<p>"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me..."<br><br><br>The traditional English carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," has been<br>sung and enjoyed throughout the holiday season for centuries. In keeping with its <br>courtly tone, most illustrated treatments of the song use a formal art style.<br><br><br>Now, a new version is geared specifically to young readers, using playful images<br>of animals romping and cavorting to the song's lyrics. Imagine beret-wearing French<br>hens, four "calling" birds chatting on the phone, or frolicking rabbits<br> as the lords-a-leaping. Colorful, lighthearted scenes by acclaimed illustrator<br>Dan Andreasen bring a whole new interperetation to the holiday carol.<br><br><br>From the first day to the twelfth, readers of all ages will enjoy this rendition<br>of counting down the days of Christmas.</p>