long, Laura. George Dewey: Vermont Boy.
Bobbs, 1952.
Easy to read biography of the boyhood of the hero of Manila Bay.

Many Cultures, One People: A Multicultural Handbook About Vermont for Teachers.
VT Folklife Ctr., 1992.

Marsh, Carole. Vermont "Jography": Geography Fun!
Gallopade, 1989.
Quizzes and games related to Vermont geography.

Marsh, Carole. Vermont Silly Trivia.
Gallopade, 1989.
One hundred trivia questions about Vermont.

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Snowflake Bentley.
Houghton, 1998.
Simple biography of the Vermonter who proved through photographs that each snowflake is unique.

McNair, Sylvia. America the Beautiful: Vermont.
Children's Press, 1991.
Introduces the geography, history, government, economy, industry, culture, historic sites, and famous people of Vermont.

Mellin, Jeanne. The Morgan Horse.
Stephen Greene Press, 1961.
The first complete history of the horse that became famous. Over 100 illustrations and photos.

Mellin, Jeanne. The Morgan Horse Handbook.
Stephen Greene Press, 1973.
A companion volume to Mellin's history of the Morgan horse, this work covers all phases of Morgan type, characteristics, requirements for competitions, and tips on preparation for show ring.

Meltzer, Milton. Thaddeus Stevens and the Fight for Negro Rights.
Crowell, 1967.
Born in Danville, VT, Stevens was a leader in the U. S. House of Representatives, urging emancipation and leading the movement to impeach Andrew Johnson.

Mendoza, George. Goodbye, River, Goodbye.
Doubleday, 1971.
A free verse farewell to the once beautiful Battenkill River which flows near Arlington and Manchester.

Mermin, Rob. Circus Smirkus: A True Story of High Adventure and Low Comedy.
Circus Smirkus, Greensboro, VT, 1997.
The story of Vermont's own home grown circus.

Metcalf, Rosamond. The Sugar Maple.
Phoenix Publishing, 1982.
Uses the activities of a classroom of children to introduce sugar maples and syrup making.

Montgomery, Constance see Cappel, Constance

Morris, Ann. Puddle Jumper: How a Toy is Made.
Lothrop, 1993.
A young girl helps her father as he develops his idea for a new wooden toy and then builds it.

Mussey, June Barrows. Vermont Heritage.
Stephen Greene Press, 1975.
This reprint of a work originally published in 1947 is a mini-history of Vermont illustrated with over 170 woodcut-style engravings.

Neal, Cynthia. Pitcher of Vermont Cream.
Vermont Free Public Libary Commission, 1955.
Stories and poems about Vermont history.

Older, Jules. Ben & Jerry.
Chapters, 1993.
A light-hearted look at the background of the two men who founded Ben & Jerry's ice cream company and how their business got started.

O'Neil, Mary J. Growing Up in Vermont.
Published by the author, 1950.

Peck, Robert Newton. Bee Tree & Other Stuff.
Walker, 1975.
Prose and poetry ramble among red barns, green meadows and black and white cows like a Vermont cow path.

Peck, Robert Newton. Path of Hunters: Animal Struggle in a Meadow.
Knopf, 1973.
Ecology of life and death based on the author's childhood memories and first hand observations of nature. Set in a meadow in Vermont.

Pelta, Kathy. Vermont.
Lerner, 1994.
Short simple overview of the state.

Perspectives '76.
Regional Center for Educational Training, Lyme, NH, 1976.
A complete compendium about life in Vermont and New Hampshire during the last 40 years of the 18th Century.

Pettengill, Samuel. The Yankee Pioneers.
Tuttle, 1971.
The details of the daily lives of the first settlers in the New England wilderness, abridged from the original edition.

Pitkin, Royce S. Maple Sugar Time.
Day, 1934, 1956.
Story and pictures of the complete maple sugaring process.

Resch, Tyler. Bennington's Battle Monument: Massive and Lofty.
Beech Seal Press, 1993.
Facts about the battle and how the monument was made.

Richards, Norman. Robert Frost.
Children's Press, 1968.
A biography of the man who became known as America's "National Poet," stressing the rural emphasis of his poetry and his determination to succeed in spite of poverty and personal tragedy. Some of his poems are included.

Ripley, Sheldon. Ethan Allen: Green Mountain Hero.
Houghton, 1961.
Allen's life related in a chatty, somewhat fictionalized style.

Rood, Ronald N. Hundred Acre Welcome: The Story of a Chincoteague Pony.
Greene, 1967.
A fifty-pound wild pony comes to live on the Roods' farm in Lincoln. Rood's books, although cataloged adult, have appeal to young adults and children.

Rood, Ronald N. How Do You Spank a Porcupine?
Trident Press, 1969.

Rood, Ronald N. The Loon in My Bathtub.
Stephen Greene Press, 1964.
 

Rood, Ronald N. Ron Rood's Vermont: A Nature Guide.
New England Press, 1988.

Rood, Ronald N. Who Wakes the Groundhog?
Norton, 1973.

Russell, Solveig P. Sugaring Time.
Abingdon, 1961.
The maple sugar story in words and pictures for the youngest readers.

St. John, Gregory and Helen. Willie in Early Vermont.
Published by the author, 1976.
Stories of traditional activities such as cutting ice and sugaring.

Schwartz, Alvin Gold and Silver, Silver and Gold.
Farrar, 1988.
The first story, "A Treasure Found," involves a treasure map left in a house in Middlesex, Vermont.

Selsam, Millicent. Maple Tree.
Morrow, 1968.
The step-by-step development of a maple tree as seen through a series of unusual photographs.

Shaver, Lula. The Molly Stark Trail.
Middletown, NY, 1961.

Slocum, Harold W. Story of Vermont.
Scribner, 1926.

Smith, Bradford. Rogers' Rangers and the French and Indian Wars.
Random, 1956.
The story of one of the most colorful groups of patriots involved in the struggle for freedom from the French.

Smith, Fredrika S. George Dewey: Admiral of the Navy. |
Rand McNally, 1963.

Stoddard, Gloria May. Snowflake Bentley.
Corcordia, 1979.
A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

Swinburne, Stephen. In Good Hands.
Sierra Club, 1998.
Provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Vermont Raptor Center, a facility where volunteers rescue and rehabilitate hurt or abandoned birds of prey and eventually release them back into the wild.

Syme, Ronald. Champlain of the St. Lawrence.
Morrow, 1952.
Exploits and adventures of the man who established New France.

Tharp, Louise H. Champlain: Northwest Voyager.
Little, 1944.
At fourteen Champlain set out on a lifetime of exploration and adventure which concluded with the settlement in New France and exploration of Vermont's biggest lake.

Thompson, Kathleen. Vermont.
Steck-Vaughn, 1996.
Discusses the history, economy, culture, and future of Vermont.

Thompson, Sally. Growing Up in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 1872-1895.
Coolidge Foundation, Woodstock, Vermont, 1972.
A mini-biography of the boyhood of Calvin Coolidge.

The Vermont Geography Book.
Northern Cartographic, Inc., 1986.
Includes maps, graphs, and activities to teach students about Vermont's geography.

Vermont Inventors, the Unsung Heroes.
By 6th and 7th grade students at Essex Middle School, under the direction of Jane M. Vossler, Essex, VT, 1982.
Detailed biographies of seven well-known Vermont inventors including John Deere as well as selected present day inventors.

Vermont's Original Inhabitants: An Elementary School Guide to Prehistory.
Vermont Historical Society, 1978.

Wakefield, Pat A. A Moose for Jessica.
Dutton, 1987.
Describes the behavior of a wild bull moose who moved onto a farm in Vermont and developed an attachment for one of the cows there.

Watson, Aldren A. A Maple Tree Begins.
Viking, 1970.
A clear and detailed description of the growth of a maple tree from seed to flowering adult.

Watson, Katherine W., ed. Radio Plays for Children.
Wilson, 1947.
Contains Justin Morgan had a Horse by Marguerite Henry.

Wilcox, Morris R. Men and Mountains.
Golden Quill Press, 1959.
Poetry of Vermont for young people.

Wilhelm, Hans. The Trapp Family Book.
Heinemann, 1983.
An affectionate look at the lives of the musical Trapps.

Winders, Gertrude H. Ethan Allen: Green Mountain Boy.
Bobbs, 1954. Rev. ed., Bobbs, 1962.
Shows Ethan Allen developing in his youth the characteristics that later made him such an outstanding leader.

Winders, Gertrude H. Horace Greeley: Newspaper Man.
Day, 1962.

Yates, Elizabeth. The Lady From Vermont: Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Life and Work.
Stephen Greene Press, 1971.