Deck the Walls! A Wacky Christmas Carol

In the spirit of such fractured Christmas carols as “Jingle Bells, Batman smells,” Dealey and Ward introduce a crew of rowdy kids who have some very patient parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Dealey’s version suggests decking the walls with mashed potatoes and engaging in some tableside misbehavior, too: “Olive hockey with the cousins./ Fa la la la la la la la la./ Shot on goal! The gravy splashes!/ Fa la la la la la la la la!” Ward fills his spreads with the detritus of a house packed full of relatives for the holidays, and the joyful (and messy) spirit of familial togetherness is contagious. Ages 6–8. Author’s agent: Deborah Warren, East West Literary. (Sept.)