Merry Christmas, Anne

Just in time for the holiday season, Merry Christmas, Anne is a beautifully illustrated picture book inspired by L. M. Montgomery’s classic novel, Anne of Green Gables. This title captures one moment in time, that is, Anne’s first Christmas in Avonlea. She is set to recite poems at the school’s Christmas concert and is experiencing a “fluttery feeling” in her stomach and is “so nervous [she] almost faint[s].” While she’s preparing, a variety of characters from Montgomery’s version are mentioned, such as her “bosom friend”, Diana, and Gilbert Blythe. Thinking of these new friends and her adopted parents inspires Anne to give a spirited performance, and, later, to express great thanks for these “kindred spirits”.

Written in a lyrical style imbued with nostalgic phrases from the original work, Merry Christmas, Anne will appeal to the children of parents who read Montgomery’s classic. They will appreciate the subtle nods to the original work and will be able to explain the importance of various characters. This particular iteration assumes the reader has some knowledge of the original novel; for instance, there is no explanation of who Matthew or Marilla are. At the same time, Anne’s relations with other characters are clearly articulated, such as Anne’s identifying Diana as her best friend.

Merry Christmas, Anne is clearly an insider’s kind of picture book that is best appreciated by über fans but also by those who enjoyed the author’s other Anne-inspired titles for children, such as Goodnight, Anne, and the Anne chapter book series.

Note that the illustrations are marvelous, imbued with a subtle grainy quality that adds to the magical atmosphere of Avonlea. The colour pencil work is fine and detailed, featuring rich hues of forest green and mustard yellow. These features, along with the expressive writing, result in a title that is highly recommended.