The Twelve Days of Winter

October 1, 2006
K-Gr 3-Once again, this team has used the familiar tune as the framework for a cumulative counting verse, this time with winter activities both indoors and out as the focal point. The verses themselves are a good fit for the melody, but they would be unremarkable if not accompanied by the clever and humorous illustrations. Each of the eight children in this busy classroom has a distinct personality, revealed through meticulous and consistent attention to detail on every spread. The child obsessed with horses takes every opportunity to make them, even as snowflake cutouts; another child dances throughout, and in the final spread creates a version of Degas "Little Dancer" out of snow. While the book would work well as a read- or sing-aloud, with so much to pore over and absorb in the art, it is best used for one-on-one sharing. A surefire choice to spice up the dreariest winter day."Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.