Our friends over at Globe Trottin Kids (https://www.globetrottinkids.com/multicultural-versions-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/) have put together some children's books that celebrate the 12 days of Christmas around the world with a twist!
Here are a few that we enjoyed:
A Stork in a Baobab Tree: An African 12 Days of Christmas
This version features a different African country on each of the twelve days, with descriptions of the objects and explanations of the activities mentioned in the text.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Twelve storytellers
Eleven dancers dancing
Ten drummers drumming
Nine grazing goats
Eight wooden carvings
Seven children playing
Six women pounding
Five bright khangas
Four market traders
Three woven baskets
Two thatched huts
and a stork in a baobab tree
Did You Know?
The khanga is a traditional cloth worn by many women as a skirt, a shawl, headdress, or even a baby sling.
Check it Out!
Learn about the African Baobab and why it is known as the “tree of life.”
Get the Book:
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- Find it in your Local Library.
A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas
In this version, it’s an amiga that a little girl receives gifts from.
Find and count items in Spanish on every page.
Includes pronunciation and glossary of Spanish words and a description of Christmas foods and other holiday traditions from different Latin American countries.
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my amiga gave to me:
doce angelitos celebrando,
once lunitas cantando,
diez estrellitas saltando,
nueve campanitas sonando,
ocho pajaritos sernando,
siete burritos bailando,
seis trompos girando,
cinco quitarritas,
cuatro luminarias,
tres tamalitos,
dos pastellitos,
and a piñata in a pine tree
Did You Know?
Piñatas are a common activity at Hispanic Heritage Christmas Stories, part of the traditional Mexican Christmas celebration.
Check it Out!
Explore more Hispanic Heritage Christmas Stories, including ‘Twas Nochebuena and Miracle on 133rd Street.
Get the Book:
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- Find it in your Local Library.
A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree (New Zealand)
So many new words in this one! Ask students to use picture and word clues to predict the meaning of the unfamiliar vocabulary.
Includes a sing-along CD!
On the twelfth day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Twelve piupius swinging
Eleven haka lessons
Ten juicy fish heads
Nine sacks of pipis
Eight plants of puha
Seven eels a-swimming
Six pois a-twirling
Five Big. Fat. Pigs!
Four huhu grubs
Three flax kilts
Two kumera
and a pukeko in a pongo tree.
Did You Know?
A pukeko is a large, blue-purplish, wetland-dwelling bird, and a ponga tree is a type of fern only found in New Zealand.
Check it Out!
Mama Lisa’s World shares the full song lyrics and provides definitions for the Maori words.
Get the Book:
- Purchase the book on Amazon.
- Find it in your Local Library.
Hope you enjoy these RainbowMe Approved alternatives to the 12 Days of Christmas! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Happy Holidays to all of you from RainbowMe Kids!
