Book Review of 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas
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The Children’s Book Review
12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas
Written by Tanya Harvey
Illustrated by Chelsea Peters
Ages: 4-6 | 24 Pages
Publisher: Newtown Station Press (2024) | ISBN: 978-1069140333
What to Expect: Christmas, family, traditions, planning, working together.
In this humorous, holiday-fun picture book, the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” song gets an update as an increasingly frantic and frazzled family get ready to celebrate.
You know all about the 12 days of gift-giving at Christmas … but did you know about the twelve days of preparation that come before Christmas? There’s so much to prepare—from the tree decorations to the perfect presents, to making sure the snow has been shoveled, and the dinner will be delicious! Will we remember everything we need at the grocery store? Will we convince Dad to do more Christmas shopping? Will the elf finally behave himself and stay on his shelf? With this fun take on the classic Christmas song, there’s no risk of missing out on any of the delightful preparations for a perfect family Christmas!
The repetition and rhythm build anticipation, just as they do in the original song, while also helping readers build literacy skills as they read and repeat. The beautiful pen-and watercolor artwork is filled with humorous detail, from the naughty elf’s antics to the dad’s increasingly grumpy facial expressions as he wrestles with tangled lights and chauffeurs yet another shopping trip.
From the relatable family it depicts to the excitement it builds for the approaching holiday, 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas is a story that invites shared reading, singing, and planning—perfect for getting into the holiday mood. The book will surely make you and your little ones eagerly anticipate the festive season.
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About the Author
Tanya Harvey has always loved art, storytelling, and creativity but was groomed for a traditional career. She started a family and enjoyed all the benefits corporate life could offer. Life was good until it wasn’t. A tough time steered Tanya to seek support, where she was confronted by her greatest fear – dying before giving her creativity and endless ideas a chance. Books, art projects, and business ideas were collecting dust in the back of her head. No one else was going to do them for her! So, with the support of her family, she went all-in on herself and began a new creative chapter as a Children’s Author / Entrepreneur.
Tanya’s design and marketing background and a love of a great story helped kick off her new career path. She wrote her first two children’s books in 2024.
I’m NOT Pooping – a potty book to help kids who don’t want to poop. She wrote this book to support families struggling with withholding issues in hopes they can get through this phase faster than her family did.
12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas is a personal story that captures the rollercoaster of preparing to host during the holidays. Tanya’s family loves to party! They host several holiday events a year, and when they’re not hosting, they’re planning the next one.
Tanya writes about the challenges and triumphs of life as a family of four in Canadian suburbs. She simplifies complex ideas and brings them to life with characters children can relate to.
When she’s not writing, Tanya enjoys exploring nature with her kids, traveling, and planning the next event. She values helping people and the planet and having a great party—because life’s more fun when you celebrate it!
For more information, visit tanyaharvey.ca.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas. Learn more about getting a book review …
