The Twelve Days of Christmas

The illustrations are beautiful and we loved searching for all the hidden images.

"The Twelve Days of Christmas," illustrated by Laurel Long, is an absolute gem to be treasured by your family for years to come. I have been an elementary teacher and have collected children's picture books, especially children's Christmas picture books, and I can truthfully say this is one of the most beautifully illustrated children's Christmas books I have ever seen. The book measures 9 3/8 inches by 11 3/4 inches and has 30 pages. Every page is a full page full color adventure in color and an unimaginable display of details. You can stare at a page for many minutes and get lost in the imaginations of your mind. Both children and adults will see something new each time they stare at the beautiful oil painting illustrations. Each colored page also has illuminated edges. There are two magnificently colored pages for each of the numbered days of Christmas -- one page has the words to the verse from the song discreetly placed so as not to interfere with the integrity of the beautiful illustration and the other page contains just an illustration.. The dust jacket is a real splendor of color illustrating the partridge in a pear tree surrounded by traditional Christmas decorated illumination. The pictorial cover of the book contains the same illustration.The next to last two pages contain the song, including the words and the music. The very last page contains a brief history of the song and delves into the various interpretations to the origin and the meaning of the song. There is an added surprise for the reader. Because this is a cumulative song, the reader is challenged to find all the previously mentioned gifts in each of the illustrations. Of course as you advance to the larger numbered days of Christmas, there is more to find in each picture. This can be a fun challenge. To help the reader find these objects there is a small tab at the bottom of the front dust jacket flap that reads, "Look on the underside of the jacket for a key to the hidden gifts." If you remove the dust jacket and look on the underside you will will see a small black and white reproduction of each page from the book. On these small page reproductions you will find red numbers corresponding to the various Christmas Day gifts showing you where they are found in each of the pictures in the book.I originally bought this book to donate to my elementary school library but when I saw it, I just knew I had to have one for myself and several for gifts. I don't know where I have been, but this is my first exposure to the work of Laurel Long. I sure would love to purchase one of her paintings. You owe it to yourself just to see these marvelous illustrations once in your lifetime!

Absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are just beautiful and my granddaughter had so much fun looking for the different items "hidden" within the illustrations. I wanted a book that illustrated all the 12 Days of Christmas song that she had been singing so that she had a visual picture of the characters such as three french hens or pipers piping. This was just perfect.

I teach elementary music and have found it hard to find 12 Days books with lyrics in the right order. Some books reverse the lords and the drummers or various things. This book gets the order straight (12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping, 9 ladies dancing, etc.). The only words that gave me a moment's pause were on number 4: "collie birds" instead of "calling birds." I had to search the internet to find out that "collie birds" is an old English term for "blackbirds." I suppose as things get passed in oral traditions this could be one variation of the song, and the sound difference is so slight that if it really bothers you, you could still sing "calling birds." That said, the illustrations are gorgeous: renaissance colors and clothing styles with a modern attention to realistic detail. The detail is in EVERYTHING, so you really have to search (or check the inside of the jacket cover) to find all of the hidden pictures. If you are a fan of Mark Buehner or Tasha Tudor's books or love searching pictures in the "I Spy" series, this is the book for you. I've already found 6 geese a-laying on the partridge page and tons of other things that aren't listed in the answer key. My family is going to cherish this.

This book inspired us to look into the origins of this “song” since it said “collie” birds and not calling birds like we are used to. It’s a really neat back history. This is a beautifully illustrated book. Very well put together and interesting to hunt for the items in each page.

This is absolutely the most beautiful version of this book I’ve ever seen! It’s quite possibly the best kids book I’ve ever purchased. Each day of Christmas is illustrated beautifully, with all the days prior hidden on the page with a key on the inside jacket cover. After seeing this I will purchase these for every child I know for Christmas next year!!! Bravo!

I ordered this book because my 3 yr old Son came home from school singing this song. His Teacher showed me the book they have been reading to the Children & said this was my Son's favorite- I had to buy it. We have read it At Least three times a day! The artwork is soIntricate and detailed. Each time you look at the pages, you find something new you did not see the last time. At the end of the 12 Days, she has two pages that combine All the 12 characters. That is fun to look for each one. My Son & I are Still debating the "two turtle doves". The book is very beautiful & to me, will be a favorite for many Christmas's to come

Amazing book, loved it

The illustrations in this book are beautful; there is so much to look at and discover.I would recommend it highly.Added comment:I would now describe this as a truly gorgeous book. The illustrations are so beautiful and so clever.On each page, the gift of the day is clearly illustrated, and all the other gifts given that day as per the verse are hidden in all sorts of places. So for example on day 5 you have the five gold rings, then you need to find all 4 collie birds, all 3 French hens, both turtle doves and the partridge. And some are more obvious than others - and some we haven't found yet. a book that keeps on giving!Marvellous.

Present for granddaughter 3.5y. We had great fun looking for things in the pictures and singing the song. It will be a Christmas favourite for years I'm sure.

This is the most beautiful version of this well known book/song/poem.The illustrations are breathtaking!Not only did we enjoying reading this book but after we read it we enjoyed the search and find on each page.Such talent and thought has gone into this book.Highly recommend!

I bought this book so my children would know this classic carol (we are French living in the UK so we are not familiar with it). I can't say the lyrics are anything inspiring but this is a lovely book. The illustrations are really beautiful!

The best version of 12 Days of Christmas - the illustrations are brilliant - what a lovely book