Jingle Bells

by Kathleen N. Daly, J.P. Miller (Illustrator)

A sleighful of animals helps Santa deliver gifts when his reindeer fall ill, then gather at Santa's house for a feast. The words to the song "Jingle Bells" are cleverly interspersed in the text.

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Animals, Music

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Kathleen N. Daly was born in London but spent her childhood on the island of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean, and in France and Scotland. Ms. Daly has been a children's book editor in both England and America, and is the author of more than thirty books for children, many of them on plants and animals of the world. She now makes her home in New York City. (1977)

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book turned out to be unintentionally hilarious... but only because it was horrifying.

The story starts out with a bear family out in their sleigh. Things quickly devolve from there, though, starting with Papa Bear cracking his whip at the poor horse, Hubert... who it's stated loves pulling the sleigh. Sure he does. (Seems more like an excuse to use poor Hubert for labour, but whatever.) That's just the beginning of this weirdly speciesist tale. Why are bears using a horse in the first place? Things start to get ugly, though, as more friends--other animals--pile into the sleigh. Soon they're all bundled up in furs. Furs. At that point, I just about lost it. Whose furs? There are bears, rabbits, a raccoon, and a seal in that sleigh, all of which are fur-bearing animals. At this point, I started to wonder if this was some sort of horror picture book for kids.

Soon, they meet Santa, who has a bit of a problem. His reindeer are sick and are back at home tucked in bed with their tea and warm socks (who knew reindeer wore socks?) so he needs some help delivering presents. The animals help him out, and Santa goes on to merrily reinforce gender stereotypes by giving trains, boats, and rocking horses to the boys and dolls to the girls. Then, when he's done being a sexist old elf, they all go back to his place for dinner. Poor Esmeralda Ostrich has to sit at the dining table and watch everyone else eat a dead bird.

Before the animals head home, they check in on the sniffly reindeer. There are only six. I don't even want to ask what happened to the other two; based on some of the other disturbing elements in this book, I doubt it's a feel-good story. (Maybe they got eaten one year when there was a turkey shortage.)

The pictures are kind of creepy, almost (but not quite) in the style of Gustav Tenggren, who illustrated quite a few of these Little Golden Books. The animals look like they're on drugs, in any case.

I may have read this one when I was little, considering it's been around a lot longer than I have. But if I did, I obviously didn't pick up on how creepy it is. I'll be remembering this one now for all the wrong reasons.

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* art
5* story

A favorite from my own childhood. Having a blast reading it to Squirt, who likes the singing bits and my sound effects for the jingling bells and sleigh in the snow. Making new memories to add to the old!

[Tatevik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is around the Jingle bell song. The illustrations and the narrator were chosen well, but something was missing, not heartwarming enough for me.

This book would even be right for toddlers (yeah, well, I read those books too, don't laugh).

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood favorite of mine. The inscription says my grandparents gave it to me when I was three, which is exactly how old my son is at the moment. That little fact just made it that much more rewarding to share it with him this year. (And let's not forget those adorable illustrations, with the snow falling on every page, and the feast at the end!)

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Little Golden Book with a Christmas theme that Sis and I read all year long. And another cover that zings me right back to my childhood.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice winter classic book that takes an inspired twist as it combines the lyrics of the well known song of the same name along with an original story. To keep the writing styles apart the lyrics are printed in red and the actual story in regular color.

What I found to be a bit offsetting for me with this book was the fact that they had all these characters fitting in one sleigh and only a poor single horse to pull all that added weight through possibly deep snow as it didn't look like they were on a road. And why was the horse the only one that wasn't an anthropomorphic character?

Also what exactly was with the oh it is alright to let someone sing for the season who couldn't sing worth a cent any other time. Are you suggesting that once winter and Christmas have passed they will avoid this poor creature or rudely tell her to stop her racket?

The win for this book is the fact that they have the whole song in the back and include the music for those who would like to try to play the original instead of hearing all the other variations that seem to float around at this time of year.

[Papillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for Christmastime! The Bear family is sleighing through town picking up their friends to have dinner together. They have to help santa along the way. Classically illustrated, this Little Golden Book has the lyrics to the song highlighted throughout the story. I love the sheet music at the very end of the book.

[Ketutar Jensen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like the part with animals, and them helping Santa, the illustrations, but... what about Hubert?
He got to do all the work the whole day and wasn't even invited to the dinner at Santa´s?
Doesn't much matter that "Hubert Horse loved to pull the sleigh". That was probably just his masters speaking for him to hide the slavery?

[R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cute Christmas book based on a classic Christmas carol. This one is unique in that it actually highlights the text from the carol in red before continuing on with the side story in black ink. Additionally, the music for the carol is printed in the back of the book to sing along with. Between that and the illustrations, this makes it more of an above-and-beyond the carol experience that is fun for the holidays all around. I remember actually playing the carol out of the back of the book on my parent's piano when I was a child. Maybe my kids will do the same when they are old enough.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I enjoyed when I was a little girl and now found my old book and my 2 year old granddaughter is enjoying it as well! Characters from Richard Scary books (Patrick Pig, etc) makes it an adorable book. The lines of Jingle Bells in incorporated into the story of friends going on a one horse sled ride and along the way they find Santa! And they help him to deliver presents! A wonderfully neat book about Jingle Bells and friends at Christmas time!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings back many happy childhood Christmas memories. The story and illustrations are beautiful, though the illustrations may edge out the story. But not by much.

I read this to a 15-month-old tonight and she was captivated the whole time.

[jennifer]

chaya - winter 2011

[EA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtful story based on the lyrics to Jingle Bells. I thought it was clever.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up reading this, so it brings back good memories

[Alice Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's animals to the rescue when Santa's reindeer are sick in bed with a cold! Feels like Richard Scarry meets Muppet Family Christmas. Jingle Bells sheet music and lyrics at the end of the book.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book idea. Has the song lyrics for Jingle Bells throughout the book and then ends with the whole song. Cute take on the song and story.

[Sheba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars; it was okay, but it was also strange to me to have an entire storyline between the lyrics on Jingle Bells.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book bought for a kid. Pretty cute a story written around jingle bells.

[Diane in Australia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the books in my daughter's Christmas collection.

5 Stars = I love it for sentimental reasons.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a classic that is still good to this day. It's hard not to sing as you read this.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this Little Golden Book, Kathleen Daly weaves the lyrics of the standard Christmas Carol Jingle Bells through a story about a bear family sleighing in the woods to visit friends during the holidays. On their way, they encounter Santa Claus who is in need of help to deliver presents when the reindeer fall ill. For helping him out, they are treated to a Christmas dinner to celebrate the holiday together. The music for Jingle Bells is included in the book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

typical golden book artwork thats torn between cute and mildy creepy. Cute little story.
I did raise my eyebrows a bit about the animals sitting down to a turkey dinner, considering the herbivores present, but it sounds like there's specific food for them to enjoy. Which is probably partly why I never thought twice as a little kid when reading this haha.

[Elizabeth Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the illustrations were mad adorable, the story was just not there. It all felt awkward. I am a full supporter of books adapted from songs, but only when done well. This didn’t do it for me; none of it fit. It started in a way that I thought would work and be fun, with all the song lyrics highlighted in red, but it just fell apart as it went on.
(G rating)

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a childhood favorite. The snowy sleigh ride illustrations are lively. Using the song lyrics as a basis, this book takes friends on a few side adventures to celebrate Christmas and help Santa.

*read as part of a re-read of childhood favorites*

[James Greening · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Little Golden Book provides truly wonderful and beautiful illustrations (especially the one with the sleigh on a cold winter's night!!!), but the story seems a little weird and didn't flow as well as others. Still, a great Christmas children's book!

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 A cute book based on the classic Christmas song, 'Jingle Bells'. I especially enjoyed the silly and colorful illustrations by Richard Scarry! I think young people would like this Little Golden Book. A lovely addition to a child's Christmas book collection.

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that they're animals. Cause you know why? Cause I want more pals.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite picture book from my childhood.

[Dara Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just purchased and re-read this book simply for the illustrations. It is a comforting illustration story for me especially “O’er the fields we go!” pages.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the narrative that accompanies the song - and the alliteration makes it fun to read aloud.