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A
Selected,
Annotated Bibliography
of Books about
Taos and New Mexico
prepared
by Arthur J. Bachrach
(page 3) |
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. No Way, Jose!, Coyote and Co.: Native
American Folk Tales, The Day It Snowed Tortillas
Joe Hayes
All of these books will delight children and adults:
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.
m. Juan the Bear and the Water of Life (La
Acequia de Juan del Oso)
Enrique La Madrid and Estevan Arellano
Illustrated by Amy Cordova. Folklore of the beginnings of the
acequia system written in both English and Spanish
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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