Knee-Deep in Blazing Snow: Growing Up in Vermont

A student of one of America's most beloved poets, Robert Frost, the young James Hayford was a native of Vermont. It was at Amherst College that he studied with Frost who became more than a teacher to him. Frost believed in Hayford and offered him $1,000 if he would stay in American and spend his time writing poetry. In 1935 that amount of money was enough for Hayford to live on for a whole year, and he accepted. We're grateful that he did for he has left the world a treasure of poems about New England, capturing its beauty and its hardships. "Knee-Deep In Blazing Snow," a collection especially edited for young readers, covers the four seasons of the year beginning with Summer and "Hay-Jumpers": "When hay was put in loose, We jumpers had our use...." A reminder of the fun youngsters had jumping in the hay. Autumn is heralded with "Night Milking Time" and Winter with "First Snow": "Blanketing fields that lately were bare brown, Let this soft midnight snow brings blessings down On all the people in the little town." Special pleasure is found in reading Hayford's poems aloud and, of course, the talented Michael McCurdy's woodcuts are the perfect accompaniment to this collection subtitled "Growing Up In Vermont." - Gail Cooke

This gentle book of poetry is wonderful and would make a good gift for anyone fond of New England and the outdoors, be they child or adult. James Hayford was encouraged by meeting Robert Frost when young, and went on to be an evocative, if unjustly overlooked, poet. The title of the book suggests his grasp of imagery, and skilful rhyme and meter predominate throughout. In the Frost tradition, Hayford's style is not flowery, but simple and direct. In four sections (one devoted to each season, as expertly selected by the book's editors), he celebrates the simple joys of jumping in hay, spotting wildlife, playing in snow, trains in the distance, etc. Gorgeous black and white scratchboard illustrations by Michael McCurdy add to the quiet enjoyment.