Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This is one of those rare occasions where the board book edition is an improvement on the (beloved) original picture book (rev. 11/12). Boynton has selectively collapsed and expanded spreads, tweaked color schemes, reversed the band's direction so they're marching left to right, made slight text enhancements (including using numerals), added a second pig child protagonist watching the parade pass their house, and appended a new final bedtime spread. All her trademarks remain, including a range of animal musicians, plenty of humor, a dynamic array of fonts, and pleasing read-aloud-ready sound effects ("BOOM-biddy BOOM!"). A Christmas parade worth watching and listening to all year long. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Boynton's droll animal characters march through this small volume with their usual deadpan humor, set off by her minimalist rhyming text. A little pig watches the parade out his window, starting with a fierce-looking elephant drum major. There are chickens with bassoons, pigs with balloons, hippos with drums, and on and on, down to a tiny bird with a huge sousaphone. When the parade is over, the narrator pig is surprised by a knock on the door, followed by cheery Christmas greetings from the entire band. The text has a strong rhythm befitting a musical theme, and special sound effects are indicated by larger display type. The animals naturally have the signature hilarious expressions that Boynton does so well, and they wear a variety of snappy band uniforms. Santa appears in the parade, of course, as a rhino in a furry, red costume playing a tiny trumpet. Younger children will learn the names of the instruments the animals play, and any adult readers who are marching-band alums will enjoy pointing out their favorite musical instruments. Boynton's buoyant text and comical characters march to their own inimitable drummer. (Picture book. 2-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.