Cajun Night Before Christmas
Cajun Night Before Christmas

Cajun Night Before Christmas

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The Cajun Night Before Christmas® has been a part of Louisiana's holiday traditions since it was first published. Now, more than forty-five years later, a new generation is discovering the charm of Gaston® the Green-Nosed Alligator.

First conceived by J.B. Kling, Jr. writing as 'Trosclair', the CLIO award-winning sales jingle for the Bergeron Plymouth Company in New Orleans was based on the Clement Moore poem. The exclusive rights were purchased by Pelican Publishing Company and the illustrations of then fledgling artist James Rice brought the story to life. Beloved master storyteller Coleen Salley narrated the read-along CD. Radio personality and voice talent Tommy Joe Breaux became the voice behind the recordings at City Park and on the audio version of the adventures of Gaston®.

The book also created what has become the largest segment at Pelican Publishing-the children's book division. With the passing of publisher Dr. Milburn Calhoun and his wife Nancy Calhoun, illustrator James Rice, and the loss of Colleen Salley, the people behind the creation of the story are mostly gone. What remains is a long legacy of delight. Each year at the Celebration in the Oaks light show featuring the classic cabin from the story, dedicated staff from Pelican Publishing collect memories of attendees as they flow through the premiere preview parties. From now grown children who remember it as the first Louisiana tale they ever heard to young parents who laugh about a non-Louisiana spouse reading it to their children in full-blown Cajun accent, the book is universally loved and remembered. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"They say if you can make a living doing what you love then you never have to work. I haven't worked in years." -James Rice "Rice is especially good with facial expressions, whether they are on a Texas jackrabbit, a longhorn steer, a dusty cowboy, or the green and long-nosed alligator named Gaston." -Library Journal "Rice's detailed pictures are captivating." -Woman's Day This outpouring of praise is directed towards James Rice (1934-2004) and the outstanding list of children's books he wrote and illustrated. Widely acclaimed as the South's leading illustrator of juvenile books, Rice lives through the more than 2.5 million books in print that feature his work-a record that ranks him with top children's authors and illustrators nationally. Cajun Night Before Christmas®, Rice's first book, has been nationally recognized as a classic in its genre. Rice lent his talents to Pelican Publishing Company's The Night Before Christmas Series, which includes the tremendously popular An Irish Night Before Christmas, Redneck Night Before Christmas, and Gullah Night Before Christmas. It was through Cajun Night Before Christmas® that Rice developed the character of Gaston® the Green-Nosed Alligator, who went on to have his own series of books. 


ISBN: 9780882899404
FORMAT: Hardback
PUBLISHER: Pelican Publishing
DATE:
STATE: Louisiana
IMAGES: 48
PAGES: 48
DIMENSIONS: 8.5 (w) x 11 (h)

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