Learning to Count with the 12 Days of Christmas

One of the great traditional carols of the holiday season, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a delightful celebration of gift-giving and an excellent way to introduce children to the fun of counting. These repetitive songs have been part of the culture since the Middle Ages and were originally sung as part of Twelfth Night revelries as a test of memory and concentration. According to contemporary reports of these entertainments, a leader would sing one of the verses, which would then be repeated by each of the participants in turn. A missed word or other mistake would eliminate the player and require that a forfeit be paid; these forfeits often took the form of a kiss on the cheek, a small toy or a bit of candy. The game of Forfeits was often incorporated into the holiday merriment and was enjoyed by young and old alike. Today, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a beloved tradition and an amusing way to share the gift of song with friends and family during the Christmas season. The carol has been recorded by such musical luminaries as Burl Ives, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Roger Whittaker; even the Muppets have made a recording of this Christmas classic. Both in its traditional English form and in numerous parodies, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has become part of the holiday experience for many families and has traveled around the world to brighten the Yuletide season. " Learning to Count with the Twelve Days of Christmas" can bring that traditional experience home for modern families. Bright, lively illustrations and easy-to-read print ensure that children remain engaged throughout the learning process. Each storybook page has been meticulously designed with a large numeral representing the number of gifts and illustrated representations of those gifts on the same page. This provides children with the visual cues necessary to recognize these numerals and to allow even the youngest children to understand the story easily. Enchanting illustrations and delightful rhythm and rhyme throughout the book encourage children to count both forward and backward with the help of the merry carolers who adorn the pages and guide the way through the song. Parents and children can sing the song together to celebrate the season and build excitement on each of the traditional twelve days of Christmas. The simple, uncluttered text and illustrations provide the perfect complement for the singing and learning process. From the famed partridge in a pear tree all the way through the twelve drummers drumming, children will love the sing-along fun and the visual appeal of this charming Christmas carol. Perfect for gift-giving or to share with family during the holiday season, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a thoughtful addition to holiday celebrations and a lovely way to teach children the fundamentals of counting at any time of year. For parents who want to give their kids a head start on learning or families that want to share the joy of a traditional holiday season, " Learning to Count with the Twelve Days of Christmas" is an ideal choice for engaging family fun.