That's pretty much what my holiday this year looked like but having the chance to enjoy works like this one allowed me to take a moment at least to remember the beauty of the season, the simple joy to be found in visiting another, and the many adventures to be found just outside our front door. With beautifully crafted images to bring this classic carol to life (as well as add a few unexpected surprises!), there's fun to be had between these pages for all ages.


**copy received for review ( )

Taking the popular Christmas song, Jingle Bells, as a text, author/artist Susan Jeffers creates an engaging holiday adventure in this new picture-book. As a boy and girl set out on a sleigh-ride across the snowy landscape, they and their little white dog experience a variety of adventures, from a sleigh accident to some encounters with the local wildlife. Eventually they make it to their grandmother's house, where they find that Santa has come to call as well...

Although the text of Jingle Bells contains no surprises, the additional story elements that Jeffers creates through her artwork - the upset of the sleigh, in which the boy and girl go flying; the various animals encountered by the little white dog - give it an added sense of adventure, and make the reading and perusing all the more entertaining. The watercolor artwork itself is lovely, ably capturing the beauty of the wintry world through which children and dog travel, while a brief afterword shows all the animals that the little dog encounters. Recommended to Susan Jeffers fans, and to anyone looking for new Christmas picture-books. ( )

This story takes you through the Christmas song, Jingle Bells, while showing a story of a little boy, a little girl, and their pony. These children end up at Grandma's house with a present for her. When they arrive, Santa is there, too. ( )