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
On sale: September 9, 2025
Age: 5-8 years
Grade: Grades K-3
Page count: 48 Pages
ISBN: 9780823456536
Adam Rex is the author and illustrator of more than forty books for kids. These include New York Times bestselling picture books like
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and
School’s First Day of School. His work has been adapted for film and television. He’s won some awards, including the Margaret Wise Brown Prize in Children’s Literature and the National Cartoonists Society Book Illustration Award. He used to make art for games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Sometimes he still does. He lives in Tucson, Arizona, with his dog, son, and wife.
Side-splitting silliness ensues as Rex riffs on “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in this rollicking holiday read. . . .a final plot twist further amps up the comedy, resulting in a fresh, truly uproarious Christmas yarn.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This heartfelt, extra-long picture book puts a weird, wacky, and wonderful spin on a familiar Christmas song. Rex’s signature snarky humor will appeal to both elementary schoolers and their grown-ups. . . .This quirky take on a Christmas classic is the gift that will keep on giving, long after the 13th day.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Always deft and detailed, Rex’s expressive comic drawings are set against glowing, layered backdrops reminiscent of Wayne Thiebaud’s iconic pastry displays. With brilliantly lively compositions and a festive finale, this wildly funny twist on a holiday tune delivers heart, hilarity, and true love (of course).
—Booklist (starred review)
