Recommended Maine Books

Have you thought about giving Maine books as gifts? They can make great holiday or birthday presents for adults and children. And what better way to reminisce about recent Maine vacations, or plan an upcoming visit, than with books about Maine.

Many authors have fallen in love with Maine, and share their stories in numerous ways.

Some have penned fascinating tales and legends about the history of Maine...

...others have provided us with the best Maine travel guides. Many enchanting Maine children's books have been written, and...

...several authors of Maine books have captured Maine humor in their storytelling. And dozens of chefs and cooks alike have shared their favorite Maine recipes in wonderfully illustrated Maine cookbooks.

Below are some of my favorite Maine books. They may soon become yours! You can find these Maine books online at amazon.com. Some are very cheap!

As you will see, amazon.com offers new AND used Maine books - which is one of the reasons I usually buy my own books online!

Maine Atlas and Gazetteer
...by Delorme

From one of the world's largest map makers - located right in Yarmouth, Maine - this trip planning Map and Gazetteer contains detailed topographic maps plus gazetteer information on places to go in Maine and things to do in Maine.

In paperback and measuring 11" x 15-1/2", Delorme Maps and Gazetteers often contain...

...back roads, dirt roads and trails, elevation contours, remote lakes and streams, boat ramps, public lands for resources, indications of forests, wetlands and agriculture, trailheads, campgrounds, and some of the best fishing and hunting spots.

Locations mentioned in the Gazetteer are cross-referenced to corresponding maps.

Maine's Most Scenic Roads
...by John Gibson

...25 Routes Off The Beaten Track.

If you are in the mood to explore, this book can guide you along some wonderfully scenic routes, as they pass through Maine.

Driving routes from...

...Fryeburg to Gilead, Bethel to Grafton Notch and Upton, Augusta to Wiscasset, Thomaston to Port Clyde and onto Owls Head and Rockland...

...and 23 other scenic drives are well described and mapped. Also included are interesting facts and information, about the places you will see along the way.

Maine: An Explorer's Guide, 14th Edition
...by Christina Tree and Nancy English

Known by many readers as the "Maine Bible" - the first edition of Maine: An Explorer's Guide, published in 1981 - was the first complete travel guide to Vacationland.

Now in its 14th edition, this comprehensive Maine guide is still a valuable travel companion for Maine tourists.

Museums, artist's colonies, historic homes, whitewater rafting, hiking trails, the Maine beaches and mountains, and everything else in between, are all included the book, along with...

...recommendations for more than 1,000 restaurants, B&B's, and places to shop.

Fodor's Maine Coast, 2nd Edition with Acadia National Park
...by Fodor's

The Fodor's guide books are known for their attention to detail and accuracy, and this Maine guide book does just that.

For every budget, interest, and taste, Fodor's offers suggestions for an unforgettable vacation, with customized trip planning tools that include...

..."Top Reasons to Go", "Word of Mouth" advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.

A signature trademark of Fodor's travel guides, the "Fodor's Choice" designations are assigned to the best rated places of interest and best places to visit.

Maine Lighthouses Illustrated Map and Guide
...by Peter Dow Bachelder

This illustrated map and guide includes all standing and "lost" lighthouses in Maine, nearby New Hampshire and New Brunswick, along with...

...the history and description of each lighthouse, driving directions, and the best vantage point for viewing each lighthouse.

The guide also includes true tales of Maine lighthouses, maritime museums, and cruises and island ferries.

Folded, the map and guide measures 4" x 9", and opens to 24" x 36". Map and illustrations are on one side, with text on the reverse.

Acadia: The Complete Guide, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park
...by James Kaiser

Born and raised near Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park, the Author of this Acadia guide brings first-hand, invaluable insight into a Downeast vacation.

Insider information, recommendations and tips are offered, along with...

...150 stunning color photographs and 2 dozen detailed maps.

The 272 page guide also includes tips on hiking, biking, kayaking, whale watching, and chapters on the history of Mount Desert Island, its geology and wildlife.

Maine's Casco Islands
...by David Tyler

The Greater Portland and Casco Bay region of Maine is a tremendously popular tourist attraction. But it becomes even more fascinating after reading the...

...historical facts, and geology and wildlife, of the Casco Bay islands.

This guide is a general reference for the major islands, and includes information on...

...how to reach the islands from the mainland, and maps of the islands that are profiled in the guide book.

More Maine books...

Maine 101
...by Nancy Griffin

"If you love Maine, you'll love Maine 101". A complete education in Maine facts!

Whether a life-long resident, or a first-time Maine visitor, you are likely to find this informative book to be a fun resource for information on Maine, facts about Maine, and Maine history.

Well known Mainers weigh in on their favorite things about the state. You will read about...

...the lumbar capitol of the world, the mighty Maine lobster, the Maine moose, the Wyeth family, Stephen King, Fly Rod Crosby, Maine politics, the unpredictable Maine weather, the origins of place names, Maine slang, and much, much more!

Bygone Coastal Maine
...by Earl Brechlin

A pictorial postcard size book of Maine recaptures days gone by.

From Kittery to Camden...

...115 interesting and unusual reproductions of antique postcards, along with interesting narratives, provide insight into the history of Maine in the first few decades of the 1900's.

Old Orchard Beach, Portland, Pemaquid, Wiscasset and several of Maine's lighthouses...

...are just a few of the interesting places that appear in this third in a series of Earl Brechlin's small books of reproduction postcards.

The Mountains of Maine
...by Steve Pinkham

An avid hiker, Steve Pinkham, shares with you the story behind the often times quirky names of Maine's mountains.

Find out how Moose's Bosom and Toenail Ridge were named, along with all of the other significant peaks and hills in the state of Maine.

You will also read intriguing facts about Maine's mountains, their history, natural features, and local legends written about them.

Arranged alphabetically and by region...

...the book also contains informative sidebars about a selection of trails, towns, and points of interest..

The Story of Sugarloaf
...by John Christie

Today it is a fully developed international ski and golf resort, of world renown, but...

...who were the first skiers on Sugarloaf, and who has been there since?

The development and history of Sugarloaf are wonderfully laid out in this story of the avid group of skiers who cleared the first path on this much loved mountain, to those that have followed in their tracks.

Billy Kidd, Les Otten, Jean-Claude Killy, and Emile Allais are some of the prominent individuals who have become part of The Story of Sugarloaf.

More Maine books...

The Train to Maine
...by Jamie Spencer

This book and its illustrations bring back memories of summer vacation and make children become excited about their next summer adventure.

A child's journey from the hustle and bustle of Boston...

...to all that awaits them in Maine - at the end of a train ride - are captured in the rhyming text of this fast moving book.

Children love to read and re-read this story...

...and with every reading they and you make new discoveries on the train to adventure.

Blueberries for Sal
...by Robert McCloskey

This wonderful children's book was designated a Caldecott Honor Book in 1949.

The two human characters, Little Sal and her mother, are said to be based on the Author's wife, Margaret, and daughter, Sarah.

When Sal and her mother climb Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries, another mother and child - a bear and her cub - are climbing up the other side of the hill to pick their own blueberries.

The story of the interaction between Little Sal, Little Sal's mother, and the mother bear and the little bear, is a perfect blend of humor and suspense for young children. The "black and white illustrations are full of movement and life".

One Morning in Maine
...by Robert McCloskey

In this 1953 Caldecott Honor Book, a follow-up to Blueberries for Sal...

...Sal is several years older and about to lose her first tooth. And it's a big deal! Everything she does that day is affecting her tooth - from clamming with her father to going by boat to Buck's Harbor.

When Sal's tooth finally falls out and is lost, she comforts herself by wishing on a gull's feather in place of the lost tooth. By the time Sal, her father, and sister Jane, arrive in Buck's Harbor, Sal is anxious to let everyone know about her tooth.

The book provides an interesting look at the daily life of a family living on a Maine island. "McCloskey's black and white illustrations create a mood of activity and anticipation."

Time of Wonder
...by Robert McCloskey

Beautiful watercolors of life on the Maine islands in Penobscot Bay illustrate each page of Robert McCloskey's 1958 Caldecott Medal winner...

...his first picture book in full color.

Sunny weather, foggy weather, rainy weather, and a hurricane are all part of life on the islands. So too, are boating, castle building, nature walks, and playing.

The writing is lyrical, beginning with...

..."Out on the islands that poke their rocky shore above the waters of Penobscot Bay, you can watch the time of the world go by, from minute to minute, hour to hour, from day to day, season to season." and is a re-read for little kids AND adults.

More Maine books...

The Best of Bert and I (Audio CD)
...by Robert Bryan and Marshall Dodge

...1958 - 2008, Celebrating 50 Years of Stories From Downeast Maine

With dry humor and authentic sounding accents...

...some of the best Yankee humor anywhere is delivered by the storytelling team of Robert Bryan and Marshall Dodge.

All tracks have been remastered for clarity...

...and nothing is sacred when it comes to Downeast Maine, and Maine culture, as it is portrayed on this CD. Listen to "Which Way to Millinocket?", "Camden Pierce Goes to New York", "Two Lobstermen", "One Heckuva Draft", "Arnold Bunker Testifies", Downeast Socialism", and other favorites, over and over.

Bert and I For Kids of All Ages
...by Marshall Dodge

...Tales From Downeast

This is one of those classic Maine books for kids and those young at heart...

...contains three of Robert Bryan's and Marshall Dodge's original Bert and I stories, told in old-time classic Maine humor that is not always politically correct.

"By a Fluke", "The Pet Turkey" and "Gagnon, Champion Moose Caller"...

...all tell wonderful tales that are fun to read aloud and "reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's poetry for children."

Maine Curiosities, 2nd Edition
...by Tim Sample

...Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff

With one of his humorous Maine books, let Tim Sample take you on a road trip that you will never forget!

The wackiest, wildest and most outrageous people, places and things in the state of Maine are all curiosities in this Tim Sample book.

The Author has traveled up and down Maine in search of one-of-a-kind gems to share with you, and has written a great read for Maine residents and anyone else looking for Maine books on humor.

Do you have recommendations for Maine books that you would like to share, especially favorite Maine cookbooks?

You may also be interested in:
Facts about Maine
Maine Calendars 2013