"Oh, What Fun...." Jingle Bells by Susan Jeffers

"Jingle Bells!"

Curious cows watch from the barn as a rosy-cheeked sister and brother hitch their white pony to a bright-green open sleigh. load up their little white terrier and a gaily wrapped present, and are soon off.

Dashing through the snow, they head out through the fields of snow, over hill and dale through the woods. But they are not alone as they leave their sleigh tracks behind in the hills.

A fox and then a rabbit spy on them as they pass, and the little terrier spots the rabbit, too, leaping from the sled to join the the chase with the fox until the bunny vanishes down his hole.

The kids stop their pony and clamber out to catch their runaway dog, as an otter in his white winter pelt slips into the pond and a snowy owl is startled out of his daytime nap, and a group of swans, also in winter white, momentarily corral the bouncy terrier. Where has that silly dog gone? The children drive on, just missing their pet with each page turn

And what do they see as a cozy cottage comes into view? Reindeer?

Who else can be visiting Grandma?

And inside they find Mr. and Mrs. Claus having tea and cookies, with the terrier already there on Santa's lap!

Oh, what fun!

There might be some presents for the kids as well, in Susan Jeffers' new artistic seasonal treat, Jingle Bells (Harper, 2017).  In her classic, old-fashioned paintings, done without a bit of digital media, Jeffers gives the youngest readers a taste of the joy of a sleigh ride through the winter woods, well portrayed with all the wildlife in their wintry garb along the way. She even adds a final touch, adding labeled thumbnail paintings of all the animals seen along the way in a double-page appendix. This newest holiday book joins Jeffers' evergreen Caldecott Honor book, The Nutcracker, her striking edition of The Twelve Days of Christmas, and her lovely version of Robert Frost's Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.. All are lush and visually delightful, and this latest Christmas gift from a talented national treasure is a must-have for holiday collections for youngsters.

"A perfect choice for reading or singing on wintry nights, says Kirkus Reviews.

On the Feast of Stephen: Good King Wenceslas illustrated by Omar Rayyan

From a tall, narrow window, King Wenceslas watched the sun hang on crimson clouds and die away. There, against a row of shadowy trees was a dark speck--a man, perhaps, stooped and serching for wood to warm his family.

"Come quickly, lad," called the King. "Look! Do you see him?"

"Is he one of us?"

"No, Sire," said his page. "None of us would be out there!"

On a mission to teach his young page the meaning of Christmas, King Wenceslas takes him out into the snow and darkness to bring food and cheer to the home of the peasant they see from the window of the king's chamber. This newly illustrated version of the familiar carol, often heard but not so often sung in its entirety.  Good King Wenceslas (Deseret, 2012), is retold by Jane Seymour and extravagantly illustrated by Omar Rayyan, both narrative and lyrics  illustrating the old carol's evergreen message:

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.

Seymour's stately retelling and Rayyan's sumptuous medieval-style illustrations make this one more than just another holiday story, augumented as it is by text boxes explaining the history of knights, castles and pages and with an accompanying CD of actress Jane Seymour's reading and the music of the carol performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Each Christmas brings its own beautiful book, such as Newbery authors Kate DiCamillo's Great Joy and Linda Sue Park's The Third Gift, both coincidentally and exquisitely illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Good King Wenceslas, with its glorious illustrations and timely retelling of the blessings of charity, seems to be that book for this season.

Counting the Days: The Twelve Days of Christmas by Dan Andreasen



ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS
MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME
TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING....

How does the partridge in the pear tree feel about being one-upped? The cute little partridge tot in Dan Andreasen’s timely The Twelve Days of Christmas (Sleeping Bear Press, 2012), is a bit overwhelmed by the holiday bru-ha-ha. And when you think about it, who wouldn’t be?

Eschewing the rococo Renaissance setting that many notable illustrators have brought  to this classic Yuletide carol, Dan Andreasen’s new version features a controlled  palette in slightly subdued pastel tints. His plump little partridge reacts to the growing crowd around him with a hint of hesitation, even though Andreasen’s multiplying characters are mostly a benevolent bunch, four French hens wearing (what else?) blue berets, seven milkmaid kitties in kirtles and caps, and nine waltzing lady bunnies. But as the crowd increases, even these characters can be intimidating, and as twelve drumming turtles tap-a-tap-tap their snares and all the other celebrants circle ‘round the center of attention, our little partridge huddles, wings over ears.

It’s all in good fun as the classic Christmas song brings the count back down to the reluctant little star, our little golden partridge. There are plenty of fabulously fancy editions of this carol–-Jan Brett’s sumptuous outing in her signature style, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and Laurel Long’s splendidly lavish, traditionally embellished The Twelve Days of Christmas. But for tots just coming to the song, Andreasen’s brand-new version hits just the right note.

Hang High the Holly: A Pirate's Twelve Days of Christmas by Philip Yates

'TWAS ON THE EVE OF YULETIDE

WHERE A SHIP SAILED THROUGH THE NIGHT.
ACROSS THE DARK AND BRINY DEEP
BENEATH THE STARS SO BRIGHT.

"AHOY, ME MATES!" THE CAP'N ROARED.
"'TIS TIME TO PLUNDER WRECKS--
EXCEPT FER YE, ME CABIN BOY--
YE'LL STAY AND SWAB THE DECKS."

The long-suffering cabin boy of the pirate ship Black Sark can't seem to catch a Christmas break. It's almost Yuletide, time for jolly ol' Sir Peggedy's annual visit, and all Cap'n has to say is "ARRGH! HUMBUG!"

But when our favorite swabby awakes the next morning, there's a surprise that brings a strangely familiar song to his lips, for on deck he finds

A PARROT IN A PALM TREE!

And the gifting continues for the next eleven days. Each day amazing items appear--two cutlasses, three black cats, four cacklin' hens, five chests of gold. There are Jolly Rogers, dolphins swimmin', mermaids singin', sloops a-sailin', swallows a-swoopin', and finally twelve pirates cheerin'! The piratical crew confesses that they have provided all the items in their song as their YARRful Yule gifts. And anchors aweigh, but there's jolly ol' Sir Peggedy hisself landin' on deck fer the big celebration.

Avast, all ye yulelubbers! Even grizzled marauders love to make merry, and Philip Yate's newest, A Pirate's Twelve Days of Christmas (Sterling) 2012), counts the days down to Christmas in briny, brawny buccaneer style. With its vivid, swirling illustrations by Sebastian Serra and its "Pirate Glossary," appended, all those landlubbin' mateys and hearties can weigh anchor and sail off with a new buccaneer carol for the holiday season. A perfect script for a primary-grade holiday production, this parody of the old song also pairs well with Yates' best-selling A Pirate's Night Before Christmas. (See my review here.)

Who Very Soon Will Come Our Way? Must Be Santa by Tim Moore and Pete Whitehead

WHO'S GOT A BEARD THAT'S LONG AND WHITE?

You know and I know who owns that iconic beard, but for those tots just coming into one of their first holiday seasons, this sturdy little book based on the familiar popular song, a staple of the season right up there with "Jingle Bells," is just in time to introduce them to everyone's favorite saint.

Featuring the familiar folk call-and-response format, Must Be Santa (Big Little Golden Book) offers charming double-page spreads, complete with red-clad Santa and his precious pack, gambling green-clad little elf helpers, and the requisite pajama-ed tots spying as he makes his rounds at the fireplace and Christmas tree, as one by one the questions of the song are posed.

In most cases, the following page features the answer, telling the reader that You-Know-Who has a beard that's long, white and so on through the song. Each call and answer has its own recap, as we work through the entire description of Santa, giving kids time to learn the answer and chime in with the verse or sing along with the song. With more jolly verses describing the whole operation, Santa's reindeer and sleigh, Santa soon coming our way...., the conclusion sums up the whole description with Santa's complete M.O., working backwards to the beginning:

CAP ON HEAD,
SUIT THAT'S RED,
SPECIAL NIGHT,
BEARD THAT'S WHITE...

It must be Santa who's coming our way with lots of anticipation for his visit from holiday newbies, and here to put some HO-HO-HO in the holidays is Tim Moore's new Must Be Santa (Big Little Golden Book) (Random House, 2011). Pete Whitehead provides the perky comic characters and all the trimmings, and the book's simple but effective design catches the infectious rhythm of the song to a T for tots.

Jaded adults may have heard this tune a time or two, but for tiny tots it's a great NEW song--easy to sing and offering learning opportunities in its cumulative format, recurring rhyme scheme, as well as great opportunities for the narrator to ham it up and for group singalong opportunities which make it a staple for seasonal storytimes. If you're rusty on the music, watch Raffi's traditional run-through for kids here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U7MZkSlsOU or for a refresher with a more offbeat adult presentation, Bob Dylan, complete with mystery fugitive, polka-dancing revelers, and look-alike accordionist, does it all here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus&ob=av2e

School Library Journal says, "Charming, colorful cartoon illustrations accompany the classic song written by Hal Moore and Bill Fredricks in 1960."

What? It's About a Bot? The Twelve Bots of Christmas by Nathan Hale

It had to happen! "A Visit from Saint Nicholas" has been spoofed about as many ways as it can be stretched and "Jingle Bells" has been jangled by every celeb, not to mention mewing cats and barking dogs. So why should "The Twelve Days of Christmas" be spared the parry of the parodist?

Nathan Hale's new The Twelve Bots of Christmas (Walker and Company, 2010) features a takeover of the traditional English folk song by a bunch of bots and their automated mates--a Cartridge in a Gear Tree, Two Turbo-Doves, and Three Wrench Hens--for starters, along with a zippy refrain:

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, ROBO-SANTA GAVE TO ME

FIVE BOT-O-RIES...."

And tons of batteries will be in order to power the rest of these robots, which include "six Geese-o-Matics" and "nine Droids a-dancing" on the way to the twelfth day. Hale's clever illustrations outshine his text, with lots of inside jokes for the gearhead cognoscenti concealed in the bright and shiny digital art. It's not a song for the traditionalist, of course, but the those motorheadz and bot boyz out there, it's a funny and punny way to count down to Christmas.