THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Anthropomorphic animals seize the spotlight in this fun take on the familiar carol.

They’re all here: lords and ladies, pipers, drummers, maids, and so many fowls. The “true loves” are fluffy white bears dressed in Edwardian-style clothing, exchanging gifts in a very cozy parlor with a glowing fireplace. They hang golden pears on a pine tree topped with a partridge ornament; on the second day of Christmas, they smile over a live partridge in an ornate cage with the two turtle doves. The third day features a music-box partridge in a golden pear tree, two more doves, and a trio of aproned French hens sweeping and dusting; sharp-eyed readers will observe a different partridge-and-pear-tree item on every subsequent page. The hens and turtle doves multiply and are joined by pelicans, ostriches, green parrots, swans, and more. Mammals arrive for the festivities: One spread features feline milkmaids; another, raccoon milkers. Dogs, then pigs, then turtles, join the fray as drummers. Glowing with jade green and ruby red, Lockwood’s illustrations initially feel like vintage Christmas postcards. As more and more animals are added, the well-ordered setting becomes joyfully frenetic: One of the bears makes ice cream out of the abundant milk and eggs, supplementing the pastries prepared earlier. A final page lists the gifts packed into these sumptuous pages of organized chaos—and many other hidden treasures are not listed.

Delightful discoveries await readers’ attention in this zany Yuletide offering.