The Twelve Days of Christmas in Oregon

In this addition to the Twelve Days of Christmas in America series, a boy named Damon visits his Oregonian cousin Liz, who gives him a crash course in all that the state has to offer. Opposite an Oregon-themed version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (from “12 crabbers crabbing” to “a meadowlark in a fir tree”), Damon’s letters home to his parents reveal how much he’s learning about Oregon. Blackaby packs an impressive amount of information into these missives, including a few holiday-appropriate tidbits (the cousins camp near the Donner und Blitzen River, “which comes from the German words for ‘thunder’ and ‘lightning,’ ” Damon recounts). Conahan’s spirited watercolors are full of humorous asides and details to examine, culminating in a cozy holiday campfire on the beach. Series entries highlighting Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania will be simultaneously available. Ages 5–up. (Oct.)