THE TWELVE DAYS OF JAMAICAN CHRISTMAS

A Jamaican family celebrates Christmas with flavorful fun in this adaptation of a beloved Yuletide song.

“On the first day of Christmas,” a brown-skinned child eagerly watches “mi granny” serving up saltfish and ackee as three younger siblings, two parents, and a dog enter the scene in their seasonally decorated home. “On the second day of Christmas,” the child helps Granny add spices to a pot of sorrel. As the story progresses, Granny provides more and more foods: “seven chickens jerking,” “six plantains frying,” “five Champagne colas.” Readers watch this loving, stylishly dressed family go shopping, cook and bake, decorate a Christmas tree, barbecue, set the table, and finally sit down to a feast of beef patties, coco breads, breadfruits, oxtails, and more. Impressively, the repeated lines never get old, and the final spread offers a touch of humor. Rahman’s digital illustrations use a wide variety of perspectives, compositions, and palettes to keep the story feeling fresh. A recipe for ackee and saltfish is followed by a charming note of instructions from the author’s grandmother, written in a conversational interview style.

A loving ode to cultural traditions, family, holidays, and food that hits the spot.