Books published by publisher Down East Books

From the first gawky little eohippus of 50 million years ago to his thoroughbred descendants of today, here is a book about all kinds of horses—whether thundering into battle beneath an armor clad knight, prancing before carriages, plodding around cornfields pulling plows, or racing for kings, they spring to life on every page.This is also a picturesque and unique glimpse into history, for horses have been valued and used by men as far apart in space as the Samurai of Japan to the farmers of France, as distant in time as ancient Egyptian charioteers and American cowboys.In beautiful color illustrations and clear informative text, noted author-artist Dahlov Ipcar brings to life men and their horses through the ages—their customs and costumes, and the ways they have worked and fought and played.

Treasure Hunter’s Handbook is for kids and families who love to explore the world around them! Treasure hunting is a fun family activity that encourages kids to get outside, and Gardner Walsh’s new book helps young explorers learn how to pan for gold, use metal detectors to find buried treasure, use GPS to do geocaching or letterboxing, and search for arrowheads and gemstones. Treasure Hunter’s Handbook also includes wonderful bits of pirate lore and some fun pirate/treasure-hunting craft activities. Ahoy, matey! The following topics are covered, allowing for a wide range of activities for different ages and interests:Myths and legends of buried pirate treasure.Panning for gold: Panning for gold is making a comeback and is a great activity for kids.Mining for minerals and gemstones: Provides some information about how and where to find Maine's famous tourmaline and other gems.Metal Detecting: Covers the basics of using a metal detector and tells some of the stories of amazing treasure found using this simple device.Geocaching and letter boxing: Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting activity using GPS-enabled devices. Letter boxing is a low tech version that combines navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry.Found treasures: Hunting for everyday treasures such as sea glass, sea shells, four-leaf clovers, arrowheads, and fossils.

Remember how you once could spend hours watching the busy, small inhabitants of your childhood garden--the ones that burrowed, scampered, or buzzed? Every young person is a naturalist at heart. And remember how exciting it was to have more colors than just the basic eight in the crayon box? Even the names of those wonderful hues were fun to say aloud: scarlet, sapphire, chartreuse.In The Little Green Island with a Little Red House, acclaimed illustrator, naturalist, and garden writer Sharon Lovejoy melds gentle rhyme and winsome illustrations to introduce young readers to the little beige bat, the scarlet newt in the yellow boot, and many other creatures that share her island home.

This follow-up to the successful The Winter Visitors, traces the interactions between a family of bears and a human family during their summer stay at a lake cottage. Told primarily through illustration, with only a few dozen words in the book, children and parents (and grandparents) alike will delight in following the antics of the bumbling bears as they enjoy the comforts of cottage life, but also try to avoid detection by their human hosts.

Alice Zwicker was the only service woman from Maine to be a prisoner of the enemy in either of the two World Wars. But there is more to the story than that. Across the nation, wherever one of the seventy-seven Angels of Bataan returned home, there was a hero’s welcome. Those Army and Navy nurses had shown what American women could do and be, even in times of defeat. This is Alice’s story: her growing up in a small Maine town, her commitment to the profession of nursing, and her immersion in World War II. There was Manila, Bataan, Corregidor, and then three long, hungry years when she was held prisoner by the Japanese. For Alice, the terrible legacy of war did not end with her liberation from internment camp, or even with her coming home. When victory finally arrived for Alice, it was achieved in her own soul.

The perfect guide for both seasoned and novice seaglunkers, The Sea Glass Hunter's Handbook reveals how to locate the best beaches and predict optimum conditions; understand coastal access laws; determine the personal and professional value of sea glass' and identify the source of individual fragments. Sea glass connects civilization and nature, often in surprising ways. This guide investigates how tiny bits of glass and ceramic have engaged generations of avid collectors throughout the world.

As satisfying and unpretentious as the best home cooking, Marjorie Standish's classic Cooking Down East is a wealth of Maine recipes--and Maine lore. As a longtime food columnist for the Maine Sunday Telegram, Standish compiled some of the best recipes from cooks around the state, including the secrets for such classic comfort foods as New England boiled dinner, fish chowder, and baked beans. She shares her hints for preparing these timeless dishes in a lively, clear style, and also imparts detailed information on some of the state's more unusual delicacies, such as fiddleheads, dandelion greens, venison, and partridge.Standish's simple, time-tested recipes made this book a staple of New England kitchens for decades, as essential as salt and pepper. More than 100,000 copies of Cooking Down East have been sold since it was first published a generation ago--and its sensible, back-to-basics dishes are still perfect for the busy cooks of today. From breads to desserts, from wild game to seafood, from preserves to stews and chowders--every conceivable type of food is covered, and it's all served up with a hearty, authentic Maine flavor passed down through generations of cooks. "An old Maine recipes," as the author writes, "is just as much of an heirloom as a lovely antique."

It’s a simple fact: Guns are part of America. Guns enabled the Pilgrims to stay in the New World. The first shots of the American Revolution were fired when British troops tried to seize Colonists’ guns, powder and shot. America’s Industrial Age was spurred by gunmakers and the need to better equip soldiers. The Wild West was settled by ranchers, miners, traders, fur trappers and farmers, whose guns fed and protected them and their families. America and firearms literally grew up together, but now some people only equate guns with crime and violence. Gun control has become a polarizing political issue, and misinformation about firearms is spreading, intentionally and unintentionally, far and wide. Now three experts are tackling the subject in a series of highly accessible books that explores the realities of firearms and debunks common misunderstandings. The books are non-political, and information is delivered in an easy-to-understand, conversational style. The Gun Book for Boys is the first in the series, and it is intended for boys (and girls) ages 12 – 16 who are interested in guns and shooting, but who have no family members to teach them. Examples and anecdotes emphasize safety and proper usage, and the book defines terms, provides hands-on advice about using, maintaining and safely storing guns, debunks myths, delves into history, and explains topics ranging from target shooting to hunting to military sniping. Everything is thoroughly illustrated and presented in easily managed portions that can be read in series or individually. The book also has an index, suggestions for other “must-have” gun books and a comprehensive bibliography.

Filled with a wide array of classic knitting patterns, this book is, in essence, the ultimate mitten book. The patterns are organized from simple to difficult and their origins range from traditional Scandinavian and Canadian Maritime patterns to more contemporary sewn and windblock patterns from right here in Maine. Rounding out the patterns is useful information on caring for and repairing woolens; tips for adding details such as buttons, straps, or leather palms to mittens; and a list of yarn suppliers.

The continuing adventures of Karel Hayes’ beloved family of bears as they find clever waysto make the most of a summer cottage yet are able to avoid (sometimes narrowly) discoveryby the human owners. In this fifth book in Karel Hayes’ acclaimed Visitors series, the family of bears awakens in thecottage after a nice winter sleep. But torrential rains and a little too much fun hamper their effortsto leave the cottage ship-shape for the returning human owners. Will they be able to avoiddetection once again?