Twelve Dinging Doorbells

A new classic that will ease children through any holiday season.

PreS-Gr 2--On the day of a family's holiday reunion, the dinging doorbell heralds each new guest. A sweet potato pie, a pair of selfie queens, and a trio of posh siblings are just the beginning of the many attendees. With every ding, the gathering grows increasingly crowded and noisy as players yell, and toddlers squeal. Though having so many people in one place can feel overwhelming, family's still family and everyone's having fun. It also helps when there's a slice of sweet potato pie left. This picture book, with its lyrics a take on the familiar tune "The Twelve Days of Christmas," is a celebration of African American families and culture. Brown-skinned people in colorful attire grace each spread. The illustrator combined collage art with digital renderings to produce dynamic images of the gathering. VERDICT This vibrant celebration of African American families, fun, and culture will be a great addition to library collections.--Myiesha Speight

Revamping "The 12 Days of Christmas" to sweetly bustling effect, Fryer Brown pens a lively refrain recounting a Black family gathering's doorbell dings, each of which heralds the arrival of more relatives and dishes: "two selfie queens... three posh sibs... four pounds of chitlins... BAKED MACARONI AND CHEEEEEESE!" In Glenn's citrus-toned illustrations, the child narrator, who sports a magenta dress and green hairbow, regards the growing crowd while awaiting "a sweet potato pie just for me!" As the home becomes increasingly jam-packed and ever more festive ("six toddlers squealing... seven brothers repping... eight players yelling... nine women whisp'ring..."), even the promised sweet potato pie seems imperiled--until a beloved elder comes through. It's a lovingly chaotic portrayal with a pleasingly ample feel. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)