Review Detail

TWELVE DINGING DOORBELLS is a sweet twist on the 12 Days of Christmas carol that makes the song into one that will work for any holiday gathering. The words could be sung, and build from the first ringing doorbell of the holiday to the twelfth. As the story continues, more relatives arrive at the house, filling it with joy and laughter - as well as plenty of good food.

What I loved: This was a fun twist on the traditional carol that turns it into something that could be used for any holiday when family gathers together. While it may take a minute at first to get into the rhythm of the song, the words are carefully chosen to suit it well throughout. Each page spread includes the new phrase as well as those that came before, so it can be sung to the whole song.

The illustrations are lovely and show all the love and joy of family gatherings. The house begins to fill up as the doorbell keeps ringing and more people arrive. Some refrains feature relatives while others feature food - all the best parts of holiday gatherings. The book is full of bright colors and happy faces, with a little girl being the main character that children can locate on each page.

Final verdict: TWELVE DINGING DOORBELLS is a clever twist on a joyful carol that alters it to suit any holiday with family, joy, and good food. Recommend for toddlers and preschoolers.