12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas

A family counts down to Christmas in Harvey’s picture book.

A mom, a dad, and their two girls (all portrayed with pale skin) are preparing for the holiday, one day at a time—beginning with a star on top of the Christmas tree. As the title suggests, this book is much like “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, with each day’s new activities progressively added to what’s come before. So, by the fourth day, the family is getting ready “with a shopping trip, shoveling the snow, putting up the lights, and a star on top of the tree.” Unlike in the original song, the activities’ descriptions change; for example, the shopping trip is replaced by Dad saying “no more shopping,” before “one last thing” is delivered, and so on. On the 12th day, family members come to visit and everyone celebrates together. Peters’ ink-and-watercolor illustrations are fun, if a bit bland; however, the cat that can’t stay away from the Christmas tree is a nice touch. Overall, it’s refreshing and admirable to see a kids’ holiday book that’s fully centered on a family doing fun things together, rather than on Santa Claus or what material gifts kids want to receive.

A worthy addition to the genre of children’s holiday tales.