Dean Bennett

Dean Bennett writes and illustrates books about nature, wilderness, and human relationships with the natural world. His book, Ghost Buck: The Legacy of One Man’s Family and Its Hunting Traditions, published by Islandport Press in 2015, won the John Cole Award, a Maine Literary Award. His other books include Maine’s Natural Heritage: Rare Species and Unique Natural Features (1988, Down East Books); Allagash: Maine’s Wild and Scenic River (1994, Down East Books); The Forgotten Nature of New England: A Search for Traces of the Original Wilderness (1996, Down East Books); Nature and Renewal: Wild River Valley and Beyond (2009, Tilbury House Publishers). His book The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm: A Story of Hope for the American Wild, Island Press, was awarded first place in the environment category for 2001 books by ForeWord Magazine. He also wrote and illustrated three children’s books, published by Down East Books: Everybody Needs a Hideaway, 2004; Finding a Friend in the Forest, 2005; and The Late Loon, 2006. Two received recognition by the Chicago Tribune and the National Wildlife Federation. His professional writing includes a book for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organization on the evaluation of environmental learning and a chapter in the international organization’s first book on environmental education.

Bennett was born and raised in western Maine. His writing draws on a diverse background of experience and education related to people and their environment. He holds a journeyman’s certificate in cabinetmaking and architectural millwork from the Maine State Apprenticeship Council, a BS in Industrial Arts Education, an MS in Science Education, and from the University of Michigan, a PhD in Resource Planning and Conservation. His career spans teaching all grade levels in public schools, work in state government, and many years as professor of science education at the University of Maine at Farmington. For nearly a decade he taught natural history and environmental education summer courses for teachers at Maine’s Conservation School in Bryant Pond.

Bennett has received several awards for his scholarship, teaching, and conservation work. He enjoys canoeing, hiking, deer hunting, playing a four-string jazz banjo, and playing in a steel drum band at the University of Maine at Augusta. He lives in Hallowell, Maine, with his wife, Sheila.