Books for Readers 0-3

A wacky safari that is sure to strike a chord with kids! For each letter of the alphabet, this clever book of rhymes presents a cross between an animal and a musical instrument. From newtubas and mandolions to drumonkeys and pigolos, kids will have a blast during this musical safari. Zany illustrations accompany each creation.

Based on a song from author and illustrator Johnette Downing’s album Boogie Woogie Bugs, the singsong rhyming text introduces babies and youngsters to the wonderful world of bugs.

Illustrated with Johnette’s bold, bright foam and paper collages, the bugs seem to hop, skip, fly, and jump right off the board book pages and into the hearts of little listeners in this entertaining and educational counting adventure!

This abbreviated board book edition is the perfect introduction to this classic tale!

Take the classic story of jolly old St. Nicholas, place it in a Louisiana bayou setting, dress Santa Claus in muskrat “from his head to his foot,” pile his skiff high with toys, and hitch it to eight friendly alligators. The result is this modern classic. Fifty years after its first appearance, Cajun Night Before Christmas® has sold more than one million copies and has served as the model for Pelican’s ongoing, best-selling Night Before Christmas Series.

The Cajun Night Before Christmas® has been a part of Louisiana’s holiday traditions since it was first published in 1973. A delight to both young and old with its rustic full-color illustrations and lively story, it has become a timeless addition to holiday celebrations far beyond south Louisiana, reaching all corners of the country with its charming presentation of Christmas on the bayou and the break-out star of Gaston® the Green-Nosed Alligator.

Conceived by J. B. Kling, Jr., Cajun Night Before Christmas® originally appeared as a Christmas message from Bergeron Plymouth Company of New Orleans. Under the pseudonymous byline “Trosclair,” the story won a Clio Award in 1967 from the Academy of Television and Radio Advertising.

Brought to life by the talented James Rice, the humorous illustrations of a colorful bayou Christmas have been nationally recognized as a classic in its genre.

Color your way through the Mississippi Gulf Coast—wildlife, cities & islands come alive!

Take a trip along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, see and read about what makes each city unique. Explore the barrier islands and catch site of the birds, reptiles, and insects that make this place their home. Enjoy 40 pages of hand-illustrated drawings with information in which you can add your touch of color.

Get ready to stomp and chomp to that mambo beat! When carnival time rolls into New Orleans, these hip dinosaurs want to boogie on down. Iguanodon wiggles to the music of a marching band, while Zigongosaurus dances zydeco and Pterodactyal swoops into the crowd. From singing tunes and tossing beads, these big beasts sure know how to party. Laissez les bon temps rugir!

A popular career choice for most five year olds, firefighting conjures images of pump trucks, sirens, and ladders. This informative and fun ABC journey gives a bit of firefighting history with B is for bucket brigade and moves into the 21st century with T is for thermal imaging camera. The colorful illustrations sport a spotted Dalmatian hidden on every page.

If it’s May in Louisiana, the termites are swarming! This counting book will make toddlers and their families laugh—and squirm—as they recognize this annual buggy invasion.

From alligators to winding country lanes and fried zucchini, this picture book is an alphabetized list of Southern delights. Breezy rhymes recall an appreciation for good food, laid-back evenings, and the gentle dispositions the region is known for.

There is a chef who loves to cook, and gumbo is on the menu!

Sing, clap, and spell along in this Louisiana twist on the classic B-I-N-G-O song.

With pots bubbling and aromas swirling, this catchy read-aloud serves up a flavorful helping of Louisiana culture, filled with rhythm, rhyme, and joyful repetition: G-U-M-B-O!

This abbreviated board book edition is the perfect introduction to this classic tale!

Gaston the green-nosed alligator has returned from the swamp and is taking adventurous readers on a tour of Mardi Gras.

In this board book, Huey the pelican is learning his Louisiana colors. Come fly with him and see how colorful our state can be, with blue in the heron, red in the peppers, yellow in the sunshine, and so much more!

Tex the armadillo is learning his Texas colors.

Waltz across Texas with him and see how colorful his state can be, from the blue in the bluebonnets to the green of a prickly pear cactus.

This colorfully illustrated rhyming board book teaches your littles about the great state of Texas.

From the size of the skies to the height of Aunt Birdee's hair, we all know it's bigger there!

Mississippi is buzzing. From insect bites to lightning bug lights, take a closer look with this friendly board book. 

This colorfully illustrated rhyming board book covers the Texas summers using playful comparisons.

From Texas spice to sweet tea on ice, this book is sure to keep your little ones as cool as a cucumber.

Don’t sweat that muggy Mississippi weather. Catch a breather with a colorful board book packed with playful rhymes and helpful tips for breezing through the season. 

The sky is dark and grey, but Florida youngsters can while away a rainy day with this colorful board book touring sodden beaches, happy plants, and key lime pie!

From dazzling beaches to the roar of fan-filled stadiums, babies in the Sunshine State will surely recognize all the signs of a sunny day in Florida in this exciting board book!

In this charming rhyming board book for ages 0–5, young readers join Michael the Wildlife Detective as he peers out his bedroom window and discovers the wonders of the wild world just beyond his home.

Surrounded by his favorite animal toys, Michael’s imagination comes alive as he observes real animals outside — from playful raccoons and busy bees to chirping birds and beautiful trees.

Each page delights with gentle rhymes, vivid imagery, and an invitation for little ones to explore nature with curiosity and care. Michael the Wildlife Detective's Nature Adventure introduces children to wildlife through the eyes of a young explorer, showing that every great detective starts with wonder, imagination, and a love for the world around them.

Have y'all seen Scrim?

Scrim the dog got loose in the Big Easy, and New Orleans may never be the same. Known for his wiry fur and mischievous antics, Scrim has become a beloved figure in the city, darting through neighborhoods, dodging potholes, and leaving a trail of smiles wherever he goes.

Throw me out there, mister!

When Carnival rolls around in New Orleans, everyone gets into the celebration—including the beads! On Fat Tuesday, a plain string of little purple beads hangs from a hook on a parade float. His fervent wish is to be caught by someone special. The bigger and fancier beads tell him that no one will ever catch him. But a little hope and determination may go a long way in the magical season of Mardi Gras! When the bead spots a little princess in the crowd, he knows she is the person for him! Will she try to catch him? The heartwarming tale offers opportunities for a discussion of bullying, self-worth, and inclusion with young readers. The delightful story and illustrations from this daughter/father team will charm the entire family and become a parade route favorite!

Raised in New Orleans, Julie P. Rowley holds a master’s of education in early childhood curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. Her stories were inspired by her daughter’s imagination.

A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, John R. Paquette is a retired editor. He is also a professional vocalist and a talented portrait artist and illustrator. He enjoyed collaborating with his daughter.

Introduce your little reader to numbers with this tale of a boy in ancient China crafting an abacus to help his father count a warlord’s treasure.

Young Chuan lives with his father in the beautiful palace of a powerful Chinese warlord. As a reward for his cleverness in solving the warlord’s puzzle, Father is given the job of tallying the warlord’s treasure—brilliant jewels, rich brocades, and spices from a thousand lands. Life at the palace is luxurious but filled with so many interruptions Father often loses count! The varying totals lead the suspicious warlord to accuse him of stealing, and Father is about to lose hope. Just in time, Chuan discovers a special use for the warlord’s lovely jade beads—a use that will help Father keep an accurate tally and cause the warlord to pronounce Chuan as clever as his Father. Often used by teachers of the primary grades to illustrate the powerful concept of “base ten,” various types of counting frames appeared in China during the Middle Ages. The Warlord’s Beads is a valuable tool for introducing young readers to the wonder of numbers as well as the beauty and mystery of ancient China.

Praise for The Warlord’s Beads

A November/December 2001 Booksense 76 Selection

Accelerated Reader Program Selection

“Debon’s distinctive artwork adds to the fairy tale feeling of this story.” —Children’s Literature

“Debon evocatively depicts court dress and decorative details . . . Capped with a diagram for a modern version of Chuan’s counting frame made of cardboard, pipe cleaners, and o-shaped breakfast cereal.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Debon’s well-composed, often dramatic, and sometimes comical paintings bring the story to life. With or without the math lesson, a good picture book for reading aloud.” —Booklist 

“Helpful to children learning how to count, add, and subtract and is a good choice for most collections.” —School Library Journal

“Children will not be disappointed in this sequel to the award-winning The Warlord’s Puzzle.” —JoAnn Lum, Hipfish Magazine

All is calm in the warlord�s palace, and the artist�s apprentice Chuan sits with his friend Jing Jing, watching the sunset, when an invading army approaches. Jing Jing comes up with an ingenious solution using Chuan�s knowledge of calculating area as well as his handmade paper and ink to frighten the troops into leaving.

The warlord�s presence is requested at the emperor�s banquet in two weeks, but he is sixteen days away by horseback. Using their math skills, ingenuity, and the wind, Chuan and Jing Jing reach the warlord�s camp and encourage him to use their sailing cart to travel to the feast. The Warlord�s Messengers is the sixth book in the acclaimed Warlord�s Series, and includes directions for making your own windsock as well as suggestions for velocity-related math activities.

A May/June 2000 BookSense ’76 Selection

Accelerated Reader Program Selection

In China, a beautiful ceramic tile lies shattered on the ground, and the artist who dropped it is sentenced to the land’s worst punishment. The fierce warlord will execute the artist unless some wise person can put the seven pieces back together. That person will then be invited to live in the castle. Both locals and strangers from far away wait their turns for a chance to solve the warlord’s puzzle.

After learning why these people are waiting to enter the castle, a peasant boy convinces his poor but wise father to join the line. This little boy starts them off on the first step to solving the puzzle—entering the contest.

Down in a southern swamp, a family of crawfish face a big problem. Their three sons have grown too large and their nice, cozy den is now uncomfortably crowded. Poppa and Mama decide it's time for their sons to leave home and build their own dens. In this twist on a classic tale, Poppa warns the three little crawfish that they must be careful of the sly, ole 'coon. That raccoon has a big appetite for juicy crawfish! Charming illustrations and humorous rhymes create a delightful adventure for beginning readers in this bedtime favorite.

Gold/Honors Award Winner
National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Children’s Products
The Big Read 2010
Recommended Reading List for the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools

Based on a popular song adapted by the multi-award-winning New Orleans singer-songwriter Johnette Downing, Today Is Monday in Louisiana rhythmically takes readers through a culinary calendar, describing a Louisiana meal a day. Now adapted to board book format for tiny hands, each page presents collaged images of yummy foods. On Monday there are red beans to eat and on Tuesday, po’ boys. On Wednesday gumbo is served, and on it goes, each day bringing another unique and tasty Louisiana dish to share.

On the first warm and sunny day of the year, Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School principal Sharon Riggs needs one more substitute teacher. Victor Kennedy, the father of the school�s secretary, agrees to teach the seventh-grade American-history class for the day and tells the students about the Tuskegee Airmen. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first black men allowed into combat, flying over 1,500 missions over the course of the war and winning a significant battle against segregation at home. Young readers will experiencefor themselves the triumphant pride of these men in serving their country.

What I Know to Be True is a heartfelt tribute to southern Louisiana from the author and illustrator of Carnival Time in My Mind.

With colorful local imagery and simple rhymes, this board book captures the essence of New Orleans living and the deep bond between reader and child. Perfect for bedtime reading to newborns and toddlers, it shares a message of love that resonates with every turn of the page. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, this delightful book is a warm celebration of the connection we cherish with the little ones in our lives.