Since 1926, Pelican Publishing Company has been committed to publishing books of quality and permanence that enrich the lives of those who read them.
Young Willie has always wanted to be a Texas Ranger. But the Rangers are lean and tough and very serious, and Willie smiles and whistles all the time and has a belly that just about covers up his snakeskin belt. Willie doesn’t even look tough in his Stetson and boots. One Fourth of July so hot the fence posts wither, Sidewinder Slim and Corkscrew Slade sneak in and swipe the townfolk’s ice-cold soda pop and ice cream. When even the rough, tough Texas Rangers can’t apprehend the varmints, it’s up to Willie and his whistle to bring them to justice.
Up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, north of Baton Rouge live three billy goats named Gruff. They want to cross Thompson’s Creek to reach the lush pastures on the other side, but there’s a very scary troll under the bridge who wants to gobble up those billy goats. Told in Coleen Salley’s spirited style, with vibrant illustrations by Amy Jackson Dixon, this new version of the Norwegian folktale adds Louisiana spice to an old classic.
Not even Slim Jim Watkins can have a ranch of his own without a brand. Will he ever get a brand of his own? Will he ever get a ranch of his own? Maybe he will, because, after all, he does have a “can do” attitude. Hardcover.
In the third book of this popular series, Slim Jim Watkins discovers that running a ranch of his own can be downright lonely. Sure, he passes the time by telling stories to his horse, Bonecrusher, but that is just not the same as having a pardner of his own. Hardcover.
This beautifully illustrated, amusing story with its anticipatory suspense will delight kids and grown-ups alike, and everyone will be charmed by the nightly entourage of desert animals who play a key role. That is, until Slim Jim Watkins learns a thing or two and starts to sleep with his boots on. Hardcover.
Cowgirl Gabby does not sit around looking as pretty as a wild flower. Slim Jim Watkins’ new pardner proves sweet-talking works when the cowboys can’t figure things out for themselves. Hardcover.
A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy—and particularly hungry—as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend.
“Take what you need and leave the rest,” is the refrain of this original trickster tale. In the old days, all of the world’s wealth was kept by the Oyster. Anyone who requested jewels that he guarded was met with the same generous refrain, and they took only what they needed. But what happens when Snake takes more than needed and that balance is threatened? Will the Oyster shed his gentle nature or will the treacherous Snake choke on his own greed?
An adaptation of a traditional Choctaw tale told in the rhythmic verse reminiscent of the classic Br’er Rabbit tales, this vivid and clever story comes to life through illustrations and unique storytelling. Sly Possum is manipulative and knows that the very hungry Deer will do anything to reach the beautiful persimmons waiting in the tree. Possum is hungry as well, but does not feel like helping Deer—he’s just too lazy!
Ima Hogg has a big problem. Her father is traveling to Austin, and she’s in charge of running the house and watching her little brother, Tom. Ima knows she has to listen to her father, but Tom and the animals on their farm aren’t going to make that easy.
In this clever take on the traditional “Night Before Christmas” poem, a Texas Longhorn believes that he can guide Santa’s sleigh just as well as any reindeer. If a reindeer can fly, Willy believes a longhorn can, too. Despite the doubts of the other cattle, Willy will not give up on his dream.
In this cleverly spooky parody of Clement C. Moore’s famous Christmas poem, the witches are up to their elbows in cobwebs and slime, making sure their witchlings are well prepared for their first Halloween.
“Those children must get rid of that animal. Our wild brother, the wolf, does not change his nature. Can’t you see that the animal is part wolf?” the medicine man warned Cub’s parents. But Cub knew his pet better than anyone. He knew that even though Wolf was half wild, he was not a dangerous animal, and would never turn on those he loved. Cub’s parents had a different idea, however. They trusted the old medicine man’s intuition, and besides, food was scarce—too scarce to have a dog to feed around the house. Paperback.
The Civil War is rarely shown through a young southern woman’s perspective. Many of these women were displaced from their homes and lived their lives on the run from Northern shellfire. Sarah Morgan was one of those women. She was only 20 years old when the North took over her hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but she wrote about her experiences in her diaries with insight and clarity well beyond her years. Paperback.
How do you know if you’re a dinosaur? Well, if you’re bigger than a school bus, can eat everything in the fridge in one bite, and have dozens of razor-sharp teeth, it’s possible you may just be a dinosaur! This playful look at these ancient animals contains fun facts about sail-backed Spinosaurus, horned Triceratops, spiky Stegosaurus, and more. Tiny T. rex everywhere will enjoy the earth-quaking, tooth-chomping antics of these unique beasts.