Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The 12 Bugs of Christmas: A Pop-up Christmas Counting Book
Novelty Book
For ages 4 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2011 ISBN: 978-1442426498
Most of us are familiar with the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. We may not understand why anyone would give their true love a partridge in a pear tree or seven swans a swimming, but we like the song all the same, and enjoy singing it or listening to it during the holiday season.
Imagine if you can what it would be like if you made up your own Twelve Days of Christmas song. What kinds of gifts would you give your true love? David Carter, the creator of the much loved bug novelty books, has decided that the time has come for him to come up with his version of the famous song. Not surprisingly, his googly-eyed bugs feature prominently throughout the book.
For example, on the first page of this book, we read the words “On first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” The illustration that goes with the text shows a gaily wrapped present, and when you lift the flap to see what is in the present, you read the words “A Fruitcake Bug in a pear tree,” and you can see a picture of the Fruitcake Bug for yourself.
By the time you get to the eighth day, you will have “eight Pop-corn Bugs a-popping, seven Yuletide Bugs a-yodeling, six Tinsel Bugs a-tangling, five Glowing Bugs, four Snowflake Bugs, three Sneaky Bugs, two Cuckoo Bugs, and a Fruitcake Bug in a pear tree.” What are we going to find in the rest of the presents?
Children are sure to enjoy this very unique version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The text and illustrations will make children laugh, they will love the pop-up features that are found on every double-page spread, and grownups will appreciate that this novelty title will give their children a new way to practice learning their numbers.
