Other Texas symbols filling the pages of this festive book include bucking broncos, tall Stetsons, and armadillos. After singing along to the classic Christmas tune, children will soon be counting their numbers with a Texas twang.
David Davis's flair for storytelling is apparent in his highly acclaimed children's books. Ten Redneck Babies: A Southern Counting Book and Jazz Cats were named to the Children's Choice Top 100 List. A finalist for the Texas Golden Spur Award, Jazz Cats was also selected for the Accelerated Reader Program. His other Pelican books include Texas Aesop's Fables, Texas Mother Goose, Texas Zeke and the Longhorn, Rock 'n' Roll Dogs, Librarian's Night Before Christmas, and A Southern Child's Garden of Verses. He also performs school visits. Davis lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
Illustrator Candace Camling teaches children's classes at Des Moines Art Center. She graduated as the valedictorian and a Studio Excellence Award winner from Kendall College of Art and Design, with a BFA in illustration. Camling is the recipient of two Gold ADDY Awards. This is her first children's book. She lives in Des Moines, Iowa.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a .. Oh, wait, that's the other version. In this retelling of the famous Christmas song, there are no partridges, no lords a leaping, no turtle doves a cooing (or whatever turtle doves do). In the Texas version of the song, everything is done the Texas way, big and full of western themes. While the Mrs. is outside hanging Christmas lights from the roof, the man of the house comes roaring up in his bright red truck, smile on his face and something big, wrapped in a red bow, in the truck-bed. Could it be? Yes, darlin' it's a mockingbird in a gum tree. Each day there's a surprise for the lady of the house, something fun, wacky, helpful or just plain silly: On the fourth day of Christmas/my darlin' gave to me/Four javelinas,/three oil wells, two silver spurs,/and a mockingbird in a gum tree./ Every see four javelinas, with jingle bells around their bellies, tethered to holiday ribbon? You will in this book, as well as see just how much fun they can be as they romp through a pasture. As the days of Christmas progress, things get larger and a tad ruckus as only a Texas Christmas can do. Armadillos, jackrabbits and bucking broncos? The poor Mrs. looks a bit overwhelmed with all the commotion in and around her house although I suspect youngsters reading the book will find all the upheaval quite funny. While there are a multitude of "Twelve Days of Christmas" retellings on the market, what sets this book apart is the setting of Texas. If you hail from the Lone Star State, or are working on a homeschooling project dealing with Texas, you will find this book an excellent way to introduce your young readers to the things that make the State unique. Quill says: A fun, and educational, book to introduce children to the state of Texas.
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Overview
Other Texas symbols filling the pages of this festive book include bucking broncos, tall Stetsons, and armadillos. After singing along to the classic Christmas tune, children will soon be...