Pelican Publishing Children's Books

This abbreviated board book edition is the perfect introduction to this classic tale!

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.

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.

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.

In this board book, Huey the pelican is learning his Louisiana colors. Come fly with him and see how colorful our state can be, with blue in the heron, red in the peppers, yellow in the sunshine, and so much more!

Embark on a magical journey through Florida’s diverse landscapes.

Join our young protagonist aboard the Panhandle Pullman for an unforgettable adventure filled with breathtaking sights and exciting discoveries. From the emerald waters of St. George Island to the historic streets of St. Augustine, each stop offers new wonders to explore. Taste the Tupelo honey, and marvel at the wildlife of the Florida Keys. Encounter manatees and sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles. Blast off at a NASA rocket launch! All Aboard, Florida! celebrates the beauty, history, and wonders of Florida in a captivating tale for children of all ages. Climb aboard and get ready for a journey of a lifetime.

Deep in the bayou where critters reside lived a lovable little crawfish they all knew as Clyde. The big crawfish said he would always be too small to play, but Clyde had an idea of how his giant cousin up in Maine could help! Young readers will enjoy the trick while also learning the importance of inclusion.

Petit Pierre has made a home for himself on the coast where Louisiana meets Mississippi, and now it is time for him to learn how to plunge-dive. Brown pelicans typically pick up this behavior by watching others do it. Will a new friend help Pierre learn how to dive? Young readers will follow his progress and, along the way, find out more about Gulf of Mexico marine life.

Lucille St. Lewis and her family have just moved to Louisiana. When her new friends at school find out she’s never eaten boiled crawfish, she feels left out. Will she like these “mudbugs”? One thing is for certain—she won’t be needing a fork! In this fun picture book, young readers will enjoy witnessing Lucy’s introduction to a Bayou State staple.

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.

Within these colorful pages, it’s Carnival time all year long!

A young storyteller relives the memories from her most recent Mardi Gras, describing ladders on the neutral ground and the perennial favorite of a fried chicken meal on the parade route. From a streetcar ride on Twelfth Night, she rolls on through Fat Tuesday and meets Mardi Gras Indians and revels in king cake and the music of a marching band, capturing all the highlights of a local’s Mardi Gras season. Who can forget spray string and stink bombs, the cotton candy cart, masking in the streets, and flambeaux lighting the way for night parades? As she Mardi Gras mambos and dances in the streets, she calls out for friends and relatives riding on floats to throw her something a little extra special.

This homage in verse captures a true local’s version of a family-friendly Mardi Gras and celebrates a city’s joy in its traditions. Children will find similarities between their own Carnival experiences and reflect on their own family’s customs. For those new to the festivities, the images—saturated with all things purple, green, and gold—will introduce visitors and newcomers alike to the real Mardi Gras. The celebration is so much more than a party and parades. It’s a holiday steeped in the culture of New Orleans and the joie de vivre of families and friends who come together during a special time of year to share in the revelry.

Two adorable bears set out to find the source of an irresistible aroma and wind up smack dab in the middle of the most exciting place on earth—a festival! 

Join Hannah Bear and LuLu on a thrilling journey as they explore the blinking lights, the spinning rides, and delicious food! The adventurous cubs sample every delectable delight at the big autumn event, from spicy cracklins, pecans, and pralines to other Louisiana treats. As the wind picks up, Hannah Bear and LuLu catch a whiff of something truly special that leads them through the pumpkin patch and across Bayou Bridge. They even encounter an alligator! Follow Hannah Bear and LuLu to the perfect spot with the most delicious smell of all.

With humor, curiosity, and a dash of mischief, Hannah Bear and LuLu's Festival to Remember celebrates the joy of exploration, the love of family, and the warmth of home. Get ready for a wild ride with these adorable fuzzy cubs!

In Louisiana’s Cajun Country, a celebration like no other occurs each Mardi Gras. The families of Acadiana come together on Fat Tuesday to host a centuries-old tradition: the Courir de Mardi Gras. During the running of the Mardi Gras, brightly costumed participants run, beg, sing, and dance for their neighbors as they gather tasty ingredients for the gumbo that will be shared at a dance party under a shining Mardi Gras moon. 

But once upon a time, many years ago, the moon vanished, nearly putting an end to the fais-do-do! A fiendish duo hooked the festive moon and towed it away, depriving the revelers of their purple, green, and gold moonbeams.

So young Leloup set off on a quest to recover the shining sentry. A sprinkling of familiar bayou characters and critters are scattered throughout this fairytale. Through teamwork, and some silly shenanigans, they help our hero as he returns the moon to its proper place in the Cajun sky, just in time to enjoy a celebratory gumbo and dance to some zydeco tunes. He might have even found some Mardi Gras treasure along the way!

Leloup’s story is full of fun references to the Acadian culture and is complete with a glossary of Cajun words, phrases, and places.

Sing along with the Carnival version of the favored nursery rhyme “The Wheels on the Bus.” This playful parody entertains with festive flair, as during Mardi Gras, it’s not a bus but a decorated float brimming with beads that delight the youngest parade-goers. Through engaging art and fun prose, children are transported to the parade route, enchanted by the magical sights and scenes of the season. 

Excitement fills every page! Tractors honk to the crowds as they pass, pulling the floats all Mardi Gras long. As beads fly through the air and crowds cheer, “Throw me something, mister!” drums boom and dance teams twirl. The best of a young reveler’s favorite Carnival parades are all found here. Join in the fun as the floats roll all through the town!

The rhythmic flow of the verse and colorful illustrations immerse readers in the joyous and culturally rich experience of Mardi Gras. Perfect for read-aloud sessions and interactive story times, this whimsical yet educational introduction to the Carnival celebration is an ideal addition to preschools, library shelves, and home collections. 

It is time for nap at Sassy’s house. But she is wide awake! Young readers will follow along as Sassy travels the state of Louisiana, enjoying music in New Orleans, picking strawberries in Ponchatoula, and touring the swamps. Wait, was she sleeping and dreaming the whole time?

The sky is dark and grey, but Florida youngsters can while away a rainy day with this colorful board book touring sodden beaches, happy plants, and key lime pie!

From dazzling beaches to the roar of fan-filled stadiums, babies in the Sunshine State will surely recognize all the signs of a sunny day in Florida in this exciting board book!

Stumpy and his brothers Bumpy and Lumpy are born deep in the marsh in this bayou retelling of “The Three Little Pigs.” However, this threesome’s fearsome foe is not a wolf with large lung capacity but the big bad winds from the Gulf of Mexico. Stumpy knows that his brother’s sawgrass nest won’t withstand a stiff breeze, much less the storm approaching from the south. As a hurricane rushes in and makes fast work of their first home, Stumpy can’t help but open his big mouth and tease his older brothers. “I told you so!” he shouts as the wind rips and roils around them, tearing them from one nest after another. The storm taunts them with clever rhyme, throws them out of home after home, surges, and purges. But it also teaches them about respecting the forces of nature. Stumpy, Bumpy, and Lumpy learn to stay inside and throw themselves a little hurricane party in true Gulf States fashion.

           With sassy Southern humor and silly illustrated fun, Stumpy and his brothers weather the storm. Now if only Stumpy could learn to keep his big mouth closed when the waters rise and the winds come howling.

If it’s May in Louisiana, the termites are swarming! This counting book will make toddlers and their families laugh—and squirm—as they recognize this annual buggy invasion.