Get Outside and Read!
Hike and Read a Book!
What could be more fun than reading while spending time in nature? Bring your children, grandchildren, or just yourself to the Granite Island Trail and enjoy a family-friendly hike down to the shores of the Basin, while enjoying a favorite oversized picture book.
This collaborative effort between Vinalhaven Land Trust and Vinalhaven Reads (a group formed to help raise the reading and literacy skills of students at Vinalhaven School), will change the book three times a year. As one walks the trail, a new page comes into view, magically affixed to a moss covered rock, coming to a perfect conclusion as you and your companions reach the shoreline.
Story Trail opened with The Little Island, which was written by long-time summer resident Margaret Wise Brown. A sweet story about the experiences of a little island (Vinalhaven!).
It’s hard to beat: fostering a love of reading and encouraging children and their caregivers to spend time in nature. What will be next? You’ll have to visit to find out…
The current book is Big Truck Little Island by Chris Van Dusen. When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a halt. Some cars need to go south and some have to travel north. Luckily, the kids come up with an ingenious solution: why not just swap cars? Inspired by an incident that happened on Vinalhaven, Chris Van Dusen tells a fun tale of resourcefulness and community through clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations.
Story Trail Archives
The Little Island, published in 1946, it describes the four seasons as experienced by a little island. Margaret Wise Brown had a house on Vinalhaven, which she called “The Only House.”
Little Beaver and the Echo, by Amy McDonald, illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies, published in 1990. Little Beaver's search for a friend he thinks he hears across a pond is perfect for every child who's ever felt lonely. Amy McDonald is a Maine author, part-time on Vinalhaven!
Miss Rumphius, written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, published in 1982. Miss Rumphius is about a woman who sought a way to make the world more beautiful by planting lupines in the wild. It was inspired by the real life "Lupine Lady," Hilda Hamlin, who spread lupine seeds along the Maine coast.
Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, from Camden, Maine. Published in 2000. The story of a man and his dog who set off for a relaxing day on their boat but find themselves in the midst of a whale of an adventure
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey, published in 1948. Set in Maine, the story of a girl and her mother picking blueberries to can for the winter, while a bear cub and his mother are picking blueberries nearby. Sal becomes so involved in her picking, she doesn't notice that she's following the wrong mother, an equally startled mother bear!
Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr, published in 1987. Owl Moon is about a father that takes his daughter owling for the first time on a cold winter's night. Along their way, they encounter a great horned owl!
The Salamander Room, by Anne Mazer, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. Published in 1991. A boy finds a salamander in the woods and imagines the many things he can do to turn his room into a perfect salamander home.
Wait Till the Moon is Full, by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Garth Williams. Published in 1948. There was once a little raccoon who wanted to go out in the night -- to know an owl, to see if the moon is a rabbit, and to find out how dark is the dark. But his mother said, "Wait. Wait till the moon is full." So the little raccoon waited and wondered, while the moon got bigger and bigger and bigger. Until at last, on a very special evening, the moon was full.
Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are. It was published in 1963 and received the Caldecott Metal in 1964. The story follows a young boy, Max who dresses in a wolf costume, much to the dismay of his family. After being sent to bed without his supper, Max's room is transformed into a jungle where wild beasts roam. After managing to intimidate the beasts, he enjoys playing with his subjects. Eventually he gets lonely and decides to return home where a hot supper is waiting for him.
The Boy, The Mule, The Fox, and The Horse, by Charlie Mackesy. Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most important life lessons. Alongside the book, was a send off to each child in grades 5 and 8 who are “stepping up” next year. Lovely illustrations.
A Walk on a Maine Island, featuring prints by local artist George Bartko, and text by Kare Trabant .
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham. Harry is a white dog with black spots who loves everything . . . except baths. So one day before bath time, Harry runs away. He plays outside all day long, digging and sliding in everything from garden soil to pavement tar. By the time he returns home, Harry is so dirty he looks like a black dog with white spots. His family doesn't even recognize him!
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, and illustrated by Axel Sheffler. The Gruffalo is a rhyming story of a mouse and a monster. Little mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest, to scare off his enemies he invents tales of a fantastical creature called the Gruffalo. SO, imagine his surprise when he meets the REAL Gruffalo!
Old Bear by Kevin Henkes. Old Bear lumbers to his cave to hibernate till spring. In his dreams, he is a cub again, exploring the seasons—summer, fall, winter, and spring. When he finally awakes, Old Bear is so happy to find the outside world waiting for him, just as beautiful as in his dreams.
The Hat, by Jan Brett, the story of Hedgie the hedgehog who gets a 'hat' stuck on his head. The other farm animals think it's very funny to see him running around wearing a hat. Jan Brett's beautiful illustrations make this a favorite of children and adults alike.
Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. A little bunny keeps running away from his mother in this imaginary game of hide-and-seek. Children will be profoundly comforted by this lovingly steadfast mother who finds her child every time.
Wishy Washy Weather, by Susan Falkenhan, illustrated by Heather White. A rhyming book about the weather which teaches reading in a fun way. Vinalhaven School art teacher Heather White adds to the book with her playful illustrations.
Big Truck Little Island by Chris Van Dusen. When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a halt. Some cars need to go south and some have to travel north. Luckily, the kids come up with an ingenious solution: why not just swap cars? Inspired by an incident that happened on Vinalhaven, Chris Van Dusen tells a fun tale of resourcefulness and community through clever, rhyming wordplay and whimsical illustrations.