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The 13th Day of Christmas

by Adam Rex Publisher: NEAL PORTER BOOKS

A Christmas carol turns into an unexpected gift-delivery mix-up

Regular price $18.12 USD
Regular price $30.21 USD Sale price $18.12 USD
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Hardcover New English

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Awards & Recognition

  • Editorial selection

    Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

    Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

AlbakiReads Editorial

A Christmas carol turns into an unexpected gift-delivery mix-up

Adam Rex builds a comic picture-book story from the extravagant gifts in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” A man spending Christmas apart from his true love receives a growing procession of birds and other guests, then tries to make sense of the crowded house. His efforts bring the town into the confusion, with a parade, circus, and school-library fundraiser along the way. The story’s twist connects the familiar carol to a mistaken online order and an engagement proposal, giving the holiday premise a contemporary source of chaos. At 48 pages, it pairs Christmas imagery with themes of generosity, community, and the gap between intention and interpretation.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Children ages 4–8 interested in Christmas stories and holiday traditions.
  • Families looking for a picture-book take on “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
  • Young readers who enjoy humorous stories involving mix-ups and community events.

Themes

Christmas and holiday traditionsGenerosity and communityMiscommunicationThe “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

A partridge in a pear tree? Ten lords a-leaping? Now who would want such gifts? And more importantly--why would they be given?

Adam Rex investigates in this hilariously heart-warming tale based on one of the best-loved Christmas carols.


Our hero is having a lonesome Christmas away from his true love. So when she sends him a gift, of course he loves it--even if a partridge in a pear tree wasn't exactly on his wishlist.

Twelve days later, his home is crowded with more birds, milkmaids, pipers, and other guests than he can possibly make sense of. Why would his true love think he'd like this?!

His search for answers transforms the disaster into a source of joy for the whole town--complete with a parade, a circus, and a fundraiser for the school library. By the time his true love gets home, the man finally understands what she's given him: the true meaning of Christmas.

But she has no idea what he's talking about-- the whole thing was a wacky online shopping mixup. All she'd meant to buy was a pair of gold engagement rings. She meant to propose!

Adam Rex, creator of School's First Day of School and many other beloved books for children, strikes again with this hilarious twist on the classic carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. Sardonic and earnest in equal measures, The Thirteenth Day of Christmas is a hit for any day of the year.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
AlbakiReads
Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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AlbakiReads
Olivia

Smooth.