Books for the Holidays

Surrounded by the waters of the Mississippi, the blooming magnolias, and the buzzing mosquitoes, a solitary raccoon made his home in a cypress trunk.

As yet another Christmas approached with no friends to share the holiday season, Roux vowed to make a change. He built a tall bonfire, in the Cajun tradition, in hopes that Papa Noel would see the warm light of the flames on his Christmas Eve flight. 

Roux tucked himself into bed that cold, lonely night with not an inkling that Santa would indeed stop by his swampy abode. The jolly man in red brought gifts for the raccoon who had been nice all year, but gifts, he knew, were not what would bring little Roux cheer. As Santa set off to continue his Christmas Eve rounds, he scoured the bayous and towns for what would make Roux’s holiday complete. Can Santa find the perfect present to save Roux’s Christmas? 

This heartwarming story about the power of hope and the magic of friendship is sure to brighten your holiday reading. Children will enjoy this story of an unlikely friendship set in the southern swamps that references customs and traditions familiar to the littlest Cajuns. A recipe for Roux’s Bayou Stew completes this special tale.

Beware, ye pilgrims, of the Knotty List crew!

In the third book in the adventures of the Knotty List, Cap'n McNasty and his crew of roguish rapscallions don't have any plans for dinner. Not to worry, though, because from their ship, the crew spies a huge feast being enjoyed at Plymouth Rock. Cap'n McNasty and his party of privateers may seem like the perfect dinner guests, but it isn't long until their mischievous manners reveal their true identity. Armed with delicious food, the pirates fight for the mouth-watering feast! Impish illustrations will keep young readers entertained, and starving for more. So whether ye be pirate or pilgrim, arm yourself for a Thanksgiving food fight the likes o' which you've never seen!

When Nicholas journeys to the Land Beyond Yon, he discovers a group of elves who can�t get along and soon helps them find a way to work together to fulfill the wishes of children all over the world.

Twelve days of yuletide fur and fun! The perfect gift for any family who has a naughty pet-this book turns the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas into a hilarious and endearing tale of one bad, little puppy! With each passing day, the dog steals something new to give to his owner, bringing disaster and chaos in his wake! Santa jollies, shiny ribbons, and fluffy mittens are just a few of this pet's favorite things. Although this festive pup causes mounds of Christmas trouble, his silly holiday antics still inspire a giggle and a smile. This bundle of canine joy is full of five pounds of love. Dog lovers and Christmas revelers alike will want to share this catchy, sing-song read with their children.

It’s Christmas time in Louisiana! This year Elise and her mother are traveling from New Orleans to join her family in Natchitoches to celebrate the season in a very special way.

Along north Louisiana’s Cane River, holiday traditions include parades—even a boat parade!—along the river and a Christmas festival with arts and crafts and carolers singing. The light-bedecked city of Natchitoches enchants Elise. Christmas lights blink from every lamppost and storefront. The twinkling colors are reflected in the river, and fireworks light up the sky. The sugary scent of funnel cakes and cotton candy saturates the evening breeze. But Elise’s favorite holiday treat is the famous Natchitoches meat pie that Maw-Maw sells at her festival booth every year. Can you guess her secret ingredient?

Natchitoches, Louisiana’s oldest city, has celebrated the Christmas season with a festival for a century. Today, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival lasts six weeks long and features hundreds of thousands of lights, days of entertainment for children and adults, and visits from Santa. And everyone’s favorite festival food? The Natchitoches meat pie, of course! The official recipe for this yummy snack concludes the tale of Elise’s family Christmas.

Santy's arrival by johnboat is announced by a ruckus between his pet raccoon and Paw's coonhound. After a feast of ham biscuits, Maw and Paw open their musical gifts, and Santy joins in on the frollicatin'.

A librarian who is busy shelving books on Christmas Eve is surprised to see Santa flying toward the library in his red bookmobile. Bringing wonderful gifts of new books, carpet, and more, Santa and his elves make the library as good as new.

More Southern Christmas spirit than you can handle!

Cyndi Lou finds herself in a quite a fix when her beau, Billy Ray, tries to secure her affection with an assortment of Christmas gifts. This sounds like a pretty good deal for Cyndi Lou and her Memaw, but when the gifts go on for twelve days straight and include such Christmas "treasures" as razorback hogs, live catfish, and a dozen possums, it's hard for Cyndi Lou to really get into the Christmas spirit. What with all of the armadillos and those Nascar racers taking up residence in the double-wide, is it any wonder the sheriff has to put Memaw in the sanitarium? This enchantingly fractured version of the well-known rhyme for adults will truly "bless your heart!"

Not a creature was stirring, except a French artist mouse!

Follow Henri, the French artist mouse living in a French country house, as he tries to paint the perfect Christmas gift for a very special friend. When Henri begins to doubt his own ability, a certain Christmas visitor, jolly and round with black boots and a red suit, steps in to reassure Henri about what's truly important. With a bit of guidance--and just in time for Christmas morning--Henri discovers the greatest gift he could give: friendship! A story of lost confidence and renewed determination, this picture book introduces young artists to real art terms, materials, and techniques, as well as to art's modern masters, cast in the roles of Henri's colleagues and friends.

Go ape for Christmas!

All is calm as the animals dream and the keeper decorates the zoo exhibits on Christmas Eve . . . but not for long! More rapid than cheetahs, a team of flying zebras hauling a sleigh lands on top of the souvenir shop, revealing Santa's newest helper: Oranga-Claus! The hairy old ape knows just what all the lions, penguins, llamas, kangaroos, hippopotamuses, and other zoo animals want in their stockings for Christmas—and what the keeper wants, too! This hilariously fractured retelling of Clement C. Moore's classic poem features delightful illustrations filled with monkeyshines on every page. This year you'll be saying, “Merry Christmas to all, and ooka moo moo la goo!”

A holiday "who done it" for kids. Tallie's Christmas lights were stolen, and she's determined to track down the culprit. Was it the mail man? Her slobbery pup Fuego? To find out, Tallie dons her spy gear, sets a trap, finds the thief, and trades him a more suitable decoration to get her glowing candy canes back.

A weary first mate is just beginning his night's watch when he is suddenly surprised by ol' Cap'n Claus.