THE MAINE CHRISTMAS SONG
by Con Fullam illustrated by Cynthia Baker
A picture-book adaptation of Fullam’s popular song about the virtues of sharing and community togetherness.
An unnamed narrator says that long ago, when “roads were made of crushed rock and earth,” Christmas gifts were handmade and spiritually centered, and neighbors cared for one another. Although times have changed, there remains “a small corner of the earth where old values have not been lost,” the narrator explains—in Maine, where neighbors visit and bring gifts of food or offer to take kids for sleigh rides. Fullam shares traditions that focus on the power of giving in a picture book that’s half straightforward prose and half rhyming lyrics from the author’s song, included as sheet music at the end. Despite this shift from prose to poetry, the book flows well, and a feeling of Christmas spirit shines through in both formats. Baker’s painted illustrations showcase a diverse small-town community with residents of different ages, abilities, and skin tones. The realistic flora and fauna on many pages give the setting a tangible feel so that the warmth of a fireplace or cuddling cats seems to radiate from the pages. The idyllic nature of the images and poetry sheds a rosy glow on the holiday season, which many readers will appreciate.
A cozy, down-home tale of Christmas in New England.