 |
A
Selected, Annotated Bibliography
of Books about Taos
and New Mexico prepared by Arthur J. Bachrach
(page3) |
Children's Books
a. The Boy Who Made Dragonfly:
A Zuni Tale Retold
Tony Hillerman
Tony Hillerman once told us that, of all his books, the one
he would most like to see made into a film is this charming tale.
b. And Now Miguel
Joseph Krumgold
A story of a boy growing up in the mountains around Taos,
tending his family's sheep. The twelve-year old boy in the
story is a grown man named Miguel Chavez who still lives
in Taos.
c. Tree In The Trail
Holling C. Holling
Holling, author of such childrens' classics as Pagoo and
Paddle To The Sea, lived and wrote in Taos at one time.
This book tells the story of a tree and its "adventures"
on the Santa Fe Trail.
d. Several books (and tapes) by
storyteller Joe Hayes, all of which
delight children and adults:
No Way, Jose!
Coyote and Co.: Native American Folk Tales
The Day It Snowed Tortillas
e. Goat In The Rug
Charles Blood and Martin Link
Filled with warmth and humor, as well as information about
Navajo weaving, this the story of Geraldine, a goat who gives
up her wool to help her Navajo mistress weave a rug. The
illustrations are a joy.
f. Ten Little Rabbits
Virginia Grossman and Sylvia Long
A good introduction to Native American customs in the form of
a counting rhyme with rabbits dressed in appropriate costumes.
g. The Farolitos Of Christmas
Rudolfo Anaya
In Northern New Mexico the candles contained in paper bags
with sand are called Farolitos (little lanterns); elsewhere
they
are called Luminarios, which are bonfires in Northern
New Mexico,
In any case, this is a lovely book about the custom-- lighting
up
the Christmas season..
h. Helen Cordero and The Storytellers
Nancy Howard
Cordero of the Cochiti Pueblo was the first to do the clay
Storyteller figures, now so popular a folk art. This
well-illustrated book includes Native American folk tales.
i. Where The Cinnamon Winds
Blow and
A Garden Of Stories
Jim Sagel
The late Jim Sagel, a beloved storyteller, wrote a number of
fine books. These, with the texts in both Spanish and English,
blend traditional folk tales of New Mexico with the fantastic
ones of Herculano, the uncle of 11-year old Tomas.
j. Ve lo que dices/ See what you say
Nancy Maria Grande Tabor
Well illustrated, this book compares sayings
in Spanish and English. One example: "entre el
diablo y el mar azul profundo," "between the Devil
and the deep blue sea."
k. E is for Enchantment
Helen Foster James, Neecy Twinem, Illustrator
A New Mexico alphabet with "enchanting" illustrations
for younger children and informative text for older children
and adults.
l. Taos Pueblo Painted Stories
Jonathan Warm Day
Beautiful scenes and reminiscences of the Taos Pueblo by author/illustrator
Jonathan Warm Day, who grew up on the Pueblo and lives there
today. For all ages.
Back to the Top
Cookbooks
The number of cookbooks devoted
to New Mexican
food grows each year as the popularity of this unique
and delectable cuisine increases. It is said that the most
frequently asked question in New Mexico is "Red or
Green?" referring to the choice of the color of the chile
to be served with the dish. Natives can often be heard answering
"Christmas," meaning red and green. The second
most frequently
asked question is "What is that big, black bird with
the long tail and the white chest?" (Answer: Magpie)
From the many cookbooks available,
we have chosen
several we have found to be among the most enduring
and informative.
a. Rancho de Chimayo Cookbook:
The Traditional
Cooking Of New Mexico
Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison
Not only are there good recipes from this famous
restaurant near the Sanctuario de Chimayo, but the
book also provides a very good history of traditional
cooking.
b. Comida Sabrosa: Home Style
Southwestern Cooking
Irene Barraza Sanchez and Gloria Sanchez Yund
The name of the cookbook translates as "Tasty
Food" and lives up to it. The recipes are easy to
follow.
c. The New High Altitude Cookbook
Beverly Anderson and Donna Hamilton
With elevations around 7,000 feet in Santa
Fe and Taos, climbing to over 11,000 feet in
the Taos Ski Valley, the need to understand
cooking requirements at high altitudes is very
important. Just remember, Albuquerque is
100 feet higher than Denver which, at an
elevation of 5,280 feet is called "The Mile
High City"! The first time you try to cook rice
here, you will find this cookbook, with its
advice on cooking at higher elevations, very
handy.
d. Chefs Of Taos: Passion and Process
Zoe Zimmerman
An attractively illustrated compendium of favorite chef recipes
fromTaos.
e. Culinary New Mexico - The
Ultimate Food Lover's Guide
Sally Moore
Information and recipes on dining, bakeries, food festivals,
cooking schools, speciality food stores and wineries.
f. Coyote Cafe
Mark Miller
Chef Miller combines old and new world flavors to arrive at something
fascinating and original.
g. The Pink Adobe Cookbook
Priscilla and Joseph Hoback
Favorite recipes from the celebrated Santa Fe restaurant.
h. Cafe Pasquel's Cookbook -
Spirited Recipes from Santa Fe
Katharine Kagel
Illustrated with stunning hand-tinted photographs and lively
Mexican popular art. Includes recipes most requested from this
landmark Santa Fe restaurant.
Back to the Top
Gardening
The climate, elevation, levels
of rainfall, and air quality vary greatly
in different parts of New Mexico. One can go from 3,000 feet
in Carlsbad
to the highest point, Mt. Wheeler at 13,600 feet.
The Gardening books we recommend take these factors into consideration,
as well as others such as soil conditions and the increasingly
important concern for
water-efficient plants and trees. All will assist you in becoming
a successful
New Mexican gardener.
a. New Mexico Gardener's Guide
Judith Phillips
Phillips has written a number of very successful books on gardening
in the Southwest.
b. Best Plants For New Mexico
Gardens And Landscapes
Baker K. Morrow
Colorfully illustrated, this is a good book of advice in choosing
plants to suit
different areas and needs.
c. Xeriscape Handbook
G. Weinstein
A thorough analysis of and guide to planting for maximal water-conservation.
d. The Landscaping Revolution
Andy Wasowski
The author is a resident of New Mexico and offers an analysis
of the growing changes
in attitude about tailored gardens and the need to regognize
native plants in planning landscaping.
The lessons for understanding the special enviornment of New
Mexico are clear.
e. First Garden Series: How
to Get Started in Rocky Mountain Gardening
Rob Proctor
The basics for any first-time gardener and a useful guide to
regional gardening.
f. Southern Rocky Mountain Gardens:
A Native Plant Selection Guide for Elevations 6500-9580 Feet
Native Plant Society of New Mexico
An excellent selection of which native plants grow in six habitats
- Taos is "sage scrub" - with color photographs.
g. The Zen of Gardening in the
High and Arid West
David Wann
For the gardeners of the high plains and mountains who are "meterologically
and topographically challenged".
h. Growing Food in the Southwest
Mountains: A Permaculture Approach to Home Gardening Above 6500
Feet
Lisa Rayner
Useful information for new gardeners to this area: cold climate
gardening, high altitude sunlight, the wind, native pests and
much more.
Back to the Top
Travel
and Recreation
Visitors to New Mexico and the
Southwest will find
a host of helpful travel guides to make their trip
more enjoyable. The available guides, standards such
as Fodor's, Frommer's, Access, Insight, and others
are all useful in planning. Specific guidebooks
for recreation, or a listing of Bed & Breakfasts, will be
more detailed than the general books, so your needs will
determine the kind of guide you should consult. One rule
of thumb we advise is to look at dates of publication in
the guides. In general, it is best to have a guide that is
not more than two years in print, owing to the possibility
of rates in hotels changing, restaurants no longer being
in existence, and so on. A book two years old means
it is, of necessity, older than that because of the time
required to prepare the text, move it to publication and
distribution. And things do change.
The guidebooks to be listed here
are those dealing with
specific New Mexico recreational activities which will
not be well covered in the general guides. A few of the key
books in each area will be presented.
Before we get to these guides,
we recommend that you
pick up a copy of a book that you should keep in the
glove compartment of your car, so that when you come
upon a name of a town that may puzzle you or which you
would like to have in translation, it will be readily at hand.
¿ Ojo Caliente ? It means "Hot Spring."
Yes, ojo means
"eye" in Spanish, but it also means a spring of water.
The
book: a. Place Names Of New Mexico by Robert Julyan
b. New Mexico Route 66 on Tour:
Legendary Architecture from Glenrio to Gallup
Don
J. Usner
Filled with photos and tour guides to
the architecture along famed Route 66, the book provides a colorful
historical perspective.
c.New Mexico Guide: A Definitive
Guide to the Land of Enchantment
Don and Barbara Laine
d. New Mexico Discovery Guide
Don and Betty Martin
This is a
good source of historic and beautiful rural sights as well as
a guide to places to eat and stay, including RV information.
e. New Mexico Off the Beaten
Track: A Guide to Unique Places
Todd Staats
While this book covers a good many of the usual enjoyable
places to visit in New Mexico, there are a number of recommendations
not generally found in other guide books.
f.. Frommer's Pocket Guide to
New Mexico
Always reliable as a travel series,
Frommer's has developed a guide to New Mexico filled with valuable
information and color maps to help you find your way around the
area.
g. Lonely Planet - Santa Fe
and Taos
An excellent, as always, guide to indoor and outdoor adventuring.
Quite complete.
Back to the Top
Hot Springs
New Mexico is replete with hot
springs where you can soak in scenic beauty while learning about
the history of the area. You may well be relaxing in the same
springs used by early Native Americans. Two guides to the springs:
Touring New Mexico Hot Springs
Matt Bischoff
Enchanted Waters: A Guide to
New Mexico's Hot Springs
Craig
Martin
Restaurants
New Mexico Chow
Scott Shardt
Order a picnic to go from the Gypsy Cafe - let them choose. A
complete restaurant guide.
Back to the Top
Fly-Fishing
"The
charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit
of what is elusive, but attainable, a perpetual
series of occasions for hope."
--- John Buchan
Fly-fishing in New Mexico is a
popular form of recreation,
with excellent streams around the State. Among the books
to consult:
a. Taylor Streit's No Nonsense
Guide To Fly Fishing in New Mexico and his new hardcover
Instinctive Fly Fishing: A Guide's Guide to Better Fishing
(autographed)
Taylor Streit
Streit is one of the leading guides in New Mexico and, in
this guidebook, leads you to the top 20 fly-fishing waters
in New Mexico.
b. Fly-Fishing In Southern New
Mexico
Rex Johnson, Jr. And Ronald Smorynski
This is a guide to some fine, little known trout waters in
New Mexico.
Back to the Top
Hiking
One of the favorite recreational
activities in New Mexico
is hiking. Hiking its breathtaking scenery, which varies
from high desert to mountains, is an opportunity for pleasure
not often to be found. It can also prove a challenge and
a hazard. One of the finest hiking areas is around Mt.
Wheeler, 13,160 feet in elevation. The elevation, com-
bined with low humidity, can create problems. When the
sun goes down in the desert-- and Northern New Mexico
is high desert country-- the temperature drops rapidly and
the tee-shirts and shorts appropriate for the day suddenly
become inadequate. The books we will list deal with
safety tips, health considerations, levels of difficulty for
the hiking trails recommended and contain maps, all of
which will help you plan a safe, enjoyable experience.
Just remember several key points:
The city of Albuquerque is
100 feet higher than Denver (at 5,280 feet the "Mile High
City")!
Santa Fe and Taos are at around 7,000 feet, going up to the Taos
Ski Valley
can take you up to 11,000 feet and as we noted, Wheeler Peak
stands
13,160 feet. And the humidity is normally very low.
These cautionary tales are designed
to acquaint you
with important safety factors. Dress carefully-layers
which can be removed or added as temperatures change- are recommended.
Take plenty of water because of the low humidity, and don't overdo
it until
you have adjusted to the high, dry environment. Hold off on alcohol
until you have adjusted.
a. Hiking New Mexico
Laurence Parent
A good overall look at opportunities for hiking
in New Mexico
b. Red River Trails
J. Rush Pierce
The area covered is the beautiful Red River area in
Northern New Mexico, an area still rich in mining
history. The guide has hikes of varying difficulty,
including some for novices who wish to start in a
lovely landscape.
c. 75 Hikes In New Mexico
Craig Martin
There is a good collection of detailed trail maps that
enhance the guide.
d. Day Hikes In The Taos Area
Kay Matthews
You will find many truly beautiful hikes discussed in this
little guide book.
e. New Mexico's Wilderness Areas:
The Complete Guide.
Robert Julyan
This is an excellent, comprehensive guide to the state's beautiful
wilderness areas.
f. Guide To The Hiking Areas
Of New Mexico
Mike Hill
A well-illustrated guide to 48 hiking areas in New Mexico.
With maps and photographs as well as history of the areas, levels
of difficulties and access.
g. The Hiker's Guide To The
Enchanted Circle
Karen Kalen
The Enchanted Circle is the area that includes Taos, Red River,
Cimarron, Questa, Eagle Nest and Angel Fire, a lovely experience
to drive and a fine source of hiking trails, well documented
in this
book.
h. The Lakes Of New Mexico
Andy Sandersier
A more general guide to the State's lakes, it offers information
on places for hiking and fishing, camp sites and facilities.
i. Hiking New Mexico's Gila
Wilderness
Bill Cunningham and Polly Burke
A detailed guide to hiking this beautiful part of
New Mexico, it provides useful maps and data needed for hiking,
including levels of difficulty for the various areas.
Back to the Top
Cycling
a. Mountain Biking New Mexico
- 2nd Edition
Sarah Bennett Alley
New
Mexico is a haven for mountain bikers and this guide provides
crucial information on such key topics as ride distance, time
in and out, tread (e.g. dirt road) and aerobic level of difficulty.
Along with providing maps of the trails, it is a good guide for
both beginners and accomplished mountain bikers.
Back to the Top
Skiing
New Mexico is world renowned for
the excellence of its ski areas such as Taos,
but there are no books at present which cover the
various opportunities. A very good history of ski area development
with a touching tribute to Ernie Blake, the Swiss who started
Taos
Ski Valley is:
a. Ski Pioneers
Rick Richards
While downhill skiing is exceedingly
popular in New Mexico and
surrounding states such as Utah and Colorado, there are many
opportunities for cross-country skiing. One fine guide:
b. Cross-Country Skiing In New Mexico
Kay Matthews
Back to the Top
|
