Alaska's 12 Days of Summer (PAWS IV) [Hardcover]

Pat Chamberlin-Calamar (Author), Shannon Cartwright (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: PAWS IV

The infectious rhythms of the classic song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," inspired this clever and charming counting book. Here, the famous "partridge in a pear tree" becomes a "black bear in a spruce tree," while the fifth day of summer in Alaska yields everything from swans and wood frogs to bald eagles and moose. Author Pat Chamberlin-Calamar has spent every summer in Alaska since 1985, and through the book's witty repetitions she conjures a vibrant world of Alaskan fauna. Alaska's 12 Days of Summer is a book that children will want to sing along with again and again.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-The traditional song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" gets a new treatment in this lighthearted picture book. With artwork by a popular Alaskan illustrator, it shows the typical fauna-moose, black and brown bears, caribou, bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and even mosquitoes-cavorting under the midnight sun. As the cumulative verses unfold, Cartwright's spreads become more and more crowded with activity and interesting details, such as the footprints of some of the animals along river and pond banks. Meanwhile, small-print, parallel text relates facts about the depicted animals and their central Alaska habitat. The illustrations show a landscape with a veritable traffic jam of wildlife, but it's all in fun. The effort to cram all the animals in the 11th and 12th days creates some awkward design logistics, but the kids will not complain. This book might be classified as fluff for the tourist souvenir stands, but kids will see it as fun whether they find it in their library or receive it as a souvenir of their grandparents' trip north.
Sue Sherif, Alaska State Library, Anchorage
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books/Paws IV Children's Books; Paper Over Board edition (March 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570613400
• ISBN-13: 978-1570613401
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 10.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,203,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for younger readers, May 28, 2008

By 

Feen "Feen" (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alaska's 12 Days of Summer (PAWS IV) (Hardcover)

This is a good book for youngsters who have mastered the basics of reading. (My kindergartener enjoyed it and only needed help here and there with some of the longer, unfamiliar animal names). The story is phrased similarly to the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Its repetitive nature is a good way to help youngsters practice reading longer words. It also encorporates counting/numbers and names of animals found in Alaska. At the end of the book there's even written music of the song tune, complete with these "new" Alaskan lyrics. The illustrations are colorful and a treat to look at. This book would be a great addition to a school library or any child's personal collection.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun read, January 1, 2011

By 

Donna L. Jamison "book lover" (Eagle River, AK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alaska's 12 Days of Summer (PAWS IV) (Paperback)

This is a fun book to read to any young child. It can also be sung! It is fun searching for the animals in the illustrations.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK shape, but..., December 20, 2009

By 

K. L. MCDERMOTT "Book Source" (Bloomingdale, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alaska's 12 Days of Summer (PAWS IV) (Paperback)

I bought this as a gift for my co-worker and myself to give to our boss. I was rather disappointed to find a brown smudge on the inside front cover about the size of a golf ball. I was able to cover it with a bookplate, but wasn't happy that this was necessary.

K