“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

James Rice died in his home Sunday, May 30, 2004 of a heart attack. Mr. Rice was widely acclaimed as the South’s leading illustrator of juvenile books, with more than one-and-a-half million books in print--a record that ranks him with top children’s authors and illustrators nationally.

James Rice was born February 10, 1934 on a farm in Coleman County, Texas. Of his early interest in art, Mr. Rice said “I was raised in a rural background with no radio or television, so I had to rely on books and imagination for my entertainment. My heroes were the great pen and ink artists of the nineteenth century: Abby, Frost, Kemble, N.C. Wyeth, of course, Norman Rockwell, Remington, and Nicolades.”

Last year, Pelican celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of James Rice’s classic Cajun Night Before Christmas. Beloved throughout the country, Cajun Night Before Christmas was a true collaboration between publisher Milburn Calhoun and Mr. Rice, who was then a professor of art at a local college. Mr. Rice visited the fledgling company on his motorcycle with a portfolio and Dr. Calhoun shared his idea for the book. One week later Mr. Rice returned with drawings of hundreds of alligators in all kinds of poses. Cajun Night Before Christmas was the beginning of the children’s book division and launched a close publishing relationship that endured for more than thirty years. At the time of his death, Mr. Rice was working on illustrations for a book he wrote, titled Santa’s Revenge in which Santa gets back at him for getting him into all kinds of situations.

Several years ago, when the Children’s Book Council asked Mr. Rice his thoughts on illustrating a classic – how he brought new life to an old tale: “The author (and illustrator) have to strike a chord in harmony with many ordinary people across time. Most successful authors/illustrators must become actors as they assume the roles of various characters in their stories. As for myself, I look at each project as a new challenge.”

Cajun Night Before Christmas was also the beginning of what would become a staple of Mr. Rice’s work: The Night Before Christmas Series, which now numbers sixteen titles, with two new ones, Ozark Night Before Christmas and The Principal’s Night Before Christmas, this fall.

Mr. Rice moved to Hico, Texas in 1980. Over the years, he wrote and illustrated a number of regional children’s picture books on subjects related to the states he considered home: Texas and Louisiana.

He also wrote historical fiction for young readers, and was a favorite at schools, nursing homes, and community centers in both states and across the country. He was scheduled to tour in support of his newest book, Too Tall Thomas Rides the Grubline, later this week.

Last spring, Mr. Rice delivered two paintings commissioned by the Institute of Texas Cultures depicting René-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle landing in Texas. One painting contains thirty-three historical errors that children visiting the museum can find, while the other is historically correct.

James Rice graduated with a bachelor of fine art from the University of Texas, a master of fine arts degree from Stephen F. Austin University and a master of arts in education from Howard Payne College. He taught art and music at both the high school and college levels, including eleven years at Southeastern Louisiana State University in Hammond, and positions at Louisiana State University and Dallas Baptist College.

An avid musician, Mr. Rice often brought his clarinet to school appearances, and enjoyed sitting in with local bands when he was on tour. As a young man, Rice traveled with the Jack Schultz Orchestra, which played big band music across the mid-west.

Though he enjoyed his annual Christmas tour to promote the sixteen Night Before Christmas Series titles he illustrated, family was of great importance to him. He was always excited to hear of a new grandchild or great-grandchild and remained an active figure in their lives. He is survived by Martha, his wife of fifty years (the couple celebrated their fiftieth anniversary last week), five children, nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

James Rice’s work has earned several awards over the years, including

Gaston® Goes to Texas, Certificate of Award from Printer Industries of America, 1979
The Night Before Christmas, Certificate of Merit, Printer Industries of America 1990
Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On, Certificate of Merit, Printer Industries of America 1996
Cajun Night Before Christmas, Not Just for Children Anymore Classics, CBC 2002
The Teachers’ Night Before Christmas, Children’s Choices, CBC/IRA 2002
Why Cowboys Need A Pardner, Children’s Books Mean Business, CBC 2002

“Forget Dancer, Prancer, Comet, and Vixen. . . . Good Clement,
wherever he is, will not be gnashing his teeth.”
--New York Times Book Review

“Set in a Louisiana bayou and told in Cajun dialect—e chirren been nezzle/Good snug on de flo’
—the poem has lively illustrations that perfectly suit the unique text.”
--Horn Book

“Rice is a master at making a story come alive with colorful detailed drawings.”
--(Beaumont, TX) SouthEast Texas Examiner