Christmas has come to the mountain country of Appalachia in a delightful new version of the classic holiday verse by Clement Moore. James Rice, illustrator of the bestselling Cajun Night Before Christmas, has teamed up with Thomas Noel Turner, a long-time resident of the Appalachian region and professor of education at the University of Tennessee, to add winsome dimension to the enchanting tale.

A jolly, twinkly-eyed mountain man named Sainty appears dressed from head-to-toe in handmade quilted clothing driving a gift-laden buckboard pulled swiftly through the night by plump, friendly black bears, ushering in a true hillbilly Christmas.

With grandpappy whiskers and a "how d'ye do" grin, Sainty gently prods his team onward:

"On Bigfeet! On Orn'ry
Molassas an' Rumbler!
Up Yowler! Up Growler!
On Gumption and Grumbler!"

This fanciful retelling of the lighthearted Christmas favorite is sure to delight not only those in the region, but also anyone who enjoys a chuckle.

A transplanted Yankee, Dr. Thomas Noel Turner has been a professor of education at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville since 1970. He quickly grew to love the mountain people, their language, independence, and culture. Out of this appreciation for people of Appalachia came Hillybilly Night Afore Christmas. Dr. Turner is the author of two books on teaching methods.

Illustrator James Rice, well-known for his Gaston the Green-nosed Alligator series and Cajun Night Before Christmas is widely acclaimed as the South's leading illustrator of juvenile books.

HILLBILLY NIGHT AFORE CHRISTAMAS
By Thomas Noel Turner
Illustrated by James Rice
32 pp. 8½ x 11
Color and b/w illustrations
2nd ptg.
ISBN: 0-88289-367-X
EAN: 978-0-88289-367-9