The Twelve Days of Christmas

Delicate, ornamental images in colored pencil and watercolors, set in egg-shaped frames, accompany the lyrics to the holiday carol. The scenes are cumulative: French hens and turtle doves join the partridge in the pear tree, which is pictured in an ornate urn. Spirin offers several whimsical touches (the tree's urn sports wings on the first page, and the “Four Calling Birds” are parrots with exotic plumage). Little by little, more of the foreground emerges, until the organized chaos appears in full splendor with elegant pipers, lords, ladies and milking maids, all. An artfully traditional interpretation. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)