Irish Night Before Christmas, An
9781565540866
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $14.99 Save 25%Accelerated Reader Program Selection
’Round Christmastime, things are a little different on the Emerald Isle. Instead of logs thrown onto the fire, we find turf blazing bright. Instead of cold eggnog spiced just right, the mother and father are enjoying their stout. You’ll find no Donner or Cupid or Blitzen, but Ould Neddy the donkey and his small cart. Father Christmas with his Irish eyes twinkling ushers in his seven elves, to enjoy the poteen and plum pudding and unpack his large sack. And thus begins the wondrous Irish Night Before Christmas.
This humorous tale in the same vein as the famous Cajun Night Before Christmas® is the Irish version of Father Christmas’s yearly visit. Told in delightful brogue, it will have everyone wishing “Nollaig sona agut!” (Merry Christmas to you!).
Father Christmas, with his Irish eyes twinkling, ushers in his seven elves and thus begins this Irish tale.
Great Irish Legends for Children
9781589803459
Regular price $18.99 Sale price $14.24 Save 25%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.
Rougarou Stew
9781455625598
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $14.99 Save 25%
The Nutcracker
9781455627936
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $14.99 Save 25%In this bayou retelling of the classic Christmas tale, a family of mice celebrate Christmas.
They dance to zydeco music and play games, but their revelry is interrupted as a caped raccoon sweeps through the doors, arms filled with gifts for the children. For little Corinne, he brings one special gift: a handmade nutcracker soldier shaped like an alligator.
In this bayou retelling of the classic Christmas tale, the magic of the nutcracker unfurls as Corinne, clutching her gift, falls sleep under her family’s Christmas tree. She awakens to an army of nutria soldiers under the command of an evil Possum King battling her beloved alligator nutcracker.
The Nutcracker escorts Corinne through the dreamlike landscape of an enchanted swamp to the Land of Sweets, home to the Spoonbill Sugar Plum Fairy. Seated upon a king cake throne, the pair are greeted by a court of dancing Southern flora and fauna.
Fans of the ballet will enjoy the reimagined Southern setting and the unique cast of critters that populate the famous tale.
Lapin Plays Possum
9781455614806
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $14.99 Save 25%This series of trickster tales, stemming from African folklore, bears remarkable resemblance to the Deep South's Brer Rabbit. That's because Compere Lapin is his kissing cousin. In one form or another Lapin and Compere Bouki have been harassing each other for more than two centuries. Doucet's retelling of these popular stories is flavored with all the spice of a Cajun gumbo.
Compere Lapin came into the world with nothing but a cypress splinter, and he never misses an opportunity to talk himself out of work. The only thing he does better is playing tricks on the large, dim-witted Bouki. Whether he becomes a parrain three times in one day, trading crops for roots and leaves or begging to be thrown into a fire, Lapin always has something up his sleeve, and Bouki is just gullible enough to believe it.
Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud
9781589806788
Regular price $19.99 Sale price $14.99 Save 25%From the beloved children’s performer, a “trickster tale jazzed up with Cajun French phrases defined both in the text and in a glossary” (Kirkus Reviews).
A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy—and particularly hungry—as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend.
After Crab realizes Crawfish has made a fool of him again, he isn’t happy, and before he knows it, Crawfish gets exactly what he deserves. A charming tale cautioning children about the consequences of cheating your friends, this colorful picture book from the critically acclaimed Johnette Downing will delight readers of all ages with its timeless and gentle lesson about integrity.
In addition to the entertaining story, lively collage-style illustrations, a glossary of Cajun words and phrases, including entries such as “cher” (dear or friend) and “beaucoup” (much), and a list of crawfish “fun facts” make this book an irresistible read.
“A humorous choice for storytimes.” —School Library Journal