Books in Disney the Nightmare Before Christmas series

Children will delight in reading this clever rendition of theclassic poem, and coloring in James Rice�s celebrated artwork of two lonelycowboys, Old Saint Nicholas, and the ornery Longhorns they must try and get topull his sleigh.Cowboy NightBefore Christmas tells the story of two lonely cowboys huddled in a coldshack on Christmas eve, visited by an old man needing help to harness longhornsto his wagon. After riding out in the night and giving good cowboy assistance,they are amazed to see the man fly off with his wagon into the sky. Walking backto their shanty, they find on the floor some gifts of their own, and a messagefrom the Jolly Old Man himself.With hischaracteristic humor and inviting artwork, James Rice combines the spirit ofChristmas with the spirit of the range, and the result is a coloring bookconsistent with the quality of Rice�s other work, such as Cajun NightBefore Christmas and Gaston The Green-Nosed Alligator .James Rice is widely acclaimed as the South�s leading authorand illustrator of juvenile books. With more than a million and a half copies ofhis fifty-plus books in print, he ranks among the nation�s top authors andillustrators.

Drifting down the bayou the night after Christmas, Boudreau discovers a fat alligator named Pierre, whom he takes home as a pet. The Boudreau children give Pierre their full attention, much to Pierre�s dismay, but in the end, it�s a very happy Cajun night after Christmas all through the year!/St. Nicholas piles his skiff high with toys and hitches it to eight flying alligators on the bayou. Boxed Running time: 24 min.

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.After writing and illustrating several parodies of Clement Moore's classic Christmas tale, author/illustrator James Rice uses his unique style to illustrate the original version of St. Nick's visit. What's more, Rice's talent for portraying emotions is particularly evidenced in The Night Before Christmas as Poppa reacts with surprise, Santa chuckles with glee, and Grandpa's photo, hanging next to the Christmas tree, watches the whole nighttime adventure with a skeptical eye.

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. Teachers talk about how they use it in the classroom, business people mention they send it to out of state clients, and children laugh as they try to mimic the dialect that has all but disappeared from everyday life. The classic tale has been interpreted in gingerbread houses in competitions as far away as California and in cakes at the Edible Book competition at NOMA in New Orleans. For years, the miniature book ornaments have appeared on Christmas trees across the country as a reminder of a faraway Louisiana home. Even the New York Times praised the lilt, the humor, and the rough-hewn drawings of the Cajun tale. At Pelican Publishing, a huge portrait of Gaston® and his bearded friend hangs in the boardroom watching over each new author and illustrator that joins the family. Slipcase edition.