cover image Musical Christmas Tree

Musical Christmas Tree

Illus. by Patricia Regan. Barron’s, $10.99 (16p) ISBN 978-0-7641-6899-4

This board book is part seek-and-find escapade, part Christmas decoration—and it plays “Jingle Bells,” to boot. Die-cut in the shape of half of a Christmas tree, it opens a full 360 degrees to form a standing three-dimensional tree that stays open with a Velcro fastener. On the pages within, readers travel to the North Pole, where they are prompted to search for candy canes, cupcakes, animals, and toys in Mrs. Claus’s kitchen, the elves’ workshop, and five other locations. The text and digital illustrations are cheery, if somewhat generic, but the novel design and interactive/musical elements should keep young celebrants entertained. Ages 1–up. (Sept.)