The Twelve Days of Christmas

by Laurel Long, Laurel Long (Illustrator)

Overview

“Here’s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.”
—The New York Times
 
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.
 
“Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
* “Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780147512864
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/16/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	AD660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Laurel Long is the celebrated illustrator of many books for children, including Hans Brinker by Bruce Coville, and The Magic Nesting Doll by Jacqueline K. Ogburn. She is a professor of art at California State University, Northridge, and lives in Southern California with her family. Visit her online at www.laurellong.com.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Praise for Laurel Long’s The Twelve Days of Christmas:
 
“Here’s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.”
—The New York Times
 
““Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 

• “Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
 
“An accomplished visual interpretation with a playful element for children to enjoy.”
—Booklist
 
“This version has a dreamy, fairy-tale sensibility."
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Long’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.”
—School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Laurel Long’s The Twelve Days of Christmas:
 
“Here’s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.”
—The New York Times
 
““Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.”
—The Wall Street Journal
 
* “Long expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
 
“An accomplished visual interpretation with a playful element for children to enjoy.”
—Booklist
 
“This version has a dreamy, fairy-tale sensibility."
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Long’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.”
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Here's a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long…certainly delivers.
—The New York Times Book Review

Pamela Paul

In a book that’s part elegant tapestry, part seek-and-find game, Long (The Magic Nesting Doll) expertly weaves religious and secular images into a visually arresting interpretation of the traditional carol. A princess-maiden who wends her way through a lush, mystical forest toward a castle is but one of the story lines eagle-eyed readers can follow as they pore over the intricate, delicately framed oil paintings; gifts from earlier scenes reappear and accumulate throughout, resulting in French hens tucked among poinsettias and milkmaids transformed into foliage. Iconic angels, knights leaping on horseback, and ladies in luxurious, shimmering gowns are among the memorable scene-stealers. Ages 3–5. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

This book is a beautiful introduction to the song for young children; an engaging book for older children; and a book that makes those already familiar with the traditional song more thoughtful.

WNY Family Magazine

An accomplished visual interpretation with a playful element for children to enjoy.

Booklist

Ms. Long has secreted lyrical clues within each picture that children will relish hunting down.

The Wall Street Journal

Here’s a song whose lyrics everyone knows and that therefore demands something spectacular to distinguish it. This version, sumptuously illustrated by Long, certainly delivers.

New York Times

K-Gr 5—Every Christmas new versions of this song are published, and this is a rare one that truly stands out. As readers move through the various gifts, they are given the opportunity to search for the previous gifts concealed in the art. For example, on the third day of Christmas, readers see three handsome French hens nesting near a Christmas tree amid mistletoe, pinecones, and roses, and also on the spread are tiny images of two turtle doves and a partridge. The inside of the book jacket contains the key to the hidden images. The musical score and an artist's note about the history of the song are included. Long'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.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

School Library Journal

Ornate illustrations in a lush, romantic style follow the traditional wording of the old song, with all the accumulating gifts hidden within each succeeding illustration.

This version has a dreamy, fairy-tale sensibility, though Long does not provide a clear visual narrative to accompany all the verses of the song. There is a mysterious woman in red in the background of several illustrations, angels serving as pipers and nine ladies dancing who look like they stepped out of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses." The 10 lords a-leaping are knights in armor riding off to battle, with the lady in red again hurrying away in the distance. All the gifts (in the correct numbers) are hidden in each following illustration, tucked into borders, shadows, flowers and costumes, often in tiny or faint formats that are difficult even for an adult to locate. The solution key to the hidden gifts is printed in thumbnail sketches on the back of the book's paper cover, which limits this volume's usefulness in library settings. The final two-page spread shows all the gifts integrated into a complex outdoor scene.

The intricate illustrations demonstrate the artist's considerable skills, but the total effort is a fragmented conglomeration that fails to create a story for the song. To see what really can be done with the song, read Jane Ray's exquisite version (2011). (artist's note, musical notation)(Picture book. 5-7)

Kirkus Reviews