The Twelve Days of Christmas in Colorado

Written by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by Dawn Beacon.
Sterling, 2011. 978-1402774638.

Reviews

“It’s a fantastic book for those of us who love Colorado and want to share that with our kids!” —Melissa Taylor, Bookmarkable

“Kids will love the colorful paintings while parents will appreciate that it’s chock full of facts about the Centennial State.” —Vail Daily

“It’s really wonderful because it covers the history and features of Colorado.” —Colorado Public Radio Holiday Book Pick 2011, Cathy Langer, Tattered Cover Bookstore

About this Story

“On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .

twelve skiers swooshing, eleven horses prancing, ten covered wagons,

nine woven baskets, eight dinos roaming, seven bats-a-napping, six frozen giants, 

FIVE GOLDEN NUGGETS, 

four grazing elk, three rail cars, two leaping sheep, 

and a bunting in a spruce tree.”

When my Sterling editor Meredith Mundy asked if I’d like to write the Colorado edition of this popular state-by-state holiday series, I didn’t have to think about it very long. First of all, I always welcome the chance to work with Meredith. Second, it seemed like a great way to learn about my adopted state.

Was it ever! For months, I had piles of Colorado books and maps stacked around my office while I accumulated pages and pages of notes about the state. It turned out to be quite a challenge to choose twelve “gifts” that would represent Colorado’s character, history, and dramatic landscape — there were so many possibilities!

I hope kids enjoy singing this version of the traditional Christmas song, and maybe even learn a few things about their state, as I did. Even better, I hope it inspires them to think about the things they love about Colorado, and to come up with their own versions of the song.