this is an enjoyable read for children and adults. It is here that I learned that Samuel de Champlain was the first white man to shoot an Indian, that Remember Baker lost his thumb in a fight for property rights, and that Vermont was the first state to forbid slavery in its constitution. The book mentions Vermont's ethnic (Black, Finish, Welch, Indian...) populations, and it reviews women's rights and contributions. It praises :( Act 250 as a model for controlling rural development. Yet, with all this 'grown-up' information, this book IS enjoyable for children and the stories are appealing. The book is very well arranged, so choosing a topic is easy. Line drawings in the margin encourage imaginative thinking and 'bookmark' information. There is an index, timeline, bibliography, and a list of interesting Vermont facts. We have used this book to teach Vermont history to five of our children (3rd and 4th grade level). I will continue to look for interesting, readable Vermont history books, but I HIGHLY recommend this book for reading by both children and adults.