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Christian Holidays - Christmas, General & Miscellaneous Holidays, Music - Songs & Songbooks
Deck the Halls by Norman Rockwell β€” book cover

Deck the Halls

by Norman Rockwell (Illustrator), Public Public Domain
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Overview

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Written in the sixteenth century, "Deck the Halls" has been a favorite holiday song for generations of Americans. Now see it brought to life like never before as it is set with classic, Americana images by the master of all things festive, Norman Rockwell, Children go sleigh riding and wait anxiously for the arrival of Santa Claus, families sing Christmas carols, and Santa gets ready for his big night in this Christmas-themed tribute to Norman Rockwell and the American culture so beautifully immortalized in his art. With a foreword by Norman Rockwell's grandson, John Rockwell, this book is a treasure that families will love to sing along with.

This traditional carol joyfully celebrates "the season to be jolly." Press the button and sing along with Woodruff's adorable woodland animals as they sing the popular Yuletide tune.

Synopsis

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,

Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Written in the sixteenth century, "Deck the Halls" has been a favorite holiday song for generations of Americans. Now see it brought to life like never before as it is set with classic, Americana images by the master of all things festive, Norman Rockwell, Children go sleigh riding and wait anxiously for the arrival of Santa Claus, families sing Christmas carols, and Santa gets ready for his big night in this Christmas-themed tribute to Norman Rockwell and the American culture so beautifully immortalized in his art. With a foreword by Norman Rockwell's grandson, John Rockwell, this book is a treasure that families will love to sing along with.

Children's Literature

In the introduction to this book, John Rockwell, grandson of Norman Rockwell, explains how the idea was conceived. The editors at Atheneum selected Rockwell paintings to accompany the words to the Christmas song "Deck the Halls." He states, "A major appeal of (Norman Rockwell's) images is based on his showing an intimate, familiar, and humorous look at common events." The carefully selected paintings indeed do all of that and are paired very well with phrases of the song. Smaller sizes of the illustrations and where they first appeared are found in the back. While most were magazine covers, some were for calendars, greeting cards, and advertisements. The only multicultural illustration is on page one with the title. Other pages show a jolly Santa, the high anticipation of Christmas, remembering the soldiers who are at war, and the warmth of family gatherings. This combination of a classic song with classic illustrations makes a lovely gift for a family to share (and even sing!) together. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo

In the introduction to this book, John Rockwell, grandson of Norman Rockwell, explains how the idea was conceived. The editors at Atheneum selected Rockwell paintings to accompany the words to the Christmas song "Deck the Halls." He states, "A major appeal of (Norman Rockwell's) images is based on his showing an intimate, familiar, and humorous look at common events." The carefully selected paintings indeed do all of that and are paired very well with phrases of the song. Smaller sizes of the illustrations and where they first appeared are found in the back. While most were magazine covers, some were for calendars, greeting cards, and advertisements. The only multicultural illustration is on page one with the title. Other pages show a jolly Santa, the high anticipation of Christmas, remembering the soldiers who are at war, and the warmth of family gatherings. This combination of a classic song with classic illustrations makes a lovely gift for a family to share (and even sing!) together. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

School Library Journal

K Up

The traditional Christmas carol is illustrated with Rockwell's heartwarming visions of holiday cheer. The art come from a variety of sources-magazine covers, advertisements, holiday cards-and matches the lyrics surprisingly well. While the pictures are best appreciated up close to see the fine details, this oversize book could also be used as part of a holiday program. Handsomely nostalgic, and sure to be popular with parents and grandparents.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

Selected illustrations with Christmas or winter settings have been culled from Rockwell's extensive work and arranged in this volume to accompany the words to the traditional carol. The 14 illustrations were painted from 1917 to 1964 and were used as cover illustrations or advertisements in popular magazines or on Christmas cards. The selected illustrations provide a spectrum of Rockwell's style: from happy views such as a jolly Santa on the cover or cheerful children in snowsuits to more wistful images of a little girl looking down the staircase at party guests or a World War I soldier opening his package from home. A more serious Saturday Evening Post cover shows Rockwell's introspective side with his "Golden Rule" uniting individuals from all parts of the world. Rockwell's grandson provides an introduction, and a concluding spread identifies the source and date for each illustration. Families will enjoy looking at Rockwell's work together for a glimpse of Christmases of yesteryear, and adult fans will find this a delightful holiday pleasure. (Picture book. 5-adult)

Book Details

Published
October 1, 2008
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages
32
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781416917717

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