Unlike dePaola's recent An Early American Christmas, which shows the dawn of holiday jubilance in a New England village, this book portrays the more serene aspects of Christmas, of reverance and religious imagery. The selections are mostly familiar``O, Come All Ye Faithful,'' ``I Saw Three Ships,'' ``Good King Wenceslas,'' ``Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella!''with some lesser-known songs as well: ``The Cherry Tree Carol'' and `` 'Twas in the Moon of Wintertime.'' But well-known or not, the carols are lovingly placed among pictures with varied settings: Victorian and biblical, some on gatefold pages. DePaola's intense huesslate blues, rich burgundies and mossy greensreflect the way colors show up in a wintry background. His Christmas spirit, here of subdued joy, is infectious. All ages. (October) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

A perfect collection of 32 carols, mostly familiar, with words and music printed large enough for sharing around the piano and with simple arrangements suitable for accompaniment or part singing. Serene full-page illustrations (plus several triple-page fold-outs) and rhythmically arranged decorations on every page make this a handsome, well-designed volume. Certain to be one of the prolific author-illustrator's most popular. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

All ages. The words and music for more than 30 familiar Christmas carols, which appear on double-page spreads, are affectionately decorated with stars, lambs, doves, angels, and other symbols of the holiday. Accompanying the songs, vividly colored and gracefully executed artwork teems with the ambience of the time and place. DePaola varies his selections as well as his presentation: the carol-singing children of ``We Wish You a Merry Christmas'' are gaily dressed in a 1920s mode; black pilgrims and hovering black angels worship the Christ Child in the spiritual ``Go Tell It on the Mountain''; pine trees tower over a hut visited by three blanketed native Americans for the Huron Indian tune ``Twas in the Moon of Wintertime''; humor erupts as sheep frolic to ``Joy to the World!''; and all the beauty and solemnity of the occasion is evoked in ``What Child Is This?'' In addition, dePaola treats viewers to foldout pages for six of the offerings, which open up to reveal triptychlike designs. The candle-carrying worshippers in ``O, Come All Ye Faithful'' and the 15 star-tipped pine trees on a snowy hillside juxtaposed with the gift-strewn, decorated tree evince harmony and thoughtful composition. On the dust jacket, singing children and a smiling cat beckon carolers of all ages: an invitation not to be missed. BE. 783.65 Carols / Christmas music [CIP] 86-755157