n this spirited reworking of the classic "Twelve Days of Christmas", a young girl has to deal with her first Christmas with a new baby brother - and nothing could be worse. He drools on the ornaments and ruins the presents, and he's on the verge of taking over the whole holiday. A sweet surprise turns the tables on the older sister, who eventually appreciates what her baby brother adds to the holiday. This is a funny holiday book with a heart-warming sibling acceptance angle.
This book is not the traditional 'Twelve Days of Christmas' song but follows a similar format. It is a quirky story about a sister who has a baby brother who finds Christmas decorations etc are great for sucking or pulling apart.
The idea behind the book is a good one, take an old favorite Christmas song, who everyone knows, and use the idea to convey a very common problem - an older sibling finding it difficult with a new baby in the family, ruining anything in their path!
I did find the book to be Americanized - with the style of the illustrations and the gingerbread and candy canes etc, however i did think that it was a lovely book which would would be a great idea for an older child who's parents had just had a baby because it explains well about how they may not understand what is happening and 'destroy' anything in their reach but the little things, like first words, are better than any gift.
Although I have said the illustrations are Americanized, I do think they are great, more suited to an older child as I do find the characters with their big wide eyes a little odd - they remind me of some of the old dutch designs of elves etc.
I would recommend it as a gift for an older child or for anyone who enjoys a reworking of an old classic song!
Thank you to the publishers, Abrams and Chronicle Books, for sending me the book to review.
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