The Twelve Days of Jamaican Christmas

“A Jamaican family celebrates Christmas with flavorful fun in this adaptation of a beloved Yuletide song… . A loving ode to cultural traditions, family, holidays, and food that hits the spot.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Reid-Benta and Rahman’s mouthwatering rendition of a Christmas standard works Jamaican culinary traditions into the tune… . Readers will find this festive, appetite-whetting fare.” —Publishers Weekly

“The narrative follows the melody of the popular — and long — holiday tune, and anyone who ever had Jamaican cuisine will find themselves hungry by the time they get to the end of the book. The illustrations depict the narrator and her family, who are Black and Jamaican, as they prepare both the Christmas decorations and the food… . A lovely ode to the traditions and cuisines of Jamaica. A festive story that’ll leave readers jolly, singing and hungry.” —School Library Journal

Zalika Reid-Benta is a Canadian writer. Her debut novel River Mumma was shortlisted for the 2024 Trillium Book Award, and her debut story collection Frying Plantain won the 2020 Danuta Gleed Literary Award and the 2020 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize for Literary Fiction. Her second novel, The Seacliff Hotel, will be published in Spring 2027. Her next picture book, Esme’s Happy Place, will be published in Summer 2027.

Mariyah Rahman is a children’s book illustrator and background painter, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. She has a BFA in illustration from ArtCenter College of Design, specializing in entertainment arts. Her clients include Titmouse Animation, Nix Hydra, Heinemann Publishing, and Simon & Schuster. Her inspirations include literature, fantasy, and folklore, and she spends most of her free time reading, baking, and rolling around with her cats and dogs. Mariyah’s debut picture book, Platanos Are Love, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2023.

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