Since 1926, Pelican Publishing Company has been committed to publishing books of quality and permanence that enrich the lives of those who read them.
Sarah Kirwan Blazek, narrator and author, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, and retains dual citizenship in Ireland and the United States. Her delightful brogue perfectly complements the stories on this CD. A former teacher at the Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls/Hardey Preparatory for Boys, Blazek lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Written in an Irish brogue, this delightful children’s story tells the classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” tale with a Celtic twist. Complete with James Rice’s illustrations, this fun and festive coloring book inspires kids to use their imaginations.
As Christmastime approaches in New Orleans, the city gears up for all of its annual traditions. There is the big Christmas parade and caroling at Jackson Square. Some even take trips to the bayou country to see the lighting of the bonfires that guide a special visitor to the homes of Louisiana on Christmas Eve. If some of these traditions sound a little out of the ordinary, then you are right along with New Orleans’ newest resident, Jenny Giraffe. Hardcover.
Feliz Navidad, amigos! Now for children of Spanish and English-speaking cultures there is a holiday story that tells the traditions of Christmas with a South-of-the-Border perspective. Perfect for classroom readings or family time around the tree, this bilingual tale is an entertaining introduction to life in a Mexican village. And it is the latest twist on C. Clement Moore’s The Night Before Christmas by nationally acclaimed children’s author and illustrator James Rice. Hardcover.
Due to low staffing, a librarian must spend her Christmas Eve stacking the shelves at a library in desperate need of renovations. After the strain of a long night that has left her feeling “like Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol,” she is pleasantly surprised to see Santa and his elves coming to her rescue in a red bookmobile!
Author Michael Chandler and his young son, Preston, spent many winter afternoons working a snowplow through the drifts of Colorado snow near their Little Woody Creek horse ranch. Sometimes they made paths for cars, for people, or for cattle, and sometimes they just made paths for fun. One day they decided to clear a road that led to a snowbound home. The owner, a rugged cowboy named Joe Henry, asked if someone had hired them. When they said no, the cowboy smiled, and they all became fast friends. A few weeks later, Joe Henry—a one-time miner, hockey player, and sailor who now wrote cowboy poetry—invited them to his Christmas Eve celebration.
WITH A MUSIC CD BY JOHN DENVER
Timeless tales, such as those concerning Saint Nicholas, generate children’s endless questions about our holiday traditions, such as “Where did Saint Nicholas come from?” “How does he visit so many children in just one night?” “Why does he leave gifts for girls and boys?” Hardcover.
Maiden Voyage of Kris Kringle is a continuation of The Nicholas Stories, which is about a boy who had a very unselfish wish. His wish was granted and mankind was forever changed. In The Land Beyond Yon, Nicholas comes across a doll that he had made for a sick girl long ago. Nicholas never realized how much of an impact that simple gesture had meant to one girl, but that soon would change. Hardcover.
A fresh take on the classic Twelve Days of Christmas, this adorable story is bounding with humor, playfulness, and disastrous fun for the holiday! Each day leading to Christmas, a very sneaky puppy takes things from around the house to give to his owner as gifts. That trouble-making dog tears the Christmas lights from the evergreen tree and steals mittens! This catchy, sing-song poem progresses from mishap after mishap—empty stockings, rumpled wrapping paper, and cookies crumbled under the tree. How can one little puppy, full of five pounds of love, be so naughty?
Told in the rich, deep voice of Sibusiso Victor Masondo, The Night Before Christmas in Africa captures the essence of Africa. The tale is brought to life with the sounds of thunder as lightning flashes across the sky and Father Christmas calls out, “Iba nokisimusi omuhle.”
In Gullah Night Before Christmas, the classic Clement C. Moore poem is infused with the spirit of traditional Gullah folklore and characters.
Only the vivid imagination of James Rice could capture the arrival of Santa on Christmas Eve in such active detail. From the dancing mice who decorate the Christmas tree, to the bumbling reindeer landing on the family’s roof, his colorful illustrations warm the hearts of children and adults alike. Hardcover.
This clever, Texas-size, Texas-style tale has entertained audiences for more than forty years. A Western Santa Claus-decked out in Levis, ten-gallon Stetson, cowboy vest, and with a bandana around his neck-makes his Christmas journey on a buckboard piled high with presents. Hardcover.
Christmas Eve can be busy, especially for the head nurse at Angel Hope General Hospital. Too many patients, too little help, and a crowded ER all threaten to make this night before Christmas one big headache. It seems that nothing could bring holiday cheer to the patients and staff of this hectic hospital. Hardcover.
It’s a winter night in the Ozarks, and while Maw and Paw are snoring in their beds, their son is waiting up with his dog, Arkansaw, to catch a glimpse of Saint Nick. Hardcover.
This retelling in audiocassette form of the Christmas classic by Clement C. Moore blends Santa Claus with the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch figure of the Belsnickel, a thin, cantankerous old man who visits children before Christmas and rewards, or punishes, them based on their behavior. Narrated by Chet Williamson. Audiocassette.