The Twelve Hours of Christmas

ISBN: 978-0316330978

Illustrated by Brittany Jackson

Release date: October 10, 2023

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

In this reinvention of the classic holiday carol “The 12 Days of Christmas,” five golden rings become five Nana hugs, eight maids a-milking become eight mugs of cocoa, and much more, as a family comes together to celebrate the holidays.

In the first hour of Christmas Santa left for me…a kitten underneath the Christmas tree!

It’s December 25th, and one big family isn’t wasting a minute of this special day! Grandparents arrive, cousins build snowmen, Uncle Lee tells jokes, Auntie takes pictures, and the whole family shares a holiday feast before it’s finally time to say goodbye and good night. This fun-filled, modern take on the classic song celebrates the most important part of Christmas Day: being together.

Reviews

* “Carrying the charm of old-school watercolor paintings and the cinematic appeal of film, Jackson’s light-dappled illustrations further contribute a seek-and-find element via the kitten hiding across the spreads, while Bailey’s rhyming lines bring the holiday’s cozy ups and downs to this view of a bustling family celebration.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review

* “[The illustrations] 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…. An enchanting, family-centered take on ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’”―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This cozy Christmas tale centering a Black family feels new and familiar at the same time. A recommended purchase.”―School Library Journal