The 13th Day of Christmas

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

Author: Adam Rex
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Published: 09/09/2025
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 10.16h x 11.26w x 0.47d
ISBN: 9780823456536
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 07/28/2025
Booklist 08/01/2025
School Library Journal 09/01/2025 pg. 66

About the Author
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.