Holiday Gift Guide - 2024

Derived from a patriotic Grammy-nominated spoken word album recorded by The Duke in 1973.

Now, in America, Why I Love Her, we can join Little Duke on his journey through this great land and learn about true American values of love, freedom, compassion, honesty, family, unity, hope, liberty & justice, honor and peace.

Derived from a patriotic Grammy-nominated spoken word album recorded by The Duke in 1973.

Now, in  An American Boy Grows Up, we can join Little Duke on his journey through this great land and learn about true American values of love, freedom, compassion, honesty, family, unity, hope, liberty & justice, honor and peace.

“Forget Dancer, Prancer, Comet, and Vixen. . . . Good Clement, wherever he is, will not be gnashing his teeth.” —New York Times Book Review

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.  Featuring eight pages of curated content released from the Pelican archives, this slipcased, numbered Fiftieth Anniversary Limited Edition showcases the rich legacy of storytelling within our state and the far reach that a humble (or not so humble!) gator has had on Cajun culture, Louisiana, and the entire country.

Color your way through Boston!

Best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock introduces young readers to the beautiful and exciting city of Boston. Young travelers and locals alike can color the boats in the harbor, visit the duckling statues and Swan Boats in Boston's parks, and explore museums. Color in ice cream and lobster and historic sites as you celebrate all that Boston has to offer!

Color your way through Cape Cod!

Best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock introduces young readers to the beautiful communities in Cape Cod. Young travelers and locals alike can color the sailboats and sand dunes at the Cape's beaches, or visit the Cape Cod National Seashore to say hi to a ranger. Color in ice cream and baseball players, kites and sunsets as you celebrate all that Cape Cod has to offer.

The 1921 step-by-step guide to drawing by E.G. Lutz that’s remained a classic for aspiring artists for over a century.

Learn the basics of illustration from influential cartoonist and early animation pioneer E.G. Lutz and start drawing today with Drawing Made Easy. This fun, whimsical beginner’s guide from a century ago offers today’s young artist clear step-by-step instructions and fundamental techniques for approaching a range of useful subjects.  

Easy-to-follow visual examples and straightforward written instructions show how to vividly render a wide selection of flora, fauna, and people in a variety of settings and scenes. Beautiful flowers, soaring birds and butterflies, galloping horses, playful people, and so much more are brought to life on the pages of this lovingly reproduced facsimile reprint. 

E.G Lutz has been guiding aspiring artists across generations, beginning with a young Walt Disney who was inspired by a copy of Animated Cartoons, Lutz’s early guide to animation published in 1920. Now see why Drawing Made Easy remains an essential guide more than one hundred years later. 

Counting down to bedtime on Christmas Eve has never been so fun!

With beautiful illustrations on each page, in Dreaming of Christmas we'll learn to count down from 10 to 1 while discovering the traditions and customs of Christmastime. From flying reindeer and presents wrapped in bows to hanging stockings and carolers caroling, there's so much to see--won't you join me?

Counting down to bedtime during Hanukkah has never been so fun!

With beautiful illustrations on each page, in Dreaming of Hanukkah we'll learn to count down from 10 to 1 while discovering the traditions and customs of Hanukkah. From Maccabee soldiers and crispy latkes to blessings over the menorah, there's so much to see--won't you join me?

A collection of illustrated fairy stories from Louisa May Alcott—the author who brought us Little Women. 

Originally published in 1854, this collection of fables was inspired by Louisa's time spent in the woods around Walden Pond—a spot endearingly named Fairyland by Walden's own Henry David Thoreau. Young Louisa collected these fairy fables into a volume dedicated to her friend Ellen Emerson, the daughter of Ralph Waldo Emerson. This volume—published under the title, Flower Fables—was Louisa's first published book. Published to commemorate the 150th anniversary of its first publication, this elegant hardback edition is a perfect gift for any aged reader.

Welcome to best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Auntie! readers explore the special relationship between a child and her aunt during an adventure-filled day. For ages 0 to 3.

In Hello, Baby Sister! a four-year-old rabbit embarks on the unfamiliar journey of becoming an older sibling in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. Join the rabbit in discovering how to hold, burp, and change a baby sibling. Along the way, the older sibling learns about sharing an old crib, clothes, toys, and even Mommy and Daddy! The best lesson of all, though, is love! For ages 2-5.

Welcome to best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Grandpa! readers will explore the special relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild. For ages 0-3. Made in the USA.

Welcome to best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children.

Parent and child reindeer join Santa along his Christmas-night journey in best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock's Hello! board book series for children. In Hello, Santa!, join the pair as they explore the North Pole, pull Santa's sleigh, and deliver presents. With something for the entire family to enjoy, you won’t want to say goodbye!

In this middle-grade adaptation of Shark Attacks of the Jersey Shore, author Patricia Heyer dives into the history and lore of shark attacks along New Jersey’s coast. Every summer, thousands of people flock to the boardwalks and beaches of the Jersey Shore looking for fun and relaxation. But some come face to face with much more. A boy paid a gruesome price for teasing a trapped shark in the first recorded attack in 1842. Three bloody attacks of 1960 left one man’s limb amputated. The horrific summer of 1916 included seven attacks within two weeks, sparking the man-eating reputation that sharks still have today. These stories and more have been adapted for younger readers brave enough to dive in to our shark-infested waters.

From the dynamic duo behind The Lake I Love and I Met a Moose in Maine One Day comes a moving and unforgettable tail of mindfulness, friendship, and discovering the magic of letting yourself just be.

Leo the lizard spends his days relaxing in the desert sand, gazing at the sky, and basking in the sun. The other desert animals think Leo is lazy, but the roadrunner isn't so sure . . . could it be that Leo has learned something the others have not? Perhaps there is more to this lazy-looking lizard than truly meets the eye?

With its playfully melodic rhymes and stunning desert illustrations, Leo the Lazy Lizard invites readers of all ages to discover the beauty of quiet moments - to smell every scent, feel every breeze, and love how they feel 'cause they feel so at ease! A true celebration of mindfulness, connection, and learning to appreciate the things that make us all so wonderfully unique, Leo the Lazy Lizard will delight families for generations to come!

"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country" —John F. Kennedy

This pocket sized hardcover book contains nearly one hundred quotations from one of America's best-loved presidents, John F. Kennedy. War hero, politician, and 35th President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy embodied the hopes and dreams of an age.

Quotes from the pen of America's Beloved Author Louisa May Alcott

This elegant pocket-sized hardcover gift book, part of Applewood's Quotations of Great Americans series, contains nearly one hundred quotes from the beloved author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott.

With historical photos and impeccable storytelling, this extraordinary book chronicles an astonishing moment in American history.

Starting Christmas Day, 1941, when transport trains on the Union Pacific Railroad stopped in North Platte to refill their water tanks, the local families of North Platte, Nebraska, came together to provide love, support, food, and morale to young soldiers involved in World War II—black and white—who briefly passed through their town. Troops poured into the North Platte Depot, The Canteen, to find homecooked meals, birthday cakes, hot coffee, cold milk, magazines, postcards, and the warmth of a grateful and loving community. The stops lasted only ten minutes, but the people of North Platte made sure that everyone in their midst was taken care of. This remarkable story will inspire readers of all ages, as The Canteen nourishes all who have the privilege to visit.

This caringly-produced facsimile edition, with charming cover and interior illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith, was originally published in 1912.

The beloved and iconic Christmas poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (more commonly known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”) was written in 1823 by Clement C. Moore. The poem was an instant sensation and still, two hundred years later, is synonymous with Christmas and embodies many of the characteristics still associated with Santa Claus today.

This step-by-step drawing guide from acclaimed cartoonist E.G. Lutz has helped budding artists hone their skills since 1913.

E.G. Lutz provides simple, step-by-step instructions for constructing over one hundred distinct drawings, including lighthouses, horses, dragonflies, parakeets, and human expressions. The guide also demonstrates how to detail completed line art and how to draw subjects in profile as well as in front view. Younger artists will be especially enchanted by the sweet animal illustrations.A world-renowned cartoonist, E.G. Lutz’s 1920 book Animated Cartoons greatly influenced Walt Disney’s early career. Lutz also the author of Drawing Made Easy (1921), a popular guide for young artists. His enduring work is marked by a straightforward style of prose and illustration. Lutz’s style is preserved in this facsimile reprinting of his very first work.What to Draw and How to Draw It is a wonderful gift for beginning artists, who will delight in these charming creations from E.G. Lutz.