A centuries-old favorite holiday carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was one of the first to celebrate the secular tradition of gift-giving. This sumptuously illustrated version features not only the gifts of a suitor to his true love but a loving family's Christmas preparations, how to say "Merry Christmas" in 12 different language, and a vast array of charming woodland animals. Full color.
Twelve Days of Christmas ANNOTATION A young woman's true love sends her extravagant gifts on each of the twelve days of Christmas.
FROM THE PUBLISHER Jan Brett's The Twelve Days of Christmas has long been a holidayfavorite. Now this classic picture book is a charming board book for sharing the wonder and magic of Christmas with the youngest readers. And like the board book editions of The Mitten and The Hat, it will be the perfect
FROM THE CRITICS Publishers Weekly ``On the first day of Christmas,/ My true love gave to me/ A partridge in a pear tree.'' A straightforward beginning to a carol that grows increasingly complicated as both the list of presents and the numbers involved accumulate. Brett's lavish treatment of the song portrays various levels of meaning; she has illustrated the fantastic gifts in outrageous splendor (seven swans swim in folkloric Russian headdresses), turned them into a border of tree decorations, included a menagerie of animals carrying banners with ``Merry Christmas'' in different languages, and set into the outer edges of each page an ongoing story about a family's preparations for the big day itself. In the final frame, the decorated tree serves as the centerpiece for their own caroling. The artist demonstrates, once again, that she will not relinquish a project before every last glorious detail is in place; the clarity of her vision is stunning. (All age)
Publishers Weekly Jan Brett's interpretation of The Twelve Days of Christmas returns as a board edition. PW said, "[Brett] illustrates the fantastic gifts in outrageous splendor,... turns them into a border of tree decorations, includes a menagerie of animals carrying banners with `Merry Christmas' in different languages and sets into the outer edges of each frame an ongoing story about a family's preparations for the big day itself." Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Not only will Brett's fans be enthralled by her version of this Christmas song, but also anyone who picks it up will enjoy the vibrant illustrations and the delightful story within the story. The center panels relate to the song while the side panels tell a story of a young couple and their family finding and decorating their holiday tree. Christmas greetings are offered in a dozen languages and skillfully woven into the corner illustrations. Now available in board book form, this delightful book will be enjoyed by a whole new generation of little ones. 2004 (orig. 1986), Putnam, Ages 2 to 5. Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot Not only will Brett's fans be enthralled by her version of this Christmas song, but also anyone who picks it up will enjoy the vibrant illustrations and the delightful story within the story. The center panels relate to the song while the side panels tell a story of a young couple and their family finding and decorating their holiday tree. Christmas greeting are offered in a dozen languages and an Editor's Note provides some background about the song, the text and music of which appear on the opening pages.
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