HOLIDAY BOOKS & MUSIC

The familiar poem turned Christmas hymn was written by Longfellow in 1864. As the Civil War raged, Longfellow was confident that "the wrong shall fail/the right prevail" and that peace and goodwill would once again be on earth. Printed on watercolor weight paper. 12 blank cards with envelopes per box.

Venture back in time to December 1620, as a group of pilgrims from England celebrate their first American Christmas-aboard the Mayflower. Having arrived barely a month earlier with no time to build adequate shelter on land, they were forced to weather the harsh winds and rains of New England winters onboard ship. Stowe captures their struggle for survival and their celebration of spirit under the harshest conditions with the same attention to cultural detail as in her renowned 1852 bestseller, "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Originally published in 1876 in a collection of short stories, "First Christmas" is now available on its own with illustrations by Joseph Crawhill. Hardcover. 44 pgs.

Created exclusively for Maine Historical Society by local children's author & illustrator Jennie Brett. Beginning December 1st, open one window each day to reveal a Longfellow related image! Will it be one of the characters Longfellow created such as Evangeline or Hiawatha? Or maybe it will be family members, his dog Trap, or maybe even Henry Wadsworth Longfellow himself! Full of colorful illustrations to delight the whole family. Measures 9x12 and comes with a mailing envelope.

A lush and lively book based on the traditional holiday carol. Readers of all ages will delight in learning about the hardworking people who treasure and share Maine's rich gifts, from shrimpers and bakers to clam diggers and knitters. Winner of the Spark Award. Full color illustrations throughout. Hardcover. 34 pgs.

Ever since it was published in 1978, the picture-book presentation of Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" has been an enduring favorite. For this special edition with a new design, trim size, and three new spreads, Susan Jeffers has added more detail and subtle color to her sweeping backgrounds of frosty New England scenes. There are more animals to find among the trees, and the kindly figure with his "promises to keep" exudes warmth as he stops to appreciate the quiet delights of winter. The handsome new vellum jacket will attract new and old fans as it evokes a frost-covered windowpane. This celebration of a season makes an ideal holiday gift for a child, a teacher, or a host. Robert Frost (1874-1963) is one of America's most celebrated poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Hardcover. 32 pgs.