Synopses & Reviews
and#147;Hereand#8217;s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.and#8221; and#151;The New York Times
and#160;
The astounding talent of Laurel Long brings this beloved song to life with breathtaking style. Set against a lush countryside, each day brings a new gift elegantly rendered. And like in the verses of the song, the previous gifts are repeated in every illustration, giving this striking artwork a hidden aspect, culminating in a staggering spread featuring them all. Readers will pore over every page, searching for golden rings, turtledoves, and all the rest, secretly tucked into each stunning painting.
Laurel Long's unparalleled style makes this exquisite volume a treasure that will be cherished for years to come.
and#160;
and#147;Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.and#8221;
and#151;The Wall Street Journal
and#160;
* and#147;Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.and#8221;
and#151;Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
A warm book to the touch."
The New York Times Book ReviewReview
Praise for Laurel Longand#8217;s The Twelve Days of Christmas: and#160;
and#8220;Hereand#8217;s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.and#8221;
and#8212;The New York Times
and#160;
and#8220;and#8220;Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.and#8221;
and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
and#160;
* and#8220;Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.and#8221;
and#8212;Publishers Weekly, starred review
and#160;
and#8220;An accomplished visual interpretation with a playful element for children to enjoy.and#8221;
and#8212;Booklist
and#160;
and#8220;This version has a dreamy, fairy-tale sensibility."
and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#160;
and#8220;Longand#8217;s lyrical and lush oil paintings, reminiscent of Russian icon art, combined with a tricky interactive element, make this version of the traditional carol special.and#8221;
and#8212;School Library Journal
Synopsis
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.
Synopsis
"On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree."
For many centuries young and old alike have been singing about the maids a-milking, the lords a-leaping, and a partridge in a pear tree. A Christmas carol, a parlor game, and a delightful counting song-The Twelve Days of Christmas- is indeed a favorite of the holiday season.
In this book, sumptuously illustrated by Jan Brett, all the splendid images of The Twelve Days of Christmas come joyously alive. Look closely and you'll see not only the extravagant gifts given by a suitor to his lady, but a love story, a family's busy Christmas preparations, "Merry Christmas" in eleven languages, and a veritable menagerie of charming creatures.
Jan Brett's exquisitely detailed illustrations so rich in traditional folk motifs, make this book a visual treat to be enjoyed over and over again.
Synopsis
Jan Brett's The Twelve Days of Christmas has long been a holiday favorite. 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
About the Author
With over thirty four million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author illustrators of children's books. Jan lives in a seacoast town in Massachusetts, close to where she grew up. During the summer her family moves to a home in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts.
As a child, Jan Brett decided to be an illustrator and spent many hours reading and drawing. She says, "I remember the special quiet of rainy days when I felt that I could enter the pages of my beautiful picture books. Now I try to recreate that feeling of believing that the imaginary place I'm drawing really exists. The detail in my work helps to convince me, and I hope others as well, that such places might be real."
As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. "It was overwhelming to see the room-size landscapes and towering stone sculptures, and then moments later to refocus on delicately embroidered kimonos and ancient porcelain," she says. "I'm delighted and surprised when fragments of these beautiful images come back to me in my painting."
Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books."