The Twelve Days of Christmas by
Alison Jay (Koala Books)
HB
RRP $19.99
ISBN
978-1-74276-114-5
Reviewed
by Jenny Heslop
The
Twelve Days of Christmas is a classic Christmas
carol which most people know well. On each of the twelve days of Christmas, a
man buys a gift for his true love, each one getting bigger and more
extravagant.
The counting and the repetition within
the lyrics make it perfect for a picture book but the absolute delight (and
cleverness) of The Twelve Days of
Christmas is the illustrations. There is so much to marvel over on so many
different levels.
At first glance they are old-fashioned
paintings; beautiful, glowing scenes, cracked with age. But the closer you
look, the more you see. From the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations in
the town to the quieter, but still active, country life, there is so much going
on around the man and woman as they walk through the story.
Every page provides a clue to what the
next gift will be – on the page before ‘six
geese a-laying’ two geese float on the river as the couple cross a bridge.
Hidden away on every page is Father Christmas, and he is not always easy to
spot!
Also hidden away on most pages are
little humorous scenes – such as a policeman chasing a turkey down the street –
and links back to precious gifts. And I’m sure much more that I have missed.
These are illustrations which can be studied for great lengths of time.
So many themes of Christmas are
included; families, carolling, gifts, and parties.
This is an engrossing book
for quiet contemplation as well as for reading to young ones during the
December preparations.
