Pine Barrens Childrens Books

[MikeBickerson]

It dawned on me recently that I've rarely seen any children's books about the Pines. The can only think I've three:

"A Devil in the Pines" by Jacqueline Seewald
"Blackbeard the pirate and other stories of the Pine Barrens" by Larona Homer
"The Shore Ghosts and Other Stories of New Jersey" by Lorona Homer

And to be honest, the Homer books aren't very good. Does anyone know of any other children's books? As a future elementary school teacher, it would be good if I were to start collecting them.

 

[woodjin]

Bob (bobpbx) has an old pine barrens childerns book which is probably way out o f print. I can't remember the name.

Jeff

 

[bobpbx]

Yes, a friend of mine, Barry (you may know him) loaned it to me. It is uniquely Pine Barren and was actually fun and easy to read. Especially since I get excited about finding rare plants in the pines. Here is a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Stalw...ef=sr_1_3/105-1124993-3502040?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[LARGO]

This might be a small help Mike

In the interest of your future students....
I don't know so much about kid oriented Pines books but when I was young...ger I had a subscription to New Jersey Outdoors. Aside from all of N.J. they usually had a nice piece or two in any given issue on South Jersey and Jersey Pines as well as a good diddy on Hunting and fishing the Jersey Woods & Shores. I think it was a very kid friendly publication and while you will have to go on the hunt for old issues and their info may be a little dated in some cases, I think they would make a nice addition to your learning tools if you want to put some focus on the the Pines & such. Good luck though with whatever you look for.
There is an antique shop right here by my work that has some 60's issues.
They are neat. Small handbook like jobbies. They don't want much for 'em so I think I'll pick them up.

Books, there are plenty of scholarly types on this site. Someone get on it!

G.

 

[Jerseyman]

Books, there are plenty of scholarly types on this site. Someone get on it!

G.

LARGO:

Here is a fairly comprehensive list of Pineland fiction. If anyone can add to it, I would be delighted to hear from them!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

P.S. I should add here that this list comprises books about the Pinelands only and does not touch upon any books about the coastal areas, such as Barnegat, Cape May, etc.

Pineland Fiction [(J)=juvenile]
Bacheller, Irving
In the Days of Poor Richard
Bateman, Robert
Whitman’s Tomb
Pinelands
Beck, Henry C.
Death by Clue
A New Jersey Reader
Bianco, Margery
Forward Commandos!
Carpenter, P.L.
Sympathy for the Devil
Causey, Wayne
Jersey Devil
Cazzola, Gus
To Touch the Deer
Chamberlain, George Agnew
The Red House
Midnight Boy
Dahlstedt, Marden
The Stopping Place (J)
Davis, Lavinia
Barren Heritage (J)
DeMarco, Kathleen
Cranberry Queen
Dixon, Franklin W.
Outlaw’s Silver (J)
Delaney, Harris
One Kiss Led to Another
Dunbar, Robert
The Pines
Ford, Marcia
Nurse in the Pinelands
Fox, George
Warlord’s Hill
Girard, Geoffrey
Tales of the Jersey Devil
Greer, Charles
Soot Devil (J)
Homer, Leona
Blackbeard the Pirate (J)
Hoppenstedt, Elbert M.
The Mystery of the Stalwart (J)
McCloy, James F.
The Jersey Devil
Phantom of the Pines
McMahon, William
Pine Barrens, Legends Lore and Lies
McNeer, May Young
Stranger in the Pines (J)
Matheny, Joseph
Ong’s Hat
Markowitz, Jeff
Who is Killing Doah’s Deer
Meader, Stephen
Shadow in the Pines (J)
Monesson, Harry S.
Knibblers in the Sands, Sand Sharks in the Pines
Moore, Albert
The Moor of America
Moore, Ruth U.
Danger in the Pines (J)
Oates, Joyce Carol
The Barrens
Peterson, Charles J.
Kate Aylesford (J)
Phillips, Ethel C.
Pyxie : A Little Boy of the Pines
Raybold, George A.
The Fatal Feud
Repp, Gloria
Night Flight
St. Clare, Katherine
To Tell Me Terrible Lies
As the Day the Night
Seaman, Augusta Huiell
The Pine Barrens Mystery (J)
Seewald, Jacqueline
A Devil in the Pines (J)
Tomlinson, Everett
Three Young Continentals (J)
Viele, Herman K.
Myra of the Pines (J)
Vining, Elizabeth G.
Margery Moore in the Pine Woods (J)
Warrick, Bessie
A Romance of the Jersey Pines
Wilson, F. Paul
The Barrens and Others
Yevish, Isaac
Burnt Tavern Road
Ironmaster

 

[LARGO]

Jerseyman,
Pines fiction ( Of which I've read some, seems some writers just don't use the facts of the pines to set the stage proper in their books, thus making them fictional in all aspects ) as well as Pines fact of which the list is endless, still lacks for the most part I think what Mike is shooting for.
I like the idea of informed kiddies where the region is concerned but reading that would be deemed " fun for the littlins' " is scant.

I do appreciate that list by the way. Looks like some good stuff this Big Kid will be looking into. Thanks much !
G.

 

[Jerseyman]

Jerseyman,
Pines fiction ( Of which I've read some, seems some writers just don't use the facts of the pines to set the stage proper in their books, thus making them fictional in all aspects ) as well as Pines fact of which the list is endless, still lacks for the most part I think what Mike is shooting for.
I like the idea of informed kiddies where the region is concerned but reading that would be deemed " fun for the littlins' " is scant.

I do appreciate that list by the way. Looks like some good stuff this Big Kid will be looking into. Thanks much !
G.

LARGO:

There is much truth in what you write. There are few GOOD Pinelands fiction books for children (or adults, for that matter!), even though many of the authors hail from Jersey. Collectively, they demonstrate, for the most part, complete ignorance of their story setting. Regarding the adult reads, I have provided the list without comment or annotation and choose not to endorse any of the titles--some of them being gosh awful! I have included all books encountered merely as a Pinelands fiction bibliography. Sounds like a great opportunity exists for someone knowledgable about the Pinelands and given to authoring fiction!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[LARGO]

A little something

In a previous post on this thread I mentioned some old New Jersey Outdoors issues in a little shop near where I work. I went there today and read through and bought a couple. Really neat stuff although since published by Division of Fish and Game they are very Hunty/Fishy, fauna oriented. Actually I think they would be nice nostalgic reference for like a Scott or other hunter type to have. Interesting deer and fish stats from their period. the issues are 1964,1965,1966. I won't plug the shop but they are only 1 buck a piece. There are about 20 left. I would gladly pick them up if anybody wanted them and just mail them to you.

In the back pages of these is a "violaters roundup" section. Hilarious.
A lot of the norm hunting/fishing infractions but I particularly love the term on a few offenses regarding "posession of an illegal missile" carrying a fine of $100.00

 

[Jacqueline Seewald]

I noted that you mention my book A DEVIL IN THE PINES. The reason I originally wrote the book was because I found so little information on the Jersey Devil and the Pine Barrens for children. I was an educational media specialist working at the elementary school level at the time. I decided to write a faction book to facilitate fourth grade projects. Eventually, I spoke to Afton Publishing and gave them a copy of the book. I'm still fascinated with New Jersey history and am always glad to find new publications about our state.

 

[Teegate]

I noted that you mention my book A DEVIL IN THE PINES.

Wow! It is so very nice to see you have posted on this subject. Welcome!

How did you find out you were mentioned?

Guy

 

[james ungehajer]

pine barrens books

I noted that you mention my book A DEVIL IN THE PINES. The reason I originally wrote the book was because I found so little information on the Jersey Devil and the Pine Barrens for children. I was an educational media specialist working at the elementary school level at the time. I decided to write a faction book to facilitate fourth grade projects. Eventually, I spoke to Afton Publishing and gave them a copy of the book. I'm still fascinated with New Jersey history and am always glad to find new publications about our state.

welcome to the site,jacqueline.

 

[Jerseyman]

I noted that you mention my book A DEVIL IN THE PINES. The reason I originally wrote the book was because I found so little information on the Jersey Devil and the Pine Barrens for children. I was an educational media specialist working at the elementary school level at the time. I decided to write a faction book to facilitate fourth grade projects. Eventually, I spoke to Afton Publishing and gave them a copy of the book. I'm still fascinated with New Jersey history and am always glad to find new publications about our state.

Jacqueline:

It is a distinct pleasure to meet you--at least here on the forums! Your presence as a fellow author adds a great dimension to our discussions. Welcome in!!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[MikeBickerson]

My friend and I talked it over and we are going to attempt to put a picture book together. He graduated from art school a little while back (he did our cd cover for anyone that's seen it), and I know a bit about the Pines and children, so we'll see if we can work it out. I've never attempted to write children's literature before, but I know what I like and hate about it.

So now I just need to brainstorm some ideas. My best one so far is to try and do Dr. James Still as a) he lead a facinating life and b) he connects history, the environment, and a moral message (work hard and you can succeed even when it seems impossible) very well .

I mentioned children's books to Marilyn down at Buzbys, and she said that she hasn't seen very many either. She did have a copy of a coloring book/story book that someone had done about life in historic Batsto (I believe John Pearce did the writing), which was written and organized fairly well, but not appropriately illustrated (the kids really couldn't color it, too many tiny details).

 

[MikeBickerson]

Jacqueline ~ You did an excellent job with your book!

 

[Jerseyman]

My friend and I talked it over and we are going to attempt to put a picture book together. He graduated from art school a little while back (he did our cd cover for anyone that's seen it), and I know a bit about the Pines and children, so we'll see if we can work it out. I've never attempted to write children's literature before, but I know what I like and hate about it.

So now I just need to brainstorm some ideas. My best one so far is to try and do Dr. James Still as a) he lead a facinating life and b) he connects history, the environment, and a moral message (work hard and you can succeed even when it seems impossible) very well .

I mentioned children's books to Marilyn down at Buzbys, and she said that she hasn't seen very many either. She did have a copy of a coloring book/story book that someone had done about life in historic Batsto (I believe John Pearce did the writing), which was written and organized fairly well, but not appropriately illustrated (the kids really couldn't color it, too many tiny details).

If there is anything I can do to foster your efforts or assist you, don't hesitate to ask!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

 

[MikeBickerson]

Thanks, I appreciate it! I'll definately need someone who is knowledgable to go through what I write and make sure that I didn't lose the history/facts in translation.

 

[woodjin]

Good Luck with it Mike!

Jeff

 

[Oriental]

Shadow in the Pines

There is great old adventure book set in the Jersey pines that was written in 1942 by Stephen Meader. A review:

"This swift-paced story of advanture in World War II, set in the New Jersey pine barrens back of the Fort Dix reservation, is perhaps the finest of Stephen Meader's long list of fine books for boys. Certainly no one will put this book down till he has finished it.
The story tells how Ted, a fifteen year-old piney boy, helped the U.S. army round up a gang of Nazi fifth-columnists threatening the safety of Fort Dix. The adventures are breathtaking, the pace does not falter a second, and in this, as in all of Meader's tales, the feeling for the outdoors is so strong that we even hear the warbler's song and smell the fresh scent of the pines after rain."

A friend loaned it to me a few years back and I just recently purchased a copy myself. I am looking forward to re-reading it. It makes many references to places in the pines - from Chatsworth to Forked River Mountains. I think anyone who is a regular to this site would enjoy the read. I'll bet the BC library has a copy. Check it out.

Rich