THE TWELVE HOURS OF CHRISTMAS

An extended Black family enjoys Christmas Day in this playful story based on the classic holiday tune.

The story opens on “the first hour of Christmas” as a child discovers a gift from Santa, a kitten, under the tree. But at the “second hour,” the young narrator’s twin brothers appear (dressed as “two stomping dinos”), and the kitten hides and remains concealed through “three French toasts” for breakfast, “five Nana hugs,” and “eight mugs of cocoa,” all the way up to “twelve loud long ‘Love you’s’ ” as the uncles, aunts, and cousins depart. The mischievous twins settle down while the kitten reappears and snuggles with the narrator. Whether singing the text to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” or simply reading it, children will be engaged. Filled with expressive faces and bright red and green hues against white backgrounds, the illustrations have an old-school feel; they beautifully capture the joy of a Christmas morning spent with relatives and the cozy fun of a winter day. When little ones realize that the kitten can actually be spotted on each spread, they’ll be eagerly flipping back through the pages to find it peeking out. Other repeated phrases and events are referenced throughout, keeping the spreads feeling fresh and dynamic. Number words are highlighted in red throughout. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An enchanting, family-centered take on “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”