Maine has always been a magical place for me and many others. People flock to Maine to see, experience and live within its pristine forests, its rocky coasts and its quaint towns. There are three types of people who find themselves in Maine. Some of us were lucky enough to have been born and bred here. Some come to Maine for a short vacation. As these people enter the state, most of them drive past a sign at the border that says, “Maine–worth a visit, worth a lifetime.” Usually, by the time they depart Maine’s borders, they agree whole-heartedly. Some of them have such a good time that they become the third kind of person who shares a bit of time in Maine – the kind of person who has left another place to settle down where life is slower and simpler, but richer nonetheless.

Now, Maine certainly isn’t the only pretty place on Earth. Maine certainly is beautiful, but there’s something more than just plain beauty that brings people flocking here year after year. There’s a hidden magic in Maine that few people can pinpoint. It’s a wild, wonderful force that permeates the land and the sea. It’s what has drawn artists, and writers and just plain vacationers to Maine since time immemorial. The magic of Maine is a shy magic. But if you’re quiet, and patient, you can catch glimpses of it.

Playing in the shadowy mud of the forest, skipping rocks into the cold Atlantic Ocean and turning over every rock I could find is why I have discovered these hidden gems. I have discovered worlds that are found by children every day and dismissed by adults just as quickly. Captured in the leaves of this book are the records of the creatures that have revealed themselves to me. This is a field guide to the magic that has made Maine its home, and the reason why we feel blessed to have shared a bit of time in Maine.