If you sing the 12 days of Christmas at any time, then you know all the words that are in the story. What makes this story unique one is the type of illustrations and to the way they choose to illustrate it. The first through fourth days are typical and while one would expect five to show rings, it shows them in a nest.  Then if one goes to the back of the book, there is history where it is believed that the five rings were actually the rings on a pheasant or yellow rings on finches.  Little things like this happen for the rest of the book. For example 10 Lords of Leaping are picture of rabbits and my favorite, the drummers are woodpecker ‘s. This book is well done in a different way that looks at history of this  holiday song. 

 This is an interesting book. Each page is a different day of the month from December 1 to the 24th. Each day is a little mini story about Santa, Mrs. Clause, the elves, etc. If you need something short and sweet to get your kids off to sleep, a page a night would work quite well. The illustrations are pretty typical, but lovely. Overall, I find this book very interesting and I think a family could really have fun with it.
 
 

 This simple book has a fantastic message. Holly holiday loves Christmas and the tree is her favorite part. However, at the end of Christmas when the dead tree is disposed of, Holly gets upset. After some research and a chat with her family they decide to get living trees, and at the end of Christmas every year they plant it and create their own forest. This is a great message that you don’t have to have a plastic tree or a dead tree but that you can actually be green and continue to grow and maintain the traditions that you love in a way that is better for the environment.
 
 

 Little bird go seek in Christmas but it’s not in the store with all the gifts. It’s not in the food market with the lovely smells. So where can little bird find Christmas? Mama helps him find Christmas by reminding him what it’s about. It’s about love, it’s about family and it’s about honoring Jesus. This is a religious Christmas story, but it’s not an overly preachy Christmas story. It gets to the heart of the matter and shares the meaning of Christmas and the reason for those who believe is such. 

 This was really fun. This probably isn’t a book that will be around in 20 years, but you should go check it out and explore it while it’s around. Santa left for Christmas without his suspenders and at the first house his pants will not stay up!  The little boy not only sees his underpants, but helps come up with a solution so Santa can finish the night and make sure all the good little boys and girls get their toys. 

 This book was only so-so. It starts out, wanting to be in the pattern of the night before Christmas but it’s not done very well. There are times that rhyme is harsh and the cadence falls off. The story itself is almost kind of annoying. The sleigh is missing and they’re looking for it everywhere and it turns out to reindeer went off with it to bring Santa back a present. This book is fine for this Christmas and maybe the next, but I don’t expect to find it on library shelves within the next five years. 

 This was really fun. The book lists in a singsong rhyming pattern the reason cats don’t like trees. They even ask for forgiveness for climbing Christmas trees but remind you - YOU want it inside. This would be a book that I would bring out every holiday because it’s fun, it’s festive, and it really makes me think about my animals and what they make of the Christmas craziness. 

 This is a simple rhyming story where a young child is saying where they got their nose, their toes, their chin, and introducing you to their family. This book just works.
 
 

 This was the Eisner award winner for best new series in 2020 and it deserves it. This is a horror, graphic novel about a town where children are missing or showing up as bloody body parts. Something or someone has devoured them and left the entrails. One kid survived, and now everyone thinks he’s to blame. James used to have nightmares and would tell his friends about them until his life became a nightmare. Erica Slaughter just pulled into town. She is all pissed off and grumpy business. She knows what’s going on in town and she is there to bring it down. This book was a horrifically good time. But volume two and three will be critical as there are so many unanswered questions. Questions like what is up with the octopus? Who all those people sitting around the table with a glint in the light? Will James survive? And what the hell will Tommy do now that he can “see”. I’m telling you right now if you read this book, have book 2 and three on hold, the wait is going to kill me.
 
 

 This pretty book is a mix of nonfiction and fiction about the lifecycle of a butterfly. Two little girls go to a butterfly garden and learn about the painted lady butterfly and then when they get back to school wonder why they don’t have any. They realize they don’t have the right type of native plants, so they set out on a mission to build a butterfly garden. There is information provided throughout the story about the painted lady butterflies as well as more detailed information at the end. This could be a staple in libraries until something fresher comes along and replaces it.