Review: The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Illustrated by Jane Ray

Publication date: 2011
Publisher: Orchard books
ISBN: 978-1-40830-703-8

Summary/Back cover:
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
This sumptuous edition of one of the most-loved and best-known traditional songs has been illustrated with exquisite style by Jane Ray.  A charming Christmas classic to be treasured for years to come.

Review:
The words in this book are simply the lyrics to The Twelve Days of Christmas, that we all love and/or hate!  The illustrations are a story in their own right though - we see the gift giver sneakily looking as his true love receives the gifts each day, and then he finally approaches her on the twelfth day.  The faces of the people in the book are a little bit odd-looking to me, but nothing that worries children at all.  They are lovely bright pictures that become increasingly cluttered as the song becomes cluttered, and then finishes on a much less cluttered note - very fitting for the song lyrics.

This book, being a Christmas song, has a limited lifespan each year in our house, but has been well received by both my 1 year old and 3 year old - my 3 year old has gone to bed singing the song to himself - usually with different lyrics though ("Five Thomas trains, four pillows, three bananas, two potties and a c-a-a-a-a-a-a-t").  However, it is a book that will be pulled out in December every year for a few weeks, and would make a lovely gift book.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book, you can find it here on Fishpond.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Review written by Bronwyn