FICTION

The Twelve Days of Christmas

by Emma RANDALL
illus. by Emma Randall. 32p. Penguin Workshop. Oct. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780515157635.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—Those looking for a new, visual representation of the popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" have come to the right place. The lyrics are simple but the illustrations are lovingly painted and absolutely charming. Each spread features delicate borders of holly, drums, flowers, bows, and other decorative flourishes, and the diverse cast of characters and animals are drawn with sweet, smiley expressions. Artistically inclined children will appreciate details such as the designs on the ladies' dresses, the lords' outfits, and the pipers' uniforms, as well as the escapades of a certain goose with a maid's milk bucket. At the end of the story, the boy who is the true love of the little brown-haired girl emerges and they smile at each other, bringing many days of bounteous gift-giving to an end.
VERDICT Not a must-buy since so many editions of the text exist, but this is an appealing stocking stuffer and an adequate addition to most libraries.
Reviewed by Rita Law, Los Angeles Public Library
The carol's traditional lyrics are illustrated with colorful folk art on sturdy cardstock pages. While the art is otherwise lovely, the little girl narrator is pictured as stiff and doll-like. As the gifts accumulate, the pages get more crowded with a pleasingly diverse cast of lords a-leaping, ladies dancing, etc., and the twelfth-day spread is quite cheery. A pretty but optional addition to holiday collections.
 , Jun 01, 2018

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