Since 1926, Pelican Publishing Company has been committed to publishing books of quality and permanence that enrich the lives of those who read them.
Jenny Giraffe is famous with all of her French Quarter neighbors. A respected painter among the artists of New Orleans, she is now just a part of the unusual culture of this downtown area. Now Jenny is going on a trip to new neighborhoods she has never visited before. She has been invited to a birthday party for her friend T-Boy. And of all places . . . the party is on a streetcar! Hardcover.
"Run, Jenny, quickly! Don't let them take you to the zoo! Find a new home, my dear!" urged Jenny Giraffe's mother after the door to their truck popped open during a minor accident on the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Afraid of life in the zoo, the little giraffe did as her mother said, running down the narrow streets and slipping through an open gate into a beautiful courtyard.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is perhaps the only place where a giraffe named Jenny would not draw any attention. Jenny’s friends, Angelle, Claude, T-Boy, and Lita, teach her about king cakes, parades, floats, and “throws.”
Everybody knows the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” What’s surprising is that the story was originally set in Thibodaux, Louisiana, Goldilocks was known as Jolie Blonde, and the bears were actually a family of Héberts! Apparently, the Cajun story became Americanized over time. Hardcover.
Combine classic Mother Goose with a South Louisiana Acadian setting and the artistry of renowned Cajun humorist Justin Wilson, and the result is a captivating book that will delight children and adults of all ages. Hardcover.
Yes, L is for Louisiana and this child’s first alphabet book combines words and photographs for a fun trip through the ABCs that also shows some of the sights and symbols of the state famous for alligators, bayous, and Cajuns.
Children will howl with laughter as les trois cochons (three little pigs) outwit the wily loup-garou (wolf) in this Cajun twist to the classic tale. They’ll even learn some Cajun French and, as a little lagniappe (something extra), how to make grillades and grits with the enclosed recipe.
The simple, delightful drawings are easy to color, inviting participation by even pre-school children. Written to appeal to younger and older children alike, the text that accompanies each drawing tells interesting anecdotes and a little history of the antebellum homes featured. Imaginations will be sparked by descriptions of the homes, furnishings, and special rooms that once housed rocking horses and charming china dolls. Paperback.
Many years ago, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach were such inseparable friends that they shared everything. But that was before chickens and roaches became sworn enemies. Celebrated storyteller Dianne de Las Casas tells what happens when a friend takes advantage of another’s generosity in this vibrantly illustrated New Orleans folktale.
Johnette Downing takes a classic Cajun folktale and deftly weaves it into this slightly scary morality tale accompanied by the moody colors of Heather Stanley’s luscious illustrations.
Dusk falls across the bayou as the crickets chirp, snakes hiss, and mosquitoes buzz. Mama rocks her baby to this soft symphony of sounds, a gentle lull of sweetly repetitive animals making noise, ready for bedtime.
Comma has been Mark-Napped! Solve the mystery.
Mimi told Tante Conette all of the family news as they walked into the house that was warm with the smell of spicy jambalaya. When they had finished their dinner, the family took their pecan pie dessert outside to sit on the porch in the moonlit night. When Mimi asked Uncle Rabbit to tell her all about the Cajun Mardi Gras, he pulled out a pipe and filled it with sweet-smelling perique tobacco. He slowly lighted it, and began—“Mimi, our Mardi Gras goes back further in time than your New Orleans Mardi Gras. . . . It’s totally different, you’ll see.” Hardcover.
Mimi awakens on Fat Tuesday morning and hurries to a breakfast of hot beignets (French doughnuts). At the table, Mimi’s parents explain Mardi Gras traditions such as king cake, and the observances of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Afterwards, dressed in colorful costumes, they depart for a day of Carnival excitement and parade watching.
Nestled in the branches of southern cypress and oak trees is a natural wonder with a magical origin. Its story began when a flood raged through the bayous of South Louisiana. There, a mother and her two children sought shelter from a storm in the branches of a cypress tree. Late that night, the mother asked the moon to keep her sleeping children warm. Moon talked to Stars, Stars talked to Clouds, and when these celestial bodies joined forces, they did more than just save one mother and her children. Moon’s Cloud Blanket is a Native American legend from the Houma people of South Louisiana. Hardcover.
This rhyming picture book offers children a tour of the Louisiana traditions of many beautiful towns and cities of the state. Based on a traditional song adapted by the award-winning Louisiana singer/songwriter Johnette Downing, the book invites children to learn the various cultural nuances of each area.
Through charming rhymes, craftsman-like images, and a sweet feeling of nostalgia, the lyrical narrative paints a beautiful picture of New Orleans’ families and architecture.
The author of The Fifolet and Louisiana, the Jewel of the Deep South, Johnette Downing stays true to her Louisiana roots in her newest book, featuring a young pelican searching for his proper home.