Name: Cajun Night Before Christmas 50th Anniversary Edition
Brand: James Rice
SKU: 9781455627141
Price: 24.95 USD
Availability: InStock

Cajun Night Before Christmas 50th Anniversary Edition

9781455627141

$24.95

"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 special Fiftieth Anniversary 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.

Cajun Night Before Christmas 50th Anniversary Edition

Cajun Night Before Christmas 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

9781455627165

$39.95

"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.

Cajun Night Before Christmas 50th Anniversary Limited Edition

Irving Berlin

9781455625406

$10.95

Irving Berlin and his family fled anti-Jewish Russia before he went on to become one of America's most popular commercial composers. As a self-taught pianist, Berlin is responsible for many hit songs such as "God Bless America," "White Christmas," as well as the musical Annie Get Your Gun.
Author Paul Kaplan traces the path of the man behind the songs through this rags-to-riches story and Berlin's place in the music business in the early twentieth century, including the tragedies that befell him on this journey.

The Teachers' Night Before Christmas

9781565548336

$19.99

The traditional trappings of Christmas at school--the pageant, a visit to a local nursing home, crafts, and the room mothers' party--all end in chaos, but Santa Claus appears to present a solution to all the teachers' Christmas woes.

Firefighter's Night Before Christmas

9781589800540

$19.99

It's the Christmas Eve shift at Firehouse One. All the firefighters are sitting down to bowls of hot chili when an old fireman stops by for a bite to eat. The firemen have to leave to fight a fire and return to find that he was not an ordinary firefighter-they were visited by Sgt. St. Nick!

The Legend of Roux-Dolph the Gumbo Pot

9781455627592

$19.99

When Santa is flying over the Southern bayou and his stomach growls, little Viola invites him down for some of her mother's gumbo. But wait--now Santa has eaten it all! Young readers will delight in the Christmas magic that Santa brings to the empty gumbo pot, making sure it never runs low again.

Ranch Girl and the Orphan Lamb Adventure

9781455627684

$9.95

Kelsi Fairgate, a fourth grader and only child living on a ranch in the middle of Texas, awaits the end of the school year. When her parents bring in an orphan lamb from a pasture, her prospects for the summer look up. Kelsi and her friend, Ampara, run into some serious rattlesnake trouble one day. The lamb saves Kelsi, but then it is the girls’ turn to try to save the lamb!

Ranch Girl and the Orphan Lamb Adventure

Cowboy Night Before Christmas

9781455627707

$19.99

Now reissued in full-color! Santa Claus was doing all right Christmas Eve until he hit the Southwestern Panhandle country. As soon as he did, a blue norther sweeping across the prairies sent his reindeer fleeing for the comparative warmth of the North Pole. Santa--Stetsoned, booted, and bundled to his nose--stomped through the blizzard until he came to a small sod shanty and corral. A dim flicker of firelight came through the whistling cracks in the door. And so opens this Christmas book from the pen of James Rice, now available in full color for the first time. A seasonal treasure for both children and adults, Cowboy Night Before Christmas traces the unlikely teamwork of Santa, two freezing cowboys, and a bunch of longhorn cattle "a mite short on brains" as they struggle to ensure that Christmas does indeed come on schedule. A new twist on the classic Christmas poem, this book plays off of its Southwestern setting and the drawling dialect characteristic of this part of the country. With richly humorous illustrations by Rice--an artist well known for his delightful drawings--Cowboy Night Before Christmas is a welcome addition to any collection of Christmas tales and legends.

Cajun Night After Christmas

9781565547797

$19.99

Drifting down the bayou the night after Christmas, Boudreau discovers a fat alligator named Pierre, whom he takes home as a pet. The Boudreau children give Pierre their full attention, much to Pierreï¿½s dismay, but in the end, itï¿½s a very happy Cajun night after Christmas all through the year!

Who Got the Baby in the King Cake?

9781455626038

$17.99

Believed to have originated in twelfth-century France, the king cake tradition is an homage to the wise men (three kings). In New Orleans, as in Europe, a charm or plastic baby is hidden inside the cake and whoever finds the treasure is crowned king or queen for the day. The unofficial regent is also expected to host the next king cake party--or at least provide the cake! So, of course, everyone asks "Who got the baby in the king cake?" Downing's hand-cut colorful collage illustrations accompany her original song in this joyous story designed to entertain and educate kids of all ages. The full song, and many others celebrating her Louisiana home, can be found on her album Swamp Romp: A Louisiana Dance Party for Children.

Bayou Ballet

9781455626625

$19.99

Whether you join hands with an armadillo in the pas de deux or pirouette with the panther, you'll find plenty of talented and agile creatures to mimic in this enchanting introduction to ballet for emerging readers. Even the bears are dancing in this picture book from mom, author, and illustrator Alexis Braud. Budding ballerinas will love the humorous illustrations paired with beginner-friendly explanations of dance terms, making the moves both easy to understand and memorable.

Andrew Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II

9781455625277

$16.99

Andrew Higgins built boats that could "crunch through driftwood, bounce over logs, climb a beach," and "wham up on a sloping concrete sea wall." In World War II, that was exactly what was needed to get soldiers and Jeeps from the ocean to land. This biography for young readers traces the invention of the legendary Higgins boat-and the adventurous childhood of the remarkable man behind it.

Andrew Higgins and the Boats That Landed Victory in World War II

Gumbo Weather

9781455627615

$19.99

Adaleigh, a young Cajun girl, has the envie for her grandmother's chicken and sausage gumbo. But there is a problem. It's summer, and Mamere does not cook her gumbo until the weather has just the right chill in the air. Adaleigh tries various get-gumbo techniques, including learning to ask for it in French, but she will have to wait. This picture book for young readers, peppered with Cajun words, celebrates the Cajun culture and the importance of generational bonds.

12 Days of Mardi Gras

9781455626403

$19.99

Repetition, alliteration, and visual humor abound in this Mardi Gras themed riff on the iconic holiday song, perfect for emerging readers and early counters. As each day of the Mardi Gras season passes, a gift is given. Each of the many, many, many gifts is familiar to those who embrace the season's traditions. Coming in twos, twelves, fives and fours, the gifts include majestic masks, floats a rolling, golden shoes, and cherished cups. Colorful illustrations provide lots of additional hijinks and engagement in this soon-to-be-classic holiday tale!

The Tuskegee Airmen Story

9781589800052

$19.99

Join Joshua and his grandpa for a heartwarming history of the brave African American Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

Young readers can sit with Joshua and his friends as his grandfather tells him the story of his service in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman. Topics like war, racism, and segregation may be unfamiliar to young readers, but this story explains complicated topics in ways that any child can understand. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military pilots, and some of the bravest among all of the armed forces, but pilots weren’t the only important faction— both men and women worked as mechanics, instructors, nurses, cooks, and many more invaluable jobs. As Joshua’s grandpa says, “Everybody who helped America to win the war was a hero. Some people fought America’s enemies in battles overseas. Others fought for freedom at home.”

Learn about the service and sacrifice made by Joshua’s grandpa, grandma, and countless others who made the Tuskegee Airmen legacy last for generations.

The Great Holiday Cookie Swap

9781455625239

$17.99

December is full of holidays around the world: Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and more. When eight cookies representing different cultures come together, they scramble for a spot on top of the holiday pile. The wise Indian shortbread counsels peace, in this rhyming picture book filled with recipes and facts about traditional cookies from Greece, Germany, Israel, central Africa, the U.S., and Mexico.

Goodnight Pothole

9781455627370

$19.99

Hold on to your car's alignment. In this parody of the classic children's book Goodnight Moon, sleepy readers will dream of orange cones and chicken bones, blown out tires and downed wires, and so many more amusing rhymes in this funny-but-true take on eroding roads.

Someone in Louisiana Loves You

9781455627691

$19.99

After her chicks drift off to sleep, Mother Pelican takes flight. From Shreveport to New Orleans, she visits many of the places that make Louisiana special. All the while, she thinks about her babies sleeping peacefully in their nest. Mother Pelican knows that we carry the ones we love in our hearts, no matter where we go.

Cop's Night Before Christmas

9781589808003

$19.99

It's Christmas Eve, and this police officer is on patrol. He encounters Sergeant Kringle, who takes over his patrol so the cop can go home to his family. This whimsical illustrated tale for young readers is a tribute to law-enforcement officers everywhere.

G Is for Grits

9781455616985

$19.99

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.

Preacher's Night Before Christmas

9781589803213

$16.99

The members of Spring Lane Creek Church are in a panic. Their baby Jesus is sick, the choir hates their newly made Christmas robes, and the overused and underserviced church copy machine is on the blitz. Tears are shed, screams are heard, and just when it seems the congregation might organize a revolt against Pastor McDougall, Santa appears in the pastor's office. He gently points the pastor to the Bible, reminding him of the true miracle of Christmas. When Pastor McDougall emerges, he finds his congregation glowing from the same message delivered to them by Saint Nick.

Great Irish Legends for Children

9781589803459

$18.99

This volume of six traditional Irish legends includes stories about a king with donkey's ears, a moral lesson about riches and possessions based on a brown bull, a tale explaining how the coast of Antrim was formed by a giant, and other tales about treachery, bravery, and honor. Spirited illustrations bring each tale to life, and a pronunciation guide is included to assist with reading the unusual Irish names such as Ailill and Daire Mac Fiachra. Told for hundreds of years, these stories are a rich part of Irish history and lend themselves to great storytelling.

The Littlest Cowboy's Christmas

9781589803817

$17.95

At a ranch near Aspen, Colorado, author Michael Chandler and his four-year-old son are invited to a Christmas Eve party at a neighbor's. The party is not ordinary--this one is for Lefty, an appaloosa stud. At the party are Lefty's owner, Joe, the author and his son, and the famous singer/songwriter John Denver and his young son. Together they share a heartwarming night celebrating music, life, love, and the joy of Christmas.

Hot Boiled Peanuts

9781455627714

$19.99

Playful, bouncing rhymes and bright, colorful illustrations guide young readers as they eat their way through the peachiest state in the nation. Pecan pie, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, okra, collard greens, BBQ, and every Georgia treat a child can desire fuel imaginations in this region-by-region tour of the Goober State. (Did you know a goober is a peanut?) During their exploration, children encounter history, landmarks, geography, and more. So sit back with a juicy peach and bag of hot boiled peanuts and get to know the greatest state around.

The Kvetch Who Stole Hanukkah

9781589807983

$16.99

In the town of Oyville, the children were preparing for Hanukkah. But the kvetch who lived high on the hill said what he said every year: "The latkes smell bad, the dreidels make me dizzy, and to hear children laugh puts me in a tizzy." This year, will Hanukkah represent another great miracle, finally bringing a smile to the kvetch's face?

The Passover Zoo Seder

9781589809727

$16.99

How would the animals celebrate their Seder? There's mayhem at the zoo when not a single animal can find a Haggadah that isn't too worn to read. Then, Shai Elephant remembers the ceremony and soon each animal has its own role in the Pesach celebration. This fanciful and funny Passover verse invites all to share a tongue-twister, chant the Dah-yaynoo with Horsey, steal the Afikoman with a Baboon, and end the meal with Lion's Ma-Roar.

The Diary of Asser Levy

9781455625215

$10.95

In 1654, the first group of refugee Jews, fleeing persecution, arrived in America from Brazil. In New Amsterdam, they began a legal fight for religious and civil rights that helped shape the character of modern-day New York. Here middle-grade readers will be introduced to the real-life figure of Asser Levy, through imagined diary entries about his experiences.

Matthew's Rise

9781455625444

$9.95

Set on Caddo Lake in northwest Louisiana, this middle-reader novel finds eleven-year-old Matthew Morin and his family recovering from a tragic loss and trying to regain normalcy as they head to the family farmhouse. There Matthew will build new friendships, investigate a suspicious fire, discovering a Caddo Indian mound, and solving the mystery surrounding the area. They soon turn their attention to the enigmatic new neighbor down the road. As they investigate further, they are pitched into a race against time to save the burial site from desecration.

Mon Cher Bebe

9781455625932

$19.99

Author and illustrator Ariane O'Pry Trammell offers a sweet and lyrical prayer for little ones everywhere. Her illustrations lovingly capture the innocence of childhood and the cherished bond between siblings and parents. Each beautiful illustration is framed in context with a longer prayer filled with the lush imagery of the Louisiana landscape. To round out this heirloom book are scriptures derived from various versions of the Christian Bible. Each scripture has been rephrased and simplified by the author to assist young readers in understanding the word of God.

Bonfires on the Levee

9781455625918

$15.99

Louisiana author and illustrator Johnette Downing captures charming holiday traditions in this counting book for emerging readers. From one to ten the images of holiday bonfires and Christmas practices along the levees fill the pages. The vibrant illustrations created in cut paper and foam collage enhance the text, offering little ones further engagement in this soon to be classic Christmas tale of waiting for Papa Noel along the levee.

Louisiana Night Before Christmas

9781941879320

$19.99

Down in the swamps of Louisiana, Papa Noël has a big problem. He’s hit his head and forgotten who he is. How will the good boys and girls of Louisiana get any presents this year? Mama Noël puts the animals to work alongside the elves to finish the toys and pack this bayou Santa’s unique sleigh. Working throughout the night, Mama and her krewe travel up and down the state, guided by levee bonfires. Mama’s team of animal helpers are rewarded for their hard work with some delicious local treats left out for Santa and his elves. Louisiana children and their parents will love this new holiday story filled with humorous references to what makes this time of year so special in Louisiana.

Mardi Gras in Alabama!

9781941879221

$17.99

Follow Folly as he celebrates Mardi Gras in Alabama! Hang on tight; he wants to see every parade in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Folly has a front-row seat as he rides with kings and queens and tags along with Joe Cain. From catching throws with the crowd to joining in with the marching bands, Folly is a part of all the festivities. With bouncing rhyme and lively illustrations, author Karyn Tunks and illustrator Alexis Braud capture the unique flavor of Carnival season along Alabama's Gulf Coast. Highlighting the best of the local revelry, Folly brings young readers along as he explores favorite Mobile-area traditions. A glossary of people, places, and things completes the introduction to the most colorful season of the year. So come along and join the fun as we celebrate Mardi Gras in Alabama in this informative picture book for locals--and those who wish they were!

Five Little Possums

9781455626335

$8.95

Five little possums swing from a tree, teasing Mr. Alligator, "You can't catch me." Pre-readers can count down as the possums are scared away one by one in this engaging counting book from award-winning author and musician Johnette Downing. Her felt collage illustrations jump off the page in this adorable board book for little ones.

How to Decorate a Cypress Tree

9781455626229

$19.99

MaLou and Rodney love the decorated tree in town and can't wait to do a fancy tree in their own home. But the year has been hard and money is tight and Mama and Daddy just don't think they'll be enough for a tree this year. No Christmas tree?! The only thing worse than that is seeing how sad their parents are. The children come up with a creative solution that embraces the Louisiana bayou's bounty. With ingenuity and open hearts they fill the tree, and their family, with love for the perfect holiday blessing!