Pelican Bestsellers

Did you know that camels were imported to Texas to serve the U.S. Army in the 1850s? They carried supplies and mail to isolated forts and settlers. Young readers will be fascinated to learn of this little-known part of American history.

Personal stories of tragedy, bravery, ego, and cowardice in this often- overlooked battle for Texas independence.

This fast-moving narrative presents the struggles of the participants, both Texan and Mexican, and reveals the overriding egos and bad planning on both sides of the war.

By the beginning of the 19th century, the revolution against Spanish rule in the Americas and the westward expansion of the United States caught Texas in the middle of a battle for independence. On March 6, 1836, a Mexican army of 6,000 soldiers attacked and killed 189 revolutionaries in the Alamo. Exactly three weeks later, 342 surrendered Texans were executed at Goliad, the lesser-known of these two important battles.

A dark historical reality exposed.

In 1923 Marlow, Oklahoma, at the hotel belonging to Albert and Lula Berch, Albert is murdered trying to protect his African-American porter from an angry mob. After his death, the case unravels, and the truth of Albert Berch and his murderers emerges.
Tracing his own family history, Dr. Alan Berch Hollingsworth discovers that it's not just the Marlow townspeople who have something to hide. Why did his grandfather insist on hiring an African-American porter, violating the era's Jim Crow segregation laws? How is the KKK involved in this gruesome crime? Unlocking the secret to his grandfather's murder, he uncovers a true crime story of racial violence in 1920s Oklahoma.

Told with a Texas twang, this tale features a dozen icons of the Lone Star state. Clever rhymes count down the days of Christmas, revealing such surprise gifts as silver spurs, oil wells, and armadillos. Festive illustrations fill the pages of this western romp.

Not so fast Rudolph-Willy guides Santa's sleigh in Texas! When Santa visits Texas, he encounters dense fog and needs a local's help to deliver gifts. Willy, a longhorn longing to fly with Santa, jumps at the opportunity to help. With the help of glowing blue paint, his horns light the way. Follow Willy and Santa on their journey to every house in the Lone Star State as they fly over Texas landmarks to deliver presents and a Texas-sized portion of cheer.

A wacky spin on an Old West favorite. This tall tale about a famous American cowboy takes readers on a romp into the Wild West. When Pecos Bill cannot seem to find the best hat to fit his head, he searches for creative ways to keep his noggin covered. His often humorous ideas lead to the invention of the cowboy hat. A glossary includes cowboy terms.

The patriotic sacrifice of Texas remembered. This tribute to the famous 13 day siege gives the stories of real-life heroes including David Crockett, Sam Houston, and William King (who, at 15 years old, was the youngest defender to die during the conflict.) These accounts, lacking in sensationalism, reveal the true characters in one of the most important events in Texas history. This reference includes a timeline of events.

Step right in to a rootin', tootin', cowboy Christmas extravaganza!

Drawing on her skills as a children's educator, librarian, and fiber artist, Susan Holt Kralovansky interprets the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas with Lone Star charm. Start with a mockingbird in an oak tree; throw in iconic armadillos, prickly pears, boots, and longhorns all illustrated in rustic fiber-art collages composed of Southwest-inspired textures of burlap, rope, and colorful cotton. Included are bonus pages of fun facts about these symbols of the great state of Texas. A wonderful book for classroom interactions or family reading, this unique presentation of a familiar rhyme will draw in young readers and keep them enthralled long after the last 'dillo scurries off to bed.

In his third collection of cartoons, Daryl
Talbot draws (no pun intended) on the cowboy's roles at home, on the range, and
in the rodeo to create an overview of Western life that is guaranteed to
produce more than a few knee-slaps and hearty chuckles.
For the home, a salesman pitches a new chair to his Western
customer- It's a cowboy recliner! It vibrates at a walk, lope and
gallop. On the range, we discover that there's a couple of
drawbacks to havin' a good cook -namely that the cowboys get fat, and the
horses' backs sag. And at the rodeo, one particular cartoon is worthy of Gary
Larson. In it, one bull turns to the others and says, Get the clown! Pass
it on! Who knew that all that work could be this much fun . . . or this
funny?

The owners of rise n° 1 restaurant share their take on cooking and entertaining in this beautifully photographed book. Recipes for soufflés, salads, soups, seafoods, tarts, and more illustrate their dedication to food and tradition. Do not miss some of their favorite guests and coveted annual events, which you will find covered throughout the book. Anecdotes and ideas for entertaining round out this charming volume.

Robert Potter flashed across the history of Texas and North Carolina during the early 1800s, leaving an enduring record of inspired leadership and achievement. Known for engaging his enemies in legislative and political debate as well as in physical confrontations, Potter was the first person to be named secretary of the Texas Navy.

Sweet, inviting treats from the town of Tex-Mex and spice. Influenced by Spanish and Mexican flavors, the cuisine of San Antonio is sensational and simple-Latin food with a sure Texas twist. This collection of the best desserts from the city's favorite restaurants includes Warm Cajeta Apple Crisp, Ruby-Red Grapefruit Tart, Banana Cheesecake Brule', Candied Jalapenos, and dozens of other chocolaty, spicy, fruity, and fresh dishes. Featured restaurants include Rosario's, Azuca Nuevo Latino, the Colonial Room at the Menger Hotel, El Paradiso, and El Siete Mares.

"'Aye Chihuahua! The sky is falling." Join the colorful desert bird, Chachalaca Chiquita, and her feathered friends in this Southwestern spin on the Chicken Little tale. The story incorporates Spanish vocabulary for un peque'o fun as the amigos set off to tell the jefe that the sky is falling. The story takes a turn when they meet sly Tacito Ocelote.

Celebrating the contributions of women to the art of the American West! Women have long captured the spirit of America's dynamic West in their artwork. From Georgia O'Keeffe's stunning works to Alice Cleaver's haunting oil paintings, from Jessie Benton Evans's Arizona landscapes to Sally James Farnham's bronzes, this collection represents an important testament to women's art featuring the rugged spirit of the West. Stimulating questions and fascinating biographical details will encourage conversation and understanding about each artist's work.

This fun Texas romp through the Mother Goose tales yields such results as "Mary Had a White-Faced Calf," "There Was an Old Cowgirl Who Lived in a Boot," "Cactus Jack Horner," and many more. Western illustrations enhance the Texas theme and add a sense of humor to this beloved classic.

The irrepressible, friendly Gaston the green-nosed alligator helps some new friends lay a pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Stirred by curiosity, Gaston follows a huge barge carrying pipes, which leads away from the lazy cool of his bayou home. Outfitted in a hardhat and steel-toed boots, he soon joins a crew and finds that the life of an offshore oilman is not easy.