We don’t always do routines & traditions very well.
That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped trying! This year in particular, I’m trying to start more traditions, especially around the holiday season.
One of my favorites is reading seasonal picture books.
Last year for Christmas, we skipped the traditional Advent calendar. Instead, I found and wrapped 24 books for my kids. (Many of them were used. Some I bought from authors I follow on social media).
And each night during December, my kids opened a new book.
In a perfect world, they would have all been Christmas books. This isn’t a perfect world, though. My kids like Minecraft and rocket ships too, so some of those books snuck in with the holiday classics.
Never fear, though!
We ready plenty of other Christmas books that month. Several of the books were based on different adaptations of the classic poem “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” That’s what inspired this book list.
There are probably hundreds of adaptations for “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Here my list with the top twelve versions of “Twelve Days” that you should look for this year!
(This list includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to use these links.)
The Twelve Days of Christmas, by Jan Brett. A phenomenal illustrator’s version of the classic poem and a multicultural celebration of Christmas. Be sure to check the vignettes on the sides of the pages too! See how many different languages you recognize.(Jan Brett has also written some of my favorite winter-time picture books, so I recommend reading those books as well.)
The Twelve Days of Christmas in America series, by various authors. Each book in this series features a Christmas adventure in a different state, exploring what makes each state unique. Find your state’s version or put together a literary road trip with these geography adventures!
The Twelve Days of Christmas, by Britta Teckentrup. Another well-known illustrator’s version of this poem. This one is more whimsical, with gnome-like figures and peek-through illustrations.
The Worst Twelve Days of Christmas, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Ryan Wood. One girl’s Christmas dreams start to fall apart when her little brother crawls onto the scene. This one is an especially good story for older siblings dealing with changes during the holidays.
A Pinata in a Pine Tree, by Pat Mora, illustrated by Magaly Morales. A Hispanic Christmas celebration with a bilingual Spanish-English text. I love the vibrant illustrations in this version, as well as the rollicking story.
12 Days of Christmas, by Rachel Isadora. What would Christmas be like in Africa? This book turns the classic poem into a fresh adventure with tribal drummers, traditional outfits, and more.
A Pirate’s Twelve Days of Christmas, by Philip Yates, illustrated by Sebastia Serra. A swashbuckling, nautical adventure with a young cabin boy worried about missing Christmas. Fortunately, Christmas can happen even at sea.
The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs, by Carolyn Conahan. A version of the poem that replaces the gifts with puppies? The dogs are adorable, and the illustrations are just perfect for this lively story.
The Twelve Days of Christmas Cats, by Don Daily. More of a cat person? This is the Christmas book for you with fantastical illustrations of cats romping through the story. It’s also available as a board book, so toddlers can get in on the fun.
Secret Santas: And the Twelve Days of Christmas Giving, by Courtney Petruzelli, illustrated by Melissa Snyder. This Indie author takes a new look at Christmas and gifts in a fun, light-hearted story.
A Firefly in a Fir Tree: A Carol for Mice, by Hilary Knight. Even the mice are celebrating Christmas in the lovable story. The text is small, but the watercolor illustrations are gorgeous.
Twelve Days of Winter: A School Counting Book, by Deborah Lee Rose, illustrated by Carey Armstrong-Ellis. This fun picture book turns the poem into a lively outdoor adventure.
Do you have any favorite Christmas picture books? I’d love to hear about them.
