Christmas Sing-Along Car-I-Oke »

David Schiller is an author of eclectic interests whose books include The Little Zen Companion, All-American Carioke, and The Runaway Beard. He lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife, three children, and (only) three guitars.

Nothing moves the Christmas spirit like caroling. Sing on the way to Grandmother’s house. Sing going for the tree. Sing while heading to shop and back. Then bring the party in from the car, pop the CD in the stereo, and gather family, friends, and neighbors for eggnog and song—caroling has never been so joyful, activity-filled, or convenient. Announcing Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-oke, a holiday fun kit featuring a book of 17 great sing-along carols plus other musical activities, a CD of accompanying music, and three booklets of lyrics for the backseat.

The second book after All-American Car-i-oke, with 110,000 copies in print, Christmas Sing-Along Car-i-ike is a family Christmas concert and talent show between covers: Get right into the mood with the caroler’s favorite, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”; turn up the rousing factor with a hand-clapping “Go Tell It on the Mountain”; join the Messiah’s “Hallelujah Chorus”; then glide into a tender “Silent Night” with solo guitar accompaniment—just the way the song was unveiled on Christmas Eve, 1818. Plus there’s the Backseat Ballet Company’s production of The Nutcracker, a hip-hop version of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” even a recorder lesson that will teach you how to play “Jingle Bells” and other tunes.

The CD is filled with musical variety (a bluegrass version of “Good King Wenceslas”; an original reggae carol, “Bah, Humbug!”), and just enough vocals to keep everyone together; the 64-page book contains not only all the lyrics, but also tips on singing and Christmashistory, lore, and trivia; the three booklets contain just the lyrics. Play it early, play it often, for the merriest of holidays.