The Twelve Days of Christmas

Jan Brett

2019 • 30 pages

Ratings4

Average rating4.8

"On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me A partridge in a pear tree." For many centuries young and old alike have been singing about the maids a-milking, the lords a-leaping, and a partridge in a pear tree. A Christmas carol, a parlor game, and a delightful counting song-The Twelve Days of Christmas- is indeed a favorite of the holiday season. In this book, sumptuously illustrated by Jan Brett, all the splendid images of The Twelve Days of Christmas come joyously alive. Look closely and you'll see not only the extravagant gifts given by a suitor to his lady, but a love story, a family's busy Christmas preparations, "Merry Christmas" in eleven languages, and a veritable menagerie of charming creatures. Jan Brett's exquisitely detailed illustrations so rich in traditional folk motifs, make this book a visual treat to be enjoyed over and over again.

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Margaret

We have an older board book edition ([b:The Twelve Days of Christmas 6021308 The Twelve Days of Christmas Jan Brett https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309204922l/6021308.SX50.jpg 29503]) and I'm glad that they are reprinting this one again. It is one of our book choices for school, which year I would have to go check my shelf because we pretty much read it every year when we pull out the Christmas themed books. It is from the Preschool-2nd Grade era, but even my 5th Grade daughter still enjoys pouring over these illustrated pages as she reads to her siblings. The illustrations bring back Christmas memories of years past and are lovely to look at it. I read this via a temporary eBook galley via Edelweiss.

February 14, 2019

Amalia Gkavea

‘'And a partridge in a pear tree.''

Because, obviously.

When I start humming the tune of this most classic of songs, I know that I have finally entered the ‘'Christmas mood'' phase and all the hullabaloo of decorations, festivities, and whatnot is about to be unleashed. When I was about 7 years old, this song was a part of our Christmas performance in English school. I fell in love with its strange lyrics (as I perceived them to be back in the day...) and its unusual melody.

This book is a visual homage to the traditional song dedicated to the Twelve Days of Christmas, from December 25th to January 6th, the famous Twelfth Night, beautifully illustrated by Jan Brett. There is a melancholic aura of nostalgia for the good old Christmas days when everything was simple and true and kind. Less commercial, less frenetic, less artificial. The beauty of the love shared between two people, the gathering of the family, the coziness and warmth are perfectly depicted in this little treasure.

Now, I can't wait to hear my youngest students practically screaming (bless them...) ''...and a paaartridge in a pear treeeee.''

Because this is what Christmas is all about. The joy, the laughter, the love. Even if there are certain human beings' who would rejoice if Christmas were...abolished. But that's another story, for another time...

Many thanks to G. B. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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